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Association Brain Food: 3.24.23

The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…

I’m going away for eight days on a hiking vacation in southern Utah, so I’m not publishing Association Brain Food the next two Fridays, March 31 and April 7. You’ll see the next edition on Friday, April 14.

Women in the workplace. WBT Systems describes how associations can support women professionals by providing professional development, leadership training and networking opportunities, and educating employers about eliminating workplace challenges.

Member onboarding. Thank goodness, many associations are rethinking new member onboarding. If your association hasn’t yet tackled this project or you’re open to further tweaking, Impexium describes the elements of an exceptional member onboarding experience.

Sponsorship strategy. In this comprehensive guide to tiered and à la carte sponsorship models for in-person, virtual and hybrid events, EventMobi suggests how to price, sell and deliver sponsorships, measure ROI, and craft a post-event report for corporate partners.

Data-informed event planning. MemberSuite cautions associations against using pre-pandemic data to plan events. Instead, recent AMS data reflects more accurately how your members and prospect attendees are living now. They explain how to use AMS data for planning and marketing events.

Association staff retention. In a tough hiring market, you need to hold on to the talent you have. You can reduce staff turnover by providing a more enjoyable, rewarding and humane work experience. GrowthZone shares a whole bunch of good ideas for onboarding, flexible work schedules, employee perks, recognition, and communication.

Event scheduling. Event dates matter, says Adrienne Bryant, CAE. “We do not blink an eye when it comes to not scheduling events over Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, so why is it okay to treat Yom Kippur, Chanukah, Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr or any other religious observance differently?” Scheduling events over someone else’s holiday excludes those who might want to attend—and when it becomes a topic of conversation in your community, it doesn’t reflect well on your organization.

Non-dues revenue. A survey conducted by the Professionals for Association Revenue (PAR) revealed that 86% of associations said their business development strategy is underperforming or non-existent. Yikes. PAR explains why a business development strategy is vital to association revenue health.

Quick hits

Can AI write thought leadership content for you? Nope. (Lee Price, Viewfinder Partners)

Fresh networking ideas for in-person events. (Claire Hoffman, BizBash)

Survey findings: More attendees register on site now than in the past, and early bird discounts attract event loyalists, not new attendees. (Danica Tormohlen, Trade Show News Network)

More from my memento mori reading list… The Deathbed Regret List. (Sahil Bloom)

The anti-racist philosophy of Viktor Frankl, who wrote Man’s Search for Meaning, an account of his time imprisoned in Nazi concentration camps. (Dennis Kukuk, Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism)

Good eats

Skip down to the list of free educational events if you prefer takeout.

We enjoyed both grilled striped bass (with butter and lemon thyme) and grilled rib eyes while my nephew was in town. On the side, Brussels sprouts roasted with bacon, red onion and garlic powder.

On Sunday, I made southwest buttermilk baked chicken thighs. I only used four bone-in thighs but kept the sauce ingredients the same. On the side, cabbage sautéed with bacon, onion, carrot, red bell, garlic, and chicken broth and a roasted sweet potato.

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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 too product-centric.

Fri 3/24 at 4 p.m.* – Nonprofit Management Series: Governance – Getting Started

Governance is a loaded word in the nonprofit space. It encompasses everything from leadership and policies to responsibilities and decision making. Join us for the first session of our Nonprofit Management Series, as we break down the basics for a better understanding of nonprofit administration. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Speaker: Rochelle Jerry, Vice President of Development and Customer Relations, The Indiana Black Expo

*All events are online at Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.

Fri 3/24 at 5 p.m. CDT – AWTC Chicago Happy Hour (Chicago IL)

Join us for our first AWTC happy hour in Chicago. AWTC is excited to expand our network to Chicago and is hosting a happy hour immediately following Association Forum’s Women’s Executive Forum™ event “Empowered Women. Fearless Leaders,” a full-day event designed to connect innovators, disrupters, and doers to explore new ideas, perspectives, and solutions to elevate leadership skills. Location: Chicago IL. More info/register.

Host: Association Technology Women Champions

Mon 3/27 at 8 a.m. – Mission Critical! Creating Impact (Radio Free 501c)

Radio Free 501c, the podcast of Rogue Tulips Consulting (formerly Nonprofit Conversations) features guests from across the nonprofit community and the business world to share expertise on a variety of topics related to the practice of nonprofit management. Episodes are published Monday mornings in both audio and video format on most podcast services.

Guest: Carol Hamilton, principal, Grace Social Sector Consulting

Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC

Tue 3/28 at 11 a.m. – High Altitude Leadership: What the World’s Most Forbidding Peaks Teach Us About Success

Learn key leadership principle learned from expeditions in the Himalayas and Andes; how to bring these lessons to the world of business, with examples from experiences in coaching entrepreneurs and business management teams; and the science behind these winning strategies. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Don Schmincke, Author and Speaker, Saga Leadership

Tue 3/28 at 1 p.m. – Demystifying Software Integrations: What’s All the Fuss and What Do You Need to Know?

Learn about the importance of integrations and their role in your software ecosystem, key things to consider when selecting software to make sure you’ll be able to integrate, and how to incorporate integrations into your ecosystem and what’s required of you once they’re up and running. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Jeff Horne, Co-Founder, CEO, Wicket

Tue 3/28 at 4 p.m. – Association Women Technology Champions Awards Ceremony

Shining a Light: Celebrating Brilliance and Achievements will recognize the recipients of the AWTC Technology Champion Award, AWTC Technology Impact Award, and the AWTC Technology Leadership Award. Join us to learn about and recognize our winners, get connected and chat with other AWTC community members, and gather inspiration for your own career. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Wed 3/29 at 8 a.m. – Leadership Skills for Today’s Associations

Hear about the leadership skills needed for today’s association executives such as communication, decision-making, strategic thinking, team building, and change management. Learn about the challenges and opportunities facing association executives today and come away with actionable strategies for enhancing your leadership skills to better serve your organizations and members. More info/register.

Host: Association of Association Executives

Speakers:

Paul Burgess, Chief Executive Officer, British Association of Cosmetic Nurses
Kevin Mead, President, Vermont Captive Insurance Association
Paul Walsh EMIAM (seminar chair), Seminar Programme Manager, Association of Association Executives

Wed 3/29 at 9:30 a.m. – Using a Competency Model to Ensure Minimal Competency when Recertifying Certification Holders

Learn when and why to implement a competency framework, drawing from a recent successful implementation for the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB), complete with results to validate success. Hear about benefits and challenges compared with other models, best practices for working with SMEs and monitoring success, and how to pitch the idea to the organization. More info/register.

Host: Certification Network Group

Speakers:

Terri Hinkley, EdD, MBA, BScN, RN, CAE, CEO, Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses and the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board
Manny Straehle, GISF, Founder and President, Assessment, Education, and Research Experts
Bill West, senior market leader and 25+ year veteran of the assessment industry

Wed 3/29 at 1 p.m. – Safeguarding Cash Assets for Nonprofits

With inflation and short-term interest rates on the rise, there is no better time to begin thinking about how to make best use of your cash assets. Hear about best practices for nonprofits to segment their reserves. From identifying how much to hold in reserve, to key policy decisions, and investment implementation options, learn everything needed to put your cash assets to work. More info/register.

Host: Raffa Investment Advisers

Speakers: Dennis Gogarty, Mark Murphy, Ryan Frydenlund from Raffa Investment Advisers

Wed 3/29 at 1 p.m. – 16 Skills of Servant Leadership

Learn the difference between leadership and management, the central core of Servant Leadership and how it differs from other leadership styles and methods, and how the identified 16 skills support the central ethos of Servant Leadership 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Austin Campbell, Manufacturing Analyst, The Liggett Group

Wed 3/29 at 2 p.m. – March Expert Series: 8 Ways to Generate More Revenue from your Learning Management System

Competition for learner dollars has never been stiffer and top-notch content alone is not always enough to break through the crowded marketplace. Hear about strategies to squeeze more revenue out of your LMS such as utilizing your data to personalize content promotion, delivering content via multiple mediums to meet varied learner preferences, repurposing content to get the most out of your programming, offering creative promotions to members and non-members, and highlighting sponsors within your learning courses. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Non-Dues-A-Palooza

Speaker: Jessica Metzler, Senior Director of Operations for Freestone Learning Management System

Thu 3/30 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. – Global Meetings Industry Day

The largest and most important event of the year for meeting professionals from around the world, enjoy a 12-hour broadcast featuring industry leaders sharing insights and experiences on the impact of meetings on the global economy. More info/register.

Host: MPI

Thu 3/30 at 8 a.m. – Navigating Menopause in the Workplace

Get a better understanding of the challenges faced by women going through menopause in the workplace and the support available to them. Hear an overview of the British Association of Dental Nurses’ Menopause Advice Sheet and Policy and how you could implement a similar program at your association. More info/register.

Host: Association of Association Executives

Speakers:

Sarah Osborn, Director of Business Development and Deputy CEO, Independent Society of Musicians
Pam Swain, Chief Executive Officer, British Association of Dental Nurses
Paul Walsh EMIAM (seminar chair), Seminar Program Manager, Association of Association Executives

Thu 3/30 at 11 a.m. – AI & Associations: A Guide to a Smarter Strategic Plan

In this practical guide for C-suite leaders who want to adopt AI in their associations, learn what AI really is and why it matters, and get some simple advice to help you identify use cases for AI your Association can use to get started today. Hear about the benefits of AI for associations, what AI means in practice, types of AI applications that can be used in associations, and how to identify where you can deliver value from AI in your association. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Sidecar

Speaker: Rick Bawcum, Founder, and CEO of Cimatri

Thu 3/30 at 12 p.m. – Cultivate a New Sponsorship Mindset — Align Value to Mission

Find out how the pandemic shifted the sponsorship paradigm, what sponsors really want, how you can move from transactional to transformational sponsorships, how to develop sponsorships that align with shared values and strategic initiatives, and how to nurture long-term, mutually beneficial relationships. More info/register.

Host: Cathi Hight, President of Hight Performance Group

Thu 3/30 at 12 p.m. – The Community Check-In

A weekly community chat on Slack for black professionals working in the events industry. More info/register.

Host: Black In Events Network

Thu 3/30 at 1 p.m. – Sponsorship Ideas to Catapult Engagement and Revenue

For associations, managing and elevating engagement while at the same time increasing revenue can be challenging. This is where sponsorships can make a real difference and help to propel events forward with fresh ideas and greater efficiency. Explore practical, achievable ways to modify your mindset about sponsorships that will reignite interest in your association year-round, including events large and small, and boost engagement levels among attendees while delivering solid value that increases sustainable revenue. 1 CAE/CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: EVA – Event Tech Hub

Speakers:

Barbara J. Armentrout, CAE, managing partner, Mesa Group
Bruce Rosenthal, corporate partnership and sponsorship consultant, Bruce Rosenthal Associates
Vinnu Deshetty, founder and CEO, EVA – Event Tech Hub

Thu 3/30 at 2 p.m. – ASAE ForesightWorks: Planning for the Future

Learn about futures thinking, or foresight, as a possible approach to understanding what’s most likely to significantly impact your association, your member community, and society at large. Hear from other association executives how they’ve used foresight and the resources outlined in ASAE ForesightWorks to take the guesswork out of environmental scanning and engage in meaningful conversations to address potential change. Learn what it takes to leverage this research for strategic planning and develop an evidence-based, future-focused culture. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Thu 3/30 at 2 p.m. – How to Create (and Repurpose) Content More Efficiently

Learn how to foster a culture of content within your organization—and efficiently create content that works for itself time and time again—even if you’re strapped for time, money, or resources. Find out how to make a clear, compelling case for investing in more content creation; form your very own content squad; develop a system to reuse and repurpose content efficiently; and create valuable content for your audiences. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Mighty Citizen

Speakers: Jarrett Way, Content and Digital Marketing Manager, and Mindy Avitia, Senior Events and Marketing Manager, Mighty Citizen

Thu 3/30 at 2 p.m. – New Kid on the Block: The Event Technologist

Technology use at events has exploded in recent years, bringing about a new role within many event organizations—the event technologist. Whether staffed internally or through an agency, 47% of organizations now have this job description within their team. Learn about the evolution of this role, roles and responsibilities of the event technologist, measurements of success around event technology, and the expectations for the future of the event technologist. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MeetingsNet

Speakers: Julie Haddix, Senior Director, Solutions Marketing, and Taylor Bohn, Event Technology Lead, Meetings & Events, Cvent

Fri 3/31 at 4 p.m. – Considering CAE: ASAE Resources + Panel Discussion

Join ASAE’s Manager, Credentialing on the Certified Association Executive program, Elizabeth Twitchell, CAE as she shares information and resources to support your CAE journey. A moderated panel discussion will follow, featuring association professionals who have earned their Certified Association Executive (CAE) accreditation. Panelists will share their experiences, challenges and takeaways. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Panelists:

Nikole Roulhac, CAE, Membership & Marketing Program Specialist, American Nurses Association
Nathan Wambold, CAE, CMP. DES, Director of Membership, Meetings & Conferences, American Anthropological Association
Shameka Jennings, MTA, CMP, DES, CAE (moderator), Principal and Chief Events Officer, EventsNoire

Mon 4/3 at 8 a.m. – Data Governance (Radio Free 501c)

Guests: Daniel Elacqua and Gwen Garrison

Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC

Tue 4/4 at 11 a.m. – What “the Best Version of Baseball” Means for Associations

Hear what went into the research behind Major League Baseball’s new rules for the 2023 season and how these changes are preserving the integrity of the game and making MLB more fan-friendly at the same time. What does this have to do with associations? The simple answer is everything. Learn how to listen to your members, sponsors, and partners to create products, programs, and services that resonate with newer audiences and younger demographics; test possibilities and make small, incremental changes to grow your association and its reach; and thoughtfully change the rules of the game to better align your association with its mission and vision. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Jay S. Daughtry, M.Ed., Chief Communications Officer/Owner, CQbd

Tue 4/4 at 12 p.m. – Community Data Analytics (Association Analytics Network)

Join association professionals for peer-led discussions on topics related to data and analytics. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Analytics

Tue 4/4 at 1 p.m. – Calculating the Cost of Dirty Data

While data cleanup is a time-consuming and tedious task, its prioritization is a necessity when collecting large amounts of data and investing substantial funding into your technology stacks. Learn what data hygiene is and why it’s important, the costs of dirty data to you and your organization, and how to calculate your organization’s direct financial costs. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Brittany Carter, President, Association Trends
Sidney Galati, Account Executive, Bumblebee

Wed 4/5 at 8 a.m. – Creating a Communications Strategy From Scratch

Hear a step-by-step guide to creating a communications strategy that can be customized to your association’s specific needs and goals. Get a clear understanding on how to create an effective communications strategy that will help your association have better communications with its members and stakeholders. More info/register.

Host: Association of Association Executives

Speakers:

Kevan Jones, Executive Director, Southern African Communications Industries Association
Chris Trimmer, Managing Director, Association Evolution
Paul Walsh EMIAM (seminar chair), Seminar Program Manager, Association of Association Executives

Wed 4/5 at 9 a.m. – How Associations Champion Non-Dues Revenue Success (PAR Member Meet-Up)

There is more to non-dues revenue success than finding the right program or product for your association. Organizational support, marketing, implementation and tracked data points are key to turning a non-dues revenue idea into a successful part of your association’s portfolio. Find out how association peers and colleagues are championing non-dues revenue success with their association leadership, staff, industry and members. 1 CAE credit. More info/register (members only).

Host: Professionals for Association Revenue

Wed 4/5 at 12 p.m. – Mindsets & Frameworks for Non-dues Revenue Success in 2023

Learn about mindset shifts and frameworks that will help you meet today’s non-dues revenue generation challenges. Find out how to make a successful mindset shift and hear about frameworks that can provide a firm foundation for your non-dues revenue generation efforts. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Insights In Old Town

Speakers:

Jennifer Baker, program management expert formerly with ASAE Business Services, Inc.
Carrie McIntyre, founder, Navigate
Bruce Rosenthal, strategic advisor and consultant for association corporate partnership programs
Dianne Vance, Director, Sales and Business Development, AOTA
Bill Sheehan (moderator), Vice President Strategic Partnerships, Multiview

Wed 4/5 at 1 p.m. – PCI Compliance

Gain an overview of the PCI Compliance Requirements. Learn nine practical tips to achieve a more secure payment environment. Understand the annual Self-Assessment-Questionnaire (SAQ) requirements. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Julie Duncan, Association Practice Leader, US Transactions Corporation
Jenni Glaze, COO, US Transactions Corporation
Brian Scott, President, CIO, ClearTone Consulting LLC

Wed 4/5 at 2 p.m. – Regulatory & Compliance Forecast: Predictions & Strategies for Government Affairs Professionals

Learn what changes may be ahead for the regulatory environment and how to prepare, the industries and issues to watch for regulatory movement, practical tips to reduce your risk of non-compliance and position your organization for success, and how to stay ahead of the regulations and legislation that matter to your organization. More info/register.

Host: FiscalNote

Speakers:

Dimitrios Karakitsos, Partner, Holland & Knight
Susan Leppke, Senior Director of Public Policy & Strategic Partnerships, AABB
John Loyer, Head of North American Government and Public Affairs, Somfy
Chelsea Raab (Moderator), Vice President of Strategic Accounts, FiscalNote

Thu 4/6 at 8 a.m. – Boosting Networking Opportunities at Events

Hear insights and creative ideas from association executives who have successfully enhanced networking experiences at their events. Learn about interactive activities, technology utilization for networking and leveraging common interests to connect attendees, and informal networking opportunities. More info/register.

Host: Association of Association Executives

Speakers:

Jeffers Miruka, Director of Communications, International Association of Agricultural Economists
Paul Walsh EMIAM (seminar chair), Seminar Program Manager, Association of Association Executives

Thu 4/6 at 12 p.m. – The Black in Events Network House Social

An open-house concept where you are invited to mingle with the community, learn about Black in Events Network and hang out at our house. More info/register.

Host: Black In Events Network

Thu 4/6 at 1 p.m. – four-week course – Association Creative Marketing Masterclass

Meeting on four consecutive Thursdays, the Association Creative Marketing Masterclass helps you develop practical creative and copywriting skills, professional critique techniques, and balanced brand stewardship. Instructors share learnings from their career and evaluate real-life association marketing collateral, providing their recommendations, ideas, and concerns. Class topics: Reviewing Creative, Banner Ad Creative, Landing Page Creative, and Email Creative. 4 CAE credits for entire course. More info/register.

Host: Association Academy

Speakers:

Chris Gloede, Lead Instructor, Association Academy
Todd Unger, Chief Experience Officer, SVP Marketing & Member Experience, American Medical Association
David Alexander, General Manager and Chief Communications Officer, Rotary International
Julia Fitzgerald, Chief Marketing Officer, American Lung Association

Thu 4/6 at 2 p.m. – Spring Cleaning Your Website

It’s easy to get caught up in creating content and forgetting to update and maintain the website itself. Hear how to optimize your website’s content, navigation, speed, design, and security. Learn what brings joy to the users’ experiences and what doesn’t, new ”tools” to help you clean your site, how to obtain buy in from other departments to make needed website changes, and how to plan and manage revisions. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: 501 Works

Speakers:

Catherine Lada, President, Lada Consulting
Jim Faris, Creative Director, 501 Works
James Marquis, CIO, 501 Works

Fri 4/7 at 4 p.m. – Career Coach Series: Are You Ready for a More Satisfying Career?

