Author: deirdrereid

Deirdre is a content marketing writer/partner for companies serving the association market. After more than 20 years managing associations and restaurants, she's enjoying the good life now by helping companies inform, educate, and deepen relationships with the association community. Away from her laptop, you can find her walking in the woods, enjoying live music, reading hundreds of newsletters, watching hockey, cooking, hanging at the local brewery or tap room, or relaxing in a comfy chair with a good Kindle book and a glass of something tasty in hand.

Association Brain Food: 9.19.25

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

A man sees in the world what he carries in his heart. ~Goethe

Reads for the association community

Promoting education programs. Clowder explains how a year-round membership app helps members discover, register for and participate in online education programs. Since members are already on their phones throughout the day, keep your association top-of-mind as a trusted education partner.

Association learning trends. Every year, thousands of association learning business professionals download the results of the annual Learning Business Strategic Outlook survey from Tagoras/Leading Learning. The survey requires less than 15 minutes to complete, but its results are invaluable for educating decision-makers and other stakeholders at your organization, developing business cases, and winning budget funds.

LMS reporting tips. TopClass LMS shares insider tips from experienced association education professionals for using LMS reporting features that save them hours each week. The insights you gain from taking full advantage of your software’s reports will help you demonstrate your department’s value, increase program participation and improve your learning portfolio.

AI tools course. In the Association Academy’s live Association Artificial Intelligence Certificate Course, learn how to use AI tools to create high-quality text, image, video and other content with hands-on time in class. Students earn one CAE credit for each live class they attend. The course meets Thursdays, 1-2pm ET starting October 23. Save $50 with promo code BRAINFOOD.

Digital strategy assessment. Starkweather reveals that 63% of associations recognize the importance of digital strategy but lack a formal plan, with only 25% rating their digital skills highly. While aimed at YourMembership users, their guide offers valuable advice for all associations. They explain how to assess digital maturity, develop an automation and integration roadmap, and overcome the three biggest barriers to digital transformation.

Writing with AI. I agree with Vishveshwar Jatain who says writing is the worst use of LLMs (generative AI like ChatGPT). Sure, it feels like magic, but the results are “no more interesting than a spreadsheet to consume.”

Thinking strategically about AI. Even when you think and write for yourself, AI reduces the time it takes to perform certain laborious tasks. But putting aside AI enthusiasm, Jeff De Cagna points out the harms caused by AI and suggests three AI-related issues for association leaders to consider.

AMS selection. 108 ideaspace identifies ten critical factors associations must evaluate before selecting an AMS—factors that make the difference between a costly mistake and a strategic technology investment. Their guide will help you ask the right questions about platform capabilities, vendor stability, and long-term costs and avoid mistakes leading to expensive system changes down the road.

Learning strategy. Tracy King of InspirEd describes how AI is changing the playbook for association online learning programs. Since members and learners are turning to AI for answers, pay particular attention to her section on “skills-first learning.”

Change management. When dealing with change resisters, these three questions from Alex Mouw can turn innovation blockers into believers. Asking them “gives voice to unspoken fears, provides a reality check on the likelihood of negative outcomes and develops a mitigation strategy.”

Website PDFs. Accella explains why generative AI queries can’t find the PDFs on your website. They describe how to format content so it’s AI-ready and suggest taking a step back to rethink how your content is created, reviewed and published.

You never grow old at the table

With leftover broth and butter from the steamed clams we enjoyed a few days earlier, I made linguine with white clam sauce. I snuck a few zucchini into the sauce to make it a complete one-pan meal.

While looking through food newsletters, this lemony chicken stew jumped out at me. I’m glad it did; it’s a keeper recipe. My only change was subbing evaporated milk for the heavy cream—one of my usual hacks. On the side, Brussels sprouts roasted with red onion, garlic powder and smoked paprika, tossed with a mix of balsamic vinegar and maple syrup.

An old favorite another night: chipotle salmon with leftover Brussels sprouts and roasted ‘nuked’ sweet potatoes on the side.

To subscribe to Association Brain Food, please complete the form in the sidebar or at the bottom of this post.

About CAE credits: Per ASAE, “any continuing professional education offered by any professional entity may be accepted toward the [CAE] professional development requirement as long as it is directly related to either association or nonprofit management as defined by the CAE exam content outline.”

Education providers: If you have a free webinar or event coming up, please send me the link by Wednesday afternoon the week before it’s scheduled. I’m happy to feature it as long as it’s not product-centric.

Fri 9/19 at 3 p.m.* – ChatGPT and Friends 101

Learn how to put ChatGPT and other AI tools to work right away. Find out how to set up and use ChatGPT like a pro; access secret settings for data protection, better responses and more; save time, spark ideas and get better results; and get a peek at other AI “friends” you’ll want in your toolbox. More info/register.

Host: Beth Ziesenis, Your Nerdy Best Friend

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

Fri 9/19 at 3 p.m. – Nonprofit Consultants Collaborative Monthly Networking Meeting

This monthly networking meeting is organized by consultants for full-time consultants who work with non-profits and associations. You don’t have to be an ASAE member to attend. This month’s agenda includes the sharing of good news, topics or questions from the group, and verifying AI material and protecting copyright. More info/register.

Organizer: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting

Mon 9/22 at 8 a.m. – Leading Edge Student Internship Program (Radio Free 501c, the podcast of Rogue Tulips Consulting)

Every week, Rogue Tulips brings the nonprofit community intriguing guests discussing vital topics affecting nonprofit organizations around the world—and we have fun doing it! Episodes are published Monday mornings in both audio and video format, available on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast (to name a few!).

Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting

Guest: Shelby Truxon of The Nonprofit Alliance

Tue 9/23 at 11 a.m. – Leading with Intention: From Self-Awareness to Team Impact

Leadership starts with knowing yourself — and expands into how you support, communicate with, and energize others. Learn how to build self-awareness through reflection and your Predictive Index results. Explore how your unique behavioral wiring influences your leadership style, communication habits, and stress responses. Through journaling and discussion, uncover what drives you and how to lead with clarity and authenticity. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Speaker: Alyson Mckinster, National Chair, Wipfli Embrace

Tue 9/23 at 11 a.m. – Modern Governance in Action: Strengthening Boards for Today’s Challenges

Explore key governance practices that support transparency, accountability, and strategic alignment. Examine board size, term limits, and the importance of regular bylaws review, as well as effective board member training and orientation. Address emerging issues facing boards today, including the implications of AI on governance responsibilities and oversight, and how associations are approaching DEI commitments in a shifting cultural and political landscape. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Rich Bar, Principal at GKG Law | Non-Profit Law & Corporate Governance Attorney

Tue 9/23 from 12 to 2 p.m. – Lunch & Learn Workshop: Optimizing the Member Journey (Arlington VA)

Learn how to create a compelling, measurable member value proposition, understand the five phases of the member journey from awareness to advocacy, spot and solve pain points at every stage of the journey, design an onboarding experience that drives retention, and track and improve engagement with real-time metrics. Location: Arlington VA. More info/register.

Host: Causeis

Speakers: Michelle Lelempsis, CEO & Founder; Casey Hines, Managing Director & COO of North America; and Brandi Barber, Vice President, Strategic Client Success, Causeis

Tue 9/23 at 1 p.m. – Leveraging AI Assistant & Agents to Enhance Staff Efficiency and Member Value

Learn how AI can streamline your operations and support (not replace) the important work you’re doing for your members. Explore the growth and limitations of large language models (LLMs), the importance of fine-tuning and retrieval augmented generation (RAG), definitions and uses for AI Agents and Agentic AI, practical AI uses to streamline your operations and empower your staff, and how AI can help you enhance your member experience without sacrificing the personal touch. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Greg Pollack, VP, Sales Enablement & Engineering Onboarding at Higher Logic

Wed 9/24 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. – LMS Demo Days

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

Host: ASAE

Participants: LearnUpon, BenchPrep, Thinkific, TopClass LMS by ASI, Oasis LMS, Thought Industries, Path LMS Powered by Momentive, Elevate

Wed 9/24 at 11 a.m. – The right ingredients: How to craft your perfect participant experience with data and measurement

Learn how to identify the few key metrics that actually drive participant satisfaction and commercial success; unify data from different platforms to get a true 360-degree view of your attendees and their behavior; define and track KPIs directly link to sponsor ROI and exhibitor lead quality; use live data during your event to solve problems on the fly, guide attendees to relevant content and facilitate high-value connections; and build compelling post-event reports that clearly demonstrate value, convincing sponsors and exhibitors to re-book. More info/register.

Host: Grip

Speakers:

Chloe Richardson, Head of Content, Event Leaders Exchange (ELX)
Ade Allenby, Allenby Advisory

Wed 9/24 at 12 p.m. – Getting Your Board to Say Yes: The Ultimate Playbook for Launching an Online Community

Learn the exact steps to take your online community strategy from idea to execution. Hear about the urgency and value of building a community today. Find out how to assess where your brand stands, what’s needed to move forward, and how to get your team and leadership on the same page. More info/register.

Host: GrowthZone

Wed 9/24 at 12 p.m. – AWTC Meet & Greet

Connect with new faces in the association tech community. Join us for a 30-minute welcome event to forge fresh connections and discover our vibrant Slack community. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Wed 9/24 at 1 p.m. – Future-Ready Associations: Navigating Today’s Defining Trends

Hear about the four critical trends transforming how associations operate, engage members, and deliver value. Backed by findings from McKinley Advisors’ latest Trends Survey, this session will reveal how successful organizations are adapting to meet the moment and staying ahead of the curve. Explore: AI & Technological Transformation, Workforce Challenges, Regulatory Complexity & Political Uncertainty, and Shifting Business Conditions. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Meena Dayak, M.A., Practice Director, and Kristi Donovan, M.S., CAE, Practice Director, McKinley Advisors

Wed 9/24 at 1 p.m. – The State of Associations: Part 3

Hear how associations can provide support to members during times of great change; unique ways associations should provide connections and engage younger members; in what areas associations can experiment, take risks, and share lessons with members; and the evolution of the use of AI and technology and how associations can lead the way. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Fonteva

Speakers:

Casey Clyburn, Executive Director, South Carolina Society of Association Executives
Karolyn Kiburz, Administrator, Arizona Society of Association Executives
Steven Stout, FASAE, CAE, Executive Director, Texas Society of Association Executives

Wed 9/24 at 1 p.m. – Timeline of a Sustainable Event

From the RFPs sent to vendors, to the site visits, to the actual event and post-event follow up, every aspect has green meeting initiatives to be considered. Learn what to ask for and when, how to set expectations with all key stakeholders, when to communicate your sustainability policy with attendees, how to get the data to set a baseline to build from, what and when to share your sustainability wins, and when and how to start planning your strategy for the next event. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Meetings Today

Speaker: Nancy Zavada, Founder & President, MeetGreen

Wed 9/24 at 2 p.m. – From Data to Action: 2025 Association Community Benchmarks

Get the latest trends and insights from our 2025 Association Community Benchmark Report. Discover how your community stacks up, learn which metrics matter most, and uncover strategies to boost engagement and drive member value. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Higher Logic

Speakers: John Micah Yates, Strategic Advisor; Eileen Quinn, Strategic Advisor; and Kelly Whelan, Content Marketing Manager, Higher Logic

Wed 9/24 at 2 p.m. – Future of Association Boards (FAB) Community Dialogue

More info/register.

Host: Jeff De Cagna, executive advisor, Foresight First

Wed 9/24 at 2 p.m. – Finance and Business Operations (FBO) Meet Up

Bring your pressing problems and share experiences and potential solutions in an engaging conversation with your colleagues. More info/register (ASAE members only).

Host: ASAE Finance and Business Operations Professionals Advisory Council (including HR)

Thu 9/25 from 9:10 a.m. to 12 p.m. – LMS Demo Days

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

Host: ASAE

Participants: MapleLMS, EthosCE, Rustici Software, D2L

Thu 9/25 at 11 a.m. – Building Bridges: The Power of Mentorship

Explore actionable strategies for fostering impactful mentorship to support career growth. Learn how to build meaningful professional connections that enhance skills and create long-term opportunities. Gain insights on navigating mentorship challenges and creating a supportive network for personal and professional development. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Sam Bush, Partner Marketing Manager, Netstock
Lauren Castloo, Channel Marketing Manager, TrueCommerce

Thu 9/25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – How to Design a Product Portfolio

Learn how to organize, position, and leverage your offerings to help you identify patterns, tease out new opportunities, and better serve your members. Hear how to root out needless duplication and create efficiencies. Find out about association product competencies you can use to better design, develop, and get new products to market. More info/register.

Host: James Young, founder, Product Community

Thu 9/25 at 12 p.m. – Unlock a Decade of Associations Trends

Hear the findings from a comprehensive survey of association professionals and members, includes trends related to loyalty metrics, member expectations, demand for regional events, professional development requirements, technology adoption, AI integration in the association space, and more. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Momentive Software

Thu 9/25 at 1 p.m. – Marketing Meets Learning: The Growth Engine Your Learning Business Might Be Missing

Explore how combining learning and marketing can unlock scalable growth. You’ll hear how the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) built an integrated marketing and learning automation flow that not only drives engagement but delivers real, measurable business impact—and how you can do the same. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Tagoras/Leading Learning

Speakers:

Galina Kozachenko, managing director, Organizational Strategy & Performance, AFP
Experts from Tagoras, LearnUpon, and Americaneagle.com

Thu 9/25 at 1 p.m. – AI Stewardship: What Association Boards Must Know

Fiduciary responsibility and the duty of foresight require boards to operate at the center of their associations’ AI decision-making. Learn about the most critical issues in AI development and diffusion over the next 12-18 months, the full range of risks and harms created by AI technologies today and their implications for association stakeholders, and creating the conditions for ethical, purposeful, and responsible AI adoption. 1.5 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Jeff De Cagna, Executive Advisor, Foresight First LLC

Thu 9/25 at 2 p.m. – B2B Content Mastery: Earn Trust, Win Leads, and Avoid Burnout

In the age of AI, your B2B content needs to do more than just inform. It has to build real connections and drive leads, all without burning out your team. Learn how to craft a winning content strategy that delivers real ROI and measurable growth. More info/register.

Host: Amaka

Fri 9/26 at 11 a.m. – Thriving in Transition: Advanced Strategies for Securing Your Next Opportunity

Learn how to tap into unadvertised opportunities through strategic networking and informational interviews, develop a critical eye for suspicious job postings and communications, verify the legitimacy of potential employers to avoid fraudulent schemes, articulate your unique value proposition, build a strong online and offline presence that attracts opportunities, cultivate meaningful relationships with key influencers and decision-makers, maintain motivation, manage stress, leverage setbacks as learning opportunities, assess your worth, negotiate compensation and benefits packages confidently in a fluctuating market, identify emerging in-demand skills, and develop a plan for continuous learning and professional development. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Speakers:

Lori Bruhns, Leadership & Performance Development Coach, Lori Bruhns, LLC
Sally Starrfield, MSA, SPHR HR & Educational Consultant, Sally Starrfield, LLC

Fri 9/26 at 1 p.m. – Foresight Fridays: Preventing AI Harms and Risks

Learn how strategic foresight can help association professionals stay proactive, not reactive, in the face of AI’s rapid evolution. Join a dynamic conversation anchored in the Preventing AI Risks and Harms driver of change from ASAE ForesightWorks. Gain insights into the ethical, operational, and strategic risks posed by AI—and learn how to navigate them responsibly. 1 CAE. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Speakers:

Jeff De Cagna, AIMP, DAIG, FRSA, FASAE, Executive Advisor, Foresight First LLC
Heather Harris, PhD, Principal Data Scientist, Herkimer Consulting
Matthew Guggemos, MS, Founder, iTherapy LLC and iTherapy
Tamesha Logan, MBA, CAE (moderator), Executive Director, American Mensa & Mensa Foundation

Mon 9/29 at 1 p.m. – Live Broadcast of Radio Free 501c: Episode 300

Every week, Rogue Tulips brings the nonprofit community intriguing guests discussing vital topics affecting nonprofit organizations around the world. Topics have covered everything from membership trends to strategic planning to cybersecurity to how associations are like classic movies. Today, Cecilia is doing a live broadcast of the 300^th episode. A few past guests will be joining her. More info/register.

Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting

Tue 9/30 at 12 p.m. – Making change stick: Post-retreat momentum and accountability

What happens after your leadership team meets for your annual offsite? Is there new energy, momentum, and a lasting impact on your organization or nothing? The goal of a corporate retreat is not the retreat, it’s to move the needle and build alignment, a stronger team dynamic, and lasting change. Learn how to activate this change when your team returns to the office: what seeds have to be planted before the retreat, the role of the CEO at the retreat, different takes on the retreat agenda, techniques for building accountability, and reinforcing the learning and change. More info/register.

