Association Brain Food: 1.20.23

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

winter in Yellowstone – inspiration for my weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association communityUnpredictable chaos. The recent air traffic shutdown is an example of BANI come to life. BANI stands for Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, and Incomprehensible. Futurist Jamais Cascio developed this framework to help us make some sense of the chaotic and unpredictable world we now live in. WBT Systems shares his description of BANI and his “adaptive strategies” that can help you prepare your association and members for more unpredictable chaos.

Association strategic drivers. McKinley Advisors shares the top strategic drivers they identified last year while working with clients on strategic plans. These drivers can serve as touchstones reminding you of essential focus areas. Here are a few: strengthening and communicating membership value propositions, agile and transparent management and governance, and business model transformation.

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

Smart NFTs. Don’t roll your eyes and skim by this one. In Peter Diamandis’ series of metatrends, #11 is the emergence of the Metaverse and Web3. He defines these terms along with DAOs, identity, and NFTs. The most fascinating part of this article for me are the potential applications of Smart NFTs. Imagine how Smart NFTs might enhance the member/customer experience.

Online community. The most valuable ASAE membership benefit for me is Collaborate, our online community. If your association doesn’t offer an online community for members, Nimble AMS may change your mind. Learn how an online community can help you attract, engage, and retain members, and get a useful plan for launching and managing a community.

Quick hits

Review this over the weekend: how to feel less depleted by the end of the work week. (Nikki Campo, Self)

Intellectual curiosity can boost employee engagement and work performance. (Robin Madell, US News)

One failure—and it’s a big one—of contemporary English teaching. (Charles Schifano)

The end of history: the solution to our natural biases is a broad, inclusive, and honest study of the past. (Chris Stirewalt, The Dispatch)

Good eats

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

Long ago, I was part of a Portuguese-American family. They taught me how to enjoy the pleasures of the table. Caldo verde made a frequent appearance on that table. This recipe for Portugal’s national soup from David Leite is excellent. I chose the linguiça and kale option, which is how Rosa and Teresa always made it.

On the side, a recipe I completely forgot about and now plan to make again and again during soup season: cheesy cauliflower breadsticks. I added my leftover smoked gruyere to the parmesan and topped the “bread” with mozzarella. So easy!

My seafood share is back on so we had wahoo with creamy jalapeno sauce one night and yelloweye snapper with a Mediterranean-style sauce featuring ouzo another night. The bottle of ouzo is almost gone! I’ve been enjoying it so much in these fish dishes, I’m tempted to buy another. On the side, the usual roasted broccoli with red onion and garlic powder.


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


Fri 1/20 at 4 p.m.* – Career Coach Series: Break your Overwhelm Cycle

As evolving leaders, we are continually put outside our comfort zone and presented with challenges. This often leads to being overwhelmed and creates roadblocks in our capacity to accomplish our work and move toward the goals of our association. Learn how to become more self-aware of your how you end up in a state of overwhelm and create practices to break the cycle. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Speaker: Derek Mulhern, leadership and career coach and trained facilitator who works with nonprofit and association leaders

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


Mon 1/23 at 8 a.m. – The Consummate Networker (Nonprofit Conversations with Cecilia Sepp, CAE)

Nonprofit Conversations features guests from around the world discussing topics of interest to the nonprofit community. Episodes publish at 8 a.m. on Mondays and can be found on all major podcast platforms.

Guest: Barbara Armentrout, CAE, Managing Partner, Mesa Group

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


Mon 1/23 at 1 p.m. – 30-Minute Monday | #RealTalk Unplugged: DE&I in 2023

Creating action and changes is a journey and not a race. Hear about the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee goals for 2023. Learn how to get involved and bring topics you want to hear about. We will go more in-depth in the areas of #RealTalk, Equity and Justice page, the Regional Ambassador program, and WEC. 0.5 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MPI


Tue 1/24 at 6 a.m. – 10 Strategies for Driving Member & Event Engagement in 2023

For most members, your events ARE your organization and where your members engage with you and with one another. Learn how to understand the level of engagement that your members want and expect from your organization, create your engagement strategy to drive greater member participation and attract new members, engage your members year-round (before, during and after your events!), and leverage the latest generation of mobile and web technologies to drive your member engagement strategy. More info/register.

Host: MemberWise Network

Speaker: RD Mobile


Tue 1/24 at 11 a.m. – Think Outside the AMS

Hear about a rapidly evolving shift in how associations build their IT ecosystems to best support their mission and their members. Learn about various approaches, key concepts, and practical examples of how various commercial off the shelf systems can talk to each other, exchange information, and work together, with minimal technical expertise and headaches on your part. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

  • Michael Getter, Head of Technology, Corporate Legal Operations Consortium
  • Pete Zimek, CEO, Novi AMS

Tue 1/24 at 11 a.m. – 2023 Global Forecast: Top Issues You Should Monitor Around the World

From the volume and velocity of legislative, regulatory, market, and geopolitical change to an energy crisis, governmental instability, and climate change issues, the myriad of possible adverse outcomes an organization needs to keep track of is endless. Hear about the pivotal global issues and trends to monitor over the next six months, how to stay ahead of global issues and use them to your organization’s advantage, and leveraging technology to monitor risks and opportunities. More info/register.

Host: FiscalNote

Speakers:

  • Martina Bozadzhieva, chief research officer at FrontierView
  • Nick Redman, Oxford Analytica’s director of analysis and editor-in-chief of the Oxford Analytica Daily Brief
  • Daniel Pietikäinen, analyst, FiscalNote Professional Services
  • Thomas Adlam (moderator), policy manager at FiscalNote Professional Services

Tue 1/24 at 12 p.m. – Suit Yourself: Curating a Professional Wardrobe that Works for You

Does your work wardrobe tell your story and serve your professional goals? Learn about building a wardrobe that works for you as well as tips and tricks to curate a visual identity that honors your authentic self and is an asset to your career. Research suggests first impressions happen in just seven seconds and women are judged by their appearance disproportionately in professional settings. Hear how to navigate these realities while staying true to ourselves, our goals, and our budgets. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Speaker: Ali Miller, Founder and CEO of The Ethical Aesthete


Tue 1/24 at 12 p.m. – How to Build Financial Security

No matter what our goals are, the best way to reach them is usually through planning. And because most of our goals need to be funded in some way, what we’re really talking about is financial planning. After identifying goals, we’ll talk about how much to save, managing the money you spend, ways for your money to grow, protecting what’s important to you, and giving back. These five key actions can create a lifetime of financial security. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MPI


Tue 1/24 at 1 p.m. – ASAE Gold Circle Awards Program Office Hour

Please join the ASAE Gold Circle Awards staff and leadership for an one-hour open Zoom session to ask any questions about the program and application process. More info/register.


Wed 1/25 at 1 p.m. – Long-Lasting Change and Impact through the Power of Association Meetings

Learn what some of the pioneers in creating intentional legacies have done to date, the next step in elevating the Power of Associations by leaving long-lasting impacts in destinations through their meetings, how our meetings can be the driver of change in local communities when it comes to creating public awareness for a societal or health issue, and changing policies with local governments and policy makers or knowledge exchange and transfer in the association’s field of expertise. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

  • Ksenija Polla, CMP, North America Regional Director, International Congress and Convention Association
  • Lesley Williams, Managing Director, BestCities Global Alliance

Wed 1/25 at 2 p.m. – Assessing Event Tech Needs in 2023

Hear insights on the current marketplace, fueled by the panelists’ perspectives of having worked as both buyers and tech suppliers. Learn how the market is evolving, how that might influence your choice of technology and partners, and which next big things might come to pass. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Northstar Meetings Group

Speakers:

  • Julius Solaris, Founder, Boldpush
  • Anh Nguyen, Head of Customer Success, Twine
  • Nick Borelli, President/Strategist, Borelli Strategies
  • Michael J. Shapiro (moderator), Executive Editor, Northstar Meetings Group

Thu 1/26 at 11 a.m. – How The Pandemic Affected State Tax Policies And What To Expect For The Future

State tax revenues were unexpectedly stretched thin in 2020 when the government shut down large parts of the economy to stop the spread of COVID-19. While many state budgets have fared better since then, state leaders have been closely examining existing tax policies and considering changes to mitigate any shortfalls. Hear about state-by-state revenue trends during the pandemic, and future forecasts, state policy considerations for fiscal year 2022, plans for general sales and excise tax base changes, consumption patterns during the pandemic, and changes that may be in store for economic nexus laws and the taxation of online purchases. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Maia Cooper, Strategic Growth Executive, and Nicholas Boetcher, Launch To Growth Sales Leader, Avalara


Thu 1/26 at 11 a.m. – Taking Charge of Your Digital Transformation Strategy

Learn how effective digital transformation is led from the top and what key strategies to consider when starting your journey. You’ll jump-start your association’s planning with interactive Q&A, explore crucial insights and more. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: iMIS by ASI


Thu 1/26 at 11 a.m. – Key Trends in Community for 2023

Guild’s annual community industry review highlighted 14 trends for 2023. Join community and marketing experts from the UK (Guild) and US (HubSpot) who will discuss these trends and other forces shaping community globally in 2023. More info/register.

Host: Guild

Speakers:

  • Shana Sumers, Senior Manager, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Communities, HubSpot
  • Evan Hamilton, Director of Community, HubSpot
  • Michelle Goodall, CMO, Guild
  • Ashley Friedlein, Founder, Guild

Thu 1/26 at 12 p.m. – Looking Forward 2023 (Impact): First Look at Trends and Analysis

Hear findings from the most current and comprehensive examination of 75 critical factors affecting association members. The research covers six domains: economic, information and technology, workforce, government, global, and stakeholder perceptions. Learn about the potential impacts on association strategy and what associations are doing to strategically adapt. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.

Host: Association Laboratory

Speakers:

  • Dean A West, FASAE, President, Association Laboratory
  • Nikki Golden, CAE, Strategist, Association Laboratory
  • Nikki Haton Shanks, MBA, CAE, Strategist, Association Laboratory

Thu 1/26 at 12 p.m. – 10 Ways to Generate Non-Dues Revenue While Helping Members Grow Their Careers (Non Dues-a-Palooza Expert Series Session)

Learn key strategies that will help you drive more non dues revenue and build a true career center destination for your members in 2023, including how to stay ahead of the shifting economy and generate non-dues revenue, how to become member’s #1 career resource as they navigate economic changes, and how career resources can attract new members to your association. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Non Dues-a-Palooza

Speaker: Tristan Jordan, General Manager of YM Careers


Thu 1/26 at 12 p.m. – Art of Mentoring: Develop Talent and Emerging Leaders

Learn how to design and implement an effective mentorship program. See examples of effective mentoring programs (case studies and stories). Hear how to fund a mentoring program for membership organizations, and ways to implement mentoring for DEI and Graduate/ Early Career initiatives. More info/register.

Host: Hight Performance Group

Speakers:

  • Alex Richardson, CEO, co-founder and tech enabler, Art of Mentoring
  • Cathi Hight, president, Hight Performance Group

Thu 1/26 at 12 p.m. – The Community Check-In

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

Host: Black In Events Network


Thu 1/26 at 1 p.m. – ASAE Member Learning Session: Obtaining Your CAE Certification

More info/register.

Host: ASAE CAE Team


Thu 1/26 at 1 p.m. – FBO Workshop: Working in a Post-COVID World

During an open discussion to share how nonprofits are working in a post-COVID world, we will explore: teams—changes you have made to training, performance management, everyday work, onboarding and exiting; benefits—how your benefits have adapted in the last few years, lifestyle benefits, virtual work virtually, retention tools and other ideas; culture—how you are engaging people differently, what has been successful to enhance your culture; inter-generational workforce—how the way your teams work and communicated has changed. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Finance Business Operations Advisory Council


Thu 1/26 at 2 p.m. – 2023 Event Predictions: Clearing the Fog with Cvent’s Crystal Ball

Hear predictions about the growing importance of event ROI amidst rising costs, tight budgets and increasing demand; tech stack consolidation; how planning teams will address staffing shortages; and the expanding role of video and technology and the importance of extended engagement. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MeetingsNet

Speaker: Carisa Bartelt, Team Lead, Product Marketing, Cvent


Fri 1/27 at 4 p.m. – Career Coach Series: Networking & Its Importance in Your Career Journey

Networking has never been more important than now. While it is always good to stay connected to your network, it is essential as you seek to advance your career and professional experiences. Hear about the importance of using and growing your network to enhance your career journey. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Speaker: Tina Erickson, Erickson Coaching & Consulting


Fri 1/27 at 5:30 p.m. – Black Association Executives 2023 Networking Kickoff (Reston VA)

2023 promises to be one of growth, expanding networking and fun. We rounded out 2022 with a small meet-up in DC and want to keep the momentum going with a networking meet-up in Reston, VA. Let’s catch up on what everyone is doing and stay in contact this year in support of our community. Location: Reston VA. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Black Association Executives


Mon 1/30 at 2 p.m. – Women in Associations LIVE!

Building on the enthusiasm for our Women in Associations webinar in 2022, we’re thrilled to have four pioneers in the association world join us again to continue the conversation on LinkedIn. We’ll talk about the barriers to female leadership in associations, how to overcome those barriers, and how to recognize and address your own implicit bias so you’re better positioned to dismantle the barriers for others. More info/register.

Host: Higher Logic

Speakers:

  • Dawn Sweeney, Strategic Partner at JLL, Former President & CEO of National Restaurant Association
  • Artesha Moore, FASAE, CAE, President and CEO at Association Forum
  • Kim Nicholl-Keane, M.Ed., CAE, CMP, Deputy Executive Director, CPCU Society, The Institutes, Risk and Insurance Knowledge Group
  • Beth Arritt, President & CEO, The Arritt Group
  • Erika Jolly Brookes (moderator), Chief Marketing Officer, Higher Logic

Tue 1/31 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Virtual Platforms Demo Day

The demand for virtual and hybrid events remains in 2023, which means associations must keep up with the latest tools to meet member expectations. We narrowed down the ones you need to check out as you map out your events for the year. Get in-depth presentations from a select group of industry partners who will answer your questions and help you discover how to create unique and seamless virtual events for your members. More info/register.

Host: ASAE


Tue 1/31, Wed 2/1 and Thu 2/2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Live Review

This free multi-day, online event allows you to efficiently and effectively see targeted demos of learning management systems aligned to serving organizations that market and sell adult lifelong learning, continuing education, and professional development. Each learning platform will be demonstrated in its own session, and each day will include educational sessions to help you better understand the current state of learntech and how to choose a platform to fit your needs. More info/register.

Host: Tagoras


Tue 1/31 at 11 a.m. – Q&A: Nurturing Business Development to Sell the Value of your Association

Learn why it’s important to have dedicated business development staff, how to create value that drives sales through business development, create an environment that motivates sales staff, and create a culture where mission- and money-driven staff cohesively work together. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

  • Dianne Vance, Director, Sales And Business Development, American Occupational Therapy Association
  • Tom Morrison, Chief Energy Officer, Metal Treating Institute Management

Tue 1/31 at 11 a.m. – Your Next AMS: Build versus Buy

Selection experts will dissect the age-old question of whether to build or buy your next association management system. Learn what you need to know about both approaches before making this critical decision, including: what is the difference between build versus buy, how the scale and size of an organization can affect the effectiveness of the “build” and “buy” approaches, the impact and risk of the project on your organization, and how to plan for a successful transition to your new member management system. More info/register.

Host: Nimble AMS

Speakers:

  • Wes Trochlil, Founder, Effective Database Management
  • Gretchen Steenstra, Director of Client Strategy, Delcor
  • Moira Edwards, President, Ellipsis Partners LLC
  • Jim Pearson, Senior Consultant, Ellipsis Partners LLC
  • Jeff Golembiewski, Vice President of Business Solutions and Partnerships, Community Brands

Tue 1/31 at 1 p.m. – How to Grow Your Membership and Make Sure They Come Back Begging for More

Many associations were hit hard over the last few years, and membership has declined. The best associations are flat or growing marginally. Learn how to grow and retain members better by understanding their needs one member at a time by using the conversational engagement approach of ASK, CAPTURE, ACT. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

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


Wed 2/1 at 12 p.m. – 10 1/2 Basic Things Every Association Executive Should Know About the Law

Hear strategies and tips to better understand your association and to help alleviate the legal review “black hole.” 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Insights in Old Town

Speaker: Andy Goldman, YourInHouseLaw


Thu 2/2 at 10 a.m. – Redesigning Your Association Website for Success

Hear expert tips and get your questions answered about: how to get started on a website redesign, budgeting for a redesign, getting the best results, designing your RFP, and choosing the best partner. More info/register.

