Association Brain Food: 2.24.23

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

sunlight through the woods – inspiration for my weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association communityProfessional development and membership. After reviewing ASI’s 2023 Membership Performance Benchmark Report, WBT Systems discusses the findings and highlights the role of professional development in attracting, engaging, and retaining members.

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

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

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

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

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

Good eats

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

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

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

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


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


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

Location: Tysons Corner VA. More info/register.

Organizer: ASAE Black Association Executives

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


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

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

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


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

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

Host: Leverage Assessments, Inc.


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

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

Host: Fridays@4

Speakers:

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

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

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

Guest: Dean West, FASAE, President, Association Laboratory

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


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

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

Host: InEvent

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Grype

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


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

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

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Managing Editor & Rep Cap Live

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Association Xchange

Speaker: Christine Saunders, CM, President, Halmyre


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

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

Host: ASAE

Speaker: Shelly Howard-Horwitz


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

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

Host: Personify

Speakers:

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

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

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

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


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

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

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: MeetingsNet

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


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

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

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

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

Wed 3/1 at 8 a.m. – BAE Coffee Chat

More info/register.

Host: ASAE Black Association Executives


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

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

Host: UST Education

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


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

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

Host: Association Insights In Old Town

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Society Street

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Black In Events Network


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

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

Host: Leading Learning

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


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

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

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

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

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

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

Hosts: FiscalNote/VoterVoice and The Advocacy Association

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: 501 Works

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Product Design Community

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


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

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

Host: ASAE Technology Professionals Community


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

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

Host: Fridays@4

Speakers:

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

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

More info/register.

Organizer: ASAE Black Association Executives


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

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

Host: UST Education

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


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

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

Host: ASAE Executive Management Professionals Advisory Council

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Association Analytics


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

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

Host: Professionals for Association Revenue

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


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

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

Host: ASAE

Speaker: Shelly Howard-Horwitz


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

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

Host: UST Education

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


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

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

Host: Association Adviser/Naylor Association Solutions

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: iMIS by ASI


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

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

Host: UST Education

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


Fri 3/10 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: Rebecca Achurch, PGMP, PMP, CSM, CAE, founder, Achurch 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 Irina Iriser via Unsplash

Association Brain Food: 2.17.23

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

Northern Flicker on a tree trunk – inspiration for my weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association communityProgram marketing. When the student is ready, the teacher appears… but is the boss willing to pay? The odds on that aren’t so good these days. A justification toolkit helps prospective learners make a case for attending your online courses. WBT Systems describes what goes into a persuasive toolkit.

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

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

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

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

Quick hits

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

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

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

Good eats

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

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

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

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


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

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

Host: Blue Sky eLearn

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

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


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

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

Host: Fridays@4

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


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

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

Guest: Kevin Korenthal

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


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

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

Host: Grip

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Council


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

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

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: ASAE


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

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

Host: Skift Meetings


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

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

Host: Fonteva & Protech

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Meetings Today

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


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

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

Host: Smart Meetings

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Results Direct | RD Mobile

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


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

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

Host: iMIS by ASI


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

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

Host: ASAE Research Committee of ASAE Research Foundation


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

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

Host: Black In Events Network


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

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

Host: Impexium


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

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

Host: Non Dues-a-Palooza

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


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

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

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: EVA Event Tech Hub

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Mobilize

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Higher Logic

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


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

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

Host: Sidecar


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

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

Host: MeetingsNet

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


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

Location: Tysons Corner VA. More info/register.

Organizer: ASAE Black Association Executives


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

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

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


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

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

Host: Grype

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


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

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

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Association Xchange

Speaker: Christine Saunders, CM, President, Halmyre


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

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

Host: ASAE

Speaker: Shelly Howard-Horwitz


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

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

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: UST Education

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


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

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

Host: Association Insights In Old Town

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Leading Learning

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


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

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

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

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

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

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

Hosts: FiscalNote/VoterVoice and The Advocacy Association

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: 501 Works

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: ASAE Technology Professionals Community


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

More info/register.