Host: Braintrust Professional Institute

Speakers: Randall Craig and Ronja Francoeur, Braintrust Professional Institute

Tue 9/30 at 1 p.m. – A Critical Point: Mental Health for Association CEOs

Leading an association can be deeply rewarding—yet as a chief staff executive, the physical and emotional demands often come at great personal cost. Drawing on insights from a recent survey of nearly 150 CSEs, this webinar uncovers stark realities: 85% report negative impacts on their health, 60% struggle with sleep, and nearly one in five have experienced workplace-related mental health challenges. Hear about real-world strategies for building healthier work habits, establishing boundaries, nurturing board awareness, and reshaping governance culture—empowering association CEOs and CSEs to lead sustainably while modeling well-being for their entire organization. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Tara Puckey, MBA, CAE, CMP, Executive Director at The Radio Television Digital News Association
Lindsay Currie, CAE, Executive Officer at Council on Undergraduate Research
Adam Levy, CAE, Executive Director at American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association
Silvia Quevedo, Interim Executive Director at National Association of Healthcare Access Management

Tue 9/30 at 1 p.m. – Sponsorship Resilience in a Changing World

How do you keep funding and sponsorships strong when everything around you is changing? Learn how PMJA has rolled with the punches and built resilience in uncertain times—while still finding success. Hear what resilience looks like in sponsorship and funding strategy, real-world lessons on flexibility and innovation in partnership development, and encouragement for associations and nonprofits navigating today’s climate. More info/register.

Host: Lori Zoss Kraska, Founder/CEO, Growth Owl LLC

Guest: Christine Paige Diers, Executive Director of Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA)

Tue 9/30 at 3 p.m. – Video Relationship Management: The New Era of Connection and Engagement

In a world where inboxes are full and audiences are tuning out, break through with Video Relationship Management (VRM) and restore trust and attention through authentic, scalable video. Hear about the principles of VRM, which include video at the core, co-creation over control, lifecycle integration, and systemized scalability—and why they matter now more than ever. Using ASAE’s adoption of VRM as a case study, see how associations can elevate member voices, extend event impact, and create lasting connections. Walk away with practical strategies and inspiration to reimagine how your organization builds relationships in the age of distraction. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

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

Wed 10/1 at 11 a.m. – The Power of PsyCap

Discover how Psychological Capital (PsyCap)—hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism—can transform the volunteer experience and strengthen organizational impact. Explore how cultivating PsyCap among volunteers leads to higher satisfaction, deeper engagement, and stronger retention. Gain actionable insights and practical strategies to foster a thriving volunteer culture, backed by data and real-world application. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Nicole Rudner, CAE, DBA, Director of Engagement at TerraLex

Wed 10/1 at 1 p.m. – U-Turn: From Outstanding to Standing Out in a Competitive Marketplace

Winning organizations market the problem, not just the solution. And members and prospects will believe that the organization BEST able to articulate their problem is the one best positioned to provide the best solution. Learn why quality and service excellence are no longer differentiators, but are core expectations; why a difference of KIND always beats a difference of DEGREE; how to analyze your association’s core value proposition to determine what it is truly offering members; and how to speak relationally to your members rather than transactionally. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Michael DiFrisco, CAE, Executive Director at American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry

Thu 10/2 at 11 a.m. – The Psychology of AI Adoption

Explore the future of AI implementation through both a strategic and psychological lens. Learn about emerging expectations for AI use across industries, foundational psychological principles that shape how humans adopt technology like AI, and how understanding value exchange and experience design fosters stronger collaboration, accelerates adoption, and unlocks sustainable value from AI technologies. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: JC Quintana, Author at jcquintana.com

Thu 10/2 at 12 p.m. – Make Membership Magic: Modern Tools and Tactics Every Chamber of Commerce Needs

Hear directly from chamber leaders and technology experts who are transforming how they recruit, retain, and engage members. Discover how modern systems—designed with built-in automation, real-time dashboards, and integrations with tools like Outlook—are improving operations, boosting revenue, and deepening member value. Explore how AI is unlocking a new era of chamber success—from natural language queries that turn questions into answers, to intelligent recommendations that drive member engagement and staff efficiency. More info/register.

Host: re:Members

Speakers:

Sue Garrity, Sr. Dir. Membership Information Services, Michigan Chamber of Commerce
Patrick Dorsey, SVP, Marketing, re:Members
Jason Vance, Director of Technical Solutions, re:Members

Thu 10/2 at 1 p.m. – Beyond the Coffee Break: 7 Ways to Spark Real Engagement at Events

Learn seven practical, replicable tactics to increase engagement and make networking more meaningful at association conferences, chapter meetings, expos, and more. Hear how to go beyond the usual coffee breaks and receptions to build stronger connections, build community, and ensure people leave feeling it was worth their time. Try out these techniques during the workshop and walk away ready to apply them at your next event. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Lee Gimpel, President at Better Meetings

Thu 10/2 at 2 p.m. – The Association Leader’s Guide to AI Policy: Risks, Opportunities, and Best Practices

Associations are already experimenting with AI, but most lack clear policies to guide safe and effective use, much less the other tools you need for great AI governance. Learn what policies and governance you need—internal, external, and risk-related—to protect your organizations and manage change responsibly. Hear about the essential components of AI governance, get real-world templates, and see how associations can get ahead of the risks while preparing for future opportunities. More info/register.

Host: 501Works

Speakers:

Susannah Mechem, Chief Operating Officer, Dennison & Associates
Vanessa Dennison, CAE, CBAP, Principal, Dennison & Associates
James Marquis, CIO, 501Works

Association Brain Food Weekly is published Friday mornings. If you offer free professional development to the association community, please send me the link by Wednesday afternoon.

Creative Commons licensed photo by Ashlee Marie via Unsplash

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Association Brain Food: 9.12.25

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

Hateful words. Let’s stop normalizing and start calling out hate. We all hear people—family, friends, colleagues, people in your network and information stream—talk hatefully about people on the other side. The loudest voices and worst offenders are the media, influencers and politicians who traffic in hate. Haters disparage and debase the other side, call them enemies, encourage battle, wish them ill and, sometimes, celebrate their deaths.

Yup, I saw that Wednesday night, but it wasn’t a loud voice, just a person I once knew. It made me ill and sad to see how irrational hate could twist their heart so much they said someone deserved to die just because he held different opinions and believed in different things. I’ve seen people of all political persuasions express similar thoughts about people they disagree with. It’s inexcusable.

Hateful speech and thoughts are contagious. It’s now acceptable to talk hatefully about human beings who think differently than you. Hate has become normalized—”this is what people like us think and say about the other side.” Criticism and debate are fine, but hate leads nowhere good. Hate is out of control right now, and it’s destroying our society and country.

Change starts with me and with you doing the right thing. Let’s commit to not talking or writing hatefully. Instead, pause and connect with your better self before sending more hate out into the world. Commit to calling out hate when you hear or see it—it won’t be easy but it’s necessary if we’re going to shift the norm. One by one, maybe we can influence the people around us by not letting their hateful words go uncontested.

It will be uncomfortable calling out the people in our own circles. Gasp, they might think we’re on the other side! Yeah, we are, the side of light, not darkness. Hate is bipartisan, so is light. Let’s pull up our big girl and boy pants and do what’s right. Let’s set a good example for those around us. Stop normalizing hate and start calling it out instead.

This week’s reads

Membership survey. ASI invites you to participate in their 11th annual Membership Performance Benchmark Survey. Their goal is to uncover association industry trends in membership engagement, retention levels, digital transformation, so you can see how your association is doing compared to others.

Engaging inactive members through education. What percentage of your members are lurkers? Apti offers a plan for gradually turning lurkers into learners and nudging them along into deeper engagement with your association and fellow members.

AMS selection essentials. re:Members describes eight requirements association executives look for when investing in an AMS. Beyond basic functionality, the report covers scalability, partnership support, integration, data visualization and reporting, automation, usability, and creating superior member experiences through customizable interfaces.

Free CAE workshops. If you need CAE credits, check out Ed Rigsbee’s 31 CAE-relevant workshops—nine of them are one-hour Ethics workshops. To qualify for CAE credits, you have to pass a test, but that shouldn’t be a problem for all you smarties.

Writing with AI. Andy Fabian at Mighty Citizen explains what generative AI tools like ChatGPT can and can’t do for your content. Sure, use it to jump-start content, but don’t rely on it to write the final version. He says:

“Generative AI can’t (and shouldn’t) replace your writers, and it’s just not very creative. It requires quality inputs to generate serviceable outputs. Only an experienced writer with a clear understanding of the assignment parameters can cook up the best prompts. But even with the best prompts and inputs, generative AI produces work that’s meh.”

Nuf said. If you want people to read your content and take it seriously, work with a writer who has experience in your market—and if your market is associations, that’s me.

Credentialing and 529 savings plans. Did you know 529 savings plans now cover postsecondary credentials, including certifications, occupational licenses and certificate programs? Mickie Rops explains how this change mandated by the OBBA Act makes your credentialing programs more accessible, marketable and competitive, and what to do next. ASAE also published an FAQ about the 529 news.

Magazine transformation. Despite predictions of print’s demise, 88% of adults still read magazines, and members consistently rank their association’s magazine among the most valuable benefits. M3 Magazines explains how to assess member needs, evaluate your publication, create content strategies, recognize when it’s time for a redesign, enhance readability, and balance quality with cost-effectiveness. Learn how to turn your magazine from a cost center into a revenue generator through advertising while delivering industry insights, practical advice, and member spotlights that resonate with your audience.

Membership value proposition. From industry research, I’ve learned most associations struggle with communicating their membership value proposition and way too many feel unsure about the value they offer. They’d be better off following the “gooey cookie framework” described by Beth Arritt in her useful post about revamping your association’s value proposition.

The sponsorship shift. Lead Marvels says the old sponsorship model no longer works because, among other reasons, companies are spending their marketing budgets on more productive channels. They discuss the strategic priorities driving sponsorship decisions and how some associations are adapting.

Snacks

Is Tempo the future of payments? Patrick Collison, CEO of Stripe, is all in.

Trains are not an abundance technology, says Eli Dourado.

Cat people with DIY skills, the gauntlet has been thrown: Cat Town.

You never grow old at the table

Another weekend, another pizza. This time, peach, prosciutto and pesto pizza. I used supermarket dough and fresh mozzarella instead of burrata cheese. Delicious.

On Sunday, I made pork Milanese. The leftovers make excellent sandwiches—I like a lemony mayo on mine. On the side, Brussels sprouts roasted with red onion, bacon and garlic powder. Once done, toss them with a mix of balsamic vinegar and maple syrup. We had nuked ‘roasted’ sweet potatoes too. Poke them all over with a knife, then nuke them for six to ten minutes, depending on the size and number of potatoes.

To subscribe to Association Brain Food, please complete the form in the sidebar or at the bottom of this post.

About CAE credits: Per ASAE, “any continuing professional education offered by any professional entity may be accepted toward the [CAE] professional development requirement as long as it is directly related to either association or nonprofit management as defined by the CAE exam content outline.”

Education providers: If you have a free webinar or event coming up, please send me the link by Wednesday afternoon the week before it’s scheduled. I’m happy to feature it as long as it’s not product-centric.

Fri 9/12 at 10 a.m.* – AMA Session: Ask a Career Coach and Futurist

Stuck at a career crossroads? Have burning questions about your next move? Get the clarity and confidence you need to elevate your professional journey without sugarcoating. Hear how to succeed in this tough job market. Bring your toughest career questions—from job searching to personal branding—and get expert advice tailored to your unique situation. Walk away with fresh insights, actionable strategies, and a renewed motivation to take charge of your career path. More info/register.

Host: Mandy Steinhardt, Career and Intuitive Life Coach, Mandy Steinhardt Coaching, and Sr. Manager, Audience Marketing, Cisco

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

Fri 9/12 at 12:30 p.m. – Clause and Effect: Ask a Lawyer Anything

Get clear, no-fluff answers to your biggest legal questions—from RFPs to contracts and everything in between. This is your chance to ask anything about event sourcing from legal experts who get the events industry. Walk away with practical tips to protect your business and boost your confidence at every stage of the planning process. More info/register.

Host: Hopskip

Mon 9/15 at 8 a.m. – Member-Adjacent Industries (Radio Free 501c, the podcast of Rogue Tulips Consulting)

Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting

Guest: Cathy Lada, Chief Marketing & Membership Officer, American Alliance of Orthopaedic Executives

Tue 9/16 at 10:30 a.m. 10 Minute Meditation

Introducing mindfulness into your work day helps you cope with stress and reduce the feelings of burnout. Join us for 10 minutes of pure space in your busy day. We’ll start with 5 minutes of arriving, a 10-minute meditation, and a 5-minute check-out. Open to all, with no prior meditation experience needed. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Meditation leader: Moira Edwards, Owner & President, Ellipsis Partners

Tue 9/16 at 11 a.m. – Navigating What’s Next: Preparing Associations for the Future of Change Management

Shifts in member expectations, advances in technology, workforce dynamics, and external pressures are redefining how associations must approach transformation. Change management is no longer a reactive process—it is a proactive, organization-wide discipline that will determine the future success of mission-driven organizations. Hear about emerging trends influencing change management, insights into building resilient, adaptable organizations, and how leadership, culture, and governance must evolve to support sustainable change. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Daniel Elacqua, CEO, and Christopher Maynard, Senior Executive, Strategico Consultants

Tue 9/16 at 11 a.m. – Finding Your Best-Fit AMS: How Associations Are Investing for the Future

Learn how to identify the AMS capabilities that can streamline operations, enhance member engagement, and position your association for future growth. Walk away with a clear framework to confidently choose a system that supports both your current needs and long-term strategy. More info/register.

Host: Momentive Software

Speaker: Rob Miller, SVP of Association Strategy, Momentive Software

Tue 9/16 at 12 p.m. – But First, Clean Your Room! A Practical Guide to Data Hygiene for Associations

Is your member database bogged down by duplicates, outdated contacts, or inconsistent data? Manual cleanup is time-consuming, error-prone, and, without a long-term strategy, the mess just comes back. Join us for a practical, solutions-focused webinar designed to help you get a handle on messy data from the processes, up. More info/register.

Host: fusionSpan

Speakers:

Jeffrey Golembiewski, Chief Revenue Officer, fusionSpan
Lexie Kim, Nonprofit Account Executive, Traction Complete
Rohan Chauhan, Presale Solutions Engineer, Traction Complete

Tue 9/16 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. – Metro NYSAE TechConnect: Solutions Showcase

Join a fast-paced virtual showcase of cutting-edge solutions. Whether you’re looking for a new AMS, event platform, member engagement tools, or AI-powered insights, this is your chance to explore what’s possible. More info/register.

Host: New York Society of Association Executives

Participants: CauseIS, re:Members, Yoko, Higher Logic

Tue 9/16 at 12 p.m. – CRVM Crunch and Munch: 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting Recap

Whether you attended ASAE Annual Meeting and want to share your component relations and volunteer management takeaways, or you’re curious how ASAE’s professional development opportunities can support your work in component relations/volunteer management, this discussion is for you. All are welcome—let’s connect, learn, and grow together. More info/register (ASAE members only).

Host: ASAE Component Relations Volunteer Management Advisory Council

Tue 9/16 at 1 p.m. – Anchored in Wellness: Thriving Amidst the Complexity

Learn how to assess your current wellness foundation by identifying the habits, mindsets, and supports that help or hinder your ability to stay grounded during stress and complexity; recognize early signs of misalignment or burnout by learning to interpret physical, emotional, and behavioral indicators—before they escalate; develop a personal wellness strategy by selecting specific, realistic actions that align with your values and can be integrated into daily life to create long-term sustainability; and strengthen your relational and environmental support systems by mapping key connections and intentionally investing in people and spaces that help you stay anchored. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Steven Langer, Founder & CEO at Well By Design

Wed 9/17 at 11 a.m. – Building a Contingency Plan for an Unexpected CEO Departure

Learn how to develop a set of contingency plans and document related action steps for an unexpected CEO departure through assembling basic risk mitigation procedures and tactical applications and documenting them in a formal written contingency plan. Hear about the important complimentary differences between organizational succession planning and CEO transition planning. Learn about appointing an interim CEO allowing for time to work through a thoughtful 10-step CEO succession and transition plan. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Paul Preziotti, CPA, Partner, Johnson Lambert LLP
Michael Gellman, CPA, CGMA, Sustainability Education 4 Nonprofits

Wed 9/17 at 12 p.m. – 2025 State of Credentialing

The credentialing visibility gap is one of the biggest opportunities for credential issuers. When credentials are visible and trusted by employers, learners advance, programs gain reach and relevance, and leadership gets the outcomes it demands. Discover new data on what employers want, how issuers are (or aren’t) delivering, and what the most successful programs do differently. Get the employer, issuer, and platform perspectives on connecting credentials to real hiring impact, and recommendations to drive stronger learner outcomes, increase enrollment, and build long-term program value. More info/register.

