Association Brain Food

Association Brain Food Weekly: 8.27.21

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

Virtual conferences survey. If virtual or in-person conferences are part of your organization’s strategy—whether you’re a non- or for-profit, large or small organization—please participate in the Tagoras 2021 Virtual Conferences survey. Your participation will help provide valuable insight into how the role of virtual conferences has changed over the past 12-18 months.

Non-dues revenue. The countdown is on! 4 weeks from now, you could be in Nashville hanging around with people whose associations are rolling in non-dues revenue and people who want to emulate that success. Teri Carden—founder of ReviewMyAMS and AMS Fest—is bringing both groups together for a day of learning and sharing on September 23, plus some fun, of course, the night before. Actually, her events are always fun and enlightening. Check it all out on the Non-Dues-A-Palooza website.

The new education model. 80% of the education offered by the Ohio Society of CPAs (OSCPA) used to be in-person, but the pandemic changed all that, of course. Here’s the surprise: even when in-person returns, their members and attendees say they prefer virtual conferences. OSCPA told WBT Systems, “We’re not going back.”

Volunteer training. Learn how volunteer scenarios and training gap analysis can help your association identify the type of content you need to develop and offer to prepare chapter members for volunteering and leadership. Billhighway explains why this is a critical step in designing a volunteer learning journey that helps members develop the skills they need to perform volunteer and/or leadership tasks and perhaps advance in their career too.

Virtual exhibiting and sponsorship. Virtual was a losing proposition for most exhibitors and sponsors since associations tried to replicate the in-person booth experience instead of giving them the opportunity to share their expertise with attendees. Amanda Kaiser recommends making your exhibitors and sponsors true content partners. You’ll improve your relationship with them and turn virtual events into a worthwhile experience for everyone.

Generationalism. I’m seeing a wave of articles about the “bad science” of generationalism. Doesn’t this seem like a case of “duh, we could have told you that.” You can’t generalize about people of a certain age, young or old. You can research the needs of people at different career stages or life stages, but those stages aren’t defined by age. Some people enter a profession at 21 and some at 41; some have kids at 19 and some at 39. So, in Psyche, Cort Rudolph says, “Quit the millennial bashing!”

Quick hits

Ashley Neal at Sidecar wonders if innovation has slowed down at associations or become business as usual. Let’s hope it’s the latter.

Adam Grant says there’s a specific kind of joy we’ve been missing during the pandemic: collective effervescence. How can you create these experiences for members?

Nir Eyal would like you to stop calling everyone “addicted to technology.” I don’t think technology is to blame. Based on what I observe, people are afflicted with comparisonitis, overly obsessed with their social image, and unwilling to entertain themselves in more meaningful ways.

Good eats

Skip down to the list of free webinars if you prefer takeout. If you’re a home cook, check out the irregularly published In The Kitchen posts on my Grabbing the Gusto blog.

We had a bumper crop of eggplants so I dedicated time on Saturday afternoon to prepping what I call portobello stacks. I start with par-baked portobellos then pile on layers of roasted eggplant, roasted poblano and red bell pepper, chorizo, provolone, spinach and mozzarella, and top it all with a mix of panko breadcrumbs, melted butter and garlic powder—totally worth the effort, and even better with a little marinara for dipping. On the side, sautéed collards with bacon, red onion, carrot, yellow/orange/red bell pepper, poblano, jalapeno and garlic with a swirl of sherry vinegar.

Another night, we had Chinese-style braised ribbonfish (love this so much) with roasted broccoli and jasmine rice on the side.

The next night, barbecue-seared blackfin tuna with a roasted sweet potato and leftover broccoli.

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

Fri 8/27 at 12 p.m.* – Summer Wrap Up Party with Black In Events Network

As we get ready to head back into a busy and hectic fall, let’s take a minute to enjoy the last lazy days of summer with our growing community. Reunite or meet with new peers and discover new possibilities as we close summer 2021. More info/register.

Hosts: Black in Events Network and twine

*All times are Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.

Fri 8/27 at 12 p.m. – Finding Wellness and Balance: Life After Lockdown

In this highly interactive session that guarantees to get participants out of their chairs and moving with yoga, desk exercises, and mindfulness practice, learn how we can put ourselves and our health first to create a more resilient and revitalized life after lockdown. Participants will leave the session with self-care tips and resources that they can easily integrate into conferences, workdays, and everyday lives. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MPI

Presenter: Dr. Kim Bercovitz, Ph.D., Founder, X bytes and Byte-Size Wellness Academy

Fri 8/27 at 12 p.m. – EventTech Chat

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

Host: Brandt Krueger, founder Event Technology Consulting

Fri 8/27 at 4 p.m. – Advancing Ethical Understandings in Diverse Teams

What happens when you get a group of people together who have different perspectives, values and morals? It sounds like the beginning of a joke but figuring it out is essential to the success of your organization. Learn how to manage an organization or team successfully while honoring those differences and advancing ethical understandings. More info/register (must join before registering).

Host: Fridays@4

Presenter: Peggy McElgunn, president and CEO of Global Professional Services, PC, and Proven Quality Practices

Mon 8/30 at 1 p.m. – #twineTalks: What Role do Associations Play in a Post-Covid World?

Historically relied on to provide education and networking opportunities, how are associations competing with the plethora of free virtual content and networking opportunities that are flooding the market place? Is it feasible for associations to retain membership and sponsorship dollars to compete with these large #eventtech platforms aiming to build up their own communities? How do associations fit into our post-Covid world? Discuss if and how associations can still deliver value to members in this new, highly accessible world. More info/register.

Host: Twine

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

Mon 8/30 at 1 p.m. – Chapter Relations: A CSE’s Perspective (Chatting with Agnes & Cecilia)

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: Kevin Mayeux

Hosts:

Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC
Agnes Amos-Coleman, MBA, CMP, education, conference, event, certification consultant, Amos-Coleman

Mon 8/30 at 1:30 p.m. – Craft the Perfect Member Journey to Keep Your Members Engaged

Learn how to create a member journey that speaks to your members and helps increase member engagement, experience your website and member portal through the eyes of your user, predict what they are looking for and anticipate what they will find relevant and helpful. More info/register.

Host: Grype

Presenter: Membership Specialist, Ronja Francoeur

Mon 8/30 at 7:30 p.m. – How Your Association Content Can Attract New Members: Introduction to Lead Generation

While sales funnels are not often discussed in the context of professional association memberships, if your goal is membership or event revenue growth then your members most likely go through the sales funnel, regardless of what you call it. Learn about the basic terminology of lead generation in the professional association membership context, actionable items for optimizing your association content so it works for growing your membership, and best practices and user-friendly software for lead generation. More info/register.

Host: MemberBoat

Presenter: Olena Lima, Founder and Principal Consultant, MemberBoat

Tue 8/31 at 8 a.m. – Thought Leadership Session: Associations’ Future Strategies

Hear a diverse group of association leaders go in-depth into their event experiences and strategies. Learn how associations plan to adapt and making events financially viable. Get the latest insights into good practices for successful – and flexible – business event organizing in the future. More info/register.

Host: International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA)

Presenter: Senthil Gopinath, CEO, ICCA

Tue 8/31 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – BizBash at Connect Tampa (virtual)

BizBash is teaming up with Connect to showcase innovative ideas, tools and resources for virtual, hybrid and in-person events with our own virtual experience. More info/register.

Host: BizBash

Tue 8/31 at 1 p.m. – Crafting the Event Experience: A Virtual Design Workshop

Your event invitation and website are the first touchpoints of any event experience. They set the tone, trigger action, and build expectations and excitement of what’s to come, hence, mastering these two components is critical for the success of your event. Join us for a live and interactive workshop led by master event experience crafter, Ryan Costello, where he will walk you through how to leverage invitations and websites to craft an event experience from the start. He’ll be highlighting helpful tools available, places to gather design inspiration, and show you how it all comes together. CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Event Farm

Presenter: Ryan Costello, co-founder, Event Farm, and chief strategy officer, MemberSuite

Tue 8/31 at 1 p.m. – Be a Participant of the World’s Largest Non-Dues Revenue Resource

Ideation sessions are designed to produce real solutions to real-world challenges. The challenge? Associations need more ideas for generating more non-dues revenue. To answer that problem, we’re hosting a 2-hour interactive experience—a virtual event where association professionals can generate new non-dues revenue ideas together. This is an investment of your time and energy, but everyone will walk away with A HUGE document of new ideas. More info/register.

Host: Non-Dues-A-Palooza / 100 Reviews

Tue 8/31 at 1 p.m. – Killer Paid Search Tactics That Every Marketer Needs to Know

Learn the latest trends in paid search to guide your PPC strategy in 2021, how to use AI to automate and optimize CPC bidding, how to make click-to-call ads even more effective, what you need to get real-time attribution for calls and conversions driven by paid search, and tactics for optimizing campaigns to drive more high-value sales calls. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Presenters: paid search geniuses from Media Experts and conversation intelligence pros at Invoca

Tue 8/31 at 2 p.m. – ASAE Annual 2021: Making Member Engagement Memorable

A dominant theme throughout the 2021 ASAE Annual Meeting, engagement has been a hot topic since the world went virtual. Membership engagement has the ability to improve collaboration among all your stakeholders. Hear about the dynamics impacting membership engagement and tips on how to leverage this disruption to initiate a lasting digital transformation. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Protech

Presenters:

Reggie Henry, American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)
Ben Muscolino, Breezio
Edessa Polzin, Web Courseworks
Liz Palm, Protech (moderator)

Tue 8/31 at 2 p.m. – Redefining Your Value Proposition

When was the last time you revisited your association’s value proposition? If the answer is anything other than “this year,” it’s time to take another look. Offering your members what they want and communicating that clearly is essential to member recruitment and retention. Learn how to start an ongoing conversation with members to understand what they want and need sooner, define how you meet those needs succinctly and effectively, and revise your value proposition. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Higher Logic

Presenters:

Tom Morrison, CEO, Metal Treating Institute
Dave Will, CEO, Propfuel
Beth Arritt (moderator), Association Strategist, Higher Logic

Tue 8/31 at 2 p.m. – Power, Voice, & Choice: A Discussion of Self-Exploration & Equity

Learn how to build your awareness and equity “muscles” in this guided discussion about diversity, inclusion and impact. Become a better ally, advocate, and activist through self-discovery, honesty, and some hard truths….that will build you up without tearing you down. Uncover your individual voice in this conversation and learn how and where to get started at creating impact that starts meaningful change for organizations and individuals. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Presenter: Tanya Gibson, Vice President Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (JEDI) & Human Resources, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Wed 9/1 from 11 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. – BizBash at Connect Tampa (virtual)

BizBash is teaming up with Connect to showcase innovative ideas, tools and resources for virtual, hybrid and in-person events with our own virtual experience. More info/register.

