The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community
Good Reads for the Association Community
Segmentation without automation. Sending one push notification to the entire membership is easy right up until a longtime member receives an invitation to the young professionals meetup. Clowder explains how your association’s mobile app can sort members into audiences based on their AMS records and what they do in the app. Learn which segments to build first and how to start small by cleaning only the records your first segment needs.
The renewal clock starts early. New members set their course toward renewal somewhere between three days and three weeks after joining, says Amanda Lea Kaiser (Kaiser Insights). The small choices they make about engaging during that window determine whether they renew, so a slow onboarding start can cost you the member. She explains what new members hope to find in those early days and how a short email series can give it to them without trying to solve every problem at once.
Before your AMS search. If a software search is on next year’s calendar, start with this guide from ASI/iMIS. It explains how a system preview lets you try the software with your own data and processes before you invest. You’ll also learn how to use peer references and independent review sites to hear from associations with needs like yours. Another section covers what to look for in a platform so your other tools connect to it and your data stays in one place.
Why they dropped the credential. Liz LeClair (Uprising Philanthropic) and Michelle Fuko (Queen’s University) each earned the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) because they heard it would bring them standing, but neither is keeping it. In a LinkedIn post, Fuko concludes she was buying a way for others to recognize knowledge and experience she already had. LeClair, who served on the CFRE International board and exam committee, still sees a place for credentialing. Her post covers the barriers to certification she observed and the affordable, stackable credentials she’d like to see instead.
Setting board priorities. Association boards have plenty of good ideas and a hard time choosing among them, says Sharon Kneebone (American Academy of Pain Medicine). When the board sees every initiative as mission-aligned, that won’t help anyone decide where limited resources go. She wants the board and CEO to agree on decision criteria once strategic priorities are approved, then share the reasoning with staff and committee leaders. Those criteria also protect the board-CEO relationship since the board sets the reasoning behind decisions and the CEO keeps the authority to recommend and act.
Non-dues revenue playbook. Your website, newsletter, and member directory can earn more than they do now. GrowthZone’s guide describes how associations make money with directory upgrades, sponsored podcast slots, tiered sponsorship packages, and more. The guide includes eight tactics, sample pricing, and a 90-day starter plan that won’t overload a small team.
Exhibit with a plan. After decades of running CES, Gary Shapiro (Consumer Technology Association) has seen exhibitors with modest budgets get great results and big spenders walk away with little. In this Fortune commentary, he credits the difference to strategy, a lesson he takes from Robyn Davis’ new book, Exhibit Smarter. Successful exhibitors set goals and train their staff long before the doors open. He also explains why face-to-face marketing still matters to buyers who want to meet the people behind a product.
Member data for member value. Your AMS may already hold much of the data you need to offer members a more personal experience. Gwen Garrison (Strategico Consultants) shows how to use AI to test whether that data is trustworthy and decide which fixes matter most. Once your data is in better shape, you can spot members like the annual meeting regular who may be waiting for a personal invitation to join a committee.
Association in the News
The Justice Department warned the American Bar Association of a potential antitrust probe over rules limiting the role of part-time law professors. The department said the limits on adjunct faculty hurt education and drive up tuition. | Dave Michaels, The Wall Street Journal (gift link)
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
This week’s highlight: huge soft-shell crabs Jim brought home from a seafood market on the coast. I cook them simply, with butter and lemon, because that’s all they need. For our side, I roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon, red onion, garlic powder, and hot smoked paprika.
Softies might have been the highlight, but this creamy chicken Florentine was pretty darn good too. I doubled the recipe because I wanted lots of sauce for the gnocchi I added to the pan. I also added bacon, red bell pepper, and dried Italian herbs, and subbed onion for shallot and evaporated milk for cream, taking it all up a notch.
In this company, firecracker salmon is no slouch. We love its spicy and sweet punch. On the side, we had the usual roasted broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots with garlic powder and sweet smoked paprika.
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.
Fri 10/16 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 topics include holiday messages for clients, plus sharing good news and taking questions from the group. More info/register.
Organizer: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting
*All events are online at Eastern Time unless otherwise noted.