Learn tools and strategies to help determine what a satisfying career means to you and start taking steps toward a more fulfilling career. Find out how to define what a good-fit, next career move would be for you, if improving your job situation in your current company is a good option for you, and if a major career change or an employer change is necessary for you to have a career that is more fulfilling. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Speaker: Phaedra Brotherton, former 15+ year association professional and certified career transition coach

Fri 4/7 at 6:30 p.m. – DMV First Friday Dinner

Please join your BAE Collaborate Community Peers at the April First Friday dinner. More info/register.

Organizer: ASAE Black Association Executives

Mon 4/10 at 12 p.m. – Membership Mondays

We meet on the second Monday of every month to discuss membership topics based on the group’s current needs. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Tue 4/11 at 1 p.m. – TBA

No description yet. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Alexandra Mouw, Principal Strategic Advisor, Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Wed 4/12 at 12 p.m. – Meaningful Marketing: How Associations Can Spread the Word

With a comprehensive marketing strategy, you can effectively spread the word about your association’s message, values, and services to help grow your member base and draw in potential members. Learn about effective marketing strategies in the association space and how you can optimize your campaigns for maximum impact. More info/register.

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

Anthony Campbell, Growth Manager, VocalMeet
Ninia Linero, Account Executive, QuorumJim Wacksman, Producer & CEO, Association Studios
Rusty Williams, Co-founder, AnswerStage

Wed 4/12 at 12:30 p.m. – Revitalizing Dry Content: A Lesson in Engagement

Learn how to make content relevant to your learners, make connections so they see how the material applies to them, and develop strategies for getting learners to care about your course. More info/register.

Host: Association Universe

Speaker: Tim Buteyn, President of ThinkingKap Learning Solutions

Wed 4/12 at 1 p.m. – 15 Ways to Take Your Newsletter to the Next Level

Learn how to use email newsletter marketing to engage your members about current topics and industry trends, newsletter best practices, increasing engagement, curating outside content and automation. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Erica Salm Rench, MBA, COO, Rasa.io

Wed 4/12 at 1 p.m. – How to Conquer Changes in the Digital Marketing Space

With the constant changes happening in the digital marketing space, the effects on analytics, ROI, and campaign effectiveness in your association are questioned. But it’s not the end-all-to-be-all! Hear tips and tricks to help you conquer the hurdles that have come your way. All you need is the data, the mindset, and the energy. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Hosts: Altai Systems and Multiview

Wed 4/12 at 1 p.m. – 5 Common Data Migration Challenges with AMS Integrations

Learn how to mitigate data migration challenges during integrations with an AMS. Find out how to ask the right questions to ensure successful data migrations; get your team, AMS partner, other software providers, and consultants on the same page; and establish effective and timely communications between all parties to get ahead of and reduce errors. More info/register.

Host: Aplusify

Speakers: Paul Burke, Senior Account Executive, and Neeraj Garg, Chief Operating Officer, Aplusify

Thu 4/13 at 11 a.m. – Is My Organization Ready for Corporate Sponsorship? The Answer is YES!

Now is the perfect time for your organization to engage with corporations for sponsorship and support. Learn about the corporate sponsorship landscape, what kinds of initiatives corporations are interested in supporting, the most effective avenues for researching and learning about a corporation’s funding and sponsorship interests, and how to best start engaging with high-level corporate decisions makers. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Lori Zoss Kraska, MBA, CFRE, Founder and Chief Principal, Growth Owl, LLC

Thu 4/13 at 1 p.m. – Get Sponsored: How to Make 6-Figures in Digital Sponsorship for Your Association

Digital sponsorship can not only be profitable but can also help drive your digital engagement and member education. Learn how to price your content marketing offerings for success, structure digital sponsorship that works for sponsors AND members, and create the behavior in your sponsors that helps improve your digital content calendar. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Dan Stevens, President, and Jeff Baker, Association Solutions, WorkerBee.TV

Fri 4/14 at 10 a.m. – Coffee with Innovators: Association Design Circle

We meet on the first Friday of each month hosted by an association leader who leads a conversation on an association innovation topic. Our topic this month is Association Storytelling. More info/register.

Host: Product Design Community

Facilitator: Tom Lietz, Emmy-nominated producer and director

Fri 4/14 at 12 p.m. – Conversations with Champions

Each conversation features an AWTC leader or AWTC Award winner, followed by breakout rooms with changing topics (selected by our featured guest). These intimate, virtual conversations are a chance to form meaningful connections with other women and allies in the association technology community. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Guest: TBA

Fri 4/14 at 4 p.m. – ASAE Volunteer Opportunities + Volunteer Panel

Learn about tools and strategies to help you determine what a satisfying career means to you and start taking steps toward a more fulfilling career. Hear how to define what a good-fit, next career move would be for you; if improving your job situation in your current company is a good option for you; and if a major career change or an employer change is necessary for you to have a career that is more fulfilling. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Speakers:

Wanda Little-Coffey, MBA, CAE (facilitator), senior director of volunteer relations for ASAE

Tue 4/18 at 11 a.m. – Leadership & Learning Series: Culture Change Made Easy: Part 1: Innovation

No description yet. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Maddie Grant, CAE, Culture Designer and Digital Strategist, Propel
Jamie Notter, Co-Founder and Culture Strategist, PROPEL

Tue 4/18 at 12 p.m. – Component Relations and Volunteer Management April Crunch and Munch

Come prepared to engage, participate and listen as we discuss current topics. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Professionals Community

Wed 4/19 at 11 a.m. – Why Online Community Is Your Association’s Future: Changing How We Work & Connect

No description yet. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Barbara J. Armentrout, CAE, Managing Partner, Mesa Group
Lucas Cioffi, CTO, QiqoChat
Sandra Nam, CEO, QiqoChat

Wed 4/19 at 2 p.m. – The Association Business Development Landscape: Benchmark Your Association’s Business Performance

Explore data from 18-month research on association business development performance. Learn what associations are doing to generate revenue, measure it and improve workforce output. Gain insight into the current association business development landscape and benchmark your own association’s performance. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Professionals for Association Revenue

Speakers:

Carrie Hartin, President of Sales, Solutions and Services, MCI-USA
Erin Pressley, CAE, Senior Vice President for Education, Training and Events, NRECA
Sean Soth, Founder & Leadership Advisory Board Chair, Professionals for Association Revenue

Thu 4/20 at 10 a.m. – Setting Strategies and Building Capacity for Social Impact Through Association Meetings

As associations grapple with their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives, the association and meetings community are continuing their efforts to ensure social impact through association meetings. Learn what social impact and legacy mean within the meetings and association spaces, how we can get started, and the business case for including social impact in our work. Hear case studies from association peers creating social impact and providing value both for their associations and the broader community. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Speakers:

Ben Hainsworth, Managing Director, EASL | The Home of Hepatology
Genevieve Leclerc, Co-Founder and CEO, #Meet4impact
Pragathi Tummala, Executive Director, The International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect
Ksenija Polla, CMP (moderator), Head of Education and Legacy Programmes, ICCA – International Congress and Convention Association

Thu 4/20 at 11:30 a.m. – Spring Tapas Talk in the Association Marketplace for Small Staff Association Executives

The spotlight is on Small Staff Association Executives—your needs and how to connect with providers who understand working with small teams. Through (virtual) f2f conversations, you will connect with peers at other small-staff associations, and chat with supportive professionals who understand and excel at working with smaller teams. Those partners will provide free resources for you to grab as well as hosting small conversations in breakout rooms. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Qiqo Chat

Thu 4/20 at 1 p.m. – Leadership & Learning: Leading with Trust

No description yet.

1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Ryan MacTaggart, PhD, Associate Director, Professional Learning, EDUCAUSE

Association Brain Food Weekly is published Friday mornings. If your organization offers free professional development for the association community, please send me the link via email or Twitter by Wednesday afternoon the week before it’s scheduled.

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Association Brain Food: 3.17.23

The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…

Online learning. With for-profit and higher ed competition growing, your association’s online courses must stand out in the crowd. But excellent content isn’t enough to gain market share. Content is a commodity, says WBT Systems. Learn what elements of engaging and effective online learning you must build into your live and on-demand programs.

Chapter habits. A quote from James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, got Billhighway thinking about chapter practices: “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” They point out seven of those systems—or bad habits—and suggest good habits that chapters should practice instead.

Workplace culture. By now, we understand the influence of culture on an organization’s success. But where and how do you start improving culture? Propel explains how their culture assessment evaluates eight primary culture patterns, your change readiness and where you land on the spectrum from traditional to contemporary to futurist.

Association revenue. Professionals for Association Revenue released their Association Business Development Landscape Survey report. They surveyed 100 associations about revenue growth strategies, business development practices and skills, risks and obstacles to growth, reporting and metrics, and performance of membership, events and non-dues revenue programs.

Gen Z in the workplace. I know we have to be careful about generational stereotypes but Sara Friedman at HubSpot shares the results of a survey of Gen Z professionals that describes what they’re looking for from an employer and what they want to accomplish in their careers. Valuable information for associations!

Newsletters. I bet members interact with your newsletters more regularly than any other product or service, which means your association should thoughtfully plan and design each edition. But do you? Rasa.io shares 15 ways to improve your newsletter content and delivery.

Quick hits

Seven ways to create serendipity and connections for virtual attendees. (Devin Cleary, MeetingsNet)

How to eliminate content bottlenecks and keep your content marketing engine running. (Jimmy Daly, Superpath)

Personas, even well-researched ones, are worthless for marketing. (Matt Lerner)

Trends to watch in March 2023. (Mike Loukides, O’Reilly Radar)

Good eats

Skip down to the list of free educational events if you prefer takeout.

I made a delicious feast on Sunday: menu #1 from Whatever Happened to Sunday Dinner by Lisa Caponigri. But I’m following my Italian cookery intuition instead of sticking rigidly to her recipes and menus. We started with crostini topped with a spread made from cannellini beans, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, basil pesto, salt and pepper. I mixed the pesto into the bean mixture instead of dabbing it onto each crostini. I will definitely make that again.

The main event was chicken (instead of veal) piccata with steamed asparagus (another menu deviation because, oh my, I knew asparagus in that sauce would be so good and it was) and bucatini amatriciana. As usual, the pasta was the highlight for me. I cheated by using bacon instead of pancetta or guanciale for the pasta sauce. The other ingredients are onion, garlic, marinara, red pepper flakes and parmesan-romano (instead the pecorino-romano she suggests which is more than twice the price at my store). I could eat several times a week every week but I’d have to live in sweatpants the rest of my life.

Earlier for dinner: baked bluefish with potatoes, Genoese style, another excellent Italian recipe, this one adapted from Marcela Hazan—can’t go wrong there. On the side, roasted broccoli with red onion, garlic powder and red pepper flakes.

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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 too product-centric.

Fri 3/17 at 4 p.m.* – Career Coach Series: Mindful Leadership

Many organizations are in a state of disruption, transformation, and uncertainty. Join us as we explore how an approach of mindful leadership can assist with wellness, focus, clarity of vision, conflict resolution, and goal setting and achievement. You will leave with a plan for mindful leadership practice that will benefit you and your organization. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Speaker: Dr. Lua Hancock

*All events are online at Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.

Mon 3/20 at 8 a.m. – What Are Nonprofit CEOs Thinking About? (Radio Free 501c)

Guest: Joanne Pineda, founder and chief troublemaker, Matrix Group

Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC

Mon 3/20 at 1 p.m. – WOW Above the Line (30-Minute Monday)

Longtime event and entertainment expert, Rob Barber, will be dissecting his super popular presentation on, “HOW You WOW”, which took listeners on a journey of engaging, assessing, and executing significant WOW factors to events of any size. Session #2 in March will focus conversation on the WOW above the line, or in other words, highlighting techniques that that impact the audience. 0.5 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MPI

Tue 3/21 at 12 p.m. – Component Relations and Volunteer Management March Crunch and Munch

Come prepared to discuss volunteer assessments: Why do we need them? What kinds are there? Who should be taking them? Don’t let the word “assessments” scare you off with SAT flashbacks, we’ll have some ideas about what you can use and how to get started with utilizing them to improve your volunteer experience and program..1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Council

Tue 3/21 at 2 p.m. – Attracting and Retaining the Next Generation of Members & Staff

Hear how associations can support the next generation of members and staff. Learn about considerations for your technological infrastructure, ideas for cultivating a flexible work and learning environment, and strategies for supporting members’ and staff’s professional growth. More info/register.

Host: Higher Logic

Speakers:

Luis Hassan Gallardo, Research Analyst at Urban Institute – Health Policy Center & UCLA Law Fellow
Marie-Pierre (MP) Huot, Senior Director, Talent Acquisition, HR at Smithbucklin
Isalia Ramirez, Awards Management Associate at Lever for Change, an affiliate of MacArthur Foundation
Cate Sauer (moderator), Customer Success Manager at Higher Logic

Tue 3/21 at 2 p.m. – Humanity of Member Engagement: The Path to Meaningful Connections

Learn how to apply effective leadership to increase member engagement, what you need to know to increase the effectiveness of your membership model, how to boost revenue, and how to enhance engagement and attract new members. More info/register.

Host: Grype

Speaker: Elisa Pratt, CEO and Chief Strategist of Brewer Pratt Solutions

Tue 3/21 at 2 p.m. – Neurodivergent Inclusion (#RealTalk Dialogue Series)

We opened the conversation last month about supporting our neuro-spicy colleagues in the work place. Join our EDI Committee and panel discuss how to keep inclusion in mind for your events and meetings moving forward. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MPI

Wed 3/22 at 8 am. – Online Education Portals

Learn about the benefits and challenges associated with the use of online learning platforms, selecting the right platform, developing engaging online courses, measuring success, and enhancing member participation. More info/register.

Host: Association of Association Executives

Speakers:

Alastair McCapra, CEO, Chartered Institute of Public Relations
Paul Walsh EMIAM (seminar chair), Seminar Programme Manager, Association of Association Executives

Wed 3/22 at 11 a.m. – Code of Ethics: An Association’s North Star

A well-defined and articulated Code of Ethics can serve as both a governance tool and a strategic management tool. Learn how a Code of Ethics can enhance your organization and help you to become a more effective leader. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Linn Wheeling, MBA, CAE, Director Community Engagement

Wed 3/22 at 12 p.m. – Navigating Divisive Issues in a Splintered Society

Does your association leadership struggle with how to respond publicly to potentially polarizing political and social issues? In today’s environment, hot-button issues threaten to anger, divide or frustrate portions of your members, regardless of whether those issues are relevant to your industry. Join us to discuss when to act and how to navigate your response. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association xChange

Speakers:

Sean Luechtefeld, Vice President, Communications, ANCOR
Michelle Mannebach, CAE, Director, Advocacy Communications, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Chuck Bowen, CAE (moderator), Vice President, Communications & Member Relations, Outdoor Power Equipment Institute

Wed 3/22 at 12 p.m. – Digital Strategy for Associations | Association Executives Network (Alexandria VA)

Duane Capuano of Success Roads Consulting will be on hand to help us make sense of the digital tools that are making headlines every day. Bring your questions and challenges! We’ll have lunch and network, then Duane will lead us in a dynamic, facilitated discussion. Location: Alexandria VA. More info/register.

Host: Association Executives Network

Wed 3/22 at 1 p.m. – Sneak Peek into Recent Association Web Projects

Have you ever wished you could be a fly on the wall in another organization’s office as they’re developing their digital strategy or making big decisions about which web technologies and platforms to use? Hear about recent projects, including the big-picture strategy behind each; implementation strategy, including the technology selected—or not selected; pain points and lessons learned along the way; and unique ways these associations are adapting their digital strategies to create more thoughtful and intentional member journeys. More info/register.

Host: Matrix Group

Wed 3/22 at 1 p.m. – 9 Biggest Challenges with AMS Implementations and How to Avoid Them

Hear insights that can serve as a living checklist for you and your team to review at the beginning of or throughout an implementation process. Learn how to identify challenges early in the process to better navigate transitions, communicate effectively with all team members and partners, and address concerns in a timely and constructive manner. More info/register.

Host: Aplusify

Speakers: Paul Burke, Senior Account Executive, and Neeraj Garg, Chief Operating Officer, Aplusify

Wed 3/22 at 1 p.m. – Producing Eye-Catching, Effective Event Marketing

It may seem like the only way to drive registrations is with relentless ad spending. Hear about innovative and budget-friendly ways to cut through the noise in order to successfully market your event as an experiential gathering that can’t be missed. Learn to effectively manage the gap between marketing the event vision and the current economic reality. Get actionable ideas for how to reach and engage your target audiences without a huge marketing budget. Discover new ways to turn key stakeholders into amplifiers and success drivers. More info/register.

Host: Bizzabo

Speakers:

Aleksandra Panykhina, Experience Marketing Lead, Pixelz
Rachel Stephan, Snöballer-in-chief, Snöball
Oren Berkovich, Head of Experience Lab, Bizzabo

Wed 3/22 at 1 p.m. – CSR: Best Practices for Giving Back

When it comes to teambuilding, gone are the days of goofy activities that don’t deliver on both kinds of R.O.I. (Return On Inspiration and Return On Investment). People want interactive, service-oriented, collaborative and values-based experiences that hit them in the head and heart while translating to real business and bottom-line objectives. Hear tips and tricks for teambuilding and general meeting design. Learn how to determine the real goals of the meeting faster, design a flow that will engage each participant and magnify the value of all sessions, and incorporate teambuilding without it feeling like a break from the business of business. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Meetings Today

Speaker: Lain Hensley, founder, Odyssey Teams Inc.

Wed 3/22 at 2 p.m. – Top Legal Challenges for Meeting Professionals in 2023

Hear about labor and employment issues from staffing concerns to potential rule changes from the NLRB; data privacy and compliance issues and new laws on the books; what to include—and not include—in venue contracts; and negotiating for a win-win and preparing for the worst. More info/register.

Host: Smart Meetings

Speaker: Ty M. Sheaks, Restaurant & Hospitality Section, McCathern, Shokouhi, Evans, and Grinke

Wed 3/22 at 2 p.m. – Moving the Needle on DEI: Strategies for Enhancing Event Inclusion

Creating an inclusive gathering starts with ensuring that everyone has a seat at the table, which means moving from an afterthought approach to DEI to a 360-degree, always-on process, where diversity and inclusion are woven into the event plans from day one. Hear tips for bridging the gap between DEI goals and action, including how to add DEI into vendor contracts, the value of diversity certifications in creating a culture of inclusion, and key KPIs for measuring DEI progress. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: NorthStar Meetings Group

Speakers:

Samantha Evans, Certification Manager, International Association of Accessibility Professionals
Danny Guerrero, CEO and Founder, The Culturist Group
Jolene Jang, DEI Trainer and Asian Inclusivity Consultant
Zoe Moore, Strategic EDI Consultant, Grow With Zomo
Elise Schoening (moderator), Senior Associate Editor, Northstar Meetings Group

Wed 3/22 at 2 p.m. – Maximizing Results with Minimal Resources: Strategies for Small Advocacy Teams

The size of your budget or team doesn’t have to equal the size of your impact. Even the smallest advocacy teams can monitor issues, manage stakeholders, and rally supporters on par with the biggest players, as long as you have the right strategy and tools. Learn tips to streamline your processes and maximize impact, best practices and strategies to make the most out of your team’s resources, ideas for “stealing” from other departments’ budgets and increasing collaboration, strategies for expanding your team without hiring, and how to advance your organization’s advocacy goals, no matter your budget. More info/register.

