The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community
I’m away most of next week so this edition covers the events I know about for the weeks of August 17 and August 24. The next Association Brain Food will hit your inboxes on Friday, August 28.
Good reads for the association community
Where session proposals go wrong. You get weak proposals because you never showed speakers what a strong one looks like. OpenWater explains where things go awry and describes how to fix your submission form, such as putting a word cap on descriptions and providing a sentence starter that steers speakers toward outcomes, not just topics. They use examples from ASAE and EDUCAUSE to show how to put these fixes into practice.
Make the budget case for online courses. Apti describes how to pitch online courses to a board that’s watching every dollar. They suggest explaining the value of education in terms a board understands. They also explain how to frame new courses as a way to diversify revenue beyond dues and conference income, and what data to have ready before walking into that meeting.
Siloed teams, missed revenue. One of the most downloaded resources I’ve shared recently, Intuto’s 2026 Non-Dues Revenue Playbook pulls from discussions at RevUP 2025 Summit and Future Forward webinars. They aim their advice at associations where sponsorship, events, and education teams operate separately, each with their own goals and metrics. The report covers moving from transactional sponsorships to multi-year pathway models, putting your LMS to work as a revenue source, running small-format events, and creating board alignment, and it includes a revenue readiness audit.
Sharpen 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, site authority, technical performance, and more. Save $50 by using the referral code BRAINFOOD.
Why conference ideas go nowhere. Sheri Jacobs (Avenue M Group) polled association execs and found that conference ideas rarely survive the trip home. The top culprits: no one defines a next step or takes ownership. Monday’s workload makes the problem worse. She suggests picking one priority during sessions, building accountability, and protecting time to debrief right after the event. Hey, ASAE speakers, consider using one of these ideas in your session.
Make your CE programs findable. Joshua Goldman (CredUp Hub), writing for International Accreditors for Continuing Education & Training, explains why continuing education and credentialing programs need to be readable by more than just website visitors. He describes how structured data, CTDL-aligned metadata, and digital credentials help hiring systems, funders, and credential registries confirm what a program delivers, and how to audit and update the way your programs show up online.
Board admin challenges. Association boards don’t operate alone. Behind each one sits a network of committees and other groups, each with its own calendar and charge. Their work is usually managed through email chains, shared drives, and PDF attachments. OnBoard describes the consequences of this approach: laborious meeting prep, unprepared directors, fragmented records, and disappearing institutional memory after leadership transitions. They describe the criteria to evaluate when looking for board management software.
The case for cohorts. Jackson Boyar (RallyBoard) describes why membership growth often comes with a side effect: people start to feel like a face in a crowd. He draws on research and association examples to make a case for cohorts, mentoring groups, and committees as structures that build member engagement. He closes with a short list of ways to put this idea into practice.
Membership as a relationship. Answers for Associations traces engagement struggles back to an emotional anchor: whether members feel like they belong to a community. Citing Harvard Business Review and McKinsey research, the post links stronger renewal to participating throughout the year via mentoring, contributing ideas, and showing up for conversations. Renewal isn’t the result of a single decision but of twelve months of member experience.
Snacks
Here’s your pre-flight reading: How I survive ASAE Annual as an introvert. | Ben Rome
If you’re looking for an association job, schedule a regular check of my “likes” on LinkedIn. I like most association jobs that come into my stream, and because of that habit, I’m seeing more and more job postings.
Why mentoring matters more in the AI era—here’s an opportunity for associations. | Marlo Lyons, Harvard Business Review
A scholar explains the surprising benefits of small talk with strangers and offers tips on how to do it better. Elizabeth Bernstein, The Wall Street Journal (gift link)
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 efforts, buying me a beer is much appreciated. Thanks!
You never grow old at the table
A one-pot meal that includes your vegetable: fish with coconut green curry sauce over brown rice. I made it with some kind of bass one of us caught in a nearby lake, along with collard greens, cubes of steamed sweet potato, and a garnish of chopped peanuts.
We’re in the middle of a huge habanero harvest, so chiles will be on the menu for the next few months. A couple of them went into this wonderful bacon jam that I served over pan-fried pork chops. Oink oink. I didn’t detect the wallop of heat I expected. It probably dissipated in the bacon fat. On the side, roasted Brussels sprouts with red onion, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.