Host: BizBash

Wed 9/1 at 12 p.m. – Ten Questions to Optimize Data Management

Whether your association management system (AMS) is brand new or many years old, there are steps you can take to get the most from it. Find out the ten questions you should be considering at your organization to improve the value and usefulness of your current system and data. Hear specific, real-world examples of actions associations have taken to clean up their data, improve the use of their data management systems, and improve sales. More info/register.

Host: Association Insights in Old Town

Presenter: Wes Trochlil, president of Effective Database Management

Wed 9/1 at 1 p.m. – #ExpoChat on Twitter

ExpoChat is a Twitter-based conversation on topics related to the trade show industry. More info.

Wed 9/1 at 2 p.m. – The Neuroscience of Engagement

Engagement is so widely addressed that it’s becoming a big word that often means very little. So, let’s define it meaningfully, by using science. What does it really take for the brain to be engaged? Hear about four evidence-based, practical guidelines, which you can use immediately to create meaningful engagement for your internal and external audiences. More info/register.

Host: Content Marketing Institute

Presenters:

Carmen Simon, PhD, Chief Science Officer, Corporate Visions
Stephanie Stahl, General Manager, Content Marketing Institute

Wed 9/1 at 2 p.m. – PCMA Future Event Masterminds: Re-purpose Content & Brand Presence

Join us for a new PCMA series connecting you with like-minded individuals who are determined to be the best in business. Learn from industry experts as well as your peers in this month’s iteration: 20 minutes of networking in breakout groups; 40-minute presentation, Five Strategies to Maximize Value from Your Event Recordings; 40-minute presentation, The World’s Gone Digital. Now What? Maintaining a strong brand presence in a virtual world; and 20 minutes of networking in breakout groups. 1.5 CMP credits. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Presenters:

Joshua Butler, Falcon Events
Ameerah Saine, BAS Media

Wed 9/1 at 4 p.m. – AWTC Salon: Shine Theory

Shine Theory is a concept from the book Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close, by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman. The authors describe this concept as a practice of mutual investment in each other, in helping someone be their best self—and relying on their help in return. In AWTC, we focus on helping other women succeed, through knowledge, recognition, and community. This sharing of knowledge and resources aligns well with Shine Theory. So, what might this mean in practice? More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions (AWTC)

Fri 9/3 at 11:30 a.m. – Start the Journey to Becoming a Transcendent Leader

As a transcendent leader, we will help you begin the journey of building your compassionate, cohesive and collaborative (C3) culture. Learn about the key components of transcendent leadership, and how behavioral science can optimize your talent and help you identify your team work style so you can effectively drive business results. Hear about a 3-step framework to create teams that are innovative, have low turnover and maintain a high production rate without much supervision. More info/register.

Host: SOAR Community Network

Tue 9/7 at 3:30 p.m. – 365-Day Member Communication: Re-Engaging Your Members in a Post-Covid Era

The data shows that most associations took a hit through Covid. Let’s dive into reengaging your members and lapsed members through a multi-channel communications approach. We’ll discuss using different approaches for new members, existing members, veteran members and members who left. Let’s renew buy-in from your volunteers and staff with an action plan for growth. More info/register.

Host: Grype

Presenter: Scott Oser, founder, Scott Oser & Associates

Thu 9/9 at 1 p.m. – Learning Science: Implications for Your Learning Business

Providing education to adult lifelong learners is at the core of a learning business. But, to thrive, you must have impact—and that’s what learning science helps to guarantee. Learn about evidence-based approaches to designing and delivering educational products and services, drawing on the work of experts translating academic research into real-world implications and practices for providers such as learning businesses. More info/register.

Host: Leading Learning

Presenters:

Jeff Cobb and Celisa Steele, co-founders of Tagoras and Leading Learning
Brenda McLaughlin, CEO at SelfStudy

Thu 9/9 at 2 p.m. – Insight 2022 – What’s in Store for Meetings?

It may be only the beginning of the 4^th quarter but 2022 is right around the corner. It’s the perfect time to discuss and gather insights to plan your association’s events for 2022 and beyond. Hear insights about where we have been and where we are going in 2022 and beyond, whether your meeting is virtual, live or perhaps hybrid. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: 501Works

Presenters:

Joe Colangelo, CEO and Co-Founder of Bear Analytics
James Marquis, CIO, 501Works

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.

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Creative Commons photo by Timothy Dykes via Unsplash

Association Brain Food Weekly: 8.20.21

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

Online learner/virtual attendee engagement. WBT Systems knows what’s on your mind. While reviewing their website traffic reports, they discovered a common theme in their five most popular blog posts: how to increase online learner and virtual attendee engagement. If you’re involved in the design or delivery of virtual/hybrid conferences or online learning programs, check out the ideas and advice shared in their post.

Volunteer training. Recruiting and retaining volunteers is a mighty challenge when members have no time to spare. But what if you could show members a pathway that allows them to develop the skills and experience not only for the task at hand but for the next level of volunteering—or the next step in their career? Billhighway explains how a volunteer pathway and competencies matrix can help you manage, train and retain volunteers. Bonus idea: a competencies matrix for staff committee liaisons—brilliant!

Member engagement. During a recent MemberSuite webinar, Greg Melia, CAE, CEO of the Customer Experience Professionals Association, and Julie Sciullo, CEO of Association Analytics, discussed how to navigate member engagement at this weird time. I love their advice for taking advantage of “digital exhaust” and the “great resignation,” as well as keeping the best of pandemic-induced decisions.

Association communication trends. Associations are communicating more frequently than ever before but still struggle to articulate their member value proposition and customize communications for different cohorts. Read about the state of association communication in the 10th edition of Association Adviser’s annual Association Communications Benchmarking Report.

Volunteer SMEs and product development. Tim Hopkins, senior consultant at McKinley Advisors, describes a new model for the product development process that prevents volunteers from hindering innovation. In this model, “association leaders identify explicit roles for volunteers and create natural boundaries that ensure volunteers remain focused contributors.”

Scenario planning. Some associations seemed paralyzed during the pandemic, unable to shift gears and move away from a suddenly irrelevant strategic plan. Rasheeda Childress at Associations Now shares the advice of Nikki Haton Shanks, CAE, strategist at Association Laboratory, on scenario planning and how it provides a framework that allows your association to act nimbly in uncertain times.

Quick hits

Five reasons to establish an internal users group for your AMS/CRM. (Wes Trochlil)

How to beat burnout and help your team overcome feeling like there’s not enough time in the day. (Ashley Neal, Sidecar)

Fostering a culture of belonging in a hybrid workplace. (Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic and Katarina Berg, Harvard Business Review)

You almost certainly can’t consistently do the kind of work that demands serious mental focus for more than about three or four hours a day. (Oliver Burkeman)

Good eats

Skip down to the list of free webinars if you prefer takeout. If you’re a home cook, check out the irregularly published In The Kitchen posts on my Grabbing the Gusto blog.

A week of seafood at home and at the beach, starting with Vietnamese caramel bluefish with a nuked sweet potato and roasted broccoli on the side.

This Tyler Florence recipe is an old reliable when yellowfin tuna is in the house: pan-seared tuna with avocado, soy, ginger and lime. On the side, zucchini al pesto with onion and red bell pepper, and jasmine rice. An odd combo but we liked it.

At the beach, shrimp pasta is a tradition as is sipping white wine while shelling and deveining the shrimp. I made a broth with the shrimp shells and used some of it to cook the pasta and the rest in the shrimp sauce. The pasta sauce included onion, garlic, tomatoes, white wine, shrimp broth, shrimp, basil pesto, pasta water and butter.

Back home, I was in the mood for cozy. This one-pot chicken and mushrooms did the trick. On the side, roasted red potatoes with rosemary and garlic, and a collards sauté with bacon, red bell, poblano, red onion, carrots and jalapeno.

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Fri 8/20 at 10 a.m.* – Events Reimagined: New Rules of Engagement

Your association’s events will need new creative content to draw in your membership, new prospects, and sponsors. To engage is also to entertain—your event should be a production that drives registrations and results in rave reviews. Learn how to captivate and engage your virtual and in-person audiences, combat Zoom-fatigue and reduce drop-off, keep viewers hooked like the entertainment industry does, and monetize your events without boring your attendees and disappointing your sponsors. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: New York Society of Association Executives

Presenters: Michael Candela, EVP Partnership Sales, and Deborah Sas, Senior Director, Partnership Sales, Multiview

*All times are Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.

Fri 8/20 at 12 p.m. – Exhale @ Lunch with Black In Events Network

As part of the Black in Events Exhale campaign, the team at BIEN and twine have teamed up to power a networking lunch where we will share stories, tips, and resources to support our community. Bring your lunch, the challenges you’re facing, and what you need help with. Come lean on your BIE network and tap into the brilliant minds that make up this community. More info/register.

Hosts: Black in Events Network and twine

Fri 8/20 at 12 p.m. – EventTech Chat

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

Host: Brandt Krueger, founder Event Technology Consulting

Fri 8/20 at 4 p.m. – ASAE Annual Meeting Debrief: Share What You Learned!

If you attended the ASAE Annual, please join us at this debrief to share your learnings. Hear your peers’ top tips from this essential annual gathering of association leaders. Even if you were unable to attend this year, you’re still welcome to join us. This session will provide an excellent opportunity to learn from your peers as they discuss their favorite tips and tools gained from the event, as well as to enjoy some Friday afternoon networking. More info/register (must join before registering).

Host: Fridays@4

Presenter: Kenjie Davis, The AMS Guy

Mon 8/23 at 1 p.m. – Aligning Digital Events with Sponsorships (Chatting with Agnes & Cecilia)

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

Guests: Mary Beth Micucci and Bruce Rosenthal

Hosts:

Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC
Agnes Amos-Coleman, MBA, CMP, education, conference, event, certification consultant, Amos-Coleman

Mon 8/23 at 2 p.m. – Future Proof: Extend Event Impact Year-round

How do you connect and educate people year-round in an online community? Hear from experts in human design, human connection and human storytelling as they share powerful examples and relevant action items for creating communities in digital environments. More info/register.

Host: JUNO

Presenters:

Don Neal, 360 Live Media
Kyle Short, Wisdom Capture
Josh Hotsenpiller, JUNO

Tue 8/24 at 11 a.m. – The War for Talent: How to Recruit and Retain the Right People

Learn how to attract and align your talent, fit talent into appropriate levels, and get the most out of talent. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.

Host: U.S. Transaction Corp.