Host: Results Direct | RD Mobile

Speakers: Dan Scheeler, CAE, EVP Client Engagement; Laura Johnson Graham, Sr Solutions Consultant; and Cecilia Satovich, Solutions Consultant, Results Direct | RD Mobile


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


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Creative Commons licensed photo by Kevin Noble via Unsplash

Association Brain Food: 1.13.23

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

Squaw Canyon trail in the Needles District of Canyonlands National ParkMembership benchmarks. It’s time for MGI’s 15th annual Membership Marketing Benchmarking Survey. If you’ve participated before, check your email for a personal link from MGI. If not, use this survey link to join nearly 1,000 association leaders worldwide whose participation helps all of us gain insights about what’s working to recruit, engage, and retain members, along with other valuable information.

Recession prep. WBT Systems recommends recession-proofing your association’s learning business. Their advice includes: increasing the awareness of the need for lifelong learning among professionals in your industry and their employers, developing the capacity to pounce on opportunities, and spending resources wisely by only delivering what your market needs and sunsetting the rest.

AMS implementation workload. No one tells you about all the work your team must take on when implementing a new AMS—or all the red wine it will cause you to drink—which is why this guide from Ellipsis Partners is a such a godsend. They describe nine responsibilities you need to know about and prepare for. It’s much better to get this news before your project begins so you can figure out how to juggle these tasks with your regular workload.

2023 association trends. MemberSuite team shares the trends they see rising in the “collective association consciousness,” including AI for normal people, walking the DEI talk, and others related to events, non-dues revenue, remote/hybrid work, community, data, and technology.

Hybrid/remote work. When Achurch Consulting looked back at their top posts in 2022, they spotted a recurring theme: intentionality—or the lack of it. Many associations defaulted into their workforce model—whether office-based, hybrid or remote—rather than make an intentional decision. The top posts cover factors to consider when deciding on a workforce model, managing a multigenerational workforce, virtual work communication, imposter syndrome, and connecting with others when working remotely.

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

Good eats

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

Want to indulge? Try this recipe for smoked Gruyère chicken thighs with bacon, mushroom, sherry, and other good stuff. I had a block of smoked Gruyère languishing in my deli drawer, so I hunted for a way to use it. Wow, swooningly delicious. On the side, a Brussels sprouts sauté with bacon, red onion, red bell pepper, and garlic.

Making soup on Sundays means I have enough leftovers for Tuesday dinner and several lunches. First up, lentil soup with spicy Italian sausage made on the stovetop instead of the pressure cooker. I also added carrot, celery, and zucchini, and used red instead of white wine and brown instead of black lentils. Lentil soup is never the easiest sell because it looks like something you don’t want to see on the carpet, but it’s tummy-warming and gets better after a day or two in the frig.

It’s time for a new breakfast rut, I mean, routine. I want more protein and fewer carbs in the morning, so enter breakfast black bean tortillas—thinking pinto beans might be even better. I mixed canned beans with sautéed onion, poblano, jalapeño, tomatoes, and cilantro and store it in the frig. In the morning, I fry an egg and add it to the beans, baby spinach, and hot sauce in a low-carb tortilla. When my avocado is ripe, it will go in too.


Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.


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

Fri 1/13 at 12 p.m.* – Conversations with Champions

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

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Guest: Gretchen Steenstra, the 2023 Chairwoman of the AWTC Board, and  Strategic Consultant, DelCor Technology Solutions

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


Fri 1/13 at 4 p.m. – The Importance of Mentorship (Panel Discussion)

In honor of National Mentoring Month, Fridays@4 will host a moderated panel discussion. You’ve likely experienced a mentor/mentee relationship, whether formal or informal. Join us as panelists share their mentorship programs, successes and lessons learned. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Speakers:

  • Jennifer Alluisi, MA Ed, CAE, Account Executive at Custom Management Group
  • Benita Stocks, Director of Membership & Programs for NAIOP Northern Virginia, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association
  • Christopher Young, CAE, DECA’s chief program officer
  • Chelseah Mesa (moderator), program manager with the Federal Communications Bar Association

Mon 1/16 at 8 a.m. – 3 Financial Secrets (Nonprofit Conversations with Cecilia Sepp, CAE)

Nonprofit Conversations features guests from around the world discussing topics of interest to the nonprofit community. Episodes publish at 8 a.m. on Mondays and can be found on all major podcast platforms.

Guest: Brian Haney, founder and CEO, The Haney Company

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


Tue 1/17 at 11 a.m. – Membership, Marketing & Engagement

Typical measures of member engagement—such as email open and click-through metrics, social media interactions and website visits—are indicators of general activity, and not necessarily true member engagement. Learn about the connection between member insights (what the association knows about its members) and member engagement (action, attention and long-term commitment), a more frequent use of the Voice of the Member as a key indicator of engagement for their association, and how to evaluate your current technology stack for member listening capabilities. 1.5 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Brianne Wheeler, Director of Marketing at PropFuel


Tue 1/17 at 12 p.m. – Been There, Done That, It Didn’t Work! Lessons Learned (CRVM January Crunch and Munch)

Have you or your association launched a program for your members, board or volunteers that fell flat? Have you made a professional decision for yourself that didn’t go as planned? Bring your stories along with why it didn’t work and what lessons you learned from it. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Professionals Community


Tue 1/17 at 12 p.m. – 3 Quick & Easy Ways to Easily Improve Strategic Planning

Learn three practical ways to improve your strategic planning meetings. These techniques apply to long-term planning meetings, such as board-level strategic planning, or plotting the direction of your team or department. The three techniques will turbocharge how participants generate ideas, allow participants to choose the best ones, and reach consensus; sift through products and services to determine the best ones and the ones to sunset; and identify the best options despite an uncertain future. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Xchange

Speaker: Lee Gimpel, Founder & Principal, Better Meetings


Tue 1/17 at 1 p.m. – Building Member Value in a Post Pandemic World

Hear about membership trends and leadership traits that served organizations well during the pandemic. Learn how to spark innovation moving forward, think more creatively and more intentionally when developing everyday member outreach programs, and recenter members and membership staff on the “why” of the organization. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Pete Zimek, CEO, Novi AMS


Tue 1/17 at 2 p.m. – Your Association’s Advocacy Tech Stack: Apps and Strategy for 2023

How do you manage your policy issues, engage with key stakeholders, ramp up your advocacy strategy, and mobilize your member community? Join Association Chat Podcast host KiKi L’Italien as she interviews Shana Glickfield, a founding Partner of Beekeeper Group, a DC-based public affairs firm whose mission is to empower people to advocate for impact. More info/register.

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


Tue 1/17 at 5:30 p.m. – Making Virtual Mentoring Work

Learn how to make the most of a virtual mentoring relationship, how the researched evidence supports the effectiveness of virtual mentoring, how to create an optimal virtual experience, and how to conduct a virtual mentoring conversation. More info/register.

Host: Sidecar

Speakers:

  • Lisa Fain, CEO of Center for Mentoring Excellence, and founder of Vista Coaching
  • Melissa Richardson, global assessment team for the European Mentoring and Coaching Council’s ISMCP Award

Wed 1/18 at 12 p.m. – 2023’s Must-Watch Trends for Associations and Nonprofits

We’ll network over lunch, then pool our knowledge on the trends poised to affect our members, supplier partners and associations in 2023. You’ll gain an expanded network of association and nonprofit leaders, a peer-vetted list of key trends to take back to your organization, and perspectives on how these trends may create threats or opportunities for your organization and the members you serve. More info/register.

Host: Alexandria Senior Executives Network


Wed 1/18 at 1 p.m. – Get CRM Right in 30 Days! Is Your Business Asking Questions Your CRM Can’t Answer?

Learn why customer relationship strategies and the technology that supports them often fail to meet expectations. Find out how to reduce digital friction and increase congruency with revenue goals. Learn about the importance of expectation management and identifying core business objectives for technology and innovation and the importance of human-centered design thinking in CRM engagements. Get practical advice for improving low adoption of CRM technology. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

  • Chuck Ingram, Founder and CEO, congruentX
  • JC Quintana, Chief Strategist and Stakeholder Relationship Management, congruentX

Wed 1/18 at 2 p.m. – PAR GOAT Awards: Honoring Association Revenue Impact

Learn from an invited panel of 2022 PAR Subject Matter Experts, discover ideas for revenue performance now and next year, and ideate on how associations can create a think tank for revenue opportunities. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Professionals for Association Revenue

Speakers:

  • Carrie Hartin, President, Sales Solutions & Services, MCI-USA
  • Colleen McKenna, CEO and Founder, Intero Advisory
  • Lori Zoss Kraska, MBA, CFRE, Founder and Chief Principal of Growth Owl, LLC
  • Erin Pressley, CAE, Senior Vice President for Education, Training and Events at NRECA
  • Bruce Rosenthal, Corporate Sponsorship Consultant and Co-Convener of the Partnership Professionals Network

Wed 1/18 at 2 p.m. – New Year, New Members – Building Relationships in the 118th Congress with Former Congressman Jason Altmire

A new Congress doesn’t just mean a reset of legislative proposals not passed in the prior session, but also the need to forge relationships with new lawmakers and leadership as a result of an election’s outcomes. Hear insights and ideas from former Pennsylvania Congressman Jason Altmire for guiding association advocates in conducting successful rapport building with new legislators in these distinct settings while also avoiding missteps that can harm or even prevent valuable relationships from being cultivated. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Government Relations and Advocacy Professionals Advisory Council

Speakers:

  • Jason Altmire, President and Chief Executive Officer of Career Education Colleges and Universities
  • David Lusk (moderator), Founder of Key Advocacy

Wed 1/18 at 3 p.m. – How Smart Associations are Maintaining Relevance & Revenue in Today’s Economy

Often, a key factor in the success or struggle of an association is the ability to leverage data for decisions, analysis, and forecasting. Learn how to use your data to optimize resources and stay relevant and valuable to your members in difficult economic times. Hear how to prioritize programs and services that are most valuable so you can cut the dead weight, give members customized content they can’t get anywhere else, and focus on what matters most, reduce manual work, optimize processes and be more efficient overall. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Analytics

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


Thu 1/19 at 12 p.m. – ASAE Gold Circle Awards Program Office Hour

Please join the ASAE Gold Circle Awards staff and leadership for an one-hour open Zoom session to ask any questions about the program and application process. More info/register.


Thu 1/19 at 12 p.m. – Stopping Churn: Renewal Strategies to Retain Your Association’s Members

Membership organizations survive on retention and effective retention is certainly one of the greatest challenges associations face today. So how do you ensure renewal for the members you’ve worked so hard to recruit to your organization? Learn how to reduce your member churn as our thought leaders explore this important conversation of membership retention. More info/register.

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

  • Brianne Wheeler, Director of Marketing of PropFuel
  • Michael Hoffman, Co-founder and CEO of Gather Voices
  • Erica Salm Rench, COO of Rasa.io

Thu 1/19 at 12 p.m. – DES Expert Panel Q&A

This is your opportunity to hear from DES Experts Rachel Stephan Joshua Butler as well as our moderator Sourabh Kothari and ask the questions you want answered, whether related directly to the course content, or a challenge you may be facing in your own work in the virtual/hybrid events world. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: PCMA


Thu 1/19 at 12 p.m. – The Community Check-In

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

Host: Black In Events Network


Thu 1/19 at 1 p.m. – Planning Your 2023 Stakeholder Mapping Strategy

Mapping advocacy stakeholders is an important strategy to kick off the year. Learn how to set yourself up with clean data and have a mechanism to measure impact on your organization’s issues. Hear about  five strategies for mapping stakeholders. More info/register.

Host: Quorum

Speaker: Quorum’s Director of Communications, Theresa Hebert


Thu 1/19 at 2 p.m. – Should My Association Start a Podcast?

Learn about the Whys, Whats, and Hows of podcasting to help you determine if it’s right for your organization. Find out why and when you should consider launching a podcast, top things to consider for podcast success, how to choose a topic and format, what it takes to produce an episode, how to launch the podcast and best practices for ongoing promotion, how to build a content schedule and source great guests, ways to monetize your podcast to bring in more non-dues revenue, and triumphs and pitfalls from the speakers’ own personal journeys in podcasting. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Matrix Group

Speakers:

  • Matrix Group CEO Joanna Pineda
  • Association Briefings Founder & CEO Colby Horton
  • Association Briefings CBDO Frank Humada

Thu 1/19 at 3 p.m. – 2023 State of the Industry: Event Predictions, Trends, Challenges & Opportunities for the Coming Year

The event industry has experienced more seismic change in the past three years than at any time in its history. And while we may be eager to get off this roller coaster ride, our ability to adapt to these changes, learn and master new skills and platforms, and navigate a rapidly shifting landscape have put us in possibly the best position ever to prove our value—and the value of our events—to stakeholders. Hear an assessment of where we are now, what lies ahead for event professionals, and how to position yourself for success in 2023. More info/register.

Host: Event Leadership Institute

Speakers:

  • Howard Givner, Founder and CEO, Event Leadership Institute
  • Annette Gregg, CEO, Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE)
  • Ken Holsinger, Senior Vice President – Data Solutions, Freeman
  • Andrew Pearson, CMO, Webex Events (formerly Socio)

Thu 1/19 at 4 p.m. – Accomplish More Focusing on Less: How Small Changes Create Awesome Results

If you are having trouble changing your habits or those of your team, the problem may not be you, it may be your systems. Bad habits perpetuate because you are not utilizing the right systems for ongoing change and improvement. Learn about the four principles found in the awesome book, Atomic Habits by James Clear that are foundational for understanding how to build good habits as an individual or as a team and how to break bad ones. We will look at your current thinking and processes and then have each of you walk through a personal habit challenge utilizing some tools and systems for change. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Reston-Loudoun Idea Swap

Speaker: Mary Power ACC, CAE, FASAE, founder, M-Powering Leaders, LLC


Thu 1/19 at 6:30 p.m. – Black Association Professionals Monthly Call

Join us for the next Black Association Professionals monthly call. See agenda details on ASAE Collaborate. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Black Association Executives


Thu 1/26 at 7:30 p.m. – The Pop-Up Book Club

The Crazy Busy Cure is full of intensely practical tips to save people from this addiction and instead become productive again. If you’re interested in reading this with us, grab your copy of the book and sign up to attend the discussion. More info/register.

Host: Planners on Purpose.


Fri 1/20 at 4 p.m. – Career Coach Series: Break your Overwhelm Cycle

As evolving leaders, we are continually put outside our comfort zone and presented with challenges. This often leads to being overwhelmed and creates roadblocks in our capacity to accomplish our work and move toward the goals of our association. Learn how to become more self-aware of your how you end up in a state of overwhelm and create practices to break the cycle. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Speaker: Derek Mulhern, leadership and career coach and trained facilitator who works with nonprofit and association leaders


Tue 1/24 at 12 p.m. – Suit Yourself: Curating a Professional Wardrobe that Works for You

Does your work wardrobe tell your story and serve your professional goals? Learn about building a wardrobe that works for you as well as tips and tricks to curate a visual identity that honors your authentic self and is an asset to your career. Research suggests first impressions happen in just seven seconds and women are judged by their appearance disproportionately in professional settings. Hear how to navigate these realities while staying true to ourselves, our goals, and our budgets. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Speaker: Ali Miller, Founder and CEO of The Ethical Aesthete


Tue 1/24 at 1 p.m. – ASAE Gold Circle Awards Program Office Hour

Please join the ASAE Gold Circle Awards staff and leadership for an one-hour open Zoom session to ask any questions about the program and application process. More info/register.


Thu 1/26 at 11 a.m. – Taking Charge of Your Digital Transformation Strategy

Learn how effective digital transformation is led from the top and what key strategies to consider when starting your journey. You’ll jump-start your association’s planning with interactive Q&A, explore crucial insights and more. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: iMIS by ASI


Thu 1/26 at 12 p.m. – Looking Forward 2023 (Impact): First Look at Trends and Analysis

Hear findings from the most current and comprehensive examination of 75 critical factors affecting association members. The research covers six domains: economic, information and technology, workforce, government, global, and stakeholder perceptions. Learn about the potential impacts on association strategy and what associations are doing to strategically adapt. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.

