The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community
A big announcement
AI tools have rocked my content world. Don’t worry, I forgive you. I’m consorting with the enemy now too. Besides the traditional writing services I’ve provided to association industry partners for the past 15 years, I’ve got something new to offer—spread the word!
P.S. I’m rolling out a few more content services soon—stay tuned.
NEW: AI-Generated Content Quality Assurance for Association Industry Partners
As AI transforms content creation, I’m offering new services to help association industry partners get the best of both worlds:
- AI-generated content enhancement: Transform AI drafts into personable, accurate content that resonates with association professionals
- Content quality assurance: Ensure your AI content captures the reality of working in associations
- Monthly content partnerships: Predictable pricing for ongoing content production
Why work with me when AI is so cheap?
AI lacks judgment, discernment, and taste. It misses subtle issues only a human who’s familiar with the topic, audience, and context would catch. With 25+ years on both sides of the association industry, I know how associations actually work. If you sell software, provide services, or offer any solution to associations, I make sure your content is credible and connects with your audience.
Back to our regular programming…
This week’s reads
Learning subscriptions. Apti explains why many associations now offer learning subscriptions to members and customers. Instead of one-off sales, these organizations are building relationships by engaging and nurturing subscribers throughout the year—and creating lifelong learners and new revenue streams while they’re at it.
Post-conference sharing. Jeffrey Cufaude offers advice on sharing your ASAE Annual takeaways when you get back to the office. His suggestions will help you apply what you’ve learned to facilitate change in your organization—while not turning off envious or resistant co-workers.
Technology selection roadmap. This guide from Dennison & Associates is a must-read before embarking on an AMS/technology selection project. They describe how to organize your team, build internal buy-in, budget, review processes, assess needs, identify vendors, avoid common project pitfalls, and make an RFP shortlist.
Free marketing design/copy course. Learn how to evaluate marketing layout and copy in the Association Academy’s free Association Creative Marketing Masterclass. Each class is taught live by leading association heads of marketing and features a live review of real association marketing collateral with recommendations. Earn up to four CAE credits in this free course, which runs for four weeks on Thursdays, 1-2pm ET starting September 18.
Board performance. Jeff De Cagna (Foresight First LLC) and re:Members present the results of a study by the Future of Association Boards community: nine recommendations for elevating board performance. It’s also a quick way to understand the principles of exceptional board governance.
Not enough of anything. NetForum offers advice for association staff who have to do more with less. They specifically address these four challenges: inefficient processes, staff shortages, technology limitations, and budget constraints.
Gen Z careers. Parents, teachers, and counselors are relying on an outdated playbook when giving career guidance to Gen Z. Their advice isn’t in sync with Gen Z’s economic reality, reports Erica Pandey at Axios. As a result, Gen Z is dealing with unpreparedness, unemployment, and uncertainty. But I see new credentialing opportunities for associations.
The kids are alright. David Roberts has a contrarian view of Gen Z: he’s not buying the “anxious generation” theory. He says growing up in the constantly online/smartphone era has its challenges and benefits. Ultimately, Gen Z will be fine.
AI dependency. I hadn’t heard about this high school meme until Brendan McCord wrote about the Claude Boys. He warns us: the path from AI guidance to quiet dependence—and finally to control—is short, and most of us won’t notice we’ve taken it until it’s too late.
Association industry partner corner
Here’s a cautionary tale from Alexandra Sagaydak for SaaS industry partners. She describes how CSMs get screwed over by company leadership when they’re definitely not the problem nor where the blame usually lies. Take a look at your company, then file this under #uncomfortabletruths.
In 2025, your old content doesn’t fade quietly into obscurity. It’s being scraped, analyzed, summarized, and used to teach AI systems what you and your brand stand for. Robert Rose at Content Marketing Institute calls this a brand reputation time bomb in need of an intervention—a good old-fashioned content audit. Take your medicine before searchers start labeling you as an out-of-touch has-been.