Presenter: Don Schmincke, Author, Speaker, Sage Leadership

Tue 8/24 at 12 p.m. – The New Playbook for In-Person Events: Enhancing the Experience while Managing Risk

Learn what has changed for in-person events and what you need to be aware of as you plan for your next event; what the future of events looks like, including the latest event trends and how to manage risk; how event hosts are using best practices from their virtual events to build successful in-person events; and new ways to use event apps and features to boost engagement, including polls, games, and pre/post-event activities.1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Event MB

Presenters:

Andrew Pearson, Chief Marketing Officer, Socio
Melissa Jones Clark, Director, National Accounts & Brand Experience, Meeting Tomorrow
Tina Halpain, Founder & Owner, ProPlanit
Miguel Neves, Editor-in-Chief, EventMB, a Skift brand

Tue 8/24 at 12 p.m. – Measure and Deliver Value Through the Power of Data (7 Change Actions Webinar)

Analytics and insights can help you discover and understand your key audiences. It can also help you create memorable, targeted, and successful events, experiences and other solutions that answers their needs, boosts your brand, and ultimately delivers revenue and brand loyalty. Yet, not all measurement strategies are created equal. Effectively gathering and using insights requires matching your strategy to your bottom line and SMART business goals. Learn how to unlock the power (and fun!) of measurement, analytics, and data. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Presenter: Johna Burke, Global Managing Director, International Association for the Measurement and Evaluation of Communication

Tue 8/24 at 2 p.m. – Don’t Be Derailed By Delta: Actions You Need to Take Right Now to Ensure the Success of Your Upcoming Events

With the delta variant causing a fresh round of uncertainty, many event professionals are saying “here we go again.” Learn about the actions you need to take right now to protect your upcoming events and ways to future-proof your strategy so you’re prepared for whatever comes next. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Gather Voices

Presenters:

Tim Turner, Covid Compliance Officer
Steve Boyce, Co-Founder and Principal, beedance
Michael Hoffman, CEO, Gather Voices

Tue 8/24 at 2 p.m. – Reimagining Sustainability and Social Impact in the Events Industry

As we return to in-person events, it’s time to take a new look at how sustainability can be woven into our meeting programs. Hear how the events industry can inspire and advance sustainability and social impact not only in the way we operate, but also through our ability to inspire action. Join us to reimagine the possibilities of a journey that embraces equity, resilience, circularity, and climate action for a more prosperous society. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MeetingsNet

Presenters:

Mariela McIlwraith, Vice President Sustainability and Industry Advancement, Events Industry Council
Yalmaz Siddiqui, Vice President, Corporate Sustainability at MGM Resorts International, and chair of the Event Industry Council Committee on Sustainability and Social Impact

Wed 8/25 at 12 p.m. – Planning for Your Association’s Digital Transformation

Learn how you can effectively plan for future investments in technology for your association’s digital transformation strategy for improving member engagement, how to avoid common mistakes that could lead to saving your association hundreds of thousands of dollars, and how these improvements should enable your continuous performance improvement. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASI

Presenter: David Parkinson, Performance Improvement Leader, ASI

Wed 8/25 at 1 p.m. – Netflix-ing Your Association

Hear how you can transform your website into a Netflix-like experience with a positive impact on your recruitment, retention and revenue. Learn how to measure the gap between your current association’s website and a Netflix experience, the value of closing that gap and using data to customize a member’s experience, and best practices in transforming your digital engagement in as little as 90 days. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Analytics

Presenters:

Dan Stevens, President, WorkerBee.TV
Greg Pollack, Vice President of Sales, Association Analytics

Wed 8/25 at 1 p.m. – Strategies for Riding the Next Wave of Training Transformation

During the last 18 months, learning programs everywhere have been forced to pivot and deliver training digitally to both internal and external constituents. But now, as organizations return to the workplace and calendars begin to fill with in-person training and events, how can you stand out from the competition? Hear from learning leaders who are driving training program innovation and gain practical insights to successfully navigate continued turbulence. More info/register.

Host: Talented Learning

Presenters:

Clare Marsch, Senior Vice President of Training and Development at the American Bankers Association
Brittany Montgomery, Learning Consultant at Catalytic
John Leh, CEO and Lead Analyst at Talented Learning

Wed 8/25 at 1 p.m. – Must-Know Contract Clauses

Hear about strategies to address health and safety concerns that may arise as we return to in-person meetings, contracting lessons from the pandemic, and the new contract provisions developed in response. Learn how to create solid clauses to protect your organization from future unforeseeable events, and protect against hidden fees and charges in future contracts. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Meetings Today

Presenter: Joshua L. Grimes, Esq., principal of Grimes Law Offices, LLC

Wed 8/25 at 1 p.m. – Match Your Audience to the Right Social Channels: Uncover New Opportunities and Maximize Campaign ROI

Learn how to use social insights to maximize your social marketing success, reach the right audiences and identify new opportunities. Find out how to realize your true brand potential on TikTok, Instagram, Reddit, Facebook and more; go beyond standard demographics to understand how and where to reach your social audience; and track campaign ROI, engagement, sentiment and competition by channel. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Presenter: NetBase Quid

Wed 8/25 at 2 p.m. – Make Your Meetings a Ca$h Cow: Extending the Life and Revenue of Your Virtual & Hybrid Meetings

Your organization is creating a lot of great content through your conferences and webinars. But once the event is over, how can you leverage this content to keep making money for your organization? Learn how to change your meeting mindset and strategy to tap into new revenue streams, capitalize on shifts in continuing education wants and requirements, reuse and repurpose your virtual event content to increase non-dues revenue, and monetize matchmaking and create paid engagement opportunities driven from event analytics. More info/register.

Host: Matrix Group

Presenters:

Teri Carden, founder of 100Reviews and ReviewMyAMS
Bryan Clark, Director of Strategic Partnerships of Matrix Group
Joanna Pineda, CEO & Chief Troublemaker of Matrix Group, the makers of the BeSpeake virtual meeting platform

Wed 8/25 at 2 p.m. – Reimagining Associations for a Post-Pandemic World, Part 1

From trends outside associations to new constituent habits and expectations to technology, we’ll look at what associations should do to chart a course forward and how they can incorporate an organizational agility and problem-solving mindset to overcome present and future challenges. More info/register (Note: their registration form doesn’t accept gmail addresses).

Host: Fonteva

Presenters:

Lowell Aplebaum, FASAE, CAE, CPF, CEO & Strategy Catalyst, Vista Cova
Mary Byers, CAE, CSP, Association Advisor and Author, Race for Relevance
Jeff De Cagna, FRSA, FASAE, Executive Advisor, Foresight First
Gayathri Kher, President, fusionSpan

Wed 8/25 at 2 p.m. – The One Stop, Government Relations Shop

What’s a resource-strapped government relations professional to do when faced with issues to monitor, stakeholders to manage, and advocates to rally on minimal funds? Learn tips and tricks for staying organized and working smarter, not harder, to achieve your goals, including how to stretch a tight budget, automate tasks to save time, and prioritize time and money for the win. More info/register.

Host: FiscalNote

Wed 8/25 at 2 p.m. – #RealTalk Dialogue Series: A Conversation with Young Professionals

We will examine age discrimination and the many roles young professionals hold in the meeting and events industry. Unlearn conscious biases and recognize the positive aspects of including young professionals in your employee sourcing strategy. Learn how to advantageously present yourself during the interviewing process. Find out how to create an inclusive environment for young professionals. Understand how MPI is empowering the MPI Young Professionals Advisory Council to build pillars in the community, especially assisting those transitioning from student to industry professional. 1 CMP credit. More info/register (possible fee for MPI non-members).

Host: MPI

Presenters:

Marques Davison
Jessica Ballard, Professional in Residence Faculty Member, Utah Valley University, Woodbury School of Business
Zaman Ishaad, CED, CMP, DES, Enterprise Experience Strategist, NexTech AR Solutions
Cleo Battle, CDME, CTA, President & CEO, Louisville Tourism

Wed 8/25 at 4 p.m. – Mindful Networking with Monica Dillingham

Join a 45-minute, small group meetings with someone we think you should get to know. No formal presentations. This is a chance to intentionally expand your network, exchange ideas, and get some advice. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Guest: Monica Dillingham, Chief Technology Officer of NACUBO

Wed 8/25 at 4 p.m. – We Read It So You Don’t Have To

You picked the book and we read it. Attend the final session of our summer series to get the main highlights and takeaways from Priya Parker’s, Art of Gathering. The best part? You don’t have to read a single page—we’ll share everything you need to know. More info/register.

Host: 360 Live Media

Wed 8/25 at 4 p.m. – The Insider’s Guide to Core Web Vitals

Google has announced a major algorithm change that could have a huge impact on your website’s visibility. Core Web Vitals are a set of specific factors that Google considers important to a website’s user experience. Learn how to locate your Core Web Vitals report inside Google’s Search Console, get a walk through the report so you understand exactly where you stand, and hear about three quick fixes to improve your results. More info/register.

Host: Gulo

Presenters: Zach Wilson, Managing Partner, and Jen Hanson, Director of Marketing, Gulo

Thu 8/26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Community Thrive! Virtual Summit 2021

This gathering of thought leaders in the community and association space will give you the information and resources you need to make sound decisions about the future of online communities and engagement within your associations. Our speakers will help you strategize for longevity and relevance in a digital world. More info/register.

Host: Community By Association

Thu 8/26 at 11 a.m. – 3 Features to Look for in an Online Community Platform as an Association

Learn how advertising, networking opportunities and a user-friendly experience work together to benefit community platforms, how to use features of your platform to increase engagement and sense of community, and how to raise non-dues revenue through a great member experience. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.

Host: U.S. Transactions Corp.

Presenter: Benjamin Muscolino, President & CEO, Breezio

Thu 8/26 at 11 a.m. – Meetings: Return to Relevance (and Revenue)

As we navigate an uneven recovery and still uncertain future, forward-thinking leaders are grappling with hard questions about their meetings, revenue and engagement and some are already pushing hard to innovate models that haven’t changed significantly in decades. Listen to the panelists discuss the current landscape, innovation, investment and what’s on the line for their groups. More info/register.

Host: CEO Update

Presenters:

Deborah Bowen, American College of Healthcare Executives
Gary Shapiro, Consumer Technology Association
Matthew Shay, National Retail Federation

Thu 8/26 at 2 p.m. – Content Curation 101: How to Elevate Your Brand and Connect with Your Audience

Many of us do not have the time or resources to generate multiple pieces of original content on a regular basis. At the same time, associations are still looked to as authority figures when it comes to disseminating leading information in their industries. This session will explore the importance of effective content curation and how to share content in an efficient and meaningful way. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Presenter: Erica Salm Rench, director of client success, rasa.io

Thu 8/26 at 3 p.m. – Strengthen Your Association’s Value Proposition

How can you fortify your association’s value proposition? Hear real-world examples of how other associations have improved by strengthening their value proposition. More info/register.