Mon 10/19 at 8 a.m. – Beyond Governance: Building an AI-Ready Data Strategy (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: Daniel Elacqua and Gwen Harrison of Strategico Consulting
Mon 10/19 at 1 p.m. – Off the Record: The Membership Challenges Keeping Us Up at Night
Bring the membership problem that follows you home at the end of the day to this informal Membership Mondays session. You’ll split into breakout rooms with other membership professionals to brainstorm ideas and solutions for each other’s challenges. Come ready to share your own challenge, offer a fresh perspective on someone else’s, and leave with a few ideas to try. More info/register (ASAE members only).
Host: ASAE
Tue 10/20 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
Tue 10/20 at 11 a.m. – The Executive Playbook for AI Ready Data Strategy
Learn how to build the data foundations required for responsible, scalable, and high-impact AI. Explore how to move from fragmented data environments to governed, trustworthy, decision-ready intelligence. Hear how to prioritize investments, avoid costly missteps, establish effective data leadership and accountability models, and maintain control across complex vendor and integration ecosystems. Learn how to connect data and AI investments to measurable business and mission outcomes, including efficiency, growth, and risk reduction. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers: Daniel Elacqua, Chief Executive Officer, and Christopher Maynard, Senior CIO Consultant, Strategico Consultants
Tue 10/20 at 12 p.m. – From Idea to Income, Part 2: How to Build It
Learn how to translate a topic into course outcomes before you build anything; plan a subject matter expert interview that gets you usable content without stalling the project; build a storyboard that carries a course from outline to published product; evaluate learning platform vendors against five questions that matter more than a feature list; and see how the link between your learning platform and member database affects whether the program survives year two. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: GrowthZone
Speaker: Angela Robbins, Ph.D., VP Global Business Development & Learning Solutions, Mission Fuel AI
Tue 10/20 at 12 p.m. – October Crunch and Munch: Driving Broader Member Engagement with an Inclusive Volunteer Recruitment
Volunteer members are the most engaged members, with a higher retention rate and more perceived value out of the association. Yet many associations don’t create a volunteer recruitment process that actually engages all members, instead relying on members bringing their friends along. Discuss what challenges exist in the volunteer engagement process, ways your association has tried to address them, and what small steps people have taken to improve their process so other people might learn from those. More info/register (ASAE members only).
Host: ASAE Component Relations Volunteer Management Advisory Council
Moderators: Justin Burniske and Sean Shindl
Tue 10/20 at 1 p.m. – Rethinking How Your Nonprofit Structures Its Reserves
Learn how to segment reserves by purpose as well as time horizon, including operating, planned, stability, strategic, and restricted reserves; how to size stability and planned spending reserves; what belongs in a reserve policy your board can adopt and maintain; and how that policy works alongside your Investment Policy Statement. Leave with a practical framework to bring back to your finance committee. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Raffa Investment Advisers
Tue 10/20 at 2 p.m. – Beyond Features: A Modern Framework for LMS Selection
Get a fresh look at LMS selection, including AI readiness, data privacy and security, migration planning, and why your implementation partner matters. Learn how to evaluate AI capabilities, assess privacy and security practices, avoid common selection pitfalls, and recognize the qualities of a strong implementation partner. More info/register.
Host: D2L
Speakers:
- Robyn Hammontree, VP Academic Partnerships, D2L
- Dr. Luke Hobson, Assistant Director of Instructional Design, MIT xPRO
- Dr. Floyd L. Wormley Jr., Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Texas Christian University
- Dr. Melissa Clayton, Assistant Director of Learning Technologies & Online Education, Texas Christian University
- Dr. Fran Huckaby, Associate Provost of Faculty Affairs and Executive Director of the Koehler Center
Tue 10/20 at 2 p.m. – How Event Teams Use AI to Rethink Their Event Programs
Get a practical framework for using AI to change your event workflows, including how to find gaps, map use cases, prepare your data, define KPIs, assess your AI maturity, and win executive support. Leave with a clearer path to AI adoption, a stronger foundation for AI-ready data and measurement, and next steps you can apply right away. More info/register.
Host: Smart Meetings
Speakers: Allyson Keenan, Senior Manager, Event Technology and Operations, and Stephanie Sweetland, Senior Director, Marketing Systems, Cvent
Tue 10/20 at 3 p.m. – Sponsorship That Sticks: How to Build Corporate Partnerships That Renew Themselves
Learn why sponsors walk away (the reason is rarely the price tag); the proof points corporate decision-makers need to see before they approve a second investment; how to move the conversation from a transactional ask to a value-aligned partnership; how to keep the relationship alive between events; and how to identify the ROI metrics your sponsors track and put them front and center. More info/register.
