The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community
This week’s reads
“The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.” —L. P. Hartley
Gamified learning. TopClass LMS explains how to use gamified course elements to hold the attention of easily distracted learners. They describe several dopamine-driven strategies, grounded in behavioral science, to keep learners motivated and focused.
Membership app engagement. Sure, you can ping members with push notifications to draw them to your membership app, but Clowder has better ideas for capturing their interest. Their tactics make your membership app a gateway to networking opportunities, professional development resources, industry insights, and community connections that enhance members’ lives year-round.
Event marketing. ExpoLogic walks you through the complete event marketing lifecycle, from setting goals and identifying your audience to nurturing post-event relationships. Learn how to drive early registrations, optimize landing pages with social proof, and use data-driven personalization to boost attendance. The report covers promotion channels, content strategies, and post-event surveys as a secret weapon for continuous improvement.
Member churn. Amanda Kaiser recalls a few disappointing experiences her family had at a neighborhood restaurant. When I was a restaurant GM, I spent nowhere near the money this restaurant spends on advertising. But we had something they didn’t: word-of-mouth marketing. Amanda’s point is about recruiting and delivering value to members. Can you guess what the moral of her story is?
AI hallucinations. Freddie deBoer says LLM hallucination is a very big problem, not a mere speed bump. He’s right. AI has the need to please. Never trust and always verify. AI shares ‘research’ statistics like “resulted in a 3X higher registration rate.” But when you ask for a link to the data, it says, “You’re absolutely right to call me out on that “3X” claim. I made an inference without verification. Let me share what the actual research shows.” AI loves to infer. Maybe one day it will learn not to tell tall tales, but until then, check it every single time.
Non-dues revenue. YM Careers reveals a disconnect between what associations offer and what members want—and how smart associations turn that gap into profit. They share strategies for turning member benefits into revenue generators without adding staff workload through job board software, virtual career events, digital vendor guides, and recruitment publications.
Human agency. Since LinkedIn knows I’m a writer, my feed is full of posts from other writers. Some, like me, are figuring out how to use AI to deliver more value and new services to clients. Others are angrily freaking out and swearing off AI completely. Seth Godin, in his usual reasonable and far-sighted manner, reminds us that “what we do have is agency over how we’ll thrive in a world where human work is being redefined.” I plan to thrive.
SEO/AEO advice for industry partners and associations
Why SEO is not dead. Mateusz Makosiewicz at Ahrefs explains how AI finds and repackages content from Google search results, so ranking high in Google search increases your chances of being featured in AI results. Doubling down on website content that demonstrates deep expertise in your niche gives you more visibility in AI overviews and search results.
Answer engine optimization. The strategy for getting found in AI overviews and search results is called Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). Leah Monica at Matrix Group explains what exactly AEO is, its relationship to SEO, and how to optimize your content for AEO.
Optimizing for AEO. The number of articles about AEO is mind-blowing, but I’m sharing the ones by people and companies I respect, like Andy Crestodina at Orbit Media. He describes three strategies for optimizing your site for AI mentions.
Snacks
The Egyptian government’s suppression of St. Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai is a microcosm of its broader campaign against the country’s Christians. This is seriously worrisome. The monastery’s icons and manuscripts are civilizational treasures. | Mariam Wahba, The Free Press
Ever thought about building an AI career coach? This technologist did. She says she’s never had a better one. | Alexandra Samuel, Wall Street Journal (gift link)
A drone drops an electric bike to help a Ukrainian soldier escape Russians. | Micah Toll, Electrek
You never grow old at the table
Hey! Did you see my announcement last week about the new content marketing service I’m offering to association industry partners? Check it out in the What’s New section of Association Brain Food.
A longtime easy favorite: chipotle salmon. On the side, steamed green beans finished in the pan with sautéed red onion, bacon, red bell pepper, garlic, sundried tomatoes and parmesan.