Host: Tecker International

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

Fri 8/27 at 12 p.m. – Summer Wrap Up Party with Black In Events Network

Hosts: Black in Events Network and twine

Fri 8/27 at 12 p.m. – Finding Wellness and Balance: Life After Lockdown

Host: MPI

Presenter: Dr. Kim Bercovitz, Ph.D., Founder, X bytes and Byte-Size Wellness Academy

Fri 8/27 at 4 p.m. – Advancing Ethical Understandings in Diverse Teams

What happens when you get a group of people together who have different perspectives, values and morals? It sounds like the beginning of a joke, but figuring it out is essential to the success of your organization. Learn how to manage an organization or team successfully while honoring those differences and advancing ethical understandings. More info/register (must join before registering).

Host: Fridays@4

Presenter: Peggy McElgunn, president and CEO of Global Professional Services, PC, and Proven Quality Practices

Tue 8/31 at 1 p.m. – Crafting the Event Experience: A Virtual Design Workshop

Host: Event Farm

Presenter: Ryan Costello, co-founder, Event Farm, and chief strategy officer, MemberSuite

Tue 8/31 at 1 p.m. – Be a Participant of the World’s Largest Non-Dues Revenue Resource

Host: Non-Dues-A-Palooza / 100 Reviews

Wed 9/1 at 4 p.m. – AWTC Salon: Shine Theory

Shine Theory is a concept from the book Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close, by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman. The authors describe this concept as a practice of mutual investment in each other, in helping someone be their best self—and relying on their help in return. In AWTC, we focus on helping other women succeed, through knowledge, recognition, and community. This sharing of knowledge and resources aligns well with Shine Theory. So what might this mean in practice? More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions (AWTC)

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Association Brain Food Weekly: 8.6.21

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

This edition of Association Brain Food covers two weeks because I’m not publishing next week while I’m on vacation. I’ll see you back here on Friday, August 20.

Chapter benchmarking survey. Billhighway, Mariner Management and Whorton Marketing & Research are conducting The State of Chapters 2021 Benchmarking Survey. This time, they’re running two surveys—one for association CEOs and one for membership/component (chapter) relations professionals (CRPs). Please respond by Friday, August 20. If you have questions, contact Kevin Whorton.

Wondering why you should take the time to participate?

The survey questions may prompt you to investigate and/or address issues.
The benchmarking data will help you compare your chapters and association with others, assess how you’re doing in various categories and identify where you need to improve (or brag).
The data may support a business case for additional resources for chapter programs.
Be a good community citizen. Your fellow CRPs and CEOs will appreciate your contribution to the benchmarking data.

Member advisory groups. Does your association want to understand the needs and interests of different segments of your membership and market? Do your members seek connections and conversations with their peers, and low-commitment ways to contribute their expertise? The answer is member advisory groups, says WBT Systems.

AMS reports. You can’t expect your reports and dashboards to prompt action all by themselves, says MemberSuite. “Reports are just one piece, but an essential piece, of a strategic framework for decision-making and action.” First you must identify goals and KPIs, as well as cultivate an organizational culture of data transparency and trust.

Communication app overload. Remember how excited you were when first introduced to Slack or Asana? This is going to make life so easy! And then the notifications, emails, messages, pings, dings and bings kept coming. Achurch Consulting explains how to thoughtfully manage multiple communication and collaboration platforms. Hang tight, help is on the way.

Generational stress. Stress affects each generation differently, says Joseph Coughlin. Life experience, lifestyle habits and career stage have much to do with how you feel about and respond to what’s going on around you. The effects of the pandemic will have an impact on younger generations, like wars and depressions had on older ones. Is member wellbeing something your association thinks about?

Return to the office or not. Here’s a reason for employers, managers and employees to stress out. At Fast Company, CEO Dave Dinesen says, “You can’t ignore the fact your employees may feel differently than you, or even each other, about the future of work.” Some people want to return to the office, some don’t. You can’t please everyone, so what do you do?

The great resignation. Kim Hart at Axios says 26% of workers plan to look for a job at a different company once the pandemic has subsided. I’ve seen several stories about this lately. Does your association have a plan for keeping close ties with members who are in transition? How do you plan to engage more seasoned professionals who are entering your industry?

Quick hits

What will you have to say on December 31, 2029 about your association? Looking back from the last day of the decade: a thought experiment for association decision-makers. (Jeff De Cagna, Foresight First)

Do you have a lack or an abundance mindset about time? We should all be time millionaires. (Laura Vanderkam)

Microadventures: how to find a sense of awe and discover a miraculous world right outside your door. (Emily Pennington, New York Times)

Good eats

Skip down to the list of free webinars if you prefer takeout. If you’re a home cook, check out the irregularly published In The Kitchen posts on my Grabbing the Gusto blog.

I made one of my favorite skillet dinners last weekend: a southwestern-spiced mix of ground chorizo, black beans, sweet potatoes, corn, spinach, onion, peppers, cheese, cilantro and more. On the side, a Mexican-inspired corn casserole and calabacitas—a summer squash dish.

I took a superfast spicy sweet chicken recipe and used it for baked black sea bass fillets—tasty. On the side, a green cabbage sauté with bacon, red onion, red bell, poblano, jalapeno and carrot.

The next night, a simple dish of swordfish baked with lemon juice, butter, garlic powder and Aleppo pepper flakes—and leftover cabbage.

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

Fri 8/6 at 12 p.m.* – AI Now for Associations: Strategy: Where Do I Start?

Learn the practical steps to create a technology strategy that aligns with your association’s mission and goals, and get a roadmap to take immediate action in support of your association. More info/register.

Host: AI Now for Associations

*All times are Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.

Fri 8/6 at 12 p.m. – EventTech Chat

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

Host: Brandt Krueger, founder Event Technology Consulting

Fri 8/6 at 12 p.m. – Meetings Outlook: Future Predictions for the Business of Meetings

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

Host: MPI

Presenter: Jessie States, CMP, CMM, Director, MPI Academy, Meeting Professionals International

Fri 8/6 at 4 p.m. – Foresight as a Leadership Competency, Part 1

Leaders are better prepared for an uncertain future when they practice foresight, the practice of continually scanning for developing trends and considering how they will impact your organization’s mission and operations. This forward-looking mindset transitions you from a reactive position to one that is proactive and transformational. Find out how to enrich your planning and operations through the integration of foresight into your organization. In Part 1, learn the basic elements of foresight and why it is important for leaders to practice foresight. More info/register – must join first before registering.

Host: Fridays@4

Presenters:

Kristine Metter, MS, CAE, founder, Crystal Lake Partners
Sue Pine, FASAE, CAE, Strategic Advisor

Mon 8/9 at 1 p.m. – Lockdown Lessons for Association Membership (Chatting with Agnes & Cecilia)

Guests: Lia Zegeye, Senior Director, Membership at American Bus Association

Hosts:

Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC
Agnes Amos-Coleman, MBA, CMP, education, conference, event, certification consultant, Amos-Coleman

Tue 8/10 at 11 a.m. – Why Your Association Needs to Embrace a “Digital First” Strategy

If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that associations underestimated members’ acceptance of digital delivery. Associations can capitalize on this digital tailwind—or they can succumb to the temptation to return to the “good old days” of traditional practices. Learn how to create a sense of urgency for “digital first” thinking, how to fund technological investments, and understand technology’s critical role in the future relevance of associations. More info/register.

Host: Sidecar

Presenters:

Harrison Coerver and Mary Byers, CAE, authors, Race for Relevance
Chelsea Brasted, general manager, Sidecar

Tue 8/10 at 12 p.m. – Looking Forward Solutions

Get a first look at Looking Forward (Solutions), the most current and comprehensive examination of association strategy ever conducted. The research tested more than 120 strategies currently being implemented by associations to discover the ideas that association leaders believe are most critical to success. Learn about the principal challenges facing association strategy as the sector emerges from the pandemic, key strategies that associations believe are critical to success and why they’re so essential to the future of associations, and how to access the Looking Forward Dashboard. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.

Host: Association Laboratory

Presenters:

Dean West, FASAE, founder and president, Association Laboratory
Nikki Haton Shanks, MBA, CAE, strategist, Association Laboratory
Meg Whedbee, MPP, senior analyst, Association Laboratory
Miranda Barrett, CAE, PMP, strategist, Association Laboratory
Nikki Golden, CAE, strategist, Association Laboratory

Tue 8/10 at 12 p.m. – Practical Answers to Your Burning Questions About the Future of Meetings & Events

Virtual attendance isn’t going away. Most organizations are embracing their new reach and inviting their newly found digital fans to join their in-person experiences—from home. Meanwhile, the duty of care, pandemic precautions, and safety and risk management have taken a front seat in the planning process, sometimes supplanting traditional conversations around design and experience. Back to normal is a phrase for past generations, so what’s next? Join this open dialogue on the future of events, what’s changed and what likely won’t ever be the same again. 1 CMP credit. More info/register – possible fee for MPI non-members.

Host: MPI

Presenters: MPI Events Director Melinda Burdette and Questex CMO Kate Spellman

Tue 8/10 at 12:30 p.m. – Community by Association Book Chat: Build Your Community with Richard Millington

Hear about the key concepts in Richard’s newest book, Build Your Community: Turn Your Connections into a Powerful Online Community, which will provide you the keys to unlock the potential in your online community programs to create member loyalty and to build sustainable communities. More info/register.

Host: Community By Association

Presenter: Richard Millington

Wed 8/11 at 11 a.m. – Summer Stakeholder Management: Tips & Tricks for Maintaining the Relationships that Matter

From lawmakers, advocates, clients, employees, team members and even competitors, project managing the people and data that help—or hinder—your cause into a coherent game plan is the perfect summer project. Hear tips for maintaining stakeholder and data hygiene, how to report out on your successes (and mitigate your failures), and best practices for managing and organizing your stakeholders in one place. More info/register.

Host: FiscalNote

Wed 8/11 at 1 p.m. – The New Live Engagement Program: Virtual is Here to Stay

The extended reach and accessibility of virtual events have unlocked new opportunities for organizations to build valuable relationships with their customers, prospects and other constituents. Learn the latest technology trends impacting the virtual world, the ongoing role of virtual events in your total event program, how to build an engaging virtual event your attendees will love and connect them with each other, and best practices from industry peers for virtual events of all sizes. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Meetings Today

Presenter: Julie Haddix, Senior Director, Industry Solutions for Cvent

Wed 8/11 at 2 p.m. – Post-COVID Return to the Workplace: HR and Office Considerations for Associations

Hear about the human resource and physical office considerations for returning to the workplace. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Mid-Atlantic Society of Association Executives

Presenters:

Jeffrey S. Tenenbaum, Esq. (moderator), Managing Partner, Tenenbaum Law Group PLLC
Sarah Henze, HR Consultant, TPO
Rebecca Humphrey, Head of North America Workplace Practice Group, Savills

Wed 8/11 at 2 p.m. – Ask the Attorney: A Live Q&A for Meeting and Event Professionals

Are you happy with your contracts? Everybody is taking a closer look at their cancellation clauses, and agreements need to cover the nuances required for virtual and hybrid meetings. Get help navigating these challenges and answers to your questions about contracts. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Northstar Meetings Group

Presenter: Jonathan T. Howe, president and founding partner of Howe & Hutton Ltd.

