The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community
Good reads for the association community
Influence loss. Members are finding conversations and connections where they can, and for a growing number of them, that’s no longer your association. Apti explains why members who never miss a renewal might still be getting their professional growth elsewhere and shows how online courses can help you remain an important part of members’ careers.
Two questions before strategy. Jeanne Eury (Association in Balance) borrows a framework built for corporate sustainability compliance and turns it into two blunt questions for associations: what impact can you prove you have on your profession, and what is your profession’s future already doing to your organization? She describes three patterns—silent majority members, exhibit floor churn, and renewing members who don’t evangelize—that emerge when boards skip this step.
Enhance your SEO skills. In the Association Academy’s Association Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Certificate Course, learn how to improve your association’s search rankings and bring more people to your site. This on-demand program offers five CAE credits and covers keyword research, content optimization, building site authority, mastering technical performance, and more. Save $50 by using the referral code BRAINFOOD.
Membership metrics. Association math was never my favorite subject, but if you’re in charge of membership, you need to get these numbers right. MGI’s guide covers seven essential membership formulas—including renewal rate, lifetime value, maximum acquisition cost, and steady state analysis—with plain-language explanations of what each one tells you.
Sponsorship myths. Lori Zoss Kraska (Growth Owl) and Bruce Rosenthal call out seven sponsorship assumptions that work against you, including the old standby that a bigger membership number means more sponsor appeal, when a well-matched audience is often the stronger pitch. Their advice starts with building every pitch around what the sponsor is trying to accomplish.
Curriculum architecture. James Young (Product Community) separates a body of knowledge—what competence looks like—from curriculum architecture—how learners acquire that competence. He describes what that structure needs: competency framework, pathways, progression, credentialing, and more. He says most associations have plenty of courses but no path connecting them, so members have no way to figure out what to learn next or in what order.
AI tool evaluation. Your board wants an AI strategy and staff are trying to figure out which tools to use. Dennison & Associates’ guide for associations offers a methodical evaluation process. It opens with a warning that the biggest mistake associations make with AI is buying a tool before defining the problem. It also includes a ten-question checklist for pressure-testing any AI tool purchase before you commit.
The original leadership school. In Palladium Magazine, Tanner Greer’s history of 19th-century American membership organizations, from Civil War relief societies to Gilded Age fraternal orders, describes three virtues that built civic strength: public oaths of loyalty, procedural discipline, and hierarchies that gave local leaders autonomy. He says associations today still run on this same foundation.
Trouble at ASA. Sociology has long tackled society’s most pressing challenges. But right now, as Pamela Paul describes in The Wall Street Journal, sociologists at the American Sociological Association are fighting themselves: one faction is boycotting the conference and membership has dropped by more than a third since 1972.
Snacks
This week’s notes from the Association Career Corner. | Helen Mosher
AI data integration: turn disconnected data into better decisions. | ShuffleInsight
“Information scales. Relationships don’t.” Michelle Mason (ASAE) on leadership, belonging, and the economics of the association world. | David Adler, Gathering Point News
Some people want no part of the melting pot. Europe spins another Islamist attack. The suspect in Berlin’s recent rampage was known to authorities. He slipped through the cracks because leaders minimize the threat of radical Islam. | Douglas Murray, The Free Press
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
Meals are looking more promising as I transition to food with a bit more heft after my periodontal surgery. Claude (the AI tool) gave me a few ideas for meals that my husband and I would both enjoy. I put freshly harvested basil to work in a pesto parmesan cream sauce (fortified with ricotta and egg yolk) with salmon and pasta.
Another night, we had Salisbury steak over mashed broccoli and potatoes. I’m hoping to get back to normal eating soon after seeing my periodontist at the two-week follow-up appointment. Please floss regularly, my friends, and make sure your kids (both young and old) have developed the habit too.
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 8/4 at 2 p.m.* – Prove Exhibitor and Sponsor Value with A Real-Time Calculator
Exhibitor and sponsor goals are shifting, their ROI expectations are shifting, and the way we show impact has to shift with them. Learn about a practical, flexible “Universal Event ROI Framework” built for associations of any size. Hear how to identify and measure eight key outcomes vendors look for—such as leads, customer engagement, brand visibility, thought leadership, competitive insights, partnerships, and content opportunities. Learn how to turn these outcomes into usable ROI through simple formulas, scoring models, and an interactive calculator you can bring back to your team. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Speakers:
- Lisa Moore, CAE, Executive Director, Raybourn Group International
- Teri Carden, Chief Operating Officer, Insight Guide
*All events are online at Eastern Time unless otherwise noted.
Wed 8/5 at 1 p.m. – How Associations Can Connect Content, Marketing and Data to Drive Membership Engagement
Explore a new model for association engagement, one where content, marketing, and data work together as a connected system rather than disconnected functions. Learn how to better align content strategy with audience behavior, reduce duplication across channels, and create more intentional member experiences that build trust and drive action. Hear how associations can shift from siloed communications to a more connected ecosystem designed for modern audience engagement. See how AI and association technology platforms can support smarter content planning, personalization, measurement, and cross-channel coordination. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Joe Stella, Chief Executive Officer at BackPocket Agency
- Susan Welter, Vice President of Marketing at PCMA
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
Wed 8/5 at 1 p.m. – How Event Teams Use AI to Rethink Their Event Programs
Hear how event and marketing leaders are building a practical framework for transforming workflows with AI, from identifying gaps and mapping use cases to preparing data, defining KPIs, assessing maturity, and securing executive support. Get a sharper path to AI adoption, a stronger foundation for AI-ready data and measurement, and tangible next steps they can put to work right away. More info/register.