Chuck roast on a hot night? Yeah, not the greatest choice from the freezer, so I went Indian: Instant Pot beef curry from Indian Instant Pot Cookbook: Traditional Indian Dishes Made Easy & Fast by Urvashi Pitre. The recipe’s on her site too. I doubled the ingredients for my 3# roast, added jalapeño, carrot, and baby gold and purple potatoes to the recipe, and used heaping spoons for the spices. Before adding the beef to the cooker, I browned it, then sautéed onion, jalapeño and garlic in the same pan, using a can of tomatoes (instead of fresh) to deglaze the pan. It’s a keeper! Serve over brown rice with leftover beans on the side.
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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.
Mon 8/25 at 8 a.m.* – Advocacy Writ Large! (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: Mike Bober
*All events are online at Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.
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 11 a.m. – AMS for Association Growth: The Strategic Edge
Hear about key trends and challenges in today’s AMS landscape. Learn how associations are using their AMS to deliver experiences that boost member satisfaction, increase member retention through streamlined engagement, and turn member data into clear insights for smarter, data-backed decisions. Find out what to evaluate in your current (or future) AMS to align with long-term goals. More info/register.
Host: Aplusify
Speaker: Manish Maid, Project Manager & AMS Transformation Expert, Aplusify
Tue 8/26 at 12 p.m. – The Community Playbook: Part 3 – Grow & Lead Without Micromanaging
Are you navigating the fine line between empowering your team and micromanaging? Hear about actionable strategies to foster trust, autonomy, and alignment within your team. Discover how to nurture collaboration and a sense of belonging. Learn to inspire team members to take initiative and own their roles. Find out how to implement clear yet flexible boundaries that encourage innovation and independence. More info/register.
Host: GrowthZone
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 12 p.m. – AI and the Future of Associations
Explore the results of a survey recently conducted on generative AI in partnership with the Canadian Society of Association Executives. Hear how associations are approaching generative AI, what leaders are most concerned about, and where opportunities and risks are already emerging. More info/register.
Host: Zzeem Consulting
Speaker: Gerald Bramm of Bramm Research
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. – ’25 State of MX: The Experience Matters
Learn how to turn the latest member experience (MX) research into action. Hear the story behind the breakthrough numbers in member engagement. Get a deep understanding of the modern member mindset and their evolving expectations. Learn about the three-pillar strategy for scaling personalization without losing the human touch. More info/register.
Host: Forj
Speakers: Kurt Heikkinen, CEO, and Andy Hicken, VP of Technology Solutions, Forj
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
Wed 8/27 at 1 p.m. – From Search to Suggestion: Positioning Your Brand for AI-Powered Discovery
AI engines are quickly becoming the new front door to the customer journey—summarizing, recommending, and shaping perceptions in ways that brands can no longer ignore. Learn about the emerging discipline of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and why it’s becoming essential for marketing, SEO, and content teams. Find out how AI is reshaping brand visibility, what content LLMs prefer, and how companies can stay ahead. More info/register.
Host: American Marketing Association
Speakers: Karthik Muralidharan, Group Product Marketing Manager, and Emily Kellman, Senior Product Manager, Adobe
Wed 8/27 at 1 p.m. – Using AI to Plan, Expand and Measure Your Events
Discover how AI can uncover key insights from your sponsors and competition and even determine the current business needs of your attendees based on demographics. Learn how to set up a model to leverage AI for deeper insights into your event data, craft compelling agendas and sessions tailored to various stakeholders’ business interests, quickly extract thought leadership video snippets for paid or organic content media to extend event impact and grow your audience, and generate attendee content usage report cards to inform prescriptive scheduling and enhance matchmaking. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Meetings Today
Speaker: Mary Ann Pierce, founder and CEO of MAP Digital: MetaMeetings
Thu 8/28 at 11 a.m. – How to Create More Attendee Emotion
Hear about the science of emotional engagement, why it matters & how it works; real-world stories of events that stirred genuine feeling (both good and bad!); practical techniques to weave emotion into content, networking and sponsorships; balancing tech and storytelling to deliver heartfelt experiences; common pitfalls and how to keep emotional impact authentic; quick-win, low cost, tactics you can apply immediately; what to do when emotions go south and negativity about your event increases; and how to create human-centered experiences that attendees will remember long after the event ends. More info/register.