Wed 8/11 at 3 p.m. – Personalizing the Member Experience

Learn new and innovative ways to personalize the member experience. Explore both onsite and offsite techniques that can be incorporated into your digital member experience strategy. More info/register.

Host: Brightfind

Presenters:

Frank Klassen, Brightfind
Erica Salm Rench, rasa.io

Wed 8/11 at 3:30 p.m. – AWTC Salon: Degrees, Certifications, and Your Career

Participate in an interactive discussion about the value of advanced degrees and certifications. Do degrees and certifications help your career? Which credentials are the most valuable? AWTC Salons are interactive, collaborative gatherings where everyone is invited to share experiences, knowledge, and resources about a topic. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions (AWTC)

Facilitator: Jill Treby, Senior Director of Membership and Marketing at the Association for Psychological Science

Thu 8/12 at 9:45 a.m. – Big Buzz Breakfast Club: Intentional Culture Creation for Your Nonprofit

The culture of your nonprofit is instrumental in attracting top talent (staff, board and volunteers) and support, and in building engagement. Learn about the characteristics of successful cultures, the benefits of having a truly aligned culture from the top down and the importance of reviewing your nonprofit activities through the cultural lens of your association. More info/register.

Host: Big Buzz Idea Group

Presenter: Melissa Lagowski, founder, Big Buzz Idea Group

Thu 8/12 at 11 a.m. OR 8 p.m. – Innovations in Membership Engagement

When a global pandemic canceled conferences and events, associations had to innovate new, creative ways to engage their members and build community. Entirely new platforms and revenue streams have emerged as well as new ways to boost retention, volunteerism, and leadership. Learn creative, proven strategies to engage members, and inspire participation and growth. More info/register for morning or for evening session.

Host: Sarah Sladek, Membership Author and Strategist / Save the Associations

Presenters:

Thomas Wojno, Senior Vice President of Innovation and Member Advancement, International Dairy Foods Association
Dennis J. Slater, President, Association of Equipment Manufacturers
Jennifer English Lynch, CAE, Member Concierge, American Health Law Association
Chris Berry, District Executive Director, YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City
Jennifer Ragan-Fore, Chief Experience Officer, International Society for Technology in Education
Ashley Hodak Sullivan, MBA, Director of Membership and Marketing, National Association of College and University Attorneys

Thu 8/12 at 12 p.m. – What to Say to Your Corporate Sponsors During Uncertain Times

Your organization is wrestling with what your events will look like in the future. The uncertainty gives you a queasy feeling when seeking sponsorship revenue. Learn about an easy to follow framework for conversations with sponsors. This framework will give you confidence as you will know what to say—and lead to more productive discussions, stronger relationships, and additional revenue. More info/register.

Hosts/presenters: Lewis Flax and Scott Oser

Thu 8/12 at 3 p.m. – How Hybrid & Virtual Can Dramatically Boost Event Revenues

Keeping your events on a prosperous growth track can be challenging, yet hybrid and virtual offer outstanding opportunities to protect and grow revenues. Hear proven strategies and tips to help you minimize event expenses while maximizing revenues. From sponsorship and subscriptions to expanding audience engagement throughout the year and in ways your sponsors will be eager to support, you’ll come away with ideas you can activate quickly to boost your event bottom line. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Presenters:

David Lutz, Managing Director, Velvet Chainsaw Consulting
Brooke Passy, CMP, DES, Senior Meeting Manager, Association Headquarters, Inc.
James Parker, Chief Executive Officer, Digitell, Inc.

Fri 8/13 at 12 p.m. – EventTech Chat

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

Host: Brandt Krueger, founder Event Technology Consulting

Fri 8/13 at 4 p.m. – Foresight as a Leadership Competency, Part 2

Foresight is the practice of continually scanning for developing trends and considering how they will impact your organization’s mission and operations. This forward-looking mindset transitions you from a reactive position to one that is proactive and transformational. Learn how to enrich your planning and operations through the integration of foresight into your organization. Take a deeper dive into applying foresight with small group discussions using ASAE’s ForesightWorks materials. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4 – must join before registering.

Presenters:

Kristine Metter, MS, CAE, founder, Crystal Lake Partners
Sue Pine, FASAE, CAE, Strategic Advisor

Sun 8/15 at 4 p.m. – Celebrating the Life of Elizabeth Glau

Elizabeth’s family and friends invite you to gather virtually to share our favorite memories, our stories, to laugh, to cry, and remember a remarkable person who left a legacy and will be greatly missed. More info/register.

Mon 8/16 at 1 p.m. – Update on Volunteerism Post-COVID19 (Chatting with Agnes & Cecilia)

Guests: Paul Reddish

Hosts:

Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC
Agnes Amos-Coleman, MBA, CMP, education, conference, event, certification consultant, Amos-Coleman

Tue 8/17 at 12 p.m. – The Science of Meetings & Events Series: Nature of Space: An Ecosystem for Event Success

Using the recently released “Nature of Space” whitepaper by IMEX we will use a neuroscience lens to explore the lessons from nature to help build an event that helps our attendees have a healthier, happier, and more meaningful event experience. 1 CMP credit. More info/register – possible fee for MPI non-members.

Host: MPI

Presenter: Janet Sperstad, Facility Director, Meeting and Event Management, Madison College

Tue 8/17 at 12:30 p.m. – Meetings of Membership Minds

These impromptu, casual discussions about membership concepts, issues, and challenges are conducted live online and open to membership professionals to comment and offer insights. More info/register.

Hosts: Dan Ratner, The Business of Membership, and Scott Oser, Scott Oser Associates

Tue 8/17 at 2 p.m. – Designing Your Event Program for Diversity & Inclusion

Learn how every angle of planning an event (venue selection, promotion, speaker selection, etc.) impacts an individual’s ability to feel included, how to avoid the pitfalls of outdated thinking, and opportunities you can use to ensure vibrancy at your events. More info/register.

Host: MeetingsNet

Presenter: Nathan Chin (he/him), Senior Product Manager, Cvent

Wed 8/18 at 12 p.m. – Method to the Madness: The Strategy Behind A/B Testing

Who’s got time to come up with alternate versions to test when you’re under pressure to just get the email out the door? Believe it or not, there’s a whole strategy behind A/B testing that is easy to implement AND it helps you elevate your campaign performance. We’ll walk you through a simple framework to use to test the right subject lines, email copy, and imagery that will help drive conversions and elevate your overall email game. More info/register.

Host: HighRoad Solutions

Presenters: Nicole Crilley, Email Marketing Specialist, and Erika Beshore, Training Specialist, HighRoad Solutions

Wed 8/18 at 12 p.m. – The Unstoppable Workplace: Overcoming the Impact of Imposter Syndrome

Learn how to recognize the hidden signs of imposter syndrome in your team and your business, discover the key behaviors and feedback that stop imposter syndrome in its tracks, and practice setting a high bar for performance without setting your team up to feel like a failure or fraud. 1 CMP credit. More info/register – possible fee for MPI non-members.

Host: MPI

Presenter: Stacey Ruth, CEO, Unstoppable Leader

Wed 8/18 at 1 p.m. – New Ideas for Non-Dues Revenue Success

Your association’s non-dues programs can be a strategic boon to membership, events and education when properly framed into an association’s strategy. Hear unique approaches to event, education, content and partnership programs. Our panel will provide working examples being used and working for 2021 and beyond. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Professionals for Association Revenue

Presenters:

Rick Borry, co-founder, Webvent
Teri Carden, founder, 100 Reviews and ReviewMyAMS
Mike Thompson, CEO, Learner Mobile
Sean Soth, founder and leadership advisory board chair, Professionals for Association Revenue

Wed 8/18 at 2 p.m. – Designing Your Event Program for Diversity & Inclusion

Host: MeetingsNet

Presenter: Nathan Chin (he/him), Senior Product Manager, Cvent

Wed 8/18 at 3 p.m. – Beyond the Office: Nonprofit IT Support Trends

Join a discussion on the best IT support for moving beyond the office. What are current in-office, remote or hybrid nonprofit IT office work models? Hear about a range of innovations and trends that can keep your team being productive, and how to save and encourage the best of remote work even as you return to hybrid or in-office formats. More info/register.

Host: Community IT

Thu 8/19 at 4 p.m. – After ASAE21 Ask Me Anything Session with Jeff De Cagna

Join Jeff for an informal “ask me anything session” as a wrap-up to your ASAE21 learning experience. More info/register.

Host: Jeff De Cagna

Wed 8/25 at 1 p.m. – Strategies for Riding the Next Wave of Training Transformation

Host: Talented Learning

Presenters:

Clare Marsch, Senior Vice President of Training and Development at the American Bankers Association
Brittany Montgomery, Learning Consultant at Catalytic
John Leh, CEO and Lead Analyst at Talented Learning

Wed 8/25 at 2 p.m. – Make Your Meetings a Ca$h Cow: Extending the Life and Revenue of Your Virtual & Hybrid Meetings

Host: Matrix Group

Presenters:

Teri Carden, founder of 100Reviews and ReviewMyAMS
Bryan Clark, Director of Strategic Partnerships of Matrix Group
Joanna Pineda, CEO & Chief Troublemaker of Matrix Group, the makers of the BeSpeake virtual meeting platform

Wed 8/25 at 4 p.m. – Mindful Networking with Monica Dillingham

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Guest: Monica Dillingham, Chief Technology Officer of NACUBO

Thu 8/26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Community Thrive! Virtual Summit 2021

Host: Community By Association

Thu 8/26 at 3 p.m. – Strengthen Your Association’s Value Proposition

How can you fortify your association’s value proposition? Hear real-world examples of how other associations have improved by strengthening their value proposition. More info/register.

Host: Tecker International

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

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Creative Commons photo by Vivek Doshi via Unsplash

Association Brain Food Weekly: 7.30.21

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

Non-dues revenue. The countdown is on! 55 days from now, you could be in Nashville hanging around with people whose associations are rolling in non-dues revenue and people who want to emulate their success. Teri Carden—founder of ReviewMyAMS and AMS Fest—is bringing both groups together for a day of learning and sharing on September 23, plus some fun, of course, the night before. Actually, her events are always fun and enlightening. Check it all out on the Non-Dues-A-Palooza website.