Host: VoterVoice

Speakers:

Rachel Coffman, President, Coffman Collaborative
William DeVoe, Director Of Communications and Advocacy, Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State
Joshua Habursky, Deputy Executive Director, Premium Cigar Association
Sherry Whitworth (moderator), Managing Director of Public Affairs and Advocacy, FiscalNote

Wed 3/22 at 3 p.m. – Attracting Younger Members & Building the Next Generation of Association Leaders

Find out what organizations are doing to support the journeys of their younger members and build the next generation of association leaders. Learn the value of establishing a cohort for young leaders, the importance of designing education and mentorships for aspiring leaders, and the power of selecting younger members for volunteer and leadership roles. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Fonteva & Protech

Speakers:

Teri Carden, Founder, ReviewMyAMS.com & 100Reviews
Megan Drumm, CAE, Marketing Director, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Elizabeth Moris, Director of Brand Engagement, Council on Undergraduate Research
Tom Wojno, Senior Vice President – Innovation & Member Advancement, International Dairy Foods Association

Thu 3/23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – LMS Demo Day

Watch presentations from a limited number of industry partners that offer learning management system (LMS) platforms. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Thu 3/23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Spring Symposium (Washington DC)

Three dynamic sessions focused on management, accounting and finance: #1 – Economic Outlook: Recession 2023? Two Perspectives to Help You With Budget and Scenario Planning for Your Association/Nonprofit; #2 – Building an Effective Audit Committee; and #3 – CFO Panel Discussion: Future Proofing the Office of the Association/NonProfit CFO. 1 CAE credit. Location: Washington DC More info/register. (I’m making an exception to list this $25 event because lunch and happy hour are included in the price.)

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Travis A. Allen, Senior Investment Strategist, National Managing Director at Alliance Bernstein, and Santiago Alfredo Guzman, Head of Middle Market FI Sales at Santander Bank, N.A.
Rob Eby, CPA, CGMA, Partner National Nonprofit Segment Leader, Aprio LLP
Ilana Esterrich, CFO, Planned Parenthood, Brian Green, CFO, CHPA, and Mary Mohney, CFO, AGU

Thu 3/23 at 10 a.m. – Economic Outlook: Recession 2023? Two Perspectives to Help You with Budget and Scenario Planning for Your Association/Nonprofit

Learn what key factors will impact the economic outlook for 2023. Gain insight into two perspectives on the economy and how that might impact your organization and the industry you serve. Hear factors to consider as you develop your next budget and financial scenario plans. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Travis A. Allen, Senior Investment Strategist, National Managing Director at Alliance Bernstein
Santiago Alfredo Guzman, Head of Middle Market FI Sales at Santander Bank, N.A.

Thu 3/23 at 11:15 a.m. – Building an Effective Audit Committee

Learn how to build and use the audit committee to protect and strengthen exempt organizations. Find out who should be on the committee, how to develop an audit committee charter, how to identify methods to assess risks, and how to engage the audit committee. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Rob Eby, CPA, CGMA, Partner National Nonprofit Segment Leader, Aprio LLP

Thu 3/23 at 12 p.m. – Do More with Your Event Data

Learn what can be done with data to improve your events. Hear how event organizers use data to their advantage and the results they’ve seen when they make data-led decisions. Learn how to drive more revenue and improve participant satisfaction with your own event info. More info/register.

Host: Grip

Thu 3/23 at 12 p.m. – The Community Check-In

A weekly community chat on Slack for black professionals working in the events industry. More info/register.

Host: Black In Events Network

Thu 3/23 at 1 p.m. – The Secret to Successful Member Retention: Year-Round Engagement

How can associations implement a member engagement strategy that works when everyone isn’t starting at the same level of involvement? Learn about the framework for an ideal member journey, creative and engaging ways to engage members, and the characteristics of successful member engagement strategies. Get eight practical member engagement tips to create, verify, and measure your organization’s member engagement strategy. More info/register.

Host: Impexium

Thu 3/23 at 1 p.m. – CFO Panel Discussion: Future Proofing the Office of the Association/Nonprofit CFO

Learn about the evolving role of the CFO in transforming the organizations that they help to lead, how CFO’s are focusing on automation and innovation, and how CFOs are functioning as the Chief Transformation and Chief Risk Officer of the organization. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Ilana Esterrich, CFO, Planned Parenthood
Brian Green, CFO, CHPA
Mary Mohney, CFO, AGU

Thu 3/23 at 1 p.m. – Increase Registrations & Engagement by Leveraging Your Speakers and Exhibitors as Advocates

One often overlooked opportunity lies in leveraging your speakers and exhibitors to help make your event a success. Using these resources is a great way to build anticipation leading up to the event while also boosting participant engagement once they arrive–creating a win-win situation for both you and them! Hear our best tips that you can use to effectively leverage your speakers and exhibitors before, during, and after your events. 1 CAE/CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: EVA – Event Tech Hub

Speakers:

Emily Golding, Group Director, Marketing Strategist, mdg
Rusty Williams, Co-founder, AnswerStage
Vinnu Deshetty, Founder and CEO, EVA – Event Tech Hub

Thu 3/23 at 2 p.m. – Choosing the Board’s Duty of Foresight

In this turbulent decade and beyond, the board’s ability to anticipate, prepare for, and shape the future is arguably more important than its fiduciary duties. By choosing the duty of foresight, boards can build their capacity to make future-focused decisions that leave their organizations better than how they found them. Learn how boards can choose the duty of foresight and integrate next practices to help them shape a different and better future. More info/register.

Host: OnBoard

Speaker: Jeff De Cagna FRSA FASAE, executive advisor, Foresight First LLC

Thu 3/23 from 2 to 5:30 p.m. – Metrics that Matter: Unveiling the Power of Community Data (online, Washington DC and Denver CO)

Learn about best practices for data visualization and how to turn data into insights that matter. Hear from industry experts and community leaders who have used data to drive results, and have the opportunity to network with peers who are also passionate about using metrics to achieve their goals. Locations: online, Washington DC and Denver CO. More info/register.

Host: CMX

Speakers:

Pat Cooney, Community Engineer, ProntoForms
Samantha “Venia” Logan, Community Architect & Founder | Social Sciences, SociallyConstructed.Online
Amanda Makulec, Executive Director, Data Visualization Society
Greg Pollack, Association Analytics
Mauricio Salazar, Co-Founder, Pandoty

Fri 3/24 at 4 p.m. – Nonprofit Management Series: Governance – Getting Started

Host: Fridays@4

Speaker: Rochelle Jerry, Vice President of Development and Customer Relations, The Indiana Black Expo

Tue 3/28 at 11 a.m. – High Altitude Leadership: What the World’s Most Forbidding Peaks Teach Us About Success

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Don Schmincke, Author and Speaker, Saga Leadership

Tue 3/28 at 1 p.m. – Demystifying Software Integrations: What’s All the Fuss and What Do You Need to Know?

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Jeff Horne, Co-Founder, CEO, Wicket

Wed 3/29 at 8 a.m. – Leadership Skills for Today’s Associations

Host: Association of Association Executives

Speakers:

Paul Burgess, Chief Executive Officer, British Association of Cosmetic Nurses
Kevin Mead, President, Vermont Captive Insurance Association
Paul Walsh EMIAM (seminar chair), Seminar Programme Manager, Association of Association Executives

Wed 3/29 at 9:30 a.m. – Using a Competency Model to Ensure Minimal Competency when Recertifying Certification Holders

Host: Certification Network Group

Speakers:

Terri Hinkley, EdD, MBA, BScN, RN, CAE, CEO, Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses and the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board
Manny Straehle, GISF, Founder and President, Assessment, Education, and Research Experts
Bill West, senior market leader and 25+ year veteran of the assessment industry

Wed 3/29 at 1 p.m. – 16 Skills of Servant Leadership

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Austin Campbell, Manufacturing Analyst, The Liggett Group

Wed 3/29 at 2 p.m. – March Expert Series: 8 Ways to Generate More Revenue from your Learning Management System

Host: Non-Dues-A-Palooza

Speaker: Jessica Metzler, Senior Director of Operations for Freestone Learning Management System

Thu 3/30 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. – Global Meetings Industry Day

Host: MPI

Thu 3/30 at 11 a.m. – AI & Associations: A Guide to a Smarter Strategic Plan

Host: Sidecar

Speaker: Rick Bawcum, Founder, and CEO of Cimatri

Thu 3/30 at 1 p.m. – Sponsorship Ideas to Catapult Engagement and Revenue

Host: EVA – Event Tech Hub

Speakers:

Barbara J. Armentrout, CAE, managing partner, Mesa Group
Bruce Rosenthal, corporate partnership and sponsorship consultant, Bruce Rosenthal Associates
Vinnu Deshetty, founder and CEO, EVA – Event Tech Hub

Thu 3/30 at 2 p.m. – ASAE ForesightWorks: Planning for the Future

Host: ASAE

Thu 3/30 at 2 p.m. – How to Create (and Repurpose) Content More Efficiently

Host: Mighty Citizen

Speakers: Jarrett Way, Content and Digital Marketing Manager, and Mindy Avitia, Senior Events and Marketing Manager, Mighty Citizen

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Association Brain Food: 3.10.23

The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…

ChatGPT. WBT Systems explains how you can use ChatGPT to manage and market your association’s education programs. As I wrote in the post, I enjoy researching, thinking and writing so I’m not tempted to use ChatGPT for those purposes—besides, it wouldn’t be ethical. But busy association professionals can definitely save time using ChatGPT as a starting point on many tasks.

Strategic resilience. Dean West at Association Laboratory wonders if he’s lazy, stupid or resilient (I’m not saying) and shares lessons about resilience that can guide your association’s strategy decisions.

Association podcasts. Launching a podcast isn’t as daunting as it used to be, thanks to resources and people who can help you get started, like Association Briefings. They explain how podcasts can benefit associations and their audiences, provide tips for starting an association podcast, and describe the planning process and issues to consider before you decide to move forward.

Skills-based volunteering. Associations might want to consider a different approach to volunteering. Research says employees prefer corporate volunteering programs that allow them to bring job-related expertise to volunteer activities. Submittable describes the benefits of skills-based volunteering for employees, companies, and nonprofits and how organizations can get started.

Content marketing. B2B marketers overwhelmingly believe content marketing produces the leads with the highest ROI, says Marketing Charts. But remember, you can’t just throw blog posts out into the wilderness and expect people to find them. You need a content marketing ecosystem to support them.

Membership engagement. Your AMS should be a utility player on your membership team. Nimble AMS describes how it can help your association recruit, engage and retain members by helping you better understand members, anticipate their needs, and deliver personalized communication and content.

Small staff challenge. Ryan Law at Animalz shares advice from three marketers about how to succeed as a content team of one.

Journalism’s decline. Ross Barkan writes about the media’s conflict of interest problem. It’s impossible for many of them to take an objective perspective when they’re more interested in moving up the social ladder and cozying up to politicians and CEOs. Instead of serving the public’s interest, they serve their egos. Shameful and disappointing.

Good eats

Skip down to the list of free educational events if you prefer takeout.

I turned leftover broccoli salad with cheddar and bacon vinaigrette into a baked pasta with mushroom, onion, garlic, ham, broccoli salad, tomatoes, bechamel and parmesan. Wowee, that was tasty.

In the mood for shrimp-stuffed flounder, I looked at a bunch of recipes online to get some stuffing ideas. I ended up using onion, red bell pepper, celery, garlic, shrimp, eggs, parsley, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, butter and Old Bay. Another success. On the side, zucchini pesto with mushrooms, onion, orange bell pepper, tomatoes and basil pesto.

Every time I make this Thai style catfish recipe, I want to make it again the next night. So quick, easy and delicious. On the side, baby bok choy sautéed with onion, red bell pepper, garlic, oyster sauce, soy sauce and sambal oelek.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

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 too product-centric.

Fri 3/10 at 12 p.m. EST* – Conversations with Champions

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Guest: Rebecca Achurch, PGMP, PMP, CSM, CAE, founder, Achurch Consulting

*All events are online at Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.

Fri 3/10 at 4 p.m. EST – Diversity Discussion Series: #IAmRemarkable

Google’s worldwide #IamRemarkable initiative strives to empower women and underrepresented groups to celebrate their achievements in the workplace and beyond. At the heart of this initiative is an interactive facilitated workshop during which you will learn the importance of self-promotion in your personal and professional life, walk away equipped with tools to comfortably share your accomplishments, challenge the social perception around self-promotion, and reflect on how we can all be better allies and advocates for underrepresented groups so that together we can build a more inclusive world. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Speakers: LaToya Tapscott, Senior Manager of Practice Networks, and Laura Cox, Manager of Online Program Development, Association of Corporate Counsel

Mon 3/13 at 8 a.m. – 21st Century Membership (Radio Free 501c)

Guest: Joy Duling

Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC

Mon 3/13 at 11 a.m. – Membership Mondays

We meet on the second Monday of every month to discuss membership topics based on the group’s current needs. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Membership Professionals Community

Tue 3/14 at 11 a.m. – Culture by Design: How to build a High Performing Culture (Leadership & Learning Series)

Learn how to create and drive the culture you want to have by understanding the difference between a good culture and a high-performance culture, why values are less important than behaviors, why vision and mission statements are often a mistake, critical mistakes most leaders make in defining their culture and how to avoid them, and the role of ritual in sustaining a focus on culture over the long run. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Bill Kaiser, Senior Vice President, CultureWise

Tue 3/14 at 12 p.m. – LGBTQIA2+ Community Call

We will continue our conversation about ways to promote inclusiveness. Log on in March as we discuss, among other things: How can work done by the DEI committee be augmented/supported by this community? And how does this work get integrated into what ASAE does? Where are things at with the results of ASAE’s last DEI strategic plan (2019-2021) and with a new one? More info/register.

Host: ASAE LGBTQ Association Executives and Supporters

Tue 3/14 at 3 p.m. – Welcome Aboard! Onboarding New Association Members

A great onboarding journey highlights the opportunities, services, and general value new members can benefit from in your association. It is a wonderful chance to get them acquainted and inspire involvement. A strong onboarding experience can directly lead to increased membership renewal. Join our thought leaders as they discuss the must-haves of an effective onboarding program that will polish out your operations. More info/register.

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

Ethan Gray, CAE, Director of Association Management Services, Talley Management
Tony Hoff, Marketing Director, Survey & Ballot Systems
Leona Scott, President and Founder, JEP Marketing Communications
Morgan Wood, Head of Community, Hivebrite

Wed 3/15 at 7 a.m. – How Associations Can Contribute to a Lower Carbon Economy

Explore the latest trends and best practices for reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable practices. Learn how associations can lead by example, encouraging members to adopt sustainable practices and promoting awareness of the importance of sustainability. Discover how to measure the impact of your association’s sustainability initiatives and use feedback to drive improvement. More info/register (subscribe first).

Host: Association of Association Executives

Speakers:

Jon Bruno, Executive Director, The International Ecotourism Society
Matthew Matimbwi, Executive Secretary, Tanzania Renewable Energy Association
William Thomson, Consultant, Gallus Events
Paul Walsh EMIAM (moderator), Seminar Programme Manager, Association of Association Executives

Wed 3/15 at 11 a.m. – How to Personalize and Automate your Member Experience

Despite technology that helps associations take some of the labor out of communicating with members, true custom member experiences still tend to require manual effort. Learn how the member experience has changed over time, historically via phone, letter and fax, then to email, and into the current era of automation; how to automate elements of your members’ experience that are needlessly still manual, from building/updating profiles to gaining a deeper understanding of individual needs; and how to align member experience with member expectations. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Dave Will, Co-Founder and CEO, PropFuel

Wed 3/15 at 12 p.m. – 6 Habits to Build in Your Components (& for CRPs)

Discuss essential habits for building effective components and for CRPs (Chapter Relations Professionals). We will draw from habits that have helped chapters get out of a crisis to provide valuable insights into the key strategic and tactical issues that can impact your association. Learn practical tips to help your components succeed. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Hosts: Billhighway and Mariner Management

Speaker: Peggy Hoffman, president and executive director, Mariner Management

Wed 3/15 at 1 p.m. – Expanding Your Influence Without Growing Your Public Affairs Team

We’ve compiled the data from surveying 200+ public affairs pros and the results are in. Hear strategies for addressing challenges you might face in your public affairs program and how to get more bang for your lobbying buck. More info/register.

Host: Quorum

Speakers:

Brian Rubenstein, President, Rubenstein Impact Group
Cicely Simpson, Founder & CEO, Summit Public Affairs

Wed 3/15 at 2 p.m. – How Associations Can Build Lasting Client and Member Relationships

Hear about the academic research about why keeping in touch with current and past clients and members is important and its multiple benefits, how to apply this research to your own relationship-building strategy, how to develop an intentional mindset and overcome self-imposed barriers to keeping in touch, and actionable keep-in-touch strategies that you can implement immediately following the workshop. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Professionals for Association Revenue

Speaker: Jason Levin, Author, Speaker, Trainer & Career and Business Development Coach, Ready, Set, Launch, LLC

Wed 3/15 at 3 p.m. – Analytics in Action: The Top Ten List: Data Challenges

After working with hundreds of associations, we can confidently say most of them have similar challenges when it comes to data. These range from difficulty accessing data to conflicting numbers sitting in different source systems. We’ve compiled these common challenges into a David Letterman-style Top Ten list and share concrete ways you can overcome each challenge so you can continue to advance your analytics journey. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Analytics

Speakers: Bill Conforti, SVP of Strategy & Solutions; Greg Pollack, Vice President of Sales; and Rachel Mace, Sr. Developer, Data Visualizations, Association Analytics

Thu 3/16 at 7 a.m. – Creating a Personalized Membership Experience

More info/register (subscribe first).

Host: Association of Association Executives

Speakers:

Ronald Kawule Jooga, Head – Membership Development, Uganda Small Scale Inudstries Association
Patricia Njeri, Membership Manager, Global Off-Grid Lighting Association
Chelsea Shelley, Head of Membership, Engagement and Services, British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
Paul Walsh EMIAM (moderator), Seminar Programme Manager, Association of Association Executives

Thu 3/16 at 11 a.m. – Platform vs Purpose Driven Software: An Association Perspective

Software for associations and nonprofits can be a complex and confusing topic. The choices seem limitless. Over the last 10 years the industry has seem the rise of platform-based systems. Is that a positive or negative? What does that mean for traditional purpose drive software? Learn about the difference between platform and purpose driven software, the pros and cons of each type of software, and the right questions to ask about what best for their organization. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Craig Dellorso, Director, Association Management and Nonprofit Solutions, RSM US LLP

Thu 3/16 at 11:30 a.m. – Association Marketplace: Spotlight on AMCs

If you are interested in learning more about AMCs, join this fun and interactive knowledge sharing session, featuring ten of the industry’s leading association management companies. Ask the experts and gain insight and ideas without lifting a finger or issuing an RFP. Each panelist and/or content leader will share their knowledge and recent experiences in cycles of short, 12-15-minute sessions with plenty of time for face-to-face conversation. More info/register.

Host: Qiqo Chat

Thu 3/16 at 12 p.m. – Generative AI for Associations – How to Use ChatGPT and AI Tech Right Now

Learn about AI fundamentals—what it is, how it works, and where you can use it; generative AI and how it works; mainstream apps like ChatGPT, DALL·E 2 and others; 8+ association-specific use cases that will give you paths to implementing right now in your organization; what’s likely to happen with AI in the next 12-24 months; and what you can and should do next to experiment and take your organization forward. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Sidecar

Speakers:

Reggie Henry, Chief Information and Performance Excellence Officer, ASAE
Dray McFarlane, Co-Founder, Tasio
Amith Nagarajan, Founder and Chairman, Blue Cypress

Thu 3/16 at 12 p.m. – Guiding You in the Right Direction: How to Engage with a Professional Coach

The association industry is fortunate to have several individuals providing coaching services to professionals at every stage of their careers. An experienced coach’s guidance may help identify areas of potential growth and goals to achieve, and always a confidential sounding board. Where do you start? How do you find the right coach? Can a coach be affordable? Learn how coaching can benefit an individual, and establishing a connection with a coach can be one of the most rewarding professional relationships. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Speaker: Cynthia Mills, FASAE, CAE CMC, CPC, CCRC, Founder, President & CEO of The Leaders’ Haven

Thu 3/16 at 12 p.m. – March DES Expert Panel Q&A

Hear from our DES Experts Dahlia El Gazzar, Will Curran, and Sourabh Kothari and ask the questions you want answered, whether related directly to the course content, or a challenge you may be facing in your own work in the virtual/hybrid events world. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Thu 3/16 at 12 p.m. – The Community Check-In

A weekly community chat on Slack for black professionals working in the events industry. More info/register.