Organizer: ASAE Black Association Executives


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


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

Association Brain Food: 2.10.23

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

low sunlight slanting through trees – inspiration for my weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association communityMember engagement. Many of us are eagerly awaiting the release of Amanda Kaiser’s book, Elevating Engagement: Uncommon Strategies for Creating a Thriving Member Community, on February 14. If you pre-order the book by the 13th, you can sign up for a free companion workbook.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Quick hits

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

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

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

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

Good eats

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

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

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

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


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


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

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

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


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

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

Host: Fridays@4

Speakers:

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

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

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

Guest: Angela Lucas

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


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

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

Host: ASAE

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: MPI


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

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

Host: Sidecar

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


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

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

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

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


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

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

Host: Community Brands

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: ASAE LGBTQ Association Executives and Supporters


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

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

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Bizzabo

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Grype

Speaker: Niaz Nasir, Membership Specialist, Grype


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

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

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Cadmium

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


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

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

Host: Association of Association Executives

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Matt Haggerty, Nonprofit Industry Eminence, RSM


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

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

Hosts: Billhighway and Mariner Management

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


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

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

Host: Alexandria Senior Execs Network

Facilitator: Corporate Partnership & Sponsorship Consultant Bruce Rosenthal


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

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

Host: Certification Network Group

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Brianne Wheeler, Director of Marketing at PropFuel


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

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

Host: Jeff de Cagna, executive advisor, Foresight First


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

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

Host: Professionals for Association Revenue

Speaker: Christine Clapp, founder, Spoken with Authority


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

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

Host: FiscalNote

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: MeetingsNet

Speaker: Scott Frankel, President, Animatic Media


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

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

Host: Association Analytics

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


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

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

Host: Association of Association Executives

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: UST Education

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


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

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

Host: Events Industry Council

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: QiqoChat


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

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

Host: Association Laboratory

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


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

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

Host: Black In Events Network


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

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

Host: Personify A2Z Events

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


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

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

Host: Impexium


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

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

Host: ASAE Technology Advisory Council

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: ASAE Reston-Loudoun Idea Swap

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


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

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

Host: Fridays@4

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


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

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

Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Council


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

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

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: ASAE


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

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

Host: Results Direct | RD Mobile

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


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

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

Host: iMIS by ASI


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

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

Host: ASAE Research Committee of ASAE Research Foundation


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

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

Host: Non Dues-a-Palooza

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


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

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

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Sidecar


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 Weston M. via Unsplash

Association Brain Food: 2.3.23

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

Howdy! – inspiration for my weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association communityVendor member education. WBT Systems explains why and how to help industry partners get the most value out of their membership. They describe educational programs that will help these member develop relationships and generate more leads.

Hybrid workplace worries. Achurch Consulting’s State of the Workplace Pulse Report revealed the hybrid workplace issues keeping C-suite leaders up at night. Some of these might be keeping you up too, but don’t worry, Achurch provides solutions too.

Change management. Impexium recommends five strategies for a change management framework. A few of them might surprise you, but they’re essential for technology project success.

Volunteer leaders. Joanna Pineda spoke with Rick Grimm, CEO of NIGP, on episode 15 of the Matrix Group’s Association Thrive podcast about his association’s Talent Council, which takes a different approach to volunteer recruitment. They don’t find a volunteer to fill a space; they get to know the volunteer and find the right space for them. Here’s another NIGP idea to steal: thought leader positions on the board held by people outside the industry who bring needed expertise to the association—you may recognize a few of their names.

Marketing plan. GrowthZone reviews the often confused elements of an association marketing plan: mission, goals, objectives, strategy, and tactics.

Hero worship. National Holocaust Day was last Friday, which I didn’t know until Gurwinder Bhogal shared a video about Nicholas Winton, who helped 669 Jewish children in Czechoslovakia escape the Nazis just before World War II. It’s a good morning cry.

Good eats

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

Southern pan-fried bluefish was back on the menu. Before the fillets hit the pan, dredge them in flour and garlic powder, then buttermilk mixed with lots of hot sauce, and finally cornmeal and panko with ancho chile powder. On the side, potato wedges roasted with olive oil and Bojangles seasoning—crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and roasted broccoli and cauliflower with red onion, garlic powder and salt.