Host: Cadmium
Speaker: Lori Zoss Kraska, MBA, CFRE, Founder/CEO, Growth Owl
Wed 10/21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – CMEpalooza Fall
CMEpalooza is a free, biannual, online conference geared toward individuals involved in the development and implementation of continuing medical education for healthcare professionals. Broadcasts will stream live and be available for viewing shortly after their conclusion. More info/register.
Hosts:
- Derek Warnick, continuing healthcare education professional, founder of CMEpalooza
- Scott Kober, MBA, Managing Partner, Excalibur Medical Education
Wed 10/21 from 9 :10a.m. to 5:30 p.m. – AMS Demo Days
See presentations from a limited number of industry partners that offer AMS platforms. AMS experts will be showcasing platforms and sharing their knowledge with the association market. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Participants: MemberSuite, MC Professional, GlueUp, Fonteva, Autrinity, MEM360, ReadyMembership, YourMembership, re:Members AMS Platform, Element AMS, ideal AMS
Wed 10/21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Nonprofit Consultants Collaborative Virtual Open House
Meet different consultants, ask them questions, get to know them, and find out more about the unique services they offer to associations and nonprofits. We are all independent experts delivering strategic custom solutions. More info/register.
Host: Nonprofit Consultants Collaborative
Wed 10/21 at 11 a.m. – From Panic to Action: Putting Cybersecurity into Practice
Through real-world case studies, explore how organizations identify vulnerabilities, prepare for threats, and respond when an incident occurs. Learn what to expect from your Managed Service Provider (MSP), where responsibilities lie, and how your critical systems and data are being protected. Get clear, actionable steps you can take today to reduce cyber risk, protect critical assets, and prepare for an incident. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions (AWTC)
Speakers:
- Iulia Griffin, CEO and Co-Founder, The Cactus Group
- Ryan O’Donnell, Vortacity Cyber & TrapLine.io
- Kevin Fassanella, Director of Security and Compliance, designDATA
- Nicole Araujo, CAE (facilitator), Senior Client Engagement Director, Mighty Citizen
- Trace Wilkins (facilitator), Never Search Alone
Wed 10/21 at 1 p.m. – Beyond the 4.2: How to Get More Insightful, Actionable Feedback From Your Event Attendees
Explore how associations can get richer, more actionable feedback by rethinking what they ask, when they ask it, and how attendees are invited to respond. Look at how better open-ended questions, SMS, voice-to-text, and AI analysis can help uncover the why behind the rating including themes, sentiment, friction points, and practical opportunities to improve the next event. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Chris Bonney, Founder and CEO at DoTell Surveys
Wed 10/21 at 1 p.m. – The State of Associations (Association Tech Expert Series)
Hear what the panel’s organizations are seeing with their memberships, where opportunities are developing, and what all of this means for associations moving forward. Topics include recruiting volunteers and developing a robust leadership pipeline, how associations can lean into community as a strategic advantage, and the ways associations can leverage AI to better serve their members and industries. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Fonteva
Speakers:
- Amy Kane, CAE, MBA, SVP, ABC of Georgia
- Brandon Robinson, M.A., CEO, AGC of Virginia
- James Thomas, Executive Director, ASHI
- Anne Tomkinson, SVP People & Business Excellence, NAA
Wed 10/21 at 1 p.m. – Learning Business Roundtable
Spend 45 minutes in discussion with peers from other learning businesses. Recent meetings covered LMS selection and migration, low completion rates for long webinar recordings, using AI to turn session recordings into recaps, pricing a new certificate against low-cost competitors, and keeping leadership program participants from dropping out. The roundtable meets the first and third Wednesdays of each month, and is open to all learning business professionals. Email to get a calendar invitation.
Host: Leading Learning
Wed 10/21 at 1 p.m. – Project Management for Association Professionals
Elevate your project management skills with this session tailored specifically for learning professionals and designed to address the unique challenges of association projects. Hear practical strategies for identifying data, engaging stakeholders, developing teams, setting expectations, tasks, and resources while managing timelines for association initiatives. Learn how to utilize your strategic plan to develop effective project and implementation plans. Review the five phases of the project process including planning, kick-off, design, development, and implementation utilizing goals such as increasing program attendance, registration revenue or fostering an engaged community. More info/register.