We enjoyed an old standby, blackened salmon made with smoked paprika, salt, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, ancho pepper, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. A great excuse to make cheesy (cheddar) grits for a side, plus roasted (nuked, really) sweet potatoes and leftover roasted broccoli—same prep as the Brussels sprouts above.
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.
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
*All events are online at Eastern Time unless otherwise noted.
Sun 8/16 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. – Success Crew Happy Hour (Indianapolis, IN)
After a full-throttle day at the ASAE Annual Meeting & Expo, join us for the Success “Pit” Crew Victory Lane Happy Hour. Expect great drinks and appetizers, interactive experiences, plenty of laughs, and the chance to connect with some fantastic people from across the association community. Race-day flair is encouraged, and don’t forget your conference badge for entry. Location: Indianapolis, IN. More info/register.
Hosts: 31 generous association industry partners
Sun 8/16 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. – Noche Latina (Indianapolis, IN)
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. Location: Indianapolis, IN. More info/register.
Host: Association Latinos
Mon 8/24 at 8 a.m. – Radical Visibility and the Soul of the Nonprofit Sector (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: Peter Murphy, President of the Miami County Community Foundation
Tue 8/18 at 12 p.m. – AWTC Virtual Co-Working Session
Virtual co-working is an online gathering where participants spend dedicated time working alongside one another. In the first five minutes, brief introductions: your name, organization, and the project, task, idea, or decision you hope to make progress on or complete during the session. This is not a webinar or presentation; it’s protected time to work alongside your AWTC champions. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions (AWTC)
Tue 8/18 at 1 p.m. – Enough with “Just”: Owning Your Role as a Volunteer Engagement Professional
“Just” ends here. This conversation challenges volunteer engagement professionals to stop minimizing their role and start owning it. Through the lens of professional self-advocacy, we’ll explore how to speak to your impact, claim your expertise, and lead with the authority your work deserves. More info/register.
Host: Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration
Speaker: Severina Ware, CVA, Director of Volunteer Services at National Breast Cancer Foundation
Wed 8/19 at 12 p.m. – Ask Better, Lead Better: Illuminating Financial Insights
Explore how better questions can become a practical communication tool for strengthening financial conversations, surfacing key insights, and building trust between finance and non-finance leaders. Learn how to ask more intentional financial questions, recognize what strong answers should include, and communicate financial insights in ways that lead to more informed decisions, stronger collaboration, and greater alignment between resources, strategy, and mission. More info/register.
Host: Your Part-Time Controller
Wed 8/19 at 1 p.m. – How Planners Can Use AI Effectively and What it Can and Can’t Do
Learn to use AI to streamline workflows, enhance creativity, and improve event outcomes. Hear how to integrate AI tools into your daily planning workflow, what AI can and can’t replace in human creativity and decision-making, how to use AI ethically and efficiently, and examples from planners already leveraging AI successfully. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Prevue Meetings
Speakers:
- James D. Feldman, CSP, CITE, CPIM, CPT, PCS, keynote speaker, AI implementation strategist, and author of Shift Happens!
- Nick Borelli, Director of Marketing, Zenus
Wed 8/19 at 2 p.m. – Evolving Rules of Site Selection: Where Planners Are Winning Today
Hear about some of the shifts happening in the market and the smart moves planners are making in response. From tapping into second‑ and third‑tier cities to rethinking timelines, expectations and negotiation tactics, learn what’s working right now, how alternative destinations are changing the sourcing landscape, what planners are doing differently in their search and selection process, and how to stretch budgets without compromising quality. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Northstar Meetings Group
Speaker: Debbie Garcia, entrepreneur, event-technology innovator, and founder of Virsitour
Wed 8/19 at 3 p.m. – Event Contracts Exposed!
Unexpected charges rarely come from “hidden” fees. They stem from incomplete disclosure by the supplier and missed contracting opportunities by the client. Learn how to identify potential fees, ask the right questions, negotiate transparency, and strengthen contract language to reduce financial surprises and protect your event budget. More info/register.
Host: Heather Reid, Planner Protect
Thu 8/20 at 11 a.m. – Putting Momentum Back Into Your Membership Flywheel
Most membership organizations don’t have a growth problem, they have a momentum problem and it often shows up at renewal. Learn where the flywheel leaks and a right-sized way to fix it. No rip-and-replace required. More info/register.