Online learning programs. If you’re looking for a low-budget way to start an online learning program at your association, WBT Systems has the answer. People are too busy to find and vet the educational content they need, so do the dirty work for them. Combine a selection of articles, posts, videos, podcast episodes, session recordings and/or other content you already have into curated content bundles.

Volunteer learning journey. Billhighway introduces a volunteer management model developed by Peggy Hoffman, FASAE, CAE, and Kristine Metter, CAE, the volunteer learning journey, which helps you visualize both member and association needs and desires for each level of the volunteer pathway—from first-time volunteer to board member. As members move along the pathway, they develop the skills and experience needed for the task at hand and can see what competencies they need to move to the next level of volunteering.

Pandemic success story. During the pandemic, the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) added 250 new members and achieved an 80% retention rate—in the travel industry! Dainella Nartker at Association Ventures Playbook explains how they became an “emotional home” for members while remaining transparent about their financial situation, neither “Pollyannish” nor “deer in the headlights.” Pay attention to the guidance the CEO’s advisor gave her during one of ATTA’s lowest moments—everyone could benefit from advice like that this year.

Membership wake-up call. Ten Ways to Futureproof Your Membership, a new report from Sequence Consulting, is a refreshing wake-up call with practical new ideas for a time of reset member expectations. A few that stand out include: adopting a fluid planning style, abandoning time-honored traditions and demolishing inefficient processes, focusing on outcomes, and using technology to build capacity. The report’s format makes it a quick read so dive in.

Change fatigue. A Gartner study found that smaller changes create more change fatigue. “Under normal circumstances, we can rely on our ‘surge capacity’ to deal with sudden, short-term changes. The ongoing pandemic has depleted these usual reserves… employees have less capacity to cope with change,” writes Sara Antliff at Atlassian. She describes two factors that can build an employee’s capacity for change.

Quick hits

A powerful new approach to changing someone’s mind—useful for system implementation, process improvement, presenting a business case for technology, etc. (Jonah Berger, Knowledge@Wharton)

How the Healthcare Financial Management Association’s podcast engages members, supports DEI initiatives and attract sponsors while maintaining integrity. (Ronn Levine, SIIA)

Why niche communities are the future of social media marketing—associations should have an advantage here. (Shama Hyder, Inc.)

Good eats

Skip down to the list of free webinars if you prefer takeout. If you’re a home cook, check out the irregularly published In The Kitchen posts on my Grabbing the Gusto blog.

I found a tasty new fish recipe, roasted dill amberjack (instead of salmon). Following a suggestion in the comments, I used pomegranate molasses instead of maple syrup.

The next night, an old staple, Mummy Lorraine’s blueline tilefish. Okay, Mummy Lorraine always makes this with cod. Top fish fillets with a mix of crushed Ritz crackers, lemon zest, garlic powder and melted butter, then bake.

On the side, roasted sweet potato wedges inspired by my brother Ed’s version, spiced with smoked paprika, cayenne, cinnamon, and garlic powder, along with summer squash pesto with corno di toro and red bell peppers, grape tomatoes, onions and corn.

On Sunday, I made enough gumbo for a few nights. My version this time included chicken thighs, Portuguese chourico, shrimp, okra and the rest of the usual suspects. I served it over brown rice made in the Instant Pot. On the side, green beans with caramelized red onions. For the beans, I used chicken instead of vegetable broth and only half the brown sugar. I was going to add mushrooms but didn’t feel like going to the store.

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Fri 7/30 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 times are Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.

Fri 7/30 at 4 p.m. – Writing as a Thought Leadership Strategy

Writing is one of the most powerful strategies for establishing thought leadership, increasing visibility and credibility, and growing your business. Yet, many professionals don’t believe they have the time or expertise to write. Participate in a series of writing exercises to develop writing muscles that will help grow your business and career. You’ll walk away with an action plan for writing a series of blogs or articles (that could even lead to a published book!). More info/register—must join first before registering.

Host: Fridays@4

Presenter: Cathy Fyock, The Business Book Strategist

Mon 8/2 at 1 p.m. – Extended Special Episode: Creativity & Intelligent Automation (Chatting with Agnes & Cecilia)

Guests: Mike Jacka & Bryant Richards

Hosts:

Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC
Agnes Amos-Coleman, MBA, CMP, education, conference, event, certification consultant, Amos-Coleman

Tue 8/3 at 11 a.m. – The Importance of Integrations to Member Retention

Your members primarily interact with your association using technology such as your website, LMS, AMS/CRM, and more. But if your technology platforms are not well integrated, you are likely missing out on key member retention opportunities. Learn how integrations affect the member experience and member retention, solutions to common integration issues that directly affect your members, how to align your technology strategy to decrease friction and increase member retention, and how to make technology work better for your team and your members. More info/register.

Host: Cimatri

Presenter: Rick Bawcum, CAE, founder and CEO, Cimatri

Tue 8/3 at 12 p.m. – Analytics 101: Creating Dashboards for Your Organization (Data Analytics Network)

Discuss dashboard best practices and planning with association peers, see examples of dashboards in MS Excel, and hear before and after examples of the dashboard development process. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Analytics

Tue 8/3 at 3:30 p.m. – The No BS Guide to Digital Transformation

Digital transformation has been a hot topic for a decade, and yet associations still struggle to make it happen, to get beyond “digitizing” and truly “go digital.” Hear the findings from a new, deeply researched whitepaper, The No BS Guide to Digital Transformation: How Intentional Culture Change Can Propel Associations Forward. Learn what makes association culture unique and how culture change particularly impacts associations—through the lens of an ever-evolving tech environment. 1.5 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Presenters:

Elizabeth Weaver Engel, M.A., CAE, chief strategist, Spark Consulting
Maddie Grant, culture designer and digital strategist, Propel

Wed 8/4 at 1 p.m. – Pitfalls and Planning for the RFP Process

The RFP process is there to help associations understand their needs and find the right partners to help them fill those needs. Learn about the red flags to watch out for, how not to ask dumb questions, and if you even need to issue an RFP in the first place. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Altai Systems

Presenters:

Tammy Marko, PMP, Achurch Consulting
Beth Power, Altai Systems

Wed 8/4 at 1 p.m. – Legal Considerations in the Post-Pandemic Period

Learn how you should prepare for the initial phase of the return to in-person events and how to effectively communicate with your facility and destination partners to ensure a successful result for stakeholders and attendees. Hear about force majeure, vaccine passports, waivers, on-the-ground protocols, and meeting roles and responsibilities. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Meetings Today

Presenter: meetings industry attorney, Joshua L. Grimes, principal of Grimes Law Offices LLC

Wed 8/4 at 3 p.m. – How to Use Your Member Engagement Scores

Learn how to use your engagement scores to uncover which activities lead to the highest engagement; create next-level customer segmentation; find volunteers, speakers, authors, and brand advocates; identify at-risk members so you can create personalized renewal campaigns; and tailor your messaging based on segments and historic engagement levels. CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Analytics

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

Thu 8/5 at 10 a.m. – The Changing Role Of Event Data – New Challenges & Opportunities

A new 2021 research study shows the dramatic shift to virtual events has meant organizers are collecting more data today than ever before. Sponsors and exhibitors want more data to justify ROI, and attendees are getting more concerned about what data they share online. Learn about the new challenges and opportunities surrounding the changing role of event data. More info/register.

Host: Eventsforce

Thu 8/5 at 11 a.m. – Member Engagement: 15 Ways to Take Your Newsletter to the Next Level

Learn 15 ways to take your email newsletter to the next level, how to leverage new technologies to make your email newsletter more sophisticated, maximize your newsletter real estate, and increase email engagement for your newsletter. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.

Host: U.S. Transactions Corp.

Presenter: Erica Salm Rench, Director of Client and Market Success, Rasa.io

Thu 8/5 at 1 p.m. – Student Networking Panel

Attracting and retaining Gen Z to associations is getting harder and harder. Could be shortening attention spans, a lack of understanding (on the value of associations), or the changing nature of learning and professional networking. Since there’s no good answer, we’ve brought together a panel of students to talk about networking, associations, and how it should (will soon enough) work. More info/register.

Host: Protopia

Thu 8/5 at 2 p.m. – Vital Lessons from Covid-era Medical Meetings

Hear lessons learned from recent medical meetings that took into consideration organizational goals, attendee comfort levels, CDC protocols and rules for medical programming. Learn what to ask when considering virtual, in-person and hybrid models; how to communicate with attendees before, during and after the event; and how to make everyone feel comfortable and safe. More info/register.

Host: Smart Meetings

Presenters:

Kara Ferguson, MSHTM, CMP, Meeting Planner, American Society of Anesthesiologists
Rod Rydell, Director of Site Selection and Planning, Keene Research Institute

Thu 8/5 at 3 p.m. – Netflix-ing your Association Digital Transformation with a Purpose

Learn how to make your website as personal and purposeful as Netflix by offering targeted content recommendations that delight your audience. Our webinar will demonstrate how modern technology makes this transformation possible – in under 90 days. More info/register.

Hosts: Association Analytics and Association TV

Presenters:

Greg Pollack, Vice President of Sales, Association Analytics
Dan Stevens, President, Association TV

Fri 8/6 at 12 p.m. – AI Now for Associations: Strategy – Where do I start?

Host: AI Now for Associations

Fri 8/6 at 12 p.m. – Meetings Outlook: Future Predictions for the Business of Meetings

Host: MPI

Presenter: Jessie States, CMP, CMM, Director, MPI Academy, Meeting Professionals International

Fri 8/6 at 4 p.m. – Foresight as a Leadership Competency, Part 1

Host: Fridays@4

Presenters:

Kristine Metter, MS, CAE, founder, Crystal Lake Partners
Sue Pine, FASAE, CAE, Strategic Advisor

Tue 8/10 at 11 a.m. – Why Your Association Needs to Embrace a “Digital First” Strategy

Host: Sidecar

Presenters:

Harrison Coerver and Mary Byers, CAE, authors, Race for Relevance
Chelsea Brasted, general manager, Sidecar

Tue 8/10 at 12 p.m. – Looking Forward Solutions

Get a first look at Looking Forward (Solutions), the most current and comprehensive examination of association strategy ever conducted. The research tested more than 120 strategies currently being implemented by associations to discover the ideas that association leaders believe are most critical to success. Learn about the principal challenges facing association strategy as the sector emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, key strategies that associations believe are critical to success and why they are so essential to the future of associations, and how to access the Looking Forward Dashboard, filter for the specific information you need, and download reports to share with your staff or board. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.