Host: Grip
Speakers:
- Juraj Holub, CEO and Founder, Speaking Heroes, International Moderator & Public Speaking Coach
- Liz Lathan, Founder, Club Ichi & The Community Factory , Event Experience Strategist
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 1 p.m. – Voices in Events Live! – Association Marketing -Rethinking the Dues
Hear about rethinking association membership dues and the marketing function in associations. More info/register.
Host: Michael Hoffman, co-founder and CEO, Gather Voices
Guest: Bri Wheeler, fractional CMO, Levitate Marketing
Thu 8/28 at 3:10 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
Tue 9/2 at 11 a.m. – Top 10 Things to Know About ERP Selection & Implementation for Associations and Nonprofits
Learn about the unique operational and reporting needs of mission-driven organizations and how those requirements shape system selection; how to properly assess ERP vendors, focusing on their track record with nonprofits, flexibility, and ability to meet sector-specific demands; the true cost of ERP ownership, including often overlooked expenses like training and support; distinguishing between “must-have” and “nice-to-have” capabilities to guide a more strategic requirements gathering process; and one of the most underestimated risks, data migration. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Bryan Hack, Principal at BHC Group
Tue 9/2 at 12 p.m. – Collect, Analyze and Actually Use Member Feedback (Data Analytics Network)
Hear practical tips and real-world stories from data and survey experts on how to collect, analyze, and actually use member feedback. Learn how to design surveys people want to answer, pick the right tools, boost response rates (without bribery!), and turn results into action. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Data Analytics Network
Speakers:
- Evan Reid (moderator), ASHA
- Shari Jurik, ASHA
- Martha McRoy, NORC
- Julius Najab, AAAS
Thu 9/4 at 9 a.m. – 2025 Event Marketing Trends straight from INBOUND
Learn what’s hot, what’s not, and what’s next in marketing; the big surprises from INBOUND 2025; and trends that will shape the year ahead. More info/register.
Hosts:
- Julius Solaris, founder, Boldpush
- Hilary Laney, VP customer success, Swoogo
Thu 9/4 at 11 a.m. – Creating Your Custom ChatGPT PR Guru
Imagine having an AI-powered PR assistant that understands your organization’s unique needs, streamlines your media outreach, and crafts compelling narratives—all customized to your voice. Discover how to harness ChatGPT to transform your PR strategy. Learn how to create a tailored model that organizes press lists, drafts personalized pitches, and automates follow-ups. Hear how associations and nonprofits are already leveraging this technology to secure top-tier coverage and elevate their reputations. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Colleen Gallagher, President & CEO at OnWrd & UpWrd
Thu 9/4 at 1 p.m. – Strategic Planning That Works: Tools You Can Use Tomorrow
Discover three practical tools that make planning more approachable, more engaging, and more effective for associations navigating the copious amounts of change in today’s world. Go beyond SWOT and learn how to anticipate challenges, spot opportunities, and shape your organization’s future with confidence. Get immediately usable frameworks to engage your team and strengthen your organization’s resilience, practical experience applying these tools during the session, and leave ready to confidently use them with your board, staff, or stakeholders. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Lee Gimpel, President at Better Meetings
Thu 9/4 at 2 p.m. – Evaluating a Vendor’s Integration Capability
Too often, integration challenges only surface after the contract is signed, leading to unexpected costs, delays, or disappointing outcomes. Learn how to uncover limitations or hidden costs tied to custom development, middleware, or licensing; prepare your database to support vendor integration; evaluate real-world compatibility between your CRM/AMS and proposed platforms; and avoid disruptions in member data, reporting, or automations. More info/register.
Host: 501Works
Speakers:
- Holly Rice, CAE, leads CRM and data strategy at IDSA
- Moira Edwards, President, Ellipsis Partners
- James Marquis, CIO, 501Works
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