Host: Association Laboratory

Speakers:

  • Dean A West, FASAE, President, Association Laboratory
  • Nikki Golden, CAE, Strategist, Association Laboratory
  • Nikki Haton Shanks, MBA, CAE, Strategist, Association Laboratory

Thu 1/26 at 12 p.m. – 10 Ways to Generate Non-Dues Revenue While Helping Members Grow Their Careers (Non Dues-a-Palooza Expert Series Session)

Learn key strategies that will help you drive more non dues revenue and build a true career center destination for your members in 2023, including how to stay ahead of the shifting economy and generate non-dues revenue, how to become member’s #1 career resource as they navigate economic changes, and how career resources can attract new members to your association. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Non Dues-a-Palooza

Speaker: Tristan Jordan, General Manager of YM Careers


Tue 1/31, Wed 2/1 and Thu 2/2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Live Review

This free multi-day, online event allows you to efficiently and effectively see targeted demos of learning management systems aligned to serving organizations that market and sell adult lifelong learning, continuing education, and professional development. Each learning platform will be demonstrated in its own session, and each day will include educational sessions to help you better understand the current state of learntech and how to choose a platform to fit your needs. More info/register.

Host: Tagoras


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


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Association Brain Food: 1.6.23

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

pileated woodpecker inspiration for my weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association communityNon-dues revenue. After attending the RevUp Summit hosted by the Professionals for Association Revenue, WBT Systems says one lesson from the painful past few years is the need to diversify revenue. Associations must address their renewed reliance on in-person events. Start by exploring a content-driven approach to sponsorships and an enhanced professional development portfolio. As always, they share lots of ideas on these two points.

Sponsorship. Mary Byers (Race for Relevance) chimes in on the non-dues conversation with input from Bruce Rosenthal. They both suggest that associations change how they collaborate with companies.

Doom. Dean West at Association Laboratory believes association governance, decision-making and decision-makers are not adapting to the harsh realities of our new world. Historical behavior is irrelevant so stop trying to return and look to the past.

AMS selection checklist. GrowthZone put together an AMS buyer’s guide with a feature/functionality checklist that will help you decide what you need vs. what would be nice to have. The guide also describes vendor, training/support, data access, and software issues to consider before signing a contract.

Membership value. COVID was a “black swan” event, says Cathi Hight. She told Tod McCloskey at Naylor’s Association Advisor that the pandemic altered what members value and how they wish to interact with your association. For example, your interactions must target three member groups: those who want to socialize in person, in small groups, or virtually.

Conferences in a remote world. With so many people working part or all of the time from home, in-person conferences take on a new meaning. Rani Molla at Vox says conferences can cure the work-from-home blues. Associations and technology partners should keep this in mind when planning in-person events and user conferences.

Online community. The community strategy playbook from Mobilize is based on the blueprint they developed for their own user community. The playbook guides you step-by-step through strategy development, community, launch, communication and engagement plans and more—a comprehensive look at everything you need to nurture and grow an online community.

Generational orthodoxy. In CalSAE’s The Executive, Jeff De Cagna (Foresight First) issued a challenge to association staff, volunteer leaders and others in our community to help end the reliance on generational orthodoxythe assumptions and biases promoted by the media and latched onto by lazy thinkers (my phrase, not his). He says your future success depends on the full inclusion of under-40 stakeholders in your organizations.

Online community trends. The Guild asked 14 experts to share their thoughts on online community trends for 2023. This insight is illuminating for membership organizations.

Cognitive diversity. When DEI efforts fail, a lack of cognitive diversity may be to blame, says Sarah Sladek (XYZ University). She believes inclusion is impossible to obtain without cognitive diversity. After reading her post, I came upon this timely Voltaire quote: “I wholly disapprove of what you say and I shall defend to the death your right to say it.” I wish more people and organizations valued cognitive diversity and free speech.

Off-topic

Shakespeare or Bacon. As you can see by the length of this list, I enjoyed many hours of reading during my holiday break. In The New Atlantis, Sam Kahn wrote a fascinating piece about a brilliant madwoman’s quest to prove the Bard’s works were secretly penned by the father of science.

False narratives. Real life rarely fits the narrative. At The Free Press (my new favorite daily), Amanda Fortini reminds us that commonly held stories are often untrue.

Putin. During the holiday vacation, I rediscovered my inner foreign affairs geek. This New York Times story by Roger Cohen is shocking, but not surprising. Putin wants fealty and, thanks to his mercenaries, he’s found it in the Central African Republic.

Taiwan. “Wise statecraft” sometimes means the best move is no move at all. In Foreign Affairs, Jude Blanchette and Ryan Hass recommend Washington follow that strategy to forestall a conflict between China and Taiwan. Politicians in all branches of the government need to wise up.

Quick hits

For my marketing friends and clients, enjoy these ten content ideation methods for busy content teams. (Cierra Loflin, Superpath)

27 life-changing micro habits that require only a few minutes. (Adam Bulger, Fatherly)

How to find time to read when you’re busy and over-scheduled. (Avil Beckford, The Invisible Mentor)

High-performing teams don’t leave relationships to chance—three strategies to encourage bonding. (Ron Friedman, Harvard Business Review)

Good eats

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

Shrimp cocktail makes any dinner, especially Christmas Eve, feel more special. Shrimp should be a luxury sent your way by American boats, not a cheap frozen ring from the supermarket supplied by Asian slave labor. I always poach North Carolina shrimp in a shell-based court bouillon, chill them in an ice bath, and serve with a heavy-on-the-horseradish cocktail sauce.

Another treat, clam dip. I made a big bowl for myself with hopes that my family would enjoy it too. But I didn’t mind that most of them passed on it—that meant I had plenty left for snacking the next day or two.

I made two main dishes for Christmas Eve this year (yes, thinking of leftovers again): lasagna and moussaka. I omitted the currants in the moussaka recipe and used ground venison instead of lamb. My lasagna recipe includes ground beef, Italian sausage, mushrooms, onion, garlic, basil pesto, ricotta, marinara, and mozzarella, provolone, and parmesan cheese. Email me if you’d like the recipe in a Word doc.

The closest we ever get to breakfast at dinner is salmon hash with fried eggs. The salmon was covered with a chipotle spicy rub, pan-fried and then mixed into the hash, which included sweet potato, potato, rutabaga, red onion, poblano, red bell, jalapeño and garlic.


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


Fri 1/6 at 10 a.m.* – Accelerating Sustainable Impact

We share ideas through connection. The vibe of the circle is thoughtful, casual, and kind. Our guest facilitator, Barry Barresi led the American Optometric Association, AIGA Design, and the New England Eye Institute. He currently leads Association Ventures, a social enterprise impact accelerator consulting firm. More info/register.

Host: Association Design Circle

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


Fri 1/6 at 4 p.m. – Career Development in Organizations: A Tool for Recruitment, Engagement, and Retention

Learn how to plan and implement a career development program, the benefits of internal career development to both your employees and your organization, and how to increase the loyalty and skills of your employees. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Speaker: Shelly Trent, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CAE, JCDC, JCTC


Mon 1/9 at 8 a.m. – The Nonprofit CEO Job: Is it for You? (Nonprofit Conversations with Cecilia Sepp, CAE)

Nonprofit Conversations features guests from around the world discussing topics of interest to the nonprofit community. Episodes publish at 8 a.m. on Mondays and can be found on all major podcast platforms.

Guest: Pamela Kaul

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


Mon 1/9 at 12 p.m. – Membership Mondays | Managing Your Community Effectively

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

Host: Amy Hemphill, ASAE


Mon 1/9 at 1 p.m. – 30-Minute Monday | A Look Into 2023

New year, new goals. Join Jessie States as we share the path and plans MPI Academy has for 2023. 0.5 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MPI


Tue 1/10 at 11 a.m. – Why Online Community is Your Association’s Future: Changing How We Work & Connect (Part 1)

Online communities give every association an always-accessible presence, moving ahead of magazines or newsletters as the most valued member benefit. Association members are emerging from the pandemic with a significantly higher level of technical proficiency, giving membership-based organizations the opportunity to reassess and reimagine how online community can become a predictable core growth engine. Learn techniques to foster a spirit of generosity within your online community, options to transform mentorship in your industry, and how to create year-round engagement opportunities for your exhibitors and partners.  1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

  • Sandra Nam, CEO, QiqoChat
  • Lucas Cioffi, Principal and Lead Software Engineer at QiqoChat Inc
  • Barbara J. Armentrout, CAE, Managing Partner, Mesa Group

Tue 1/10 at 12 p.m. – High Impact Events Apply The Science Of Belonging

In this highly energizing session, The Party Scientist will give participants new paradigms for designing high impact events. He’ll demonstrate the principles by incorporating them into the session itself. Aside from an immediate increase in participants’ sense of vitality and belonging, here are the learning outcomes: define the connection crisis, discover a system for engaging and vitalizing your guests, learn tools based on social neurochemistry for cultivating a sense of belonging and well-being, and understand the science of trust and relationship-building. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MPI


Tue 1/10 at 12 p.m. – LGBTQIA2+ Community Call

The last conversation in December was great. We continued our conversation about ways to promote inclusiveness. Log on in January as we continue the discussion on the Annual ASAE conference upcoming in August 2023 in Atlanta and ASAE’s site selection with a lens to LGBTQIA2+ inclusion. More info/register.

Host: ASAE LGBTQ Association Executives and Supporters


Tue 1/10 at 1 p.m. – Supercharge Your Social Media: Tips and Tricks on How Often to Post

Learn the correct numbers of posts to publish daily, the impact your posts have on each social media channel, and the right and wrong times to make your posts. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Jon Rivers, COO, Marketeery


Tue 1/10 at 2 p.m. – 2023 Must-have For Your Association’s Growth: Tech+ Culture Shift

The lack of member engagement is a common problem that many associations experience. How would it be possible to ensure your association is following the right path? It is time to analyze how culture is changing and start a digital transformation, find out the proper strategies that will keep your  association at the top. Learn all you need to know to have engagement solutions. More info/register.

Host: Grype

Speaker: Jamie Notter, Co-Founder and Culture Designer at PROPEL


Wed 1/11 at 1 p.m. – Member Segmentation: The Key to Affordable and Effective Hybrid Events

The average association only gets 15% of members to their annual conference. How do we affordably implement hybrid to reach a larger audience and ensure that our best content doesn’t miss 85% of our members? Learn how member segmentation can help you plan for hybridizing a conference, about hybrid models that work without blowing the budget or your team’s capacity, and how to use event content strategically all year long. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Dan Stevens, President, WorkerBee.TV


Wed 1/11 at 1 p.m. – 2023 Legislative Forecast: What to Expect from the 118th Congress & How to Prepare

Learn what the legislative priorities of the 118th Congress will be, what your organization should be on the lookout for, and what public policy agenda items can be accomplished and which face a more unlikely future. More info/register.

Host: CQ Roll Call

Speakers:

  • Peter Cohn, CQ Roll Call’s budget and tax policy editor
  • Kate Ackley, senior staff writer for CQ Roll Call
  • Jason Dick (moderator), CQ Roll Call’s editor in chief

Thu 1/12 at 11 a.m. – Understanding The Difference Between Lead And Demand Generation

Learn how to understand the differences between lead gen and demand gen, identify what tactics can be used to drive both types of campaigns, and understand the type of technology and data needed to deliver each type of campaign. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Maneesha Manges, Director of Services, HighRoad Solutions


Thu 1/12 at 11 a.m. – State of American Business 2023

Explore the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in 2023, and beyond. Learn about the Chamber’s priorities, the role of government in advancing smart policy, and the role of business-led innovation to chart a bright path forward for our nation and its people. Hear conversations with a range of American business leaders from small business owners to Fortune 500 executives. More info/register.

Host: U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Moderator: U.S. Chamber President and CEO Suzanne Clark


Thu 1/12 at 12 p.m. – The Community Check-In

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

Host: Black In Events Network


Thu 1/12 at 1 p.m. – Data Analytics Maturity Model: What’s Your Score & What’s Next?

Learn how to use a Data Analytics Maturity Model to help you understand your organization’s current state and what concrete steps you can take to advance your organization’s path to more data-driven decision making. Find out how you compare to your peers in categories such as data culture, architecture, leadership, process, and more. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

  • David Jackson, CAE, MBA, Executive Officer for the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
  • Julie Sciullo, CEO, Association Analytics

Fri 1/13 at 12 p.m. – Conversations with Champions

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

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Guest: Gretchen Steenstra, the 2023 Chairwoman of the AWTC Board, and  Strategic Consultant, DelCor Technology Solutions


Fri 1/13 at 4 p.m. – The Importance of Mentorship (Panel Discussion)

In honor of National Mentoring Month, Fridays@4 will host a moderated panel discussion. You’ve likely experienced a mentor/mentee relationship, whether formal or informal. Join us as panelists share their mentorship programs, successes and lessons learned. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Speakers:

  • Jennifer Alluisi, MA Ed, CAE, Account Executive at Custom Management Group
  • Benita Stocks, Director of Membership & Programs for NAIOP Northern Virginia, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association
  • Christopher Young, CAE, DECA’s chief program officer
  • Chelseah Mesa (moderator), program manager with the Federal Communications Bar Association

Tue 1/17 at 12 p.m. – CRVM January Crunch and Munch

Come to share your ideas, participate in conversation or listen along to learn. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Professionals Community


Tue 1/17 at 12 p.m. – 3 Quick & Easy Ways to Easily Improve Strategic Planning

Learn three practical ways to improve your strategic planning meetings. These techniques apply to long-term planning meetings, such as board-level strategic planning, or plotting the direction of your team or department. The three techniques will turbocharge how participants generate ideas, allow participants to choose the best ones, and reach consensus; sift through products and services to determine the best ones and the ones to sunset; and identify the best options despite an uncertain future. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Xchange

Speaker: Lee Gimpel, Founder & Principal, Better Meetings


Tue 1/17 at 2 p.m. – Your Association’s Advocacy Tech Stack: Apps and Strategy for 2023

How do you manage your policy issues, engage with key stakeholders, ramp up your advocacy strategy, and mobilize your member community? Join Association Chat Podcast host KiKi L’Italien as she interviews Shana Glickfield, a founding Partner of Beekeeper Group, a DC-based public affairs firm whose mission is to empower people to advocate for impact. More info/register.

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


Tue 1/17 at 5:30 p.m. – Making Virtual Mentoring Work

Learn how to make the most of a virtual mentoring relationship, how the researched evidence supports the effectiveness of virtual mentoring, how to create an optimal virtual experience, and how to conduct a virtual mentoring conversation. More info/register.

Host: Sidecar

Speakers:

  • Lisa Fain, CEO of Center for Mentoring Excellence, and founder of Vista Coaching
  • Melissa Richardson, global assessment team for the European Mentoring and Coaching Council’s ISMCP Award

Wed 1/18 at 2 p.m. – PAR GOAT Awards: Honoring Association Revenue Impact

Learn from an invited panel of 2022 PAR Subject Matter Experts, discover ideas for revenue performance now and next year, and ideate on how associations can create a think tank for revenue opportunities. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Professionals for Association Revenue

Speakers:

  • Carrie Hartin, President, Sales Solutions & Services, MCI-USA
  • Colleen McKenna, CEO and Founder, Intero Advisory
  • Lori Zoss Kraska, MBA, CFRE, Founder and Chief Principal of Growth Owl, LLC
  • Erin Pressley, CAE, Senior Vice President for Education, Training and Events at NRECA
  • Bruce Rosenthal, Corporate Sponsorship Consultant and Co-Convener of the Partnership Professionals Network

Thu 1/19 at 2 p.m. – Should My Association Start a Podcast?