Host: Black In Events Network

Thu 3/16 at 12:30 p.m. – Nonprofit Organization Data Privacy and Security

With new privacy laws in multiple states—including most notably Colorado—and greater focus on privacy at the federal level, nonprofits need to develop policies and procedures to meet these emerging privacy obligations. Data security also remains a top compliance priority, and nonprofits must continue to ensure that their members’ and donors’ information is safeguarded. Learn about new data protection developments and best practices for addressing data breaches when they do occur. More info/register.

Host: Venable LLP

Speakers:

Nana-Kwabena Abrefah, Associate, Privacy and Data Security Group, Venable LLP
John Banghart, Senior Director for Cybersecurity Services, Technology and Innovation Group, Venable LLP
Kelly DeMarchis Bastide, Partner & Co-Chair, Privacy and Data Security Group, Venable LLP
George Constantine (moderator(, Partner & Co-Chair, Nonprofit Organizations, Venable LLP

Thu 3/16 at 2 p.m. – From Proposals to Policies: A Guide to the 2024 Federal Budget & Appropriations

As federal agencies, Congress, and the White House’s Office of Management and Budget work on an appropriations framework for the upcoming 2024 fiscal year, government affairs professionals must act quickly to stay ahead of the curve and make sure their issues are represented fairly. Hear about the ticking clock of the federal budget process and how to keep pace, how the debate over the debt limit will affect spending debates, timeline for the coming months—and all the ways those timelines can go awry, insiders’ perspectives on key disagreements and potential concessions, and implications of proposed revenue generators and cuts. More info/register.

Host: CQ

Speakers:

Paul M. Krawzak, senior writer on the budget, appropriations and tax team at CQ and Roll Call
Aidan Quigley, CQ and Roll Call’s budget and appropriations reporter
Laura Weiss, CQ and Roll Call’s tax and economic policy reporter
David Lerman (moderator), senior writer at CQ and Roll Call

Thu 3/16 at 4 p.m. – Your Members Are Mobile… Are You?

Learn how associations can use a mobile app and leverage their existing technologies to create a mobile strategy that will provide member retention, new memberships and added member benefit. Find out how to create an action plan for going mobile, identify existing technologies the association has to enhance its mobile strategy, and select a mobile technology partner. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Reston-Loudoun Idea Swap

Speaker: Mark Wallach, MBA, Director, Mobile Business Development, Results Direct

Thu 3/16 at 6:30 p.m. – Black Association Executives Monthly Meeting

Occurs on the third Thursday of each month. The agenda will be posted the week of. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Black Association Executives

Fri 3/17 at 4 p.m. – Career Coach Series: Mindful Leadership

Host: Fridays@4

Speaker: Dr. Lua Hancock

Tue 3/21 at 12 p.m. – CRVM March Crunch and Munch

Come prepared to engage, participate and listen as we discuss current topics. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Council

Wed 3/22 at 11 a.m. – Code of Ethics: An Association’s North Star

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Linn Wheeling, MBA, CAE, Director Community Engagement

Wed 3/22 at 1 p.m. – Sneak Peek into Recent Association Web Projects

Host: Matrix Group

Thu 3/23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – LMS Demo Day

Watch presentations from a limited number of industry partners that offer learning management system (LMS) platforms. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Thu 3/23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Spring Symposium (Washington DC)

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Travis A. Allen, Senior Investment Strategist, National Managing Director at Alliance Bernstein, and Santiago Alfredo Guzman, Head of Middle Market FI Sales at Santander Bank, N.A.
Rob Eby, CPA, CGMA, Partner National Nonprofit Segment Leader, Aprio LLP
Ilana Esterrich, CFO, Planned Parenthood, Brian Green, CFO, CHPA, and Mary Mohney, CFO, AGU

Thu 3/23 at 10 a.m. – Economic Outlook: Recession 2023? Two Perspectives to Help You with Budget and Scenario Planning for Your Association/Nonprofit

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Travis A. Allen, Senior Investment Strategist, National Managing Director at Alliance Bernstein
Santiago Alfredo Guzman, Head of Middle Market FI Sales at Santander Bank, N.A.

Thu 3/23 at 11:15 a.m. – Building an Effective Audit Committee

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Rob Eby, CPA, CGMA, Partner National Nonprofit Segment Leader, Aprio LLP

Thu 3/23 at 1 p.m. – The Secret to Successful Member Retention: Year-Round Engagement

More info/register.

Host: Impexium

Thu 3/23 at 1 p.m. – CFO Panel Discussion: Future Proofing the Office of the Association/Nonprofit CFO

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Ilana Esterrich, CFO, Planned Parenthood
Brian Green, CFO, CHPA
Mary Mohney, CFO, AGU

Thu 3/23 at 1 p.m. – Increase Registrations & Engagement by Leveraging Your Speakers and Exhibitors as Advocates

Host: EVA – Event Tech Hub

Speakers:

Emily Golding, Group Director, Marketing Strategist, mdg
Rusty Williams, Co-founder, AnswerStage
Vinnu Deshetty, Founder and CEO, EVA – Event Tech Hub

Thu 3/23 at 2 p.m. – Choosing the Board’s Duty of Foresight

Host: OnBoard

Speaker: Jeff De Cagna FRSA FASAE, executive advisor, Foresight First LLC

Association Brain Food Weekly is published Friday mornings. If your organization offers free professional development for the association community, please send me the link via email or Twitter by Wednesday afternoon the week before it’s scheduled.

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Creative Commons licensed photo of road in Canyon de Chelly by Angie Corbett-Kuiper via Unsplash

Association Brain Food: 3.3.23

The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…

Self-assessment tools/programs. Self-assessments reveal where you need to improve your skills and what you need to learn. WBT Systems shares several association examples of self-assessment tools and programs for choosing a career path or course of study, preparing for a certification exam, or improving business practices and policies.

Subscriptions. If you offer learning or membership subscriptions, clear your Harvard Business Review cookies and read this article by Nir Eyal. You’ll need to channel your inner psychologist to address the fascinating issues he raises about choice, novelty and user investment in subscriptions. His insight should help you improve the subscriber experience at your organization.

Event gamification. In their new guide, EventMobi explains the psychology behind gamification. They describe strategies for applying game mechanics to influence attendee behavior, including the incentives and technology that will help you achieve event goals.

Sponsorships. How can associations provide corporate partners with valuable access to their member communities? That’s the question the Professionals for Association Revenue asked several association executives and consultants. I love the idea from Jay Ablondi of the Massachusetts Medical Society about sponsors being resident experts for boards and committees—a natural role for experienced industry partners.

Self-mastery. Casey Rosengren’s post about doing hard things is a long one but worth every moment of reading—and could have momentous effects. He describes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), how it changed his life, and how you can apply its principles. “ACT looks at how our thoughts influence our behavior and offers tools for debugging when our minds get us stuck.” We often confuse our thoughts with reality. They can take us away from the here and now if we let them, allowing us to get caught in negative spin cycles about the past or the future. Isn’t being human endlessly interesting?

AMS (r)evolution. Empowered Margins sat down with 70 AMS developers to get their perspectives on all things AMS, such as integration, APIs, security, ecommerce, data visualization, and more. They explain how these AMS functions affect the member experience, how the AMS market is changing, and what you should look for in a new AMS.

Quick hits

Real accountability at work requires better metrics across the organization. (Jamie Notter, Propel)

Five ways thought leadership content drives higher search rankings. I especially love the first two pieces of advice. As for #3, it works too, but please don’t ask me to write your book, ha ha. (Andy Crestodina, Orbit Media Studio)

Don’t you loathe the idea of banned books? Humans of all political persuasions can be such jerks and have been forever. Read the late Pat Conroy’s letter to the editor on teachers, censorship and banned books. (Pat Conroy, Poetic Outlaws)

Good eats

Skip down to the list of free educational events if you prefer takeout.

After one night of delicious eggplant parmesan—see last week’s post for the recipe—I broke down and made spaghetti with tomatoes, garlic, fresh oregano and Italian parsley, dried basil, red pepper flakes and parmesan cheese to enjoy with the leftovers. Any excuse for pasta.

We enjoyed one of our favorite fish species another night: baked sheepshead fillets with lemon-herb butter made with lemon zest, chives, oregano and parsley. On the side, an old Pierre Franey recipe for broccoli purée made with butter, garlic, Parmesan cheese, nutmeg, salt and pepper, and roasted sweet potato wedges sprinkled with smoked paprika, chipotle powder, garlic powder and cinnamon.

For a family birthday party, I made broccoli salad with cheddar and bacon vinaigrette. I used a mix of sharp cheddar and asiago cheese, dried cranberries instead of grapes, and all parts of the green onions.

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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 too product-centric.

Fri 3/3 at 10 a.m.* – Coffee with Innovators: Association Design Circle

We meet on the first Friday of each month hosted by an association leader who leads a conversation on an association innovation topic. Our topic this month is association finance innovation. More info/register.

Host: Product Design Community

Facilitator: Annie Doresca, Chief Financial Officer at Jewelers of America

*All events are online at Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.

Fri 3/3 at 1 p.m. – iPaaS Show-and-Tell: Real Life Examples from the Trenches

Get a look under the hood of the iPaaS-based integrations at four associations. See how things look and work in Zapier, Tray.io, ShuffleExchange, and MS Power Automate. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Technology Professionals Community

Fri 3/3 at 4 p.m. – Diversity Discussion Series: Women in Leadership (Panel Discussion)

Join us for our continued panel discussion series, Diversity Discussions in honor of Women’s History Month. The moderator will lead panelists through a conversation on association leadership experiences, themes include values, relationships, and boundaries. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Speakers:

Ally Brown, MS, Director of Training, Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine
Celia Chomón Zamora, Director of Professional Learning and Certification, ACTFL
Jakeeva Lee, member and community engagement outreach, Chicago Association of Realtors
Angela Nelson (moderator), diversity, equity, and inclusion, Travel Portland

Fri 3/3 at 6:30 p.m. – DMV First Friday Black Association Executives Dinner

More info/register.

Organizer: ASAE Black Association Executives

Mon 3/6 at 8 a.m. – Creating Community via Content (Radio Free 501c)

Guest: KiKi L’Italien, senior consultant, Tecker International

Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC

Mon 3/6 at 1 p.m. – Inflection Points with the New MPI Academy Director

Join us as we welcome Tim Luepke, the new Director of the Academy, as he shares about him, his experience, his vision and his goals for the Academy in 2023. 0.5 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MPI

Tue 3/7 at 11 a.m. – Cybersecurity Assessment for an Association/Nonprofit: A Checklist for Success

After the pandemic, small and medium sized organizations, including nonprofits and associations, are facing increasing cyber threats as they are more connected today—with remote staff, members, customers and vendors. Easy availability of low-cost cyber weapons has led to a surge in phishing attempts, malware, and ransomware attacks on inadequately secured networks. Learn about the types of security assessments available in the marketplace, what an assessment framework is and which one your organization should be using, why types of information should be delivered through an assessment, and what your organization should do with the assessment output. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Brian Scott, President, CIO, ClearTone Consulting LLC

Tue 3/7 at 12 p.m. – The For-Profit Competitors Are Here

More and more, for-profit private networks and communities are competing with associations for membership, engagement opportunities, and revenue. Hear about the rise of for-profit competitors and their impact on how associations can drive greater member value and impact going forward. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Executive Management Professionals Advisory Council

Speakers:

Miranda Barrett, CAE, PMP, Owner, Capacity to Scale
Jennifer Lewi, MBA, CAE, ACC, Vice President, Career Development and Conferences, School Nutrition Association
Martin Sirk, Owner, Sirk Serendipity / International Advisor, Global Association Hubs Partnership
Dean West, FASAE, President, Association Laboratory
Tommy Goodwin (moderator), FASAE, CAE, PMP, Vice President, Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance

Tue 3/7 at 12 p.m. – Event Analytics (Association Analytics Network)

Join association professionals for peer-led discussions on topics related to data and analytics. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Analytics

Tue 3/7 at 12 p.m. – Meetings Outlook

Deep dive into MPI’s most recent Meetings Outlook research, published quarterly in The Meeting Professional magazine. Review the forecast for events in the coming year, including a budget, attendance, and business conditions, trends that matter, and how these trends affect you and the future of your meetings. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MPI

Tue 3/7 at 1 p.m. – Bark Up the Right Tree: Align Your Event Marketing Strategy to the Right Promotional Channels

Unique new ways to promote your events are constantly popping up; from TikTok and LinkedIn Conversation Ads, to influencer marketing and podcasts, the options can be endless. Learn how to know which channels are right for your event and organization and how you can use new channels to tell your brand story and promote your events. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Speakers: Emily Dick, Director, Demand Generation, and Tiffany Sanford, Assistant Team Lead, Demand Generation, Cvent

Tue 3/7 at 2 p.m. – Uncommon Approaches to Engage and Retain Your Members and Grow Your Community: A Conversation with Amanda Lea Kaiser

Members’ ever-increasing lack of time is why it is more challenging to encourage them to engage (attend, contribute, and volunteer) than it was even five years ago. We need a new roadmap to engage members now and in the future. Amanda Lea Kaiser’s book, “Elevating Engagement: Uncommon Strategies for Creating a Thriving Member Community,” reveals hundreds of ways to help members engage with others in their community and with your association at each stage of their member journey. More info/register.

Host: Tasio

Speaker: Amanda Kaiser, founder, Kaiser Insights

Wed 3/8 at 7 a.m. – Taking Advantage of Tech to Boost Association Revenue

Hear about the latest tech trends and best practices for maximizing revenue potential. Learn how to leverage data analytics, marketing automation, and other cutting-edge tools to increase engagement, retain members, and drive revenue growth. More info/register.

Host: Association of Association Executives

Speakers:

John Martinez, Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Shocklogic
Paul Walsh EMIAM (facilitator), Seminar Programme Manager, Association of Association Executives

Wed 3/8 at 9 a.m. – First Calls and Focused Follow-Ups: How Associations Stay Connected to Customers

Staying top of mind with customers is an important part of relationship building. Whether it’s members or partners, associations must strike the right balance of keeping in touch and staying connected with those they serve. Share tips and tactics for staying connected to customers in meaningful ways. 1 CAE credit. More info/register (members only).

Host: Professionals for Association Revenue

Speaker: Sean Soth, Founder & Leadership Advisory Board Chair, Professionals for Association Revenue

Wed 3/8 at 1 p.m. – The ABCs of APIs: Integrations for Those NOT in the Know

Integrations and APIs are common buzzwords, but what exactly do they mean and why are they important? Learn the basics of making your systems talk to each other, how to express your integration needs to your tech teams and make better system selection choices based on the integration options. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Olivia Wilkins, Business Analyst/Project Manager, PerByte

Wed 3/8 at 1 p.m. – The Association Hiring Landscape

Join a discussion with recruiters and career experts on the state of the association hiring market. Learn how to position yourself as a strong candidate, and how to attract the best applicants in today’s market. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Speaker: Shelly Howard-Horwitz

Wed 3/8 at 1 p.m. – Membership Growth Strategies that Work: Using Marketing Technology (MarTech) to Add New Members

Hear insights on technology, tools, and approaches to identify and nurture new members for your association. Learn how to develop lead magnets that will attract prospective members, use tools and strategies to identify patterns and better determine your audience, and leverage technology to generate more leads in your profession or industry. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Fonteva & Protech

Speakers:

Aimee Pagano, Director of Programming, HighRoad Solutions
Erin Lemons, Senior Director of Marketing, Fonteva & Protech

Wed 3/8 at 1 p.m. – Delivering Cost-Efficient, Attention-Driving Event Content: Part 2 of Maximizing Event Influence at Minimum Cost webinar series

Booking famous speakers is a popular way to drive registrations and attract sponsors, but that strategy comes at a cost—literally. Hear about alternative ways to grab prospective attendee attention without relying solely on big names. More info/register.

Host: Bizzabo

Speakers:

Oren Berkovich, Head of Experience Lab, Bizzabo
Allison Crooker, Director, Experiential Marketing, VMWare
Adele Durham, Senior Director, Global Events, VeeAM

Wed 3/8 at 2 p.m. – Expert Strategies to Help Meet Your Goals

marketing trends and actionable takeaways to take your marketing plan to the next level. We will share why marketing plans are important, the essential components to consider, and why aligning the plan to meet your association goals is essential. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Adviser/Naylor Association Solutions

Speakers:

Melinda Adamec, Senior Vice President, Gabriel Marketing Group
Kaydee Brown, Senior Corporate Marketing Manager, Naylor Association Solutions

Thu 3/9 at 7 a.m. – Boosting the Educational Value of Congresses

Explore the latest trends and best practices for boosting educational value, from designing innovative sessions to leveraging technology to foster engagement. Learn how to create interactive and engaging sessions that encourage attendee participation and promote active learning. Additionally, you’ll discover how to measure the success of your educational programming and use feedback to improve future congresses. More info/register.

Host: Association of Association Executives

Speakers:

Jeremias Rodriguez, Director, Congress & Meetings, World Federation of Hemophilia
Paul Walsh EMIAM (facilitator), Seminar Programme Manager, Association of Association Executives

Thu 3/9 at 11 a.m. – Deep Dive: 2023 Membership Performance Benchmark Report

Take a deep dive through the recently released 8th annual 2023 Membership Performance Benchmark Report. Association executives from around the world share their top priorities for 2023 and offer tips for overcoming the biggest challenges. This year’s report also shares insights on how different generations, Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, and Millennials, view issues differently and how this impacts their decision making. More info/register.

Host: iMIS by ASI

Thu 3/9 at 11 a.m. – Marketing Artificial Intelligence in Action

Learn about low lift, low cost AI tools, specific to the marketing, membership, and communications functions, you can begin experimenting with right away at your organization. Hear about SEO/search optimization tools that use NLP for semantic-powered inline optimization as well as search volume recommendations; email tools that leverage AI for content recommendation and send-time optimization; content generation and inline editing tools; image and other content generation tools; and AI-powered audio editing tools. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Erica Salm Rench, MBA, COO, Rasa.io

Thu 3/9 at 12 p.m. – By Association: Branding and Marketing Strategies for Your Association

Strategically planning your association’s branding and marketing is a huge step toward moving your mission forward. When done correctly, it allows for associations to remain relevant in their communities, more opportunities to connect with potential supporters, and an increased likelihood of attracting new members organically. Learn how associations can find success in branding and marketing. More info/register.

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

Murad Bushnaq, Founder and CEO of Morweb
Ashish Malik, CEO, 108 ideaspace
Jim Wacksman, Producer & CEO at Association Studios
Rusty Williams, Co-Founder, AnswerStage

Thu 3/9 at 12 p.m. – The Community Check-In

A weekly community chat on Slack for black professionals working in the events industry. More info/register.

Host: Black In Events Network

Thu 3/9 at 1 p.m. – What’s Trending in 2023?