Host: Dawn Tedesco
Wed 10/21 at 1 p.m. – Avoiding Leadership Limbo: Principles for Effective Transition Planning
Leadership transitions can arrive suddenly or be delayed by the hope that change is still far off. Either way, many organizations find themselves unprepared when the moment comes. Learn about the types of succession planning and outlines how nonprofits can proactively prepare for each. Through real-life scenarios, explore the practical steps needed to ensure continuity of operations, preserve institutional knowledge, and intentionally carry forward organizational culture. More info/register.
Host: Nonprofit Nav
Wed 10/21 at 1 p.m. – Sharpening Your Negotiating Skills with Vendors & Hotels + Your Salary
Learn how to define your negotiation goals and stick to them; why negotiating doesn’t mean being aggressive, and what to do instead; strategies for negotiating your salary and understanding your value; and the key differences between negotiating with vendors and with employers, and what works best with each. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Prevue Meetings & Incentives
Speakers:
- Cheryl Payne, Strategic Partner, INNOV8 Meetings + Events
- Mary Clare Darland, CIS, CITP, Sr. Manager, Sourcing & Supplier Relations, Brightspot Incentives & Events
Wed 10/21 at 1:30 p.m. – Meet CNG: Special Event at EXG 2026 (Providence, RI)
If you’re attending The I.C.E. Exchange, stop by the back of Innovation Hall to meet the Certification Network Group board. Learn how to join this free networking group, get involved with its virtual, DC, or Chicago program committees, present as a subject matter expert at a future CNG event, or explore sponsorship opportunities. Location: Providence, RI. More info/register.
Host: Certification Network Group (CNG)
Wed 10/21 at 2 p.m. – RevUP Summit Pre-Game: Amplify Your LinkedIn Presence
Learn five simple moves to strengthen your LinkedIn profile, then identify the people you want to meet and make your outreach more purposeful before RevUP 2026. Leave with practical actions you can use right away, and bring your profile, connection goals, and questions to the onsite RevUP Influence Lab for a personalized next step. More info/register.
Host: Professionals for Association Revenue (PAR)
Speaker: Colleen McKenna, Principal + Founder, Intero Advisory
Wed 10/21 at 2 p.m. – Connect Your Data, Scale Your Non-Dues Revenue: AI LMS meets AMS
Associations have valuable member, learning, and engagement data, but disconnected systems can make it difficult to turn that data into better member experiences and new non-dues revenue opportunities. Explore how connecting your AMS and LMS can create a more connected member experience, personalize learning, and unlock new opportunities through education and certification. Hear how AI is transforming association learning through personalized content, smarter recommendations, and actionable insights. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Speakers: Darrean Janes, Senior Strategic Partnerships & Growth Executive; Matt Peterson, CMP, LES, Relationship Director; and Shubham Sarvesh, LMS Expert | MapleLMS
Wed 10/21 at 2:30 p.m. – Event Contracts Exposed
Hear about the critical questions event professionals should be asking when important protections, responsibilities and remedies are absent from the contract. From supplier failure to perform and labour disruptions to renovations, ownership changes, undisclosed fees and other operational risks, we’ll look beyond the words on the page and ask: What should be in this contract, but isn’t? More info/register.
Host: Heather Reid, Planner Protect
Thu 10/22 from 9:15 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. – AMS Demo Days
See presentations from a limited number of industry partners that offer AMS platforms. AMS experts will be showcasing platforms and sharing their knowledge with the association market. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Participants: Aplusify, iMIS by ASI, Cobalt AMS, re:Members AMS, Wicket, Naylor, Altai Systems, GrowthZone, Protech, Nimble AMS
Thu 10/22 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Strategy, Not Scare Tactics: Executive Leadership for Association Growth (Vienna, VA)
Participate in a live debate, a peer panel, and a hands-on incident tabletop exercise. Get a first-hour incident response plan guide; a clearer view of what your managed IT provider covers during an incident, and where the gaps could sit; language for the conversation with your board about AI risk and AI opportunity; and a room of peers who are making the same calls you are, and the insights they’ve gained along the way. Location: Vienna, VA. CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: designDATA
Thu 10/22 at 11 a.m. – Business Artistry in Associations: Moving from Transaction to Transformation
If you look at the average association website, you’ll see a home page that features a wall of products, events, and news. As a result, members often view their associations as vendors—distributors of products to buy or register for. Learn about the principles of Business Artistry: actionable insights that can be applied to all parts of association operations. Discover how shifting from a product-first mindset to human-centered artistry can transform member recruitment, event experiences, publications, and even daily communications. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Joanna M. Pineda, CEO & Chief Troublemaker, Matrix Group International, Inc.