Host: Meetings Today
Thu 8/6 at 2 p.m. – Vendor Ready: How to Work the Floor at ASAE Annual (Before You Even Get There)
ASAE Annual in Indianapolis is quickly approaching, which means your team is about to have more vendor conversations in three days than you’ll have all year. Learn how to prep your “must-ask” list before you hit the floor, how to separate a strong vendor pitch from a strong vendor partner, how to have candid conversations with current vendors face-to-face (better than any support ticket), what to listen for in a demo that tells you how a partnership will really go, how to use in-person time to negotiate or revisit existing contracts, and how to follow up after Annual so those conversations don’t go cold. More info/register.
Host: 501C Works
Speakers:
- Chip Flater, Director of Information Technology and IT Security, National Science Teaching Association
- James Marquis, CIO, 501Works
- Olivia Wilkins, Business Analyst/Project Manager, PerByte
- Sean Miriashtiani, Sales Executive, Element AMS
Wed 8/5 at 2 p.m. – Aligning Destination Selection With Event Objectives
Learn how to establish a framework for selecting destinations that takes into account event purpose, audience profile and the desired attendee experience—as well as budget—to evaluate your options better. Hear how factors like venue layout, local culture, climate and accessibility shape the agenda and attendee behavior. Learn how to sell the results to your stakeholders, making the case for the decision by connecting the destination to the business objectives and outcome. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Northstar Meetings Group
Moderator: Michael J. Shapiro, Director of Content Strategy, Northstar Meetings Group U.S.
Thu 8/6 at 12 p.m. – The Trust Gap: Connecting Assessment Integrity to Credential Defensibility
Hear about the Credential Security Trifecta: a practical framework for connecting identity verification, assessment integrity, and digital credential issuance into one auditable, defensible workflow. Learn where credential trust breaks down across disconnected systems, what a connected workflow looks like when it’s working, and why a credential that’s earned legitimately can still fail learners, expose programs to audit risk, and lose employer trust if the chain of custody behind it was never built to hold. More info/register.
Host: Accredible
Speakers:
- Brandon Smith, CEO, Integrity Advocate
- Dan Theckston, Chief Customer Officer, Accredible
Tue 8/11 at 10:30 a.m. – Meditation Skills for Busy Lives
Take a pause from busyness and learn simple mindfulness practices to ease stress and reduce the feelings of burnout. These monthly sessions, designed to help you create space in your day, include: 5 minutes to arrive and settle in, 10 minutes of guided meditation practice, and 5 minutes for questions and reflection. Every month, we explore a new area of meditation and introduce a practical skill you can carry with you. Open to everyone, no prior meditation experience required. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Meditation leader: Moira Edwards, Owner & President, Ellipsis Partners
Wed 8/12 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. CDT – Future-Ready Credentials: Assessing the Skills that Matter (Chicago, IL)
Translating durable (soft) skills into scalable assessment formats remains a persistent challenge within the credentialing space. Learn how credentialing bodies can effectively target the core constructs of durable skills using assessment methods that are both psychometrically sound and operationally feasible. Hear what balance can be struck between authenticity and scalability and how programs can implement approaches that are both economically viable and adaptable across diverse certification contexts. Location: Chicago, IL. More info/register.
Host: Certification Network Group
Wed 8/12 at 11 a.m. – How LMS Pricing Really Works
LMS pricing is often confusing by design. Learn the most common pricing models, including active users, registered users, portals, implementation fees, support tiers and overage charges. Get practical strategies for negotiating smarter agreements. More info/register.
Host: Talented Learning
Speaker: John Leh, CEO and Lead Analyst, Talented Learning
Sat 8/15 at 4 p.m. – AWTC @ ASAE Annual Happy Hour (Indianapolis, IN)
Join the Association Women Technology Champions (AWTC) community for an evening of great conversations, new connections, and a well-earned drink. Whether you’re a longtime AWTC member, attending your first ASAE Annual Meeting, or simply looking to meet fellow association professionals passionate about technology, you’re invited. Come solo or bring your colleagues—we’ll make sure you leave with new connections. Location: Indianapolis, IN. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Sun 8/16 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. – Noche Latina
Join us during ASAE Annual for Association Latinos’ signature Noche Latina—an unforgettable evening where la cultura, la música, and community come together! Connect with association professionals from across the country while enjoying vibrant musica Latina, dancing, delicious food, and meaningful networking. Whether you’re ready to hit the dance floor or simply conectar y celebrar, there’s a place for you at the table. More info/register.
Host: Association Latinos
If Association Brain Food has ever sent you to information you used, helped you earn CAE credits, or made Friday a little better, buying me a beer is a nice way to thank me.
Association Brain Food Weekly is published Friday mornings. If you offer free professional development to the association community, please send me the link by Wednesday afternoon.
Creative Commons licensed photo by Aaron Burden via Unsplash
Amazon, AssociationBrainFood.com, and Association Academy links allow me to earn a royalty and/or complimentary registration from any resulting leads or sales. Thank you!
Association Brain Food 