Hear the latest event design, F&B and entertainment trends for 2023. Learn the concept of “events as theater” and “event touchpoints,” how the five senses influence the attendee experience, how to tap into local resources for F&B and entertainment, and how to identify entertainers and speakers that appeal to every demographic. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Prevue Meetings

Speakers:

Kate Brack, VP of Design & Strategy, Haute
Dianne Devitt, CEO, Dianne Devitt LLC
Tahira Endean, CITP, CMP, DES, CED, Head of Programme, IMEX

Fri 3/10 at 12 p.m. – Conversations with Champions

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Guest: Rebecca Achurch, PGMP, PMP, CSM, CAE, founder, Achurch Consulting

Mon 3/13 at 11 a.m. – Membership Mondays Celebration (hybrid event)

We meet on the second Monday of every month to discuss membership topics based on the group’s current needs. Location: online and Washington DC. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Membership Professionals Community

Tue 3/14 at 11 a.m. – Culture by Design: How to build a High Performing Culture (Leadership & Learning Series)

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Bill Kaiser, Senior Vice President, CultureWise

Tue 3/14 at 12 p.m. – LGBTQIA2+ Community Call

Host: ASAE LGBTQ Association Executives and Supporters

Wed 3/15 at 11 a.m. – How to Personalize and Automate your Member Experience

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Dave Will, Co-Founder and CEO, PropFuel

Wed 3/15 at 12 p.m. – 6 Habits to Build in Your Components (& for CRPs)

Hosts: Billhighway and Mariner Management

Speaker: Peggy Hoffman, president and executive director, Mariner Management

Wed 3/15 at 2 p.m. – How Associations Can Build Lasting Client and Member Relationships

Host: Professionals for Association Revenue

Speaker: Jason Levin, Author, Speaker, Trainer & Career and Business Development Coach, Ready, Set, Launch, LLC

Wed 3/15 at 3 p.m. – Analytics in Action: The Top Ten List: Data Challenges

Host: Association Analytics

Speakers: Bill Conforti, SVP of Strategy & Solutions; Greg Pollack, Vice President of Sales; and Rachel Mace, Sr. Developer, Data Visualizations, Association Analytics

Thu 3/16 at 11:30 a.m. – Association Marketplace: Spotlight on AMCs

Host: Qiqo Chat

Thu 3/16 at 12 p.m. – Guiding You in the Right Direction: How to Engage with a Professional Coach

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Speaker: Cynthia Mills, FASAE, CAE CMC, CPC, CCRC, Founder, President & CEO of The Leaders’ Haven

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Association Brain Food: 2.24.23

The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…

Professional development and membership. After reviewing ASI’s 2023 Membership Performance Benchmark Report, WBT Systems discusses the findings and highlights the role of professional development in attracting, engaging, and retaining members.

Blogging. Cierra Loflin at Superpath identifies the telltale signs of an underperforming blog and shares the turnaround advice of three content marketers who inherited mediocre blogs.

AMS implementation. Impexium describes three crucial principles that most associations and vendors overlook during an AMS implementation—things that will make your life a lot more difficult. They explain why and how to get buy-in from staff and executives, how to manage an implementation when you barely have time for your real job, and why you should focus on business outcomes, not processes.

Member renewals. MemberSuite describes how to proactively create the conditions for more member renewals, including laying a sound foundation with your value proposition, renewal tactics, and a strategy for lapsed members.

Stakeholder capitalism. In one of those seeing-something-everywhere-all-of-a-sudden phenomena, I’ve come across several references to stakeholder capitalism lately. Submittable explains what it is and why it’s important.

State of the association industry. There’s no lack of survey reports in our industry, but a few things stand out in the 2023 Association Survey Results Report from GrowthZone: challenges that cry out for solutions, such as a non-renewals caused by a member’s lack of time to participate, and the lack of plans or processes for goals such as member engagement, lapsed member reengagement, young professional recruitment and retention, and membership value innovation. No plan, no progress.

Good eats

Skip down to the list of free educational events if you prefer takeout.

This French toast casserole was easy to put together, although I cut way back on the brown sugar and added maple syrup to the custard instead. I used the leftover sub rolls from our Superbowl party. They dried out a bit in the refrigerator so were in perfect shape for French toast.

Sunday, we had the “best eggplant parmesan.” I was a subscriber to the Washington Post when I first discovered this recipe, but no longer am and never copied it. Fortunately, I found it on another website in an article by the recipe’s creator. I like this dish because you broil the eggplant slices instead of frying them and top the dish with a bread crumb mixture to get the crunchy fried feel. I use pesto instead of basil, add provolone for extra flavor, and make it in a 9” x 13” pan.

Earlier in the week, we had blackened vermillion snapper. On the side, grits with pepper jack cheese and a mix of heavy cream and milk, plus zucchini al pesto with broccoli stem, onion, mushroom, and orange bell pepper.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

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 too product-centric.

Fri 2/24 at 8 a.m.* – Black Association Executives Networking Breakfast (Tysons Corner VA)

Location: Tysons Corner VA. More info/register.

Organizer: ASAE Black Association Executives

*All events are online at Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.

Fri 2/24 at 12 p.m. – Unpacked: What is holding you back from career success and strategies to move forward?

Are you an aspiring leader, an emerging leader, a first-time manager, or a professional serious about your personal and professional growth? This monthly leadership and professional development series will help you gain and improve your leadership development skills. More info/register.

Host: Maurine Kwende, CEO and founder, EMK Learning Solutions

Fri 2/24 at 12 p.m. – Psychometrics Concepts in Professional Certification Process

Gain a better understanding of the psychometric principles used to develop, administer, and interpret professional certification tests. Hear about reliability, validity, psychometric scaling, item analysis, psychometric modeling, and the impact of certification on job performance. Learn about the ethical and legal considerations related to certification processes. More info/register.

Host: Leverage Assessments, Inc.

Fri 2/24 at 4 p.m. – Diversity Discussion Series: Empowering Rising Leaders (Panel Discussion)

Join us for a moderated panel discussion on empowering rising leaders. The moderator will lead the conversation through themes on workplace culture, leadership, and global digitalization. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Speakers:

Sara El Saied, Associate Director of Business Development and Industry Partnerships, Association of Women’s Health and Neonatal Nurses
Vik Kapoor, Esq., PCC, President, Extra-M Coaching and Consulting
Brooke Wilson, CMP, professional event planner
Constance Samuels (moderator), MBA, CMP, DES, Director of Events & Education, National Association of Professional Employer Association

Mon 2/27 at 8 a.m. – Looking Forward 2023 (Radio Free 501c)

Guest: Dean West, FASAE, President, Association Laboratory

Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC

Mon 2/27 at 11 a.m. – Empowering You to Create Engaging Events

We had to move our event delivery online during Covid which allowed us to experience a new way to engage our members. Now the world is our oyster, we can deliver online, hybrid and in person. What method works best? What elements of our event are best suited to online, hybrid and in person? What about the costs? Do you stream live events or make them available on demand? Get insights and enhance the reach of your events, whether they’re in person, virtual, or hybrid. More info/register.

Host: InEvent

Speakers:

Lisa Collins Managing Director at Dovetail Creative Ltd.
Cecilia Lavin, Sales Director at InEvent

Mon 2/27 at 2 p.m. – Retain Your Members Without Breaking The Bank

Learn how to discover strategic opportunities through the member journey, create a streamlined onboarding process that can save the association and its members time and money, increase your membership satisfaction and loyalty, and make your members the center of a story that can transform your association. More info/register.

Host: Grype

Speaker: Mark Levin, CAE, CSP, President, B.A.I, Inc.

Tue 2/28 at 11 a.m. – Avoid Buyer’s Remorse When Selecting New Software for your Organization

Working with so many vendors in the space, we’ve developed a fool-proof plan for how to plan for the vendor selection process, what questions to ask in the interview process and finally, how to interpret the answers. Gain confidence in developing a plan for kicking off the search for new software. Learn the common pitfalls to avoid during the interview and selection process. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Jeff Horne, Co-Founder, CEO, Wicket
Steve Shock, VP Marketing, Wicket Marketing Technology Specialist

Tue 2/28 at 12 p.m. – Webinars That Work: Hosting Virtual Events That Drive Business Results

Effective webinars build brand awareness, nurture warm leads, close deals and sustain existing customer relationships. But all too often, they’re thinly veiled product pitches, with bad lighting and even worse PPTs. Learn how to develop content that connects with your buyer’s specific pain points, promote registration with a focused, high ROI, 6- to 8-week campaign calendar, deliver an engaging experience that feels more like a conversation and less like a PowerPoint dump, and use AI to efficiently adapt your webinar content and create extended engagement for months to come. More info/register.

Host: Managing Editor & Rep Cap Live

Speakers:

Hannah Scherer, VP, Marketing & Partnerships, BigMarker
Mary Ellen Slayter, Rep Cap CEO, Publisher of Managing Editor

Tue 2/28 at 12 p.m. – From Value Proposition Strategy to Growth: A Membership Growth Case Study

The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers’ membership marketing campaign wasn’t yielding the expected membership growth results. So OSPE built a methodical, multi-year, value-proposition marketing strategy to improve membership growth. Their efforts resulted in OSPE’s highest membership growth since 2008. Hear about the benefits of the strategic approach that changed OSPE’s member value proposition. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Xchange

Speaker: Christine Saunders, CM, President, Halmyre

Tue 2/28 at 12 p.m. – Secure 2.0: What You Need To Know

Over the holidays, President Biden signed the Secure 2.0 Act, a sweeping retirement reform package aimed at increasing access to workplace retirement plans and retirement plan savings, streamlining plan administration and reporting requirements, and preserving retirement income. Learn about the Act’s most impactful provisions and the administrative obstacles you may face, which options your organization can adopt now and in the future, and how this will affect workers and the intended outcome these provisions could have over time. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Speaker: Shelly Howard-Horwitz

Tue 2/28 at 12:30 p.m. – The New Member Journey: Emerging Member Personas for Associations

Everyone has their own journey and their own “why” when joining an association. How can you better understand your community to help members find their niche? Learn how to reimagine your community’s experience through passionate people and their different personas, technology that enables your association, and processes that embrace innovation. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Personify

Speakers:

Wes Trochlil, president of Effective Database Management
Tina Wehmeir, CEO at AMC Institute
Megan Woodburn, Founder and Co-CEO at Strategic Association Management
Erin Sullivan, VP of Marketing at Personify

Tue 2/28 at 1 p.m. – Association Chat Open Forum

This month’s forum will focus on the association value proposition and why people are chatting lately about the need for business model change. More info/register.

Host: KiKi L’Italien, senior consultant, Tecker International

Tue 2/28 at 1 p.m. – Overcome Awkwardness & Prioritize Collaboration: Creating a Culture of Feedback

Unless we seek reflections on our work and performance, how can any of us truly recognize potential opportunities to refine, invest, and grow? Participate in a discussion about feedback—starting with a challenge you’re currently facing and would like to process through a simple, but effective four-part feedback model. Process in real time a participant example for further clarity of how to use the feedback model in the workplace. Leave with a feedback model job aid, as well as specific recommendations for actions to take pre- and post-feedback for maximum effectiveness. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Lowell Aplebaum, FASAE, CAE, CPF, CEO, Vista Cova
Aaron Wolowiec, MSA, CAE, CMP, President & CEO, Event Garde LLC

Tue 2/28 at 2 p.m. – Bark Up the Right Tree: Align Your Event Marketing Strategy to the Right Promotional Channels

Unique new ways to promote your events are constantly popping up, from TikTok and LinkedIn Conversation Ads, to influencer marketing and podcasts. So, how do you know which channels are right for your event and organization? Get fresh ideas on channels and tactics you can use today and in the future, tips on amplifying your brand’s reach, and new ways to repurpose content and extend your event lifecycle. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MeetingsNet

Speakers: Emily Dick, Director, Demand Generation, and Tiffany Sanford, Assistant Team Lead, Demand Generation, Cvent

Tue 2/28 at 3 p.m. – Member Engagement: Strategies for Associations

Associations with engaged members enjoy the benefit of continued relevance in the community, better member retention, and an increased likelihood of attracting new members organically. Strategizing effective engagement is ever-changing given the new trends and technologies we see every day. Learn engagement strategies your association can leverage to get your members hooked on the mission. More info/register.

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

Mariama Boney, President & CEO at Achieve More, LLC
Joy Duling, Founder & CEO at The Joy of Membership
Artesha Moore, President & CEO at Association Forum
Brian Van Norman, Executive Director – Membership, Chapters and Meetings/Events at AAPC

Wed 3/1 at 8 a.m. – BAE Coffee Chat

More info/register.

Host: ASAE Black Association Executives

Wed 3/1 at 11 a.m. – Building & Leading Strong Teams

Building and managing teams can be a challenging prospect to leadership, but not unreachable. Learn about different leadership styles and the impacts they have on teams including attracting and retaining strong employees, building a diverse workforce, recognizing team strengths and minimizing team vulnerabilities. Leave with practical guidance on how to build effective and collaborative teams within your organization. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Jessica Roper, CPA, Director | Outsourced CFO, Vault

Wed 3/1 at 12 p.m. – Caveat Emptor: Becoming a Responsible Consumer of Research

How can you protect your association’s reputation as a trusted source of unbiased information for the profession or industry you serve? Hear a plain language review of key concepts and approaches to consuming and sponsoring research so you know that you are setting yourself up for success in making data-informed decisions that will allow you to achieve your most important goals and solve your most pressing problems. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Insights In Old Town

Speakers:

Elizabeth Engel, M.A., CAE, Chief Strategist, Spark Consulting, LLC
Polly Karpowicz, MBA, CAE, Nonprofit Consultant

Thu 3/2 at 11 a.m. – Reputation Risk as Part of Your Cybersecurity Program

Has your website domain been blacklisted without your knowledge? Are visitors not coming to your site because it’s flagged as unsafe? Are your donor lists being shared on the dark web? Learn the best practices for monitoring and protecting your organization’s most valuable asset: your reputation. Hear about the many ways your online reputation can be compromised, tools available for monitoring these risks, and remediation steps for addressing any issues uncovered. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Darren Hulem, CISA, CEH, Security +, Supervisor, IT and Risk Advisory Services, GRF CPAs & Advisors
Melissa Musser, Partner and Director of Risk Advisory, GRF CPAs & Advisors

Thu 3/2 at 11 a.m. – When Everything Is Hybrid, What Does That Mean for Society Buildings? (Fireside Chat)

As the world started returning to work, societies pondered practical questions such as how to facilitate hybrid working, how to manage virtual events and how to stay afloat, alongside the more existential ones such as “Is having a building fundamental to the mission of the society?” Hear about the impact of all things hybrid on societies and their buildings and how the fallout from the pandemic has led to them questioning their mission and the needs of their communities. More info/register.

Host: Society Street

Speakers:

Graham Blair, Director of Membership, Media and Development, Royal College of Anaesthetists
Sarah Greaves, Publishing Consultant, STEM Consulting Limited
Gaynor Redvers-Mutton, Associate Director of Business Development & Sales, Biochemical Society
Jon Treadway, Director, Great North Wood Consulting
Emma Wilson, Director of Publishing at the Royal Society of Chemistry

Thu 3/2 at 12 p.m. – The Community Check-In

A weekly community chat on Slack for black professionals working in the events industry. More info/register.

Host: Black In Events Network

Thu 3/2 at 1 p.m. – LMS Selection in the Evolving Learning Landscape

Good technology is essential for running a thriving learning business today—but finding the right tech can be daunting. Learn about the macrotrends driving learntech and how those trends impact the platforms a learning business needs in its ecosystem. Hear about a time-tested process you can use to find a learning management system that will help your learning business thrive. Get a clear understanding of how to lead your organization in choosing the right learning technology. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Leading Learning

Speakers: Jeff Cobb and Celisa Steele, co-founders, Leading Learning

Thu 3/2 at 1 p.m. – The No BS Guide to Digital Transformation

The research is clear: the key to lasting, responsive digital transformation is intentional and focused culture change. Learn what makes association culture unique and how culture change particularly impacts associations. Hear how The Independent Community Bankers of America® embarked on their digital transformation project on behalf of their members and their industry. Learn what digital transformation is for your specific association context, what culture patterns are and how they can be roadblocks to digital transformation, and seven steps you need to take to effect digital transformation in your association. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Elizabeth Engel, M.A., CAE, Chief Strategist, Spark Consulting, LLC
Maddie Grant, Culture Designer and Digital Strategist, Propel
Prabhash Shrestha, MS, PMP, FASAE, CAE, Group Executive Vice President, Chief Digital Strategy Officer, ICBA

Thu 3/2 at 1 p.m. – The Next Generation of Fly-Ins: Innovative Strategies for 2023

Fly-ins have undergone some major changes in recent years, moving from traditional in-person events to all-virtual during the pandemic, to a hybrid in the last two years. Now, it’s time to break the mold, look to the future, and explore innovative ways to conduct a fly-in that makes an impact on supporters, members, clients, and lawmakers. More info/register.

Hosts: FiscalNote/VoterVoice and The Advocacy Association

Speakers:

Joe Franco, President, The Advocacy Association
Lindsey Miller, Sr. Manager, Grassroots Advocacy, National Restaurant Association
Kirstie Tucker, Founder, DC Fly-Ins
Sherry Whitworth (Moderator), Managing Director of Public Affairs and Advocacy, FiscalNote

Thu 3/2 at 2 p.m. – Managing IT Challenges in the Remote/Hybrid Office

A remote workforce expert and a managed service provider CTO will share their experiences and answer questions on how you can better manage staff, avoid risks, and improve security in the remote and hybrid work environments. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: 501 Works

Speakers:

Rebecca  Achurch, CEO, Achurch Consulting
Matthew Eshleman, Chief Technology Officer, Community IT Innovators

Fri 3/3 at 10 a.m. – Coffee with Innovators: Association Design Circle

Host: Product Design Community

Facilitator: Annie Doresca, Chief Financial Officer at Jewelers of America

Fri 3/3 at 1 p.m. – iPaaS Show-and-Tell: Real Life Examples from the Trenches

Get a look under the hood of the iPaaS-based integrations at four associations. See how things look and work in Zapier, Tray.io, ShuffleExchange, and MS Power Automate. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Technology Professionals Community

Fri 3/3 at 4 p.m. – Diversity Discussion Series: Women in Leadership (Panel Discussion)

Host: Fridays@4

Speakers:

Ally Brown, MS, Director of Training, Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine
Celia Chomón Zamora, Director of Professional Learning and Certification, ACTFL
Jakeeva Lee, member and community engagement outreach, Chicago Association of Realtors
Angela Nelson (moderator), diversity, equity, and inclusion, Travel Portland

Fri 3/3 at 6:30 p.m. – DMV First Friday Black Association Executives Dinner

More info/register.