- Nir Hindie, Founder, The Artian
Thu 10/22 at 12 p.m. – Embracing Visibility to Build Your Brand
Learn practical strategies for becoming more intentionally visible without feeling as though you must become someone you are not. Through guided reflection, practical examples, participant interaction, and individual planning, find out about visibility approaches that align with who you are while encouraging you to stretch beyond your current comfort zones. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: The Alliance for Women in Associations
Speaker: Jacqueline M. Baker, leadership strategist, keynote speaker, author, modern etiquette expert, and founder of Scarlet
Thu 10/22 at 12 p.m. – The Membership Flywheel™: Stop Guessing, Start Building Momentum
Explore the Membership Flywheel™, a framework for building real, lasting momentum in your organization. Learn how to map your organization’s Membership Flywheel™ and pinpoint where momentum is building or leaking; define a clear member promise that attracts the right people from the start; reduce friction at each stage, from first invitation through renewal; and build participation pathways that turn new members into long-term advocates. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: GrowthZone
Speaker: Jim Thompson, CAE, IOM, founder and CEO, Tying It Together Consulting
Thu 10/22 at 12 p.m. – Cybersecurity Awareness Month Training
In honor of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, 501CISO is offering live, expert-led cybersecurity training sessions for association staff. What your team will learn: cybercrime now runs like an assembly line, and associations are on the target list; AI is fuel on the fire; in a live, interactive email review, staff learn to catch lookalike domains and spoofed senders; deepfakes and payment fraud—how voice and video cloning work, and why you double-check anything involving money; and simple rules to protect your data when staff use AI tools. More info/register.
Host: 501CISO
Thu 10/22 at 1 p.m. – From “What We Do” to “Why Members Care”: Building a Stronger Association Value Proposition
Learn a practical brand strategy framework that associations can use to clarify who they serve, what they offer, why it matters, and how they deliver value differently. Hear how to write a value proposition and strategy statement that support stronger messaging, better internal alignment, and more meaningful member engagement. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers: Cheri Quinn, Director of Brand Strategy, and Emily Youngblood, Client Services Director, Mercury Creative Group
Thu 10/22 at 1 p.m. – From Tech Debt to Technology That Delivers
Learn how to recognize the hidden costs of disconnected systems, duplicate capabilities, manual workarounds, multiple member logins, and inconsistent data; decide whether to optimize, integrate, consolidate, replace, or retire each technology investment; evaluate tools for strategic alignment, adoption, member and staff experience, and readiness for AI; and turn what you find into a 90-day technology action plan to finish before 2027. More info/register.
Host: Higher Logic
Speakers:
- Derek Landes, Director of Research & Technology, Missouri Rural Health Association
- Brendan Leehe, Sr. Customer Growth & Retention Manager, Higher Logic
Thu 10/22 at 1 p.m. – From Intention to Action: Using “Inspire, Hire, Train, Retain” to Support Disability Inclusion in Volunteer Engagement
Get to know Inspire, Hire, Train, Retain (IHTR), a free, customizable toolkit for disability-inclusive workplace practices, and learn how to apply it to volunteer administration, from recruitment and role design through onboarding, supervision, and retention. Get practical strategies for designing and championing volunteer programs where people with disabilities can contribute, belong, and thrive. More info/register.
Hosts: Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration (CCVA) and Idealist
Speaker: Larissa Haluszka-Smith, CVA, Manager, Volunteer Resources, Women’s College Hospital, Toronto
Thu 10/22 at 2 p.m. – From Learning to Careers: What Members Really Want from Professional Development
The 2026 Association Trends Research found differences in financial stability, promotions, and access to career resources between members and nonmembers. Learn how to set association learning apart from generic, outdated, or inaccurate online content; how career technology can create an always-on career and learning engine; and the growing role of microcredentials and continuous skill development in member value. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Momentive Software
Speakers:
- Helen Mosher, CAE, Founder and Publisher, Association Career Corner
- Kristen Wall, VP, Learning and Training Services, Momentive Software
- Chelsey Wilson, Sr. Director, Marketing Communications, Momentive Software
Thu 10/22 at 2 p.m. – Your Members Care, So Why Aren’t They Engaged? How Associations Turn Shared Purpose Into Participation
Many members believe in your association’s mission but never get around to participating. Learn how to identify the barriers that keep members from contributing, write clear and manageable invitations to get involved, and show members the difference their participation makes, so their shared sense of purpose becomes practical involvement. More info/register.