Learn about the WHYs, WHATs, and HOWs of podcasting to help you determine if it’s right for your organization. Find out why and when you should consider launching a podcast, top things to consider for podcast success, how to choose a topic and format, what it takes to produce an episode, how to launch the podcast and best practices for ongoing promotion, how to build a content schedule and source great guests, ways to monetize your podcast to bring in more non-dues revenue, and triumphs and pitfalls from the speakers’ own personal journeys in podcasting. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Matrix Group

Speakers:

  • Matrix Group CEO Joanna Pineda
  • Association Briefings Founder & CEO Colby Horton
  • Association Briefings CBDO Frank Humada

Thu 1/19 at 4 p.m. – Accomplish More Focusing on Less: How Small Changes Create Awesome Results

If you are having trouble changing your habits or those of your team, the problem may not be you, it may be your systems. Bad habits perpetuate because you are not utilizing the right systems for ongoing change and improvement. Learn about the four principles found in the awesome book, Atomic Habits by James Clear that are foundational for understanding how to build good habits as an individual or as a team and how to break bad ones. We will look at your current thinking and processes and then have each of you walk through a personal habit challenge utilizing some tools and systems for change. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Reston-Loudoun Idea Swap

Speaker: Mary Power ACC, CAE, FASAE, founder, M-Powering Leaders, LLC


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


Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.


Creative Commons licensed photo by Patrice Bouchard via Unsplash

Amazon affiliate links allow me to earn a tiny commission on any sales that result from clicking. Thank you!

Association Brain Food: 12.16.22

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

One of Santa's reindeer – inspiration for my weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association communityThis is the last edition of Association Brain Food for the year. I’ll see you again on Friday, January 6, 2023. Wishing you and yours a relaxing and enjoyable holiday season. Merry Christmas!

Copyright law. This week, while researching via Google, I landed on an association management company’s blog and found a post I wrote for a client. I skimmed only a dozen posts on the blog and found three posts I wrote for clients and several from the blogs of other industry partners. After much back and forth via email with the AMC owner, she took down the site. Her AMC was no longer in business (not a surprise), but she never apologized for stealing content and web traffic from industry colleagues. Shameful. If you publish content on your site, please take a few minutes to get acquainted with copyright law. I wrote this post 13 years ago, but the principles (and links) still hold up.

 Member onboarding. WBT Systems shares findings from Amanda Kaiser’s 2022 New Member Engagement Study and some of their own ideas for onboarding new members inspired by successful professional development programs and marketing campaigns.

Member recruitment. To attract young members, you must recruit in ways that make sense to them. Impexium recommends proving you’re an organization they can trust, delivering benefits they value, and having processes and systems that facilitate member referrals, new member onboarding, testimonials, social presence, and member feedback.

Collaboration. What makes collaboration click? Figma wanted to know, so they did their own research and came up with some fascinating insight.

Networking. First Round Review shares six tactics for reaching out, staying in touch and deepening your connections. The tough part is remembering all this excellent advice and putting it into practice. One step at a time.

Non-dues revenue. As long as associations have hosted trade shows, they’ve been in the lead generation business. But Lead Marvels says lead generation remains an underutilized source for non-dues revenue. Now you can offer business development opportunities to sponsors year-round with a digital resource library that showcases curated thought-leadership content supplied by sponsors, partners, and the association itself. It helps you deliver extra value to members, gain insight into their interests, and earn revenue.

Resistance to change. Greg Satell describes three strategies for overcoming resistance to change. Boy, he’s dealt with some doozies.

Passive-aggressive workplace terms. I had to laugh when I saw this one. Cloey Callahan at WorkLife nailed it here with the passive-aggressive phrases you’ve all heard—and hopefully never use yourself. I swear I write “Will do!” with the best intentions!

Good eats

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

You can make sweet and mildly spicy char siu pork roast in the oven or slow cooker, but I prefer the speedier pressure cooker. I double the sauce and cook it on high pressure for 75 minutes, then do a natural release for 10 minutes. After shredding the pork, we like it in flour tortillas with an Asian-style slaw or served over rice, which we did this time. On the side, we had cabbage sautéed with yellow bell pepper, onion, broccoli stems and florets, carrot, celery, garlic, ginger, soy sauce and oyster sauce.

Chipotle salmon is an old favorite. If you don’t have time to marinate, no biggie. Leftovers are terrific in breakfast hash.

Herdez poblano crema is my new lazy dinner ally. Last week, I poured some over big eye tuna steaks and put them in the oven to bake. Done. On the side, a sauté of broccoli stems, red bell pepper, onion and carrot with basil pesto. And roasted rutabagas, potatoes, sweet potatoes and red onion with garlic powder and fresh rosemary.


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


Fri 12/16 at 12 p.m.* – ReadyMe

Are you a current executive, or on your way to being one? This is an ASAE ReadyMe webinar you won’t want to miss, designed to teach you how to build your personal brand to expand your professional opportunities. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

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


Fri 12/16 at 4 p.m. – Year-End Successes and Holiday Networking

Join your Fridays@4 colleagues as we celebrate a successful year of building our professional networks and improving our career and professional development. We will also have open networking time. Don’t forget to wear your ugliest holiday sweater. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4


Mon 12/19 at 8 a.m. – Implementing Preferred Futures (Nonprofit Conversations with Cecilia Sepp, CAE)

Nonprofit Conversations features guests from around the world discussing topics of interest to the nonprofit community. Episodes publish at 8 a.m. on Mondays and can be found on all major podcast platforms. 

Guest: Cheryl Ronk

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


Mon 12/19 at 2 p.m. – How Community Data Led TCEA to 5X Member Growth

Learn how associations can boost member engagement and retention utilizing community software, how TCEA was able to increase their membership base by 5X, and the differences between analyzing traditional data from an AMS and community-driven data. More info/register.

Host: Mobilize

Speakers:

  • Lori Gracey, Executive Director, TCEA
  • Dave Hersh, Chairman, Mobilize Networks

Tue 12/20 at 10 a.m. – Reputation Risk as Part of Your Cybersecurity Program

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

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Melissa Musser, Partner and Director of Risk Advisory, GRF CPAs & Advisors


Tue 12/20 at 11:15 a.m. – How Selling Through Multiple Channels Impacts Sales Tax Obligations

Learn how to navigate the myriad tax obligation considerations when selling through multiple channels, how multichannel sales impact economic nexus, and the five steps to proper sales tax compliance. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Larry Sheetz, Sales Executive, Avalara


Tue 12/20 at 2 p.m. – Mad for the Metaverse: Association Use Cases That Aren’t Stupid

What are the practical applications for the metaverse today, and what could they be in the future? Join KiKi as she explores the metaverse for associations with Mike Aaron and Andrew Wilson. More info/register.

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

Speakers:

  • Andrew Wilson, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau
  • Mike Aaron, founder, Visit Real Cities

Thu 12/22 at 12 p.m. – The Community Check-In

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

Host: Black In Events Network


Thu 12/29 at 12 p.m. – The Community Check-In

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

Host: Black In Events Network


Tue 1/3 at 2 p.m. – 2023 Hospitality Predictions

How are hotels adjusting to meet the needs of groups? Hear insights about where the industry is going and what smart meeting professionals are doing to reassure attendees and meet their goals. Learn how to optimize your relationships with hotels, skills you need to thrive in the coming market, and what is myth vs. reality in today’s meeting environment. More info/register.

Host: Smart Meetings

Speaker: Michael Dominguez, President and CEO of Associated Luxury Hotels International


Wed 1/4 at 12 p.m. – Association Business Development Meet-Up: RevUP Top Takeaways

Hear the top takeaways from PAR’s inaugural RevUP Summit. Whether you joined us in Annapolis or you’re curious about what you missed, this 30-minute meet-up is open to all association professionals interested in the direction of association business development in 2023 and beyond. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Professionals for Association Revenue


Thu 1/5 at 12 p.m. – The Community Check-In

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

Host: Black In Events Network


Thu 1/5 at 2 p.m. – Leading Virtual Meetings For Success Not Distress

Learn strategies to conduct more effective and engaging virtual meetings that will help to advance your goals in the year ahead. Hear how you can standardize the planning, execution, and follow-up of virtual meetings in your organization. Participate in a 30-minute simulation to see tools and methods to make virtual meetings more engaging and improve productivity. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: 501Works

Speaker: Steven English, TEDx speaker and trained facilitator


Fri 1/6 at 10 a.m. – Accelerating Sustainable Impact

We share ideas through connection. The vibe of the circle is thoughtful, casual, and kind. Our guest facilitator, Barry Barresi led the American Optometric Association, AIGA Design, and the New England Eye Institute. He currently leads Association Ventures, a social enterprise impact accelerator consulting firm. More info/register.

Host: Association Design Circle


Fri 1/6 at 4 p.m. – Career Development in Organizations: A Tool for Recruitment, Engagement, and Retention

Learn how to plan and implement a career development program, the benefits of internal career development to both your employees and your organization, and how to increase the loyalty and skills of your employees. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Speaker: Shelly Trent, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CAE, JCDC, JCTC


Mon 1/9 at 12 p.m. – Membership Mondays

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

Host: Amy Hemphill, ASAE


Tue 1/10 at 11 a.m. – Why Online Community is Your Association’s Future: Changing How We Work & Connect (Part 1)

Description coming soon. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

  • Sandra Nam, CEO, QiqoChat
  • Lucas Cioffi, Principal and Lead Software Engineer at QiqoChat Inc
  • Barbara J. Armentrout, CAE, Managing Partner, Mesa Group

Thu 1/12 at 1 p.m. – Data Analytics Maturity Model: What’s Your Score & What’s Next?

Learn how to use a Data Analytics Maturity Model to help you understand your organization’s current state and what concrete steps you can take to advance your organization’s path to more data-driven decision making. Find out how you compare to your peers in categories such as data culture, architecture, leadership, process, and more. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

  • David Jackson, CAE, MBA, Executive Officer for the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
  • Julie Sciullo, CEO, Association Analytics

Fri 1/13 at 12 p.m. – Conversations with Champions

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

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Guest: Gretchen Steenstra, the 2023 Chairwoman of the AWTC Board, and  Strategic Consultant, DelCor Technology Solutions


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


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Creative Commons licensed photo by Sébastien Goldberg via Unsplash

Association Brain Food: 12.9.22

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

Kitchen Mesa trail in New Mexico – inspiration for my weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association communityVirtual events and inclusion. “If your association is serious about inclusion and diversity, make sure you know what ‘going back to normal’ really means.” WBT Systems explains who’s excluded if you stop hosting virtual conferences. Maybe more people than you realize according to the research they share. They also suggest ways to improve the virtual conference experience.

Attracting Gen Z. MemberSuite goes straight to the research to describe what Generation Z values and the type of experiences and programs your association can offer to align with those values.

Instructional design. Blue Sky eLearn’s step-by-step guide to instructional design helps you decide what educational programs your market needs, develop learning objectives and assessments, map the content, and design the program.

Hybrid workplace challenges. Moving to a hybrid work model is often a compromise solution, says Achurch Consulting. They describe eight serious challenges that can arise when you make the switch to hybrid without proper planning or guidance.

Sponsorship programs. In his work with associations, sponsorship consultant Bruce Rosenthal talks with a lot of sponsors about what they’re looking for in a partnership. At EventMobi, he shares advice for structuring and pricing sponsorship programs that deliver value to sponsors, members, and associations.

Market needs. As an Association Laboratory consultant, Nikki Haton Shanks sees association leaders make decisions in a vacuum and “create products and services that THEY would like, not what their members and other stakeholders (i.e., non-members) would like.” Instead, she recommends following her brewer husband’s practice: if your market wants Sour Patch Kids beer, your association should make them Sour Patch Kids beer.

Association podcasts. Launching a podcast isn’t as intimidating as it used to be, thanks to resources and people who can help you get started. Association Briefings explains how podcasts benefit associations and their audiences, provides tips for starting an association podcast, and reviews the planning process and issues to consider before you dive in.

Quick hits

Excellent list of ways to instantly show your product, membership, or program’s value. (Wes Kao)

Six ways to get your organization’s subject matter experts to start thinking like content marketers. (Pam Didner)

Twitter comes of age. (Tyler Cowen)

Good eats

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

Here’s my recipe for corned beef. Put the brisket in a baking dish, spread the spice packet over it, sprinkle about a teaspoon each of ground allspice, mustard, coriander, cloves, black pepper, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon and Aleppo or red pepper flakes all over it, and top with three or four small bay leaves. Bake at 325 under foil for 2-1/2 hours, then remove the foil and bake 30 minutes more or until the meat is super tender when tested with a fork, slim knife or cake tester. You wouldn’t believe the aromas while it’s cooking—heavenly!

On the side, cabbage, of course, sautéed with bacon (and ham, oink), red onion, red bell pepper, carrot, smoked paprika and chicken broth. I may be Irish-American but I don’t cook my corned beef and cabbage like one.

Another night, we enjoyed speckled trout fillets ala mummy Lorraine: a topping of crushed Ritz crackers, lemon zest, garlic powder and melted butter. On the side, a sauté of broccoli stems, carrots and red onion with basil pesto—my “I don’t feel like going to the store just for a vegetable, what’s in the produce drawer” side dish.


Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.


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


Fri 12/9 at 12 p.m.* – AWTC Mindful Networking

Held the second Friday of each month, these intimate, virtual conversations are a chance to form meaningful connections with other women and allies in the association technology community. Each Mindful Networking will feature one of our amazing AWTC award winners, followed by breakout rooms with changing topics (selected by our featured guest). More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Guest: Himali Shah, Manager of Consulting at FusionSpan

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


Fri 12/9 at 4 p.m. – Engaging and Motivating Volunteers

Share your success (and failures) in working with volunteers. We all have stories to tell! More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Moderator: Heather Story, consultant, Volunteer Strategies


Mon 12/12 at 8 a.m. – B2B2C: Connecting to your Members’ Customers (Nonprofit Conversations with Cecilia Sepp, CAE)

Nonprofit Conversations features guests from around the world discussing topics of interest to the nonprofit community. Episodes publish at 8 a.m. on Mondays and can be found on all major podcast platforms. 

Guest: Cathy Lada, DSc, CAE

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


Mon 12/12 at 12 p.m. – Membership Monday: Student/Young Professional Recruitment and Engagement

We will focus on a successful campaign for the recruitment and engagement of this membership segment. Do you have a success story you would like to share? We would love to hear from you. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Facilitator: Amy Hemphill, ASAE


Mon 12/12 at 4 p.m. – AWTC Happy Hour at ASAE TEC 2022

Join Association Women Technology Champions as we celebrate women in technology and a successful 2022. More info/register.


Tue 12/13 at 10 a.m. – How to Create a Member-Centric Community

For your community to thrive in the long term, you must prioritize members’ needs and experiences above all else. Learn how (and why) to put members at the front, right, and center of your community, how to create an intentional human-focused user experience, how to map your members’ community journeys, and best practices for harnessing storytelling and user-generated content. More info/register.

Host: Hivebrite

Speakers:

  • Margaret Hedderman, Communications & Editorial Director, Startup Colorado
  • Vanessa McCrann, Community Engagement Manager, Startup Colorado
  • Amber Cooper Jorez, Senior Customer Success Manager, Hivebrite

Tue 12/13 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Culture Reboot: Strategically Guiding Chapters through Change (Crunch n Munch)

Each month the Component Relations and Volunteer Management Council joins members of the community to discuss a topic of interest. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Council


Tue 12/13 at 12 p.m. – Rockin’ Around the Inbox: Fireside AMA with the Email Experts

What’s on your holiday wish list this year? If the answer is better email performance, you’re in the right place. We’ve assembled a crack team of Validity Email Strategists who help email marketers across the world solve their trickiest email challenges. They’re prepared to answer any and all of your burning email questions in this “ask me anything” style roundtable webinar. More info/register.

Host: Validity


Tue 12/13 at 3 p.m. – Successful Recruiting, Hiring and Onboarding in a Remote or Hybrid Environment

Learn how recruiting power has shifted post-pandemic, how to integrate and embrace flexibility into your recruiting process as a long-term strategy, rather than a reaction to post-pandemic trends, how to develop concrete strategies for successfully onboarding remote and hybrid workers, including creating a sense of belonging. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

  • Jaime Hirschfeld, Director of Client Sales, FlexProfessionals, DC
  • Ashley Moore, Director of Client Sales and Service, FlexProfessionals, Boston

Wed 12/14 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Holiday Roundtable Event (Washington DC)

CNG is bringing together industry experts to discuss topics pertinent to your work with certification programs, including accessibility and fairness in testing, non-traditional item types, soft skills in credentialing, certification program revenue drivers, and DEI and adverse impact in credentialing. You will have the opportunity to move from table to table and learn from the table host and your peers in lively discussions. More info/register.