Hosts: Jim Thompson, Tying It Together Consulting, and Walt Rolle, Light 516
Thu 8/20 at 3 p.m. – Unlock Viral Engagement: How to Turn Passive Members Into Your Best Marketing Channel
Your best marketing channel isn’t LinkedIn, email, or paid ads. It’s the members who already love what you do. Learn about the psychology and mechanics behind member advocacy: what motivates professionals to endorse their association publicly, and what kills that impulse. Explore real examples of associations that turned engaged members into vocal advocates through referral programs, user-generated content, peer recognition, and community-driven events. Hear about the common mistakes that make advocacy feel forced or transactional. More info/register.
Host: Member Lounge
Speaker: Amanda Doimo, Marketing Specialist, Member Lounge
Thu 8/20 from 5 to 7 p.m. CDT – The Alliance Chicagoland Networking Event (Schaumburg, IL)
Building on the energy of our previous gatherings, this event creates space for women across the association and nonprofit space to share experiences and build relationships that support both personal and professional growth. Whether you’re reconnecting with familiar faces or making new friends, this is an opportunity to expand your network and engage with a community that is welcoming, engaging, and supportive. Location: Schaumburg, IL. More info/register.
Host: The Alliance for Women in Associations
Fri 8/21 at 3 p.m. – Nonprofit Consultants Collaborative Monthly Networking Meeting
This monthly networking meeting is organized by consultants for full-time consultants who work with non-profits and associations. You don’t have to be an ASAE member to attend. This month’s agenda includes sharing good news and taking questions from the group. More info/register.
Organizer: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting
Tue 8/25 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
Tue 8/25 at 12 p.m. – Managing Burnout: Practical Strategies for Women
Explore the unique stressors women face and how burnout affects well-being, team dynamics and performance. Learn to recognize early signs of burnout and walk away with practical strategies to prevent, manage and recover from it. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: The Alliance for Women in Associations
Speaker: Maureen Dingus, CAE, Chief Operating Officer, Virginia Society of CPAs
Tue 8/25 at 12 p.m. – Training for the Trades: Workforce Development in Action
Hear about one trade association’s award-winning initiative to develop cradle-to-grave training for a critical role in their industry. Learn about the high-level discussions that led to the initiative’s first phase, targeting frontline workers in their first 90 days on the job, and explore samples from the finished course. Walk through the framework used to identify the business drivers that shaped this initiative. Get prepared to have conversations with key stakeholders and to design initiatives that do more than just teach—that have the potential to transform a workforce. More info/register.
Host: Training Magazine Network
Speakers:
- Diane Elkins, Co-Founder, Artisan Learning
- Jill Marshall, Instructional Designer
Tue 8/25 at 12 p.m. – Beyond Membership: A Revenue Shift Associations Can’t Afford to Ignore
Dues-dependent funding models leave organizations exposed to market shifts and membership volatility. Learn how associations can think less like traditional membership organizations and more like media companies—strategically monetizing content, education, and engagement to build durable non-dues revenue. Walk away with practical strategies across sponsorships, advertising, certification, educational programs, sponsored content, and partnerships. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: GrowthZone
Speaker: Bill Sheehan, Global Head of Association Strategy, D2L
Tue 8/25 from 12 to 3 p.m. – Webinar Fest
Learn exactly what best-in-class webinars look like in 2026. Over three days you’ll build AI event workflows hands-on, earn a Certified AI Webinar Specialist badge, and see the benchmark data that tells you where your program really ranks. See a live demonstration of the tactics you’re learning, so you don’t just hear what great looks like, you spend three days inside it. If webinars are part of your job, this is the one event that makes you the expert on your team. More info/register.
Hosts: Goldcast, Cvent, and ON24
Tue 8/25 at 1 p.m. – How Nonprofits Can Turn Their Audience Into Community
Learn why so many nonprofit communities are overfed with content but undernourished in connection; the basics of community building—trust, belonging, repetition, member-to-member connection, and clear participation pathways; how to design simple 1:1 or small-group connection programs without adding another login, app, or forum to manage; lessons from The Nonprofit Hive, including 3,100+ members, 40%+ email open rates, 130+ weeks active, and strong 1:1 match retention; and practical ways nonprofits, associations, and communities of practice can use connection tech to deepen engagement. More info/register.