Host: Association Laboratory

Presenters:

Dean West, FASAE, founder and president, Association Laboratory
Nikki Haton Shanks, MBA, CAE, strategist, Association Laboratory
Meg Whedbee, MPP, senior analyst, Association Laboratory
Miranda Barrett, CAE, PMP, strategist, Association Laboratory
Nikki Golden, CAE, strategist, Association Laboratory

Tue 8/10 at 12:30 p.m. – Community by Association Book Chat: Build Your Community with Richard Millington

Host: Community By Association

Presenter: Richard Millington

Wed 8/11 at 3:30 p.m. – AWTC Salon: Degrees, Certifications, and Your Career

Host: Association Women Technology Champions (AWTC)

Facilitator: Jill Treby, Senior Director of Membership and Marketing at the Association for Psychological Science

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Creative Commons photo by Dyaa Eldin Moustafa via Unsplash

Association Brain Food Weekly: 7.23.21

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

Webinar pricing/sponsorships. If you are interested in the current trends in charging for webinar registrations and sponsorships, I urge you (or the person at your organization who knows your webinars best) to participate in a Leading Learning/Tagoras survey, which closes tonight.

Remote work/life boundaries. Achurch Consulting explains why work/life boundaries are essential, especially for people working remotely. They suggest tactics for establishing boundaries, such as shut-down rituals, and protocol for meetings and communications.

Mixed-age learning programs. Different generations have a lot to teach each other, says WBT Systems. I can attest to that after spending three days hanging out with my 11- and 13-year-old nephews. Eye-opening. WBT’s post describes why your association would want to offer mixed-age learning programs and suggests how to get started.

AMS data and reports. MemberSuite explains how to ensure your AMS reports provide the data your co-workers and volunteer leaders need for insight and decisions. Their advice covers everything from determining what data to collect to getting members to update their profiles.

Membership benchmark data. Marketing General Inc. recently released their 2021 Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report, one of my annual must-reads. I haven’t read this year’s yet, but fully intend to, since I regularly use its findings in client posts.

Digital nomads. My honey dreams of renting or selling the house, putting our stuff in storage and hitting the road in an RV so we can hike all over the country. I love the idea but am I ready for it? Not sure. At the Harvard Business Review, Miles Everson, Steve King and Carolyn Ockels say every company needs a digital nomad policy—which makes me wonder… do you know of any digital nomads in the association community?

Quick hits

The time has come for a four-day work week. (Stowe Boyd)

Kill a stupid rule: an amazing way to reduce red tape. (Nick Skillicorn, Idea to Value)

How to make your to-do list less overwhelming… try an “enough” list. (Josh Spector)

Good eats

Skip down to the list of free webinars if you prefer takeout. If you’re a home cook, check out the irregularly published In The Kitchen posts on my Grabbing the Gusto blog.

I spent time up in Massachusetts last week with my family enjoying local pizza, my brother’s carnitas, and Italian cookies and pastries, so time in my NC kitchen was limited. Before I left, I made baked Spanish mackerel with a barbecue-maple-soy glaze for dinner. On the side, a summer squash sauté with carrots, broccoli stems, red bell and corno di toro peppers, bacon, corn, tomatoes and basil.

Upon my return, I relied on my freezer and Food Lion’s freezer for gochujang burgers, frozen onion rings, and two packs of frozen “Asian medley” vegetables sautéed with chile sauce, sunflower shoots and Thai basil.

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Fri 7/23 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 times are Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.

Fri 7/23 at 4 p.m. – The Importance of Cultural Competence in the Workplace

Cultural competence is the ability to understand and interact effectively with people from other cultures. It is a life-long journey of learning and enlightenment. When individuals seek to better understand and effectively interact with cultural differences, the workplace can become more effective, efficient and enjoyable. Hear how to become a more culturally competent association professional. More info/register (must join before registering).

Host: Fridays@4

Presenter: Dr. Randy Whetstone, Jr., Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Louisville

Mon 7/26 at 1 p.m. – New CSE Position and Respecting Your Predecessor (Chatting with Agnes & Cecilia)

Guest: Victoria Elliott

Hosts:

Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC
Agnes Amos-Coleman, MBA, CMP, education, conference, event, certification consultant, Amos-Coleman

Mon 7/26 at 2 p.m. – Using EQi to Fuel Return to Work Success

As more of us return to office settings, there’s a need to tap into the emotional intelligence (EQi) skills required to successfully navigate the workplace. Learn about the pitfalls of low EQi among individual staff and teams; the three EQi competencies that can help staff thrive as they return to the office—whether that office is in-person, hybrid, or remaining fully virtual; and how teams can use EQi to build a Play to Win culture and inspire lasting innovation, value, alignment, and retention. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Presenters: EQ experts Jenn Barley and Karen Sullivan, KickStart Your Edge

Tue 7/27 at 11 a.m. – Seven Ideas to Leverage Your Association’s Data to Drive Member Engagement

Description not available in time. 1.5 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: U.S. Transactions Corp.

Presenter: Julie Sciullo, CEO, Association Analytics

Tue 7/27 at 11 a.m. – The New Digital Event Economy, Explained

Learn how the new event economy can positively affect your business. Find out how to add an event platform into your portfolio for successful hybrid and virtual events and how partnering with a high-tech event platform can boost your business and improve your attendee experience. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Presenter: Viktor Strömberg, Co-Founder and COO of Lansera Virtual Events

Tue 7/27 at 12 p.m. – Challenges and Hopes: Insights from MGI’s 2021 Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report

It has been a challenging year for association membership, with large numbers of associations reporting declines in their membership and other adverse impacts from the pandemic. Fortunately, a variety of positive signs provide hope for a forceful membership rebound. What should you do to recruit more members, increase your renewal rates, and grow your membership? How can you improve your association’s membership results now and into the future? Hear about the findings from MGI’s 2021 Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Marketing General Inc. (MGI)

Presenters: MGI senior staff Tony Rossell, Jana Darling, and Elisa Joseph Anders

Tue 7/27 at 12 p.m. – How to Leverage Every Channel to Maximize Your Reach

If we learned anything from the last 16 months, it’s that the flexibility and reach potential of virtual is a value we can’t just leave on the table. Virtual events and virtual engagement blow through barriers to access, and the proof is in the numbers. Learn how to drive reach through smart marketing tactics and creating options for content consumption, boost engagement and demand generation for the onsite experience through pre-event campaigns and activations, create content for the virtual audience that also serves onsite activations so you don’t end up duplicating work or designing the same event twice, and maximize the potential for onsite interactivity and participation with programming that lets all audiences in on the action. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Event MB

Presenter: Anthony Kennada, Chief Marketing Officer, Hopin

Tue 7/27 at 1 p.m. – Lead Like an Ally: Embracing Diversity and Inclusion in the Boardroom & Beyond

Learn how to build a plan using proven strategies to engage board members and foster an inclusive boardroom, collaboratively create and enhance diversity planning with leaders with unique perspectives and backgrounds, and apply actionable tools and techniques to facilitate meaningful discussions on diversity in your organization. More info/register.

Host: OnBoard

Presenter: women’s leadership speaker and trainer, author of Lead Like an Ally: A Journey Through Corporate America with Strategies to Facilitate Inclusion, Julie Kratz,

Tue 7/27 at 2 p.m. – Hybrid Events People Actually Want to Attend: How to Craft a Compelling Experience That Engages Live and Virtual Audiences

Learn how to understand what your audience needs and how those needs vary between the in-person and virtual attendees, what virtual attendees expect from hybrid events in the post-pandemic world, the differences between a Creative Brief and a Technical Brief, and why each is critical to the success of your event, and the foundational elements of transforming your in-person event into a digital storytelling experience that drives authentic engagement. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Gather Voices

Presenters:

Amy DeLouise, brand storyteller, content strategist, speaker, and author of multiple LinkedIn Learning courses
Michael Hoffman, CEO of Gather Voices

Wed 7/28 at 11 a.m. – Why Now’s the Best Time for Advocacy

The end of state sessions and the congressional recess traditionally bring a respite from intense legislative campaigns, giving advocacy pros a chance to focus on other important work that pays dividends when lawmakers are back in session. Whether it’s growing your list, establishing key relationships, building important stakeholder networks, or getting in front of state and federal lawmakers, learn how to strengthen your advocacy efforts during the summer slowdown. More info/register.

Host: FiscalNote

Wed 7/28 at 11 a.m. – Implementing Technology Solutions at your Association: Lessons Learned [Panel Discussion]

Description not available in time. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.

Host: U.S. Transactions Corp.

Wed 7/28 at 1 p.m. – Elevating the F&B Experience

Learn how to adapt your F&B programs to the COVID-19 environment, and how to modify them as the pandemic wanes. Hear about the effects of COVID-19 health and safety modifications on the food and beverage experience, how to curate the food and beverage experience to address guests’ WITY (What’s Important to You) points, and how to take an innovate, nimble and holistic approach to the event experience. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Meetings Today

Presenter: Mary Cline, regional director of catering sales for Wolfgang Puck Catering

Wed 7/28 at 1 p.m. – Going Global: Catering to Audiences Around the World

In the new world of hybrid events, audiences are expanding to reach across the world. Hear about the correct tools to execute seamless global events. This panel will bring a wealth of knowledge on the future of global events and the technology that is powering it. More info/register.

Hosts: Kudo and BizBash

Presenters:

Rebecca Schuette, VP of Marketing, KUDO
Valerie Bihet, Owner, VIBE Agency
Melissa Park, Founder & CEO, Melissa Park Events
David Adler, Founder & Chairman, BizBash

Wed 7/28 at 2 p.m. – Don’t Leave Money on the Table: How to Level Up Your Non-Dues Revenue Strategy with Video (NDaP Monthly Expert Series)

Hear about an innovative video playbook based on real-world tactics proven to drive more non-dues revenue. Learn about digital marketing trends that are reshaping the future of non-dues revenue, why co-creating video content with your sponsors and members maximizes value, how to make your existing campaigns more successful by leveraging the power of video, and simple-to-execute ideas to deliver more value to your sponsors, your members, and your organization. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Non-Dues-A-Palooza / 100 Reviews

Presenter: Michael Hoffman, CEO of Gather Voices

Wed 7/28 at 2 p.m. – Virtual Onboarding: How to Communicate Expectations, Promote Company Culture and Create Connections

The benefits of remote work have opened up opportunities for many employees and their employers, including for associations. But the question remains: How do you connect and train with new employees virtually? Learn about the critical role of creating and protecting company culture during virtual onboarding, developing a plan to welcome new employees virtually, and defining what virtual onboarding looks like for your association. More info/register.

