The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community
Good reads for the association community
Learning as a membership benefit. Most associations sell education on top of membership. Members pay dues, then pay again for each course. TopClass LMS explains how to flip that model: bundle online learning directly into your membership tiers, with each level offering specific, quantifiable education value. They describe three ways to structure it, plus offer advice on pricing, marketing, and protecting existing education revenue.
Defending the marketing budget. Marketing doesn’t get cut because leadership doesn’t think it works. It gets cut because it’s framed as an activity, and activities look discretionary. On The Drum, Henry McIntosh (Twenty One Twelve Marketing) encourages marketers to reframe the budget conversation before you’re in the room defending it. He suggests splitting your plan into three buckets that forces a discussion about consequences rather than just a number to trim.
Non-dues revenue. Your website, newsletter, and member directory can earn more than they currently do. GrowthZone’s non-dues revenue guide describes how associations are making money from those channels with enhanced directory listings, sponsored podcast slots, tiered sponsorship packages, and more. The guide includes eight tactics, sample pricing, tiered sponsorship structure ideas, and a 90-day starter plan most small teams could handle.
In-demand leadership skills. After 25+ years in the association profession, Jim Thompson (Tying It Together Consulting) knows what separates successful leadership candidates from the rest, especially as AI reshapes the workforce: human-centered leadership skills. Drawing on William Vanderbloemen’s Be the Unicorn, Jim’s published a series on the 12 habits that define the top 1% of leaders, with a focus on what they mean specifically for association professionals.
Online learning as community. The term “third place” was coined to describe informal gathering spots—bars, churches, social clubs, coffee shops—where communities gather outside the home and workplace. But participation in these traditional third places is declining. On Class Central, David Joyner (Georgia Tech) argues that lifetime learning can fill that role in the digital age as long as education providers prioritize curiosity-driven learning and build social connection into the experience from the start. By the way, I found this article in a newsletter I recommend: Leading Links from Tagoras/Leading Learning.
LMS selection. The associations that regret their LMS choice skipped the prep work and went straight to vendor demos. Intuto’s LMS selection checklist covers five decisions to make before you start shopping: content, course-building capacity, platform features, AMS integration, and success metrics. It also discusses what separates great LMS vendors from merely adequate ones.
New member onboarding. Early member engagement makes all the difference, but most associations haven’t built systems around it. Chris Vaughan (Sequence Consulting) says members decide not to renew months before renewal time comes around. They made that decision back when they were waiting for a relevant next step that never came. He suggests a useful diagnostic to run on your last group of non-renewals.
What the ancients knew. Emily Katz Anhalt, classics professor at Sarah Lawrence College, writes in The American Scholar about what ancient Greek and Roman literature teaches us about coping with anxiety, despair, and adversity. She argues that the humanities aren’t a soft elective; they’re the wisdom accumulated over centuries for surviving hard times. Gutting humanities programs is making the mental health crisis worse.
Snacks
Associations are underinvesting in staff professional development. No bueno. | Mark Athitakis, Associations Now
Webinar show-up rates are shifting. What used to be the best day no longer is. | Jay Schwedelson
AI-generated research papers are overwhelming peer review. | Joshua Dzieza, The Verge
If you need CAE credits, check out Ed Rigsbee’s 40 workshops—nine of them are one-hour ethics workshops. Note: you’ll need to pass a test to earn the credit.
A Chrome browser extension in which a cute cat makes you take breaks.
Ten years of Fridays, no paywall. If you’ve gotten value from Association Brain Food and want to throw a little appreciation my way, buying me a beer is the way to do it. Thanks!
You never grow old at the table
I found an excellent recipe for salmon: firecracker salmon. My only change was reducing the brown sugar by half. On the side, a sauté of kale, chard, radish greens, chard stems, bacon, onion, red bell, and garlic, with some chicken broth to help melt the greens.
This dish is better suited to cooler months, but we enjoyed it anyway: chicken osso buco. I only had six thighs but kept the rest of the ingredients the same, and added sliced mushrooms to the mix. My breakfast idea for the leftover sauce: pour it over polenta and top it with a couple of fried eggs. Here’s the recipe I use for easy 12-minute microwaved polenta. On the side, roasted Brussels sprouts with red onion, bacon, smoked paprika, and garlic powder.