Organizer: ASAE Black Association Executives

Tue 3/7 at 11 a.m. – Cybersecurity Assessment for an Association/Nonprofit: A Checklist for Success

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Brian Scott, President, CIO, ClearTone Consulting LLC

Tue 3/7 at 12 p.m. – The For-Profit Competitors Are Here

Host: ASAE Executive Management Professionals Advisory Council

Speakers:

Miranda Barrett, CAE, PMP, Owner, Capacity to Scale
Jennifer Lewi, MBA, CAE, ACC, Vice President, Career Development and Conferences, School Nutrition Association
Martin Sirk, Owner, Sirk Serendipity / International Advisor, Global Association Hubs Partnership
Dean West, FASAE, President, Association Laboratory
Tommy Goodwin (moderator), FASAE, CAE, PMP, Vice President, Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance

Tue 3/7 at 12 p.m. – Event Analytics (Association Analytics Network)

Join association professionals for peer-led discussions on topics related to data and analytics. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Analytics

Wed 3/8 at 9 a.m. – First Calls and Focused Follow-Ups: How Associations Stay Connected to Customers

Host: Professionals for Association Revenue

Speaker: Sean Soth, Founder & Leadership Advisory Board Chair, Professionals for Association Revenue

Wed 3/8 at 1 p.m. – The Association Hiring Landscape

Host: ASAE

Speaker: Shelly Howard-Horwitz

Wed 3/8 at 1 p.m. – The ABCs of APIs: Integrations for Those NOT in the Know

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Olivia Wilkins, Business Analyst/Project Manager, PerByte

Wed 3/8 at 2 p.m. – Expert Strategies to Help Meet Your Goals

Host: Association Adviser/Naylor Association Solutions

Speakers:

Kaydee Brown, Senior Corporate Marketing Manager, Naylor Association Solutions
Melinda Adamec, Senior Vice President, Gabriel Marketing Group

Thu 3/9 at 11 a.m. – Deep Dive: 2023 Membership Performance Benchmark Report

Host: iMIS by ASI

Thu 3/9 at 11 a.m. – Marketing Artificial Intelligence in Action

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Erica Salm Rench, MBA, COO, Rasa.io

Fri 3/10 at 12 p.m. – Conversations with Champions

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Guest: Rebecca Achurch, PGMP, PMP, CSM, CAE, founder, Achurch Consulting

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Creative Commons licensed photo by Irina Iriser via Unsplash

Association Brain Food: 2.17.23

The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…

Program marketing. When the student is ready, the teacher appears… but is the boss willing to pay? The odds on that aren’t so good these days. A justification toolkit helps prospective learners make a case for attending your online courses. WBT Systems describes what goes into a persuasive toolkit.

Manager burnout. Achurch Consulting identifies the five warning signs of a manager who’s on the verge of quitting. If you want to hold on to them and get them back on track, you can’t leave these symptoms untreated.

Membership engagement. Nimble AMS describes how an AMS helps membership teams better understand members, anticipate their needs, and deliver personalized communication and content. If your AMS doesn’t help you recruit, engage and retain members, it’s time to start looking for a new one.

Board practices. At Naylor’s Association Adviser, Jeff De Cagna suggests five practices association boards must embrace in 2023. Coincidentally, two weeks ago, I mentioned a podcast conversation between Joanna Pineda and Rick Grimm, who discussed one of them, NIGP’s public director positions. It’s disappointing these excellent ideas aren’t common practice now.

Non-dues revenue. With so many non-dues revenue options to explore and limited resources to pursue them, which solutions are right for your organization? Lead Marvels has a seven-step guide and scorecard to help you evaluate which non-dues revenue solutions best align with your organizational mission.

Quick hits

How the Reasoned Action Theory works in membership marketing—make sure you understand the scientific theory underlying human behavior. (Tony Rossell/MGI, Membership Marketing Blog)

Don’t make SEO the reason for your content marketing strategy—even more important now that ChatGPT and Bard will dominate search results. (Robert Rose, Content Marketing Institute)

It’s time to think more critically about who gets stuck with non-promotable tasks, like onboarding staff or organizing the office holiday party. (Carolyn Childers, Fast Company)

Good eats

Skip down to the list of free educational events if you prefer takeout.

I can’t get enough of this creamy piccata swordfish sauce, so good, especially when soaked up by brown rice. On the side, an excellent broccoli cheddar leek gratin. While shredding the cheese, I forgot I was cutting the recipe in half, so I ended up with twice as much as I needed. I sprinkled the extra cheese along with panko breadcrumbs on the top of the gratin for the last five minutes of baking. A versatile recipe, you could add mushrooms and/or sausage and call it dinner.

We had a bunch of Eagles fans over for the Superbowl. Jim wanted sandwiches galore, so that’s what he bought at BJ’s. A friend brought over his excellent smoked pulled pork along with beans and slaw, so we had a ton of food. The first thing on the table? My guacamole.

But the sandwiches! We had half of them left over so I made a pasta casserole with the remaining American sub ring—yes, a circular sub. I sautéed red bell pepper, onion, mushroom, broccoli stems and garlic; added flour, butter and milk to make a bechamel; then mixed in cheddar and Swiss cheese, ham and turkey, plus a box of baby spinach along with cooked wheat penne. Baked it in a 9” x 13” dish. Once that was in the oven, I processed the sub bread, tossed the crumbs with parmesan cheese and melted butter, pulled out the casserole, sprinkled the crumb mix over the top, and baked it until the crumbs turned golden. This experiment was surprisingly delicious.

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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 too product-centric.

Fri 2/17 at 1 p.m.* – The Secrets to Recession-Proofing Your Association

Many of your association peers are expanding their reach while increasing non-dues revenue with their eLearning programs, even in times of economic recession. Learn what’s making them so successful and how you can capitalize on their strategies to generate more non-dues revenue for your organization. Find out why 2023 is the year of the Fractional Learning Team and how you can capitalize on this trend to save and make money. Hear the most creative ways to share the learning content you have created that will generate giant profits without putting your intellectual property at risk. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Blue Sky eLearn

Speaker: Dan Streeter, Vice President of Learning & Development, Blue Sky eLearn

*All events are online at Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.

Fri 2/17 at 4 p.m. – Career Coach Series: Leading with Empathy

Leading with empathy is no easy feat. It is not something that happens automatically. It takes conscious effort by a leader. Learn about empathetic leadership, internal and external barriers that can negatively affect how one leads with empathy, self-leadership and how it relates to being an empathetic leader, using the Empathy Circle model approach to become a more empathetic leader. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Speaker: Faith Saunders, trainer and founder, Discover A New Future

Mon 2/20 at 8 a.m. – Raising Member Dues the Right Way (Radio Free 501c)

Guest: Kevin Korenthal

Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC

Tue 2/21 at 11 a.m. – Unlocking the Power of Networking

Learn about strategies for creating a networking environment that’s both effective and enjoyable for attendees. Hear about trends and best practices in networking event design, including the use of technology, interactive activities, and networking tools, sharing tips so you can help your delegates get the most out of networking opportunities. Learn about balancing inclusivity and exclusivity when it comes to networking events, measuring the success of your networking, and using networking to drive sponsorship sales. More info/register.

Host: Grip

Speakers:

Matt Coyne, Founder, Waves Connects Content
Adam Parry, Editor and Co-founder, Event Industry News & Event Tech Live
Abi Cannons, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Grip

Tue 2/21 at 12 p.m. – Showing Your Components Some Love (Crunch & Munch)

Join a discussion about showing your components some love. We’ll share ideas and best practices about how to engage your chapters, components and affiliates with recognition. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Council

Tue 2/21 at 3 p.m. – Let’s Get Together: Event Planning for Associations

Events play a huge role in the continued growth of associations. The last few years, however, have been challenging for many associations due to the circumstances brought about by COVID. What should associations keep in mind when planning their next event? Learn more about the changed landscape of events through this panel of industry experts. More info/register.

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

Chrissy Gow, Director of Marketing at EventMobi
Jessie States, Vice President of MPI Academy at Meeting Professionals International
Sherry Truhlar, President at Red Apple Auctions

Wed 2/22 from 9 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. – Marketing Automation Demo Day

Tasked with finding the right marketing technology systems for your organization? Wondering what platforms are out there and what features you should be looking for? Join us to experience seven in-depth demos from industry partners that are standing by ready to help. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Wed 2/22 from 11:05 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – The Future of the Event Industry

What lies ahead for the meetings industry? Learn why Google is taking a multidisciplinary approach to reimagining its meetings, how audience priorities have changed and how to adapt events to new audience priorities, how to start the process for designing meetings that positively impact businesses, why AI is a game-changer for event marketing and how to make the most of it, and how holograms can take events to the next level. 2 CMP credits. More info/register.

Host: Skift Meetings

Wed 2/22 at 1 p.m. – Hunting for Leads: Using MarTech to Surface Potential Members

Host: Fonteva & Protech

Speakers:

Aimee Pagano, Director of Programming, HighRoad Solutions
Erin Lemons, Senior Director of Marketing, Fonteva & Protech

Wed 2/22 at 1 p.m. – Meetings Cost-Saving Strategies

Understand our current marketplace and how it affects a planners’ strategy during negotiations. Learn how to avoid hidden fees, discover creative cost-savings techniques to impact your bottom-line, and how to communicate these savings to stakeholders in an impactful way. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Meetings Today

Speaker: Robyn Mietkiewicz, Innovation Partner, INNOV8 Meetings + Events

Wed 2/22 at 2 p.m. – Come to Your Senses: Budget and Meeting Innovation Solutions

Learn how to challenge your traditional thinking and appeal to all the senses while saving dollars and cents at a second or third-tier city. Find out why the power behind relationships is still critical and worth re-building and/or generating new ones, and why now is the time to employ event design for a fresh approach—it’s all about the experience. More info/register.

Host: Smart Meetings

Speakers:

Carey Goryl, CEO of the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment
Sally Noona, director of convention sales and marketing with Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau

Thu 2/23 at 10 a.m. – 10 Strategies for Driving Member & Event Engagement in 2023

Many associations are challenged with engaging members on a consistent and ongoing basis. For most members, your events ARE your association and where your members engage with you and with one another. Hear tips for understanding your members’ engagement needs, driving greater member participation, engaging your members before, during and after your events, and leveraging the latest mobile and web technologies to drive engagement. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Results Direct | RD Mobile

Speakers: Mark Wallach, Director, Mobile Business Development; Michael Jones, Vice President, Mobile Technologies; Kyle Edelen, Mobile Sales Representative; and Joel Branaman, Mobile Sales Representative, Results Direct | RD Mobile

Thu 2/23 at 11 a.m. – Taking Charge of Your Digital Transformation Strategy

Learn about the importance of leading and implementing an effective digital transformation strategy and key strategies to consider when starting your journey. Hear how effective digital transformation is led from the top. Jump-start your association’s planning with interactive Q&A, crucial insights and more. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: iMIS by ASI

Thu 2/23 at 11:30 a.m. – ASAE Research Foundation: Volunteer Management Models

Does a holistic model exist to effectively manage an association’s volunteers across and throughout the organization? The committee looked into the current qualities, structures, actions, and obstacles associations encounter—from both the association and the volunteers’ point of view. Hear what they found and how you can act on those findings to begin to develop an effective and holistic volunteer management model in your association. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Research Committee of ASAE Research Foundation

Thu 2/23 at 12 p.m. – The Community Check-In

A weekly community chat on Slack for black professionals working in the events industry. More info/register.

Host: Black In Events Network

Thu 2/23 at 1 p.m. – Will Your AMS Be Fully Automated in 2023?

Discover how to streamline repetitive tasks, eliminate manual entry, and boost efficiency with automation. Learn about the benefits of workflow automation, mundane processes to automate right now, and ideas for taking automation to the next level. More info/register.

Host: Impexium

Thu 2/23 at 1 p.m. – A Layered Open Community Strategy Can Create More Dues & Non-Dues Revenue | Expert Series Session

Learn how to better leverage member engagement tools, specifically your member community platform, to better prospect for new members and generate new opportunities for non-dues revenue. Hear how to use community to engage members and nonmembers, and lever user logins and account creation to engage a wider audience and capture more data in your target market. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Non Dues-a-Palooza

Speaker: Benjamin Muscolino, President & CEO, of Breezio, Inc.

Thu 2/23 at 1 p.m. – Caveat Emptor: Becoming a Responsible Consumer of Research

Association execs consume and produce a lot of research in our day-to-day work, but most of us don’t have formal training in research. Get a working knowledge of key concepts in defining research questions, choosing data collection methods, designing research instruments, collecting data, and interpreting and reporting results. Learn about the types of methodological bias that can creep into research projects and the steps you can take to ameliorate them. Hear case studies of associations running efficient, effective research programs. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Mallika Bender, FCAS, Actuarial Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Casualty Actuarial Society
Elizabeth Engel, M.A., CAE, Chief Strategist, Spark Consulting, LLC
Polly Karpowicz, MBA, CAE, Nonprofit Consultant

Thu 2/23 at 1 p.m. – Increase Engagement with Mobile Event Apps

Mobile events apps open up new channels of communication and collaboration that have the potential to transform how people interact at and after events. Learn what makes mobile apps such a valuable resource for meeting planners striving for greater engagement among their guests. Hear examples of how associations encouraged engagement using mobile event apps, tips on how to communicate and encourage attendees to use the mobile app, and ways to ensure successful syncing between your event app with your mobile app. 1 CAE/CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: EVA Event Tech Hub

Speakers:

Matthew McHugh, senior manager of customer success and partnerships, Guidebook
Vinnu Deshetty, founder and CEO, EVA Event Tech Hub

Thu 2/23 at 2 p.m. – How to Use Data to Increase Community Engagement

Explore how the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) collects and dissects the data garnered from their community to provide more value to and drive higher engagement from their members. Learn how NRAEF focuses on their goals at the group level to better target their content; gathers insights from their newest members in the registration form to customize engagement strategies; and categorizes their data for either “members” or “engagement,” and why that provides value to them when learning best practices. More info/register.

Host: Mobilize

Speakers:

Courtney Hogan, Senior Manager of Program Development & Operations, National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
Connor O’Brien, VP of Growth, Mobilize

Thu 2/23 at 2 p.m. – 2022 Association Email Benchmark Report

Explore the data from our 2022 Email Benchmark Report and learn how to use the findings to inspire your own testing and improvements. Hear about the impact of Mail Privacy Protection, overall trends, and examples of subject lines, segmentation strategy, A/B Tests, and more. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Higher Logic

Speakers: Stefani Read, Senior Marketing Automation Manager, and David Jovel, Director of Sales, Higher Logic

Thu 2/23 at 2 p.m. – Let’s Talk Event Planning: Meetup for Event and Event-Adjacent Professionals in the Association Space.

Event planning season is in full swing, so let’s talk about it. Join us for an hour-long zoom chat where you’ll have the opportunity to: connect with other event professionals in the association space; bring your ideas, dilemmas and questions; get unbiased feedback from people who’ve been there; and share your experiences and resources. More info/register.

Host: Sidecar

Thu 2/23 at 2 p.m. – Contracting Conundrums: What’s a Planner to Do?

With hotels today overwhelmed with leads and managing with less staff, learn how to make your business stand out and, once booked, to ensure your event is delivered as expected. Hear how to get hotels’ attention in a crowded marketplace, identify risks to your budget or event experience related to food and beverage deliverables, and understand “contract bloat” and how to reinforce essential contract clauses without “bloating” the contract. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MeetingsNet

Speaker: Therese Jardine, Founder and CEO, Strategic Event Procurement

Fri 2/24 at 8 a.m. – Black Association Executives Networking Breakfast (Tysons Corner VA)

Location: Tysons Corner VA. More info/register.

Organizer: ASAE Black Association Executives

Fri 2/24 at 12 p.m. – Unpacked: What is holding you back from career success and strategies to move forward?

Host: Maurine Kwende, CEO and founder, EMK Learning Solutions

Mon 2/27 at 2 p.m. – Retain Your Members Without Breaking The Bank

Host: Grype

Speaker: Mark Levin, CAE, CSP, President, B.A.I, Inc.

Tue 2/28 at 11 a.m. – Avoid Buyer’s Remorse When Selecting New Software for your Organization

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Jeff Horne, Co-Founder, CEO, Wicket
Steve Shock, VP Marketing, Wicket Marketing Technology Specialist

Tue 2/28 at 12 p.m. – From Value Proposition Strategy to Growth: A Membership Growth Case Study

Host: Association Xchange

Speaker: Christine Saunders, CM, President, Halmyre

Tue 2/28 at 12 p.m. – Secure 2.0: What You Need To Know

Host: ASAE

Speaker: Shelly Howard-Horwitz

Tue 2/28 at 1 p.m. – Overcome Awkwardness & Prioritize Collaboration: Creating a Culture of Feedback

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Lowell Aplebaum, FASAE, CAE, CPF, CEO, Vista Cova
Aaron Wolowiec, MSA, CAE, CMP, President & CEO, Event Garde LLC

Tue 2/28 at 3 p.m. – Member Engagement: Strategies for Associations

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

Mariama Boney, President & CEO at Achieve More, LLC
Joy Duling, Founder & CEO at The Joy of Membership
Artesha Moore, President & CEO at Association Forum
Brian Van Norman, Executive Director – Membership, Chapters and Meetings/Events at AAPC

Wed 3/1 at 11 a.m. – Building & Leading Strong Teams

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Jessica Roper, CPA, Director | Outsourced CFO, Vault

Wed 3/1 at 12 p.m. – Caveat Emptor: Becoming a Responsible Consumer of Research

Host: Association Insights In Old Town

Speakers:

Elizabeth Engel, M.A., CAE, Chief Strategist, Spark Consulting, LLC
Polly Karpowicz, MBA, CAE, Nonprofit Consultant

Thu 3/2 at 11 a.m. – Reputation Risk as Part of Your Cybersecurity Program

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Darren Hulem, CISA, CEH, Security +, Supervisor, IT and Risk Advisory Services, GRF CPAs & Advisors
Melissa Musser, Partner and Director of Risk Advisory, GRF CPAs & Advisors

Thu 3/2 at 1 p.m. – LMS Selection in the Evolving Learning Landscape

Host: Leading Learning

Speakers: Jeff Cobb and Celisa Steele, co-founders, Leading Learning

Thu 3/2 at 1 p.m. – The No BS Guide to Digital Transformation

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Elizabeth Engel, M.A., CAE, Chief Strategist, Spark Consulting, LLC
Maddie Grant, Culture Designer and Digital Strategist, Propel
Prabhash Shrestha, MS, PMP, FASAE, CAE, Group Executive Vice President, Chief Digital Strategy Officer, ICBA

Thu 3/2 at 1 p.m. – The Next Generation of Fly-Ins: Innovative Strategies for 2023

Hosts: FiscalNote/VoterVoice and The Advocacy Association

Speakers:

Joe Franco, President, The Advocacy Association
Lindsey Miller, Sr. Manager, Grassroots Advocacy, National Restaurant Association
Kirstie Tucker, Founder, DC Fly-Ins
Sherry Whitworth (Moderator), Managing Director of Public Affairs and Advocacy, FiscalNote

Thu 3/2 at 2 p.m. – Security: What Happens When Home and Work Offices Collide?

Is your home office inviting work disasters? Many association staff are working from home some or all the time and they now need to manage the responsibility of their own home office IT Security. Learn how to protect both your personal information and association information when working from home and how to keep it separate AND safe. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: 501 Works

Speakers:

Rebecca  Achurch, CEO, Achurch Consulting
Matthew Eshleman, Chief Technology Officer, Community IT Innovators

Fri 3/3 at 1 p.m. – iPaaS Show-and-Tell: Real Life Examples from the Trenches

Get a look under the hood of the iPaaS-based integrations at four associations. See how things look and work in Zapier, Tray.io, ShuffleExchange, and MS Power Automate. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Technology Professionals Community

Fri 3/3 at 6:30 p.m. – DMV First Friday Black Association Executives Dinner

More info/register.

Organizer: ASAE Black Association Executives

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Creative Commons licensed photo of a Northern Flicker by Patrice Bouchard via Unsplash—We just had our first sighting of one in our backyard.

Association Brain Food: 2.10.23

The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…

Member engagement. Many of us are eagerly awaiting the release of Amanda Kaiser’s book, Elevating Engagement: Uncommon Strategies for Creating a Thriving Member Community, on February 14. If you pre-order the book by the 13th, you can sign up for a free companion workbook.

Member recruitment. Impexium describes the eight elements of an association marketing strategy that will help you recruit more members, such as developing personas, leveraging data, nurturing leads, and more.

Year-round attendee community. You put a ton of effort into planning, promoting and hosting a conference, but once it’s over, you watch as attendees drift away. EventMobi explains how to use a year-round community and content hub to keep attendees connected with each other and with your association.