Host: Accredible

Speakers:

Tiffany Vause, Director of Strategic Initiatives, WIN Learning & Florida Ready to Work
Erin Scruggs, VP & Head of Global Talent Acquisition, LinkedIn
Rochelle Ramirez, Vice President of Product, Accredible
Ryan Greives, Senior Director, Brand Marketing, Accredible

Wed 9/17 at 12 p.m. – AI and Copyright: What Nonprofits Need to Know

AI is rapidly reshaping how creative works are developed, shared, and protected. For nonprofit organizations, these changes bring both opportunities and legal risks. Get an overview of the current state of copyright law as it applies to AI, including ownership questions surrounding works created with AI tools, considerations and risks for teams using generative AI programs, the evolving case law and regulatory landscape governing the use of copyrighted materials to train AI models, and practical strategies nonprofits can use to safeguard their own content. Learn about emerging legal issues, with a focus on practical implications for nonprofit operations and mission-driven activities. More info/register.

Host: Venable LLP

Speaker: Meaghan H. Kent, partner, Venable LLP

Wed 9/17 at 12 p.m. – Smart Ways to Bring AI into Your Community Strategy

Hear about current examples of how communities are already using AI effectively, ideas for future applications to improve engagement and operations, key considerations and challenges to address before implementing AI, and how to start experimenting safely and strategically with AI in your own community. More info/register.

Host: Led by Community

Speaker: Nicole Saunders, Founder of CXN Consulting, Co-host of the CX Nexus podcast, and Senior Director of CX Strategy at Higher Logic

Wed 9/17 at 12 p.m. – Leading with Empathy: Unlocking the Power of Heart-Centered Leadership

Among the many leadership philosophies, one approach rises above the rest for its deep commitment to understanding and honoring the diverse experiences of others: empathy. Defined by its adaptability and openness, this style thrives on active listening—a powerful tool for gaining clarity and inspiring collective engagement. Get insights and practical advice on cultivating empathy, recognizing its impact on morale and performance, and expressing it with authenticity. 1 CAE credit. More info/register (ASAE members only).

Host: ASAE Executive Management Professionals Advisory Council

Speakers:

Kelli Baxter, CAE, Managing Partner, KG1 Consulting Group
Stefan Bradham, CAE, CDE, Account Executive / Executive Director, AMPED Association Management
Maria Jose-Cook, CAE, Associate Director, Executive Affairs, ISPOR – The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research
Curtis Nunley, MM, MBA, CAE, Membership Director, American Society of Civil Engineers
Damita Snow, CAE, ENV SP, Director, Accessibility & DEI Strategy, Publications and Standards, American Society of Civil Engineers

Wed 9/17 at 1 p.m. – Code of Ethics – An Association’s North Star

Learn how a Code of Ethics can enhance your organization and help you to become a more effective leader. Hear about key ethical principles and guidance on the expected standards of behavior, the basics of an Ethical Decision Making framework and ethical considerations, and real world applications through case study discussions. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Linn Wheeling, MBA, CAE, Director, Community Engagement, American Association of Naturopathic Physicians

Wed 9/17 at 1 p.m. – Project Management for Association Professionals

Designed to address the unique challenges of L&D projects, this session will equip you with practical strategies for setting expectations, engaging stakeholders, and managing third party vendors, development teams, tasks, and resources effectively using existing or low-cost tools. From foundational knowledge and planning essentials to tool automation and scenario-based examples, gain the confidence and understand the skills needed to lead successful learning projects of all sizes from start to finish. More info/register.

Hosts: Career Compliance Solutions and Evolve Solutions Group

Speakers:

Dawn Tedesco, Founder, Career Compliance Solutions
Alex Ryan, Chief Solution Strategist, Evolve Solutions Group

Wed 9/17 at 2 p.m. – Creating Memorable F&B Experiences on Any Budget

Find out where we waste the most money on F&B and, more importantly, how to fix it with smarter budgeting, strategic negotiations and creative menu planning. From hidden fees and service charges to underutilized cost-saving strategies, learn real-world solutions to keep your attendees happy and your budget intact. Walk away with proven negotiation tactics, pricing insights, and a game plan to deliver high-quality dining experiences. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Northstar Meetings Group

Speakers:

Heather Reid, Founder and CEO, Planner Protect
Tracy Stuckrath, Founder, Thrive! Meetings & Events
Sarah J.F. Braley (moderator), Managing Editor, Northstar Meetings Group

Wed 9/17 at 2:30 p.m. – Heads in Beds: Negotiating Room Blocks

In hotel, resort and conference center contracts, “heads in beds” is the metric that often determines the concessions the client receives, the penalties the client risks, and the leverage the client holds. Learn how to interpret and configure sleeping room blocks; how sleeping room block commitments, attrition and performance clauses can impact the client’s bottom line; the hidden risks of overcommitting or undercommitting sleeping rooms; and smart negotiation strategies to support managing the sleeping room block. More info/register.

Host: Heather Reid, Founder and CEO, Planner Protect

Thu 9/18 at 11 a.m. – How Engagement & Technology Drove 4,000% Growth

Learn about the keys behind the A.L.I.V.E. framework that has propelled MTI’s 4,000% growth since 2007. Discover how a bold blend of engagement strategies, smart technology and willingness to take risk propelled MTI’s value to engage over 80% of their members into their key member touch points. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Tom Morrison, CEO at Metal Treating Institute
Dave Will, Co-Founder and CEO, PropFuel

Thu 9/18 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – DELIVERED – The World’s Largest Virtual DIRECT MAIL Event

Learn how to improve your current direct mail strategies with actionable advice to implement for your next campaign. If you’re a marketer who wants to learn about direct mail, or an expert looking to change it up, this event is designed to share the very latest trends, best practices and emerging tools you’ll need to step up your direct mail processes today. Hear from experts in the direct mail industry on topics ranging from sophisticated printing and data solutions to direct mail 101. More info/register.

Host: GURU Media Hub

Thu 9/18 at 11:30 a.m. – Community Unplugged: Why Builders Need Builders

Explore questions central to every community-builder. Hear why freedom fuels creativity and how, for Builders Club, trust is the currency of community. Learn what works, what doesn’t, and where you go when traditional systems aren’t enough. If you’re curious about building resilient, autonomous spaces that put people—not processes—first, you won’t want to miss this. More info/register.

Host: Tasha Van Vlack, founder and community strategist, Community Hives

Speaker: Jesse Rodgers, founder, Builders Club

Thu 9/18 at 12 p.m. – What is QM-Quality Matters and Why Is It Important to Your Learning Programs?

The Quality Matters® (QM) framework is a nationally recognized, research-based approach to designing online learning that focuses on intentional course structure, aligning learning objectives, content, and assessments to reduce confusion and boost engagement. Learn how QM-aligned design supports stronger outcomes across your learning programs. Find out how to design content that’s easy to navigate, purposeful, and accessible—without sacrificing creativity or speed. More info/register.

Host: eLearningDOC

Thu 9/18 at 1 p.m. – Reacting vs. Responding: Why It Matters to Sponsorship Success

When unexpected feedback, challenging questions, or sudden requests arise from sponsors, your first instinct might be to react — fast and emotionally. But learning to respond instead — with intention, confidence, and clarity — can transform those tough moments into opportunities to build trust and strengthen your partnerships. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Lori Zoss Kraska, MBA, CFRE, Founder & CEO at Growth Owl, LLC

Thu 9/18 at 2 p.m. – Better than AI: The Independent/Third-Party Planner Advantage

Learn how to structure a partnership with independent, third-party and agency consultants that leverages everyone’s core competencies for the best post-event feedback of your life; find the right partner by asking the right questions; the difference between independent planners, third-party planners and agencies; and communication tips to keep everyone aligned. More info/register.

Host: Smart Meetings

Speakers:

J. Wills, senior vice president of marketing programs and business development for ConferenceDirect
LaToya Williams, MBA, hospitality consultant, and adjunct faculty member at SUNY Buffalo State College and Trocaire College

Thu 9/18 at 3 p.m. – The AI Wake-Up Call for Associations: Inside the CSAE 2025 Report

Hear about key insights from a national survey of Canadian associations and their current use of AI, the top roadblocks preventing meaningful AI adoption and how to overcome them, what association professionals are really worried about when it comes to AI, and steps to bridge the gap between interest and implementation. More info/register.

Host: Farhad Khan, CEO of Member Lounge

Guest: Gerald Bramm, founder and principal of Bramm Research

Thu 9/18 at 4 p.m. – The Pulse of Association Membership: The 2025 Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report Update (Alexandria VA)

Learn what associations who report membership growth are doing differently and how 89% of associations are facing a value proposition challenge. Hear about recruitment trends, innovations and marketing tactics. Get an exclusive look at the mid-year check-up survey and updated data which provides dashboard results on how current economics and politics are impacting association membership. Location: Alexandria VA. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Reston Loudoun Swap

Speaker: Tony Rossell, Senior VP, MGI

Fri 9/19 at 3 p.m. – Nonprofit Consultants Collaborative Monthly Networking Meeting

Organizer: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting

Tue 9/23 at 11 a.m. – Leading with Intention: From Self-Awareness to Team Impact

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Speaker: Alyson Mckinster, National Chair, Wipfli Embrace

Tue 9/23 at 11 a.m. – Modern Governance in Action: Strengthening Boards for Today’s Challenges

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Rich Bar, Principal at GKG Law | Non-Profit Law & Corporate Governance Attorney

Tue 9/23 at 1 p.m. – Leveraging AI Assistant & Agents to Enhance Staff Efficiency and Member Value

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Greg Pollack, VP, Sales Enablement & Engineering Onboarding at Higher Logic

Wed 9/24 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. – LMS Demo Days

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

Host: ASAE

Participants: LearnUpon, BenchPrep, Thinkific, TopClass LMS by ASI, Oasis LMS, Thought Industries, Path LMS Powered by Momentive, Elevate

Wed 9/24 at 12 p.m. – AWTC Meet & Greet

Connect with new faces in the association tech community. Join us for a 30-minute welcome event to forge fresh connections and discover our vibrant Slack community. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Wed 9/24 at 1 p.m. – Future-Ready Associations: Navigating Today’s Defining Trends

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Meena Dayak, M.A., Practice Director, and Kristi Donovan, M.S., CAE, Practice Director, McKinley Advisors

Wed 9/24 at 2 p.m. – Future of Association Boards (FAB) Community Dialogue

More info/register.

Host: Jeff De Cagna, executive advisor, Foresight First

Wed 9/24 at 2 p.m. – From Data to Action: 2025 Association Community Benchmarks

Host: Higher Logic

Speakers: John Micah Yates, Strategic Advisor; Eileen Quinn, Strategic Advisor; and Kelly Whelan, Content Marketing Manager, Higher Logic

Thu 9/25 from 9:10 a.m. to 12 p.m. – LMS Demo Days

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

Host: ASAE

Participants: MapleLMS, EthosCE, Rustici Software, D2L

Thu 9/25 at 11 a.m. – Building Bridges: The Power of Mentorship

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Sam Bush, Partner Marketing Manager, Netstock
Lauren Castloo, Channel Marketing Manager, TrueCommerce

Thu 9/25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – How to Design a Product Portfolio

Host: James Young, founder, Product Community

Thu 9/25 at 1 p.m. – Marketing Meets Learning: The Growth Engine Your Learning Business Might Be Missing

Host: Tagoras/Leading Learning

Speakers:

Galina Kozachenko, managing director, Organizational Strategy & Performance, AFP
experts from Tagoras, LearnUpon, and Americaneagle.com

Thu 9/25 at 1 p.m. – AI Stewardship: What Association Boards Must Know

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Jeff De Cagna, Executive Advisor, Foresight First LLC

Association Brain Food Weekly is published Friday mornings. If you offer free professional development to the association community, please send me the link by Wednesday afternoon.

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Association Brain Food: 9.5.25

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

This week’s reads

Membership requirements for credentialing. TopClass LMS explains why it’s illegal to require membership for people who are applying for or renewing credentials. They describe the potential costs, program red flags to beware, and alternatives to membership requirements.

Using AI. Mitch Joel has shifted his thinking about generative AI tools like ChatGPT. I agree with his belief that AI will make you dumber if you let it think and write for you, but it can make you smarter if you use it to expand your capabilities. Keep thinking, writing and questioning alongside it. Don’t let it do the challenging work for you.

Online learning revenue. D2L surveyed associations to find out how they’re future-proofing with learning-based revenue models. Associations offering certifications and continuing education credits outperform standalone programs. The report describes monetization strategies, implementation challenges, membership model changes and other factors for successful revenue-generating learning programs.

AI tools course. Join me in earning up to five CAE credits from Association Academy’s live Association Artificial Intelligence Certificate Course. Learn how to use AI tools to create high-quality text, image, video, and other content with hands-on time in class. Students earn one CAE credit for each live class they attend. The course meets Thursdays, 1-2pm ET starting October 23. Save $50 with promo code BRAINFOOD.

Networking for introverts. If you’re a gamer, you’ll appreciate association professional Ben Rome’s networking advice for introverts. “Introverts often feel like networking is a game designed by and for extroverts. But as we’ve seen, the gaming world offers multiple paths to victory.” Even if the video game references go over your head, like they do mine, skip to the bullet points where he shares networking insights.

Gen Z content. Do associations have to rethink content for the next generation of members and prospects? Trevor Whyte at Multiview suggests focusing your content strategy on edutainment and describes what that might look like in practice. His advice likely applies to other generations too—only your metrics can tell you for sure.

Association strategy gaps. GrowthZone’s survey exposes inconvenient truths about how associations operate. Member engagement tops the list of challenges, yet most associations lack written plans to tackle it. The disconnect gets worse: while nearly all associations say they want to innovate and grow membership, the majority admit they have no strategy for attracting younger members. The report covers membership trends, revenue, operational realities, and more. If you’re wondering whether your struggles are unique, this benchmarking data will offer reassuring or unsettling clarity.

Association industry partner corner

Community relations. Mark Wallach of Engagement Mobile Strategies writes about industry connectors in the association technology space—and he’s one of the best I know. Association industry partners would be wise to heed his advice on differentiation in the ‘vendor question’ section of his post. If you’re in sales, pay attention to how he interacts everywhere and what he shares on LinkedIn. You’ll get a lot further by emulating his consultative approach than by pushing people along the funnel too quickly.

Content strategy. At Content Marketing Institute, Ann Gynn’s observations on the purchasing journey definitely apply to associations: buyers don’t follow a straight line from pain point to purchase, the number of stakeholders in B2B purchases continues to increase, and most young buyers rely on ten or more external sources, including their network and social media, to make purchasing decisions. She suggests adjusting your content strategy so engaging, relevant content pops up for buyers at any stage of their non-linear discovery and decision journey.

You never grow old at the table

My sister-in-law gave me a bunch of figs from their backyard tree, so I made a fig and prosciutto pizza. I spread the goat cheese over the dough and sprinkled the pizza with Aleppo pepper flakes. When it came out of the oven, I topped it with chopped arugula and a balsamic glaze (honey and balsamic vinegar).

We have leftovers galore of my southwest skillet: ground chorizo and turkey, spinach, sweet potatoes, black beans, corn, red bell, poblano, jalapeño, onion, garlic, chipotle en adobo, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, chili powder, chicken broth, Monterey Jack, and cilantro. I see breakfast burritos in our future.

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Mon 9/8 at 8 a.m.* – Association Mergers (Radio Free 501c, the podcast of Rogue Tulips Consulting)

Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting

Guest: Andy Duncan

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

Mon 9/8 at 2 p.m. – Working Backwards: How to Build a Volunteer Process that Delivers Results

Is your volunteer process still operating on spreadsheets and gut feelings? You’re not alone, but it is time to make a change. Learn how redesigning your volunteer processes through an outcome-first lens can transform your organization’s capacity for proactive volunteer management and data-driven decision making—while creating better engagement opportunities along the way. More info/register.