Host: Nonprofit-Apps
Speaker: Tasha Van Vlack, Co-Director and Community Lead of The Nonprofit Hive and founder of Community Hives
Tue 8/25 at 3 p.m. – What Will Your Members Actually Buy? Using Learner Market Intelligence to Build Programs That Sell
When a catalog of learning programs underperforms, the problem isn’t necessarily the content quality; it’s a misalignment between what the organization decides to build and what the target audience is willing to pay for. Learn the difference between needs assessment and market analysis; data points that inform learner buying behavior; a simplified market analysis framework to evaluate a current or planned program; and integrating learner market intelligence into the program development workflow to reduce the risk of low-enrollment offerings. More info/register.
Host: Cadmium
Speaker: Tracy King, MA, CAE, Chief Learning Strategist & CEO, InspirEd
Wed 8/26 at 11 a.m. – Should You Stay or Should You Go? The AMS Edition
Before you start shopping for a new system, it’s worth determining whether your challenges stem from internal processes, data, adoption, governance, changing organizational needs, or the technology itself. Explore the key questions and considerations that can help you decide whether to stay the course and optimize what you have or move on to a new solution. Get a framework for making a confident, strategic AMS decision. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers: Gretchen Steenstra, Vice President, Client Strategy, and Kelly Gardner, Sr. Technology Consultant, DelCor Technology Solutions
Wed 8/26 at 11 a.m. – Meeting Engineering: How AI-Powered Connections Are Rewriting Event outcomes
51% of attendees cite networking as a primary reason to attend events, so organizers are applying more scientific methods to connect their participants: leveraging data and AI to ensure the right meetings happen at their events. Learn how leading organizers are becoming “Meeting Engineers” where they design, build and automate the AI systems that connect the right people at events. More info/register.
Host: Grip
Speakers:
- Rhiannon James, Group President, Pharma, Healthcare, Technology & Wellness, Questex
- Alex Anikeev, Head of Technology, HumanX
Wed 8/26 at 12 p.m. – Inbox Reality Check: What’s Actually Working in Email Marketing Now
Email is still one of the most effective channels associations have. But the rules have changed. Inbox algorithms are smarter. Engagement signals matter more, and familiar tactics don’t deliver the same results they once did. From engagement-based signals and list strategy to content, cadence, and the role of AI, learn what’s working now (and what’s quietly hurting you). Get practical insights to improve deliverability, earn attention, and make email a stronger part of your overall member engagement strategy. More info/register.
Host: HighRoad Solutions
Speakers: Morgan Mulgrew, Strategic Account Manager, and Maneesha Manges, CXO, HighRoad Solutions
Wed 8/26 from 12 to 2:30 p.m. – Webinar Fest
Learn exactly what best-in-class webinars look like in 2026. Over three days you’ll build AI event workflows hands-on, earn a Certified AI Webinar Specialist badge, and see the benchmark data that tells you where your program really ranks. See a live demonstration of the tactics you’re learning, so you don’t just hear what great looks like, you spend three days inside it. If webinars are part of your job, this is the one event that makes you the expert on your team. More info/register.
Hosts: Goldcast, Cvent, and ON24
Wed 8/26 at 1 p.m. – Event AV & Production: Delivering Impact While Staying on Budget
Learn about the technology elements that will deliver great experiences without blowing the budget, potential pitfalls to be aware of in all stages of the process, red flags that could threaten to blow up your budget, and some of the latest AV and production features that will make your event stand out. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Meetings Today
Speaker: Scott Frankel, president of Animatic Media and founder of the Meeting Professionals Audiovisual Certificate (MPAC) program
Thu 8/27 at 12 p.m. – Clarity Before the Conference: Building the Case for a New AMS
You already know your AMS needs to change. Getting everyone else on the same page is the harder part. Join Moira Edwards and Rhoni Rakos for a practical conversation on how to build internal alignment, make the case to leadership, and walk into AMS Fest ready to move forward. More info/register.