I turned my southwest skillet recipe into a casserole because we were bringing it over our friends’ house for the Eagles game. This time, I added ground chorizo to the turkey and a jalapeño to the pepper mix.


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


Fri 2/3 at 10 a.m.* – Association Design Circle

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

Facilitator: Monica Pemberton, Chief Technology Officer at NACUBO, the National Association for College and University Business Officers

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


Fri 2/3 at 2 p.m. – Association Leadership in the Age of AI: Critical Conversations about Facts, Fears and the Future

Get an in-depth look at ChatGPT, its issues and opportunities: where it comes from, how it works, what it can do, who it helps, who it hurts, and, most importantly, how you can talk about it with your members. More info/register.

Host: Beth Z, Your Nerdy Best Friend


Fri 2/3 at 4 p.m. – Diversity Discussion Series: Association Leadership Panel

Join us for a moderated panel discussion on association leadership experiences in honor of Black History Month and as the first session in our Diversity Discussion Series. Panelists will share their wins, opportunities and resources they’ve utilized throughout their careers to achieve success. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Speakers:

  • Reggie Henry, CAE, Chief Information and Performance Excellence Officer at ASAE
  • Tia Perry, Director of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity at Associated Builders and Contractors
  • Gary Roebuck, MS, MOA, CAE, Deputy Executive Director at the Association of Research Libraries
  • Anikia Brown, CAE, MS (moderator), Senior Marketing Manager at the National Alliance of Mental Illness

Mon 2/6 at 8 a.m. – Elevating Member Engagement (Radio Free 501c)

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

Guest: Amanda Kaiser, Member Engagement Strategist, Kaiser Insights

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


Mon 2/6 at 1 p.m. – Inflection Points with the New MPI Academy Director

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

Host: MPI


Tue 2/7 at 8 a.m. – Morning Coffee with BAE

Start your day with a casual coffee chat on Zoom with your favorite people. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Black Association Executives


Tue 2/7 at 11 a.m. – Newsletter Best Practices

Learn the dos and don’ts when it comes to your email communication pieces, how to determine if your data needs to be cleaned and what to look out for in your bounce report, and how to use your email communications to your advantage with personalization, surveys and more. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Alfred McKelvy III, Executive VP of Strategic Partnerships, Multiview


Tue 2/7 at 12 p.m. – Data Ethics (Association Analytics Network)

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

Host: Association Analytics


Tue 2/7 at 12 p.m. – Preparing for 2023: General Operations Best Practices for Associations

How do you maximize efficiency in your daily operations? During this panel we will unpack how you can get the most out of your resources as an association. More info/register.

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

  • Mark Bowers, Founder and Executive Director, Professional Development Consortium of Hampton Roads
  • Sharon Harrington, Principal and Managing Organizational Communication Consultant, Amediate, LLC
  • Mark Prevost, SVP of Growth, Billhighway

Tue 2/7 at 12 p.m. – Mapping Your Future

Have you started mapping your future? Where do you want to be? What areas of skills do you need to hone in on and strengthen? Where are your current strengths you can position yourself as an expert? Join our Academy team as we will help take you through the process, self-reflection and kick off the steps for you to begin mapping your future. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MPI


Tue 2/7 at 1 p.m. – Leadership Lessons from Martial Arts

The martial arts teach discipline, respect and technique. What can they teach us about leadership? Quite a lot. Hear five leadership lessons Joanna’s learned from studying two martial arts, TaeKwonDo and HapKiDo: why it’s useful to think of your staff as students with different degrees of skill levels (belts), how to have a conversation with a staff member who needs to switch jobs or seriously upgrade their skills (change to a new martial art), and how to teach your staff that they can be and should be leaders and followers at the same time. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Joanna Pineda, CEO & Chief Troublemaker of Matrix Group


Tue 2/7 at 2 p.m. – Charge Members For What You’re Worth

Learn how to uncover the value you offer, conduct market research to discover expanded opportunities, attach the right price to the value your organization provides, and communicate it to your audience. More info/register.

