The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community
Good reads for the association community
“Believe those who seek the truth. Doubt those who find it.” —André Gide
AI rules for award entries. Odds are your award applicants are drafting entries with AI, and your judges can tell. OpenWater explains how to decide what AI use to allow in award entries, where to draw the line on disclosure and disqualification, and how to brief judges before your next submission window opens.
The membership decision. In his latest association trends report, Chris Vaughan (Sequence Consulting) says membership has shifted from a career reflex to an optional purchase. The usual remedies, like better programs and marketing, aren’t working as well as they used to. AI is chipping away at the value of the information and credentials associations sell, and employers increasingly decide who joins. He suggests treating employers like customers and building membership benefits around their workforce goals.
Board admin headaches. Association boards don’t operate alone. Behind each one sits a network of committees and other groups, each with its own charge and action plan. Most associations manage that work through email chains and shared drives full of PDF attachments. OnBoard describes the consequences: laborious meeting prep, unprepared directors, scattered records, and institutional memory that walks out the door after leadership transitions. The guide also suggests what to look for when shopping for board management software.
Association newsletter course. The Association Newsletter Success Certificate Course from Association Academy covers strategy to delivery. You’ll work through goals and metrics, formatting, design and copy, AI-assisted production, and the technical work that keeps your newsletters out of spam folders. Chris Gloede (Ricochet) teaches six live online classes starting October 22, and you can earn up to six CAE credits. Save $50 on registration with the referral code BRAINFOOD.
Membership lessons from a social club. Danielle Duran Baron (School Nutrition Association) writes for ASAE about the welcome a first-timer received at a private DC club. She says associations already have the lasting community these clubs work hard to create, yet many leave newcomers to find it on their own. Picture your annual conference the way a first-year attendee and a new exhibitor see it, both walking in without knowing a soul.
Run the AI test on your benefits. Sherry Budziak (.orgSource) suggests checking each of your membership benefits against what a professional could find with an AI chat bot in a minute or two, for free. Much of what fills a typical benefits list won’t pass the test. She recommends moving budget and staff hours toward the programs members still value and can’t get anywhere else, such as credentials and peer connection.
Ten website RFP mistakes. Most website design projects go sideways at the RFP stage, before the work even begins. Steward’s guide lists ten mistakes associations make in their website design RFPs. Fix these mistakes and you’ll get sharper proposals and an easier vendor decision.
Helping members with AI. Sidecar expects AI to change the everyday work of doctors, lawyers, architects, and other professionals associations serve. Members will look to their associations for guidance on when to rely on AI tools and how to stay profitable when the service they sell becomes easy to get. Sidecar recommends playing to your strengths, like community and ethical standards.
Setting AI fears aside. Carl Franzen (VentureBeat) looks at the latest round of AI doomsaying and safety research. He says you can set aside your fear of AI wiping out humanity. The danger he sees is people using AI to harm or control one another.
SHRM in the news, again. The blows keep coming for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Kate Tornone at HR Dive reports that SHRM’s insurance carrier is refusing to pay the $10 million award in a racial discrimination and retaliation suit. Meanwhile, HR Dive’s Emilie Shumway covers big changes to SHRM’s annual conference.
For job hunters. If you’re looking for a new association position, keep an eye on my ‘likes’ on LinkedIn. I ‘like’ many of the association job postings in my feed, and the more I like, the more the algorithm sends my way.
If Brain Food has been useful to you or your team, or has helped your webinar marketing, please buy me a beer. One beer is only $5, and there’s a box you can check to make it monthly. Thanks!
You never grow old at the table
On Sunday, I butterflied, stuffed, and rolled a pork loin with basil pesto, provolone, sun-dried tomatoes, caramelized onions, roasted red bell pepper, and parmesan. Now, THIS is the recipe I’ll make for Christmas Eve. I keep saying that about new pork loin recipes, but I think I’ve found my star.
And I can thank Claude for that. I knew I wanted pesto, some kind of cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes in the middle. I asked it for a recipe for a 4-1/4-pound loin using those ingredients, plus suggestions for anything else worth adding. Et voilà! For our side, I roasted broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots with garlic powder and sweet smoked paprika.
After Friday happy hour at the brewery, I wanted something easy, so I brushed salmon fillets with Korean barbecue sauce and popped them in the oven. Perfect with leftover roasted vegetables and sweet potatoes.
Many of our jalapeños have turned red on the plants because we can’t use them fast enough. Usually when I make fish with creamy jalapeño sauce, the sauce is a pretty shade of green. This time, it was pink. I added sweet onion to the recipe. Pureeing the cilantro into the pink sauce wouldn’t have helped the color, so I sprinkled it over the cod instead.
Our side was a produce-drawer special: I steamed broccoli stems and carrots while sautéing red bell pepper and onion. Then I tossed the steamed veggies and chopped tomatoes into the pan, let the tomatoes melt a bit, and stirred in basil pesto and parmesan.
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.”
Hello, 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 9/28 at 8 a.m.* – Strategic Alliances (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: Paula Seidel, Powerful Partners
*All events are online at Eastern Time unless otherwise noted.
Tue 9/29 from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. – LMS Demo Days
See presentations from a limited number of industry partners that offer Learning Management platforms. LMS experts will be showcasing platforms and sharing their knowledge with the association market. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Participants: LearnUpon, Path LMS by Momentive, D2L, Oasis LMS, GrowthZone, Elevate, BenchPrep, TopClass LMS
Tue 9/29 at 11 a.m. – Keys to Becoming a Certified Association Executive (CAE)
Preparing for the CAE credential is like getting a master’s degree in association management—the study is intense and it changes your professional life. Learn how to think for the CAE exam questions that test your ability to analyze the scenario, synthesize it with your accumulated knowledge, and evaluate which answer is correct. Find out about the foundation for the thinking and commitment you need to bring to the experience. Hear from CAEs in our community who will also share their perspectives on their CAE preparation and exam experience as well as the why of pursuing the credential. More info/register.
Host: Association Latinos
Speakers:
- Sue Radwan, 30 years of preparing CAE candidates
- David Murillo, CAE, IOM (moderator), President + CEO, Compass Management Solutions, Member of the CAE Commission
- Anabel Martinez, MBA, CAE, PMP, AAiP (moderator), Director of Member Services of California Water Environment Association
Tue 9/29 at 11 a.m. – Why Are You Losing Prospective Members?
Uncover the hidden friction points in your path to membership that cause interested professionals to walk away and learn how to turn your member journey into a smooth, high-converting path to purchase. Learn how to diagnose your member pipeline, eliminate sign-up friction, and turn interested prospects into active, long-term members. More info/register.
Host: Heather Hughes, PMP, Wisteria Solutions
Tue 9/29 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
Tue 9/29 at 2 p.m. – Control, Not Panic: What Pacing the Frontier Means for Your Association
Dario Amodei called for the AI industry to slow down. Altman, Musk and Hassabis agreed. The pace of the frontier is not something your association can control. The architecture you build on is. Learn what actually happened, what it changes for associations, and the four things you control that decide how exposed your organization is. More info/register.
Host: Sidecar
Speaker: Amith Nagarajan and John Huisman of Blue Cypress
Tue 9/29 at 3 p.m. – Your AMS Knows Your Members; Does Your Event Tech?
Explores what it looks like when systems share information, strategies leading associations are implementing to close that gap, and what it means for the member experience when they do. More info/register.
Host: Cadmium
Speaker: Ben Muscolino, President & CEO, AMS Geek
Wed 9/30 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. – LMS Demo Days
See presentations from a limited number of industry partners that offer Learning Management platforms. LMS experts will be showcasing platforms and sharing their knowledge with the association market. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Participants: MemberSuite, Maple LMS, Forj, EthosCE
Wed 9/30 at 11 a.m. – Future-Proofing your Association: Creating Ethical AI Guidelines
A recent study shows that while most executives are embracing AI, only 13% have implemented an AI policy. Without guidance, associations risk inconsistency, data exposure, and missteps. Learn how to write and sustain effective AI guidelines and leave with practical strategies for what to include and what to avoid, how to balance compliance with innovation, and how to use AI responsibly across content and distribution channels. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Sheri Singer, President at Singer Communications
Wed 9/30 at 11 a.m. – Work Smart: How AI Saves Your Event Team Time
Learn what AI can automate for your event team today and what stays with your team because judgment or ‘taste’ is required. Hear how the panel made those calls at their own events, what they automated first, what they tried and pulled back, and how they got their teams comfortable with the change. More info/register.
Host: Grip
Speakers:
- Rikki Bhachu, Exhibitions Marketing, CloserStill Media
- Samy Shafeeq, Group Director, Data & Business Systems, Mash Media
Wed 9/30 at 12 p.m. – Fewer Clicks, Same Results: Automating the Work That Slows Teams Down
Explore the difference between workflow automation and AI automation, and when each makes sense. Learn how to streamline internal handoffs between marketing, sales, and membership, leverage AI copilots for admin-heavy tasks, and measure efficiency gains in a way that connects time-saved to real business impact. More info/register.
Host: HighRoad Solution
Speakers: Morgan Mulgrew, Strategic Account Manager, and Maneesha Manges, CXO, HighRoad Solutions
Wed 9/30 at 12:30 p.m. – The Member Advantage: What Members Prove, What’s Slipping, and Where AI Changes Everything
Hear about the latest research from the 11th annual Association Trends Report, including: association members report more career success, leadership roles, and promotions than nonmembers, especially Gen Z and early-careerists; loyalty is softening among Millennials and mid-career members; and AI is reshaping what members expect. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Momentive Software
Speakers:
- Pam Loeb, Principal, Edge Research
- Tirrah Switzer, VP of Product Marketing, Momentive Software
Wed 9/30 at 1 p.m. – Sustainable Meetings: Zero In on Savings
Learn about effective sustainable event strategies designed to be more efficient with your time and money while treading lightly on the planet. Hear about the experience of hosting organizations with real-world examples of cost savings that are possible without sacrificing the attendee experience. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Meetings Today
Speaker: Nancy Zavada, founder and president of MeetGreen
Wed 9/30 at 2 p.m. – New Ideas for Working With Convention Centers
How can you get the most out of using convention centers for your events? Hear about the latest contracting tips, restrictions and opportunities around the vendors you partner with, and hacks to increase efficiency and save money. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Northstar Meetings Group
Speaker: Michael J. Shapiro (moderator), Director of Content Strategy, Northstar Meetings Group U.S.
Wed 9/30 at 2 p.m. – Three Levels of AI: Adopt, Automate & Achieve
Learn how associations are moving through three levels of AI adoption: from taking their first steps, to streamlining operations, to delivering greater member value than ever before. Explore relevant, real-life examples of associations that are figuring out the best ways to adopt AI to save time, reduce costs, and free up staff to do the work that only humans can do. Learn what each level looks like in practice, what it takes to move to the next one, and how to keep people – your staff, your leadership and your members – at the center of every decision. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Speaker: Leona Dalavai Scott, President, JEP Marketing Communications
Wed 9/30 at 2 p.m. – September Meet-Up for the Finance, Business Operations, and HR Professionals Community
Please join the FBO & HR Council for our monthly meet-up of professionals in the finance, business operations, and HR space. This is an open forum for folks to gather and ask questions, share ideas, and stay current on emerging issues. More info/register (ASAE members only).
Host: ASAE Finance, Business Operations, and Human Resources Council
Thu 10/1 at 12 p.m. – Association Governance and Leadership Town Hall: Governing for What’s Next
Every CEO in this profession is solving the same governance problem alone in their own boardroom, on their own timeline, with no way to know what the association down the street has already learned. As part of our ongoing sector research agenda, we’re convening the first Town Hall of its kind—a virtual gathering where association CEOs sit down together as a profession to begin building solutions collectively rather than separately. Using Natter, our AI-enabled conversation platform, you will be able to discuss three critical issues with your fellow participants. Every participant’s perspective is captured live and woven into a picture of where the field stands. More info/register.
Hosts: Association Laboratory and the Association Laboratory Research Alliance
Thu 10/1 at 2 p.m. – Haunted by Hackers: Cybersecurity Threats & How Associations Fight Back
Learn how AI is changing the threat landscape; wat cybersecurity risk actually looks like day-to-day for an association exec; what “cyber resilience” really means for a small-to-mid-size association team; what the most common vulnerabilities are in organizations like yours and the practical steps to close them; how to talk to your leadership and board about cybersecurity risk without inducing panic or putting them to sleep; and what managed detection and response (MDR) looks like in practice, and whether it might be right for your organization. More info/register.
Hosts: 501Works
Speaker: James Marquis, CIO, 501Works
Fri 10/2 at 1 p.m. – Foresight Fridays: Reshaping Social Connections
Hear a conversation inspired by the ForesightWorks driver Reshaping Social Connections. Learn about emerging changes in how people form and sustain connections and what those changes could mean for membership, engagement, belonging, and community across associations. More info/register (ASAE members only).
Host: ASAE
Speakers:
- Lowell Aplebaum, EdD, FASAE, CAE, CPF (moderator), CEO, Vista Cova
- Celia Chomón Zamora, PhD, CAE, Executive Director, American Council of Academic Physical Therapy
- Christina Lewellen, MBA, FASAE, CAE, Executive Director & CEO, National Society of Professional Engineers
- DJ Johnson, IOM, FASAE, CAE, Senior Director, Association Governance Operations, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Tue 10/6 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT – The Great AMS Reckoning: The Market’s Changed. Are You Ready? (Chicago IL)
Learn what your organization really needs from its next system in terms that resonate with your team and your vendors; how to assess your team’s readiness and build a plan for closing gaps before they become mid-implementation problems; how to evaluate platforms on what matters for your future: architecture, extensibility, and AI-readiness; and the full range of what’s possible – including the best-of-need ecosystems your peers are already exploring. Location: Chicago IL. More info/register.
Hosts: fusionSpan and Achurch Consulting
Speakers:
- Rebecca Achurch, Chief Executive Officer, Achurch Consulting
- Jeffrey Golembiewski, Chief Revenue Officer, fusionSpan
- Rebecca Duff, Director of Client Services, Achurch Consulting
- Scott Woodfill, Account Executive, fusionSpan
Tue 10/6 at 10 a.m. – How AI Is Transforming Association Websites
AI offers the opportunity for associations to vastly improve the member experience on their websites. Learn how to leverage AI to empower members to more quickly find answers and access to relevant content, ensure your organization’s content is findable through AEO and GEO, create a content governance structure that supports AI findability, and revolutionize member experience with your own AI Assistant. More info/register.
Host: Results Direct | RD Mobile
Speakers: Dan Scheeler, CAE, Chief Operating Officer; Steve Russell, Solutions Consultant; and Cecilia Satovich, CRO, Results Direct | RD Mobile
Tue 10/6 at 12 p.m. – Many Seats at the Table: Overcoming the Scarcity Mindset
Explore how business culture can unintentionally reinforce a scarcity mindset, leading even the most collaborative leaders to compete rather than connect. Learn how to shift from competition to coalition—unlocking new pathways for influence, growth, and collective success. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Speakers:
- Lindsay Currie, CAE, Executive Officer, Council on Undergraduate Research
- Clarissa Russell, Chief Revenue Officer, Design your Next Step
Tue 10/6 from 3 to 5 p.m. – Data Analytics Network (DAN) Data Science Fair (Washington, DC)
Come share a data project with the tech community using the classic tri-fold board. The Data Science Fair brings together association and nonprofit professionals to share practical, creative, and occasionally delightfully overengineered examples of how they are putting data to work. You will see successful projects, actionable research, and maybe even some examples of things not to try. Location: Washington, DC. More info/register.
Host: Data Analytics Network
Tue 10/6 from 5 to 7 p.m. – Fall DC Networking Event (Silver Spring, MD)
Connect with association and nonprofit women and allies from across the District, Maryland, and Virginia. Whether you have been part of The Alliance from the beginning or are just discovering our community, join us for a welcoming networking reception to reconnect with familiar faces, make new friends and professional connections, and experience the energy of a rapidly growing community committed to supporting and advancing women in leadership. Location: Silver Spring, MD. More info/register.
Host: The Alliance for Women in Associations
Wed 10/7 at 11 a.m. – Beyond Your Member Count: The Metrics That Reveal Your Association’s True Level of Member Engagement.
Traditional membership reports measure dues and renewals but often miss the participation patterns that reveal the real health of your membership. Learn how to evaluate member engagement using data you likely already collect, identify where members are dropping off, and uncover practical opportunities to strengthen participation, retention, and long-term membership value. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Surendar Parasuraman, Co-Founder at Communa
Wed 10/7 at 12 p.m. – Nunchi, Briefing, and Managing Up: The Art of Being Exceptionally Aware and Effective at Work
Nunchi, a Korean concept, combines awareness, intuition, and emotional intelligence into a powerful leadership skill. Learn how to pick up on what really matters, adapt your approach in the moment, and build stronger connections with the people who shape your success. Hear how to read your boss’s mood, when to press forward with an idea, and how to make sure both you and your organization shine. More info/register.
Host: AIOT
Speaker: Joanna Pineda, CEO & Chief Troublemaker of Matrix Group International, Inc.
Wed 10/7 at 12 p.m. – Interpreting Data Forensics: Triggers, Investigation, and Remedies
Explore the statistical and practical triggers that prompt deeper investigation of exams and how organizations distinguish between abnormal and normal variation. Hear both organizational and vendor perspectives that demonstrate how psychometric data, SME judgment, and sound governance work together to support fair, valid, and defensible certification examinations. Learn how to protect exam integrity and strengthen defensible, data-informed decision-making. More info/register.
Host: Certification Network Group
Speakers:
- Charlie Bonfert (moderator), Psychometrician, PSI
- Channing Benson, Program Manager for Examinations, American Association of Veterinary State Boards
- Sarah Pelter, Director of Research and Measurement, Inteleos
Wed 10/7 from 12 to 4 p.m. CT – Leadership Roundtable: Building Across Communities (Chicago, IL)
Spend time in real dialogue with colleagues who understand the work and bring perspectives you don’t hear every day. Focus on the questions that matter most right now: organizational AI strategy, mentorship that lasts, and leading through change. Location: Chicago, IL. More info/register.
Hosts: Association Latinos, Black Association Executives, and the AANHPI Association Community
Speakers:
- Sharon Pare, Director of Partnerships, HighRoad Solutions
- Eduardo Arabu, MSPPM, CAE, CEO, National Hispanic Corporate Council
- Jemilah Senter, AAiP, Marketing and Communications Strategist
Thu 10/8 at 11 a.m. – Cybersecurity in the Age of AI: What You Need to Know (But May Be Afraid to Ask)
Get a practical foundation in cybersecurity without the technical overload. Learn about key terms and concepts, how AI is changing cyber risk, and what leaders need to understand, ask, and prioritize. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions (AWTC)
Speakers:
- Iulia Griffin, CEO and Co-Founder of The Cactus Group
- Alison Maher, President and CEO of Skybrid Solutions
- Clare Espina, General Manager of designDATA
- Benjamin Muscolino, founder and CEO of AssociationWire (AMS Geek and Data Sangria), and co-founder and Executive Chairman of Vortacity Cyber
Thu 10/8 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. – Breaking Barreras: Empowering Tomorrow’s Early Professionals: HACE Virtual Student Summit 2026
Whether you’re preparing for an internship, searching for your first full-time role, or simply looking to grow your professional network, this summit is for you. We encourage students and emerging professionals across our network to register and share this opportunity with a friend. More info/register.
Host: Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement
Fri 10/9 from 12:30 to 3 p.m. – Breaking Barreras: Empowering Tomorrow’s Early Professionals: HACE Virtual Student Summit 2026
Whether you’re preparing for an internship, searching for your first full-time role, or simply looking to grow your professional network, this summit is for you. We encourage students and emerging professionals across our network to register and share this opportunity with a friend. More info/register.
Host: Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement
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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.
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