The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community
Good reads for the association community
Member learning habits. TopClass LMS makes the case that associations need to think about learning as a behavior to build, not just a product to sell. The post draws on James Clear’s Atomic Habits and BJ Fogg’s Behavior Model to apply behavioral science to practical education design. They cover identity-based habit formation, friction reduction, and making learner progress visible.
Mobile app vs website. A mobile-responsive website waits to be visited, which works fine for attracting prospects but does little to keep members engaged once they join. Clowder explains how an app keeps members engaged year-round through push notifications, targeted content, and renewal reminders, then describes what each tool (app and site) is actually designed to do, so you can decide what makes sense for your association.
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 ideas, and a 90-day starter plan most small teams could handle.
Free marketing design/copy course. The Association Creative Marketing Masterclass is a four-week course designed specifically for association professionals. You’ll learn what makes banner ads, landing pages, and email copy actually work. Live weekly classes are led by association CMOs and cover the copy and design techniques that get results from your promotional materials—and you earn up to four CAE credits. Classes start Thursday, July 2 at 1 p.m. Enrollment is free with your referral code BRAINFOOD.
Certification as a lead magnet. Most associations use education to serve their members. ISC2 used it to find them. It’s giving away its entry-level cybersecurity certification—training and exam included—to anyone who wants it. More than 570,000 people took the course; 65,000+ earned the credential; and nearly 9,000 went on to a second ISC2 certification. Trace Wilkins, who earned the credential herself, makes a case that removing barriers to learning can fill your membership pipeline.
Association relevance. Most associations track engagement—webinar registrations, conference attendance, email opens—but Ed Rigsbee (Member ROI Guy) argues those metrics miss the more important question: Are members getting value they can’t easily find somewhere else? With members increasingly having their most important professional conversations in communities the association can’t see or reach, he makes the case for shifting attention from membership share to influence share.
Website design. If your association website is showing its age, or you just launched a new one and already sense it won’t meet your expectations, this guide from 10 Pound Gorilla explains how building your site from reusable, structured blocks makes it easier to maintain, update, and grow without starting over. It also describes three approaches to website design and their trade-offs.
Credentialing challenges. Meazure Learning identifies four tensions credentialing programs are navigating right now: exam security against a professionalized cheating economy, AI efficiency versus human accountability, workforce velocity versus credential rigor, and candidate-centric design versus high-stakes standards. The post treats these not as problems to be solved but as the reality credentialing programs are working in now, and works through what each one looks like in practice.
Conference as a community ritual. Francisco Opazo (Led by Community) says if your annual conference competes with YouTube on content, you lose; if it competes with reunions on belonging, you win. Members can get information anywhere. They come for hallway conversations, the chance to meet people who get it, and a sense of belonging to a professional tribe. He shares practical advice on room design, community rituals, scheduling, and post-event measurement.
Snacks
Scam alert! Someone scraped one of .orgSource’s webinars and is selling access to it on WebinarTV without permission. | Sherry Budziak (with helpful comments)
6 trends redefining the association member experience. | Higher Logic, Associations Now
World Cup visitors remind us, 250 years later, America is still great. | David Larson, Carolina Journal
Association Brain Food is a labor of love and always will be. If it’s been useful to you, your team, or your webinar marketing, buying me a beer is genuinely appreciated. Thanks!
You never grow old at the table
My husband and I both came home with a bunch of cilantro, so I looked for ways to use it before it went bad. Here’s a quick one: cumin-roasted salmon with cilantro sauce. Before baking the salmon, sprinkle it with a mix of cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Make the sauce in an immersion blender: cilantro, chives, garlic clove, lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Put the sauce on your eggs too!
On the side, southwestern slaw that I originally made for our Canes Stanley Cup celebration cookout. After eight years of contending, it feels good to finally be champions.
I’m not sure where I found this recipe for pan-seared Asian salmon with green onion sauce, but since some of our green onions are more than two feet long, this one will be on rotation. The versatile sauce includes green onions, olive oil, garlic, soy sauce, maple syrup, rice wine vinegar, and sesame oil. On the side, sweet and sour melting cabbage.
This one isn’t pretty but it tastes great: southwest buttermilk baked chicken thighs. I added garlic powder (instead of garlic salt), dried oregano, onion powder, and cilantro to the recipe. On the side, roasted asparagus sprinkled with a Turkish seasoning blend from Penzey’s.
One of our favorites, choo chee Thai fish curry is a recipe from Nancie McDermott’s cookbook Quick & Easy Thai: 70 Everyday Recipes. If you want to make your own version, here’s what I put in mine this time: floured and browned pieces of lake bass (or any firm fish); sautéed onion, red bell pepper, jalapeño, green onions, and garlic; coconut milk, red curry paste, fish sauce, soy sauce, palm (or brown) sugar, southeast Asian pesto (or cilantro, mint, and/or Thai basil), julienned chard; and a garnish of chopped peanuts.