Host: fusionSPAN

Speakers:

Justin Burniske, Principal Consultant, Meta-Dao
Cari Ross, Senior Business Systems Analyst, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Tue 9/9 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Panel Discussion: Evolution of the Industry Moving from Discussion to Implementation of AI (Washington DC)

Hear about the operational and program management aspects of AI adoption. Learn about strategies for addressing real-world challenges, such as mitigating AI-related risks and enhancing the candidate experience through improved access to information. Hear about AI’s role in assessment design and development, including decision-making and implementation in assessment design and development as well as key steps in the assessment development life cycle, including Job Task Analysis (JTA), test specifications, item writing, item review, form development, form review, and innovative ways to enhance programs using AI at each stage. Location: Washington DC. More info/register.

Host: Certification Network Group

Speakers:

Ann Evers, GED Testing Service, The Council for Professional Recognition
Charles Glover, SHRM
Amada Jewell, Prometric
Alex Lord, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

Tue 9/9 at 11 a.m. – Smart Practices in Association Fundraising

Philanthropy can serve as an important source of revenue to accomplish key association priorities, especially in the areas of research, professional education and workforce/talent development. Learn about best and smart practices in all areas of a comprehensive association (or association foundation) philanthropic fundraising program, including: Volunteer Leadership, Major/Planned Gifts, Annual Giving, Special Events, Marketing/Communications, Donor Stewardship/Recognition. Learn how to make a compelling case for support to inspire the generosity of members, industry partners, and other stakeholders. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: David Coyne, President at The Sheridan Group

Tue 9/9 at 12 p.m. – Strategic Challenges and Opportunities for CTOs and CIO

Hear tech leaders (and those who work with them) discuss current pressing issues faced by technology leadership: from focus on tech to focus on strategy and growth; building credibility through functional leadership in non-tech areas of the business (Operations, Marketing, HR, etc.); managing the expectation that AI will shortcut all systems; expectations from marketing; and outsourcing, using consultants, or building your team. More info/register.

Hosts: Randall Craig and Ronja Francoeur from the Braintrust Professional Institute

Tue 9/9 at 12 p.m. – Building an Agile Culture That Retains Talent

Learn why “busyness” and rigidity are driving burnout and break trust; how to replace toxic or stagnant norms with an agile, autonomy, people-first culture; and leadership strategies that promote trust, flexibility, and innovation which are powerful forms of non-monetary compensation. More info/register.

Host: EMK Learning Solutions

Speaker: Dr. Maurine Kwende

Tue 9/9 at 12 p.m. – Tech Tuesday

The truth is, you don’t need the title of “Business Analyst” to think like one. A BA mindset can help any association or nonprofit professional uncover opportunities and make smarter decisions, no matter your role. Explore how you can apply a BA lens to your work, hear about practical techniques and bring your own challenges and success stories to the discussion. More info/register (ASAE members only).

Host: ASAE Technology Professionals Advisory Council

Facilitators:

Reggie Henry, Chief Information and Performance Excellence Officer, ASAE
Dave Coriale, President, DelCor Technology Solutions

Guests:

Lynnette Procopio, Director of Business Solutions at ISPOR
members of the ASAE Technology Professionals Advisory Council

Tue 9/9 at 12 p.m. – LGBTQIA2+ 2025 Community Call

A unique and inclusive opportunity for association professionals across all career stages to connect and engage over lunch, and a space where you can openly share and discuss topics that are current and significant to the LGBTQIA2+ association community. More info/register (ASAE members only).

Host: ASAE LGBTQ Association Executives and Supporters

Tue 9/9 at 1 p.m. – Technology Management: When to Insource, Outsource, or Do Both

Managing technology in associations isn’t one-size-fits-all. Explore the most common IT management configurations—insourcing, outsourcing, and hybrid approaches—and how to evaluate which is best for your organization. Learn how to spot signs it may be time to shift your strategy, and examine real-world examples of what different models look like in action, including the investments involved and the return on those investments. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Heinan Landa, Founder & CEO, and Chris Abel, Manager of Consulting Services, Optimal Networks

Tue 9/9 at 1 p.m. – Driving Success: Legislative Updates and Cutting-Edge Practices in Technology & Data Integration

Hear about the latest legislative changes and their impact on fiscal and operational strategies. Discover advanced best practices in CRM and Data Analytics to ensure you are maximizing impact from your technology investments. Get actionable takeaways and strategic guidance for organizational leaders navigating today’s fast-evolving technology landscape. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Raffa Investment Advisors

Tue 9/9 at 1 p.m. – From Engagement to Conversion: Keys to Driving Webinar Pipeline

Discover practical tips and best practices for transforming your webinars into powerful channels that engage audiences, identify top leads, and convert them into pipeline and revenue. Learn how to optimize webinars to uncover interest and intent signals, personalize webinars to increase engagement, set triggers to identify high-value leads, and empower sales teams with actionable first-party data. More info/register.

Host: ON24

Speaker: Mark Bornstein, Vice President, Marketing and Chief Evangelist

Wed 9/10 at 11 a.m. – Retrospectives: How to Continuously Improve Your Team

Hear how retrospectives are a powerful tool for both celebration and improvement. Learn how to highlight and maximize what your team already does well, while also tackling issues, avoiding common mistakes, and fostering real change. Explore a range of engaging retrospective techniques, how to choose the right one for your team’s needs, and practical tips to keep your retros fresh, valuable, and energizing. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Richard Cheng, VP of Training, Chief Product Owner, NextUp Solutions

Wed 9/10 at 12 p.m. – Your Association Needs an Online Community: Why and How To Do It Successfully

Your members already have several things in common, why not offer them an easy way to safely connect with their peers while advancing their careers and advancing the goals of your organization? Learn what an online community is, why your organization should put more resources into building the community, and how to leverage it as an impactful member benefit that will increase retention and overall revenue. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Speakers:

Catherine Hackney, founder, Confident Communities Consulting
David Johnson, CAE, IOM, Director of Membership and Operations, NAFA Fleet Management Association

Wed 9/10 at 12 p.m. – The New Association Playbook: Data, Decisions, and Member Value

Disruption isn’t slowing down—and tradition alone won’t keep your programs relevant. Explore how associations can rethink “untouchable” programs, use data to guide decisions, pivot quickly when member needs change, and define engagement in ways that truly drive retention. More info/register.

Host: Marcus Leite, Director, Sales & Marketing, TaleWind Digital

Guest: Amanda Darnley, Chief Strategy Officer, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

Wed 9/10 at 12 p.m. – The True Cost of a Cyber Incident and the ROI of Cybersecurity Protection

Learn the full cost model of a ransomware event (downtime, data recovery, forensics, legal/regulatory, PR, ransom, and long-tail impacts); how to translate risk into dollars your leadership and board will understand; and a simple framework to compare “pay now vs. pay later” and show ROI on controls that actually reduce risk. Leave with a downloadable Ransomware Cost & Cyber-Investment ROI calculator (Excel) and a one-page checklist to brief your board and finance team. More info/register.

Host: Brian Scott, 501CISO

Wed 9/10 at 12 p.m. – Closing the Loop: The Path to Sustainable Events

Sustainability is reshaping the trade show and events industry, moving from a trend to a business imperative. Explore how to shift from a linear model of consumption and waste to a circular approach that maximizes resources, reduces environmental impact, and boosts efficiency. Hear about the current state of sustainability, areas of progress, and persistent challenges. Learn strategies for waste reduction, zero-waste goal setting, and designing sustainable event spaces—plus how these efforts can enhance client decisions and brand reputation. More info/register.

Host: ESCA’s Rising Leaders Committee

Speakers:

Elizabeth Fretheim, Vice President Sustainability, Freeman Company
Will Estes, Sustainability Manager, Emerald Carpets

Wed 9/10 at 1 p.m. – Cyber Deception for Associations: Stop Breaches Before They Start

Learn about key deception tactics (e.g., canaries, honeypots, honeytokens) and scenarios where they add value in an association’s security program; a minimal, high-impact deception plan that aligns with existing security tools and workflows; implementation steps and examples tailored to common association technology stacks; measurable benefits of deception, including earlier detection, reduced dwell time, and clearer incident signals; and governance considerations, common pitfalls, and strategies to strengthen a proactive security posture. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Ben Muscolino, Founder & CEO, AMS Geek
Ryan O’Donnell, CTO at Vortacity

Wed 9/10 at 1 p.m. – From Engagement to Non-Dues Revenue: Monetizing Your Online Community

Discover how forward-thinking associations are transforming their online communities into engines for non-dues revenue. Hear from association professionals on how they’ve implemented creative monetization strategies that not only increased member value, but actually paid for their communities, and then some. 0.75 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Higher Logic

Speakers:

Melissa Rysak, VP, Communications, IPMI
JJ Vitale, Director, Communications, ACF
Tiffany Moule, Sr. Strategic Advisor, Higher Logic
Brendan Leehe, Customer Marketing Mgr., Higher Logic

Thu 9/11 at 12 p.m. – Unlock Your Data’s Power: Strategic Insights for Associations

Learn how to transform your raw data into actionable intelligence. Explore the common pitfalls preventing associations from truly leveraging their data to inform strategy, pricing, member engagement, and more. Get practical guidance on identifying tactical “red flags” and implementing immediate fixes for common data quality and usage issues. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Hosts: Halmyre and IntelliData

Speakers:

Christine Saunders, Founder and President, Halmyre
Denny Lengkong, President, IntelliData

Thu 9/11 at 1 p.m. – The Future of Association Learning: How to Boost Efficiency and Engagement with Your LMS

Learn how optimizing your continuing education and event management processes can create measurable improvements in efficiency, member engagement, and non-dues revenue. See real-world examples of how organizations like the North Carolina Bar Association have transformed their learning programs to better serve their members. More info/register.

Host: Momentive Software

Speaker: Liam O’Malley, CAE, PMP, Momentive Software

Thu 9/11 at 3 p.m. – Top 10 Things to Know About ERP Selection & Implementation for Associations and Nonprofits

Explore the top considerations to keep in mind when selecting a new ERP system. Learn how to properly assess ERP vendors, focusing on their track record with nonprofits, flexibility, and ability to meet sector-specific demands. Hear about the true cost of ERP ownership, including often overlooked expenses like training and support. Learn how to distinguish between “must-have” and “nice-to-have” capabilities to guide a more strategic requirements gathering process, and how early planning and cleanup can avoid costly setbacks and ensure a smooth transition to your new ERP platform. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Bryan Hack, Principal at BHC Group

Fri 9/12 at 12:30 p.m. – Clause and Effect: Ask a Lawyer Anything

Host: Hopskip

Tue 9/16 at 10:30 a.m. 10 Minute Meditation

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Meditation leader: Moira Edwards, Owner & President, Ellipsis Partners

Tue 9/16 at 11 a.m. – Navigating What’s Next: Preparing Associations for the Future of Change Management

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Daniel Elacqua, CEO, and Christopher Maynard, Senior Executive, Strategico Consultants

Tue 9/16 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. – Metro NYSAE TechConnect: Solutions Showcase

Host: New York Society of Association Executives

Participants: CauseIS, re:Members, Yoko, Higher Logic

Tue 9/16 at 1 p.m. – Anchored in Wellness: Thriving Amidst the Complexity

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Steven Langer, Founder & CEO at Well By Design

Wed 9/17 at 11 a.m. – Building a Contingency Plan for an Unexpected CEO Departure

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Paul Preziotti, CPA, Partner, Johnson Lambert LLP
Michael Gellman, CPA, CGMA, Sustainability Education 4 Nonprofits

Wed 9/17 at 12 p.m. – Smart Ways to Bring AI into Your Community Strategy

Host: Led by Community

Speaker: Nicole Saunders, Founder of CXN Consulting, Co-host of the CX Nexus podcast, and Senior Director of CX Strategy at Higher Logic

Thu 9/18 at 11 a.m. – How Engagement & Technology Drove 4,000% Growth

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Tom Morrison, CEO at Metal Treating Institute
Dave Will, Co-Founder and CEO, PropFuel

Thu 9/18 at 1 p.m. – Reacting vs. Responding: Why It Matters to Sponsorship Success

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Lori Zoss Kraska, MBA, CFRE, Founder & CEO at Growth Owl, LLC

Thu 9/18 at 3 p.m. – The AI Wake-Up Call for Associations: Inside the CSAE 2025 Report

Host: Farhad Khan, CEO of Member Lounge

Guest: Gerald Bramm, founder and principal of Bramm Research

Thu 9/18 at 4 p.m. – The Pulse of Association Membership: The 2025 Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report Update (Alexandria VA)

Host: ASAE Reston Loudoun Swap

Speaker: Tony Rossell, Senior VP, MGI

Fri 9/19 at 3 p.m. – Nonprofit Consultants Collaborative Monthly Networking Meeting

Organizer: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting

Association Brain Food Weekly is published Friday mornings. If you offer free professional development to the association community, please send me the link via email by Wednesday afternoon.

Creative Commons licensed photo by Elmer Cañas via Unsplash

Amazon, AssociationBrainFood.com, and Association Academy links allow me to earn a royalty and/or complimentary registration from any resulting leads or sales. Thank you!

Association Brain Food: 8.29.25

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

This week’s reads

Abstract management. OpenWater shares tips from experienced users on taking full advantage of the key features of your abstract management software. These pointers will help you improve your abstract program’s practices and processes.

365-learning. Tracy King at InspirEd suggests “retiring the one-off event model and positioning events as peak experiences within your 365-learning portfolio.” Her strategy helps attendees apply what they’ve learned to their jobs and map out their next professional development steps. A conference “designed as the crescendo of year-long value” differentiates your association from the competition for your audience’s attention and wallet.

Member growth for small staff associations. YourMembership describes ten strategies used by small staff associations to attract and retain members without breaking the bank. Their guide covers personalization, online career centers, mobile-friendly onboarding, online communities, member ambassadors, and membership model adjustments. They explain how to turn manual processes into automated workflows that free up staff time for more high-impact responsibilities.

Shared member experiences. Belinda Moore of Strategic Membership Solutions says member benefits, like webinars and newsletters, are commodities consumed alone and easily delivered by any organization. However, shared experiences in which people feel something together are “the invisible glue” that makes members renew, volunteer or advocate. She suggests ways to build more of these touchpoints into the member experience.

Association media. At Professionals for Association Revenue (PAR), Carla Kalogeridis of Kalo Media describes a strategic, no-nonsense approach to association media programs. She poses three questions that will help you streamline media offerings and boost non-dues revenue.

Building member communities. Nimble AMS describes the steps for planning an online community and turning it into a tool for member recruitment, engagement and retention. They explain how to define goals and success metrics, assemble your team, create a content strategy, establish guidelines, identify launch groups, create a rollout plan and use ambassadors to get conversations started.

Gen Z education. Peter Finn at Smithbucklin shares research findings on Gen Z’s professional expectations and preferences. He suggests key points to keep in mind when developing an educational strategy for a Gen Z audience. What he recommends for Gen Z will also appeal to members and customers in other generations.

AI and search. The AI Search Manual from iPullRank is quite a read, but if you want to stay on top of search rankings, you should give it a go. It explains how relevance engineering helps your organization stay visible: “structuring information so machines can retrieve, synthesize and cite it as part of AI-generated answers.” If you’re daunted by the manual’s length, try the TL;DR version.

Association AI adoption. Per ASAE’s latest pulse poll, while many associations (88%) use AI for something (mostly content creation), most (86%) feel either somewhat or not very prepared to navigate AI’s impacts. A lack of internal expertise is the top barrier to AI adoption, followed by data privacy and security concerns. The top AI priorities for the next 12 months: identifying relevant use cases, building staff capacity and developing organization-wide AI strategies.

You never grow old at the table

I pulled Italian meatballs out of the freezer, but didn’t feel like pasta (gasp!), so I asked ChatGPT for dinner ideas. A brilliant response: meatballs with ratatouille, a fusion of Italian and French cookery. My ratatouille included roasted eggplant, zucchini, and red and yellow bell pepper, plus onion, garlic, crushed tomatoes, oregano, thyme, herbes de Provence and red pepper flakes. Serve with the meatballs over polenta with a sprinkling of Parmesan and fresh basil. Wowsa, we loved it.

Did I ever tell you about my cheater microwave polenta method? I learned it from Bon Appétit.

By the way, I used the same dinner idea prompt for ChatGPT and Claude. ChatGPT generated more specific and enticing ideas than Claude. I usually go to EatYourBooks for recipe ideas since it indexes the recipes from the cookbooks I own, but I didn’t want to wade through that many. However, if you own a lot of cookbooks, EYB is worth $40/year.

I made an old Portuguese-inspired favorite earlier in the week: baked cod with sausage (chouriço) and baby potatoes. I’ve always made this dish with white beans, but I had a bunch of potatoes lying around. On the side, roasted broccoli with red onion and garlic powder.

To subscribe to Association Brain Food, please complete the form in the sidebar or at the bottom of this post.