Host: Grype

Speaker: Dr. Michael Tatonetti, Founder and CEO, Pricing for Associations


Wed 2/8 at 7 a.m. – Encouraging Colleagues and Members to Be Association Ambassadors

Empower your members and colleagues to become ambassadors for your association. Learn practical tips and strategies on how to align your team on the correct association messages and keep your ambassadors engaged and motivated. More info/register (subscribe first).

Host: Association of Association Executives

Speakers:

  • Alison Abbott, Marketing & Communications Director, World LPG Association
  • John Martinez, Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Shocklogic
  • Paul Walsh EMIAM (moderator), Seminar Programme Manager, Association of Association Executives

Wed 2/8 at 8:30 a.m. – CEO Breakfast with Halmyre: Association Disruption: A View Forward From the C-Suite (Ottawa ON)

Join a facilitated discussion with leaders who will turn disruption on its head. You will get inspiration for your 2023 strategy and a greater perspective on how you can disrupt the association model. Location: Ottawa ON. More info/register.

Host: Christine Saunders, President, Halmyre


Wed 2/8 at 11 a.m. – Association Business Development Meet-Up: Beat the Competition with Compelling Sales Materials

Visualizing an outcome is a key component in the buying process. As buying options continue to increase, organizations that can show their customers a path forward will stand out from the competition. That’s where sales materials come in: utilizing the right ones can help turn customers into partners. Learn about sales materials that work, share ideas and ask questions. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Professionals for Association Revenue

Facilitator: Sean Soth, Founder and Leadership Advisory Board Chair of Professionals for Association Revenue


Wed 2/8 at 11 a.m. – Cybersecurity Questions You Should Be Asking

As critical as this topic is for an organization’s future and brand reputation, it is one of the least understood by organization leaders.  This webinar cuts through the tech-talk and explains the must-know facts about cybersecurity risks, what leaders need to understand, what questions to ask, and how to ensure your IT team is headed in the right direction at an adequate pace. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

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


Wed 2/8 at 11 a.m. – Repurposing Your Event Content to Maximize Views

Learn how to repurpose all of your valuable event content using the 3 R’s of repurposing content: reuse—use the existing content you have in different formats; remix—mix pieces of content to create something new and exciting; and refresh—update older pieces of content so they stay relevant. More info/register.

Host: Hopin


Wed 2/8 at 1 p.m. – Leading Your Team Through Major Technology Projects

Learn strategies for successful internal project management for technology projects. Find out how to create a list of expectations for internal project stakeholders/team members and determine whether a vendor’s project management practices align with your association’s approach. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Hosts: Fonteva & Protech

Speakers:

  • Jenifer Alonzo, Association Practice Lead, Fíonta
  • Erin Lemons, Senior Director of Marketing, Fonteva & Protech

Wed 2/8 at 1:30 p.m. – How Toxic Tech Is Really Affecting Your Association

Learn how detrimental toxic technologies are affecting your association and what to do to rise above the chaos. Examine root causes and risks including: your association’s culture and technical mindset, digital maturity level, business strategy alignment (or misalignment) and more. Hear from our panel of association technology experts and association executives who have tackled their toxic tech cultures head-on and how they’ve shifted to a continuous performance improvement mindset. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Hosts: ASI and ReviewMyAMS


Thu 2/9 at 11 a.m. – Marketing Artificial Intelligence in Action

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

Host: UST Education

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


Thu 2/9 at 12 p.m. – Beyond Personality Type: How CliftonStrengths Can Accelerate Your Professional Success

There are several tools in the marketplace that evaluate personality, work style, and ambition, including CliftonStrengths, a Gallup product that can help measure indicators where you can excel and develop. Learn about CliftonStrengths and how to best use its results. Hear about other personality evaluations and when a participant may experience them. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Speaker: Rebecca Achurch, Founder and CEO of Achurch Consulting and a certified CliftonStrengths coach


Thu 2/9 at 12 p.m. – Drowning in Data: Focus on These 5 Key Event Data Points That Affect Your Whole Association

Learn what event data points are the most beneficial to associations. Explore how to use event data to make key strategic decisions that can help you achieve enhanced member engagement and experiences that attendees keep coming back to. More info/register.