Generation Z. WBT Systems suggests ways to attract Gen Z to your association by helping them build lifelong learning habits and expand their network. They describe the type of online learning programs that appeal to this generation and other young professionals.

Board development. Follow Jeff De Cagna on LinkedIn this month for his Fit-for-Purpose February posts. Twice a day, he’ll share “ideas, insights, next practices, and resources that will help your association’s board set a higher standard of stewardship, governing, and foresight and become fit-for-purpose.”

APIs. Nowadays, if you’re involved in a technology selection or implementation project, you must understand APIs, unless you’re okay with letting your software live in a silo. Without a basic knowledge of APIs, you could also cost your association a lot of time and money. Empowered Margins describes APIs and their potential in a way that even non-techies can understand.

Trade show costs. Danica Tormohlen at the Trade Show News Network writes about The Exhibitor Advocate’s 2022 Material Handling and Labor Study, which provides benchmarks for trade show labor and materials handling costs in 16 cities.

Quick hits

Google Analytics 4: what it means for your website. (the one and only Ray van Hilst, Yoko Consulting)

Content planning: how to empower your team and fill the calendar with great ideas. (Jenna Buckle, Superpath)

Everything you need to know about sponsorship sales in 2023. (John Bedor, The Trade Show Manager)

How to work with a workaholic colleague. (Melody Wilding, Harvard Business Review)

Good eats

Skip down to the list of free educational events if you prefer takeout.

If you like crab cakes and you like fish, then you’ll like fish cakes. I made mine with black drum instead of cod. Because several recipe commenters mentioned the cakes falling apart while frying in the pan, I took one of their suggestions and baked mine instead.

On the side, Brussels sprouts roasted with bacon, red onion and garlic powder, then drizzled with maple syrup and balsamic vinegar. Also, butternut squash wedges roasted with cinnamon, smoked paprika and cayenne.

I forgot about this oldie-but-goodie, baked chicken and mushroom skillet. I served it over brown and Japonica black rice that I made in the pressure cooker with chicken broth and sautéed onion and garlic. On the side, leftover roasted vegetables.

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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 too product-centric.

Fri 2/10 at 12 p.m.* – Conversations with Champions

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Guest: Moira Edwards, MS, CAE, owner and president of Ellipsis Partners LLC

*All events are online at Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.

Fri 2/10 at 4 p.m. – Career Coach Series: Leadership at Any Level (Panel Discussion)

February is Youth Leadership Month and our panel of career coaches will share their coaching styles and how they encourage professionals to lead from any level. Join us for a moderated discussion on defining leadership, vital skills to grow and encourage, and leading alongside others. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Speakers:

Daniela de la Piedra, JD, MPA, CPC, ELI-MP, certified coach and founder of Everyday Daniela Life Coaching LLC
Jeff Koziatek, certified coach, The Values Conversation and the John Maxwell TEAM
Nneka Thompson, coach and advisor, AWS
Justin Bradley Reyes (moderator), Member Engagement Manager at the Latino Corporate Directors Association

Mon 2/13 at 8 a.m. – Leading Coalition Advisory Councils (Radio Free 501c)

Guest: Angela Lucas

Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC

Mon 2/13 at 12 p.m. – Membership Mondays: Renewals and Lapsed Member Win-Back

Join us as we hear from two guest speakers that they have been successful in renewal and lapsed member win-back campaigns. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Speakers:

Amanda Lea Kaiser, Member Engagement Strategist, and Keynote Speaker
Elizabeth Smith, CAE, Senior Membership Manager, American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine

Mon 2/13 at 1 p.m. – Neurodivergent in the Workplace

Neurodivergent isn’t new, but it is finally being talked about and learned in the open without the previous societal stigmas. Learn how Alyssa Dituro creates a welcoming and neurodivergent friendly environment for her employees and expresses her needs as well. Whether you identify as a neurodivergent individual, a professional with neurodivergent colleagues and/or a supervisor with neurodivergent employees, this session will help bring awareness to being successful in your career and not letting the old stigmas of what it means to be neurodivergent stand in your way. 0.5 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MPI

Tue 2/14 at 11 a.m. – Overcoming Hotel Contract Challenges in a “Seller’s” Market

Learn what hoteliers are saying about contracting in the current climate, how to effectively navigate the negotiation process of a hotel contract, different tips and contract strategies to apply when planning an event, and helpful strategies to effectively develop, negotiate and manage contracts and contracting relationships. More info/register.

Host: Sidecar

Speaker: Therese Jardine, Founder and CEO of Strategic Event Procurement

Tue 2/14 at 12 p.m. – Learning to Love (or at least like) Web3

Web3 is here and it’s important for association technology champions to understand what it is, how it can be leveraged, and how it will impact associations. Hear an explanation of Web3 (e.g., blockchain, crypto, NFT’s, metaverse, etc.) and its applications for associations. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Speaker: Alice Locatelli, executive driver for digital strategy, Society of Actuaries

Tue 2/14 at 12 p.m. – For the Love of Events ROI

Hear different perspectives on measuring your event’s ROI and driving a better member experience. Learn about meaningful survey questions to provide actionable insights, examples of insights and trends to improve the member experience, and the event planning and data journey to increase your events ROI. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Community Brands

Speakers:

Leslie Jones, Director of Meetings and Events, American Occupational Therapy Association
Matthew Needham, American Mensa, Director of Information Technology
Madeline O’Day, Project Manager, American Occupational Therapy Association
Jen Martin, Events Product Marketing Manager, Community Brands

Tue 2/14 at 12 p.m. – Lifelong Learners: How Associations Can Support Continued Education for their Members

One of the biggest challenges associations faces is member retention. Given the importance of having an engaged membership base, associations will likely want to spend time carefully planning activities for their members—continued education being one of them. Learn about the importance of continued education in the association space and how it can benefit your association’s long-term goals. More info/register.

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

Tracy Grzybowski, Director of Marketing at Omnipress
Adam Keune, Co-Founder & Chief Growth Officer at Higher Learning Technologies
Janine Loechel, Director of Learning and Content Services at BenchPrep
Stephen Schwinn, Solutions Adviser at Breezio

Tue 2/14 at 12 p.m. – LGBTQIA2+ Community Call

We will continue our conversation about ways to promote inclusiveness. Log on in February as we discuss, among other things: how to share ideas for volunteer actions (timeline of idea generation) for annual and beyond with ASAE leadership, and LGBTQ chamber of commerce in Atlanta—could/should we look into for Atlanta or is 2024 a better target. More info/register.

Host: ASAE LGBTQ Association Executives and Supporters

Tue 2/14 at 1 p.m. – AMS + LMS + CMS = True Love

Like the dating industry, an association technology ecosystem offers a wide range of options and diverse personalities. One major challenge faced by both is inadequate communication. Establishing compatibility is crucial. This webinar will delve into the steps necessary to achieve harmony among various association technology systems and provide value to members that will foster long-lasting love. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Molly Lee, Strategy and Design Practice Lead, Adage Technologies
Ben Muscolino, Founder & CEO, AMS Geek
Jake Toohey, Director, Association Practice, Adage Technologies

Tue 2/14 at 1 p.m. – Making Efficient Informed Event Production Decisions

Explore tactical ways to make informed decisions about how to effectively manage the gap between event vision and economic reality. Hear actionable ideas on how to tweak production to manage budget uncertainty. Define what personal success looks like within current industry constraints. More info/register.

Host: Bizzabo

Speakers:

Miriam Agrell, Chief Production Officer, Opus
Jessica Blake, Senior Director, Strategic Events, Confluent
Oren Berkovich, Head of Experience Lab, Bizzabo

Tue 2/14 at 2 p.m. – Membership Trends You Can’t Miss in 2023

Learn important insights to evaluate your association’s development and powerful member focused strategies to keep your members engaged in your organization as well as new ones coming. Get to know how associations are performing these days, what kind of challenges they are facing and obtain insights about the market that could help you to keep your membership rate growing. More info/register.

Host: Grype

Speaker: Niaz Nasir, Membership Specialist, Grype

Tue 2/14 at 3 p.m. – Building a Strong Foundation: Leadership Development for Associations

Your association members drive your organization forward. Let’s continue this forward momentum. What can associations do now to prepare their members and staff for future leadership roles? Hear from industry experts on what modern association leaders can do to best support their members. More info/register.

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

Laurelle Jno Baptiste, Vice President of Professional Services at VocalMeet
Dan Giurescu, CEO at Credivera
Richard K. Yep, Global Principal at Ocean Vista Advisers

Tue 2/14 at 3 p.m. – Blended Learning: Bridging the Best of In-Person and Online Education

Learn how blending learning capitalizes on the best of both in-person and virtual and allows for greater flexibility in the digestion and absorption of learning content. Hear about common types of blended learning and ideas to get started, blended learning best practices to boost your e-learning ROI, and leveraging your LMS to incorporate blended learning modalities. More info/register.

Host: Cadmium

Speaker: Cristyn Johnson Ward, Director of Education and Engagement, Cadmium

Wed 2/15 at 7 a.m. – Do Associations Need a DEI Plan?

Gain practical advice, knowledge of best practices and new ideas from other associations that will enable you to improve the value to your community, be more efficient, and do more. More info/register (subscribe first).

Host: Association of Association Executives

Speakers:

Brenda Sanderson, Executive Director, Interaction Design Association
TBA
Paul Walsh EMIAM (moderator), Seminar Programme Manager, Association of Association Executives

Wed 2/15 at 11 a.m. – 2023 Economic Headwinds: A Guide for Associations

In the midst of volatility, inflation, rising interest rates, and many other economic factors, the economy looks to be heading south quickly. At least that’s what we’re hearing – but what does the data say? Hear real economic data that will help give a clearer picture of what to expect in the economy and strategies to overcome these coming obstacles. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Matt Haggerty, Nonprofit Industry Eminence, RSM

Wed 2/15 at 12 p.m. – The 5 Most Important Metrics for your Components

Are you ready to make your components more successful this year? Learn how to help your chapters build better habits and measure 5 essential metrics. Hear how to use data to make informed decisions, leverage technology to automate tasks, and how to properly onboard and train your volunteers. Plus, we’ll discuss the most important metrics you should be monitoring in order to stay ahead of the game in 2023. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Hosts: Billhighway and Mariner Management

Speaker: Peggy Hoffman, president and executive director, Mariner Management

Wed 2/15 at 12 p.m. – Tackling Tough Sponsorship Challenges (Alexandria VA)

Bring your toughest corporate sponsorship challenge, and let’s tackle it together. Leave with practical ideas for tackling your sponsorship challenge, an expanded peer network of association and nonprofit senior executives, and new strategies for leveraging corporate partners to execute your strategic plan, increase revenue, and add member value. Location: Alexandria VA. More info/register.

Host: Alexandria Senior Execs Network

Facilitator: Corporate Partnership & Sponsorship Consultant Bruce Rosenthal

Wed 2/15 at 12 p.m. – The Ohio Remote Proctoring Room Scan Decision: Constitutional Issues and How Testing Bodies Can Avoid Legal Entanglements

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio ruled that Cleveland State University violated the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition of unreasonable searches and seizures by having a remote proctor perform a room scan before the administration of an online exam. Hear about the applicability of the fourth amendment, how the amendment was applied to the Ohio case, how/if the decision impacts the credentialing industry, and best practices regarding test security principles and remote proctoring procedures. More info/register.

Host: Certification Network Group

Speakers:

Donald A. Balasa, JD, MBA, CEO and legal counsel of the American Association of Medical Assistants
Rachel R. Watkins Schoenig, J.D., CEO of Cornerstone Strategies

Wed 2/15 at 1 p.m. – Show Your Members the L.O.V.E.!

You might not have thought about membership like this before: you’re in a relationship with each of your members! After you have DTR’d (Defined the Relationship, a.k.a. they join), that’s when the effort begins. Learn about techniques for Listening to members throughout the member lifecycle, how to shift your association’s approach to be more Open-minded when it comes to member input and feedback, opportunities to demonstrate Value at unique communication touch points during the year, and how making it about your partner (the member), and not you (the association), results in long-term Engagement and dedication to your organization. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Brianne Wheeler, Director of Marketing at PropFuel

Wed 2/15 at 1:30 p.m. – Fit-for-Purpose February: The First Two Weeks

Join your association community colleagues and me for a provocative discussion of the first two weeks of my #FitForPurposeFebruary posts. See all posts here. More info/register.

Host: Jeff de Cagna, executive advisor, Foresight First

Wed 2/15 at 2 p.m. – Enhance Your Executive Presence Online and In Person

Explore the six elements of professional presence in online, in person, and hybrid situations with photo and video examples. Assess your personal strengths and areas for improvement with regard to body language, vocal quality, facial expressions, filler words, eye contact, and physical setup. Learn how to develop a speaking toolkit so you can make purposeful decisions about how to show up and add value in workplace speaking contexts. More info/register.

Host: Professionals for Association Revenue

Speaker: Christine Clapp, founder, Spoken with Authority

Wed 2/15 at 2 p.m. – The Top Opportunities for Lobbying and Advocacy in 2023

All signs point toward economic and political uncertainty: government spending is expected to decrease, and overall growth is slowing—plus a gridlocked Congress, of course. Even with this grim outlook, there are still opportunities for organizations to make strides in 2023. Learn what sectors present the most opportunities for lobbying and advocacy this year, tips to prepare for anticipated political and policy developments, and best practices to influence positive outcomes for your organization. More info/register.

Host: FiscalNote

Speakers:

Missy Edwards, Founder and CEO, Missy Edwards Strategies
Terri Reynolds, Executive Director, National Black Professional Lobbyists Association
Courtney R. Snowden, Founder and President, Blueprint Strategy Group
Stewart Verdery, Founder and CEO, Monument Advocacy
Kate Ackley (moderator), Senior Staff Writer, CQ and Roll Call

Wed 2/15 at 2 p.m. – Negotiate Like a Pro: AV Secrets & Event Venue Contracts

Get up to speed with the hottest AV technology and terminology so you can take what you already know about audiovisual and use it more effectively to make a truly unique event. Learn how to negotiate with your venue and the in-house AV provider so you have as much control over your decisions and budget as possible. Hear about services fees, union labor, load-in supervisors, rigging, electric, internet, working with AV companies and common mistakes in your bidding/purchasing process. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MeetingsNet

Speaker: Scott Frankel, President, Animatic Media

Wed 2/15 at 3 p.m. – A Lightweight Framework for Building Your Association’s Data Strategy

Lack of a documented data strategy is a leading reason data initiatives struggle or even fail, primarily because it seems difficult, expensive, and overwhelming to create. Learn about a lightweight process for mapping out and documenting a data strategy, and how to assess your current state, build a future state vision, and identify gaps and solutions in four focus areas: organization and culture, strategic alignment, technology, and data. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Analytics

Speakers: Bill Conforti, SVP of Strategy & Solutions, and Greg Pollack, VP of Sales, Association Analytics

Thu 2/16 at 7 a.m. – Mobilizing Staff to Connect with Members

Host: Association of Association Executives

Speakers:

TBA
Paul Walsh EMIAM (moderator), Seminar Programme Manager, Association of Association Executives

Thu 2/16 at 11 a.m. – My Boss Says We Need More Video. Now What?

Using video best practices and real-world examples from associations who are already putting these ideas into action, find out about the process of building an accessible, inclusive and scalable member-driven video strategy. Learn how to plan, execute, and optimize member-generated video campaigns to achieve revenue-based outcomes, assess the organization’s current campaigns to identify areas of opportunity to include more diverse voices and perspectives, and design an actionable strategic plan for creating and distributing member-driven video content. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Michael Hoffman, Co-Founder and CEO, Gather Voices

Thu 2/16 at 11 a.m. – Let’s Keep it Real about Wellbeing in the Workplace

Let’s discuss where we are now as professionals on our wellbeing journey. Learn what to do prior to an event so your entire organization can support your events team, how to make changes in your own wellbeing and prioritize yourself, how to find balance when attending industry events, how to battle post-event burn out, and how to improve your team’s wellbeing and influence the wellbeing culture within your organization and onsite. 1 CMP/CMP-HC credit. More info/register.

Host: Events Industry Council

Speakers:

Stephanie Glanzer, CMP, MGM Resorts
Penny Pina, CMP, American Mathematical Society
Danielle Posa, Workplace Wellbeing Advisors
Carolyn Pund, CMM, DES, Cisco Systems, Inc.
Dan Williams, Experience Columbus
Rachael Riggs (moderator), CMP, DES, SEPC, Maritz Global Events

Thu 2/16 at 11:30 a.m. – LMS Marketplace

This inaugural sneak peek of the LMS Marketplace focuses on learning management systems. Participants meet f2f (Zoom) with subject matter experts, download materials, watch videos, and choose which LMS reps to invite for longer presentations. More info/register.

Host: QiqoChat

Thu 2/16 at 12 p.m. – Looking Forward 2023 Impact: A Look at Trends and Analysis

Hear about the findings from Looking Forward 2022 Impact, the most current and comprehensive examination of 75 critical factors affecting association members and the potential impacts on association strategy. The research covers factors affecting the association environment in six domains, including economic, information and technology, workforce, government, global as well as stakeholder perceptions. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Laboratory

Speakers: Dean West, founder and President, Nikki Haton Shanks, MBA, CAE, Strategist, and Nikki Golden, CAE, Strategist, Association Laboratory

Thu 2/16 at 12 p.m. – The Community Check-In

A weekly community chat on Slack for black professionals working in the events industry. More info/register.

Host: Black In Events Network

Thu 2/16 at 12:30 p.m. – New Year, New Data: Gathering the Latest Trends in Tradeshows and Conferences

In January and February of 2023, we surveyed over 300 exhibitors from across industry verticals and booth sizes to understand what they really want in 2023. The results from the exhibitor data may shock you. Hear about the latest breaking research and considerations as you put on your trade show or event. More info/register.

Host: Personify A2Z Events

Speakers: Personify’s Trade Show Wonk, Rich Vallaster, DES, CEM and Daria Knupp, CEM

Thu 2/16 at 1 p.m. – Will Your AMS Be Fully Automated in 2023?

Host: Impexium

Thu 2/16 at 3 p.m. – The Importance of the CEO/CIO Relationship

As associations increasingly rely on technology and technological innovation in all aspects of the enterprise, the relationship between the CEO and the CIO (or highest-ranking technology staff person) has become critical to the association’s success. CEOs are beginning to realize that the CIO needs to be involved in strategy, and CIOs need to understand the business. Hear what the panelists expect of their CIOs, and the role of technology in their associations. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Technology Advisory Council

Speakers:

Lakisha Barclay, CAE, Executive Director & CEO, Rubber Division, American Chemical Society
Preet Bassi, , Chief Executive Officer, Center for Public Safety Excellence Inc
David Cade, Executive Vice President/CEO, American Health Law Association
Peter O’Neil, FASAE, CAE, Chief Executive Officer, ASIS International
Tori Liu, CAE (moderator), President & CEO, Association for Intelligent Information Management

Thu 2/16 at 4 p.m. – How Associations Can Stay Relevant in a World of Decreasing Attention Span

Modern economics is driven by how well companies capture and retain the attention of the market. Known as the Attention Economy, consumers are trading their attention as if it were a commodity. Learn how to grab the attention of your members in a world of decreasing attention span, how media companies engage and how it can benefit your association, and how to change your mindset to always think boldly and evolve with your industry, including members and vendors. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Reston-Loudoun Idea Swap

Speaker: Bill Sheehan, vice president, strategic partnerships, Multiview

Fri 2/17 at 4 p.m. – Career Coach Series: Leading with Empathy

Host: Fridays@4

Speaker: Faith Saunders, trainer and founder, Discover A New Future

Tue 2/21 at 12 p.m. – Showing Your Components Some Love (Crunch & Munch)

Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Council

Tue 2/21 at 3 p.m. – Let’s Get Together: Event Planning for Associations

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

Chrissy Gow, Director of Marketing at EventMobi
Jessie States, Vice President of MPI Academy at Meeting Professionals International
Sherry Truhlar, President at Red Apple Auctions

Wed 2/22 from 9 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. – Marketing Automation Demo Day

Host: ASAE

Thu 2/23 at 10 a.m. – 10 Strategies for Driving Member & Event Engagement in 2023

Host: Results Direct | RD Mobile

Speakers: Mark Wallach, Director, Mobile Business Development; Michael Jones, Vice President, Mobile Technologies; Kyle Edelen, Mobile Sales Representative; Joel Branaman, Mobile Sales Representative, Results Direct | RD Mobile

Thu 2/23 at 11 a.m. – Taking Charge of Your Digital Transformation Strategy

Host: iMIS by ASI

Thu 2/23 at 12:30 p.m. – ASAE Research Foundation: Volunteer Management Models

Host: ASAE Research Committee of ASAE Research Foundation

Thu 2/23 at 1 p.m. – A Layered Open Community Strategy Can Create More Dues & Non-Dues Revenue | Expert Series Session

Host: Non Dues-a-Palooza

Speaker: Benjamin Muscolino, President & CEO, of Breezio, Inc.