Tue 9/2 at 12 p.m.* – Collect, Analyze and Actually Use Member Feedback (Data Analytics Network)

Hear practical tips and real-world stories from data and survey experts on how to collect, analyze, and actually use member feedback. Learn how to design surveys people want to answer, pick the right tools, boost response rates (without bribery!), and turn results into action. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Data Analytics Network

Speakers:

Evan Reid (moderator), ASHA
Shari Jurik, ASHA
Martha McRoy, NORC
Julius Najab, AAAS

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

Tue 9/2 at 12 p.m. – How to Be an Employer of Choice

Learn why growth and purpose, not perks, are workplace currency; how to build development opportunities even without new titles or promotions; and the role of purpose and growth as retention tools. More info/register.

Host: EMK Learning Solutions

Speaker: Dr. Maurine Kwende

Tue 9/2 at 1 p.m. – Engaging With a Multi-Generational Membership

Learn about the defining traits, communication preferences, and engagement styles of each generation represented in your membership; and the different needs and expectations of members at various career stages, from students to seasoned professionals. Hear how to apply generational insights to design onboarding, networking, and career support strategies that foster stronger, more inclusive member engagement. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

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

Wed 9/3 at 11 a.m. – Evolving Event Design, Inside and Outside the Box

As participant expectations shift, event design is evolving in bold new ways. Learn about two standout examples of event design: Learning Journeys—immersive, off-site experiences with thought-provoking content and lasting impact; and Spontaneous Think Tanks—a dynamic crowdsourced event format where participants build the agenda and shape conversations in real time. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Skift Meetings

Speakers:

Liz Lathan, Co-Founder and Chief Community Officer of Club Ichi
Sven Boelhouwer, Event Experience Designer at Experience Experts.

Wed 9/3 at 12 p.m. – The Future of Connection: Is It Time to Close the Book on Chapters?

Connection today does not need to burden our members with requirements. If associations focus on what brings us together in the first place—creating relationships—we will be here for the long run. But what does that look like? And how do we break the bonds of “that’s the way we’ve always done it?” Discuss how the Relationship Industry can forge ahead in a world of instant gratification, online connection, and social isolation. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: AIOT

Facilitator: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, ACNP, author of Association Chapter Systems: From Frustrating to Fruitful, and founder of Rogue Tulips Consulting

Wed 9/3 at 3 p.m. – Unlocking Association Growth: Driving Recruitment Through Marketing and Community

Learn how SEO and GEO strategies can elevate your association’s visibility and attract the right prospects. Hear how to leverage your community to create deeper connections, increase engagement, and support ongoing recruitment. More info/register.

Host: Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

Petreysha Macute, Business Development Executive, Tradewing
Aliah Reyes, Client Solutions Executive, Nexus Marketing

Thu 9/4 at 9 a.m. – 2025 Event Marketing Trends straight from INBOUND

Learn what’s hot, what’s not, and what’s next in marketing; the big surprises from INBOUND 2025; and trends that will shape the year ahead. More info/register.

Hosts:

Julius Solaris, founder, Boldpush
Hilary Laney, VP customer success, Swoogo

Thu 9/4 at 11 a.m. – Creating Your Custom ChatGPT PR Guru

Imagine having an AI-powered PR assistant that understands your organization’s unique needs, streamlines your media outreach, and crafts compelling narratives—all customized to your voice. Discover how to harness ChatGPT to transform your PR strategy. Learn how to create a tailored model that organizes press lists, drafts personalized pitches, and automates follow-ups. Hear how associations and nonprofits are already leveraging this technology to secure top-tier coverage and elevate their reputations. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Colleen Gallagher, President & CEO at OnWrd & UpWrd

Thu 9/4 at 1 p.m. – Strategic Planning That Works: Tools You Can Use Tomorrow

Discover three practical tools that make planning more approachable, more engaging, and more effective for associations navigating the copious amounts of change in today’s world. Go beyond SWOT and learn how to anticipate challenges, spot opportunities, and shape your organization’s future with confidence. Get immediately usable frameworks to engage your team and strengthen your organization’s resilience, practical experience applying these tools during the session, and leave ready to confidently use them with your board, staff, or stakeholders. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Lee Gimpel, President at Better Meetings

Thu 9/4 at 2 p.m. – Evaluating a Vendor’s Integration Capability

Too often, integration challenges only surface after the contract is signed, leading to unexpected costs, delays, or disappointing outcomes. Learn how to uncover limitations or hidden costs tied to custom development, middleware, or licensing; prepare your database to support vendor integration; evaluate real-world compatibility between your CRM/AMS and proposed platforms; and avoid disruptions in member data, reporting, or automations. More info/register.

Host: 501Works

Speakers:

Holly Rice, CAE, leads CRM and data strategy at IDSA
Moira Edwards, President, Ellipsis Partners
James Marquis, CIO, 501Works

Thu 9/4 at 3 p.m. – Crush Member Churn! Your 5-Stage Journey to Unwavering Loyalty

Learn about the five critical phases every member progresses through; what members want at each stage and how to guide them; and how to use engagement moves, such as drip emails and recognition, to create habits and boost renewals. More info/register.

Host: Member Lounge

Speaker: Michael Grahi, Member Lounge

Tue 9/9 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Panel Discussion: Evolution of the Industry Moving from Discussion to Implementation of AI (Washington DC)

Host: Certification Network Group

Speakers:

Ann Evers, GED Testing Service, The Council for Professional Recognition
Charles Glover, SHRM
Amada Jewell, Prometric
Alex Lord, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

Tue 9/9 at 11 a.m. – Smart Practices in Association Fundraising

Host: UST Education

Speaker: David Coyne, President at The Sheridan Group

Tue 9/9 at 1 p.m. – Technology Management: When to Insource, Outsource, or Do Both

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Heinan Landa, Founder & CEO, and Chris Abel, Manager of Consulting Services, Optimal Networks

Wed 9/10 at 11 a.m. – Retrospectives: How to Continuously Improve Your Team

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Richard Cheng, VP of Training, Chief Product Owner, NextUp Solutions

Wed 9/10 at 12 p.m. – Your Association Needs an Online Community: Why and How To Do It Successfully

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Speakers:

Catherine Hackney, founder, Confident Communities Consulting
David Johnson, CAE, IOM, Director of Membership and Operations, NAFA Fleet Management Association

Wed 9/10 at 1 p.m. – From Engagement to Non-Dues Revenue: Monetizing Your Online Community

Host: Higher Logic

Speakers:

Melissa Rysak, VP, Communications, IPMI
JJ Vitale, Director, Communications, ACF
Tiffany Moule, Sr. Strategic Advisor, Higher Logic
Brendan Leehe, Customer Marketing Mgr., Higher Logic

Association Brain Food Weekly is published Friday mornings. If you offer free professional development to the association community, please send me the link via email by Wednesday afternoon.

Creative Commons licensed photo by Chris Bair via Unsplash

Amazon, AssociationBrainFood.com, and Association Academy links allow me to earn a royalty and/or complimentary registration from any resulting leads or sales. Thank you!

Association Brain Food: 8.22.25

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

This week’s reads

“The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.” —L. P. Hartley

Gamified learning. TopClass LMS explains how to use gamified course elements to hold the attention of easily distracted learners. They describe several dopamine-driven strategies, grounded in behavioral science, to keep learners motivated and focused.

Membership app engagement. Sure, you can ping members with push notifications to draw them to your membership app, but Clowder has better ideas for capturing their interest. Their tactics make your membership app a gateway to networking opportunities, professional development resources, industry insights, and community connections that enhance members’ lives year-round.

Event marketing. ExpoLogic walks you through the complete event marketing lifecycle, from setting goals and identifying your audience to nurturing post-event relationships. Learn how to drive early registrations, optimize landing pages with social proof, and use data-driven personalization to boost attendance. The report covers promotion channels, content strategies, and post-event surveys as a secret weapon for continuous improvement.

Member churn. Amanda Kaiser recalls a few disappointing experiences her family had at a neighborhood restaurant. When I was a restaurant GM, I spent nowhere near the money this restaurant spends on advertising. But we had something they didn’t: word-of-mouth marketing. Amanda’s point is about recruiting and delivering value to members. Can you guess what the moral of her story is?

AI hallucinations. Freddie deBoer says LLM hallucination is a very big problem, not a mere speed bump. He’s right. AI has the need to please. Never trust and always verify. AI shares ‘research’ statistics like “resulted in a 3X higher registration rate.” But when you ask for a link to the data, it says, “You’re absolutely right to call me out on that “3X” claim. I made an inference without verification. Let me share what the actual research shows.” AI loves to infer. Maybe one day it will learn not to tell tall tales, but until then, check it every single time.

Non-dues revenue. YM Careers reveals a disconnect between what associations offer and what members want—and how smart associations turn that gap into profit. They share strategies for turning member benefits into revenue generators without adding staff workload through job board software, virtual career events, digital vendor guides, and recruitment publications.

Human agency. Since LinkedIn knows I’m a writer, my feed is full of posts from other writers. Some, like me, are figuring out how to use AI to deliver more value and new services to clients. Others are angrily freaking out and swearing off AI completely. Seth Godin, in his usual reasonable and far-sighted manner, reminds us that “what we do have is agency over how we’ll thrive in a world where human work is being redefined.” I plan to thrive.

SEO/AEO advice for industry partners and associations

Why SEO is not dead. Mateusz Makosiewicz at Ahrefs explains how AI finds and repackages content from Google search results, so ranking high in Google search increases your chances of being featured in AI results. Doubling down on website content that demonstrates deep expertise in your niche gives you more visibility in AI overviews and search results.

Answer engine optimization. The strategy for getting found in AI overviews and search results is called Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). Leah Monica at Matrix Group explains what exactly AEO is, its relationship to SEO, and how to optimize your content for AEO.

Optimizing for AEO. The number of articles about AEO is mind-blowing, but I’m sharing the ones by people and companies I respect, like Andy Crestodina at Orbit Media. He describes three strategies for optimizing your site for AI mentions.

Snacks

The Egyptian government’s suppression of St. Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai is a microcosm of its broader campaign against the country’s Christians. This is seriously worrisome. The monastery’s icons and manuscripts are civilizational treasures. | Mariam Wahba, The Free Press

Ever thought about building an AI career coach? This technologist did. She says she’s never had a better one. | Alexandra Samuel, Wall Street Journal (gift link)

A drone drops an electric bike to help a Ukrainian soldier escape Russians. | Micah Toll, Electrek

You never grow old at the table

Hey! Did you see my announcement last week about the new content marketing service I’m offering to association industry partners? Check it out in the What’s New section of Association Brain Food.

A longtime easy favorite: chipotle salmon. On the side, steamed green beans finished in the pan with sautéed red onion, bacon, red bell pepper, garlic, sundried tomatoes and parmesan.

Chuck roast on a hot night? Yeah, not the greatest choice from the freezer, so I went Indian: Instant Pot beef curry from Indian Instant Pot Cookbook: Traditional Indian Dishes Made Easy & Fast by Urvashi Pitre. The recipe’s on her site too. I doubled the ingredients for my 3# roast, added jalapeño, carrot, and baby gold and purple potatoes to the recipe, and used heaping spoons for the spices. Before adding the beef to the cooker, I browned it, then sautéed onion, jalapeño and garlic in the same pan, using a can of tomatoes (instead of fresh) to deglaze the pan. It’s a keeper! Serve over brown rice with leftover beans on the side.

To subscribe to Association Brain Food, please complete the form in the sidebar or at the bottom of this post.

Mon 8/25 at 8 a.m.* – Advocacy Writ Large! (Radio Free 501c, the podcast of Rogue Tulips Consulting)

Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting

Guest: Mike Bober

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

Mon 8/25 at 1 p.m. – Mission-Driven Innovation: Advancing Technology with Purpose in Associations

Learn how associations can effectively adopt and integrate new technologies to enhance member value, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen their impact. Hear strategies for aligning tech initiatives with organizational purpose, navigating digital risks responsibly, and fostering a culture of innovation that supports long-term sustainability. More info/register.

Host: Association Latinos

Speakers:

Melissa Simmons, Founder, Fortify Awareness
Justin Burniske, Principal Consultant & Co-Owner, Meta-Dao
Lorena Mejia (moderator), Founder of Unleashing The Lion In Us LLC

Tue 8/26 at 11 a.m. – AMS for Association Growth: The Strategic Edge

Hear about key trends and challenges in today’s AMS landscape. Learn how associations are using their AMS to deliver experiences that boost member satisfaction, increase member retention through streamlined engagement, and turn member data into clear insights for smarter, data-backed decisions. Find out what to evaluate in your current (or future) AMS to align with long-term goals. More info/register.

Host: Aplusify

Speaker: Manish Maid, Project Manager & AMS Transformation Expert, Aplusify

Tue 8/26 at 12 p.m. – The Community Playbook: Part 3 – Grow & Lead Without Micromanaging

Are you navigating the fine line between empowering your team and micromanaging? Hear about actionable strategies to foster trust, autonomy, and alignment within your team. Discover how to nurture collaboration and a sense of belonging. Learn to inspire team members to take initiative and own their roles. Find out how to implement clear yet flexible boundaries that encourage innovation and independence. More info/register.

Host: GrowthZone

Tue 8/26 at 3 p.m. – Intro to AI Webinar for Associations and Nonprofits

Learn about the basics and importance of generative AI and Large Language Models. Witness the power of AI tools through live demonstrations, showcasing their impact on real-world scenarios. Learn to create targeted personas in ChatGPT for personalized content and interactions, and which settings to adjust for privacy and security, and understand what information is safe to input into AI tools. More info/register.

Host: Sidecar

Speakers:

Erica Salm Rench, CMO, Sidecar
Thomas Altman, Co-founder, Tasio

Wed 8/27 at 11 a.m. – From Hunches in Bunches to Data Driven Decisions

The commitment to move away from hunches to data-driven is fueled by intentional data strategy, data literacy, and data hygiene… and it is everyone in the organization’s responsibility to contribute. Learn about metrics to use to determine success in data-driven-decision initiatives, the four-pillar model (Collect, Connect, Protect, and Respect) to evaluate data-driven-decision initiatives, and next-steps for data-driven-decision initiatives. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Ron Moen, CAE, Vice President, and Tobin Conley, CAE, CIP, Director, Research and Learning/Senior Strategic Consultant, DelCor Technology Solutions

Wed 8/27 at 12 p.m. – AWTC Meet & Greet

Connect with new faces in the association tech community. Join us for a 30-minute welcome event to forge fresh connections and discover our vibrant Slack community. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Wed 8/27 at 12 p.m. – AI and the Future of Associations

Explore the results of a survey recently conducted on generative AI in partnership with the Canadian Society of Association Executives. Hear how associations are approaching generative AI, what leaders are most concerned about, and where opportunities and risks are already emerging. More info/register.

Host: Zzeem Consulting

Speaker: Gerald Bramm of Bramm Research

Wed 8/27 at 1 p.m. – How to Build More Strategic CE Programs: Personalization, Portfolio Thinking, and Performance

Drawing on insights from a new executive briefing, explore three essential levers for building more strategic, sustainable CE programs: personalization that goes beyond content to shape learner experience and outcomes; portfolio thinking to design offerings aligned with competencies, career stages, and market needs; and performance metrics that balance business viability with meaningful learner impact. Hear about practical, research-informed strategies to position your CE offerings for long-term success. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Leading Learning

Speakers:

Jeff Cobb and Celisa Steele, co-founders of Tagoras and Leading Learning
Evan Burton, head of growth at BenchPrep

Wed 8/27 at 1 p.m. – ’25 State of MX: The Experience Matters

Learn how to turn the latest member experience (MX) research into action. Hear the story behind the breakthrough numbers in member engagement. Get a deep understanding of the modern member mindset and their evolving expectations. Learn about the three-pillar strategy for scaling personalization without losing the human touch. More info/register.