Now that my basil plants are in all their glory, pan-seared fish fillets in white wine tomato basil sauce will be making frequent appearances on our menu. I made it with cod this time and always omit the sugar. On the side, steamed asparagus, which goes well with the sauce.
An old stand-by, pork Milanese, is easy to make. On the side, another favorite (as you know), roasted broccoli with red onion, garlic powder, and parmesan. I enjoy the leftover broccoli in my breakfast burritos with hummus and roasted eggplant.
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 6/29 at 8 a.m.* – Building Corporate Partner Relationships (Radio Free 501c, the podcast of Rogue Tulips Consulting)
Every week, Rogue Tulips brings the association community intriguing guests who discuss vital topics affecting associations around the world. Episodes are published Monday mornings in both audio and video format, available on YouTube and the usual podcast channels.
Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, ACNP, LPEC, Principal & Founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting
Guest: Roger Atkins, NTMA
*All events are online at Eastern Time unless otherwise noted.
Mon 6/29 at 11 a.m. – AWTC Open Doors
Open Doors is a monthly online gathering for AWTC members—45 minutes designed for genuine connection, discussion, and problem solving. With rotating hosts from the AWTC community, volunteers, board, and other leaders in the field, it’s a space to meet new members, deepen existing relationships, and tap into the collective expertise of the community. Each session opens with an ice breaker, moves into a featured topic or AMA, and includes a “Situation Room” where members can bring a real challenge and gather insight from peers. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Mon 6/29 at 12 p.m. – Board Burn Out and What to Do If you See It
Instead of losing valuable contributors, learn how to identify board burnout symptoms, ways to prevent it, how to discuss this topic with your board members, and what to do if it becomes disruptive. More info/register.
Host: Association Xchange
Speaker: Denise Roosendaal, Executive Director, Institute for Credentialing Excellence
Tue 6/30 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT – Going Global, The APAC Decision: Executive Working Session 2: From Conversation to Credible First Moves (Chicago IL)
Designed for senior association leaders exploring international growth through APAC, this session builds on the themes surfaced during the March discussion in Chicago and moves the conversation into a more practical phase. Through real case examples, working frameworks, and board-relevant tools, participants will examine readiness, consider credible first steps, and explore key strategic questions around governance, market entry, partnerships and operating models. Location: Chicago IL. More info/register.
Hosts: Talley Management Group and Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau
Tue 6/30 at 11 a.m. – Change Agents: How AI Will Transform the Business of Events
Hear about an upcoming Grip report based on interviews of over 12 industry leaders about how AI will change the business of events. Learn how AI can act as the ultimate automation tool to remove operational bottlenecks, hyper-personalize the attendee experience, and monetize intent year-round. Find out how to use AI to protect your market share, scale regional micro-events, and drive real outcomes for your attendees, sponsors, exhibitors and bottom line. More info/register.
Host: Grip
Speakers:
- Ben Fletcher, Chairman of event organizer, Oxford Global
- Marco Giberti, Founder and CEO of Vesuvio Ventures
- Tim Groot, CEO and Founder of Grip
Tue 6/30 at 11:30 a.m. – Measuring the Impact of AI in Associations: Moving from Experimentation to Organizational Value
According to the latest MemberWise Digital Excellence Report, 26% of associations are using AI, yet only 6% have a AI strategy in place, and just 3% are delivering member-facing AI tools. The gap between experimentation and measurable value remains. Learn what it actually takes to move AI from a tactical add-on to a driver of organizational outcomes, covering the three areas where most associations are getting stuck: strategy before tools, moving from task automation to member value, and data readiness as the foundation. More info/register.
Hosts: Betty and Cantarus
Tue 6/30 at 1 p.m. – How HFMA Co-Developed a New Model for Member Engagement
How do you give 145,000 members access to personalized peer connection without scaling staff? Hear about the cohort-based engagement model HFMA developed. Across Regional Councils, Chapter Leaders, and Emerging Leaders, the program has generated 23,000+ minutes of peer learning and a ~50% meeting attendance rate. Learn about the strategic frame, the design choices, what worked, and what didn’t. Get a framework to design role-specific cohorts within your membership, realistic benchmarks for participation and staff time, and the business case to bring to leadership. More info/register.