Host: Certification Network Group

Roundtable hosts:

  • Marc Vanhasselt, Vice President for Customer Experience and Accessibility, Prometric
  • Clarence “Buck” Chaffee, President, The Caviart Group
  • Ibidun Layi-Ojo, Director of Examinations, CFP Board
  • Bill West, Chief Credentialing Solutions Officer, Cornerstone Strategies
  • Kyana Beckles, Founder, Leverage Assessments

Wed 12/14 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – New Year, New ME

In four interactive break-out sessions, learn how to be more aligned with members events to drive member engagement, utilize your online community to strengthen member engagement, prioritize members’ career and personal development, and foster and excite cheerleaders for your association and industry. 3 CAE credits. More info/register.

Host: Community Brands


Wed 12/14 at 11 a.m. – Inside the 2023 State Legislative Agenda

Hear a review of the results of the midterm elections and NCSL’s extensive preview of the 2023 legislative sessions, which are set to begin in just a few weeks. Learn about the biggest issues ahead for state legislatures and how your team can prepare in the weeks ahead. More info/register.

Host: Quorum

Speaker: Tim Storey, CEO of the National Conference of State Legislatures


Wed 12/14 at 1 p.m. – Drive Deeper Member Engagement While Growing Non-Dues Revenue (NDaP Expert Series)

Learn how two associations, with two separate challenges, monetized content that increased member engagement and created a positive source of net new non-dues revenue. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Non-Dues-a-Palooza

Speakers: Association of Corporate Counsel, American Public Transportation Association, and Lead Marvels


Wed 12/14 at 1 p.m. – 2023 Meetings & Events Outlook

Hear where our panel thinks we’re headed in 2023 in terms of prices, labor, venue availability and other important issues that are key to planning successful meetings and events. Find out about key results from our annual Meetings Trends Survey. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Meetings Today

Speakers:

  • Drew Holmgreen, Chief Brand Officer, MPI
  • Jack Johnson, Chief Advocacy Officer, Destinations International
  • Howard Givner, CEO, Event Leadership Institute
  • David Caldwell, Managing Vice President, Sales, Maritz Global Events

Wed 12/14 at 1 p.m. – Event Trends Lookahead: Taking Your Events Team Into 2023

2022 was the year of trying new things, and as it comes to a close, we’re diving into emerging event trends that will take your events into 2023.Take a deep dive into data-driven trends and what to expect from in-person, hybrid, and virtual experiences. We’ll also discuss audience expectations and show how you can deliver these trends through real-life examples and best practices. More info/register.

Host: Webex Events (formerly Socio)

Speakers: Yvonne deFuria, Event Production Manager, and Lisa Vogel, Leader, Field & Event Marketing, Webex Events (formerly Socio)


Wed 12/14 at 2 p.m. – 3 Trends for 2023: Are You Ready?

Find out how to inspire attendees to realize their best individual experience, what meeting planners need to know about new data privacy laws going into effect in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Virginia, and Utah, and what to expect for event costs in the year ahead. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MeetingsNet

Speakers:

  • Steve O’Malley, Enterprise Vice President, COO, Maritz Global Events
  • Greg Bogue, Enterprise Vice President, Brand, Experience and Innovation Ecosystems, Maritz Global Events
  • Jill Blood, Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Maritz

Wed 12/14 at 3 p.m. – How Smart Is Google at Detecting Duplicate Content?

Google does not like duplicate content and often penalizes pages and websites with duplicate content. Learn what duplicate content is, how to fix it when duplicate content is published, and how to ensure your rankings are not affected by your content. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Jon Rivers, COO, Marketeery


Thu 12/15 at 11 a.m. – Brain-Based Practices for Leadership Development

Hear insights from an award-winning program for brain-based manager training. Discover how to create engaging learning for both managers and certified facilitators using platform and authoring tools. Utilize learning science best practices (habit design, memory enhancement, transfer) to design/deliver effective training. More info/register.

Host: Training Magazine Network

Speaker: Britt Andreatta, MA, PhD, CEO of Brain Aware Training and former CLO for Lynda.com (LinkedIn Learning)


Thu 12/15 at 12 p.m. – The Community Check-In

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

Host: Black In Events Network


Thu 12/15 at 1 p.m. – Nonprofit Leadership Roundtable

Join your nonprofit and association colleagues for a reflection and planning session. Take a look back at 2022 and envision your 2023. More info/register.

Host: Carol Hamilton, founder, Grace Social Sector Consulting


Thu 12/15 at 1 p.m. – Become a Survey Savant: Modern Strategies for Building Actionable Insights

Surveys are the least demanding, most scalable way to collect insights about your members. And if you’re not surveying them regularly, everything your association does—from communications to program design—is merely guesswork. This age-old method is alive and well in the array of modern marketing technology. Learn the six principles of good survey design, how to create a survey strategy that collects the data you actually need, and how to analyze the data objectively so you can make meaningful changes in your organization. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Brianna Martin, Director of Brand Marketing at Mighty Citizen


Thu 12/15 at 4 p.m. – Executive Transitions: Review How to Make it Painless for the Organization

When top executives retire, organizational succession plans become the top focus of any board. Hear the latest tips on how to be prepared. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Reston-Loudoun Idea Swap

Speaker: Erica M. Poff, CAE, PMP, IOM


Fri 12/16 at 4 p.m. – Year-End Successes and Holiday Networking

Join your Fridays@4 colleagues as we celebrate a successful year of building our professional networks and improving our career and professional development. We will also have open networking time. Don’t forget to wear your ugliest holiday sweater. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4


Tue 12/20 at 2 p.m. – Mad for the Metaverse: Association Use Cases That Aren’t Stupid

What are the practical applications for the metaverse today, and what could they be in the future? Join KiKi as she explores the metaverse for associations with Mike Aaron and Andrew Wilson. More info/register.

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

Guests:

  • Andrew Wilson, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau
  • Mike Aaron, founder, Visit Real Cities

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


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Association Brain Food: 12.2.22

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

looking up through the autumn leaves to the sky – inspiration for my weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association communityNew member engagement. It’s here! The 2022 New Member Engagement Study from Amanda Kaiser at Kaiser Insights and Dynamic Benchmarking includes survey data on how associations of different sizes handle new member engagement. It also shares onboarding tactics and success factors. Check out the launch party information below (December 6)—it’s bound to be an informative and enjoyable event.

Word-of-mouth marketing. Do you remember early last year seeing a slew of LinkedIn updates about an online DEI course at the University of South Florida (USF)? I certainly do and with every good intention I registered but ended up never getting to it. But 62,000 people completed the course and earned a certificate. WBT Systems explains how USF pulled off this word-of-mouth marketing miracle—and developing the course in less than two months was a miracle too.

Virtual event planning template. Why create your own when EventMobi has already done it for you? Their Virtual Show Flow Template is an Excel worksheet that includes tabs for the event overview, project timeline, event show flow (and example tab), production information, green room checklist plus worksheets for speakers and sponsors.

Tough leadership decisions. Jeff de Cagna, FASAE of Foresight First continues his series on the toughest decisions association boards (and staff) must discuss and make. In this post, he addresses three tricky issues: negative consequences of technology, climate change, and ideological divisiveness.

Metatrends. Peter Diamandis is in the midst of writing about 20 metatrends that will shape the decade ahead. He’s already discussed embedded intelligence, AI’s human level intelligence and its collaboration with humans, software interface like Iron Man’s JARVIS, and humanoid robots and avatars. The latest is on autonomous and flying cars. Phew, life is definitely not boring.

Metaverse denizens. While we’re talking about “meta,” here’s an audience analysis of the metaverse community from Michael Brito at Britopian. It’s not as American as I thought it’d be.

AMS value for membership engagement. Nimble AMS describes how an AMS helps membership teams better understand members, anticipate their needs, and deliver an optimal online experience and personalized communications and content. If your AMS doesn’t help you recruit, engage and retain members, you better start looking for a new one.

Brain drain pains. The brain drain is a serious problem for many employers and industries. WBT Systems explores why the brain drain is occurring and how associations can help companies (and themselves) prevent and manage it.

Groupthink. Becky Kane at Twist says, “Contrary to popular belief, research shows that real-time collaboration tends to stifle creativity and diverse perspectives.” I’ve read a few reports about the disadvantages of in-person brainstorming sessions, so this is not a surprise. She explains how async communication combats groupthink—what a bonus.

Quick hits

After reading this article, I went down the research rabbit hole to learn more about Ann Axtell Morris, an archaeologist in the Southwest who died too young and didn’t leave much of a trace. (Richard Grant, Smithsonian)

I’ve been wondering how the trains keep running in Ukraine. What a story. (Sarah A. Topol, New York Times)

What to do if there are not enough hours in the day to slay your to-do list. No, bourbon is not the answer. (Nir Eyal)

What Bitcoin and Crypto are for—it’s worth reading this different and enlightening perspective. (Murtaza Hussain, Three Minute Book Club)

A daily technique to reflect, focus and be present in your interactions. (Deirdre Breakenridge)

Good eats

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

While my husband was away recently, I indulged in gorgonzola pasta because he is not a fan of blue cheese. This time, I used one package of shiitake and two packages of cremini mushrooms, chard and their stems, plus a bit of chicken broth.

This chicken apple sausage, sweet potato and Brussels sprouts sheet-pan supper has everything you need, except red onion, which I added. Don’t bother with the parchment; your pan will get dirty no matter what. Next time, I’ll add some warm spices.

Here’s what I made for Thanksgiving. Perhaps you’ll get an idea for future festive dinners.

  • Nantucket chipotle cranberry sauce made with shallot, garlic, chipotle peppers in adobo, orange juice, maple syrup, molasses, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, salt and cranberries.
  • Make-ahead mashed potatoes: Usually, recipes advise you to keep mashed potatoes warm in a double boiler, but that hogs up a burner for too long. Instead, I put mine in a slow cooker on warm. Before serving, I stirred in warm milk and melted butter to fluff them up.
  • A few days before Thanksgiving when I was thinking about turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and gravy, a vision of mushrooms appeared before me. I sautéed a mix of shiitake and cremini mushrooms with garlic and thyme—brilliant idea.
  • Last year, this butternut squash-poblano pepper gratin was a hit, so I made it again. Had just enough left over for a snack the next day.
  • I’ve been put in charge of making the gravy the last few years, so I brought along Spicewalla poultry seasoning to help things along. It did the trick, but it no longer appears on the Spicewalla website, boo.

With the leftover cranberry sauce, I made chicken thighs with cranberry thyme pan sauce. On the side, green bean sauté with red onion, mushrooms, garlic and chicken broth, and roasted buttercup squash with maple syrup, bacon, cinnamon and ground chile powder—I used a New Mexico blend, but cayenne works too.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted, so I still have two fish dishes to share: blackened speckled sea trout and baked lemon parmesan wahoo—both excellent fish. The wahoo was topped with parmesan, panko bread crumbs, parsley, basil, lemon zest, garlic powder, melted butter and olive oil. On the side, roasted broccoli with red onion and garlic powder.


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


Fri 12/2 at 10 a.m.* – Association Community (Coffee with Innovators)

Darren Cambridge, an innovation strategist most recently with the American Council on Education, will lead us in dialogue on the vital topic of building and sustaining community. More info/register.

Host: Association Design Circle

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


Fri 12/2 at 11 a.m. – World Café: Ways to Grow International Membership

Hear about ways to grow international membership using leading examples among small and large associations, and discussing the roles of value propositions, chapters/affiliates, and dues pricing. World Café will kick off with a panel of speakers followed by small group discussions, drawing from the experiences of our diverse community of peers. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE International Associations Professionals Community


Fri 12/2 at 4 p.m. – Critical Thinking: Mastering the Power of Crucial Questions

Join speaker, Alexis Redmond, an introvert and attorney, who has learned to channel her ability to question, process, and reflect on issues to uncover new opportunities for teams and organizations. Explore effective questioning, how to start being wrong without defensiveness, strategies to avoid falling into groupthink, and tips to ask thoughtful, even difficult, follow-up questions. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Speaker: Alexis Redmond, JD, MA, CAE, Senior Director, National Student Speech Language Hearing Association


Mon 12/5 at 8 a.m. – Curiosity! (Nonprofit Conversations with Cecilia Sepp, CAE)

Nonprofit Conversations features guests from around the world discussing topics of interest to the nonprofit community. Episodes publish at 8 a.m. on Mondays and can be found on all major podcast platforms. 

Guest: Cynthia Lockrey, Lockrey Communications

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


Mon 12/5 at 1 p.m. – Improving Engagement in the Middle of the Pandemic

learn how the American Association of Endodontists managed to increase employee engagement—while dealing with the challenges of the pandemic—by uncovering the underlying culture patterns in their workplace culture that were driving employee behaviors. All workplace cultures have these culture patterns, and once you see them, you can immediately start to shift roadblocks and attitudes that might be holding you back from getting the energy and results that you want in your organization. More info/register.

Host: Propel

Speakers:

  • Trina Andresen Coe, Deputy Executive Director, American Association of Endodontists
  • Jamie Notter, co-founder, Propel

Mon 12/5 at 1 p.m. – Practical AI Tools to Adopt in 2023

Practical AI solutions exist today (some in your vendor ecosystem), and are solving problems in crucial areas like retention, marketing, and analytics. Learn about AI’s impact on business analytics and how it can be used to predict churn and retention, the capabilities of “Generative AI” and how marketing content can be auto-generated, examples of AI-assisted marketing tools available today, and positioning yourself, and your team, to adapt and take full advantage of AI. More info/register.

Host: Contentware

Speakers:

  • Mitch Eisen, CTO, Contentware
  • Erica Salm Rench, COO, Rasa.io
  • Thomas Altman, CEO, Tasio

Mon 12/5 at 1 p.m. – Growing your 365 Community

There are many ways to build a year-round community to connect members to members and buyers to sellers. Making human connection needs the heart of your digital efforts and pulling insights from your data. Explore what ‘365 connection’ means to your unique community, opportunities for growth when you engage consistently and meaningfully, and ideas you can prototype with your own organization. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

  • Brad Weaber, Principal, Brad Weaber Consulting Group, LLC and Strategic Advisor to Community Leaders Institute
  • Bill Mcglade, President of Community Leaders Institute & epIQ Creative Group

Mon 12/5 at 1 p.m. – Wrap Up That Video

Join us back with Donny Neufuss, as we close out our 5-part series on video and all that goes with it. We’ve talked about streaming, transformation of video with AI, and video’s potential. We are going to wrap that all up leaving you ready for 2023 and excited to enhance your events with video that is right for you. 0.5 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MPI


Tue 12/6 at 11 a.m. – Are You Safeguarding Your Organization? Guide To Fraud Prevention

Learn how to reduce the likelihood of internal fraud, implement best practices for fraud prevention, and probe weaknesses that leave you vulnerable to bad actors. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Julie Broadway, President & CEO, American Horse Council & American Horse Council Foundation 


Tue 12/6 at 12 p.m. – Data Analytics Network: Year in Review

Join association professionals to engage in peer-led discussions on topics related to data and analytics. More info/register.

Host: Data Analytics Network & Association Analytics


Tue 12/6 at 12 p.m. – Gen Z + Events: Insights to Know

Hear tips for understanding Gen Z and how they differ from other generations, where organizations can fail in attracting and engaging Gen Z audiences, and innovation ideas to make your next event Gen Z friendly. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MPI

Speakers: Brooke Gracey, Director, Demand Generation, and Carisa Bartelt, Team Lead, Product Marketing, Cvent


Tue 12/6 at 1 p.m. – New Member Engagement Study Launch Party

Hear the most critical learnings from the New Member Engagement Study and essential strategies they couldn’t fit into the report. Learn how to make small shifts to improve your new member engagement activities, leverage the tools you already have to engage new members, and organize your plan, so it never gets stale. More info/register.