Host: Forj

Speakers: Kurt Heikkinen, CEO, and Andy Hicken, VP of Technology Solutions, Forj

Wed 8/27 at 1 p.m. – A CEO’s Guide to IT Teams, Tech Capacity & Strategic Impact

In many nonprofits, IT is expected to be all things to all people—strategist, troubleshooter, project manager, cybersecurity expert, and helpdesk. But the reality is, your IT department’s structure fundamentally shapes what is realistically achievable. Learn about the capabilities of different IT team models; a clear framework to understand IT department’s structure and limitations; a comparison of expected outcomes from different IT team sizes using an evaluation matrix; and strategies for improving communication, trust, and alignment between executives and IT staff. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Michael Getter, CSM, CSPO, ITIL v4, Vice President, Systems and Technology, Global Cold Chain Alliance
Tori Miller Liu, FASAE, CAE, President & CEO, Association for Intelligent Information Management
Celia Chomón Zamora, Ph.D., CAE, Executive Director at American Council of Academic Physical Therapy
Shaun Holloway, MBA, Director Of Information Technology at American Motorcyclist Association

Wed 8/27 at 1 p.m. – From Search to Suggestion: Positioning Your Brand for AI-Powered Discovery

AI engines are quickly becoming the new front door to the customer journey—summarizing, recommending, and shaping perceptions in ways that brands can no longer ignore. Learn about the emerging discipline of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and why it’s becoming essential for marketing, SEO, and content teams. Find out how AI is reshaping brand visibility, what content LLMs prefer, and how companies can stay ahead. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Speakers: Karthik Muralidharan, Group Product Marketing Manager, and Emily Kellman, Senior Product Manager, Adobe

Wed 8/27 at 1 p.m. – Using AI to Plan, Expand and Measure Your Events

Discover how AI can uncover key insights from your sponsors and competition and even determine the current business needs of your attendees based on demographics. Learn how to set up a model to leverage AI for deeper insights into your event data, craft compelling agendas and sessions tailored to various stakeholders’ business interests, quickly extract thought leadership video snippets for paid or organic content media to extend event impact and grow your audience, and generate attendee content usage report cards to inform prescriptive scheduling and enhance matchmaking. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Meetings Today

Speaker: Mary Ann Pierce, founder and CEO of MAP Digital: MetaMeetings

Thu 8/28 at 11 a.m. – How to Create More Attendee Emotion

Hear about the science of emotional engagement, why it matters & how it works; real-world stories of events that stirred genuine feeling (both good and bad!); practical techniques to weave emotion into content, networking and sponsorships; balancing tech and storytelling to deliver heartfelt experiences; common pitfalls and how to keep emotional impact authentic; quick-win, low cost, tactics you can apply immediately; what to do when emotions go south and negativity about your event increases; and how to create human-centered experiences that attendees will remember long after the event ends. More info/register.

Host: Grip

Speakers:

Juraj Holub, CEO and Founder, Speaking Heroes, International Moderator & Public Speaking Coach
Liz Lathan, Founder, Club Ichi & The Community Factory , Event Experience Strategist

Thu 8/28 at 1 p.m. – 5 Fundamentals for Association & Nonprofit Sponsorship Sales

Learn the must-know principles to build stronger partnerships, drive revenue, and create meaningful sponsor alignment. Get a “lesson plan” for sustainable sponsor growth. Hear why getting back to basics is key in a changing landscape, what common mistakes associations and nonprofits make (and how to fix them), how to turn insights into action—without burning out your team, and real-world examples you can apply immediately. More info/register.

Host: Lori Zoss Kraska, MBA, CFRE, Founder/CEO of Growth Owl, LLC

Guest: Carrie McIntyre, Principal at Navigate

Thu 8/28 at 1 p.m. – Voices in Events Live! – Association Marketing -Rethinking the Dues

Hear about rethinking association membership dues and the marketing function in associations. More info/register.

Host: Michael Hoffman, co-founder and CEO, Gather Voices

Guest: Bri Wheeler, fractional CMO, Levitate Marketing

Thu 8/28 at 3:10 p.m. – Influence in the Age of AI: Why Your Story Matters More Than Ever

In an AI-driven world, your authentic story is your superpower. Discover how to craft and share messages that no algorithm can match: messages that move hearts, change minds, and inspire real action. More info/register.

Host: Member Lounge

Speakers:

René Rodriguez, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and leadership advisor
Farhad Khan, CEO, Member Lounge

Tue 9/2 at 11 a.m. – Top 10 Things to Know About ERP Selection & Implementation for Associations and Nonprofits

Learn about the unique operational and reporting needs of mission-driven organizations and how those requirements shape system selection; how to properly assess ERP vendors, focusing on their track record with nonprofits, flexibility, and ability to meet sector-specific demands; the true cost of ERP ownership, including often overlooked expenses like training and support; distinguishing between “must-have” and “nice-to-have” capabilities to guide a more strategic requirements gathering process; and one of the most underestimated risks, data migration. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Bryan Hack, Principal at BHC Group

Tue 9/2 at 12 p.m. – Collect, Analyze and Actually Use Member Feedback (Data Analytics Network)

Host: Data Analytics Network

Speakers:

Evan Reid (moderator), ASHA
Shari Jurik, ASHA
Martha McRoy, NORC
Julius Najab, AAAS

Thu 9/4 at 9 a.m. – 2025 Event Marketing Trends straight from INBOUND

Learn what’s hot, what’s not, and what’s next in marketing; the big surprises from INBOUND 2025; and trends that will shape the year ahead. More info/register.

Hosts:

Julius Solaris, founder, Boldpush
Hilary Laney, VP customer success, Swoogo

Thu 9/4 at 11 a.m. – Creating Your Custom ChatGPT PR Guru

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Colleen Gallagher, President & CEO at OnWrd & UpWrd

Thu 9/4 at 1 p.m. – Strategic Planning That Works: Tools You Can Use Tomorrow

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Lee Gimpel, President at Better Meetings

Thu 9/4 at 2 p.m. – Evaluating a Vendor’s Integration Capability

Host: 501Works

Speakers:

Holly Rice, CAE, leads CRM and data strategy at IDSA
Moira Edwards, President, Ellipsis Partners
James Marquis, CIO, 501Works

Association Brain Food Weekly is published Friday mornings. If you offer free professional development to the association community, please send me the link via email by Wednesday afternoon.

Creative Commons licensed photo by John Thomas via Unsplash

Amazon, AssociationBrainFood.com, and Association Academy links allow me to earn a royalty and/or complimentary registration from any resulting leads or sales. Thank you!

Association Brain Food: 8.15.25

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

A big announcement

AI tools have rocked my content world. Don’t worry, I forgive you. I’m consorting with the enemy now too. Besides the traditional writing services I’ve provided to association industry partners for the past 15 years, I’ve got something new to offer—spread the word!

P.S. I’m rolling out a few more content services soon—stay tuned.

NEW: AI-Generated Content Quality Assurance for Association Industry Partners

As AI transforms content creation, I’m offering new services to help association industry partners get the best of both worlds:

AI-generated content enhancement: Transform AI drafts into personable, accurate content that resonates with association professionals
Content quality assurance: Ensure your AI content captures the reality of working in associations
Monthly content partnerships: Predictable pricing for ongoing content production

Why work with me when AI is so cheap?

AI lacks judgment, discernment, and taste. It misses subtle issues only a human who’s familiar with the topic, audience, and context would catch. With 25+ years on both sides of the association industry, I know how associations actually work. If you sell software, provide services, or offer any solution to associations, I make sure your content is credible and connects with your audience.

Back to our regular programming…

This week’s reads

Learning subscriptions. Apti explains why many associations now offer learning subscriptions to members and customers. Instead of one-off sales, these organizations are building relationships by engaging and nurturing subscribers throughout the year—and creating lifelong learners and new revenue streams while they’re at it.

Post-conference sharing. Jeffrey Cufaude offers advice on sharing your ASAE Annual takeaways when you get back to the office. His suggestions will help you apply what you’ve learned to facilitate change in your organization—while not turning off envious or resistant co-workers.

Technology selection roadmap. This guide from Dennison & Associates is a must-read before embarking on an AMS/technology selection project. They describe how to organize your team, build internal buy-in, budget, review processes, assess needs, identify vendors, avoid common project pitfalls, and make an RFP shortlist.

Free marketing design/copy course. Learn how to evaluate marketing layout and copy in the Association Academy’s free Association Creative Marketing Masterclass. Each class is taught live by leading association heads of marketing and features a live review of real association marketing collateral with recommendations. Earn up to four CAE credits in this free course, which runs for four weeks on Thursdays, 1-2pm ET starting September 18.

Board performance. Jeff De Cagna (Foresight First LLC) and re:Members present the results of a study by the Future of Association Boards community: nine recommendations for elevating board performance. It’s also a quick way to understand the principles of exceptional board governance.

Not enough of anything. NetForum offers advice for association staff who have to do more with less. They specifically address these four challenges: inefficient processes, staff shortages, technology limitations, and budget constraints.

Gen Z careers. Parents, teachers, and counselors are relying on an outdated playbook when giving career guidance to Gen Z. Their advice isn’t in sync with Gen Z’s economic reality, reports Erica Pandey at Axios. As a result, Gen Z is dealing with unpreparedness, unemployment, and uncertainty. But I see new credentialing opportunities for associations.

The kids are alright. David Roberts has a contrarian view of Gen Z: he’s not buying the “anxious generation” theory. He says growing up in the constantly online/smartphone era has its challenges and benefits. Ultimately, Gen Z will be fine.

AI dependency. I hadn’t heard about this high school meme until Brendan McCord wrote about the Claude Boys. He warns us: the path from AI guidance to quiet dependence—and finally to control—is short, and most of us won’t notice we’ve taken it until it’s too late.

Association industry partner corner

Here’s a cautionary tale from Alexandra Sagaydak for SaaS industry partners. She describes how CSMs get screwed over by company leadership when they’re definitely not the problem nor where the blame usually lies. Take a look at your company, then file this under #uncomfortabletruths.

In 2025, your old content doesn’t fade quietly into obscurity. It’s being scraped, analyzed, summarized, and used to teach AI systems what you and your brand stand for. Robert Rose at Content Marketing Institute calls this a brand reputation time bomb in need of an intervention—a good old-fashioned content audit. Take your medicine before searchers start labeling you as an out-of-touch has-been.

At the table

We spent the weekend in Washington, NC, where we picked up shrimp and fish to bring home. Since I need shrimp broth for our annual Oktoberfest seafood fest, I made a pot for the freezer and for dinner: shrimp scampi with fettuccine. This version included bacon, onion, garlic, red pepper flakes, dry vermouth, shrimp, shrimp broth (made with shells, onion, carrot, celery, garlic, peppercorns, and water), lemon juice, parsley, basil, and butter. The golden elixir broth makes all the difference.

Earlier this week, I made spicy Korean-style pork in the pressure cooker. I’ve made this recipe with Boston butt (pork shoulder) and country-style ribs—bone-in and boneless. I always double the sauce ingredients and don’t bother adding liquid from the pressure cooker. On the side, pickled cucumbers (from the same recipe, although I used regular cukes) and roasted broccoli with red onion and garlic powder. We enjoyed the pork in wheat tortillas with cukes and cilantro.

To subscribe to Association Brain Food, please complete the form in the sidebar or at the bottom of this post.

Fri 8/15 at 3 p.m.* – Nonprofit Consultants Collaborative Monthly Networking Meeting

This monthly networking meeting is organized by consultants for full-time consultants who work with non-profits and associations. You don’t have to be an ASAE member to attend. This month’s agenda includes the sharing of good news, topics or questions from the group, and AI and its impact on consulting. More info/register.

Organizer: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting

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

Mon 8/18 at 8 a.m. – Jay Burress from USAE News (Radio Free 501c, the podcast of Rogue Tulips Consulting)

Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting

Guest: Jay Burress, USAE News

Tue 8/19 at 10:30 a.m. – 10 Minute Meditation

Introducing mindfulness into your work day helps you cope with stress and reduce the feelings of burnout. Join us to create 10 minutes of pure space in your busy day. We’ll start with 5 minutes of arriving, a 10-minute meditation, and a 5-minute check-out. Open to all, with no prior meditation experience needed. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Meditation leader: Moira Edwards, Owner & President, Ellipsis Partners

Tue 8/19 at 11 a.m. – ASAE Annual Recap with KiKi & Dan: Insights into Action

Don’t leave the real takeaways at LAX or buried in your Notes app. After the handshakes fade and the hashtags stop trending, join Dan and KiKi for a keepin’ it real conversation. They’ll talk about what hit (and what didn’t); what wasn’t said out loud, but should’ve been; and what you can actually do next, instead of just coasting on conference fumes. More info/register.

Host: Results Direct

Speakers

KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth
Dan Scheeler, CAE, chief operating officer, Results Direct

Tue 8/19 at 11 a.m. – Why Adversity Is the Key to Future Identity

Hear how to reframe adversity as a catalyst for strategic advantage, use mental conditioning tools like power declarations and future mapping to attract the future you desire, practice future-casting to align daily actions with long-term purpose, learn from rejection (“No”) and use it as redirection toward greater impact, and identify and remove internal and external roadblocks that are silently sabotaging your success. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Magie Cook, CEO at Magie Cook International

Tue 8/19 at 11 a.m. – What’s Under the Hood: Parsing Standardized Learning Content for AI

Learn about eLearning standards, like SCORM, xAPI or cmi5, and why AI struggles with them; wow authoring tools and inconsistent implementations complicate things; what good vs. poor parsing actually looks like in practice; how to enable text extraction, transcription and metadata generation that really works; use cases where better data parsing improves search, personalization, admin and analytics; and what to ask your team and vendors about AI readiness. More info/register.

Host: Rustici Software

Tue 8/19 at 12 p.m. – The Future of Search Isn’t Links — It’s Answers

Search is changing fast. As AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s Search Generative Experience become the new front door to the internet, traditional SEO alone won’t be enough. Learn how AI is reshaping search behaviors and expectations; why links and keywords are no longer the main signal of relevance; what it takes to make your content visible, useful, and referenced in AI-driven results; and how to start future-proofing your content strategy today. Hear real-world examples and insights from our work with mission-driven organizations navigating this shift. More info/register.

Host: Accella

Tue 8/19 at 1 p.m. – Human-Centered Leadership: Leading with Heart, Head, and Humility

Only 31% of employees in the U.S. are engaged at work. The rest are either quietly checking out or actively working against the mission. For purpose-driven organizations, this is a leadership call to action. Learn how to stay emotionally available and focused, without burning out; build trust in a way that fuels connection AND accountability; and lead with both vulnerability and vision to reignite engagement. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Anne Robie, Founder and People Brilliance Officer at Darshan Leadership

Tue 8/19 at 1 p.m. – Future-Proofing Your Membership Strategy

Learn how member expectations are shifting—and what that means for long-term value; the tools and trends driving smarter, more effective engagement; and what boards should be watching, asking, and funding to stay competitive. More info/register.

Host: Kellen

Speakers: Kim Chhabria, Group Vice President, and Abram Garcia, Vice President, Kellen

Tue 8/19 at 1 p.m. – Technology Performance in Nonprofits and Associations: How Data-Driven Adoption Drives Growth and Future-Readiness

Learn how technology decisions are creating measurable differences in organizational performance—and why some nonprofits and associations are thriving while others fall behind. Hear about findings from our previously published nonprofit research and preview results from our upcoming associations study that reveal the performance gaps between what member organizations think they’re delivering and what their members truly experience. More info/register.

Host: Momentive Software

Tue 8/19 at 3:30 p.m. – 5 Habits of High-Impact Board Members

Find out about the five key habits that distinguish high impact board members. Discover practical steps to contribute more strategically and confidently. Learn how to extend your influence beyond the boardroom to advance your organization’s mission. More info/register.

Host: OnBoard

Speaker: Michael Corley, governance advisor and host of the I 501(c) You podcast

Wed 8/20 at 11 a.m. – Strategic Planning Must-Haves

Leading your organization into the future is like taking a road trip to a place you’ve never been. You need a strategy that includes a planned route, milestones along the way, and a timeline. Learn how to identify fundamentals for your strategic foundation, assess if your organization is ready to start or reset the strategic planning process, and develop your team for successful implementation and goal pursuit. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Amy Horner, Founder at True Nine

Wed 8/20 at 12 p.m. – Buzzworthy LIVE: What We Heard at ASAE—and What It Means for You

Hear what caught our attention at the ASAE Annual Meeting, what raised eyebrows, and what ideas we think more teams should use. Find out what each panelist learned, what they’re doing with it, and what you might want to do too. More info/register.