At the table
We spent the weekend in Washington, NC, where we picked up shrimp and fish to bring home. Since I need shrimp broth for our annual Oktoberfest seafood fest, I made a pot for the freezer and for dinner: shrimp scampi with fettuccine. This version included bacon, onion, garlic, red pepper flakes, dry vermouth, shrimp, shrimp broth (made with shells, onion, carrot, celery, garlic, peppercorns, and water), lemon juice, parsley, basil, and butter. The golden elixir broth makes all the difference.
Earlier this week, I made spicy Korean-style pork in the pressure cooker. I’ve made this recipe with Boston butt (pork shoulder) and country-style ribs—bone-in and boneless. I always double the sauce ingredients and don’t bother adding liquid from the pressure cooker. On the side, pickled cucumbers (from the same recipe, although I used regular cukes) and roasted broccoli with red onion and garlic powder. We enjoyed the pork in wheat tortillas with cukes and cilantro.
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About CAE credits: Per ASAE, “any continuing professional education offered by any professional entity may be accepted toward the [CAE] professional development requirement as long as it is directly related to either association or nonprofit management as defined by the CAE exam content outline.”
Education providers: If you have a free webinar or event coming up, please send me the link by Wednesday afternoon the week before it’s scheduled. I’m happy to feature it as long as it’s not product-centric.
Fri 8/15 at 3 p.m.* – Nonprofit Consultants Collaborative Monthly Networking Meeting
This monthly networking meeting is organized by consultants for full-time consultants who work with non-profits and associations. You don’t have to be an ASAE member to attend. This month’s agenda includes the sharing of good news, topics or questions from the group, and AI and its impact on consulting. More info/register.
Organizer: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting
*All events are online at Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.
Mon 8/18 at 8 a.m. – Jay Burress from USAE News (Radio Free 501c, the podcast of Rogue Tulips Consulting)
Every week, Rogue Tulips brings the nonprofit community intriguing guests discussing vital topics affecting nonprofit organizations around the world—and we have fun doing it! Episodes are published Monday mornings in both audio and video format, available on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast (to name a few!).
Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting
Guest: Jay Burress, USAE News
Tue 8/19 at 10:30 a.m. – 10 Minute Meditation
Introducing mindfulness into your work day helps you cope with stress and reduce the feelings of burnout. Join us to create 10 minutes of pure space in your busy day. We’ll start with 5 minutes of arriving, a 10-minute meditation, and a 5-minute check-out. Open to all, with no prior meditation experience needed. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Meditation leader: Moira Edwards, Owner & President, Ellipsis Partners
Tue 8/19 at 11 a.m. – ASAE Annual Recap with KiKi & Dan: Insights into Action
Don’t leave the real takeaways at LAX or buried in your Notes app. After the handshakes fade and the hashtags stop trending, join Dan and KiKi for a keepin’ it real conversation. They’ll talk about what hit (and what didn’t); what wasn’t said out loud, but should’ve been; and what you can actually do next, instead of just coasting on conference fumes. More info/register.
Host: Results Direct
Speakers
- KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth
- Dan Scheeler, CAE, chief operating officer, Results Direct
Tue 8/19 at 11 a.m. – Why Adversity Is the Key to Future Identity
Hear how to reframe adversity as a catalyst for strategic advantage, use mental conditioning tools like power declarations and future mapping to attract the future you desire, practice future-casting to align daily actions with long-term purpose, learn from rejection (“No”) and use it as redirection toward greater impact, and identify and remove internal and external roadblocks that are silently sabotaging your success. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Magie Cook, CEO at Magie Cook International
Tue 8/19 at 11 a.m. – What’s Under the Hood: Parsing Standardized Learning Content for AI
Learn about eLearning standards, like SCORM, xAPI or cmi5, and why AI struggles with them; wow authoring tools and inconsistent implementations complicate things; what good vs. poor parsing actually looks like in practice; how to enable text extraction, transcription and metadata generation that really works; use cases where better data parsing improves search, personalization, admin and analytics; and what to ask your team and vendors about AI readiness. More info/register.