Host: Tradewing
Thu 10/22 at 2 p.m. – Balancing Risk, Resilience and Growth
Learn how operational, technology, cybersecurity, and AI risks are increasingly connected; why risk visibility and governance matter to leadership teams; how organizations strengthen resilience while supporting growth and innovation; and practical approaches for assessing risk and setting priorities. More info/register.
Host: Wipfli
Speakers: Carrie Connell (moderator), Partner; Matt Sabo, Director; Jeff Olejnik, Partner; and Tom Loring, Partner | Wipfli
Thu 10/22 at 3 p.m. – Agentic Advocacy: Building an AI-Powered Community
See how Infor’s community team uses AI and Higher Logic Vanilla to improve the member experience. Hear how thoughtful automation reduces manual work, helps members reach value sooner, and moves them from participating to advocating. Get practical ideas for routing unanswered questions to the right experts, creating onboarding experiences your team can update easily, and engaging members through structured ambassador missions. More info/register.
Host: Higher Logic
Speakers:
- Mary Green, Director of Community Platforms, Infor, and Founder of CMA Weekly
- Marius Ciortea, Chief Community Officer, Higher Logic
Thu 10/22 at 3:30 p.m. – Is Your Membership Marketing Keeping Up?
Explore why traditional “join us” membership marketing may not be enough anymore; what members are really looking for beyond information and access; why human connection and community may become an increasingly important part of an association’s value proposition; the connection between marketing, member experience, and retention; why associations need to communicate value before someone is ready to renew; what associations can learn from other membership and community-based businesses; and how AI and changing member expectations may change what people expect from their associations. More info/register.
Host: Kim Robinson, CEO of FrontlineCo
Speaker: Kelly Howard, membership marketing strategist, Membership Marketing Lab
Thu 10/22 at 5:30 p.m. CT – Beyond Membership: The Revenue Shift Associations Can’t Afford to Ignore (Chicago, IL)
Learn how to evaluate your reliance on dues and identify opportunities to diversify revenue; explore non-dues revenue levers including certification, digital learning, sponsored content, and strategic partnerships; and leave with practical steps to fit those opportunities into your existing structure without overloading your team. Location: Chicago, IL. More info/register.
Host: D2L
Speaker: Bill Sheehan, Global Head of Association Strategy, D2L
Mon 10/26 at 12 p.m. – Cybersecurity Awareness Month Training
In honor of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, 501CISO is offering live, expert-led cybersecurity training sessions for association staff. What your team will learn: cybercrime now runs like an assembly line, and associations are on the target list; AI is fuel on the fire; in a live, interactive email review, staff learn to catch lookalike domains and spoofed senders; deepfakes and payment fraud—how voice and video cloning work, and why you double-check anything involving money; and simple rules to protect your data when staff use AI tools. More info/register.
Host: 501CISO
Tue 10/27 at 12 p.m. – From Idea to Income, Part 3: How to Sell It
In the final session of this series, learn how to win over the people who control the money first, then bring everyone else along. Start with a three-year revenue projection your board can believe, with every assumption shown. Learn how to position the program as something membership already includes, plan an eight-week pre-launch runway, and win back members who tried an earlier version. You’ll also get a five-slide sequence for board approval and six metrics to track once you’re approved. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: GrowthZone
Speaker: Angela Robbins, Ph.D., VP Global Business Development & Learning Solutions, Mission Fuel AI
Tue 10/27 at 12 p.m. – What Matters to Associations in 2026: Highland’s 3rd Annual YPMI National Report and Career Partnership for Young Professionals
Based on Highland’s 2026 Young Professional Membership Index (YPMI) National Report, learn four actions that matter most for engaging young professionals when time and resources are limited: lead with intent through executive sponsorship and board commitment; design experiences that meet functional, social, and emotional needs; become a career partner through peer-to-peer learning; and build mobile-first access to community and learning. Hear about the AI Horizon Profile, which places associations in three stages of AI maturity. More info/register.