Host: .orgCommunity

Speaker: Vinnu Deshetty, the Founder and CEO of EVA – Event Tech Hub


Thu 2/9 at 12 p.m. – Talking Tech for Associations

The strategic use of tech empowers associations to increase in productivity and operational efficiency. As technology plays a crucial role in the success of every organization, our industry experts will discuss the trends, initiatives, and must-haves to help your association move forward in a digital era. More info/register.

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

  • Natale Foley, Sales Director at Joyn
  • Neeraj Garg, Chief Operating Officer at Aplusify
  • Thomas McClintock, Senior Client Services Manager at Empowered Margins
  • Melinda Starkweather, Founder of Starkweather Association Services

Thu 2/9 at 12 p.m. – DES Expert Panel Q&A

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

Host: PCMA


Thu 2/9 at 12 p.m. – The Community Check-In

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

Host: Black In Events Network


Thu 2/9 at 1 p.m. – What You are NOT Being Told About Credit Card Processing

Learn about four important payment trends which emerged from the pandemic, two key changes you should make in 2023 with your payment and credit card collection practices, what you are not being told about credit card fees and why that is costing your organization money, alternatives to credit card collections—the ecosystem that supports Visa/MasterCard and AMEX definitely don’t want you to know this, PCI compliance and security issues for 2023—and why are you not aware of this, and how to do an RFP for Merchant Services—an outline that you can use today. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Julie Duncan, Association Practice Leader, and Jenni Glaze, COO, US Transactions Corporation


Thu 2/9 at 2 p.m. – AMS Selection from the Trenches

Hear the real-life stories of two associations who just finished the selection process and how they managed and engaged their SME team and CEO to help with selection. Learn tips on how to handle your upcoming software selection process for an AMS or other key systems (LMS, communities, financial system, MSP) that you may plan to select in 2023. Get your questions about AMS selection answered by those who just went through the process. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: 501 Works

Speakers:

  • Joye Blanscett, Executive Director of Operations, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association
  • Annie A. Coldstream, Vice President of Member Engagement and HR, Massachusetts Bankers Association

Thu 2/9 at 2 p.m. – Why Meeting-Well Matters

Smart meeting professionals have learned to support physical, dietary, and mental health in the agenda with exercise classes, fun runs, healthy meal choices, and places to catch your breath. Learn why healthy meetings lead to better learning outcomes, creative ways to help people make better choices, and tips for caring for the whole attendee. More info/register.

Host: Smart Meetings

Speakers:

  • Romie Mushtaq, wellness officer, Evolution Hospitality
  • Rachael Riggs, wellbeing leader, Maritz Global Events
  • Dave Stevens, director of field marketing and global events, data.world

Thu 2/9 at 3 p.m. – Beyond Dues: Launching Additional Revenue Streams for Your Associations

There are many ways your association can increase its revenue, such as sponsorships, job boards, and career events. An association’s financial health plays a significant role in determining its goals and activities. Explore alternative revenue streams your association could be leveraging right now. More info/register.

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

  • Jordana Davis, Co-Founder and CEO, webcastcloud
  • Michael Hoffman, Co-Founder and CEO, Gather Voices
  • Felicia Michie, Senior Vice President of Partnerships, We Know Training
  • Joanne Ray, Principal, Consultants in Association Philanthropy

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

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


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

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

Host: ASAE

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Sidecar

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


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

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

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

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


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

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

Host: ASAE LGBTQ Association Executives and Supporters


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

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

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Matt Haggerty, Nonprofit Industry Eminence, RSM


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

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

Hosts: Billhighway and Mariner Management

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


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

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

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Brianne Wheeler, Director of Marketing at PropFuel