Host: Rustici Software
Tue 8/19 at 12 p.m. – The Future of Search Isn’t Links — It’s Answers
Search is changing fast. As AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s Search Generative Experience become the new front door to the internet, traditional SEO alone won’t be enough. Learn how AI is reshaping search behaviors and expectations; why links and keywords are no longer the main signal of relevance; what it takes to make your content visible, useful, and referenced in AI-driven results; and how to start future-proofing your content strategy today. Hear real-world examples and insights from our work with mission-driven organizations navigating this shift. More info/register.
Host: Accella
Tue 8/19 at 1 p.m. – Human-Centered Leadership: Leading with Heart, Head, and Humility
Only 31% of employees in the U.S. are engaged at work. The rest are either quietly checking out or actively working against the mission. For purpose-driven organizations, this is a leadership call to action. Learn how to stay emotionally available and focused, without burning out; build trust in a way that fuels connection AND accountability; and lead with both vulnerability and vision to reignite engagement. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Anne Robie, Founder and People Brilliance Officer at Darshan Leadership
Tue 8/19 at 1 p.m. – Future-Proofing Your Membership Strategy
Learn how member expectations are shifting—and what that means for long-term value; the tools and trends driving smarter, more effective engagement; and what boards should be watching, asking, and funding to stay competitive. More info/register.
Host: Kellen
Speakers: Kim Chhabria, Group Vice President, and Abram Garcia, Vice President, Kellen
Tue 8/19 at 1 p.m. – Technology Performance in Nonprofits and Associations: How Data-Driven Adoption Drives Growth and Future-Readiness
Learn how technology decisions are creating measurable differences in organizational performance—and why some nonprofits and associations are thriving while others fall behind. Hear about findings from our previously published nonprofit research and preview results from our upcoming associations study that reveal the performance gaps between what member organizations think they’re delivering and what their members truly experience. More info/register.
Host: Momentive Software
Tue 8/19 at 3:30 p.m. – 5 Habits of High-Impact Board Members
Find out about the five key habits that distinguish high impact board members. Discover practical steps to contribute more strategically and confidently. Learn how to extend your influence beyond the boardroom to advance your organization’s mission. More info/register.
Host: OnBoard
Speaker: Michael Corley, governance advisor and host of the I 501(c) You podcast
Wed 8/20 at 11 a.m. – Strategic Planning Must-Haves
Leading your organization into the future is like taking a road trip to a place you’ve never been. You need a strategy that includes a planned route, milestones along the way, and a timeline. Learn how to identify fundamentals for your strategic foundation, assess if your organization is ready to start or reset the strategic planning process, and develop your team for successful implementation and goal pursuit. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Amy Horner, Founder at True Nine
Wed 8/20 at 12 p.m. – Buzzworthy LIVE: What We Heard at ASAE—and What It Means for You
Hear what caught our attention at the ASAE Annual Meeting, what raised eyebrows, and what ideas we think more teams should use. Find out what each panelist learned, what they’re doing with it, and what you might want to do too. More info/register.
Host: TaleWind Digital
Speakers: Breanna Perrelli, Creative Director; Dan Stevens, President; Kristy Devantier, Director, Creative and Client Services; and Marcus Leite, Director, Sales & Marketing, TaleWind Digital
Wed 8/20 at 1 p.m. – Don’t Chase Sponsors, Align with Them: Connecting Relevance with Corporate Sponsor Priorities
Discover the current priorities driving corporate sponsorship and how aligning with these values can position your association as a relevant, strategic partner. Learn how to craft sponsorship opportunities that go far beyond traditional offerings by showcasing your association’s mission-aligned impact and thought leadership. Come away with ideas on how existing association programming and educational initiatives can be positioned for corporate sponsorship. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Hosts: Fonteva and ProTech
Speaker: corporate sponsorship authority Lori Zoss Kraska, MBA, CFRE, Founder/CEO of Growth Owl, LLC and author of The Boardroom Playbook: A Not So Ordinary Guide to Corporate Funding for Your Purpose Driven Organization
Wed 8/20 at 1 p.m. – How to Elevate Your Events with Purpose: The Road to Net-Positive Sustainability
Learn what net-positive sustainability really means—and how to implement it; how to design socially and environmentally impactful events; and how to measure your event’s economic, social, and environmental footprint. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Prevue Meetings
Speakers:
- Jody Brandes, Associate Director, Internal Meetings & Strategy at Gilead Sciences, Inc.
- Edward Perotti, Principal of EP Events & Experience
- Nancy J. Zavada, CMP Fellow, Founder and President, MeetGreen
Wed 8/20 at 2 p.m. – The Future of Association Boards (FAB) Community Dialogue
Host: Jeff De Cagna, Executive Advisor, Foresight First LLC
Wed 8/20 at 2 p.m. – Ask the Advocacy Experts: What’s Working in 2025?
Find out about the latest trends and data from the 2025 Advocacy Benchmark Report. Learn how to boost open and action rates, including the best times (and days) to launch your campaigns. Hear about engagement benchmarks across industries and get real-world tips from high-performing advocacy teams. More info/register.
Host: VoterVoice
Speakers:
- Lauren Schwartz, Senior Communications Strategist, Statara Solutions
- Mark Fisher, Director of Advocacy Engagement, Muscular Dystrophy Association
- Lydia Stowe, Senior Manager of Content Marketing, FiscalNote
Wed 8/20 at 2:30 p.m. – How Associations Are Using AI to Deliver Knowledge
Associations sit on a goldmine of knowledge, but most members can’t find what they need. Hear how two associations are using custom AI assistants to transform how they deliver knowledge to members. Learn how these tools enhance member experiences, free up staff time, and create new opportunities for engagement. Walk away with tactical ideas and proof that AI isn’t the future, it’s already working. More info/register.
Host: Lowell Aplebaum, founder, Vista Cova
Speakers: Chip Flater (NSTA) and Jason Wampler (ISA)
Wed 8/20 at 2:30 p.m. – A Planner’s Guide to Rights and Remedies
Explore the rights and remedies embedded in event contracts that planners need to be able to identify and negotiate. Learn how to protect the event’s interests when things go sideways – from cancellations to service failures – and understand the contract tools available to resolve disputes effectively. Hear about strategies to strengthen event contracts, reduce risks and elevate a planner’s confidence in managing supplier relationships. More info/register.
Host: Heather Reid, CEO and founder, Planner Protect
Thu 8/21 at 11 a.m. – The New Foundation of Member Value: Content, Experience, and Revenue
Learn about the three pillars every association needs to deliver lasting member value online: great content, a modern digital member experience, and a sustainable revenue model that supports it all. These aren’t just tactics—they’re the new foundation of engagement. Walk away with a smarter lens for evaluating your current strategy, plus real-world examples of how associations are evolving from content creators to confident digital publishers. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers: Marcus Leite, Director, Sales & Marketing, and Dan Stevens, President, TaleWind Digital
Thu 8/21 at 11 a.m. – Cracking Linkedin’s Code: Boost Reach & Engagement With a Smarter Strategy
LinkedIn’s algorithm is changing fast—and if your content strategy hasn’t adapted, your visibility (and ROI) is likely suffering. Find out exactly what’s changed, what’s no longer working, and what today’s algorithm actually rewards. Learn about a smarter, engagement-first strategy designed to increase reach, spark meaningful conversations, and drive real business impact—without burning out your team or your content calendar. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Jon Rivers, COO, Marketeery
Thu 8/21 at 11:30 a.m. – Level Up Your Certification Program: Advanced Tactics to Enhance Member Value and Organizational Growth
Hear about emerging trends in certification and how to stay ahead, using data to refine and expand your certification offerings, best practices for streamlining complex recertification requirements and continuing education/competence tracking, and real-world examples of advanced certification management in action. More info/register.