Host: TaleWind Digital

Speakers: Breanna Perrelli, Creative Director; Dan Stevens, President; Kristy Devantier, Director, Creative and Client Services; and Marcus Leite, Director, Sales & Marketing, TaleWind Digital

Wed 8/20 at 1 p.m. – Don’t Chase Sponsors, Align with Them: Connecting Relevance with Corporate Sponsor Priorities

Discover the current priorities driving corporate sponsorship and how aligning with these values can position your association as a relevant, strategic partner. Learn how to craft sponsorship opportunities that go far beyond traditional offerings by showcasing your association’s mission-aligned impact and thought leadership. Come away with ideas on how existing association programming and educational initiatives can be positioned for corporate sponsorship. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Hosts: Fonteva and ProTech

Speaker: corporate sponsorship authority Lori Zoss Kraska, MBA, CFRE, Founder/CEO of Growth Owl, LLC and author of The Boardroom Playbook: A Not So Ordinary Guide to Corporate Funding for Your Purpose Driven Organization

Wed 8/20 at 1 p.m. – How to Elevate Your Events with Purpose: The Road to Net-Positive Sustainability

Learn what net-positive sustainability really means—and how to implement it; how to design socially and environmentally impactful events; and how to measure your event’s economic, social, and environmental footprint. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Prevue Meetings

Speakers:

Jody Brandes, Associate Director, Internal Meetings & Strategy at Gilead Sciences, Inc.
Edward Perotti, Principal of EP Events & Experience
Nancy J. Zavada, CMP Fellow, Founder and President, MeetGreen

Wed 8/20 at 2 p.m. – The Future of Association Boards (FAB) Community Dialogue

More info/register.

Host: Jeff De Cagna, Executive Advisor, Foresight First LLC

Wed 8/20 at 2 p.m. – Ask the Advocacy Experts: What’s Working in 2025?

Find out about the latest trends and data from the 2025 Advocacy Benchmark Report. Learn how to boost open and action rates, including the best times (and days) to launch your campaigns. Hear about engagement benchmarks across industries and get real-world tips from high-performing advocacy teams. More info/register.

Host: VoterVoice

Speakers:

Lauren Schwartz, Senior Communications Strategist, Statara Solutions
Mark Fisher, Director of Advocacy Engagement, Muscular Dystrophy Association
Lydia Stowe, Senior Manager of Content Marketing, FiscalNote

Wed 8/20 at 2:30 p.m. – How Associations Are Using AI to Deliver Knowledge

Associations sit on a goldmine of knowledge, but most members can’t find what they need. Hear how two associations are using custom AI assistants to transform how they deliver knowledge to members. Learn how these tools enhance member experiences, free up staff time, and create new opportunities for engagement. Walk away with tactical ideas and proof that AI isn’t the future, it’s already working. More info/register.

Host: Lowell Aplebaum, founder, Vista Cova

Speakers: Chip Flater (NSTA) and Jason Wampler (ISA)

Wed 8/20 at 2:30 p.m. – A Planner’s Guide to Rights and Remedies

Explore the rights and remedies embedded in event contracts that planners need to be able to identify and negotiate. Learn how to protect the event’s interests when things go sideways – from cancellations to service failures – and understand the contract tools available to resolve disputes effectively. Hear about strategies to strengthen event contracts, reduce risks and elevate a planner’s confidence in managing supplier relationships. More info/register.

Host: Heather Reid, CEO and founder, Planner Protect

Thu 8/21 at 11 a.m. – The New Foundation of Member Value: Content, Experience, and Revenue

Learn about the three pillars every association needs to deliver lasting member value online: great content, a modern digital member experience, and a sustainable revenue model that supports it all. These aren’t just tactics—they’re the new foundation of engagement. Walk away with a smarter lens for evaluating your current strategy, plus real-world examples of how associations are evolving from content creators to confident digital publishers. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Marcus Leite, Director, Sales & Marketing, and Dan Stevens, President, TaleWind Digital

Thu 8/21 at 11 a.m. – Cracking Linkedin’s Code: Boost Reach & Engagement With a Smarter Strategy

LinkedIn’s algorithm is changing fast—and if your content strategy hasn’t adapted, your visibility (and ROI) is likely suffering. Find out exactly what’s changed, what’s no longer working, and what today’s algorithm actually rewards. Learn about a smarter, engagement-first strategy designed to increase reach, spark meaningful conversations, and drive real business impact—without burning out your team or your content calendar. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Jon Rivers, COO, Marketeery

Thu 8/21 at 11:30 a.m. – Level Up Your Certification Program: Advanced Tactics to Enhance Member Value and Organizational Growth

Hear about emerging trends in certification and how to stay ahead, using data to refine and expand your certification offerings, best practices for streamlining complex recertification requirements and continuing education/competence tracking, and real-world examples of advanced certification management in action. More info/register.

Host: Momentive Software

Speakers:

Penny Whoolery, Director, Certification & Membership, American Association of Cost Engineering International
Jerel Noel, Executive Director, Cardiovascular Credentialing International
Jasamine Riel, Certification Products Manager, Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
Chris Capistran, VP of Channel & Strategic Accounts, Momentive Software

Thu 8/21 at 12 p.m. – Online, Usability Testing Bootcamp: From Planning to Impact

Learn how to create and execute highly effective usability tests that drive strategic UX improvements and impact. Walk away understanding when to usability test, how to create a test plan and conduct a live session, and identify successes (and pain points!) through collaborative tools and affinity mapping. Hear about actionable strategies to communicate insights to leadership and make them sticky in your organization. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Speakers:

Rhoni Rakos, Lead Consultant, Digital Strategy, Ellipsis Partners
Lennse Garcia, UX Design Manager, ASLHA

Thu 8/21 at 12 p.m. – Elevating Online Training Quality by Aligning with Industry Best Practices

The Quality Matters® (QM) framework is a nationally recognized, research-based approach to designing online learning that focuses on intentional course structure, aligning learning objectives, content, and assessments to reduce confusion and boost engagement. Learn how QM-aligned design supports stronger outcomes across your learning programs. You’ll learn how to design content that’s easy to navigate, purposeful, and accessible—without sacrificing creativity or speed. More info/register.

Host: eLearningDOC

Thu 8/21 at 1 p.m. – Voices in Events Live! Events Made Easy with Nick Borelli

Listen in on a fast-moving conversation about events and AI. More info/register.

Host: Michael Hoffman, CEO and co-founder, Gather Voices

Guest: Nick Borelli, instructor, PCMA, and marketing director, Zenus

Thu 8/21 at 1 p.m. – From Batch-and-Blast to 1:1 Messaging: How AI is Redefining Email Marketing

Learn how AI is reshaping the way marketers build, send, and optimize campaigns by delivering personalized, 1:1 messaging that drives higher opens, clicks, and conversions—without adding manual work. Find out why batch-and-blast is hurting your engagement, how AI helps you segment smarter and personalize at scale, and how to integrate AI into your email workflows. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Speaker: Molly Phayer Quast, Director of Customer Success and Product, Rasa.io

Thu 8/21 at 2 p.m. – The Certification Journey: Engaging Members at Every Milestone

Learn how associations can create meaningful engagement throughout the full certification lifecycle—from early interest and application, to exam prep, post-certification support, and renewal. Hear how to identify key decision points, use conversational engagement to reduce friction, and design a member experience that supports both your goals and your learners’. More info/register.

Host: PropFuel

Thu 8/21 at 2 p.m. – Expert Tricks for Meaning-Rich Events on Any Budget

Learn how the supply-demand balance is changing and what that could mean for your bottom line. Find out what can be negotiated and how, how to explain budget realities to decision makers, and small adjustments that can make a big difference in the contract and in attendee impressions. More info/register.

Host: Smart Meetings

Speaker: Lesley Barnett, CMP, CIS, Bishop-McCann

Mon 8/25 at 1 p.m. – Mission-Driven Innovation: Advancing Technology with Purpose in Associations

Host: Association Latinos

Speakers:

Melissa Simmons, Founder, Fortify Awareness
Justin Burniske, Principal Consultant & Co-Owner, Meta-Dao
Lorena Mejia (moderator), Founder of Unleashing The Lion In Us LLC

Tue 8/26 at 3 p.m. – Intro to AI Webinar for Associations and Nonprofits

Host: Sidecar

Speakers:

Erica Salm Rench, CMO, Sidecar
Thomas Altman, Co-founder, Tasio

Wed 8/27 at 11 a.m. – From Hunches in Bunches to Data Driven Decisions

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Ron Moen, CAE, Vice President, and Tobin Conley, CAE, CIP, Director, Research and Learning/Senior Strategic Consultant, DelCor Technology Solutions

Wed 8/27 at 12 p.m. – AWTC Meet & Greet

Connect with new faces in the association tech community. Join us for a 30-minute welcome event to forge fresh connections and discover our vibrant Slack community. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Wed 8/27 at 1 p.m. – How to Build More Strategic CE Programs: Personalization, Portfolio Thinking, and Performance

Host: Leading Learning

Speakers:

Jeff Cobb and Celisa Steele, co-founders of Tagoras and Leading Learning
Evan Burton, head of growth at BenchPrep

Wed 8/27 at 1 p.m. – A CEO’s Guide to IT Teams, Tech Capacity & Strategic Impact

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

Michael Getter, CSM, CSPO, ITIL v4, Vice President, Systems and Technology, Global Cold Chain Alliance
Tori Miller Liu, FASAE, CAE, President & CEO, Association for Intelligent Information Management
Celia Chomón Zamora, Ph.D., CAE, Executive Director at American Council of Academic Physical Therapy
Shaun Holloway, MBA, Director Of Information Technology at American Motorcyclist Association

Thu 8/28 at 1 p.m. – 5 Fundamentals for Association & Nonprofit Sponsorship Sales

Host: Lori Zoss Kraska, MBA, CFRE, Founder/CEO of Growth Owl, LLC

Guest: Carrie McIntyre, Principal at Navigate

Thu 8/28 at 3 p.m. – Influence in the Age of AI: Why Your Story Matters More Than Ever

Host: Member Lounge

Speakers:

René Rodriguez, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and leadership advisor
Farhad Khan, CEO, Member Lounge

Association Brain Food Weekly is published Friday mornings. If you offer free professional development to the association community, please send me the link via email by Wednesday afternoon.

Creative Commons licensed photo by Joshua J. Cotten via Unsplash

Amazon, AssociationBrainFood.com, and Association Academy links allow me to earn a royalty and/or complimentary registration from any resulting leads or sales. Thank you!

Association Brain Food: 8.8.25

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

August of another summer, and once again
I am drinking the sun
and the lilies again are spread across the water…

~Mary Oliver, “The Pond”

Year-round attendee engagement. TopClass LMS explains how to extend attendee engagement beyond the closing keynotes with post-conference learning programs that boost ROI, strengthen loyalty, and create new revenue streams. With post-event programs, you differentiate your conference from the competition, encourage continuous learning, and strengthen your conference community.

Scholarship programs. OpenWater describes how scholarships help associations attract and engage members who can’t afford dues, conferences, credentialing, or leadership training. They explain how a scholarship management platform helps you manage the application, review, and fund disbursement processes, giving you more time to focus on sponsor relationships and program growth.

Membership benchmarks. I see more references on ASAE Collaborate to this report than any other: the membership marketing benchmarking report from MGI. Not surprising since it’s full of valuable (and often surprising) data. See how your association measures up against others and what’s working for your peers. The report covers all aspects of recruitment, engagement, and retention, plus expanded and new sections on AI, generational issues, workforce development, and membership research.

Finding your footing. Many of you will appreciate Nir Eyal’s solid advice on finding your footing when the ground shifts beneath you. He shares advice on dealing with uncertainty and change: accept reality, journal, focus on what you can control, stay optimistic (and get lucky), and stay true to your core values.

Research on Gen Z at work. Anxiety about AI is causing Gen Z to pivot to blue-collar careers, reports Emilie Shumway at HR Dive. Fully remote work is the least popular option for Gen Z. They prefer hybrid work and wish co-workers were in the office more often, according to Ryan Pendell and Sangeeta Agrawal at Gallup. I see opportunities for associations!

Overcoming objections to a new AMS. Selecting and implementing an AMS is not for the faint of heart. If you’re hearing pushback from co-workers or higher-ups about getting a new AMS, re:Members has advice for debunking the most common myths and overcoming the most common objections. These arguments will help colleagues understand that not making the change is the most frightening option of all.

Snacks

OMG, em dashes are not a sign of AI writing! | Mignon Fogerty aka Grammar Girl

A list of Substack book groups (scroll all the way down). | Simon Haisell, Footnotes and Tangents

You never grow old at the table

A while back, I bought a few jars of giardiniera for a recipe I never made. The other night I came up with what I’m calling Mediterranean chicken skillet with giardiniera, which included the liquid and chopped vegetables from one 16-ounce jar of giardiniera, plus onion, garlic, cannellini beans, canned diced tomatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes, and cilantro. On the side, zucchini and yellow squash al pesto with red bell pepper, onion, broccoli stems, carrot, and Parmesan.

Earlier in the week, I made another delicious dish: salmon with a poblano and chipotle corn cream sauce. I sautéed poblano and jalapeño pepper, onion, garlic, and corn, and added evaporated milk, chipotle en adobo, butter, and cilantro. On the side, roasted broccoli with red onion and garlic powder.

To subscribe to Association Brain Food, please complete the form in the sidebar or at the bottom of this post.

Sat 8/9 from 4 to 6 p.m. PDT* – ASAE Annual Happy Hour (Los Angeles CA)

Join the Association Women Technology Champions (AWTC) for a warm welcome to LA full of stars like you during the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting. Catch up with AWTC community members, expand your network, and find your people before navigating the next few days. This IRL opportunity to socialize and network with your industry peers is brought to you by the generous support of the AWTC Friends who sponsored this event. Location: Los Angeles CA. More info/register.

Organizer: Association Women Technology Champions

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

Tue 8/12 at 12 p.m. – Beyond Numbers: Business Leadership for CFOs

Learn how to turn your focus from just numbers to strategy and growth (shedding the “bean counter” label), build credibility through functional leadership in non-financial areas of the business (IT, Operations, HR, etc.), understand the differences between top-flight CFOs and those who are not yet flying, and stay where you are, transition to CEO, or transition to another position. More info/register.

Host: Braintrust Professional Institute

Speakers: Randall Craig and Ronja Francoeur, Braintrust Professional Institute

Tue 8/12 at 12 p.m. – LGBTQIA2+ 2025 Community Call

Host: ASAE LGBTQ Association Executives and Supporters

Tue 8/12 at 1 p.m. – Creating a Powerful Online Presence: Website Customization Best Practices

From personalized user experiences to streamlined navigation and mobile-first design, effective website customization can transform your site from a static page into a strategic engagement and conversion tool. Learn about common website pitfalls that hurt engagement — and how to fix them; best practices for customizing design, content, and layout for your audience; and real-world strategies that leading organizations are using to drive conversions. More info/register.

Host: Strategic Association Solutions

Speakers:

Aliah Reyes, Client Solutions Executive for Associations, Nexus Marketing
Michael Patti, Vice President of Technology, Strategic Association Solutions

Tue 8/12 at 1 p.m. – The B2B LinkedIn Playbook: Credibility, Content, and Clients

Learn how to build a profile that immediately builds trust, get found by your ideal customers, create content that reaches and engages your best prospects, what type of content is getting the best engagement on LinkedIn right now, find customers on the platform, non-sleazy ways to “slide into someone’s DMs,” and move a LinkedIn connection to email, Zoom, or an in-person meeting. More info/register.

Host: Flyte New Media

Speaker: Rich Brooks, President, Flyte New Media

Wed 8/13 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. CDT – Hot Topics in Credentialing (Chicago IL)

Move through stations hosted by industry experts who will engage in discussions and answer key questions that you’ve always wanted to ask. Location: Chicago, IL. More info/register.

Host: Certification Network Group

Speakers:

Accreditation: Christine Niero, PhD, Professional Testing Inc. for ISO/IEC 17024 and Matt Ferris, National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists for the NCCA Standard
Security: Mark Conley, National Restaurant Association
Psychometrics: Kirk Becker, Pearson Vue
Marketing Next Gen: Michelle Godofsky, Dental Assisting National Board
Regulatory Update: Don Balasa, American Association of Medical Assistants
AI: Alan Meade, Certiverse and Liz Santana, Inteleos

Wed 8/13 at 1 p.m. – Mid-Year Trends: What’s Working (and What’s Not) in 2025

Hear about the impact of AI on event planning and execution; the continued rise of small, regional events and their strategic importance; how unique venues and destinations are transforming the attendee experience; and the latest economic factors influencing event planning decisions. Learn how organizations are adapting their event strategies to drive engagement, build meaningful relationships, and achieve measurable results in today’s dynamic environment. More info/register.