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.
Tue 5/26 at 2 p.m.* – How Foresight Keeps Associations Proactively Engaged in the Future
Explore how foresight visioning can help association professionals navigate disruption, spot opportunity, and make smarter decisions. Expect an intentional, energizing experience that makes the future feel more accessible and a lot less intimidating. Leave with fresh insight into what is possible for your association and a few simple steps to help you take action now. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Speakers:
- Beth Surmont, FASAE, CAE, VP, Event Strategy & Design, Smithbucklin
- Joy Davis, CAE, COO/Deputy Executive Director, American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists
*All events are online at Eastern Time unless otherwise noted.
Tue 5/26 at 3 p.m. – Building a More Efficient Organization: A Practical Framework
Learn about process improvement through a practical overview of Lean Six Sigma and how these tools and concepts can be applied to your everyday work. Hear how to help teams become more efficient in a way that is approachable and realistic. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Speaker: David Markovich, MS, MHA, SPP, LSSBB, Process Improvement Expert, Founder of Improve My Process
Wed 5/27 at 11 a.m. – Mastering the Three Zones of Association Leadership
Learn how strategy, risk management, and culture work together to strengthen or destabilize an association. Hear how to apply communication tools that help staff, volunteers, and members become aligned, and build long-term momentum by reinforcing habits that support clarity, resilience, and a healthy organizational culture. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Tip Tucker Kendall, Executive Director at National Grants Management Association
Wed 5/27 at 1 p.m. – What’s Shaping Live Experiences in 2026
Hear about the latest industry data, including new research from Encore and Boldpush, to help guide your in-person event decisions; how new audience demographics are impacting meetings and events content and production; the latest AV trends and features; and what gaps you need to fill in order to remain competitive and ahead of the curve. More info/register.
Host: Meetings Today
Speaker: Amanda Armstrong, SVP Industry Relations, Encore
Wed 5/27 at 1 p.m. – Mastering Memory for Professional Success & Peak Performance
Learn to develop life-changing memory skills that you can immediately apply to better retain and recall valuable information from conference sessions, training classes, and other professional development activities. Find out how to become a master at remembering names to get more out of networking at business events and leverage how human memory works to make your company’s messaging and event programming more memorable. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Chester Santos, Best-Selling Author and Global Keynote Speaker
Wed 5/27 at 2 p.m. – Finance and Business Operations (FBO) Meet Up
In this monthly open forum for association finance, business operations, and HR professionals, share pressing challenges, exchange ideas, and gain fresh perspectives from others in the field. Expect an interactive discussion that’s low-pressure, engaging, and packed with practical insights. Bring your questions, your experiences, and your curiosity, let’s learn from each other. More info/register (ASAE members only).
Host: ASAE Finance and Business Operations Professionals Advisory Council (including HR)
Wed 5/27 at 4:30 p.m. – The Alliance DC Networking Event (Washington DC)
Join The Alliance for an evening designed to bring our community together through meaningful connection. Building on the energy of our previous gatherings, this networking event creates space for women across the association and nonprofit space to connect, share experiences, and build relationships that support both personal and professional growth. Location: Washington DC. More info/register.
Organizer: The Alliance for Women in Associations
Thu 5/28 at 11 a.m. – Supercharged: How agentic AI will shape the events industry
Agentic AI is moving fast, fundamentally changing how commercial event organizers plan, operate and scale their shows. Learn how AI can automate workflows, hyper-personalize attendee experiences, and supercharge commercial event ROI. Get blueprints for integrating autonomous AI agents to drive real outcomes for your attendees, sponsors and bottom line. Explore how this new operating model is changing the game. More info/register.
Host: Grip
Speakers:
- Max Gabriel, Co-Founder & CEO, Markus AI
- Maanas Mediratta, Co-Founder & CEO, Bridged
Thu 5/28 at 11:45 a.m. – The Hidden Stress of Success: Mental Health, Burnout, and First-Generation Leadership
Explore the growing challenges of stress, burnout, and mental health among Latino professionals, with a particular focus on first-generation individuals navigating corporate and nonprofit environments. Learn how to recognize early signs of burnout in yourselves and your teams, understand how cultural expectations and first-generation pressures contribute to workplace stress, and explore practical strategies for building sustainable well-being while pursuing leadership and career advancement. More info/register.
Host: Association Latinos
Thu 5/28 at 12 p.m. – The Questions Keeping Event Leaders Up at Night, Answered
Three experienced event leaders share how they are rethinking their approach in real time. Hear about what should stay and what should go in your event portfolio, how to redefine success in a way that reflects today’s reality, and how to guide stakeholders toward smarter, more confident decisions. More info/register.
Host: PCMA
Speakers: Beth Surmont, FASAE, CMP-Fellow, CAE (360 Live Media), Francesca Malin (AAML), Sarah Gormik, CMP (NAWLA) and Melissa Dewey (AHRA)
Thu 5/28 at 12 p.m. – Investing Reserves in Today’s Capital Markets Environment
Learn about the key drivers influencing the investment landscape, the risks investors face, and the outlook for various asset classes; how global economic trends, interest rates, inflation, and geopolitical factors are shaping investment decisions today; and a practical cash reserves framework designed to help organizations allocate different pools of capital effectively. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: FAR Network
Speakers: Maura Pape, Senior Investment Strategist, and Jordan L. Forney, Principal, Investment Advisor, Bernstein Private Wealth Management
Thu 5/28 at 2 p.m. – Working with Influencers: Legal Essentials for Nonprofits
Social media influencers and content creators can be powerful allies for nonprofits seeking to expand reach, build trust, increase their fundraising efficacy, and mobilize supporters. Learn about legal and regulatory considerations, including how to structure agreements, manage compliance risks, and protect a nonprofit’s reputation to keep influencer partnerships effective, ethical, and legally sound. Find out what nonprofits need to know before engaging influencers, so they can leverage digital advocacy with confidence, including when lobbying or campaign finance rules may come into play. More info/register.
Host: Venable LLP
Speakers: Shahin Rothermel, Partner; David Owens, Counsel; and Cristina Vessels, Counsel, Venable LLP
Thu 5/28 at 3 p.m. – Tools & Tactics to Attract New Members: Beyond Renewals
Learn about the tools and tactics that high-performing associations are using to attract new members—from lead magnets and landing pages that convert to referral programs and automated onboarding sequences that make a strong first impression. See real examples of associations that built sustainable acquisition engines alongside their retention strategies without doubling their workload or budget. Walk away with a framework for identifying your best acquisition channels, a checklist for optimizing your membership landing page, and practical ideas for turning your existing members into a recruitment force. More info/register.
Host: Farhad Khan, CEO, Member Lounge
Thu 5/28 from 5 to 7 p.m. – 2026 MMC + Tech Happy Hour (Washington DC)
Some of the best conversations happen after hours. Join AWTC’s community of women and allies for an evening of good company, good, and drinks in the heart of DC. Everyone is welcome, no MMC + Tech registration required. Location: Washington DC. More info/register.
Organizer: Association Women Technology Champions
Tue 6/2 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. CDT – Beyond Membership: The Revenue Shift Associations Can’t Afford to Ignore (Chicago IL)
Explore how forward-thinking organizations are shifting from dues dependency to revenue resilience. Examine practical strategies to diversify revenue, monetize education more effectively, and create scalable programs that drive both mission impact and financial growth. From certification programs and on-demand learning to sponsored education, partnerships, and digital content ecosystems, discover untapped opportunities to transform learning into a sustainable growth engine and strengthening member value while generating meaningful non-dues revenue. Location: Chicago IL. CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: D2L
Speaker: Bill Sheehan, Global Head of Association Strategy, D2L
Tue 6/2 at 12 p.m. – Reporting/Visualizations for Different Audiences (Data Analytics Network)
1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Data Analytics Network
Wed 6/3 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – From Completion Data to Capability Evidence: How L&D Teams Build Skills Programs That Stick
Hear how to redesign learning programs from the employee [learner] backwards, so your program produces what employees can do, not just what they completed; use a three-stage progression model to turn course completion into demonstrated capability and usable skills data; and apply a five-point program audit to pinpoint where your current programs break down and what to fix first. More info/register.