Host: Momentive Software
Speakers:
- Penny Whoolery, Director, Certification & Membership, American Association of Cost Engineering International
- Jerel Noel, Executive Director, Cardiovascular Credentialing International
- Jasamine Riel, Certification Products Manager, Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
- Chris Capistran, VP of Channel & Strategic Accounts, Momentive Software
Thu 8/21 at 12 p.m. – Online, Usability Testing Bootcamp: From Planning to Impact
Learn how to create and execute highly effective usability tests that drive strategic UX improvements and impact. Walk away understanding when to usability test, how to create a test plan and conduct a live session, and identify successes (and pain points!) through collaborative tools and affinity mapping. Hear about actionable strategies to communicate insights to leadership and make them sticky in your organization. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Speakers:
- Rhoni Rakos, Lead Consultant, Digital Strategy, Ellipsis Partners
- Lennse Garcia, UX Design Manager, ASLHA
Thu 8/21 at 12 p.m. – Elevating Online Training Quality by Aligning with Industry Best Practices
The Quality Matters® (QM) framework is a nationally recognized, research-based approach to designing online learning that focuses on intentional course structure, aligning learning objectives, content, and assessments to reduce confusion and boost engagement. Learn how QM-aligned design supports stronger outcomes across your learning programs. You’ll learn how to design content that’s easy to navigate, purposeful, and accessible—without sacrificing creativity or speed. More info/register.
Host: eLearningDOC
Thu 8/21 at 1 p.m. – Voices in Events Live! Events Made Easy with Nick Borelli
Listen in on a fast-moving conversation about events and AI. More info/register.
Host: Michael Hoffman, CEO and co-founder, Gather Voices
Guest: Nick Borelli, instructor, PCMA, and marketing director, Zenus
Thu 8/21 at 1 p.m. – From Batch-and-Blast to 1:1 Messaging: How AI is Redefining Email Marketing
Learn how AI is reshaping the way marketers build, send, and optimize campaigns by delivering personalized, 1:1 messaging that drives higher opens, clicks, and conversions—without adding manual work. Find out why batch-and-blast is hurting your engagement, how AI helps you segment smarter and personalize at scale, and how to integrate AI into your email workflows. More info/register.
Host: American Marketing Association
Speaker: Molly Phayer Quast, Director of Customer Success and Product, Rasa.io
Thu 8/21 at 2 p.m. – The Certification Journey: Engaging Members at Every Milestone
Learn how associations can create meaningful engagement throughout the full certification lifecycle—from early interest and application, to exam prep, post-certification support, and renewal. Hear how to identify key decision points, use conversational engagement to reduce friction, and design a member experience that supports both your goals and your learners’. More info/register.
Host: PropFuel
Thu 8/21 at 2 p.m. – Expert Tricks for Meaning-Rich Events on Any Budget
Learn how the supply-demand balance is changing and what that could mean for your bottom line. Find out what can be negotiated and how, how to explain budget realities to decision makers, and small adjustments that can make a big difference in the contract and in attendee impressions. More info/register.
Host: Smart Meetings
Speaker: Lesley Barnett, CMP, CIS, Bishop-McCann
Mon 8/25 at 1 p.m. – Mission-Driven Innovation: Advancing Technology with Purpose in Associations
Learn how associations can effectively adopt and integrate new technologies to enhance member value, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen their impact. Hear strategies for aligning tech initiatives with organizational purpose, navigating digital risks responsibly, and fostering a culture of innovation that supports long-term sustainability. More info/register.
Host: Association Latinos
Speakers:
- Melissa Simmons, Founder, Fortify Awareness
- Justin Burniske, Principal Consultant & Co-Owner, Meta-Dao
- Lorena Mejia (moderator), Founder of Unleashing The Lion In Us LLC
Tue 8/26 at 3 p.m. – Intro to AI Webinar for Associations and Nonprofits
Learn about the basics and importance of generative AI and Large Language Models. Witness the power of AI tools through live demonstrations, showcasing their impact on real-world scenarios. Learn to create targeted personas in ChatGPT for personalized content and interactions, and which settings to adjust for privacy and security, and understand what information is safe to input into AI tools. More info/register.