Hosts: Kaiser Insights, Dynamic Benchmarking, Matchbox Virtual Media and PropFuel


Tue 12/6 at 1 p.m. – Data Hoarders: Association Edition

Navigating the line between data as an asset and liability is increasingly difficult as our associations face cyber-security, privacy and logistical challenges related to managing the volumes of data we collect. Learn what data governance is, why data governance is important, how you can get data governance started in your organization, the importance of quality checking your data, and how to establish a process for continued success. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: 501Works

Speakers:

  • Villy Savino, VP of Technology Transformation at CoreNet Global
  • James Marquis, CIO at 501Works

Tue 12/6 at 1 p.m. – How to Drive Pipeline with an On-Demand Webinar Strategy

Learn how to re-purpose webinars after the live date is over, create on-demand webinar content for each stage of the buying cycle, build Netflix-style on-demand content hubs, and use on-demand webinars to fuel ABM programs. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Speaker: Mark Bornstein, VP, Content Marketing, ON24


Tue 12/6 at 2 p.m. – Exploring The Six Toughest Decisions Association Boards Must Make

Join an informal discussion of Jeff’s recent two-part series of articles on “The Six Toughest Decisions Association Boards Must Make” (links on registration site). 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Jeff De Cagna, executive advisor, Foresight First


Tue 12/6 at 2 p.m. – Membership Trends You Can’t Miss in 2023

Learn about important areas of improvement to grow your association, strategies you should strengthen next year, challenges many associations face, how automation of operations can walk you through membership success, and tips and tactics for the best retention rate. More info/register.

Host: Grype

Speaker: Farhad Khan, Digital Strategist & CEO of Grype


Tue 12/6 at 3 p.m. – Why Associations Should Stop Planning Events and Start Designing Experiences

Now that we are returning to in-person events, it is imperative that our associations don’t fall back on history and habit. Learn what it takes to design experiences rather than simply planning events, and how the landscape has changed from meeting design to stakeholder engagement. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

  • Katie Riggs, CAE, CMP, CMM, HMCC, CED, Chief Event Strategist at Riggs & Co
  • Emilie Perkins, CMP, CAE, CMM, PMP, CED, Director of Client & Conference Services, Raybourn Group International, Inc.

Wed 12/7 at 11 a.m. – Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Association Executives

This webinar does away with the tech-talk and explains the must-know facts about cybersecurity risks, what executives need to understand, what questions to ask, and how to ensure your IT team is headed in the right direction at an adequate pace. More info/register.

Host: Sidecar

Speaker: Brian Scott


Wed 12/7 at 11 a.m. – Small Budget, Big Impact: Affordable Ways to Level-Up Marketing

Learn how to develop and implement a marketing plan and budget that delivers “big-impact” results from smaller budgets, and apply strategies and tactics to build and execute successful marketing campaigns with limited budgets. Get a list of techniques and tools that have been vetted to help you in your quest to deliver maximum impact with minimal investment through marketing. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Jemilah Senter, VP, Marketing and Communications, and Jamie Birkner, Director, Content and Marketing, MCI USA


Wed 12/7 at 11 a.m. – 2023 Event Trends Summit

2023 is just around the corner. As we  look ahead, it’s natural to be concerned about the challenges we might face. With so many forces currently at play, identifying those potential challenges  is only half the battle. We also must find ways to prepare for those changes. Get the insights and tools you need to create outstanding programs in 2023 and hear candid conversations that include practical tips and advice grounded in real-world experience. 3 CMP credits. More info/register.

Host: Skift


Wed 12/7 at 12 p.m. – Tis the Season for Member Retention

Knowing why members join, why they stay, why they leave and what they value most are vital to a great retention strategy and the only way to get this type of granular information is through analytics. Learn how to use data to determine the unique value you bring to your members, translate your retention into ROI by analyzing lifetime value, identify at-risk members through correlations, predictive modeling and engagement scores, take actions to clarify your value, find your leaky buckets and create retention strategies for your at-risk member segments. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Analytics

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


Wed 12/7 at 12 p.m. – Create Your 2023 Personal Strategic Plan

Strategic planning isn’t just for organizations. Create your personal strategic plan to align your goals and actions with what matters most in your life. In this interactive session, review your 2022 (reflecting on your 2022 triumphs and other lessons-learned) and set yourself up for success, with intentionality, in 2023. More info/register.

Host: Association Insights in Old Town

Speaker: Carol Vernon, executive coach and founder, Communication Matters: Executive Coaching & Team Development


Wed 12/7 at 1 p.m. – Upleveling Your Credential Program

Is your credentialing program leaving opportunities on the table? Learn about different credential models and how best to use them (certifications, certificates, stacked credentials, micro-credentials). Offering different options can ensure you’re serving all segments of your industry—and reaching possibilities you may be overlooking. More info/register.

Host: Cloud Generation

Speakers:

  • Greg Melia, CAE, CEO at Customer Experience Professionals Association
  • Heather McNair, Chief Customer Officer at Cloud Generation

Wed 12/7 at 1 p.m. – Seemingly Limitless, Unapologetic, Member Resources: Expand Your Content’s Reach and Elevate Your Brand

Your organization has curated knowledge, gathered over many years, in the form of text, PDFs, white papers, videos, products. Put this content to work—retaining the members you’ve got and attracting prospects not yet in the fold. Many organizations do a poor job showcasing all of the good “stuff” in their arsenal—join us to discuss our best tips and advice for ‘getting it all out there’ in a dynamic and engaging ways which will keep ’em coming back again and again. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Adam Hostetter, CEO, FUSE Search


Thu 12/8 at 12 p.m. – All the Tech You Missed This Year (But need to know about for 2023)

We’re bringing back the VERY popular Beth Z. (aka Your Nerdy Best Friend) for another highly entertaining, information-rich webinar to help us all stay ahead of the technology curve. Hear actionable technology tips for streamlining your work, making your life easier, and helping you and your members. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: GrowthZone

Speaker: Beth Ziesenis, Author. Speaker. Nerd. Your Nerdy Best Friend


Thu 12/8 at 12 p.m. – Behind the Curtain of ASAE’s Gold Circle Awards: What You Need to Know Before You Apply

Find out what you need to know before you apply for the ASAE Gold Circle Awards, including an overview of the application, updates to the categories and criteria, tips for a successful submission, and insider knowledge about what the judges are looking. Learn how you can volunteer to be a judge for the awards program. More info/register.

Host: ASAE


Thu 12/8 at 12 p.m. – Maximizing Lead Generation Through Integrated Marketing

For several years, the key to success has been “all digital, all the time.” Now, the best minds in marketing are focused on strategies that ensure SEO, paid search, traditional media, and targeted community-based partnerships reinforce and support each other for maximum impact. Learn how to maximize organic lead generation through the latest search engine optimization principles and tactics, strategically leverage paid digital lead generation so you have a steady stream when you need them, work existing leads to ensure no one falls through the cracks, and apply the latest best traditional media practices to ensure they supports the three other pillars of your strategy. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Speakers: Aaron Mahl, PhD, Senior Vice President Graduate & Online, Erin Minsart, MBA, Director of Digital Strategy, and Scott Jeffe, Vice President of Graduate and Online Research, RNL


Thu 12/8 at 12 p.m. – The Community Check-In

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

Host: Black In Events Network


Thu 12/8 at 12:30 p.m. – The Top Association Tech Trends for 2023

We view “trends” as an opportunity to acknowledge where we’ve been, while being hopeful about the future. Learn about the technology that association and nonprofit leaders are looking forward to next year including personalized giving experiences, member-empowering technology, and reaching the new VIPs of events. More info/register.

Host: Personify

Speakers: Erin Sullivan, VP of Marketing, and Ashly Stewart, Marketing Manager, Personify


Thu 12/8 at 12:30 p.m. – Drips, Bots, and Blogs: A Non-Traditional Approach to Learning Reinforcement

Learn how to apply the concept of conversational drip delivery to your current curriculum, analyze the different use-cases between three different learning reinforcement drip delivery platforms to build into your content designs, write conversational content that addresses learning outcomes, avoiding content bloat and cognitive overload, and apply drip feeds in your organization to enhance outcomes. More info/register.

Hosts: inWhatLanguage and Association Universe

Speaker: Shannon Tipton, Chief Learning Officer, Learning Rebels LLC


Thu 12/8 at 1 p.m. – The 2023 Learning Business Landscape

Hear about key developments that will impact learning businesses in 2023 and beyond, what survey data says about how organizations are investing in learning, and insights into specific areas of focus like personalization, blended learning, AI, cohort-based learning, data, and more. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Leading Learning


Thu 12/8 at 1 p.m. – Overcoming Challenges with International Conferences

Meeting professionals who specialize in international conferences understand the challenges that come along with taking their meeting overseas. From site selection to onsite logistics, conference planners take into consideration many factors to ensure their international attendees, speakers and exhibitors have a seamless journey. Learn what’s changing in the international conference market; the pros/cons of virtual, in-person, and hybrid; and ways to mitigate chaos. 1 CAE/CMP/CEM credit. More info/register.

Host: EVA

Speakers:

  • Lisa Dyson, CMP, DES, Conference Director for the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics
  • Vinnu Deshetty, founder, EVA

Thu 12/8 at 2 p.m. – Gen Z + Events: Insights to Know

Hear tips for understanding Gen Z and how they differ from other generations, where organizations can fail in attracting and engaging Gen Z audiences, and innovation ideas to make your next event Gen Z friendly. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MeetingsNet

Speakers: Emily Dick, Director, Demand Generation, and Carisa Bartlet, Team Lead, Product Marketing, Cvent 


Thu 12/8 at 3 p.m. – SEO Has Changed. Learn About Google’s Algorithms and How to Optimize Your Website and Social Media

Learn about changes from Google that you should know about, how to do on-page and off-page SEO, how to amplify your blog’s relevance and ranking, and how social media impacts SEO. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Diane Saeger, CEO, and Jon Rivers, COO, Marketeery


Fri 12/9 at 12 p.m. – AWTC Mindful Networking

Held the second Friday of each month, these intimate, virtual conversations are a chance to form meaningful connections with other women and allies in the association technology community. Each Mindful Networking will feature one of our amazing AWTC award winners, followed by breakout rooms with changing topics (selected by our featured guest). More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Guest: Himali Shah, Manager of Consulting at FusionSpan


Fri 12/9 at 4 p.m. – Engaging and Motivating Volunteers

Share your success (and failures) in working with volunteers. We all have stories to tell! More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Moderator: Heather Story, consultant, Volunteer Strategies


Mon 12/12 at 12 p.m. – Membership Monday: Student/Young Professional Recruitment and Engagement

We will focus on a successful campaign for the recruitment and engagement of this membership segment. Do you have a success story you would like to share? We would love to hear from you. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Facilitator: Amy Hemphill, ASAE


Mon 12/12 at 4 p.m. – AWTC Happy Hour at ASAE TEC 2022

Join Association Women Technology Champions as we celebrate women in technology and a successful 2022. More info/register.


Tue 12/13 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Culture Reboot: Strategically Guiding Chapters through Change (Crunch n Munch)

Each month the Component Relations and Volunteer Management Council joins members of the community to discuss a topic of interest. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Council


Thu 12/15 at 1 p.m. – Nonprofit Leadership Roundtable

Join your nonprofit and association colleagues for a reflection and planning session. Take a look back at 2022 and envision your 2023. More info/register.

Host: Carol Hamilton, founder, Grace Social Sector Consulting


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


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Creative Commons licensed photo by Ozark Drones via Unsplash

Association Brain Food: 11.18.22

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

Badlands NP in SD – inspiration for my weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association communityBecause next week is a short one, I won’t have the usual time to work on Association Brain Food, so this week’s edition includes events for the weeks of November 21 and November 28.

Data insights. Inspired by a Reggie Henry conference quote, WBT Systems encourages associations to adopt an active listening mindset. They explain how to start listening to what your data tells you and what you might learn from it.

Hybrid work pitfalls. Achurch Consulting describes six pitfalls that can unexpectedly snare your plans for a productive hybrid workplace. You definitely want to be aware of these issues even if you’ve already switched to a hybrid work model.

AMS selection. If a new AMS is in your future, you must get your hands on this guide from Ellipsis Partners. Don’t let the title fool you. You’ll get more than ten questions covering awkward or unfamiliar AMS issues, like  customer support, logins, e-commerce, training, reports, data conversion, and more.

Overturned idols and beautiful sunsets. Danielle Russo, CAE, brings decluttering lessons from home to the association office. In her article for Naylor’s Association Advisor, she suggests how to assess and pare down your ever-growing list of programs and audiences.

Association and B2B sales. Millennials are changing what it takes to succeed in sales, says Lindsay Ellis at the Wall Street Journal (no paywall). Whether you’re selling membership or software, more people are involved in purchase decisions that take longer. Before a prospect agrees to talk with you, they will do their own research—that’s why content marketing works so well. 

APIs demystified. Anyone who leads a technology project, like an AMS implementation, must understand APIs. If you don’t, you can cost your association a lot of time and money. Empowered Margins not only describes what APIs are but also explains their potential in a way that even non-techies will understand.

Quick hits

How to prioritize when everything’s a priority. (Khe Hy, RadReads)

Connection, attachment and meetings. (Adrian Segar, Conferences That Work)

Adrian’s post features a Sargent painting, which immediately caught my attention and prompts me to tell/remind you about the Sargent exhibition at the National Gallery of Art in DC. I’ve been attending the virtual lecture series associated with the show. Isn’t the web wonderful?

How to get the magic back—go into “art gallery mode,” a rewarding way of looking at art and seeing the world around you. (David Cain, Raptitude)

A definitive guide to networking for those who hate networking—you might get some new ideas. (Deb Liu)

Good eats

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

We had lots of leftovers this past week, so I only made two dinners from scratch, starting with one that’s becoming a favorite: hot fish and grits. I’ve been smearing the leftover hot spice paste on fried eggs and stirring it into the leftover grits. Oh my. On the side, shishito peppers blistered in a hot pan.

Pasta this week again, that’s the way to put more meat on the bones. My excuse: making space in the chest freezer. Yup, using that package of Italian sausage freed up so much room. We enjoyed a no-recipe recipe: cheese-filled regular and spinach tortellini with hot Italian sausage, mushroom, onion, eggplant, garlic, ground fennel, marinara sauce, basil pesto, heavy cream and parmesan. So good.

On the side, broccoli and cauliflower florets roasted with red onion and garlic powder.


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


Fri 11/18 at 12 p.m.* – AWTC Mindful Networking

Held the second Friday of each month, these intimate, virtual conversations are a chance to form meaningful connections with other women and allies in the association technology community. Each Mindful Networking will feature one of our amazing AWTC award winners, followed by breakout rooms with changing topics (selected by our featured guest). More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Guest: Barbara J. Armentrout, CAE, Managing Partner, Mesa Group

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


Fri 11/18 at 4 p.m. – Celebrating Creativity

Join us for an open discussion about celebrating creativity. Sir Ken Robinson shares his thoughts on creativity in this TedTalk, entitled ‘Do schools kill creativity?” Together we will discuss creativity and highlight recognition, expression, and celebration. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4


Mon 11/21 at 1 p.m. – That’s A Lot of Data: Now What?

We are joined back with Association Analytics continuing the conversation of what to do with all that data you have, how to use it to create event success. 0.5 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MPI

Speaker: Association Analytics


Tue 11/22 at 11 a.m. – ASAE’s Digital Transformation: Embracing the Ecosystem Approach to Software

For decades, ASAE had a traditional AMS-centered stack as the core of their business systems infrastructure. Two years ago, ASAE started to explore alternatives to the traditional model, and now in 2022 are beginning the rollout of a new suite of tools that will transform and modernize the organization. Key to this transformation includes embracing an ecosystem approach to software: use purpose-built tools, connected together, focusing on the member experience. Hear about the key components of ASAE’s new technology stack including the Member Data Platform (MDP), Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS), eCommerce platform, and other cloud-based solutions. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

  • Jeff Horne, Co-Founder, CEO, Wicket
  • Reggie Henry, CAE, Chief Information and Performance Excellence Officer, ASAE
  • Mani Jagadeesan, President & CEO, ShuffleLabs

Thu 11/24 at 9 a.m. – 12 Ways Member Organizations Can Get ROI from Community

A common question for membership organizations is: “What is community, and why should I invest in it?” Our expert panelists will highlight 12 ways member organizations are getting value from placing community at the heart of their member offering. More info/register.

Host: Guild

Speakers:

  • Lisa Collins, Managing Director at Dovetail Creative
  • Stacey Telford, Community Manager at The Marketing Society
  • Michelle Goodall, CMO at Guild

Mon 11/28 at 1 p.m. – Planner Expectations Supplier Reality: The Post Pandemic Gap

It’s not 2019 anymore, the world has changed and incentive trends have changed right along with it. Dive into the IRF study Incentive Expectations And Reality In The Hospitality Industry and hear about what those changes are. 0.5 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MPI

Speakers: Andrea Hutchinson and Stephanie Harris


Mon 11/28 at 1 p.m. – Improving Board Oversight through Best Practices (Nonprofit Conversations with Cecilia Sepp, CAE)

Extended episode with exercises. This series of 15- to 20-minute videos covers hot topics and issues related to 501c organization management. New episodes are posted around 1 p.m. every Monday. Check out Cecilia’s Nonprofit Executive Spotlight series too.