Host: Meetings Today

Speakers:

Julie Haddix, Senior Director, Solutions & Customer Marketing, CVENT
Dan Keller, Sales Manager, Reposite

Thu 8/14 at 11 a.m. – Google Analytics Unlocked: Data-Driven Strategies for Your Website

Master Google Analytics with insider strategies to make data-driven decisions for your association website. Learn how to analyze and interpret the most impactful GA4 metrics to evaluate how users find and engage with your content and share that data with colleagues and stakeholders; configure essential GA4 settings, such as content groups, tracking file downloads, analyzing search patterns, and custom event measurement, to gather meaningful data that informs strategic decisions; and apply practical “How-to Recipes” for GA4 to implement data-backed, strategic improvements to your association’s website. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Ray van Hilst, CAE, Vice President of Strategy at Yoko Consulting

Thu 8/14 at 1 p.m. – Stop Losing Prospects From Your Home Page in the First Ten Seconds

Find out why even the most polished websites struggle to convert visitors. Learn how to craft emotionally resonant, evidence-backed pages that build trust, differentiate your brand, and move buyers to action. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Diane Saeger, CEO at Marketeery

Thu 8/14 at 1 p.m. – Voices in Events Live! What If Events Were… Less Boring?

Hear a wide-open conversation about events, making things less boring and lessons from Club Ichi. More info/register.

Host: Michael Hoffman, CEO and co-founder, Gather Voices

Guest: Liz Lathan, co-founder, Club Ichi

Fri 8/15 at 3 p.m. – Nonprofit Consultants Collaborative Monthly Networking Meeting

This monthly networking meeting is organized by consultants for full-time consultants who work with non-profits and associations. You don’t have to be an ASAE member to attend. This month’s agenda includes the sharing of good news, topics or questions from the group, and AI and its impact on consulting. More info/register.

Organizer: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting

Tue 8/19 at 10:30 a.m. – 10 Minute Meditation

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Tue 8/19 at 11 a.m. – ASAE Annual Recap with KiKi & Dan: Insights into Action

Hosts:

KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth
Dan Scheeler, CAE, chief operating officer, Results Direct

Tue 8/19 at 11 a.m. – Why Adversity Is the Key to Future Identity

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Magie Cook, CEO at Magie Cook International

Tue 8/19 at 12 p.m. – The Future of Search Isn’t Links — It’s Answers

Host: Accella

Tue 8/19 at 1 p.m. – Human-Centered Leadership: Leading with Heart, Head, and Humility

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Anne Robie, Founder and People Brilliance Officer at Darshan Leadership

Wed 8/20 at 11 a.m. – Strategic Planning Must-Haves

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Amy Horner, Founder at True Nine

Wed 8/20 at 1 p.m. – Don’t Chase Sponsors, Align with Them: Connecting Relevance with Corporate Sponsor Priorities

Hosts: Fonteva and ProTech

Wed 8/20 at 2 p.m. – The Future of Association Boards (FAB) Community Dialogue

More info/register.

Host: Jeff De Cagna, Executive Advisor, Foresight First LLC

Wed 8/20 at 2:30 p.m. – How Associations Are Using AI to Deliver Knowledge

Host: Lowell Aplebaum, founder, Vista Cova

Speakers: Chip Flater (NSTA) and Jason Wampler (ISA)

Wed 8/20 at 2:30 p.m. – A Planner’s Guide to Rights and Remedies

Host: Heather Reid, CEO and founder Planner Protect

Thu 8/21 at 11 a.m. – The New Foundation of Member Value: Content, Experience, and Revenue

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Marcus Leite, Director, Sales & Marketing, and Dan Stevens, President, TaleWind Digital

Thu 8/21 at 11 a.m. – Cracking Linkedin’s Code: Boost Reach & Engagement With a Smarter Strategy

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Jon Rivers, COO, Marketeery

Association Brain Food Weekly is published Friday mornings. If you offer free professional development to the association community, please send me the link via email by Wednesday afternoon.

Creative Commons licensed photo by Walter Martin via Unsplash

Amazon, AssociationBrainFood.com, and Association Academy links allow me to earn a royalty and/or complimentary registration from any resulting leads or sales. Thank you!

Association Brain Food: 8.1.25

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

Digital badge benefits for associations. TopClass LMS explains why digital badges have gone from trendy to mainstream. They describe the benefits of microcredentialing and digital badge programs for associations, such as expanding your audience (hello Gen Z and millennials), helping members gain new in-demand skills, strengthening employer partnerships, and boosting revenue.

Recruiting Gen Z. re:Members summarizes what the research says about Gen Z—how they’re different from earlier generations. Because Gen Z is not a monolithic group, they describe awareness and recruitment strategies for three Gen Z segments. They also suggest associations create a membership community in which Gen Z can flourish in their own way.

Association reality check. GrowthZone’s 2025 trends survey shares some uncomfortable truths about our industry. Member engagement and retention remain the #1 challenge—yet most associations still don’t have a written plan to address it. The report also covers membership growth, revenue, community platform usage, and more. If you’re wondering whether your challenges are unique to your association or if you’re missing opportunities others have found, this benchmarking data will either ease or agitate your mind.

529s for credentialing programs. At Trade Show News Network, Tommy Goodwin describes how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act addresses workforce challenges through expanded Pell Grant eligibility for short-term training programs and 529 savings plan coverage for industry certifications. Make sure your credentialing landing pages include this news.

Build your own disruptor. Mallory Mejias at Sidecar takes you through the steps of an exercise in which you use an imaginary competitor as a tool to reimagine what your association could become. “If we started from scratch with AI, what would we build?” She predicts a change in mindset as a result. “Your team shifts from scarcity thinking to abundance thinking. The exercise that begins as competitive analysis transforms into creative liberation.” I’m going to figure out a way to apply this to my business.

Monetizing education content. D2L describes five strategies for scaling and monetizing your existing education programs without creating new content, such as freemium models with premium upsells, tiered access to virtual events, single events with ongoing access options, extended event formats that break content into monthly tracks, and subscription-based access to specialized content. Love these ideas.

State of association marketing. When Mighty Citizen assessed the marketing maturity of associations for their annual benchmarking report, they got mixed results. The report shares key takeaways and year-over-year benchmarks within six marketing categories (research/analytics, branding/strategy, marketing/SEO, UX design/content, technology, and team dynamics). See how your association compares and take advantage of their recommendations for improving your marketing effectiveness.

Gen Z loneliness at work. Suzanne Blake at Newsweek shares research findings about Gen Z at work. She suggests what companies could do to make work life less lonely for Gen Z, but the onus shouldn’t just be on employers. Gen Z should make an effort too. I’ve often thought associations could offer free adulting classes to teach this generation about workplace behavior that will help them develop relationships and advance their careers.

How employers can help Gen Z employees. Ask and ye shall receive. Here’s an article at the Wall Street Journal by Susan Lucia Annunzio with five suggestions on how to motivate your Gen Z employees (gift link). If her advice doesn’t work, you know what to do.

Snacks

Why managing data effectively matters. I bet you know which association he’s talking about. | Wes Trochlil, Effective Database Management

As AI gets smarter, it acts more evil. We’ve heard the crazy stories, but here’s a fascinating hypothesis about why it’s happening. | Ted Gioia

Associations, imagine the buzz when attendees discover one of these sponsored bathrooms at your next conference. Find an industry partner who can help you make it happen. | Claire Hoffman, BizBash

The lost essential art of loafing. | Eric Scheske

You never grow old at the table

High 90s at dinnertime? Refresh yourself with a blackened salmon dinner salad with spring mix, spinach, arugula, avocado, bacon, pecans, feta, cuke, carrot, broccoli, celery, red bell pepper, radish, tomatoes, and sweet onion. My blackened spice mix includes smoked paprika, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, ground ancho chile, cayenne, black pepper, and salt.

Here’s a simple dish that doesn’t require as much chopping: baked salsa chicken. I used thighs and omitted the tomatoes, corn, and rice. On the side, collards sautéed with carrot, red onion, bacon, red bell, poblano, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and ancho chile powder.

I made our traditional beach dinner for three generations of our family at the beach last week: shrimp pasta with onion, red bell pepper, garlic, tomatoes, white wine, lemon juice, Parmesan, basil, and butter. On the side, salad and garlic bread, and Bill’s key lime pie for dessert.

Back at home, we enjoyed flounder and salmon in a coconut red curry sauce with collards and sweet potatoes. We spooned it over brown rice made in the pressure cooker.

To subscribe to Association Brain Food, please complete the form in the sidebar or at the bottom of this post.

Fri 8/1 at 12 p.m.* – ASAE Consultant Community Qualitative Discussion

In July, the ASAE Key Consultants Committee (KCC) began its strategic planning efforts designed to enhance the value of the Consultants Membership for ASAE. Over 180 ASAE Consultant Members responded to the survey. Dean West, FASAE, Key Consultant Committee Chair, will review the research results and outline the next steps in the Strategic Planning Process. More info/register (ASAE consultant members only).

Host: ASAE

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

Fri 8/1 at 2 p.m. – Mastering Virtual AGMs: The Must-Knows & How-Tos-for Associations

As more organizations shift to virtual and hybrid formats, it’s essential to understand how to adapt without losing the structure, engagement, or compliance that Annual General Meetings require. Learn how to leverage technology, such as, virtual meetings and electronic voting to overcome common challenges and improve the way your association conducts governance meetings and related procedures; choose the right technological solution for associations governance meetings; and hold more efficient, secure meetings. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Speaker: Ben Zelikovitz, CEO, GetQuorum

Mon 8/4 at 8 a.m. – The Ins and Outs of Component Relations (Radio Free 501c, the podcast of Rogue Tulips Consulting)

Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting

Guest: Samyuktha Neeraja

Tue 8/5 at 10:30 a.m. – Lobbyist Registration

There’s a lot of confusion—and misinformation—about what it really means to be a registered federal lobbyist. Does it require disclosure? Is your status public? What are the implications for your employer, especially if the employer is a federal contractor? Can it impact gift rules or political contributions? Join a myth-busting session that will clarify what’s really at stake when it comes to lobbyist registration. More info/register.

Host: Gary Gallant, Gallant Law Group

Tue 8/5 at 12 p.m. – Building the Foundation: Data Infrastructure Basics for Association (Data Analytics Network)

Explore the core components of modern data infrastructure—including data warehouses, data lakes, and lakehouses—and how to determine the right solution to drive member engagement, measure impact, and inform strategic decisions. Whether your organization is laying the groundwork or seeking to modernize, this session will provide practical guidance and clear next steps. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Data Analytics Network

Speakers:

Alex Mouw, AWS
Ben Scheich (moderator), AWHONN

Tue 8/5 at 1 p.m. – Succession Planning Crisis: The Lack of Knowledge in Transitions

When someone leaves, they take everything they know and all the relationships they have built with them. Building a knowledge management program is crucial to keeping any organization on track, especially after a departure. Learn about the importance of building a knowledge management program to support succession planning, leadership training, onboarding, and why thinking through the transition from one staff member or volunteer leader to the next supports positive outcomes for the future of the organization. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Cecilia Sepp, Principal at Rogue Tulips Consulting

Tue 8/5 at 3 p.m. – Lead the AI Shift: What Association Executives Must Do Now to Stay Ahead

As AI transforms how members engage and how associations stay relevant, AI adoption needs clear vision from the top. And the leaders who act now will set the pace for long-term impact. Learn how to use AI to scale personalized member experiences without extra resources, boost content reach and credibility through AI-optimized strategies, achieve 2–10x efficiency with automation and streamlined workflows, and turn your community into the go-to expert for your members with AI-powered search. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Higher Logic

Speaker: Rob Wenger, CEO & Co-Founder of Higher Logic

Wed 8/6 at 12 p.m. – From Resistance to Results: Build a Culture that Thrives on Event Data (Yes, It’s Possible)

Learn how to overcome organizational resistance and win over data skeptics; integrate data analysis into your team’s workflow; boost event attendance and engagement; make future-proofed, data-driven decisions for your events; transform event data into organizational success; and build a sustainable data culture within your association. More info/register.

Host: Event ROI Coach

Speakers:

Amanda Gochee, Group Vice President Marketing Strategy, Clarion Events
Vinnu Deshetty (moderator), the Event ROI Coach

Thu 8/7 at 1 p.m. – From One-Size-Fits-All to One-to-One: How AI is Transforming Member Communications

Learn what personalization really means today—beyond just adding a first name, how AI and automation are reshaping engagement for organizations, and why relevance beats frequency when communicating. Hear about real-world examples of teams using personalization to improve engagement and practical steps to start implementing personalization in your communication strategy. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Molly Phayer, Director of Customer Success and Product at Rasa.io

Thu 8/7 at 2 p.m. – Beyond the Booth: Elevating the Exhibitor Experience for Real Results

Too often, exhibitors are left to fend for themselves without the tools, training, or guidance they need to succeed—and when they struggle, your event’s ROI takes a hit. Learn why exhibitors don’t engage with the tools you offer—and how to fix it; how to increase adoption of booth profiles, show specials, and marketing tools; boost usage of mobile apps and matchmaking tools; encourage exhibitors to participate in sponsorships for greater impact; and why exhibitor training pays off in satisfaction, success, and retention. More info/register.

Host: Personify A2Z Events

Speakers:

Marlys Arnold, Exhibit Marketing Strategist and author
Rich Vallaster, DES, CEM, Senior Director of Industry Relations and Community Engagement, Personify

Thu 8/7 at 2 p.m. – Event Budget Strategies

Learn proven techniques for budgeting, cost-saving tips, and how to prioritize spending to maximize your event’s impact. More info/register.

Host: Smart Meetings

Speaker: Lesley Barnett, CMP, CIS, Bishop-McCann

Sat 8/9 from 4 to 6 p.m. PDT – ASAE Annual Happy Hour at Moxy Downtown (Los Angeles CA)

Join us for a warm welcome to LA full of stars like you during the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting. Catch up with AWTC community members, expand your network, and find your people before navigating the next few days. This IRL opportunity to socialize and network with your industry peers is brought to you by the generous support of the AWTC Friends who sponsored this event. Location: Los Angeles CA. More info/register.

Organizer: Association Women Technology Champions

Tue 8/12 at 12 p.m. – Beyond Numbers: Business Leadership for CFOs

Host: Braintrust Professional Institute

Speakers: Randall Craig and Ronja Francoeur, Braintrust Professional Institute

Wed 8/13 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. CDT – Hot Topics in Credentialing (Chicago IL)

Move through stations hosted by industry experts who will engage in discussions and answer key questions that you’ve always wanted to ask. Location: Chicago, IL. More info/register.

Host: Certification Network Group

Speakers:

Accreditation: Christine Niero, PhD, Professional Testing Inc. for ISO/IEC 17024 and Matt Ferris, National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists for the NCCA Standard
Security: Mark Conley, National Restaurant Association
Psychometrics: Kirk Becker, Pearson Vue
Marketing Next Gen: Michelle Godofsky, Dental Assisting National Board
Regulatory Update: Don Balasa, American Association of Medical Assistants
AI: Alan Meade, Certiverse and Liz Santana, Inteleos

Thu 8/14 at 1 p.m. – Stop Losing Prospects From Your Home Page in the First Ten Seconds

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Diane Saeger, CEO at Marketeery

Fri 8/15 at 3 p.m. – Nonprofit Consultants Collaborative Monthly Networking Meeting

This monthly networking meeting is organized by consultants for full-time consultants who work with non-profits and associations. You don’t have to be an ASAE member to attend. This month’s agenda includes the sharing of good news, topics or questions from the group, and AI and its impact on consulting. More info/register.

Organizer: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting

Association Brain Food Weekly is published Friday mornings. If you’re offering free professional development to the association community, please send me the link via email by Wednesday afternoon the week before your event is scheduled.

Creative Commons licensed photo by Michael Saidov via Unsplash

Amazon, AssociationBrainFood.com, and Association Academy links allow me to earn a royalty and/or complimentary registration from any resulting leads or sales. Thank you!

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

Reads for the association community

You never grow old at the table

To subscribe to Association Brain Food, please complete the form in the sidebar or at the bottom of this post.

Share this:

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

This week’s reads

Snacks

You never grow old at the table

To subscribe to Association Brain Food, please complete the form in the sidebar or at the bottom of this post.

Share this:

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

This week’s reads

Association industry partner corner

You never grow old at the table

To subscribe to Association Brain Food, please complete the form in the sidebar or at the bottom of this post.

Share this:

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

This week’s reads

You never grow old at the table

To subscribe to Association Brain Food, please complete the form in the sidebar or at the bottom of this post.

Share this:

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

This week’s reads

SEO/AEO advice for industry partners and associations

Snacks

You never grow old at the table

To subscribe to Association Brain Food, please complete the form in the sidebar or at the bottom of this post.

Share this:

A big announcement

This week’s reads

Association industry partner corner

At the table

To subscribe to Association Brain Food, please complete the form in the sidebar or at the bottom of this post.

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Snacks

You never grow old at the table

To subscribe to Association Brain Food, please complete the form in the sidebar or at the bottom of this post.

Share this:

Snacks

You never grow old at the table

To subscribe to Association Brain Food, please complete the form in the sidebar or at the bottom of this post.

Share this: