The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community
Good reads for the association community
Sunsetting online courses. Nobody wants to be the one who says “let’s 86 this course,” especially when nearly two years of volunteer and staff time went into building it. TopClass explains why association courses linger in catalogs long past their expiration date. They describe the sunsetting process: which criteria to check, who needs a seat at the table, and how to archive a course instead of deleting it so completion records and CE documentation stay intact.
Abstract submission standards. First-time abstract submitters bail more often over confusing guidelines than doubts about their own research. OpenWater identifies the submission standards that protect quality and describes how to frame them so newcomers don’t mistake evaluation criteria for automatic disqualifiers.
Member magazine. If your board keeps asking why the magazine costs so much, this m3Magazines guide hands you the counterargument. It explains how a well-designed publication builds trust, supports member retention, and pulls in non-dues revenue. It also includes a five-point checklist for spotting when your magazine needs a refresh and describes the kind of content that keeps subscribers turning pages.
Committee review. Aaron Wolowiec (Event Garde) has been fielding the same question across several different associations lately: Do we still need all these committees? He lays out the questions boards and staff should ask about each one, such as the problem it was created to solve, whether it’s doing the work or just advising on it, and what it costs to keep running.
The decline of search-driven website traffic. AI search engines are now answering questions before anyone clicks through to your website. Sidecar explains how much that’s already diverting traffic for associations. They say the fix is protecting your proprietary content behind your own walls and building on-site search grounded in your own trusted material.
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.
Controlling bosses. See if you recognize yourself in this Entrepreneur article. Michel Koopman (CxO Coaching) says most accountability problems trace back to leaders with control issues who won’t let go of the “how.” To encourage staff to take on more ownership, he recommends defining three to five non-negotiables per initiative, then letting your team own the rest.
Imagination and AI. David Brooks recently wrote in The Atlantic that AI could split us into two groups: those who use it to think harder and those who let it think for them. Henry Oliver (The Common Reader) says imagination is the real differentiator. He argues that motivation depends on being able to imagine who you might become, and that centuries of novels built that skill in readers long before AI came along.
Snacks
The false promise of Madonna’s eternal youth: Never trust an old person without wrinkles. | Stephen G. Adubato, Cracks in Postmodernity (His main message is in the unlocked portion of this post.)
The sabbath is a chance to read again. Going offline and unplugging each week reconnects us with something ancient. | David Bashevkin, The Wall Street Journal (gift link)
If you need CAE credits, check out Ed Rigsbee’s 41 workshops—nine of them are one-hour ethics workshops. You’ll need to pass a test to earn the credit.
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 much appreciated. Thanks!
You never grow old at the table
Nothing to share this week because I had periodontal surgery (bone grafting) last Thursday and have been on a soft food diet since. The highlight is breakfast: scrambled eggs made with sour cream (Bourdain-style) served over mashed avocado. I like my chocolate-banana-peanut butter protein shakes for lunch. For dinner, I choose from mashed sweet potatoes, mashed broccoli/potatoes with mushroom gravy (puréed, of course), a salmon/yogurt puree that looked like my cat’s canned Friskies salmon pâté, and puréed soups from the supermarket’s deli section. My immersion blender has been getting a workout.
Why do I even bother sharing all this? Because here’s my PSA for all of you who haven’t developed a flossing habit: you better get on it. I was a slacker for decades and now I’m paying the price. Cavities? Only a few. But gum disease? Different story. Hopefully, last Thursday’s surgery (not my first) will save two molars with significant bone loss. Please pray or send good energy for bone regeneration, which I hope is going on right now.
When you don’t floss regularly, bacteria eat away at your gums and supporting bone. If your dentist probes between your teeth and calls out numbers that are 4 or higher, your gum pockets are getting too deep.
So, no excuses. I don’t care if you’re tired or busy. If you don’t floss every day, eventually your slackness will catch up with you. Then, you’ll be out thousands of dollars and maybe some teeth too. My oral hygiene PSA (for today) is over.
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 7/24 at 1 p.m.* – Do You Even Know Who’s In the Room?
Members don’t lapse because of price. They lapse because nothing about membership was noticeable in between renewals. Learn why engagement starts with data you don’t have to nag people for and how to collect it as a byproduct of everyday conversations, not a portal nobody logs into. More info/register.
Host: PropFuel
*All events are online at Eastern Time unless otherwise noted.
Mon 7/27 at 8 a.m. – The Benefits of Being Proactive for Associations (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: Pamela Murphy, Founder and CEO, Minerva Insight Strategies
Mon 7/27 at 11 a.m. – The Career Playbook Senior Leaders Don’t Tell You About
Explore how to take ownership of your personal and professional journey by thinking like a CEO—of yourself. Get a clear framework for building your own personal board of directors; practical know-how to identify and recruit the mentors, sponsors, allies, and coaches who can actually move the needle on your growth; clarity on your leadership brand; tools to spot and break through the “broken rung” that’s quietly holding you back from your next opportunity; renewed confidence to advocate for yourself in rooms where decisions about your career get made; and one concrete promise to yourself—and a strategy to actually keep it. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Speakers:
- Nealy Wheat, CAE, SPHR, Chief Financial & Administrative Officer, American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), and Interim Executive Director, ASNT Foundation
- Lauren Nachstein, Vice President of Customer Experience, Construction Financial Management Association
- Terri Herrmann, CMO, Forj
Mon 7/27 at 12:30 p.m. – How Event Teams Can Deliver Better Sponsor ROI
Learn how sponsor expectations are evolving beyond lead retrieval, and what event teams need to deliver in order to demonstrate stronger business impact and event ROI. Explore how event, sponsorship, and revenue teams can work together more effectively to streamline workflows, improve communication, and create better sponsor experiences. Discover creative sponsorship ideas and engagement strategies that go beyond traditional booth scans to create more meaningful interactions and measurable outcomes. More info/register.
Host: Bizzabo
Speakers:
- Tammy L. Harvey, Senior Manager, Sponsorships and Events, Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Victoria Rasmussen, Marketing Director, BW
Tue 7/28 at 11 a.m. – Association Women Technology Champions 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 and other leaders in the field, it’s a space to meet new members, deepen existing relationships, and tap into the collective expertise. 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
Tue 7/28 at 12 p.m. – You Can’t “Just Do It Yourself” Forever: Using AI to Make Delegation Easier
‘I’ll just do it myself’ is understandable, but it isn’t sustainable. And AI agents only offer relief once they’re trained. So we built an AI agent that builds AI agents. Yes, really. It interviews you about a real task and hands back instructions your AI tool of choice can build from. Get your own agent instructions, plus a sense of what this could mean for your organization down the road. More info/register.
Host: fusionSpan
Speaker: Himali Shah, VP of Innovation, fusionSpan
Tue 7/28 at 1 p.m. – Top 10 Mistakes NFP Finance Teams Make in Reporting and Planning
Nonprofit finance teams are expected to deliver faster insights, support strategic decisions, and do more with limited resources. Learn about the ten most common reporting and planning mistakes organizations make—from disconnected data and spreadsheet dependency to ineffective board reporting and static budgets—and hear proven best practices that help finance teams improve accuracy, efficiency, and decision-making. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers: Corey Barak, Sr Sales Rep—Industry Solutions (NFP), and Rose Shah, Sr. Sales Rep—Industry Solutions, Solver
Tue 7/28 at 1 p.m. – How to Innovate Your Association’s Business Model
Discover how to approach business model innovation in a way that is structured, data-informed and grounded in the realities of today’s association landscape. Explore the business model challenges reshaping associations and the opportunities for innovation. Learn how the five dimensions of an association business model work together. Understand how to build a repeatable approach to business model innovation that supports long-term organizational growth. More info/register.
Host: McKinley Advisors
Speakers: Patrick Glaser, M.A., MPA, Chief Practice Officer, and Meena Dayak, M.A., Practice Director, McKinley Advisors
Tue 7/28 at 1 p.m. – The Human Side of Safety: Creating a Culture of Care in Events
Creating a safe event environment goes beyond policies and procedures. It starts with the decisions, communication, and leadership shown every day on the show floor. Learn what duty of care looks like throughout the event lifecycle, from move-in to show days and move-out. Hear how managers and rising leaders can support their teams, navigate operational pressures, strengthen communication, and help build a culture where safety is everyone’s responsibility. More info/register.
Host: ESCA’s Rising Leaders Committee
Speakers:
- Michael Kaack, Sr. Director of GES North American Safety, GES
- Allie Gramlich, Director of Business Development, CSI Worldwide
- Geb Walter, Vice President, Safety Field Operations, Freeman
Tue 7/28 at 3 p.m. – Meetings, Membership, and Margin: A Practical Approach to Non-Dues Revenue for Associations
Learn about the three most common non-dues revenue gaps in association meetings and events programs, and pinpoint which ones apply to your organization. Hear how to repackage existing event content into year-round revenue streams without adding significant staff time or budget. Find out how AI-powered tools are helping associations extend the shelf life of event content and increase discoverability for members searching for continuing education and programming. More info/register.
Host: Cadmium
Speakers:
- Brooke Passy, CMP, DES, Senior Meeting Manager, Association Headquarters
- Jessie Reyes, Vice President, Marketing, Cadmium
Wed 7/29 at 11 a.m. – Revenue Unplugged: Ask Us Anything About Non-Dues Revenue
This “Ask Us Anything” session brings together more than a century of combined experience helping associations design, diversify, and grow their revenue streams. Bring your toughest challenges and most curious “what ifs.” This is your chance to explore solutions that make sense for your members, mission, and market, such as creative twists on traditional sponsorships and partnerships; the value of aligning revenue goals with mission, member value, and sponsor value; current trends in pricing packaging, and corporate engagement; and strategies to move from one-off ideas or events to sustainable revenue programs. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Barbara Armentrout, Founder & Key Principal at BJA Solutions for Associations
- Bruce Rosenthal, Principal at Bruce Rosenthal Associates, LLC
- Dan Kowitz, Founder & CEO at JSB Partnership Consultants
- Dr. Michael Carr-Tatonetti, Founder, Pricing Strategist at Pricing for Associations
Wed 7/29 at 11 a.m. – The AI Toolkit for Event Organizers: The Tools You Need and How to Use Them
Hear about the AI tools event teams are using right now to grow audiences, protect market share and cut the hours lost to manual work. Learn how AI is already delivering for organizers: audience growth and matchmaking, sponsor and exhibitor value, and the operational grind that eats your team’s week. Find out about tools most organizers have not even thought about yet: the AI “second brain” that turns your scattered notes, transcripts and reports into an always-on knowledge engine, and the agentic systems that do not wait for instructions but act on your goals. More info/register.
