Association Brain Food

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

This is the last edition of Association Brain Food for the year. I’ll see you again on Friday, January 6, 2023. Wishing you and yours a relaxing and enjoyable holiday season. Merry Christmas!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good eats

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

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

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

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

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

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Fri 12/16 at 12 p.m.* – ReadyMe

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

Host: ASAE

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

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

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

Host: Fridays@4

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

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

Guest: Cheryl Ronk

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

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

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

Host: Mobilize

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: UST Education

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

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

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

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Larry Sheetz, Sales Executive, Avalara

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

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

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

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Black In Events Network

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

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

Host: Black In Events Network

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

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

Host: Smart Meetings

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

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

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

Host: Professionals for Association Revenue

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

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

Host: Black In Events Network

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

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

Host: 501Works

Speaker: Steven English, TEDx speaker and trained facilitator

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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

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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

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

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

Host: Amy Hemphill, ASAE

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

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

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

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

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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

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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

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

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Creative Commons licensed photo by Sébastien Goldberg via Unsplash

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

Virtual events and inclusion. “If your association is serious about inclusion and diversity, make sure you know what ‘going back to normal’ really means.” WBT Systems explains who’s excluded if you stop hosting virtual conferences. Maybe more people than you realize according to the research they share. They also suggest ways to improve the virtual conference experience.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Quick hits

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

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

Twitter comes of age. (Tyler Cowen)

Good eats

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Guest: Himali Shah, Manager of Consulting at FusionSpan

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

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

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

Host: Fridays@4

Moderator: Heather Story, consultant, Volunteer Strategies

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

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

Guest: Cathy Lada, DSc, CAE

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

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

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

Host: ASAE

Facilitator: Amy Hemphill, ASAE

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

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

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

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

Host: Hivebrite

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Council

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

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

Host: Validity

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

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

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Certification Network Group

Roundtable hosts:

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

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

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

Host: Community Brands

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

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

Host: Quorum

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

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

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

Host: Non-Dues-a-Palooza

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

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

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

Host: Meetings Today

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Webex Events (formerly Socio)

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

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

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

Host: MeetingsNet

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Jon Rivers, COO, Marketeery

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

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

Host: Training Magazine Network

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

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

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

Host: Black In Events Network

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

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

Host: Carol Hamilton, founder, Grace Social Sector Consulting

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

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

Host: UST Education

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

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

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

Host: ASAE Reston-Loudoun Idea Swap

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

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

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

Host: Fridays@4

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

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

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

Guests:

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

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

New member engagement. It’s here! The 2022 New Member Engagement Study from Amanda Kaiser at Kaiser Insights and Dynamic Benchmarking includes survey data on how associations of different sizes handle new member engagement. It also shares onboarding tactics and success factors. Check out the launch party information below (December 6)—it’s bound to be an informative and enjoyable event.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Quick hits

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

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

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

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

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

Good eats

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Host: Association Design Circle

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

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

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

Host: ASAE International Associations Professionals Community

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

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

Host: Fridays@4

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

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

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

Guest: Cynthia Lockrey, Lockrey Communications

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

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

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

Host: Propel

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Contentware

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: MPI

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

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

Host: UST Education

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

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

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

Host: Data Analytics Network & Association Analytics

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

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

Host: MPI

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

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

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

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

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

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

Host: 501Works

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: American Marketing Association

Speaker: Mark Bornstein, VP, Content Marketing, ON24

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

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

Host: Jeff De Cagna, executive advisor, Foresight First

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

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

Host: Grype

Speaker: Farhad Khan, Digital Strategist & CEO of Grype

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

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

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Sidecar

Speaker: Brian Scott

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

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

Host: UST Education

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

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

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

Host: Skift

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

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

Host: Association Analytics

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

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

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

Host: Association Insights in Old Town

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

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

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

Host: Cloud Generation

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Adam Hostetter, CEO, FUSE Search

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

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

Host: GrowthZone

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

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

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

Host: ASAE

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

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

Host: American Marketing Association

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

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

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

Host: Black In Events Network

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

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

Host: Personify

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

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

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

Hosts: inWhatLanguage and Association Universe

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

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

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

Host: Leading Learning

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

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

Host: EVA

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: MeetingsNet

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

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

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

Host: UST Education

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

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

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

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Guest: Himali Shah, Manager of Consulting at FusionSpan

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

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

Host: Fridays@4

Moderator: Heather Story, consultant, Volunteer Strategies

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

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

Host: ASAE

Facilitator: Amy Hemphill, ASAE

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

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

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

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

Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Council

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

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

Host: Carol Hamilton, founder, Grace Social Sector Consulting

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

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Creative Commons licensed photo by Ozark Drones via Unsplash

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

Because next week is a short one, I won’t have the usual time to work on Association Brain Food, so this week’s edition includes events for the weeks of November 21 and November 28.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Quick hits

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

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

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

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

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

Good eats

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

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

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

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

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

Host: Fridays@4

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

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

Host: MPI

Speaker: Association Analytics

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

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

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Guild

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: MPI

Speakers: Andrea Hutchinson and Stephanie Harris

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

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

Guest: Lesedi Lesetedi

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

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

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

Host: D2L

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

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

Host: UST Education

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

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

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

Host: American Marketing Association

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: UST Education

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Host: UST Education

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

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

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: PCMA

Speaker: Rachel Stephan, Founder, snöball Event Marketing

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

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

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Ali Niroo, Managing Partner, BridgePointe Technologies

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

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

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: UST Education

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

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

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

Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Black In Events Network

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

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

Host: 501 Works

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Association Design Circle

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

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

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

Host: ASAE International Associations Professionals Community

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

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

Host: Data Analytics Network & Association Analytics

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

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

Host: 501Works

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Jeff De Cagna, executive advisor, Foresight First

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

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

Host: Sidecar

Speaker: Brian Scott

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

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

Host: Association Insights in Old Town

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

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

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

Host: ASAE

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

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

Host: Leading Learning

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

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

Host: EVA

Speakers:

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

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

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

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Guest: Himali Shah, Manager of Consulting at FusionSpan

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

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Creative Commons licensed photo by George Pagan III via Unsplash

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

Non-dues revenue award. Do you have a program, event or staff experience that connects your association’s mission to business growth? Nominate your association for the Pierre Partnership Award presented by the Professionals for Association Revenue. Nominees do not need to attend the RevUP Summit or even be a PAR member.

Association education survey. Leading Learning invites your participation in a survey about trends affecting the business of lifelong learning, continuing education, and professional development. Find out where organizations plan to focus their efforts in 2023—valuable data for planning and/or making your case for necessary budget approvals.

Industry marketing inspiration. I have not seen either of these series, but I can see how they’d be content marketing inspiration for associations. WBT Systems explains how the strategy behind shows about the Wrexham soccer club and Formula 1 can help your association sell your industry to career changers and job seekers.

Community strategy. The team at Mobilize published a community strategy playbook based on the blueprint they developed for creating their own user community. They guide you step-by-step through creating community strategy, launch, communication and engagement plans—wow, it’s comprehensive and looks like it includes everything you’ll need.

Questions for your board. Jeff De Cagna of Foresight First shares three questions for your senior staff and board to reflect upon individually and then “discuss with candor.” These questions will force you to think differently and reckon with the future—an imperative for responsible stewards.

AI in associations. Few associations use AI right now, maybe because they don’t understand how it could benefit them and their members and how easy it is to start. Sheri Jacobs at Avenue M Group shares three articles from ASAE that may help you get over any AI resistance.

Credit card processors. Growthzone’s guide to selecting a credit card processor is perfect for those of you who need to understand the players and their roles, terminology, fees, rates, hard and soft costs, and security issues. They also suggest topics you should ask about during your discussions with vendors.

Content distribution. Emily Kramer at the MKT1 Newsletter says your content will achieve its goals and make a greater impact if you plan its distribution upfront—and she explains exactly how to do that.

Good eats

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

Choose your favorite fish and greens for this yummy green coconut curry—my version, this time, featured yellowfin tuna and collard greens. Underneath, 90-second jasmine rice from Uncle Ben.

Leftover fresh mozzarella balls and basil pesto plus flounder in my seafood share—what to do? I smeared the pesto over the flounder fillets, roughly chopped and sprinkled the mozzarella balls over them along with halved grape tomatoes and parmesan cheese. Into the oven, and you know what? Although overly cheesy, it was really good.

On the side, green beans sautéed with bacon, mushrooms, orange bell pepper, onion, garlic, plus a bit of chicken broth to make sure they cooked through.

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

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Fri 11/4 at 10 a.m.* – Association Purpose (Coffee with Innovators)

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

Host: Association Design Circle

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

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

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Fri 11/4 at 12 p.m. – EventTech Chat

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

Host: Brandt Krueger, founder, Event Technology Consulting

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Fri 11/4 at 4 p.m. – Open Networking: Programming 2023

Join us for open networking and a discussion led by F@4 leaders on your programming requests and suggestions for the upcoming 2023 Program Calendar. Come ready to share topics of interest, professional development needs, and speaker recommendations. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

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Mon 11/7 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. – RealTime Conference

Explore the way real-time technologies enable the creation of the Metaverse through three different perspectives: Creativity, Technology, and Economics. Discover the very best of what’s new and what’s next with the real-time technology, tools, and applications that are rapidly transforming the ways we work, communicate, interact, and grow our businesses; remotely, collaboratively and in real-time. More info/register.

Host: RealTime Community

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Mon 11/7 at 1 p.m. – Are Health Care Meetings Really Different? (Nonprofit Conversations with Cecilia Sepp, CAE)

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

Guest: Kimberly Stansell

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

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Mon 11/7 at 5:30 p.m. – AWTC Toast to Fall (Arlington VA)

Join AWTC for an informal happy hour as we toast each other and a happy fall. Location: Arlington VA. More info.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

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Tue 11/8 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. – RealTime Conference

Explore the way real-time technologies enable the creation of the Metaverse through three different perspectives: Creativity, Technology, and Economics. Discover the very best of what’s new and what’s next with the real-time technology, tools, and applications that are rapidly transforming the ways we work, communicate, interact, and grow our businesses; remotely, collaboratively and in real-time. More info/register.

Host: RealTime Community

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Tue 11/8 at 11 a.m. – Data Lakes: No Question is Dumb

Not an IT session, a conversation about why the association world is buzzing about data lakes, and giving you a safe space to ask questions, such as why are associations using these tools? Learn about the pros and cons of data lakes and data warehouses, when data lakes are a good tool, or not, based on your association’s needs, data privacy and data stewardship, and what steps you can take to improve the current data situation. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

• Barbara J. Armentrout, CAE, Managing Partner, Mesa Group
• Greg Pollack, VP of Sales, Association Analytics

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Tue 11/8 at 12 p.m. – Leaving Your Mark: Telling My Story

Hear from industry professionals who’ve built their brand about how they did so. Learn the importance of positioning yourself as a brand, the importance of storytelling and how to tell your brand story, and actionable steps to creating your brand. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MPI

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Tue 11/8 at 1 p.m. – Solving Managed IT & Security

Watching Uber’s former CISO face a felony conviction drives home just how much pressure is on companies to get IT & security right. Hear about the challenges facing companies and how to solve them. Learn about the context for work in a post-pandemic world, the opportunity to accelerate your organization’s digital transformation journey, market drivers and how you can benefit, and how to identify where to best leverage internal and external resources. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Michael Shonholz, Chief Revenue Officer, Jim Begley, Chief Technology Officer, and David DeCillis, CISSP, Senior Product Specialist at ARG

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Tue 11/8 at 2 p.m. – Future-Proof Your Association with Value Management

Our friends at Halmyre surveyed non-profit leaders about their value propositions. Hear about the quantifiable impact of a clear value proposition on revenue, resilience, and customer loyalty; how your organization’s approach to value management compares to like organizations; what’s keeping non-profit CEOs up at night and how to address these concerns; how to determine member preferences and interests by segment and over time; ways to understand the exchange of value between you and your members; and how to use engagement scoring to validate your value proposition. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Analytics

Speakers:

• Christine Saunders, President of Halmyre
• Bill Conforti, SVP of Strategy & Solutions, Association Analytics

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Tue 11/8 at 2 p.m. – Explore How Associations Are Leveraging Communities as More Than Just a Piece of Tech

Learn about the importance of a strategy when implementing a professional community. Find out how to set and optimize community management best practices, source and negotiate for your community software platform best fit, and use data to engage and retain members. 1 CAE/EIC credit. More info/register.

Host: Nifty Method

Speaker: Wes Goldstein, COO of Mobilize

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Tue 11/8 at 3 p.m. – PCI Workshop

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

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Jenni Glaze, COO, and Wade Tetsuka, CPA, President, UST

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Tue 11/8 at 3 p.m. – Developing the Right Content For Your Association Members

Creating robust and meaningful marketing and communication strategies that cater specifically to the needs of your members is important for associations. But identifying the needs of your members and the best tactics for conveying your message can be daunting. Learn new strategies and thought processes when developing association-centered content. More info/register.

Host: NXUnite

Speakers:

• Colby Horton, CEO & Founder at Association Briefings
• Jeff Baker, Association Solutions at Association.TV
• Rusty Williams, Co-Founder at AnswerStage
• Kevin Mitchell, CEO at Modio Information Group

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Wed 11/9 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:15 p.m. – RealTime Conference

Explore the way real-time technologies enable the creation of the Metaverse through three different perspectives: Creativity, Technology, and Economics. Discover the very best of what’s new and what’s next with the real-time technology, tools, and applications that are rapidly transforming the ways we work, communicate, interact, and grow our businesses; remotely, collaboratively and in real-time. More info/register.

Host: RealTime Community

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Wed 11/9 at 11 a.m. – Content Trends: Giving Digital Meeting Content the First-Class Treatment

As academic and scientific meetings moved online, publishers have a unique opportunity to capture even more of the research lifecycle, building their brand and unifying their content. The multimedia and other content generated at these conferences is significant to both organizational missions as well as revenue-generation, requiring robust content management, hosting, product, and commerce features. Join a group of industry leaders on the forefront of these topics for a discussion of how to prepare and what’s coming next. More info/register.

Host: Silverchair

Speakers:

• Lori Carlin, Chief Commercial Officer & Senior Consultant, DeltaThink
• Jessica Lawrence-Hurt, Chief Marketing Officer, Cadmore Media
• Patti Sweet, Director of Digital Strategy, Health Affairs
• Hannah Heckner (moderator), VP, Product, Silverchair

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Wed 11/9 at 12 p.m. – 7 Easy Steps for a DIY Technology Assessment

A technology assessment helps you align your technology tools and investment with your organization’s strategy. It provides a comprehensive look at the tools you use today and provides a framework to analyze their effectiveness for your staff, members, and organization. Learn how you can form a digital strategy, with prioritized steps and a realistic timeline, that will ensure your technology serves your stakeholders and actually helps to meet your organizational goals. Hear how to align your strategic plan with your people, processes, and technology; identify and improve inefficient technology use; and motivate organizational change through staff buy-in. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ReviewMyAMS

Speaker: Vanessa Dennison, CAE, CBAP, Principal/Owner, Dennison & Associates

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Wed 11/9 at 12 p.m. – What is Member Data Telling You?

Turning data into insight is key to delivering a valuable member experience. Learn about tools and techniques you can use to explore your member data to formulate effective membership strategies. More info/register.

Host: NXUnite

Speakers:

• Evan O’Neill, Hum
• Kristen Webster, Loyalty Research Center
• Monique Delage, Virtual, Inc.

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Wed 11/9 from 12 to 2:30 p.m. – techsytalk GLOBAL 2022: Attendee Experience

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

Host: techsytalk

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Wed 11/9 at 1 p.m. – 2023 Predictions: AI is Changing How We Market Events

Learn some of the ways AI is changing how we market events, and how you can prepare for these changes. Hear about practical AI marketing tools that meeting planners and marketers can use right away, configuring your team to take full advantage of AI, and predictions for AI on content marketing for events in 2023. 1 CAE/CMP/CEM credit. More info/register.

Host: EVA

Speakers:

• Mitch Eisen, CTO, Contentware
• Vinnu Deshetty, Event Tech Advocate and CEO, EVA

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Wed 11/9 at 2 p.m. – Three Member Journeys Your Association Can’t Live Without

All digital engagement tools let you send emails to your members. Many digital engagement tools let you automate those emails. But how many associations are sending custom, dynamic, automated emails? We will walk you through the three most important member journeys to help you grow membership, engage with your current members, and bring back those members that are ghosting you. More info/register.

Host: Attain Partners

Speakers: Chad Simmons, Associate Business Development Director, and Aaron Beatty, Director of Digital Engagement, Attain Partners

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Wed 11/9 at 6 p.m. – Wine & Webinar: That One Weird Trick That Makes Marketing Soooo Much Easier

Without realizing it, you very well might’ve made your job substantially more difficult than it needs to be. That’s because most marketers are compensating for a less-than-ideal user experience in the products and services they sell. Discover that one weird trick that will make your marketing so much easier. More info/register.

Host: Orbit Media Studios

Speaker: Jared M. Spool, Maker of Awesomeness at Center Centre – UIE

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Thu 11/10 at 11 a.m. – High Converting Engagement Campaigns You Can Start Today

For association marketing, membership and communications teams, one never-ending challenge is, “How do we get members to act?” Hear examples of real association campaigns that saw mind-blowing response rates while delivering immediate member value. Learn what questions to ask your members to encourage action, discover more about individuals and adjust your strategies accordingly, and the difference between mass broadcasts of information and conversational engagement, and why the latter sees higher response rates. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Brianne Wheeler, Director of Marketing, PropFuel

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Thu 11/10 at 11 a.m. – Ask Me Anything: Recruiting, Engaging, and Managing International Volunteers from US-Based Associations

Ask questions and learn from peers as we delve into the topic of working with a global body of volunteers and the many aspects that need to be considered to be successful. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Professionals Community

Speakers:

• Kerry Cosby, IOM, Chapters Manager, IEEE Computer Society
• Joy Davis, CAE, Managing Director, Member Products, American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists
• Jamie Gray, MS, CVA, Volunteer Engagement Specialist, Project Management Institute
• Rob Henry, VP, People, Culture and Talent, Council for Advancement and Support of Education

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Thu 11/10 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

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Thu 11/10 from 12 to 2:30 p.m. – techsytalk GLOBAL 2022: Attendee Experience

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

Host: techsytalk

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Thu 11/10 at 1 p.m. – Translating “Marketing Speak” for Executives

The alphabet soup that marketers use can be difficult to follow and sometimes just sound downright strange. Learn how to translate the terms, metrics and concepts your marketing team is using when sharing results, progress and their strategy. Find out what questions you can ask as their leaders to help pinpoint how your organization can pursue additional revenue growth, what influences the measurement of marketing metrics, and how to support your marketing team’s martech stack development. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Maneesha Manges, Director of Services, and Aimee Pagano, Senior Digital Marketing Advisor, HighRoad Solutions

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Thu 11/10 at 1 p.m. – Eating at Meetings: Planning & Creating an Inclusive Menu

1 CAE/EIC credit. More info/register.

Host: Nifty Method

Speaker: Tracy Stuckrath, founder, Thrive! Meetings.

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Thu 11/10 at 1 p.m. – A Legal Perspective on Planning Meetings in a Changing World

Planners must be diligent in understanding their role as risk managers in adding wording to facility and other vendor contracts that protects the event sponsor legally and financially. Learn how event sponsors can manage risk and liability by ensuring that facilities comply with proper health and safety guidelines and practices, hold harmless, indemnification and insurance requirements, well-written force majeure clauses, the use of waivers of liability and what they should say, and how to handle deposits. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Prevue Meetings

Speaker: John S. Foster, Esq. CHME, attorney, Foster, Jensen & Gulley

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Thu 11/10 at 2 p.m. – Secrets for Engaging, Platform-Agnostic Association Meetings

Find out what’s working today in-person and on virtual and hybrid platforms for bringing association communities together in meaningful ways. Learn how to pick the topics people care about and go deeper in the discussion, get everyone to speak up, find alternate venues to fit the group dynamic, and use technology to enhance marketing and execution of the event. More info/register.

Host: Smart Meetings

Speakers:

• Joanna Pineda, CEO, Matrix Group
• Jennifer O’Grady, Senior Director, Maritz Events

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

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

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

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

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

Host: techsytalk

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Fri 11/11 at 12 p.m. – EventTech Chat

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

Host: Brandt Krueger, founder, Event Technology Consulting

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

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

Host: Fridays@4

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

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

Host: Amy Hemphill, ASAE

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

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

Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Professionals

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

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

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

Host: Sidecar

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

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

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

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

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

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

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

Speaker: corporate partnership and sponsorship consultant Bruce Rosenthal

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

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

Host: UST Education

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

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

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

Hosts: Billhighway and Mariner Management

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

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

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

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

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

Hybrid online courses. WBT Systems shares examples of hybrid online courses from the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) and two other associations. TIA’s courses offer “the convenience and flexibility of asynchronous, on-demand learning combined with the live instructor and peer interaction, plus learner support, normally associated with synchronous learning.” This learning mix is the backbone of cohort programs, which are so popular right now.

Blended learning. Leading Learning’s new guide (sponsored by WBT Systems) helps you understand why and how to enhance or add blended learning offerings to your association’s portfolio. Blended learning is another type of hybrid—a mix of in-person and online learning.

AMS warning signs. Selecting and implementing a new AMS is a royal PITA, but sometimes you have to put on your big-girl (-boy) pants and do it. Impexium describes the seven signs you need a new AMS. If you’re seeing any of these red flags at your association, start gathering your evidence so you can make a case for a new system.

Hybrid workplace budget. Achurch Consulting shares their three-step budgeting process for hybrid workplaces, plus the factors you should consider while budgeting and areas that need special attention.

Data warehouse. No matter your level of IT proficiency, if you’re shopping for an AMS, you need to get somewhat technical to know exactly what you’re looking at and whether it’s the best fit for your association. MemberSuite explains the benefits of an AMS with its own built-in data warehouse, so you don’t have to rely on other software for analysis and reporting.

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

digitalNow 2022 recap. Jose Triana at Sidecar recaps days 1 and 2 of the conference, which focused on AI and Web3. He explains both these concepts, clears up misconceptions about AI, describes Web3’s relationship with blockchain technology and suggests how you can start experimenting with each technology.

Accessible websites. Cierra Loflin at Superpath explains why creating accessible website content is so important and describes the steps to making your website more accessible, including small changes that make a big impact.

Good eats

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

I was excited to get sheepshead again in my fish share. I topped the fillets with a mix of melted butter, parmesan, bread crumbs, lemon zest, chives, garlic powder and salt, and slid them into the oven. On the side, roasted butternut squash with smoked paprika, cinnamon, garlic powder and cayenne, and summer squash with basil pesto, parmesan, three colors of sweet bell pepper and onion.

The next night, Portuguese fish skillet made with yellowfin tuna, linguiça, tomatoes, chickpeas and more.

We’re having a bonanza poblano pepper harvest right now, so I made ground chorizo and linguiça stuffed poblano peppers. Other ingredients: onion, mushrooms, sweet bell pepper, jalapeño, garlic, smoked paprika, oregano, cooked brown rice, and shredded cheddar. On the side, a sauté of chard (and stems), kale, bacon, red onion, jalapeño, garlic and dried cranberries.

As an appetizer, we enjoyed whole pompano sauteed with lemon butter that Jim caught while we were at Ocean Isle Beach last weekend. These little fish only end up being four to six bites per fish, but they taste as good as sweet crabmeat.

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

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Fri 10/28 at 12 p.m.* – EventTech Chat

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

Host: Brandt Krueger, founder, Event Technology Consulting

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

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Fri 10/28 at 4 p.m. – Association Membership: Shifts in Trends

Associations have seen shifts in membership trends over the last couple of years. Join us for a panel discussion that will encourage participants to share their onboarding practices, engagement methods, and state of retention, plus their experiences on changes since the pandemic, building community, and solutions to address retention concerns. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Speaker: Amy Hemphill, Senior Director of Member Relations, ASAE

Moderator: Regais Wilson, Senior Manager, Membership and Chapters, National Grants Management Association

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Mon 10/31 at 1 p.m. – The Humanity of Technology (Nonprofit Conversations with Cecilia Sepp, CAE)

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

Guest: Miguel Neves, Editor In Chief, Skift Meetings

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

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Tue 11/1 at 12 p.m. – Data Governance (Data Analytics Network)

The panel will be comprised of association data experts immersed in data governance implementations. Bill Conforti, of Association Analytics, will moderate the conversation and cover topics from getting started with data governance to guiding a team of data stewards. Karine Blaufuss (AGU), Dan Hickey (Delcor), Evan Reid (ASHA), and Jennifer Sargent (AAAS), will discuss their real-world experience with data governance and provide some tips, tricks, and many many lessons learned. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Analytics

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Tue 11/1 at 12 p.m. – Five Strategic Focus Areas For 2023 Planning

Hear about five areas to focus on as the year comes to a close and you prepare for the year ahead. Learn about trends impacting member engagement, member growth, measurements, outcomes, and sustainability. More info/register.

Host: GrowthZone

Speaker: Shari Pash, founder, Strategic Solutions for Growth

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Tue 11/1 at 12 p.m. – Beyond Networking: Event-Planning Reimagined

Networking doesn’t need to feel intimidating. In fact, if done well, it can become one of the most enjoyable parts of our jobs. First, we need to rethink how it’s been done in the past. Explore the future of networking and what it truly means to build meaningful relationships. Learn three steps to improve your network, a positive new way of perceiving your network, and several tangible tools to maintain your network. 0.5 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MPI

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Tue 11/1 at 1 p.m. – Facilitation Tips and Tricks: The Art of Helping Others Engage

New volunteer leadership and work environments have increased the need for conversations and meetings that focus as much on connection and listening as on the content presented. Learn how to identify the nine competencies every facilitator should know and incorporate into the meetings they lead. Walk away with an increased knowledge of the theory of facilitation and a wider tool belt of approaches. Learn the personalized experience of application and feedback and emerge as a better facilitator. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

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

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Tue 11/1 at 2 p.m. – Critical Considerations for Future Event Contracting

With economic headwinds and ever-changing legislation potentially impacting your attendees and exhibitors/sponsors, contracts are becoming even more critical than ever before. Learn what should be reviewed, modified or included in organizers’ contracts to reduce exposure to liability and risks. Hear about force majeure/acts of god, cancellation, excused non-performance attrition and other provisions in venue and hotel contracts, and avoiding potential liability issues and key considerations that may impact your group’s performance. More info/register.

Hosts: Personify and Women in Exhibitions Network, North America Chapter

Speaker: Mark Roysner, Esq., exhibitions and events industry legal expert

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Tue 11/1 at 3 p.m. – Volunteer Recruitment: No Volunteers? Maybe It’s Your Marketing

Hear how to develop a marketing strategy and apply practical approaches to effectively position your volunteer opportunities to attract, inspire, engage, and increase satisfaction of your volunteers. Learn how to segment volunteer opportunities into identified markets. Discuss strategies and content that reflect the personas of membership. Analyze value to volunteers and market those benefits to increase engagement. Learn steps to leverage a marketing strategy to build a communication plan around volunteer management. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE’s Marketing Advisory Council and the Component Relations and Volunteer Management (CRVM) Professionals Advisory Council

Speakers:

• Elizabeth Moris, Council on Undergraduate Research
• Maureen Geoghegan, American Society of Anesthesiologists,
• Annie Storey, Illinois Section American Water Works Association

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Tue 11/1 at 3 p.m. – Find Hidden Gems in Your Data & Discover New Revenue Opportunities

Beneath data, lies hidden gems (aka insights) that can be monetized to bring in more revenue—as long as you know where to look and how to dig them out. Learn ways you can leverage structured and unstructured data to come up with ideas for new revenue, the top three areas you should analyze to find these opportunities, a framework for building a data monetization strategy, and how one association’s hidden data insights led to monetizing intellectual property to bring in additional revenue. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Greg Pollack, VP of Sales, Association Analytics

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Wed 11/2 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Guru Conference 2022

An email marketing conference designed to help exceed your current strategies with actionable advice you can deploy same-day, informed by a deep pool of real-time user data. Learn about the very latest digital trends, email best practices and emerging tools you’ll need to step up your email marketing performance today in two days of live, virtual sessions from industry experts that will take your email marketing programs to the next level. More info/register.

Host: Guru Events

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Wed 11/2 at 12 p.m. – Critical Tips For Keeping A Positive Culture in 2023

Culture is the foundation of any successful organization and affects nearly every aspect of your team. Hear about best practices and resources for creating a positive culture in your company, including the importance of an individualized approach to team management, how to empower your team to think creatively and take risks, how trust encourages creative approaches and accountability, and how to facilitate a collaborative environment. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Insights in Old Town

Speaker: Annette Summers, President/Owner, The GA Team

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Wed 11/2 at 12 p.m. – How to Leverage Healthcare Data to Add Member Value and Increase Revenue

Association leaders continue to look for innovative ways to diversify revenue streams and create new product offerings that add value to their members. Learn how healthcare data can facilitate revenue diversification, how data can be leveraged to create new product offerings, and how data has driven innovation for a healthcare association. More info/register.

Host: BData Inc.

Speakers:

• Kimberly A. Hoarle, MBA, CAE, Executive Director, American Burn Association
• Bart Phillips, MS, CEO, BData Inc.

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Wed 11/2 at 1 p.m. – Users Groups and Conferences: Learn, Collaborate, and Impact

Learn how to make the most of users groups and conferences, collaborate internally and externally to leverage users communities, and strengthen partnerships with technology providers through participation. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Fonteva & Protech

Speakers:

• Kim Klotz, Sr. Business Systems Analyst, National Funeral Directors Association
• Michael Ryba, Director of Technology, North American Spine Society
• Jay S. Daughtry, Client Engagement & Content Creation,

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Wed 11/2 at 1 p.m. – How to Conquer Changes in the Digital Marketing Space

With the constant changes happening in the digital marketing space, the effects on analytics, ROI, and campaign effectiveness are questioned. Learn what email marketing analytics are most important, how to not allow new privacy initiatives to hinder your marketing plans, and how to still remain competitive in this ever-changing landscape. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

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

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Wed 11/2 at 1 p.m. – 10 Proven Tips to Scale Your Content Marketing Efforts

certain marketing challenges are universal: the pace of content is relentless, there are countless customer touchpoints to address, and customers expect higher levels of personalization and customization than ever before. Hear about proven methods to help solve common problems with manual process, broken communication, poor visibility, and disconnected systems. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Speakers: Krista Garcia and Ileen Roth, Creative Directors at Travelers Insurance

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Wed 11/2 at 2 p.m. – 2023 State Sessions Look Ahead: The Biggest Issues You Need to Watch

Staying on top of policy and developing legislation across all 50 states, as well as any corresponding implications at the local level, is no easy task. Hear about the top policy themes, issues, challenges, and opportunities coming up at the state level next year that you and your organization should be aware of. Learn how to implement an effective, modern state government relations strategy. More info/register.

Host: FiscalNote

Speakers:

• Laura Morgan-Kessler, principal at Carpi & Clay Government Relations
• Michael Reynold, senior vice-president at McGuireWoods Consulting
• Charles Boruchowitz, government relations manager at Bentley Systems
• Annika von Grey (moderator), consultant for FiscalNote Professional Services

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Wed 11/2 at 3 p.m. – Get Your Piece of the Pie: Cutting a Slice of the Budget for Analytics

Convincing leadership that now is the time to give you a piece of the pie for analytics (or really any new tool or piece of tech for that matter) can be a challenge. Learn how your peers are demonstrating return on an analytics investment, and how you can build a winning presentation for leadership, use an ROI calculator to convince others to get onboard, leverage partners and association peers, and get creative when the budget is already set. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Analytics

Speakers:

• Rebecca Achurch, CEO of Achurch Consulting
• Bill Conforti, SVP of Strategy & Solutions, Association Analytics
• Greg Pollack, VP of Sales, Association Analytics

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Wed 11/2 at 3 p.m. – Association Trends: Pulse of the Industry

Learn how to provide your members up-to-date information on the issues that matter most to their industry, peers or customers as well as a clear picture of trends over time. Hear how pulse surveys have emerged as invaluable tools for gathering ongoing insights on critical business needs as they evolve in real-time. Learn how quick hitting, short surveys can also promote the issues essential to the success of your industry over time. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

• Dale Ford, Chief Analyst at Electronic Components Industry Association
• Mike Hayes, MBA, Managing Director, Research Business Unit, Vault
• Laura Clark, IPC, Senior Director at Vault Consulting

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Wed 11/2 at 3 p.m. – The ROI on Promoting Mental Health

When are we finally going to talk about promoting mental health in associations, from both the staff side as well as the member side? Join Association Chat as KiKi interviews psychologist and principal at Executive Therapy & Consulting, Nabil El-Ghoroury, PhD, CAE, about creating a culture of employee well-being that is a different take on mental health in associations. More info/register.

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

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Thu 11/3 at 11 a.m. – Beyond Words: Changing Behavior and Holistically Implementing DEI

After the events of the last two years many association boards are cultivating more understanding and capacity to improve what we do best as associations—creating belonging through diversity, equity, and inclusion.     Explore the DEI journey of a small-staff association in their first two years of implementing a holistic and courageous transformation. Hear about board decisions, public commitment, member push back, and lessons learned when holistically implementing DEI across an association. Learn how to undo the unconscious and default approaches currently used when creating belonging through DEI. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

• Sharon Newport, CAE, Principal, Sharon Newport, LLC
• Jessica Struve, CAE, Deputy Executive Director, Radiology Business Management Association

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Thu 11/3 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Guru Conference 2022

An email marketing conference designed to help exceed your current strategies with actionable advice you can deploy same-day, informed by a deep pool of real-time user data. Learn about the very latest digital trends, email best practices and emerging tools you’ll need to step up your email marketing performance today in two days of live, virtual sessions from industry experts that will take your email marketing programs to the next level. More info/register.

Host: Guru Events

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Thu 11/3 at 12 p.m. – The Voice of the American Worker: Retirement Survey Insights

The Voice of the American Survey was created by Franklin Templeton’s Retirement Innovation Initiative. Hear how American workers are reevaluating how they think about work and their expectations from employers, the impact of worker’s financial independence over traditional retirement, and how workers are looking to employers to improve their financial health. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Speaker: Shelly Howard-Horwitz

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Thu 11/3 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

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Thu 11/3 at 1 p.m. – Leadership Echo Chambers: Let’s Dismantle One of Leadership’s Greatest Barriers

Learn how the rise of media consumption and algorithms, mixed with fundamental human nature, has created a need for leadership to dismantle echo chambers with intention. Hear how these systems have been progressively strengthened in recent history and how echo chambers are environments that encourage the amplifying of ideas. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

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

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Thu 11/3 at 2 p.m. – AI: Going Beyond Alexa and into your Association

Hear about the benefits of AI and how you can utilize it to benefit your association. Learn what kind of data you need to implement AI; how associations have used AI to engage, retain and grow their membership; how AI technology can help future-proof your organization to ensure success and longevity; and how AI can augment your job, not replace it. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: 501 Works

Speakers:

• Evan O’Neill, Chief Growth Officer, Hum
• Thomas Altman, Co-Founder, Tasio

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Thu 11/3 at 2 p.m. – Carpe Per Diems! A Close (and Fun) Look at Managing Speaker and Entertainment Contracts

You might understand hotel contracting, but getting to “yes” with speakers and entertainers is a different negotiation, often with riders and addendums that may be unfamiliar to planners. Learn why speaker and entertainment contracts feel so one-sided and how you can protect your company’s interests, the best way to start the contracting process to keep it more in your favor, and clear and concise explanations of legal terms like “indemnification” and “force majeure” as they relate to your speaker contracts. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MeetingsNet

Speaker: Adam Kahan, Senior Vice President, Empire Entertainment, Inc

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Thu 11/3 at 3 p.m. – Data Breach Preparedness: The Reality of ID Theft and Data Breach Incidents

CEOs and senior executives don’t get fired when their companies get hacked or experience a data breach incident. They get fired for failing to implement a clearly defined, strategic management response to their data-breach incident. Learn more about data breach trends, identity theft trends, data breach risk management, information governance policy and information security training. Hear about state and federal breach notification laws along with the breach source, assessment, and response plan. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

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

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Fri 11/4 at 10 a.m. – Association Purpose (Coffee with Innovators)

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

Host: Association Design Circle

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

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Fri 11/4 at 12 p.m. – EventTech Chat

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

Host: Brandt Krueger, founder, Event Technology Consulting

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Tue 11/8 at 11 a.m. – Data Lakes: No Question is Dumb

Not an IT session, a conversation about why the association world is buzzing about data lakes, and giving you a safe space to ask questions, such as why are associations using these tools? Learn about the pros and cons of data lakes and data warehouses, when data lakes are a good tool, or not, based on your association’s needs, data privacy and data stewardship, and what steps you can take to improve the current data situation. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

• Barbara J. Armentrout, CAE, Managing Partner, Mesa Group
• Greg Pollack, VP of Sales, Association Analytics

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Tue 11/8 at 2 p.m. – Future-Proof Your Association with Value Management

Our friends at Halmyre surveyed non-profit leaders about their value propositions. Hear about the quantifiable impact of a clear value proposition on revenue, resilience, and customer loyalty; how your organization’s approach to value management compares to like organizations; what’s keeping non-profit CEOs up at night and how to address these concerns; how to determine member preferences and interests by segment and over time; ways to understand the exchange of value between you and your members; and how to use engagement scoring to validate your value proposition. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Analytics

Speakers:

• Christine Saunders, President of Halmyre
• Bill Conforti, SVP of Strategy & Solutions, Association Analytics

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Wed 11/9 at 12 p.m. – 7 Easy Steps for a DIY Technology Assessment

A technology assessment helps you align your technology tools and investment with your organization’s strategy. It provides a comprehensive look at the tools you use today and provides a framework to analyze their effectiveness for your staff, members, and organization. Learn how you can form a digital strategy, with prioritized steps and a realistic timeline, that will ensure your technology serves your stakeholders and actually helps to meet your organizational goals. Hear how to align your strategic plan with your people, processes, and technology; identify and improve inefficient technology use; and motivate organizational change through staff buy-in. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ReviewMyAMS

Speaker: Vanessa Dennison, CAE, CBAP, Principal/Owner, Dennison & Associates

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Thu 11/10 at 11 a.m. – Ask Me Anything: Recruiting, Engaging, and Managing International Volunteers from US-Based Associations

Ask questions and learn from peers as we delve into the topic of working with a global body of volunteers and the many aspects that need to be considered to be successful. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Professionals Community

Speakers:

• Kerry Cosby, IOM, Chapters Manager, IEEE Computer Society
• Joy Davis, CAE, Managing Director, Member Products, American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists
• Jamie Gray, MS, CVA, Volunteer Engagement Specialist, Project Management Institute
• Rob Henry, VP, People, Culture and Talent, Council for Advancement and Support of Education

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Thu 11/10 at 2 p.m. – Secrets for Engaging, Platform-Agnostic Association Meetings

Find out what’s working today in-person and on virtual and hybrid platforms for bringing association communities together in meaningful ways. Learn how to pick the topics people care about and go deeper in the discussion, get everyone to speak up, find alternate venues to fit the group dynamic, and use technology to enhance marketing and execution of the event. More info/register.

Host: Smart Meetings

Speakers:

• Joanna Pineda, CEO, Matrix Group
• Jennifer O’Grady, Senior Director, Maritz Events

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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 Gaith Shalan via Unsplash

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

Survey invite. iMIS by ASI invites you to participate in their annual Membership Performance Benchmark Survey to help uncover upcoming trends in technology and digital transformation; membership acquisition, engagement and retention; and association goals and challenges. They’re also going to look at data through a generational lens this year, so that should be interesting.

Hiring lifelong learners. If I were in your shoes, I would only hire lifelong learners. WBT Systems explains why: they will more quickly adapt to change, acquire new skills and knowledge, and continue growing and stretching in new directions along with your association.

Duty of foresight. At Association Advisor, Jeff De Cagna of Foresight First says the “discontinuous next” (conditions of radical uncertainty, volatility and risk) of The Turbulent Twenties is just getting started. These conditions call for a new definition of your association board’s duty of foresight, which “requires [them] to stand up for their successors’ futures through intentional learning, short-term sacrifice, and long-term action.” This duty requires a different type of board member. How will you identify and prepare them for this role?

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

Member gatherings. Since associations are conveners, Nikki Golden and Nikki Haton Shanks of Association Laboratory share five ways you can gather your people and convene more intentionally and effectively. Many associations learned some of these lessons during the pandemic but forgot them in a rush to get back to normal, ugh. Make sure you read this post.

Event idea theft. At Skift Meetings, Sue Pelletier uncovers an unethical practice that’s been going on for far too long and has frustrated both event planners and other association consultants. She explains how the request for proposal (RFP) has become a vehicle for the misappropriation of someone else’s work.

Content clutter. No one wants to shop in a messy store, so why would they want to browse through a cluttered online learning catalog? They won’t. WBT Systems explains how to eliminate and prevent learning content clutter.

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. They describe how an online community can help you attract, engage and retain members, plus they lay out a useful plan for launching and managing a community.

Quick hits

Building inclusivity means your events are open to all—and you’re paying attention to an inclusive holiday calendar. (Lowell Aplebaum, FASAE, CAE)

Five things you should always block time for in your calendar. (Katie E. Lawrence, The Minimal Life)

Is small talk at work necessary to succeed? (Cloey Callahan, WorkLife)

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

On rescuing yourself from problems, anxieties and struggles. (Noah Cherry, Two Minute Treatise)

Good eats

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

A perfect southwestern skillet dish for the fall, but I don’t have a recipe, only a list of ingredients you add in stages to a jumbo-sized skillet (mine is 14”). Cook ground chorizo and chicken (or turkey) first and then set it aside for later. In stages that make sense to you, add onion, red bell pepper, poblano pepper, jalapeño pepper, garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, chili powder, chipotle en adobo, diced and peeled sweet potato, black beans, corn, spinach, chard, the ground chorizo and chicken again, chicken broth, Monterey Jack, cheddar, and cilantro.

Right before we left for vacation, we enjoyed the always fantastically delicious fillets of sheepshead, simply baked with Herdez Roasted Poblano Salsa Cremosa. Wow, what a tasty time-saving sauce in a jar. On the side, roasted broccoli with red onion and garlic powder.

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

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Fri 10/21 from 12 to 4 p.m.* – Engaging Virtual Meetings Conference 3.0

Do your virtual meetings suck? Do you want to beat Zoom Fatigue? Do you want to host the most engaging virtual meetings? It’s over 2 years after pandemic and our research shows that engagement is still the #1 problem on virtual meetings. Attend this 5-day conference with 9 of the world’s experts on hosting virtual meetings. More info/register.

Host: John Chen, the author of Engaging Virtual Meetings

Speakers:

• Jimbo Clark: Let’s Get Phygital: Engaging Beyond the (Video) Box!
• Moe Carrick: Creating a Bravespace Workplace in a Flexible and Remote Working World
• John Chen: For The First Time, The Engaging Virtual Hybrid Portfolio
• Jacques Martiquet: The Virtual Party Scientist

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

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Fri 10/21 at 12 p.m. – EventTech Chat

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

Host: Brandt Krueger, founder, Event Technology Consulting

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Fri 10/21 at 4 p.m. – The Importance of Cover and Thank You Letters

60% of executives believe the cover letter is either as important as or more critical than the résumé. A cover letter should tell specifically why and how you are uniquely qualified for the job based on the criteria in the job posting. CEOs and hiring managers use the cover letter as a barometer to gauge a candidate’s ability to effectively communicate. This is an ideal time to showcase your written communication skills to get the job. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Speaker: Shelly Trent, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CAE, JCTC, JCDC, HR and career development professional

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Sat 10/22 from 12 to 4 p.m. – Engaging Virtual Meetings Conference 3.0

Do your virtual meetings suck? Do you want to beat Zoom Fatigue? Do you want to host the most engaging virtual meetings? It’s over 2 years after pandemic and our research shows that engagement is still the #1 problem on virtual meetings. Attend this 5-day conference with 9 of the world’s experts on hosting virtual meetings. More info/register.

Host: John Chen, the author of Engaging Virtual Meetings

Speakers:

• Katie Kinsella: The Game Agency, Wheel of Fortune
• John Chen: Engaging Virtual Jeopardy, Engaging Virtual Team Building Games
• Roger Haskett: Ultimate Virtual Pub Trivia

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Mon 10/24 at 1 p.m. – The Performance Agreement (Digital Experience | S³ (S)peaker (S)ession (S)eries)

Good organizations develop their employees while great organizations develop their people. And right now, you’re thinking: “What’s the difference?” The answer to that question is at the heart of leadership challenges, disengagement, and employee retention. Using stories, statistics, and songs, this keynote will empower and inspire attendees to take the ‘IRK’ out of WORK, use their opportunity to make an impact, and create something truly extraordinary. More info/register.

Host: MPI

Speaker: Greg Offner

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Mon 10/24 at 1 p.m. – The CEO Interview: Tips for Success (Nonprofit Conversations with Cecilia Sepp, CAE)

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

Guest: Wendy Toyama

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

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Tue 10/25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – AMS Demo Days

Watch presentations from a limited number of industry partners that offer AMS platforms. AMS experts will be showcasing platforms and sharing their knowledge with the association market. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

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Tue 10/25 from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. – Live Review

Live Review is a two-day, entirely online event that allows you to efficiently, effectively, and affordably (free is as affordable as it gets!) see targeted demos of learning management systems aligned to serving organizations that market and sell adult lifelong learning, continuing education, and professional development. More info/register.

Host: ReviewMyLMS/Tagoras

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Tue 10/25 at 11 a.m. – Taking Charge of Your Association’s Digital Transformation Journey

Three data questions association leadership should ask today for a stronger tomorrow are: Is our data regularly scrutinized? Do we trust our data implicitly? Does our association have a cross-departmental group for ensuring data usage and accuracy? Discover how an effective transformation is led from the top and uncover critical tactics to accelerate your journey. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: iMIS by ASI

Speaker: Jeff Webb, ASI

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Tue 10/25 at 11 a.m. – The Value of Emotional Intelligence: How to Be More and Get More from Yourself and Business Relationships

In today’s climate, organizations are experiencing change and transition due to shifting priorities affected by external societal demands, so it’s not enough to be technically sound, you must be emotionally intelligent and culturally competent. Emotional Intelligence (EI) is a thoughtful and profound way of showing up in life. Learn what EI is and why we need it, how to get EI, and why EI important to leaders. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

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

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Tue 10/25 from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. – WebexOne 2022

Explore how to transform collaboration and transcend what limits us. Harness the collective power of imagination and see beyond what is to what could be. Learn from innovators who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Take a deep dive into the trends and groundbreaking innovations powering hybrid work and driving exceptional customer experiences. More info/register.

Host: Webex

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Tue 10/25 at 12 p.m. – Why Authentication Matters: An Email Marketer’s Crash Course in DMARC, SPF, and DKIM

A lax approach to authentication leaves you vulnerable to phishing and spoofing attacks that can cost millions—not to mention your brand reputation. Learn what senders need to know about authentication—in plain English, including a clear breakdown of each major authentication protocol—and why they matter for email marketers; how to spot and troubleshoot authentication issues before they snowball; how to collaborate with IT, ESPs, and other stakeholders to keep your business and subscribers safe; and how to use authentication to boost your email deliverability and overall email performance. More info/register.

Host: Validity

Speaker: Validity’s Sr. Email Strategist Sophie Jean

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Tue 10/25 at 1 p.m. – Association/Nonprofit Board of Directors: Governance, Risk Management & Training

Learn how to better equip board members and directors for success in their roles, how to ensure the board continuously works to promote and obtain the mission of the organization, fiduciary duty considerations and challenges, and appropriate conflict of interest management. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

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

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Tue 10/25 at 2 p.m. – How Association Marketers Are Using Digital To Grow Member Engagement & Revenue

This no-fluff panel discussion with membership marketing pros and practitioners will reveal how other associations are successfully using digital to build purposeful connections with members—expanding engagement and renewals. More info/register.

Host: Feathr

Speakers:

• Dana Hamer, Director of Marketing & Member Engagement, American Urological Association
• Jared Shilhanek, Director of Marketing & Communications, American Public Works Association
• Kimberly Bottom, Associate Director of Sales at Feathr

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Tue 10/25 at 2 p.m. – Midterm Elections: Shifting Dynamics and Outcomes to Help You Prepare

Hear insights on the dynamics in the home stretch before Election Day, top legislative issues that could be on the table depending on which party gets control of the chambers, issues to keep an eye out for in 2023, what ranked-choice voting, lawsuits, and contested results could mean for the outcome of the elections, and how this could all impact your organization and how you can strategize and find opportunities. More info/register.

Host: CQ

Speakers:

• Herb Jackson, politics editor of CQ Roll Call, directing coverage of House and Senate campaigns
• Kate Ackley, journalist covering lobbying, influence and political money for CQ
• Mary Ellen McIntire, politics reporter with CQ Roll Call covering House and Senate campaigns
• Daniela Altimari, campaigns and elections reporter at Roll Call
• Niels Lesniewski, chief correspondent for White House coverage for CQ and Roll Call

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Tue 10/25 at 3 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

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Wed 10/26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – AMS Demo Days

Watch presentations from a limited number of industry partners that offer AMS platforms. AMS experts will be showcasing platforms and sharing their knowledge with the association market. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

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Wed 10/26 from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. – Live Review

Live Review is a two-day, entirely online event that allows you to efficiently, effectively, and affordably (free is as affordable as it gets!) see targeted demos of learning management systems aligned to serving organizations that market and sell adult lifelong learning, continuing education, and professional development. More info/register.

Host: ReviewMyLMS/Tagoras

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Wed 10/26 at 11 a.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 plain-language review of key concepts and approaches in consuming and sponsoring research so you don’t have to “beware” and can be confident that you’re setting yourself, your association, your members and other stakeholders, and the people in the profession or industry your association serves up for success in making data-informed decisions that will allow you to achieve your most important goals and solve your most pressing problems. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

• Elizabeth Engel, M.A., CAE, Chief Strategist, Spark Consulting, LLC
• Polly Karpowicz, MBA, CAE, Nonprofit Consultant
• Marc Beebe, Senior Director, Strategic Research, Public Imperatives, & Corporate Development at IEEE
• Jennifer L. Blanck, MEd, MSWB, Director of Constituent Engagement, Institutional Advancement Association of American Medical Colleges

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Wed 10/26 at 11 a.m. – Sustainability in Action at CL23 & Beyond

Learn how events that truly consider environmental and social impacts can enhance brand, streamline event flow, and create a more meaningful experience for attendees and maybe even get to net zero carbon. Demystify some of the questions around costs—both initial and ongoing—for more sustainable choices and the best first steps to getting started with a pivot towards sustainability. Learn about the onsite sustainability activations at PCMA Convening Leaders 2023 and the ways PCMA is engaging with the host destination, the Greater Columbus Convention Center, catering, attendees, and partners to produce a more sustainable event. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Speakers:

• Amanda Simons, Principal, Sustainability Consultant, Honeycomb Strategies
• Ryan Thorpe, Assistant General Manager, Greater Columbus Convention Center

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Wed 10/26 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. – WebexOne 2022

Explore how to transform collaboration and transcend what limits us. Harness the collective power of imagination and see beyond what is to what could be. Learn from innovators who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Take a deep dive into the trends and groundbreaking innovations powering hybrid work and driving exceptional customer experiences. More info/register.

Host: Webex

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Wed 10/26 at 12 p.m. – MPI Association Professionals Hot Topic Chat: Contract Negotiations

Join a discussion on the new realities of contracting. Panelists will include an attorney, a hotel representative, and a planner who will provide their latest tips and tricks for contract negotiation. More info/register.

Host: MPI Association Professionals Council

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Wed 10/26 at 12 p.m. – Hack the Exhibitor Mindset: Increase Sales and Exhibitor Renewals

Go into the mind of the exhibitor to maximize sales and renewal success in today’s data-driven economy. Learn how to make more money and max out ROI at your shows and events. More info/register.

Host: Bear Analytics

Speaker: Jim Cermak, training and trade show expert, host of the Trade Show University podcast

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Wed 10/26 at 1 p.m. – Think Outside the AMS

Learn how to evaluate their organization’s approach to association software, distinguishing between an “all in one” versus a “best in class” strategy; translate often intimidating technical terminology surrounding APIs and SSOs into real-world concepts that can be implemented in their organization, and; and evaluate association software options for their ability to streamline staff work and improve the overall experience for members. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Pete Zimek, CEO, Novi AMS

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Wed 10/26 at 1 p.m. – The Engagement Equation

Learn how to articulate the new value proposition for in-person meetings and events, utilize new formats to create engagement among attendees, and facilitate networking that is meaningful for all participants. More info/register.

Host: Meetings Today

Speaker: Jessie States, CMP, CMM, Meeting Professionals International

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Wed 10/26 at 1 p.m. – How to Mine the Hidden Gold in Your Customer Data

Most business owners and marketing professionals would agree: the most valuable asset a company has is its customer database. Unfortunately, many companies fail to capitalize on the full value of this precious commodity by letting their customer file grow stagnant or become outdated. Learn how to clean and update your customer data, fill in the gaps with new and enhanced information, and expand your current customer reach to find new markets and new revenue. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Speakers: Monica Messer, President of the Data Group, and Erich Kaiser, Vice President of Data Analytics, DatabaseUSA

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Wed 10/26 at 2 p.m. – Member Engagement is Hard! Why Associations Must Evolve to Thrive

Learn how associations can go from surviving to thriving by leveraging insights from the 2022 Association Benchmarking Report. Hear about key shifts in how associations are evolving their member engagement strategies and organizations, moving toward a more integrated approach; the top challenges being faced by association leaders today and how they are pivoting to overcome them; and recommendations on how to utilize the data collected in the 2022 Benchmarking Report to create an effective approach to content deployment, technology adoption and non-dues revenue generation. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Advisor/Naylor Association Solutions

Speaker: Sarah Sain, CAE, Senior Director of Content Services, Naylor Association Solutions

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Wed 10/26 at 2 p.m. – A CVB Can Do That?

Learn the many ways CVBs can be your local expert and go-between that can assist with sourcing accommodations and meeting facilities, event marketing and communications, offset costs/offer special deals, and speaker/dining/entertainment recommendations. More info/register.

Host: Northstar Meetings Group

Moderator: Lisa Grimaldi, Editor, Incentives and Destinations, Northstar Meetings Group

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Wed 10/26 at 3 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 2022 with your payment and credit card collection practices, credit card fees—what you are NOT being told 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 2022—why are you not aware of this, and how to do an RFP for Merchant Services—an outline you can use today. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Jenni Glaze, COO, and Wade Tetsuka, CPA, President, UST

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Thu 10/27 at 11 a.m. – Understanding the Difference Between Lead and Demand Generation

There’s a tendency to use lead gen and demand gen interchangeably, yet they are unique tactics that stand on their own when it comes to the buyers journey. Learn about the differences between both processes, and the strategy and technology that fuels both efforts and learn how to identify what association need to focus on. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Maneesha Manges, Director of Services, HighRoad Solutions

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Thu 10/27 at 11 a.m. – How to Make Event Revenue Appear with Digital Packages

The smartest event organizers are losing out on thousands in revenue by not offering sponsors and exhibitors the full suite of digital packages for their in-person, virtual and hybrid events. Learn how the world’s leading event organizers are generating substantial new revenue opportunities by packaging and pricing digital offerings in creative ways to increase event revenue growth, personalizing digital packages to maximize revenue, providing smart event app notifications to drive lead generation for sponsors and exhibitors, and leveraging new event formats, optimized for revenue. More info/register.

Host: Grip

Speaker: Hew Leith, VIP of Marketing of Grip

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Thu 10/27 at 12 p.m. – Member Journey Maps: Your Association’s Secret Weapon to Driving Adoption, Engagement and New Revenue Initiatives

The member journey is a phrase that’s received a lot of attention in recent years, as the member experience continues to be the key driver in an association’s ability to successfully launch member recruitment, adoption and engagement initiatives. Learn how to leverage various association technologies to create a winning member journey map, to understand members, solve problems, influence decisions, and create member value. And pick up a few best practices to initiate your own member journey initiative. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: .orgCommunity

Speakers:

• Kelly Beattie: Leadership Consultant, Executive Coach at 1stStar Consulting Group
• Marc Hehl, Chief Operating Officer at Impexium

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Thu 10/27 at 12 p.m. – Cultivating a Culture of Mentorship Within Your Association

Add value to your membership through successful mentorship programs. This panel will unpack the benefits, best practices, and resources that will strengthen your association’s mentoring relationships. More info/register.

Host: NXUnite

Speakers:

• Alex Richardson, CEO and Founder at Art of Mentoring
• Lisa Fain, CEO of Center for Mentoring Excellence
• Megan Martin, Head of Engagement at Juno

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Thu 10/27 at 12 p.m. – Technology Challenge Virtual Series

Although in-person events are making a comeback, attendance and exhibit participation will take some time to reach pre-pandemic levels. Event organizers must find new ways to provide more value, including connections, learning, and sourcing opportunities at the event and all year. Learn how advanced technologies can be used to attract more attendees and exhibitors at in-person or virtual events, better engage the audience to improve satisfaction and retention, and extend the event year-round to reach a broader audience and generate new revenue streams. 1 CEM credit. More info/register.

Host: IAEE DC Chapter

Speaker: Joe Colangelo, Founder, Bear Analytics

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Thu 10/27 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

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Thu 10/27 at 1 p.m. – NextGen Talk: Global Perspectives and Future Trends in Associations

More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Speakers: Tommy Goodwin and Jeanette Gass

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Thu 10/27 at 1 p.m. – Delivering Greater ROI to Exhibitors

Trade show revenue is probably one of the largest line items in your non-dues revenue budget. Learn how to protect your trade show revenue, attract and retain exhibitors by showing them greater ROI, and give your exhibitors more than what you tell them in your prospectus. 1 CAE/CMP/CEM credit. More info/register.

Host: EVA

Speakers:

• Jim Cermak, podcast host and trade show coach, Trade Show University Podcast
• Vinnu Deshetty, event tech advocate, EVA

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Thu 10/27 at 1 p.m. – Get Richer Survey Data at Scale Using Open-Ended Questions

Learn why open-ended questions are an effective research tool and when they can replace closed questions, how to write questions that capture richer responses and the dos/don’ts for encouraging respondents, techniques for efficiently analyzing open-ended response data with and without text analytics technology, how to conduct Qual research at a Quant scale—and internationally, and how brand trackers can be transformed by integrating more open-ended questions. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Speaker: Jon Puleston, VP of Innovation for Kantar’s Profiles division

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Thu 10/27 at 2 p.m. – How to Build Your 2023 Communications Plan (Mightier Marketing in 1-2-3: A Three-Part Series to Prepare for 2023)

Discover everything that needs to go into your 2023 communications plan, including tactics and recommendations you learned from the first two sessions of the series. Learn how to set goals that bring value, define tactics for those goals, identify key audiences, and manage your plan throughout the new year (no matter what it brings!). 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Mighty Citizen

Speakers: Nicole Araujo, Client Engagement Director, and Brianna Martin, Director of Brand Marketing, Mighty Citizen

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Thu 10/27 at 2 p.m. – Tech Tools at Your Fingertips to Make Planning a Breeze

Planning fatigue has been a reoccurring topic of conversation in the event space. Uncover a new way to look at technology and entice your attendee to enjoy your journey at your events. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MeetingsNet

Speaker: Chris Blaise, Chief Revenue Officer, MeetingPlay + Aventri + eventcore (MPAVEC)

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Thu 10/27 at 3 p.m. – Bolstering Board Diversity: How Diversity Increases Board Effectiveness

Learn the challenges and risks when creating actionable plans for improving board diversity, how to make a clear roadmap with concrete steps when developing plans to diversify your board’s composition, and how to identify objective ways to measure diversity across skills and experience. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Paroon Chadha, Co-Founder and CEO, OnBoard and eScribe

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Fri 10/28 at 4 p.m. – Association Membership: Shifts in Trends

Associations have seen shifts in membership trends over the last couple of years. Join us for a panel discussion that will encourage participants to share their onboarding practices, engagement methods, and state of retention, plus their experiences on changes since the pandemic, building community, and solutions to address retention concerns. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Speaker: Amy Hemphill, Senior Director of Member Relations, ASAE

Moderator: Regais Wilson, Senior Manager, Membership and Chapters, National Grants Management Association

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Tue 11/1 at 1 p.m. – Facilitation Tips and Tricks: The Art of Helping Others Engage

New volunteer leadership and work environments have increased the need for conversations and meetings that focus as much on connection and listening as on the content presented. Learn how to identify the nine competencies every facilitator should know and incorporate into the meetings they lead. Walk away with an increased knowledge of the theory of facilitation and a wider tool belt of approaches. Learn the personalized experience of application and feedback and emerge as a better facilitator. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

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

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Tue 11/1 at 3 p.m. – Volunteer Recruitment: No Volunteers? Maybe It’s Your Marketing

Hear how to develop a marketing strategy and apply practical approaches to effectively position your volunteer opportunities to attract, inspire, engage, and increase satisfaction of your volunteers. Learn how to segment volunteer opportunities into identified markets. Discuss strategies and content that reflect the personas of membership. Analyze value to volunteers and market those benefits to increase engagement. Learn steps to leverage a marketing strategy to build a communication plan around volunteer management. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE’s Marketing Advisory Council and the Component Relations and Volunteer Management (CRVM) Professionals Advisory Council

Speakers:

• Elizabeth Moris, Council on Undergraduate Research
• Maureen Geoghegan, American Society of Anesthesiologists,
• Annie Storey, Illinois Section American Water Works Association

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Tue 11/1 at 3 p.m. – Find Hidden Gems in Your Data & Discover New Revenue Opportunities

Beneath data, lies hidden gems (aka insights) that can be monetized to bring in more revenue—as long as you know where to look and how to dig them out. Learn ways you can leverage structured and unstructured data to come up with ideas for new revenue, the top three areas you should analyze to find these opportunities, a framework for building a data monetization strategy, and how one association’s hidden data insights led to monetizing intellectual property to bring in additional revenue. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Greg Pollack, VP of Sales, Association Analytics

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Wed 11/2 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Guru Conference 2022

An email marketing conference designed to help exceed your current strategies with actionable advice you can deploy same-day, informed by a deep pool of real-time user data. Learn about the very latest digital trends, email best practices and emerging tools you’ll need to step up your email marketing performance today in two days of live, virtual sessions from industry experts that will take your email marketing programs to the next level. More info/register.

Host: Guru Events

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Wed 11/2 at 3 p.m. – Get Your Piece of the Pie: Cutting a Slice of the Budget for Analytics

Convincing leadership that now is the time to give you a piece of the pie for analytics (or really any new tool or piece of tech for that matter) can be a challenge. Learn how your peers are demonstrating return on an analytics investment, and how you can build a winning presentation for leadership, use an ROI calculator to convince others to get onboard, leverage partners and association peers, and get creative when the budget is already set. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Analytics

Speakers:

• Rebecca Achurch, CEO of Achurch Consulting
• Bill Conforti, SVP of Strategy & Solutions, Association Analytics
• Greg Pollack, VP of Sales, Association Analytics

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Thu 11/3 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Guru Conference 2022

An email marketing conference designed to help exceed your current strategies with actionable advice you can deploy same-day, informed by a deep pool of real-time user data. Learn about the very latest digital trends, email best practices and emerging tools you’ll need to step up your email marketing performance today in two days of live, virtual sessions from industry experts that will take your email marketing programs to the next level. More info/register.

Host: Guru Events

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Thu 11/3 at 2 p.m. – AI: Going Beyond Alexa and into your Association

Hear about the benefits of AI and how you can utilize it to benefit your association. Learn what kind of data you need to implement AI; how associations have used AI to engage, retain and grow their membership; how AI technology can help future-proof your organization to ensure success and longevity; and how AI can augment your job, not replace it. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: 501 Works

Speakers:

• Evan O’Neill, Chief Growth Officer, Hum
• Thomas Altman, Co-Founder, Tasio

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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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