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

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

Host: Professionals for Association Revenue

Speaker: Christine Clapp, founder, Spoken with Authority


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

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

Host: Association Analytics

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


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

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

Host: UST Education

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


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

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

Host: Qiqo


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

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

Host: Association Laboratory

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


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

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

Host: Impexium


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

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

Host: ASAE Technology Advisory Council

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: ASAE Reston-Loudoun Idea Swap

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


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 Paxson Woelber via Unsplash

Association Brain Food: 1.27.23

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

Landscape Arch in Arches National Park, Moab, UT – inspiration for my weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association communityMember company employees. I know how frustrating it is when your association is only connected with a small percentage of employees at member companies. Granted, because of their job, some aren’t your target market, but many are. WBT Systems suggests ways to find these folks and introduce them to your association and education programs.

Gen Z values. In part 2 of this series, MemberSuite describes five more values that Gen Z holds dear. They explain how your association can align with these values, so you have a better chance of drawing this generation closer as attendees, customers, or members.

Instructional design. Blue Sky eLearn’s introduction to instructional design essentials will tell you how to determine the educational needs of your market, develop learning objectives and assessment questions, repurpose existing content, decide on a delivery format, and make a design plan.

Classism bias. Among all our known biases, this one has flown under the radar and is often the root cause of what appears to be a different bias. Do you or your co-workers treat people differently who are less educated than you? Maybe they speak differently or wear clothes you wouldn’t wear? Latoya James Torrance at Chief explains how to recognize and mitigate the effects of classism in the workplace.

Twitter. I still enjoy Twitter, maybe because I don’t follow people who enrage me—plus, I’m not easily enraged. The experience seems the same as it always was, no better, no worse. Chelsea Brasted at Sidecar suggests some considerations before you decide whether to bug out on Twitter.

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

Quick hits

Forget every negative insinuation I’ve ever made about brainstorming… this is a brilliant exercise. Extreme questions to trigger new, better ideas. (Jason Cohen, A Smart Bear)

Unemployed professionals are flooded with fake job offers—this scourge is happening to people beyond the tech sector. (Imani Moise, The Wall Street Journal—free link)

Should writers take limited attention spans into account when they craft sentences? (Charles Schifano, Desk Notes)

Good eats

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

I think we might need a break from soup. Two weekends ago, I made caldo verde, then Jim made catfish and shrimp gumbo, and last weekend I made salmon chowder—with buttermilk cornbread on the side. All of them were spectacular but I’m thinking a solid protein for this weekend.

A busy day in the kitchen on Sunday… I made gingerbread granola and then pinto beans in the pressure cooker. When the beans were done, I mixed them into (while smooshing some too) sautéed onions, poblano, jalapeño, and garlic. They’ve been appearing in breakfast/lunch burritos with avocado, fried egg, hot sauce, and, sometimes, tomato.


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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 1/27 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

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


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 8 a.m. – Setting Wellness Goals (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: Fern Carbonell

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


Mon 1/30 at 1 p.m. – Trailblaze Without the Risk: 2023/2024’s Hottest Design Trends

0.5 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MPI


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 7 a.m. – Creating an Agile Association

Learn how to create an association that can quickly respond to changes and capitalize on opportunities. Discover best practices, real-life examples and practical advice on how to make your association more responsive, resilient and ready for the future. Hear how to create a culture of innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement. More info/register (subscribe first).

Host: Association of Association Executives

Speakers:

  • John Collins, Executive Director, International Fruit and Vegetable Juice Association
  • Tessie Laub, Executive Director, International Society of Paediatric Oncology
  • Paul Walsh EMIAM (moderator), Seminar Programme Manager, Association of Association Executives

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


Wed 2/1 at 11 a.m. – The Power of Zapier

1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Keith Hunter, President and CEO, Armstrong Enterprise Communications


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


Wed 2/1 at 1 p.m. – A Song for the Unsung: Leadership at any Level

Using the fundamentals of Courageous Leadership: Authenticity, Resilience, Emotional Intelligence, Self-Discipline, and Commitment to Purpose, learn how to find you own power to be change agents as well as coaches, mentors, and allies to empower others. Hear from a knowledgeable panel representing various career stages as they share their lessons learned and suggestions to address obstacles and opportunities. Get inspired to commit to lifelong learning, community collaboration, and strategic thinking habits to become the hero of your own association story. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