Hosts: Forj and Highland
Speakers:
- David Whited, Principal, Design Research & Strategy, Highland
- Terri Herrmann, Chief Marketing Officer, Forj
Tue 10/27 at 1 p.m. – A Decade of Engagement Data: What Associations Need to Do Differently
MCI’s Association Engagement Index has surveyed more than 40,000 members and customers across 119 associations over the past ten years. Hear association leaders who have taken part in the index look past the numbers at what has changed, what has stayed surprisingly consistent, and what associations can do differently in the next decade. Learn what the engagement gap between younger and older members tells us and how to move people from consuming content to contributing and co-creating. More info/register.
Host: MCI
Speakers:
- Erin Fuller, FASAE, CAE, Global Head, Association Solutions, MCI
- Peter O’Neil, FASAE, CAE, CEO, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
- Nikki Walker, Strategic Advisor & Global Consultant
- Viola Marx, Director, Insidery
Tue 10/27 at 1 p.m. – The Executive Compensation Gap: How Deferred Compensation Plans Help Associations Compete for and Keep Top Talent
Base salary and a standard retirement match often aren’t enough to recruit and keep top executives. Learn how 457(b) and 457(f) deferred compensation plans can help associations put together competitive, flexible executive offers that encourage leaders to stay. Hear how the two plans differ, how to evaluate your current compensation approach, and how to present a strong total compensation story to your board and to candidates. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Speakers:
- Jason Dwyer, DPFA, QKA, Founder, Jackson Avenue Advisors
- Josh Kopec, AIF, CPFA, Partner, Retirement Plan Practice Leader, Connor & Gallagher OneSource
- Kevin Salk, CPFA, Director of Investments, Oppenheimer & Co.
- Shelly Howard-Horwitz, AIF, CPFA, Managing Director, Atlanta & Washington DC, World Investment Advisors
Wed 10/28 at 11 a.m. – The Human Algorithm: How AI Makes Big Events Feel Personal
Learn what attendees now expect from event tools, websites, directories, and search; which inputs best match people to the right person or session, and how to collect them at sign-up without adding friction; which moments still deserve a personal touch, such as VIP curation or concierge service; three questions to test any personalization feature before launch; and how to measure success through signals such as meeting fulfillment and participant ratings of conversations. More info/register.
Host: Grip
Speakers:
- Laila Hawe, Director of Marketing, Manifest, Hyve Group
- Meera Somji, Co-Founder, Grow This Event
- Hew Leith, SVP of Marketing, Grip
Wed 10/28 at 12 p.m. – Building Trust and Growing Membership in a Challenging Landscape: A Look at the Anatomy of One Association’s Successful Membership Recruitment Campaign
Hear a case study examining how an integrated communications campaign helped the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) grow membership recruitment among federal employees at one of the most challenging times in history for this workforce. Get an inside look at the strategy, execution, and results behind the campaign. Hear fresh insights from association membership and marketing professionals on the priorities, challenges, and barriers shaping association membership growth today. More info/register.
Host: .orgCommunity
Speakers:
- Shannon McDaniel, Executive Vice President, BRG Communications
- Alexandra Markarian, Director of Sales, Street Level Studio
- Nora MacDonald, Director of Member Engagement, NARFE
Wed 10/28 at 12 p.m. – The Invisible Funnel: Converting Anonymous Traffic Into Known, Engaged Prospects
Most of your website visitors may never fill out a form. Learn how behavioral analytics, intent data, cookie tracking, and reverse IP tools can reveal what anonymous visitors care about, help you segment them, and turn them into known contacts. The session is aimed at associations that want to grow audiences, improve event registrations, and increase demand without increasing spending. More info/register.
Host: HighRoad Solutions
Wed 10/28 at 12 p.m. – Frightening Fraud: Critical Thinking & Prevention Habits in the Age of AI
As AI-powered scams grow more common, learn where critical thinking matters most in fraud prevention. You’ll assess the fraud vulnerabilities that call for human judgment and pick up habit-based strategies that strengthen your controls and reduce everyday fraud risk. The session is designed for nonprofit finance professionals, executives, board members, and others responsible for safeguarding nonprofit resources. More info/register.