Guest: Lesedi Lesetedi

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


Tue 11/29 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. – Association Executive Symposium

Hear from association executives and learning leaders about designing educational programs that drive professional development, membership and revenue growth; monetizing and demonstrating the ROI of your learning programs by using the right experience model; using authentic assessments to measure competencies in learning, tackle the skills gap and increase engagement for the future of work; and leverage three key elements of a successful digital transformation: data and analytics, change management strategy, and accessibility. 4.5 CAE credits. Locations: online and Washington DC. More info/register.

Host: D2L


Tue 11/29 at 11 a.m. – The High Life and Dangers of an Undercover Member Forum

Learn how to go undercover to review association website pages and the results of voicemails, emails, and contact-us forms. You will be trained as an undercover member to understand what these experiences and interactions can be within any organization through the perspective of an association member. Learn what to look for that may be confusing, unclear, or outdated for your members and prospective members. Additionally, in this highly engaging session, you will be challenged with examples and illustrations to elevate the member and event attendee experience. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

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


Tue 11/29 at 12 p.m. – How Do You Mend A Broken Cart

Dive into reengagement campaigns and how you can leverage your customers to achieve your goals. Learn about four common reengagement campaigns—abandoned cart, back-in-stock, low-inventory, and loyalty campaigns—and how you can double down on strategies that work. Hear examples of typical, better, and best campaigns for each campaign type. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Speakers:

  • Valentina Benaglio, Product Marketing Manager, Bloomreach
  • Zsuzsa Kecsmar, Chief Strategy Officer, Antavo
  • Paige Schafer, Alliance Manager, Movable Ink

Tue 11/29 at 1 p.m. – Everything You Want to Know About Engagement Scoring (But Didn’t Know to Ask)

Learn how to create an engagement model that reflects what you value in your members and what your members value in your association; choose the right activities, behaviors and weights for your engagement scoring so they are actionable metrics; and use your engagement scores to guide your association’s strategic decisions. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Bill Conforti, SVP of Strategy and Solutions, Association Analytics


Tue 11/29 at 2 p.m. – The Love Languages of Component Relations

‘Tis the season of giving thanks. Whether a federation or franchise model, the health of component/national relationships has never been more important. With geopolitical turmoil, inflation and recession swirling, and member availability and loyalty possibly waning, what are the “love languages” within the component/national relationship. How did you identify and leverage them for mutual benefit and maximum member value? More info/register.

Host: KiKi L’Italien, senior consultant, Tecker International, and host, Association Chat

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


Wed 11/30 from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. – Winter Symposium (Washington DC)

Four dynamic sessions with a focus on finance, tech and strategy. See descriptions and speaker information in the webinar descriptions below. 4 CAE credits. Location: Washington DC. More info/register. (I’m making an exception to list this $25 event because lunch and happy hour are included in the price.)

Host: UST Education


Wed 11/30 at 10 a.m. – How Does your Association/Nonprofit Develop and Execute Its Strategic Plan?

Learn about the key factors in developing and communicating a strategic plan, the impact your board composition can have on your strategic plan design and funding, and different ways strategic plans are funded. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

  • David Keen, CFO Business Development at American Physical Therapy Association
  • Jennifer Brearey, Chief Financial and Operating Officer at AdvaMed

Wed 11/30 at 11 a.m. – 4 New Ways to Boost your Event Marketing in 2023

Traditional event marketing is struggling. Your audience no longer responds to email, social, or paid ads like they did in 2019. Everything and everyone is now digital. How do you evolve your event marketing to reach your attendees and fill empty seats? The first step is to stop marketing your event alone. 0.75 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Speaker: Rachel Stephan, Founder, snöball Event Marketing


Wed 11/30 at 11:15 a.m. – 5 Steps To Selling Your Board of Directors on Your Required Technology Spend

It can be a nerve-wracking task to have just one chance to present to not one, but multiple people, on the value of a technology upgrade to the organization. Hear about best practices for the board meeting itself and the specific steps you should take before the meeting even occurs, both while preparing a presentation and speaking with board members privately. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Ali Niroo, Managing Partner, BridgePointe Technologies


Wed 11/30 at 1:30 p.m. – How to Craft a Compelling Story for Your Organization Using Financial Footnotes and Forms (990)

Sophisticated donors often delve deeper than just the numbers before making contributions. Learn to use the 990 and financial statement footnotes to tell the story, and to work across departments to develop the story. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

  • Rob Eby, CPA, CGMA, Experienced Accountant of Nonprofit Organizations, Partner at Aronson LLC
  • Stacy Cullen, Tax Director, Aronson LLC

Wed 11/30 at 2:45 p.m. –Cybersecurity Fundamentals for 501C Executives

This session does away with the tech-talk and explains the must-know facts about cybersecurity risks, what executives need to understand, what questions to ask, and how to ensure your IT team is headed in the right direction at an adequate pace. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

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


Wed 11/30 at 3 p.m. – Knowing Your Audience: Content Strategy for Associations

A robust content plan can serve as a guide to your goals and is an important consideration when building and maintaining lasting relationships with your association members. Careful content planning has the power to make members feel appreciated and included, as well as market your association to future members. More info/register.

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

  • Andrea Callicutt, Director of Marketing, Sales & Communications at Keystone Systems
  • Aimee Pagano, Director of Programming & Senior Digital Marketing Advisor at HighRoad Solutions
  • Ashwath Narayanan, Founder & CEO at Social Currant

Thu 12/1 at 12 p.m. – The Community Check-In

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

Host: Black In Events Network


Thu 12/1 at 2 p.m. – Where Will 2023 Take Your IT? Predictions, Pitfalls and Possibilities

As we close out 2022, we are talking about the challenges we have faced the last two years and how you can take charge of your technology in 2023. Hear how to assess technology requirements to meet the needs of your organization based on available skills, resources, and budget; how the economy, cyber security issues and world events might impact technology in 2023; what changes are coming to your everyday technology, and what is the future of social media, AI, and mobile devices and apps. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: 501 Works

Speakers:

  • Alex Mouw, CAE, Principal Strategic Advisor, Amazon Web Services
  • Mark Moen, CAE, CIO, American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)

Thu 12/1 at 3 p.m. – Think Outside the AMS

Hear about a rapidly evolving shift in how associations build their IT ecosystems to best support their mission and their members. Learn about various approaches, key concepts, and practical examples of how various commercial off the shelf systems can talk to each other, exchange information, and work together, with minimal technical expertise and headaches on your part. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

  • Michael Getter, Head of Technology, Corporate Legal Operations Consortium
  • Pete Zimek, CEO, Novi AMS

Fri 12/2 at 10 a.m. – Association Purpose (Coffee with Innovators)

We are association people. We welcome diverse perspectives and all experience levels. We meet on the first Friday of each month. Each session will have a featured facilitator and new theme. We share ideas through connection. The vibe of the circle is thoughtful, casual, and kind. More info/register.

Host: Association Design Circle

Facilitator: Barbara Silverstone, executive director and attorney, most recently of the National Organization of the Social Security Claimants’ Representatives


Fri 12/2 at 11 a.m. – World Café: Ways to Grow International Membership

Hear about ways to grow international membership using leading examples among small and large associations, and discussing the roles of value propositions, chapters/affiliates, and dues pricing. World Café will kick off with a panel of speakers followed by small group discussions, drawing from the experiences of our diverse community of peers. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE International Associations Professionals Community


Tue 12/6 at 12 p.m. – Data Analytics Network: Year in Review

Join association professionals to engage in peer-led discussions on topics related to data and analytics. More info/register.

Host: Data Analytics Network & Association Analytics


Tue 12/6 at 1 p.m. – Data Hoarders: Association Edition

Navigating the line between data as an asset and liability is increasingly difficult as our associations face cyber-security, privacy and logistical challenges related to managing the volumes of data we collect. Learn what data governance is, why data governance is important, how you can get data governance started in your organization, the importance of quality checking your data, and how to establish a process for continued success. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: 501Works

Speakers:

  • Villy Savino, VP of Technology Transformation at CoreNet Global
  • James Marquis, CIO at 501Works

Tue 12/6 at 2 p.m. – Exploring The Six Toughest Decisions Association Boards Must Make

Join an informal discussion of Jeff’s recent two-part series of articles on “The Six Toughest Decisions Association Boards Must Make” (links on registration site). 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Jeff De Cagna, executive advisor, Foresight First


Wed 12/7 at 11 a.m. – Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Association Executives

This webinar does away with the tech-talk and explains the must-know facts about cybersecurity risks, what executives need to understand, what questions to ask, and how to ensure your IT team is headed in the right direction at an adequate pace. More info/register.

Host: Sidecar

Speaker: Brian Scott


Wed 12/7 at 12 p.m. – Create Your 2023 Personal Strategic Plan

Strategic planning isn’t just for organizations. Create your personal strategic plan to align your goals and actions with what matters most in your life. In this interactive session, review your 2022 (reflecting on your 2022 triumphs and other lessons-learned) and set yourself up for success, with intentionality, in 2023. More info/register.

Host: Association Insights in Old Town

Speaker: Carol Vernon, executive coach and founder, Communication Matters: Executive Coaching & Team Development


Thu 12/8 at 12 p.m. – Behind the Curtain of ASAE’s Gold Circle Awards: What You Need to Know Before You Apply

Find out what you need to know before you apply for the ASAE Gold Circle Awards, including an overview of the application, updates to the categories and criteria, tips for a successful submission, and insider knowledge about what the judges are looking. Learn how you can volunteer to be a judge for the awards program. More info/register.

Host: ASAE


Thu 12/8 at 1 p.m. – The 2023 Learning Business Landscape

Hear about key developments that will impact learning businesses in 2023 and beyond, what survey data says about how organizations are investing in learning, and insights into specific areas of focus like personalization, blended learning, AI, cohort-based learning, data, and more. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Leading Learning


Thu 12/8 at 1 p.m. – Overcoming Challenges with International Conferences

Meeting professionals who specialize in international conferences understand the challenges that come along with taking their meeting overseas. From site selection to onsite logistics, conference planners take into consideration many factors to ensure their international attendees, speakers and exhibitors have a seamless journey. Learn what’s changing in the international conference market; the pros/cons of virtual, in-person, and hybrid; and ways to mitigate chaos. 1 CAE/CMP/CEM credit. More info/register.

Host: EVA

Speakers:

  • Lisa Dyson, CMP, DES, Conference Director for the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics
  • Vinnu Deshetty, founder, EVA

Fri 12/9 at 12 p.m. – AWTC Mindful Networking

Held the second Friday of each month, these intimate, virtual conversations are a chance to form meaningful connections with other women and allies in the association technology community. Each Mindful Networking will feature one of our amazing AWTC award winners, followed by breakout rooms with changing topics (selected by our featured guest). More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Guest: Himali Shah, Manager of Consulting at FusionSpan


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


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Creative Commons licensed photo by George Pagan III via Unsplash

Association Brain Food: 11.11.22

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

prickly pear cactus in Zion NP, UT – inspiration for my weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association communityLearning business growth. WBT Systems offers an association perspective on McKinsey’s ten rules for growth. Their interpretation will come in handy when you’re developing a business strategy for education programs.

Recession prep. MemberSuite identifies twelve areas your association must address to survive and thrive amidst challenging economic conditions.

Audience engagement. PropFuel shares 100 questions to ask prospective, current and lapsed members to better understand them, their needs, goals, and more. This seriously valuable list, covering a dozen communication goals, will help you interact with different audience segments in a more relevant and effective way.

Twitter. The uproar about Twitter is predictable, tiresome and amusing. As George Thorogood once said, “It don’t befund me.” The worst thing about Musk’s actions at Twitter so far is the likelihood he’ll drive it into the ground by sheer incompetency. Twitter is what you make it. If you follow outrageous people, you see outrageous things. Mute and block to your heart’s desire. Sure, you’ll come across viewpoints you don’t agree with, things that piss you off. Big deal. I see that from both political sides every day. As someone who sits firmly in the middle, the distinctions between misinformation, lies and differing opinions seem awfully blurry. Cecilia Sepp of Rogue Tulips is nonplussed as well. If you want to read a rational reaction to the outrage, check out her latest commentary: Should we be all atwitter about Twitter?

Content marketing strategy. Hey, SaaS marketing friends (and content partners aka clients), check out this guide to creating or refining a content marketing strategy by Jimmy Daly (Superpath) and Ryan Law at Animalz.

Employee screening. You can do due diligence when hiring an employee, even if you can’t afford to outsource it. This guide from Crimcheck for Associations explains how to do a proper, ethical, and fair social media screening on potential hires.

Membership mindset. The pandemic put many Country Music Association (CMA) members out of business—not the stars who kept selling records, but all the people behind the scenes. During .orgCommunity’s Solutions Day, Tiffany Kerns explained how CMA changed its mindset and started listening to and looking at members as professionals and people.

Quick hits

Advice that actually works—I’m trying to remember #1 as I start my day. (Nabeel Qureshi)

The top five reasons your pages rank (or don’t rank) in search results. (Andy Crestodina, Orbit Media Studio)

Eight proactive ways event planners can avoid post-pandemic hotel service issues. (POP | X)

Good eats

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

Election night pasta is a tradition in our house, plus an excuse to quaff red wine during the week. I first got this idea from a recipe in the News & Observer ten years ago, but it’s no longer on their site. Doesn’t matter. I’ve modified the recipe over the years. Here are the 2022 ingredients—add and cook them as it makes sense to do so: ground beef and hot Italian sausage, onion, fennel (or ground fennel), mushrooms, garlic, marinara sauce, basil pesto, spinach and chard, smoked Gouda (or smoked mozzarella), Parmesan and whole wheat (or regular) penne. Top with Asiago, mozzarella (fresh or regular) and provolone and into the oven it goes for about 20 minutes.

Another decadent recipe, creamy swordfish piccata. On the side, sautéed asparagus (out of season, for shame, I know), chard stems, orange bell pepper, red onion, and tomato. The creamy piccata sauce and those vegetables, oh my!


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


Fri 11/11 at 12 p.m.* – 2022 Midterm Post-Election Briefing

Hear three panels of policy specialists—House, Senate, and Executive Branch—discuss what happened in key races, how (potential) shifts in the majority impact key committees, what it all means for the rest of 2022, and what policy changes we can anticipate in 2023. More info/register.

Hosts: Quorum and Holland & Knight’s Public Policy & Regulation Group

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


Fri 11/11 from 12 to 2:30 p.m. – techsytalk GLOBAL 2022: Attendee Experience

An intense focus on your attendees and their needs, wants and joys will lead you to success. All of your stakeholders are happy when you have engaged, happy attendees so join us to hear practical case studies on how you can create some of the happiest attendees in the world. More info/register.

Host: techsytalk


Fri 11/11 at 12 p.m. – EventTech Chat

A weekly conversation about meeting and event technology, including software, hardware, and audiovisual for in-person and online events. More info/register.

Host: Brandt Krueger, founder, Event Technology Consulting


Fri 11/11 at 4 p.m. – The 6 Types of Working Genius: A Better Way to Understand Your Gifts, Your Frustrations, and Your Team (Book Discussion)

We’ve heard a lot about quiet quitting in employment circles lately. In The 6 Types of Working Genius, best-selling author Patrick Lencioni challenges leaders to help their people unpack their innate talents and leverage them, not just for the benefit of the organization, but for their own fulfillment. Join us for a scintillating discussion of the 6 geniuses. It isn’t necessary to read the book. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4


Mon 11/14 at 12 p.m. – Renewing and Lapsed Member Process (Membership Mondays)

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

Host: Amy Hemphill, ASAE


Mon 11/14 at 1 p.m. – How Streaming Video Is Changing

Learn about the power of streaming video in the industry and how to utilize your video to elevate your events. Find out how the rest of the world is using streaming video and how this behavior with such platforms as YouTube and Twitch with a younger generation might drive expectations for online video in the events industry. 0.5 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MPI

Speaker: Donny Neufuss


Mon 11/14 at 1 p.m. – Membership: Increase Value, Minimize Cost (Nonprofit Conversations with Cecilia Sepp, CAE)

Extended episode with exercises. This series of 15- to 20-minute videos covers hot topics and issues related to 501c organization management. New episodes are posted around 1 p.m. every Monday. Check out Cecilia’s Nonprofit Executive Spotlight series too.