Thu 2/23 at 1 p.m. – Caveat Emptor: Becoming a Responsible Consumer of Research

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Mallika Bender, FCAS, Actuarial Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Casualty Actuarial Society
Elizabeth Engel, M.A., CAE, Chief Strategist, Spark Consulting, LLC
Polly Karpowicz, MBA, CAE, Nonprofit Consultant

Thu 2/23 at 2 p.m. – Let’s Talk Event Planning: Meetup for Event and Event-Adjacent Professionals in the Association Space.

Host: Sidecar

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Creative Commons licensed photo by Weston M. via Unsplash

Association Brain Food: 2.3.23

The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…

Vendor member education. WBT Systems explains why and how to help industry partners get the most value out of their membership. They describe educational programs that will help these member develop relationships and generate more leads.

Hybrid workplace worries. Achurch Consulting’s State of the Workplace Pulse Report revealed the hybrid workplace issues keeping C-suite leaders up at night. Some of these might be keeping you up too, but don’t worry, Achurch provides solutions too.

Change management. Impexium recommends five strategies for a change management framework. A few of them might surprise you, but they’re essential for technology project success.

Volunteer leaders. Joanna Pineda spoke with Rick Grimm, CEO of NIGP, on episode 15 of the Matrix Group’s Association Thrive podcast about his association’s Talent Council, which takes a different approach to volunteer recruitment. They don’t find a volunteer to fill a space; they get to know the volunteer and find the right space for them. Here’s another NIGP idea to steal: thought leader positions on the board held by people outside the industry who bring needed expertise to the association—you may recognize a few of their names.

Marketing plan. GrowthZone reviews the often confused elements of an association marketing plan: mission, goals, objectives, strategy, and tactics.

Hero worship. National Holocaust Day was last Friday, which I didn’t know until Gurwinder Bhogal shared a video about Nicholas Winton, who helped 669 Jewish children in Czechoslovakia escape the Nazis just before World War II. It’s a good morning cry.

Good eats

Skip down to the list of free educational events if you prefer takeout.

Southern pan-fried bluefish was back on the menu. Before the fillets hit the pan, dredge them in flour and garlic powder, then buttermilk mixed with lots of hot sauce, and finally cornmeal and panko with ancho chile powder. On the side, potato wedges roasted with olive oil and Bojangles seasoning—crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and roasted broccoli and cauliflower with red onion, garlic powder and salt.

I turned my southwest skillet recipe into a casserole because we were bringing it over our friends’ house for the Eagles game. This time, I added ground chorizo to the turkey and a jalapeño to the pepper mix.

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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 too product-centric.

Fri 2/3 at 10 a.m.* – Association Design Circle

We meet on the first Friday of each month hosted by an association leader who leads a conversation on an association innovation topic. Our topic is the indispensability of technology in associations. More info/register.

Facilitator: Monica Pemberton, Chief Technology Officer at NACUBO, the National Association for College and University Business Officers

*All events are online at Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.

Fri 2/3 at 2 p.m. – Association Leadership in the Age of AI: Critical Conversations about Facts, Fears and the Future

Get an in-depth look at ChatGPT, its issues and opportunities: where it comes from, how it works, what it can do, who it helps, who it hurts, and, most importantly, how you can talk about it with your members. More info/register.

Host: Beth Z, Your Nerdy Best Friend

Fri 2/3 at 4 p.m. – Diversity Discussion Series: Association Leadership Panel

Join us for a moderated panel discussion on association leadership experiences in honor of Black History Month and as the first session in our Diversity Discussion Series. Panelists will share their wins, opportunities and resources they’ve utilized throughout their careers to achieve success. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Speakers:

Reggie Henry, CAE, Chief Information and Performance Excellence Officer at ASAE
Tia Perry, Director of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity at Associated Builders and Contractors
Gary Roebuck, MS, MOA, CAE, Deputy Executive Director at the Association of Research Libraries
Anikia Brown, CAE, MS (moderator), Senior Marketing Manager at the National Alliance of Mental Illness

Mon 2/6 at 8 a.m. – Elevating Member Engagement (Radio Free 501c)

Guest: Amanda Kaiser, Member Engagement Strategist, Kaiser Insights

Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC

Mon 2/6 at 1 p.m. – Inflection Points with the New MPI Academy Director

Join us as we welcome Tim Luepke, the new Director of the Academy, as he shares about him, his experience, his vision and his goals for the Academy in 2023. 0.5 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MPI

Tue 2/7 at 8 a.m. – Morning Coffee with BAE

Start your day with a casual coffee chat on Zoom with your favorite people. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Black Association Executives

Tue 2/7 at 11 a.m. – Newsletter Best Practices

Learn the dos and don’ts when it comes to your email communication pieces, how to determine if your data needs to be cleaned and what to look out for in your bounce report, and how to use your email communications to your advantage with personalization, surveys and more. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Alfred McKelvy III, Executive VP of Strategic Partnerships, Multiview

Tue 2/7 at 12 p.m. – Data Ethics (Association Analytics Network)

Join association professionals for peer-led discussions on topics related to data and analytics. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Analytics

Tue 2/7 at 12 p.m. – Preparing for 2023: General Operations Best Practices for Associations

How do you maximize efficiency in your daily operations? During this panel we will unpack how you can get the most out of your resources as an association. More info/register.

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

Mark Bowers, Founder and Executive Director, Professional Development Consortium of Hampton Roads
Sharon Harrington, Principal and Managing Organizational Communication Consultant, Amediate, LLC
Mark Prevost, SVP of Growth, Billhighway

Tue 2/7 at 12 p.m. – Mapping Your Future

Have you started mapping your future? Where do you want to be? What areas of skills do you need to hone in on and strengthen? Where are your current strengths you can position yourself as an expert? Join our Academy team as we will help take you through the process, self-reflection and kick off the steps for you to begin mapping your future. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MPI

Tue 2/7 at 1 p.m. – Leadership Lessons from Martial Arts

The martial arts teach discipline, respect and technique. What can they teach us about leadership? Quite a lot. Hear five leadership lessons Joanna’s learned from studying two martial arts, TaeKwonDo and HapKiDo: why it’s useful to think of your staff as students with different degrees of skill levels (belts), how to have a conversation with a staff member who needs to switch jobs or seriously upgrade their skills (change to a new martial art), and how to teach your staff that they can be and should be leaders and followers at the same time. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Joanna Pineda, CEO & Chief Troublemaker of Matrix Group

Tue 2/7 at 2 p.m. – Charge Members For What You’re Worth

Learn how to uncover the value you offer, conduct market research to discover expanded opportunities, attach the right price to the value your organization provides, and communicate it to your audience. More info/register.

Host: Grype

Speaker: Dr. Michael Tatonetti, Founder and CEO, Pricing for Associations

Wed 2/8 at 7 a.m. – Encouraging Colleagues and Members to Be Association Ambassadors

Empower your members and colleagues to become ambassadors for your association. Learn practical tips and strategies on how to align your team on the correct association messages and keep your ambassadors engaged and motivated. More info/register (subscribe first).

Host: Association of Association Executives

Speakers:

Alison Abbott, Marketing & Communications Director, World LPG Association
John Martinez, Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Shocklogic
Paul Walsh EMIAM (moderator), Seminar Programme Manager, Association of Association Executives

Wed 2/8 at 8:30 a.m. – CEO Breakfast with Halmyre: Association Disruption: A View Forward From the C-Suite (Ottawa ON)

Join a facilitated discussion with leaders who will turn disruption on its head. You will get inspiration for your 2023 strategy and a greater perspective on how you can disrupt the association model. Location: Ottawa ON. More info/register.

Host: Christine Saunders, President, Halmyre

Wed 2/8 at 11 a.m. – Association Business Development Meet-Up: Beat the Competition with Compelling Sales Materials

Visualizing an outcome is a key component in the buying process. As buying options continue to increase, organizations that can show their customers a path forward will stand out from the competition. That’s where sales materials come in: utilizing the right ones can help turn customers into partners. Learn about sales materials that work, share ideas and ask questions. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Professionals for Association Revenue

Facilitator: Sean Soth, Founder and Leadership Advisory Board Chair of Professionals for Association Revenue

Wed 2/8 at 11 a.m. – Cybersecurity Questions You Should Be Asking

As critical as this topic is for an organization’s future and brand reputation, it is one of the least understood by organization leaders. This webinar cuts through the tech-talk and explains the must-know facts about cybersecurity risks, what leaders need to understand, what questions to ask, and how to ensure your IT team is headed in the right direction at an adequate pace. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Brian Scott, President, CIO, ClearTone Consulting LLC

Wed 2/8 at 11 a.m. – Repurposing Your Event Content to Maximize Views

Learn how to repurpose all of your valuable event content using the 3 R’s of repurposing content: reuse—use the existing content you have in different formats; remix—mix pieces of content to create something new and exciting; and refresh—update older pieces of content so they stay relevant. More info/register.

Host: Hopin

Wed 2/8 at 1 p.m. – Leading Your Team Through Major Technology Projects

Learn strategies for successful internal project management for technology projects. Find out how to create a list of expectations for internal project stakeholders/team members and determine whether a vendor’s project management practices align with your association’s approach. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Hosts: Fonteva & Protech

Speakers:

Jenifer Alonzo, Association Practice Lead, Fíonta
Erin Lemons, Senior Director of Marketing, Fonteva & Protech

Wed 2/8 at 1:30 p.m. – How Toxic Tech Is Really Affecting Your Association

Learn how detrimental toxic technologies are affecting your association and what to do to rise above the chaos. Examine root causes and risks including: your association’s culture and technical mindset, digital maturity level, business strategy alignment (or misalignment) and more. Hear from our panel of association technology experts and association executives who have tackled their toxic tech cultures head-on and how they’ve shifted to a continuous performance improvement mindset. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Hosts: ASI and ReviewMyAMS

Thu 2/9 at 11 a.m. – Marketing Artificial Intelligence in Action

Learn about low-lift, low-cost AI tools, specific to the marketing, membership, and communications functions, you can begin experimenting with right away at your organization. Hear about AI marketing tools such as SEO/search optimization tools that use NLP for semantic-powered inline optimization as well as search volume recommendations; email tools that leverage AI for content recommendation and send time optimization; content generation and inline editing tools; image and other content generation tools; and AI-powered audio editing tools. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Erica Salm Rench, MBA, COO, Rasa.io

Thu 2/9 at 12 p.m. – Beyond Personality Type: How CliftonStrengths Can Accelerate Your Professional Success

There are several tools in the marketplace that evaluate personality, work style, and ambition, including CliftonStrengths, a Gallup product that can help measure indicators where you can excel and develop. Learn about CliftonStrengths and how to best use its results. Hear about other personality evaluations and when a participant may experience them. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Speaker: Rebecca Achurch, Founder and CEO of Achurch Consulting and a certified CliftonStrengths coach

Thu 2/9 at 12 p.m. – Drowning in Data: Focus on These 5 Key Event Data Points That Affect Your Whole Association

Learn what event data points are the most beneficial to associations. Explore how to use event data to make key strategic decisions that can help you achieve enhanced member engagement and experiences that attendees keep coming back to. More info/register.

Host: .orgCommunity

Speaker: Vinnu Deshetty, the Founder and CEO of EVA – Event Tech Hub

Thu 2/9 at 12 p.m. – Talking Tech for Associations

The strategic use of tech empowers associations to increase in productivity and operational efficiency. As technology plays a crucial role in the success of every organization, our industry experts will discuss the trends, initiatives, and must-haves to help your association move forward in a digital era. More info/register.

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

Natale Foley, Sales Director at Joyn
Neeraj Garg, Chief Operating Officer at Aplusify
Thomas McClintock, Senior Client Services Manager at Empowered Margins
Melinda Starkweather, Founder of Starkweather Association Services

Thu 2/9 at 12 p.m. – DES Expert Panel Q&A

This is your opportunity to hear from DES Expert Meg Fasy and our moderator Sourabh Kothari and ask the questions you want answered, whether related directly to the course content, or a challenge you may be facing in your own work in the virtual/hybrid events world. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Thu 2/9 at 12 p.m. – The Community Check-In

A weekly community chat on Slack for black professionals working in the events industry. More info/register.

Host: Black In Events Network

Thu 2/9 at 1 p.m. – What You are NOT Being Told About Credit Card Processing

Learn about four important payment trends which emerged from the pandemic, two key changes you should make in 2023 with your payment and credit card collection practices, what you are not being told about credit card fees and why that is costing your organization money, alternatives to credit card collections—the ecosystem that supports Visa/MasterCard and AMEX definitely don’t want you to know this, PCI compliance and security issues for 2023—and why are you not aware of this, and how to do an RFP for Merchant Services—an outline that you can use today. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Julie Duncan, Association Practice Leader, and Jenni Glaze, COO, US Transactions Corporation

Thu 2/9 at 2 p.m. – AMS Selection from the Trenches

Hear the real-life stories of two associations who just finished the selection process and how they managed and engaged their SME team and CEO to help with selection. Learn tips on how to handle your upcoming software selection process for an AMS or other key systems (LMS, communities, financial system, MSP) that you may plan to select in 2023. Get your questions about AMS selection answered by those who just went through the process. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: 501 Works

Speakers:

Joye Blanscett, Executive Director of Operations, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association
Annie A. Coldstream, Vice President of Member Engagement and HR, Massachusetts Bankers Association

Thu 2/9 at 2 p.m. – Why Meeting-Well Matters

Smart meeting professionals have learned to support physical, dietary, and mental health in the agenda with exercise classes, fun runs, healthy meal choices, and places to catch your breath. Learn why healthy meetings lead to better learning outcomes, creative ways to help people make better choices, and tips for caring for the whole attendee. More info/register.

Host: Smart Meetings

Speakers:

Romie Mushtaq, wellness officer, Evolution Hospitality
Rachael Riggs, wellbeing leader, Maritz Global Events
Dave Stevens, director of field marketing and global events, data.world

Thu 2/9 at 3 p.m. – Beyond Dues: Launching Additional Revenue Streams for Your Associations

There are many ways your association can increase its revenue, such as sponsorships, job boards, and career events. An association’s financial health plays a significant role in determining its goals and activities. Explore alternative revenue streams your association could be leveraging right now. More info/register.

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

Jordana Davis, Co-Founder and CEO, webcastcloud
Michael Hoffman, Co-Founder and CEO, Gather Voices
Felicia Michie, Senior Vice President of Partnerships, We Know Training
Joanne Ray, Principal, Consultants in Association Philanthropy

Fri 2/10 at 12 p.m. – Conversations with Champions

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Guest: Moira Edwards, MS, CAE, owner and president of Ellipsis Partners LLC

Mon 2/13 at 12 p.m. – Membership Mondays: Renewals and Lapsed Member Win-Back

Join us as we hear from two guest speakers that they have been successful in renewal and lapsed member win-back campaigns. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Speakers:

Amanda Lea Kaiser, Member Engagement Strategist, and Keynote Speaker
Elizabeth Smith, CAE, Senior Membership Manager, American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine

Tue 2/14 at 11 a.m. – Overcoming Hotel Contract Challenges in a “Seller’s” Market

Host: Sidecar

Speaker: Therese Jardine, Founder and CEO of Strategic Event Procurement

Tue 2/14 at 12 p.m. – Learning to Love (or at least like) Web3

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Speaker: Alice Locatelli, executive driver for digital strategy, Society of Actuaries

Tue 2/14 at 12 p.m. – LGBTQIA2+ Community Call

Host: ASAE LGBTQ Association Executives and Supporters

Tue 2/14 at 1 p.m. – AMS + LMS + CMS = True Love

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Molly Lee, Strategy and Design Practice Lead, Adage Technologies
Ben Muscolino, Founder & CEO, AMS Geek
Jake Toohey, Director, Association Practice, Adage Technologies

Wed 2/15 at 11 a.m. – 2023 Economic Headwinds: A Guide for Associations

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Matt Haggerty, Nonprofit Industry Eminence, RSM

Wed 2/15 at 12 p.m. – The 5 Most Important Metrics for your Components

Hosts: Billhighway and Mariner Management

Speaker: Peggy Hoffman, president and executive director, Mariner Management

Wed 2/15 at 1 p.m. – Show Your Members the L.O.V.E.!

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Brianne Wheeler, Director of Marketing at PropFuel

Wed 2/15 at 2 p.m. – Enhance Your Executive Presence Online and In Person

Host: Professionals for Association Revenue

Speaker: Christine Clapp, founder, Spoken with Authority

Wed 2/15 at 3 p.m. – A Lightweight Framework for Building Your Association’s Data Strategy

Host: Association Analytics

Speakers: Bill Conforti, SVP of Strategy & Solutions, and Greg Pollack, VP of Sales, Association Analytics

Thu 2/16 at 11 a.m. – My Boss Says We Need More Video. Now What?

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Michael Hoffman, Co-Founder and CEO, Gather Voices

Tue 2/16 at 11:30 a.m. – LMS Marketplace

Host: Qiqo

Wed 2/16 at 12 p.m. –Looking Forward 2023 Impact: A Look at Trends and Analysis

Host: Association Laboratory

Speakers: Dean West, founder and President, Nikki Haton Shanks, MBA, CAE, Strategist, and Nikki Golden, CAE, Strategist, Association Laboratory

Wed 2/16 at 1 p.m. – Will Your AMS Be Fully Automated in 2023?

Host: Impexium

Wed 2/16 at 3 p.m. – The Importance of the CEO/CIO Relationship

Host: ASAE Technology Advisory Council

Speakers:

Lakisha Barclay, CAE, Executive Director & CEO, Rubber Division, American Chemical Society
Preet Bassi, , Chief Executive Officer, Center for Public Safety Excellence Inc
David Cade, Executive Vice President/CEO, American Health Law Association
Peter O’Neil, FASAE, CAE, Chief Executive Officer, ASIS International
Tori Liu, CAE (moderator), President & CEO, Association for Intelligent Information Management

Wed 2/16 at 4 p.m. – How Associations Can Stay Relevant in a World of Decreasing Attention Span

Host: ASAE Reston-Loudoun Idea Swap

Speaker: Bill Sheehan, vice president, strategic partnerships, Multiview

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Creative Commons licensed photo by Paxson Woelber via Unsplash

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