Host: Ellipsis Partners
Speakers: Moira Edwards and Rhoni Rakos, Ellipsis Partners
Thu 8/27 from 12 to 2 p.m. – Webinar Fest
Learn exactly what best-in-class webinars look like in 2026. Over three days you’ll build AI event workflows hands-on, earn a Certified AI Webinar Specialist badge, and see the benchmark data that tells you where your program really ranks. See a live demonstration of the tactics you’re learning, so you don’t just hear what great looks like, you spend three days inside it. If webinars are part of your job, this is the one event that makes you the expert on your team. More info/register.
Hosts: Goldcast, Cvent, and ON24
Thu 8/27 at 1 p.m. – Association Playbook for New Non-Dues Revenue: What Capabilities Are Required to Scale New Revenue Streams?
Explore emerging non-dues revenue opportunities for associations. Learn how digital engagement supports long-term sustainability and growth; how associations are monetizing content, communities, events, and digital services; and how to improve member value while generating new revenue streams. More info/register.
Host: Causeis
Thu 8/27 at 2 p.m. – Your Association Website: Should It Stay or Should It Go?
Learn what makes a high-performing website and how to determine the level of change needed to achieve your goals. Find out about the six technical questions you need to answer to prevent common pitfalls for your website project, and the key to aligning multiple departments and stakeholders to prevent missteps—ensuring a successful outcome focused on your audiences and results. More info/register.
Host: Mighty Citizen
Speakers: Nicole Araujo, Senior Director of Client Engagement, and Stephen Tidmore, Chief Technology Officer, Mighty Citizen
Thu 8/27 at 2 p.m. – Beyond the Send: What the 2026 VoterVoice Benchmark Report Means for Your Advocacy Program
The takeaway from VoterVoice’s 2026 Benchmark Advocacy Report is clear: your messages are being delivered, but your audiences aren’t giving them as much attention. When deliverability improves but engagement doesn’t, the problem isn’t technical—it’s strategic. Learn why 2025 played out this way, and what advocacy teams can do differently to finish 2026 strong. More info/register.
Host: VoterVoice
Speakers: Anna van Erven, Content Manager, and Paul Ellender, Senior Product Manager, VoterVoice
Fri 8/28 at 12 p.m. – The Volunteer Advantage: Secrets to Recruiting and Engaging Difference-Makers
Do you see a gap between what your volunteers bring to the table and what your organization draws out of them? And do you need clarity on whether they’re getting what they need in return? Hear real case studies on volunteer recruitment and engagement, and how to build a culture where they are engaged, contributing, and satisfied. More info/register.
Host: Zzeem Consulting
Wed 9/2 at 12 p.m. – Easy Ways to Multiply Your Sponsors’ & Exhibitors’ Success at Events
Many events unintentionally isolate sponsors and exhibitors from the very community they hope to reach. Discover practical techniques to create more conversations, stronger relationships, and greater value through better networking, room design, receptions, participation activities, strategic breaks, and other easy-to-implement engagement strategies. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: AIOT
Speaker: Lee Gimpel, founder of Better Meetings
Wed 9/2 at 12 p.m. – Where Mission and Margin Meet: Insights on Learning Strategy for Association Leaders
Learn how to use the Mission-Margin Matrix to map your learning portfolio and identify what to protect, strengthen, and let go. See how your priorities compare against other associations on their strategic goals, biggest constraints, and areas of investment. Hear what 27 association CEOs said about what’s working with their learning programs and the forces putting pressure on old models. Get clear on why AI is an accelerant, not a strategy, and what that means given where most associations are with AI adoption. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: GrowthZone
Speakers: Jeff Cobb and Celisa Steele, co-founders of Tagoras and co-hosts of the Leading Learning Podcast
Wed 9/2 at 1 p.m. – Align, Assess, Govern, Launch: Creating a Value-Driven AI Strategy
AI adoption is accelerating, but many organizations lack a clear strategy for turning experimentation into meaningful outcomes. Learn how to align AI initiatives with organizational goals, establish effective governance, and launch high-impact use cases. Get a practical framework, governance guidance, and a 90-day roadmap for responsible AI adoption. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Dan Hickey, Sr. Strategic Consultant, DelCor Technology Solutions
- Ginger Ausloos, VP, Information Technology at AACSB International
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