  • Cynthia Young, CAE, Executive Director, American Art Therapy Association
  • Terri Cochran, Senior Manager, Member Services, American Art Therapy Association
  • Maricel Laquindanum, Operations Coordinator, American Art Therapy Association
  • Kelli Baxter, Executive Director, National Utility Contractors Association of Washington, DC
  • Heather Wakefield, Senior Director of Program Strategy, Development, and Design, Council on Undergraduate Research

Wed 2/1 at 3 p.m. – Playing To Your Members’ Strengths – Forming Association Committees

Committees play a vital role in steering associations towards efficiently achieving goals. Whether you are forming one or are looking to realign your existing committee structure, this panel will inspire you with insights and best practices when planning out your committees. Learn how you can accomplish your organization’s needs through well-established and productive committees. More info/register.

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

  • Mark Lewis, MS, CAE, CVA, Director of Membership at Raybourn Group International
  • Cheryl Williams, Senior Consultant at Tecker International
  • DeLaine Bender, CAE, Vice President of AMR Management Services
  • Liz Wooten-Reschke, President & CEO of Connect For More

Thu 2/2 at 7 a.m. – Positioning Your Event as a Brand

Learn how to develop a strong event brand that connects with your target audience and reflects your association’s vision and advocacy objectives. Hear about key concepts and real-life examples, ask questions, and share your own insights with other association executives. More info/register (subscribe first).

Host: Association of Association Executives

Speakers:

  • Pieter Swart CMP CMM, Business Events Strategist and Managing Director, Conference Consultancy
  • Paul Walsh EMIAM (moderator), Seminar Programme Manager, Association of Association Executives

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


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


Thu 2/2 at 11 a.m. – Are You Safeguarding Your Organization? Guide To Fraud Prevention

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

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

  • Julie Broadway, President & CEO, American Horse Council & American Horse Council Foundation
  • Greg Plotts, Partner, Aronson LLC

Thu 2/2 at 12 p.m. – Making Connections: Supercharging Your Association’s Networking Activities

Associations bank on the relationships built by their members amongst themselves and the communities they support. This is one of the many reasons why associations hold regular networking events. These events also function as community engagement activities that promote membership and new-found supporters. Learn how associations can further their causes through the power of networking. More info/register.

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

  • Vinnu Deshetty, Founder and CEO of EVA
  • Lee Gimpel, Founder of Better Meetings
  • Teri Carden, Creator of Non Dues-a-Palooza and ReviewMyAMS

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

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

Host: Black In Events Network


Thu 2/2 at 1 p.m. – The Future of Data Breach Risk Management: Response and Recovery

Having an annually updated response and recovery plan will help your organization successfully manage a data breach incident. Learn about regulatory requirements including state breach notification laws, FTC Red Flags Rule, HIPAA HITECH data breach requirements, PCI Data Security Standards, and COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act). Hear data breach risk management recommendations for affected individuals including employees and customers and data breach response and best practices. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Mark Pribish, Practice Leader, Identity Theft and Data Breach Solutions at Vero


Fri 2/3 at 4 p.m. – Diversity Discussion Series: Association Leadership Panel

Join us for a moderated panel discussion on association leadership experiences in honor of Black History Month and as the first session in our Diversity Discussion Series. Panelists will share their wins, opportunities and resources they’ve utilized throughout their careers to achieve success. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Speakers:

  • Reggie Henry, CAE, Chief Information and Performance Excellence Officer at ASAE
  • Tia Perry, Director of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity at Associated Builders and Contractors
  • Gary Roebuck, MS, MOA, CAE, Deputy Executive Director at the Association of Research Libraries
  • Anikia Brown, CAE, MS (moderator), Senior Marketing Manager at the National Alliance of Mental Illness

Tue 2/7 at 8 a.m. – Morning Coffee with BAE

Start your day with a casual coffee chat on Zoom with your favorite people. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Black Association Executives