Host: RallyBoard
Speakers:
- HFMA’s Stephanie Denvir (Chief Member Value Officer) and Tracy Benway (VP of Member Experience)
- RallyBoard CEO Jackson Boyar
Tue 6/30 at 1 p.m. – Data for Decision-Making for Healthcare Associations
Explore how associations are leveraging data to strengthen operations, enhance member experiences, and guide organizational strategy. Discover how to identify the data that matters most for advancing your mission and strategic goals; build a culture that empowers leaders and staff to use data with confidence; turn dashboards, analytics, and member insights into meaningful action and measurable outcomes; and how healthcare associations are using data to improve engagement, drive growth, support advocacy efforts, and uncover new opportunities. More info/register (ASAE members only).
Host: ASAE Healthcare Community Cafe
Facilitators:
- Tammy Dillard-Steels, MPH, MBA, CAE, Principal Consultant, TDS Advisory
- Chad Appel, JD, CAE, Vice President, Advocacy, American Podiatric Medical Association
- Megan MacNee, MPA, CAE, Executive Director, California Society of Anesthesiologists
Wed 7/1 at 11 a.m. – AI Is Changing the Inbox, Are Your Emails Ready?
AI is already reshaping how emails are delivered, summarized, and prioritized—especially in Gmail. That means your members may be seeing a version of your email before they even open it. Learn how inboxes are changing, what it means for associations, and how to adjust your email strategy now. Get simple, practical ways to improve your email structure, content, and design so your emails stay visible, relevant, and effective. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Amber Worthen, CEO & Founder at Email Maven
Wed 7/1 at 12 p.m. – Insights from MGI’s 2026 Edition of the Membership Benchmarking Annual Report
Every year, one report sets the benchmark for how associations recruit, engage, and retain members—and the 18th edition is here. Hear what the new numbers reveal: where membership growth is holding (and where it’s stalling), how engagement patterns are shifting, what’s happening with dues and renewals, and how associations are actually putting AI to work in their membership marketing. Get concrete benchmarks to measure your own organization against and ideas you can act on now. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Insights in Old Town (AIOT)
Speakers: Michelle Peterson, Vice President of Client Strategy, and Serenity Greenfield, Managing Director of Account Services, Marketing General Inc.
Tue 7/7 at 1 p.m. – Inside The Alliance: Charting Your Next Chapter
No matter where you are in your career, you’re not alone. Many accomplished women are asking similar questions about growth, visibility, and what’s needed to take the next step. Join us for our next virtual conversation (open the everyone) as we explore these realities together. Choose between two breakout conversations: Job Market & Career Transitions or Career Mobility & Advancement. More info/register.
Host: The Alliance for Women in Associations
Wed 7/8 at 11 a.m. – How to Buy an LMS for Associations (LMS Buyers Office Hours)
Associations require a different buying lens than corporate LMS buyers. Learn how to evaluate platforms for member education, certification, test preparation, community engagement, social learning, events, recurring revenue and integrations with your AMS or CRM systems. More info/register.
Host: Talented Learning
Speaker: John Leh, CEO and Lead Analyst at Talented Learning
Wed 7/8 at 11 a.m. – Goldilocks and the Three Community Events
Professionals are presented with a wealth of opportunities to engage through association and industry events, but how does one choose where to go, and how do you make the most of the experience? Hear practical strategies for getting the most out of every event opportunity, regardless of your role: end-user, vendor, partner, consultant, staff, or volunteer leader. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Bobby Small, Community Strategy at DUG (Dynamics User Group)
Wed 7/8 at 1 p.m. – The M&A Blind Spot: What Association Leaders Need to Know About Valuation Before It’s Too Late
Based on over a decade of strategic valuation and market intelligence work across Fortune 1000 companies, private equity portfolios, and nonprofit mergers, learn how M&A really works—from the wide range of valuation outcomes that make deals unpredictable, to the due diligence failures that sink them, to the fundamentally different rules that apply when nonprofits merge versus when for-profits transact. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Edgar Baum, CEO at Avasta
Thu 7/9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – How to Design a Product Portfolio
All associations create value. But without a coherent portfolio, you’re missing patterns, synergies, and hidden revenue. Learn how to define and describe a product portfolio; analyze and map your current offerings; organize them into a high-level product portfolio; identify interdependencies and find new value; use your portfolio as a strategy, planning, or budget tool; and keep your portfolio updated and timeless. More info/register.
Host: James Young, Product Community
Thu 7/9 at 12 p.m. – On The Hunt
A monthly, community-driven virtual gathering designed to support AWTC members who are exploring new opportunities, navigating a job search, or considering their next move. Connect with peers, share insights, exchange leads and resources, and stay encouraged through the job-hunting process. Each session includes informal discussion, optional themed topics, and space for participants to reflect on their next steps to create momentum while prioritizing connection, flexibility, and community support. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions (AWTC)
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