Host: Sidecar
Speakers:
- Erica Salm Rench, CMO, Sidecar
- Thomas Altman, Co-founder, Tasio
Wed 8/27 at 11 a.m. – From Hunches in Bunches to Data Driven Decisions
The commitment to move away from hunches to data-driven is fueled by intentional data strategy, data literacy, and data hygiene… and it is everyone in the organization’s responsibility to contribute. Learn about metrics to use to determine success in data-driven-decision initiatives, the four-pillar model (Collect, Connect, Protect, and Respect) to evaluate data-driven-decision initiatives, and next-steps for data-driven-decision initiatives. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers: Ron Moen, CAE, Vice President, and Tobin Conley, CAE, CIP, Director, Research and Learning/Senior Strategic Consultant, DelCor Technology Solutions
Wed 8/27 at 12 p.m. – AWTC Meet & Greet
Connect with new faces in the association tech community. Join us for a 30-minute welcome event to forge fresh connections and discover our vibrant Slack community. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Wed 8/27 at 1 p.m. – How to Build More Strategic CE Programs: Personalization, Portfolio Thinking, and Performance
Drawing on insights from a new executive briefing, explore three essential levers for building more strategic, sustainable CE programs: personalization that goes beyond content to shape learner experience and outcomes; portfolio thinking to design offerings aligned with competencies, career stages, and market needs; and performance metrics that balance business viability with meaningful learner impact. Hear about practical, research-informed strategies to position your CE offerings for long-term success. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Leading Learning
Speakers:
- Jeff Cobb and Celisa Steele, co-founders of Tagoras and Leading Learning
- Evan Burton, head of growth at BenchPrep
Wed 8/27 at 1 p.m. – A CEO’s Guide to IT Teams, Tech Capacity & Strategic Impact
In many nonprofits, IT is expected to be all things to all people—strategist, troubleshooter, project manager, cybersecurity expert, and helpdesk. But the reality is, your IT department’s structure fundamentally shapes what is realistically achievable. Learn about the capabilities of different IT team models; a clear framework to understand IT department’s structure and limitations; a comparison of expected outcomes from different IT team sizes using an evaluation matrix; and strategies for improving communication, trust, and alignment between executives and IT staff. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Michael Getter, CSM, CSPO, ITIL v4, Vice President, Systems and Technology, Global Cold Chain Alliance
- Tori Miller Liu, FASAE, CAE, President & CEO, Association for Intelligent Information Management
- Celia Chomón Zamora, Ph.D., CAE, Executive Director at American Council of Academic Physical Therapy
- Shaun Holloway, MBA, Director Of Information Technology at American Motorcyclist Association
Thu 8/28 at 1 p.m. – 5 Fundamentals for Association & Nonprofit Sponsorship Sales
Learn the must-know principles to build stronger partnerships, drive revenue, and create meaningful sponsor alignment. Get a “lesson plan” for sustainable sponsor growth. Hear why getting back to basics is key in a changing landscape, what common mistakes associations and nonprofits make (and how to fix them), how to turn insights into action—without burning out your team, and real-world examples you can apply immediately. More info/register.
Host: Lori Zoss Kraska, MBA, CFRE, Founder/CEO of Growth Owl, LLC
Guest: Carrie McIntyre, Principal at Navigate
Thu 8/28 at 3 p.m. – Influence in the Age of AI: Why Your Story Matters More Than Ever
In an AI-driven world, your authentic story is your superpower. Discover how to craft and share messages that no algorithm can match: messages that move hearts, change minds, and inspire real action. More info/register.
Host: Member Lounge
Speakers:
- René Rodriguez, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and leadership advisor
- Farhad Khan, CEO, Member Lounge
Association Brain Food Weekly is published Friday mornings. If you offer free professional development to the association community, please send me the link via email by Wednesday afternoon.
Creative Commons licensed photo by Joshua J. Cotten via Unsplash
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