Tue 2/7 at 11 a.m. – Newsletter Best Practices

Learn the dos and don’ts when it comes to your email communication pieces, how to determine if your data needs to be cleaned and what to look out for in your bounce report, and how to use your email communications to your advantage with personalization, surveys and more. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Alfred McKelvy III, Executive VP of Strategic Partnerships, Multiview


Tue 2/7 at 12 p.m. – Data Ethics (Association Analytics Network)

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

Host: Association Analytics


Tue 2/7 at 1 p.m. – Leadership Lessons from Martial Arts

The martial arts teach discipline, respect and technique. What can they teach us about leadership? Quite a lot. Hear five leadership lessons Joanna’s learned from studying two martial arts, TaeKwonDo and HapKiDo: why it’s useful to think of your staff as students with different degrees of skill levels (belts), how to have a conversation with a staff member who needs to switch jobs or seriously upgrade their skills (change to a new martial art), and how to teach your staff that they can be and should be leaders and followers at the same time. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Joanna Pineda, CEO & Chief Troublemaker of Matrix Group


Tue 2/7 at 2 p.m. – Charge Members For What You’re Worth

Learn how to uncover the value you offer, conduct market research to discover expanded opportunities, attach the right price to the value your organization provides, and communicate it to your audience. More info/register.

Host: Grype

Speaker: Dr. Michael Tatonetti, Founder and CEO, Pricing for Associations


Wed 2/8 at 11 a.m. – Association Business Development Meet-Up: Beat the Competition with Compelling Sales Materials

Visualizing an outcome is a key component in the buying process. As buying options continue to increase, organizations that can show their customers a path forward will stand out from the competition. That’s where sales materials come in: utilizing the right ones can help turn customers into partners. Learn about sales materials that work, share ideas and ask questions. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Professionals for Association Revenue

Facilitator: Sean Soth, Founder and Leadership Advisory Board Chair of Professionals for Association Revenue


Wed 2/8 at 11 a.m. – Cybersecurity Questions You Should Be Asking

As critical as this topic is for an organization’s future and brand reputation, it is one of the least understood by organization leaders.  This webinar cuts through the tech-talk and explains the must-know facts about cybersecurity risks, what leaders need to understand, what questions to ask, and how to ensure your IT team is headed in the right direction at an adequate pace. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

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


Thu 2/9 at 11 a.m. – Marketing Artificial Intelligence in Action

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

Host: UST Education

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


Thu 2/9 at 12 p.m. – Beyond Personality Type: How CliftonStrengths Can Accelerate Your Professional Success

There are several tools in the marketplace that evaluate personality, work style, and ambition, including CliftonStrengths, a Gallup product that can help measure indicators where you can excel and develop. Learn about

CliftonStrengths and how to best use its results. Hear about other personality evaluations and when a participant may experience them. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Speaker: Rebecca Achurch, Founder and CEO of Achurch Consulting and a certified CliftonStrengths coach


Thu 2/9 at 12 p.m. – Drowning in Data: Focus on These 5 Key Event Data Points That Affect Your Whole Association

Learn what event data points are the most beneficial to associations. Explore how to use event data to make key strategic decisions that can help you achieve enhanced member engagement and experiences that attendees keep coming back to. More info/register.

Host: .orgCommunity

Speaker: Vinnu Deshetty, the Founder and CEO of EVA – Event Tech Hub


Thu 2/9 at 2 p.m. – AMS Selection from the Trenches

Hear the real-life stories of two associations who just finished the selection process and how they managed and engaged their SME team and CEO to help with selection. Learn tips on how to handle your upcoming software selection process for an AMS or other key systems (LMS, communities, financial system, MSP) that you may plan to select in 2023. Get your questions about AMS selection answered by those who just went through the process. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: 501 Works

Speakers:

  • Joye Blanscett, Executive Director of Operations, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association
  • Annie A. Coldstream, Vice President of Member Engagement and HR, Massachusetts Bankers Association

Fri 2/10 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: Moira Edwards, MS, CAE, owner and president of Ellipsis Partners LLC


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


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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.


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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 1/13 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!