Guest: Charity Quick

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


Mon 11/14 at 3 p.m. – Sizing and Investing Nonprofit Reserves

Learn about a thoughtful approach and framework executives can use to adjust the size and allocation of short and intermediate term investments amid today’s high levels of inflation. Find out how to determine whether you should maintain higher (or lower) reserves than any “rules of thumb” may otherwise indicate, and how to put funds to use across a risk/return spectrum appropriate for your specific purposes in today’s volatile environment. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Jordan L. Forney, Vice President, Financial Advisor, and Christopher J. Clarkson, CFA, Senior Vice President and Director, Bernstein’s Wealth Strategies Group


Tue 11/15 at 11 a.m. – Societies: Is Your Governance Fit For Purpose? (Fireside Chat)

Is your governance evolving to meet the needs of your changing organization? Hear about some of the challenges societies face and look at the ways some are organizing their governance, models that have worked, and some that work less well. More info/register.

Host: Society Street

Speakers:

  • Katy Amberley, Chief Executive at the British Society for Haematology
  • Andrew Chamberlain, Co-founder at Elevated
  • Josh Wright, President of the British Society for Haematology
  • Claire Angus (moderator), Director of Membership Services at the Royal College of Podiatry

Tue 11/15 at 11 a.m. – Take the Trust Fall with First-Party Data

Strong market research builds first-party data, which empowers brands to understand and deliver desirable, delightful results to customers without the creep factor of third-party data and cookies. The result? The elusive trust every brand hopes to retain throughout the customer lifecycle. Learn about first-party data collection and processing to help you strengthen your marketing strategies for what’s next. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Speakers: Schlesinger Group’s Chief Marketing Officer Ellie Ahmadi and Chief Strategy Officer Isaac Rogers


Tue 11/15 at 12 p.m. – Introducing and Managing Change Across the Volunteer Landscape (Crunch and Munch)

Join fellow component relations and volunteer management professionals as we discuss current trends and resources. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Professionals

Speaker: Richard Chang, CEO, Richard Chang Associates, Inc.


Tue 11/15 at 12 p.m. – Meetings Outlook

Review the forecast for events in the coming year, including a budget, attendance, and business conditions. Deep dive into MPI’s most recent Meetings Outlook research and discuss the trends that are most affecting you and your peers. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MPI


Tue 11/15 at 1 p.m. – Code of Ethics: An Association’s North Star

A well-defined and articulated code of ethics can serve as both a governance tool and a strategic management tool. Learn 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

Speakers:

  • Linn Wheeling, MBA, CAE, Managing Director, Washington Initiative Project / Affiliate Community Engagement
  • JoAnn Yanez, ND, MPH, CAE, Board Member, Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine

Tue 11/15 at 2 p.m. – 5 Secrets to Engage Your Members

Learn what the member experience should entail, what today’s members expect from their associations, how your member benefits can drive member engagement, and how your member benefits can ensure member retention. More info/register.

Host: Grype

Speaker: Lydia Israel, Membership Specialist, Grype


Tue 11/15 at 3 p.m. – Find Your Member Magnet: Best Practices for Sourcing New Members for Your Association

Hear tips and tricks for developing a well-planned membership recruitment strategy. Learn fresh ideas to attract the attention of non-members and encourage more people to join your association. More info/register.

Host: NXUnite

Speakers:

  • Ashley Geraghty, Senior Benchmarking Consultant, Dynamic Benchmarking
  • Chris Vaughan, Chief Strategy Officer, Sequence Consulting
  • John Bacon, Vice President of Account Management, Naylor Association Solutions

Wed 11/16 at 11 a.m. – Diversify Your Board of Directors

Learn how one organization changed their governance structure to meet their strategic goals, including increasing diversity on their board within a few short years of making changes. Find out how to reduce bias and create transparency in your governance process, onboard a diverse group of leaders, and create an objective process that ties the strategic needs of your organization to your leadership selection process. More info/register.

Host: Sidecar

Speakers: Veronica Meadows, CAE, Chief Strategy Officer, and Andrea Elkin, PMO Manager, Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards


Wed 11/16 at 11 a.m. – PCI Compliance Workshop 101 for Associations

Learn best practices for associations implementing PCI compliance, a basic overview of PCI compliance, and what it’s designed to achieve. Hear about practical tips you can implement immediately in your organization to ensure a more secure payment environment, and review the Self-Assessment-Questionnaire, and what you should know about it. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Julie Duncan, VP Sales, Association Practice Leader, and Wade Tetsuka, CPA, President, UST


Wed 11/16 at 11 a.m. – 5 New Practices for Producing Digital Events

Modern event production is different. It doesn’t feel the same, nor does it cost the same. Plus, it requires you to think about your in-person, hybrid, and virtual events differently from concept to execution. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Speaker: Joshua Butler, co-founder and COO of Falcon Events


Wed 11/16 at 12 p.m. – AWTC Salon: Pivoting to a Career in IT

Have you considered pivoting to a career in Information Technology? In this AWTC Salon, we will share resources and advice on how to enter the IT field, such as necessary certifications, training, and/or experience. Come ready to share your own experiences and advice. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Facilitator: Diane Harris, Director Information Technology & Project Management Office for the Association for Financial Professionals


Wed 11/16 at 12 p.m. – Ask the Lawyer: Legal Trends in Association Leadership

Associations faced a variety of legal challenges in 2022 with the return of in-person events and expanded methods of creating and delivering member value. Learn about legal trends and pitfalls to avoid as associations plan for 2023. More info/register.

Host: Ewald Consulting

Speakers:

  • Heidi Christianson, President, Nilan Johnson Lewis
  • Sarah Ruzek, Senior Financial Analyst, Nilan Johnson Lewis

Wed 11/16 at 12 p.m. – Brave Choices, More Voices: Aligning Ethics and DEI in Your Association

It’s time for associations to ensure ethical leadership is aligned with DEI culture. When you witness injustice or inequity, do you speak up, call out the behavior, demand a shift in polices, or ask for revised procedures? Learn more about ASAE’s newly revised Code of Conduct. The new Code focuses on how association executives can use it to align and advance your professional ethics, ensure DEI culture, and launch or revise your ethics program. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Xchange

Speaker: Mariama Boney, CAE, ASAE Ethics Committee Vice Chair, and president and CEO of Achieve More


Wed 11/16 at 12:30 p.m. – Alexandria Senior Executives Network (Alexandria VA)

Join a small group session focused on peer-to-peer exchange for association and nonprofit senior executives. Learn about new strategies for leveraging corporate partners to execute your strategic plan, increase revenue, and add member value. Get ideas for inspiring and equipping your sales team to grow your sponsorship program in strategic directions. Location: Alexandria VA. More info/register.

Speaker: corporate partnership and sponsorship consultant Bruce Rosenthal


Wed 11/16 at 1 p.m. – Demystifying AI: Tools, Tips, And Tricks

Are you thinking about implementing AI but have no idea where to start? In this session, we will demystify the idea of AI and talk about practical applications of AI technology that you can begin experimenting with at your association today. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

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


Wed 11/16 at 1 p.m. – FBO Virtual Workshop: Finance

Join a discussion of the current or anticipated impact of inflation on association budgets, reserves, and more. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Finance and Business Operations Professionals Advisory Council

Moderator: Dennis Gogarty, Chair of the FBOPA Council and President of Raffa Investment Advisers


Wed 11/16 at 1 p.m. – Leveraging CVBs To Exchange Community Capital for Tangible ROI

Learn how and why to use CVBs as destination influencers, as community connectors and leverage their existing relationships, as brokers of intellectual capital and exchange that capital for tangible ROI, as true partners and client vision advocates for your full meetings portfolio, and to help you understand and report your event’s impact. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Meetings Today

Speaker: Emily Scheiderer


Wed 11/16 at 1 p.m. – How to Create Content that Sellers Use and Won’t Ignore

Marketing creates a lot of sales content. The challenge is ensuring it meets sellers’ needs and applies to situations reps encounter. Learn how to put more relevant and timely content in the hands of your sellers, improve lead quality and readiness through smarter targeting and messaging, find the right cross-functional meeting cadence to keep the engine humming, enable marketers to mine conversation intelligence, and move beyond content usage analytics to messaging intelligence. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Speakers: Allego’s Wayne St. Amand, Chief Marketing Officer, and Craig Simons, Director of Marketing


Wed 11/16 at 2 p.m. – Turbocharge Your Post-Election Strategy: Tips and Best Practices from the Pros

Learn how to use this time to educate legislators ahead of the 2023 sessions, educate and motivate your advocates for action, capitalize on lame-duck members and leverage their platform, and create and strengthen relationships that work to your organization’s advantage. More info/register.

Host: FiscalNote

Speakers:

  • Nate King, director of congressional affairs for International Justice Mission
  • Kristin St. John, senior manager of coalition and advocacy campaigns at McKesson
  • Joe Franco, president of The Advocacy Association
  • Mallory Howe Molina, director of sales at FiscalNote

Wed 11/16 at 2 p.m. – How to Design a Responsive Nonprofit Marketing Plan Fit for Uncertain Times

Learn about a practical, zero-base approach that simplifies the planning process, creates flexibility through iterative learning, and produces an actionable plan that aligns your team for success. More info/register.

Host: Feathr


Wed 11/16 at 2 p.m. – What’s Your Sustainability Game Plan for Events?

When it comes down to how to actually implement sustainable practices into your meetings and events, confusion abounds and advice is needed. Learn how to create actionable targets for your events, what data matters and how to track it, and ways event tech can help you achieve your sustainability goals. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MeetingsNet

Speakers: Alyssa Peltier, Senior Manager, Market Insights, Cvent and Kris Justice, Senior Manager for Enterprise Customer Success, Cvent Europe


Wed 11/16 at 3 p.m. – How to Make Purple People: A Comprehensive Recipe

Strengthen your teams by blending the skills of your business staff (blue) and technology staff (red) to create Purple People. Learn why Purple People are important, how to improve the outcome of your technology projects and organization goals by fully leveraging your in-house resources, and how to add technology skill-building to your team’s professional development plan. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Josh Carlson, Founder & Chief Innovator, Chris Hunter, Aptify Solution Expert, and Olivia Wilkins, Business Analyst/Project Manager, PerByte


Wed 11/16 at 3 p.m. – Deliberately Designing Your Association’s Strategy for 2023

Strategic planning is a never-ending cycle. Discover practical steps and approaches to a well-thought-out plan that will help your association shine through the year ahead. More info/register.

Host: NXUnite

Speakers:

  • Artesha Moore, FASAE, CAE, President and CEO, Association Forum
  • Elizabeth Johnson, Executive Vice President, Big Red M
  • Eric Ryan, co-founder, Mission Met

Wed 11/16 at 3:30 p.m. – The Roses and Thorns of an LMS Strategy: How to Flourish with the Right LMS

Get a review of the roses and thorns of an LMS strategy, and learn to navigate the selection process from beginning to end so that your organization and eLearning content can flourish. More info/register.

Host: Association Universe

Speakers: Amanda Davis, Chief Experience Officer, and Liam O’Malley, VP of Association Solutions, Blue Sky eLearn


Thu 11/17 at 9 a.m. – Association Business Development Meet-Up: Sales Reporting for Everyone

All business development need metrics to move the needle for their products or services. This PAR business development meet-up will explore the performance, frequency and approach to business development data. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Professionals for Association Revenue


Thu 11/17 at 11:30 a.m. – How to Craft a Winning Webinar Strategy for 2023 and Beyond

Marketers who rely on experiences to connect with their audience, understand the power of webinars. Learn how to implement the latest trends into your webinar strategy, leverage the data to build a stronger experience, keep up with the evolving audience behaviors, and meet your strategic goals. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Speakers:

  • Jess Brown, Heading of Marketing, Notified
  • Sourabh Kothari, Co-Founder and CEO, Mindcurrent
  • Dana Walcott, Program Manager, Global Event Technology, Bloomberg
  • Mindy Weinstein, PhD CEO, Market Mindshift

Thu 11/17 at 12 p.m. – 11 Ways to Help Chapters Avoid (or Handle) a Crisis

Learn tips and best practices to help handle (or hopefully avoid) your next chapter crisis. We’ll cover all kinds of troublesome scenarios, from chapter financial mismanagement, fraud, and cybersecurity attacks to AWOL or unprepared chapter officers and everything in between. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Hosts: Billhighway and Mariner Management


Thu 11/17 at 12 p.m. – Running a Tight Ship: Maximizing Efficiency for Small Associations

Running an association—whatever size it may be—has its challenges, but once you find a system that works, success is right around the corner. Hear how associations should evaluate their current practices to maximize efficiency, as well as build new strategies to grow and flourish. More info/register.

Host: NXUnite

Speakers:

  • Matt McEwan, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Minutes Solutions
  • John Flaherty, Vice President of Business Development at Ntiva
  • Mark DiPinto, Marketing Manager at GetQuorum

Thu 11/17 at 12 p.m. – The Community Check-In

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

Host: Black In Events Network


Thu 11/17 at 1 p.m. – Why Data Integration is a User Experience (UX) Problem

Too often when thinking about user experience, organizations focus on the color of their buttons and the font of their text. But a customer’s experience with your organization goes way beyond. Learn about key areas where you may be ignoring opportunities for data integration, and why ignoring those opportunities is hurting your customers. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Justin Burniske, MBA, Principal Consultant, Co-Owner, Meta-Dao


Thu 11/17 at 2 p.m. – LGBTQIA2+ Meet-up: Continuing the Conversation

Discuss how this group can make an impact for the good for our community and beyond at the next ASAE 2023 in Atlanta. More info/register.

Host: ASAE LGBTQ Association Executives and Supporters


Thu 11/17 at 3 p.m. – Event Exhale

Hear a panel of four event professionals discuss navigating understaffed event teams, vendor negotiation, finding talent and onboarding new team members, guaranteeing your event has value, demonstrating that value to your stakeholders and audience, and reemphasizing the importance of event producers. 1 CAE/CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Event Farm


Thu 11/17 at 4 p.m. – Positive Psychology: How to Flourish & Be the Best of Ourselves Each Day

Positive psychology principles can impact workforce productivity and create a culture that invites creativity, innovation, and collaboration. Hear about the concept of flow, engagement, purpose, and the PERMA model. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Reston-Loudoun Idea Swap

Speaker: Dr. Ofelia Olivero, Chief of the Diversity Intramural Workforce Branch, National Cancer Institute


Thu 11/17 at 6:30 p.m. – Black Association Executives Community Call

More info/register.

Host: ASAE Black Association Executives


Fri 11/18 at 12 p.m. – AWTC Mindful Networking

Held the second Friday of each month, these intimate, virtual conversations are a chance to form meaningful connections with other women and allies in the association technology community. Each Mindful Networking will feature one of our amazing AWTC award winners, followed by breakout rooms with changing topics (selected by our featured guest). More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Guest: Barbara J. Armentrout, CAE, Managing Partner, Mesa Group


Fri 11/18 at 12 p.m. – EventTech Chat

A weekly conversation about meeting and event technology, including software, hardware, and audiovisual for in-person and online events. More info/register.

Host: Brandt Krueger, founder, Event Technology Consulting


Tue 11/22 at 11 a.m. – ASAE’s Digital Transformation: Embracing the Ecosystem Approach to Software

For decades, ASAE had a traditional AMS-centered stack as the core of their business systems infrastructure. Two years ago, ASAE started to explore alternatives to the traditional model, and now in 2022 are beginning the rollout of a new suite of tools that will transform and modernize the organization. Key to this transformation includes embracing an ecosystem approach to software: use purpose-built tools, connected together, focusing on the member experience. Hear about the key components of ASAE’s new technology stack including the Member Data Platform (MDP), Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS), eCommerce platform, and other cloud-based solutions. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

  • Jeff Horne, Co-Founder, CEO, Wicket
  • Reggie Henry, CAE, Chief Information and Performance Excellence Officer, ASAE
  • Mani Jagadeesan, President & CEO, ShuffleLabs

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


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