Host: YPTC (Your Part-Time Controller)
Wed 10/28 at 2 p.m. – Uncovering Overlooked Advocates
Learn how associations use advocacy data to uncover overlooked advocates, identify emerging leaders, understand where engagement drops off, and create intentional pathways that turn participation into deeper advocacy involvement. Explore the signals behind those decisions. Advocacy actions are only one part of a member’s story. When campaign activity can be understood alongside membership, events, communications, relationships, and other engagement data, associations gain a much clearer picture of who their advocates are, what motivates them, and where opportunities for deeper engagement may be hiding. More info/register.
Host: The Advocacy Association
Speakers:
- Seth Turner, Director, Grassroots Advocacy & Stakeholder Engagement for the National Apartment Association
- Ben Muscolino, Founder and CEO of AMS Geek
Wed 10/28 at 2 p.m. – Make It Personal: How to Make Every Attendee Feel Seen
The best events make attendees feel valued, and attendees who feel valued engage more, learn more, and make stronger connections. Industry experts share ways planners can personalize the attendee experience, including how to tailor the agenda to attendees’ needs and interests, add meaningful personalization without a large budget, and build accessibility and inclusion into event design. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Northstar Meetings Group
Speakers:
- Lisa Schulteis, Founder, ElectraLime Marketing
- Elise Schoening (moderator), Editor, Meeting News, and Senior Editor, Northstar Meetings Group
Thu 10/29 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
Thu 10/29 at 12 p.m. – From Ranked to Recommended: Winning Visibility in the Age of AI Answers
Online visibility used to mean ranking high in search results. Now your association needs to be understood, trusted, and recommended in AI-generated answers. Hear about answer engine optimization (AEO), examples of how associations appear in AI answers, and what influences whether your organization and content are treated as trusted sources. Learn how AEO builds on traditional SEO and get next steps for improving your visibility and content citations. More info/register.
Host: Association Xchange (AXC)
Speakers: Merrik Kressley, Senior Digital Marketing Strategist, and Alyssa Hulka, Chief Experience Officer, Accella
Thu 10/29 at 12 p.m. –Managing the Rising Costs of Healthcare for Nonprofits
Learn how to manage rising healthcare costs while still offering benefits that attract talent. Get an overview of healthcare market trends in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region, the difference between large and small group ratings, and how the bidding process works. Hear about cost-control options, including changing metal tiers and using Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs), to reduce expenses without lowering benefit quality. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: FAR (formerly the Finance & Administration Roundtable)
Speakers:
- Kelly Martin, Executive Director, AMHIC
- Chris Mullins, Senior Managing Principal, OneDigital Mid-Atlantic
- Joe Apa, Senior Partner, The Baldwin Group
Thu 10/29 at 1 p.m. – Keep the Tiers, Fix the Matrix: A Better Way to Structure Sponsorships
Sponsorship tiers themselves aren’t the problem. The problem is what the matrix is asked to do: bundle products and perks together under one price, and then START the sales conversation. Learn why a traditional sponsorship matrix can make buying harder, not easier; what works about tiers and bundles—and what I’d change; how to create more flexibility without creating an operational nightmare for your team; a practical hybrid approach that blends structure with customization; and two things you can start doing this month to move in this direction. More info/register.
Host: Carrie McIntyre, Navigate CES
Thu 10/29 at 1 p.m. – Meeting Modern Member Expectations: How AI and Technology Can Add Value
How members see their association’s technology is closely tied to how satisfied they are with their membership. Momentive Software’s 2026 Membership Study found that members who see their organization as an early technology adopter are far more likely to be very satisfied than those who see it as a laggard. Explore how to align technology with member expectations, personalize content, deliver timely support, and balance automation with privacy and human connection. More info/register.
Host: Momentive Software
Speakers:
- Kapil Kher, Chief Information Officer, U.S. Green Building Council
- Matt Rist, VP of Product Management, Momentive Software
- Rich Vallaster, MBA, CEM, AAiP, QAS, Senior Director, Industry Strategy, Momentive Software
Thu 10/29 at 3 p.m. – Your First AI Automation: Start Small, Prove Value
Many association teams know AI can help but aren’t sure where to begin. Learn a practical framework for choosing your first AI automation that covers the two tests a task should pass before you automate it, workflows with the highest return for small teams, and tasks better left with people. Get a simple way to compare automation costs against staff time saved, then map your own first workflow so you leave with a use case your team can evaluate right away. More info/register.
Host: Farhad Khan, CEO, Member Lounge
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