Host: Training Industry
Speaker: Lauren Shapiro, Professional Services Lead, Accredible
Wed 6/3 at 11:30 a.m. – 5 Hidden Mistakes That Are Quietly Killing Your Member Retention
Most associations don’t lose members because of one big failure. It’s something more subtle. Learn about five hidden mistakes that many organizations make without even realizing it. From communication overload to lack of year-round value, these issues don’t always show up in reports, but they show up in your retention numbers. Get a new perspective on what might be holding your members back from renewing, engaging, and truly connecting with your organization. More info/register.
Host: iMIS by ASI
Wed 6/3 at 1 p.m. – The AI Power Hour: 30 Tools in One Webinar
Learn how marketers can harness the latest wave of AI innovation to boost creativity, speed, and impact. Get a rapid tour of 30 cutting-edge tools spanning language, video, image, and audio generation. Hear how AI streamlines content creation, automating analytics, and transforming everyday workflows. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Erica Salm Rench, MBA, CMO at Sidecar
Thu 6/4 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. – The AI Advantage: Driving Efficiency, Innovation, and Growth | Symposium
Find the session descriptions in the individual session listings below. Session
topics: Agents, Apps & Automations: The AAA Upgrade That Elevates Your Entire Association; Create an AI Roadmap! Let Us Show You How; From Disruption to Innovation: The Essential AI Toolkit for Association Leaders; and AI and the Future of Digital Experiences. 4 CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Evan Hawkins, Association Executive, W Strategies LLC
- Lisa Rau, PhD, Founder, Fíonta
- Sherry Budziak, CEO, .orgSource
- Joanna M. Pineda, CEO & Chief Troublemaker, Matrix Group International
Thu 6/4 at 10 a.m. – Agents, Apps & Automations: The AAA Upgrade That Elevates Your Entire Association
Learn how agents, apps, and automations can improve efficiency and enhance member services within an association; how nontechnical staff can design and build internal tools on their own or with limited assistance by leveraging their knowledge of members and communities; where to automate routine tasks and implement AI-powered support for communication, data management, and service delivery; how to create external-facing tools that generate non-dues revenue and expand the association’s impact; and how to integrate accessible technologies that strengthen organizational performance and empower staff to innovate. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Evan Hawkins, Association Executive, W Strategies LLC
Thu 6/4 at 11 a.m. – AI in Action: What You Can Do with AI Today, and Why AI Education Matters More Than Ever
Explore practical, real-world AI applications that you can start using today to work more effectively and create greater impact. Examine the growing importance of AI education as a core professional and organizational priority. Get a grounded view of how AI is being used right now, where you can begin experimenting, and why building AI literacy and confidence is critical for future success. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Speaker: Erica Salm Rench, CMO, Sidecar.ai
Thu 6/4 at 11:15 a.m. – Create an AI Roadmap! Let Us Show You How
Learn how to develop strategies to define an actionable AI roadmap; identify common issues encountered in implementing AI; and apply best practices in continuing AI roadmap governance. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Lisa Rau, PhD, Founder, Fíonta
Thu 6/4 at 12:45 p.m. – From Disruption to Innovation: The Essential AI Toolkit for Association Leaders
Learn about the top AI tools for associations that are reshaping productivity, innovation, and engagement. See demonstrations of AI tools driving personalized member interactions, creating visuals and videos, and streamlining operations. Hear how to incorporate AI tools into existing workflows to maximize their impact and deliver immediate value and lead your association into the AI-driven future. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Sherry Budziak, CEO, .orgSource
Thu 6/4 at 2 p.m. – AI and the Future of Digital Experiences
Learn how AI is changing member behavior, expectations, and digital discovery; how to deliver value using AI, including personalization, dynamic content, and real-time experiences; and how to evolve your digital strategy for an AI-driven experience. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Joanna M. Pineda, CEO & Chief Troublemaker, Matrix Group International
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