Host: Grip
Speakers:
- Robyn Duda, Co-Founder & CEO, RacquetX
- Ellen McCormack, Head of EMEA Sales, Clay
- Ana Williams, Founder, The Hook Studio
Wed 7/29 at 12 p.m. – Practical AI for Sponsorship Sales: Real Tools, Real Workflows, Real Results
Explore practical ways association professionals use AI to streamline their business development workflows without losing the personal side of relationship building. See examples of how AI tools help turn meeting transcriptions into actionable follow-up, draft personalized sponsor proposals in minutes instead of hours, simplify post-event communication across multiple sponsors, and create more consistency and efficiency in day-to-day workflows. More info/register.
Host: Up10 Solutions
Speaker: Amy Michalski, Chief Business Development Officer, AIIM International
Wed 7/29 at 1 p.m. – Membership Innovation: Flipping the Script on Engagement
Learn how to uncover hidden assumptions that may be limiting the effectiveness of current membership and volunteer engagement strategies. Through reframing techniques, explore new ways to approach recruitment, retention, volunteer involvement, and member value creation. Explore belonging-centered engagement models designed to foster stronger connections, deeper participation, and long-term loyalty. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Justin Burniske, MBA, Principal Consultant, Co-Owner at Volunteer Me by Meta-Dao
Wed 7/29 at 1 p.m. – The State of Associations
Hear a panel of association executives discuss leadership development and minimizing volunteer burnout for associations; how associations can best support members at the local level through chapters; the ways associations can engage with and appeal to various generations; and the leadership role associations play in addressing major challenges for staff, members, and their professions. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Fonteva
Speakers:
- Howie Berman, MA, CAE, Executive Director, National PTA
- Tonja Eagan, MPA, AAiP, CAE, CFRE, MXC, CEO and Executive Director, Kappa Delta Pi
- Honna George, CAE, Chief Financial & Operating Officer, Computer Science Teachers Association
Wed 7/29 at 1 p.m. – Meetings Contract Clauses You Need to Know
Learn about the latest twists in meeting contracting, and the critical clauses that can make or break a meeting’s success. Topics will include price increases, AI innovations, staffing shortages, force majeure clauses, security issues and dealing with unpredictable government policies. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Meetings Today
Speaker: Joshua Grimes, Esq., Grimes Law Offices, LLC
Thu 7/30 at 12 p.m. – From Slides to Stories: Using AI to Repurpose Content
Hear how association marketing professionals (not AI experts!) are using AI to turn project recap notes into case studies, session slides into blog posts, and podcast transcripts into show notes. Get ideas, prompt templates, and new ways to make your content work harder for you and your organization. More info/register (ASAE members only).
Host: ASAE Marketing Professionals Advisory Council
Thu 7/30 at 2:30 p.m. – The State of Associations Report: What It Found and What to Do With It
If retention or non-dues revenue is on your plate this year, ASAE’s State of Associations report put numbers to exactly what you’re feeling. Amy Hissrich compiled it from a year of pulse polls, and she joins Dan Stevens live to get into the findings, what they mean in practice, and where to focus first. Bring a question—there’s live Q&A at the end. More info/register.
Host: Dan Stevens, President, TaleWind Digital
Guest: Amy Hissrich, MA, CAE, VP of International Affairs, ASAE
Thu 7/30 from 3 to 6 p.m. – Toast to Tech (Arlington VA)
Sip curated wines while exploring the latest technology trends shaping associations. Location: Arlington VA. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Speakers:
- Jill Treby, AWTC Board Member, Past Chair
- Gretchen Steenstra, Delcor, Vice President, Client Strategy
Wed 8/5 at 11 a.m. – The Mindset Shift: Migrating from Legacy “AMS Thinking” to AI-Ready “CRM Thinking”
Learn about the operational and architectural differences between legacy “AMS thinking” and a relationship-centric, AI-ready “CRM thinking” approach. Hear about implementation partners, the right configuration of Salesforce tools to meet your association’s specific operational needs, and a structured vetting process to select a qualified implementation partner who understands association workflows. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Jason Bailey, CTO at Bosma Enterprises IT Consulting
Wed 8/5 at 12 p.m. – Everyday Ethics in Every Situation
Many believe that ethics only apply to specific, high-stakes situations; but the truth is, ethics shape everything we do. Ethics are not a separate category of life; they continuously inform our behavior, our actions, and how we present ourselves to the world. Explore how creating and nurturing a deeply rooted ethical mindset guides us through daily life and empowers us to set a powerful example for others. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: AIOT
Speaker: Cecilia Sepp, founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting
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