Host: Sidecar

Presenters:

Jonathan Carbin, Training Manager, Realtor.com
Lauren Caputo, Esq., Chief of Staff to the CEO, Turnaround Management Association
Sharon Kneebone, IOM, CAE, Executive Director for the National Society for Histiotechnology
Wade Koehler, CAE, owner, Forte Association Management Company

Wed 7/28 at 2 p.m. – How to Become a Superstar Webinar Presenter

Learn secrets for finding great webinar talent and best practices to make your existing presenters more engaging and your presentations more fun. Hear how to prepare for your webinar, directly engage your audience, and develop new formats to spice up your webinars. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Presenter: Mark Bornstein, VP of Content Marketing, ON24

Wed 7/28 at 3 p.m. – A Candid Discussion on Employment: We Can Work it Out—Together

For the first time, leaders from third-party meeting and event companies will come together to discuss employee-level employment updates, strategies for planners and suppliers who have been displaced during the COVID pandemic, how they are investing in social purpose to unlock opportunity in their workforces and communities, and stories of job displacement from across the industry including meeting professionals, CVB staff, and hotel and restaurant workers. More info/register.

Host: Event Leadership Institute

Presenters:

Jeff Guberman (facilitator), HMCC, CEO, McVeigh Global Meetings and Events
Tina Madden, Co-CEO, Meetings & Incentives Worldwide, Inc.
David Peckinpaugh, President, Maritz Global Events
Todd Taranto, President, Cadre, and Owner, Meetingjobs
Sebastien Tondeur, CEO, MCI Group

Wed 7/28 at 6:15 p.m. – Herstory: A Conversation with Executive Women about Gender Equality

We’re excited to welcome these diverse executive women whose story and expertise can inspire other women leaders and help move the needle for gender equality. More info/register.

Host: Center for Executive Excellence

Presenters:

Monica Davy (Moderator), SVP and Chief Culture, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer, Vizient
Alessandra Lezama, CEO, TOOTriS
Nupur Bhushan, General Manager, Australia & New Zealand, ResMed
Antonia Luna, Senior VP Branch Network & Support Services, California Coast Credit Union
MyMy Lu, Director, Diversity & Inclusion, Thermo Fisher

Thu 7/29 at 11 a.m. – How to Co-Create Powerful Video Stories with Your Members to Drive Authentic Engagement All Year Long

In our increasingly connected digital world, associations need to find new ways to cut through the noise and authentically engage their members. By inviting your member community to join in the conversation with your organization, you’ll co-create powerful video stories that enable you to acquire new members, secure more renewals, and build a stronger, more loyal community. Learn how leading organizations are leveraging user-generated content to drive more engagement than ever before. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.

Host: U.S. Transactions Corp.

Presenters:

Alexandra Bradley, Director of Communications and Engagement at the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
Michael Hoffman, CEO of Gather Voices

Thu 7/29 at 12 p.m. – Trends in Volunteer Engagement: Executive Management Dialogue

Even before the pandemic, trends in volunteerism were shifting. Now, organizations are exploring new ways to engage volunteers and establish mutually beneficial outcomes. Micro-volunteering, virtual volunteering and volunteers as community advocates are adding to, and in some cases, replacing, traditional committee roles and long-term commitments. Associations are also examining the lack of diversity within their volunteer structures and the possible barriers to entry that may exist. Join this dialogue to hear insights rethinking models of volunteerism and the trends towards maximizing engagement of this important strategic resource. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Presenters:

Megan Kuhman, CAE, senior manager of online communities, ASAE
Kristine Metter, CAE, president of Crystal Lake Partners
Artesha Moore, CAE, Vice President of Affiliation, Engagement, and Membership, American Geophysical Union

Thu 7/29 at 12 p.m. – Does Your Allyship Continue Beyond June?

Pride month has come to an end, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to hang up your allyship. Learn how to move past performative acts of allyship to show up for the LGBTQIA+ community year-round. More info/register.

Host: The Diversity Movement

Presenters:

Susie Silver, Senior Consultant, The Diversity Movement
Jake Rostovsky, MA, LMFT, LGBTQIA+ Diversity & Inclusion Training Consultant
Christine Cariño, Founder & Managing Partner, Conscious Thrive

Thu 7/29 at 12:30 p.m. – Data and Technology Transactions in a Digital Age: What Your Organization Needs to Know

When evaluating technology solutions, it is crucial to evaluate the contracts and licenses that are involved, especially the obligations and liabilities that may arise under these contracts with respect to third parties. Learn about common provisions and major legal issues in complex intellectual property contracts and data transactions, as well as the legal requirements that may apply to the use of personal and other proprietary data. More info/register.

Host: Venable LLP

Presenters:

Kelly DeMarchis Bastide, Partner, Venable LLP
Christopher Kim, Associate, Venable LLP

Thu 7/29 at 1:30 p.m. – The No BS Guide to Digital Transformation

Hear the findings from a new, deeply researched whitepaper, The No BS Guide to Digital Transformation: How Intentional Culture Change Can Propel Associations Forward. Research clearly shows that the key to lasting and responsive digital transformation is intentionally focused culture change. Learn what makes association culture unique and how culture change impacts associations through the lens of an ever-evolving tech environment. Hear case studies of associations that have embraced digital transformation on behalf of their members and industries, and get details on the steps necessary to achieve true digital transformation in your association. More info/register.

Host: ReviewMyAMS

Presenters:

Elizabeth Weaver Engel, M.A., CAE, chief strategist, Spark Consulting
Maddie Grant, culture designer and digital strategist, Propel
Brad Dennison, director of content strategy, Healthcare Financial Management Association

Thu 7/29 at 3:30 p.m. – Craft the Perfect Member Journey to Keep Your Members Engaged

Learn how to experience your website and member portal through the eyes of your user; to predict what they are looking for and anticipate what they will find relevant and helpful. This strategic exercise goes beyond intuitive navigation into creating an impressive user experience that is satisfying and brings the user to a higher place of knowledge. More info/register.

Host: Grype

Thu 7/29 at 4 p.m. – Mindful Networking with Julie Sciullo

Part of AWTC’s Mindful Networking Series, this is a small group setting for participatory conversations led by visionary leaders who will share knowledge but not deliver a formal presentation. Julie is CEO of Association Analytics, a SaaS company providing Acumen. She is an industry leader often spotlighted on podiums and podcasts. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Fri 7/30 at 4 p.m. – Writing as a Thought Leadership Strategy

Host: Fridays@4

Presenter: Cathy Fyock, The Business Book Strategist

Tue 8/3 at 12 p.m. – Analytics 101 (Data Analytics Network)

More info/register.

Host: Association Analytics

Tue 8/3 at 3:30 p.m. – The No BS Guide to Digital Transformation

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Presenters:

Elizabeth Weaver Engel, M.A., CAE, chief strategist, Spark Consulting
Maddie Grant, culture designer and digital strategist, Propel

Wed 8/4 at 1 p.m. – Pitfalls and Planning for the RFP Process

Host: Altai Systems

Presenters:

Tammy Marko, PMP, Achurch Consulting
Beth Power, Altai Systems

Fri 8/6 at 12 p.m. – AI Now for Associations: Strategy – Where do I start?

Host: AI Now for Associations

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Creative Commons photo byTimothy Eberly via Unsplash

Association Brain Food Weekly: 7.16.21

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

Online education revenue. WBT Systems recapped a recent Non-Dues-A-Palooza webinar where Will Hold, the CEO of the National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research, described how his association quintupled their online education revenue by offering subscriptions, corporate learning portals and learning paths focused on job roles.

Pseudo-science generational labels. I’ve written frequently over the years about generations but now, thanks to this open letter to the Pew Research Center from Professor Philip N. Cohen, I’m going to only talk about career stages and ages. Definitely look at what he has to say, especially if you’re using labels like Gen X, Millennial and Gen Z.

Usability testing. Sometimes a topic starts to regularly pop up in my life. Suddenly, I see references to it in different places. Usability testing is the latest version of that phenomenon—and it’s a good thing to learn about over on the Fionta blog since it solves lots of problems and increases the value of your technology investments.

Hybrid advocacy. At the ASAE website (members-only, probably), Quardricos Driskell of the American Urological Association writes about the hybrid future for advocacy. He describes the state of advocacy now and shares advice for the successful implementation of a hybrid government advocacy model.

Young professionals. In another ASAE article, Brooke Wilson of Live 360 Media, a YP herself, suggests five changes to consider if you’re serious about appealing to the next generation.

Newsletter suggestion. I always enjoy reading The Art of Noticing newsletter from Rob Walker, author of a book by the same name. He features one aspect of noticing in each edition, an ice-breaking exercise and a curated selection of good reads.

Quick hits

How to create an editorial calendar that will streamline your content strategy. (Neil Patel)

Almost all LinkedIn user data has been scraped and is up for sale on the dark web. (Stu Sjouwerman, KnowBe4)

Why security awareness training should be required from Day 1 for new employees. (Lauren Patrick, eLearning Industry)

Good eats

Skip down to the list of free webinars if you prefer takeout. If you’re a home cook, check out the irregularly published In The Kitchen posts on my Grabbing the Gusto blog.

Here’s a winner for the pressure cooker (cook for 90 minutes) or slow cooker: char siu pork roast, think Chinese-style pulled pork. I doubled the recipe and added several shakes of hot sauce to the marinade/sauce. On the side, a slaw made with green cabbage, carrot, red bell pepper, sweet onion and cilantro with a dressing of hoisin sauce, lime juice and grapeseed oil. We rolled up the char siu and slaw in flour tortillas.

For our veggie, sweet and spicy Szechuan-style green beans. I omitted the sugar and used garlic chives in place of the garlic and green onions.

Another night we had baked speckled sea trout with a topping of panko bread crumbs, parmesan and romano cheeses, fresh chervil, cayenne, onion powder and melted butter. Odd but tasty.

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Fri 7/16 at 12 p.m.* – Your Ultimate Guide to Hybrid Experiences, Abridged

A few months ago, MPI in partnership with Radisson Hotels engaged Brandt Krueger to rewrite the hybrid playbook we launched a decade ago with new knowledge, best practices, and methods for hosting events that connected two or more audience groups. We’ll showcase highlights from the playbook as well as a curated Q&A with Krueger that will enable you to find success in the hybrid events world. 1 CMP credit. More info/register (possible fee for MPI non-members).

Host: MPI

Presenters:

Jessie States, CMP, CMM, MPI Academy Director, MPI
Brandt Krueger, Technical Producer, Event Technology Consulting

*All times are Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.

Fri 7/16 at 12 p.m. – EventTech Chat

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

Host: Brandt Krueger, founder Event Technology Consulting

Fri 7/16 at 1 p.m. – The No BS Guide to Digital Transformation

The research is clear: the key to lasting, responsive digital transformation is intentional and focused culture change. Still, associations struggle to get beyond “digitizing” and truly “go digital.” Hear some findings from the new, deeply researched whitepaper, The No BS Guide to Digital Transformation: How Intentional Culture Change Can Propel Associations Forward. Find out how the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) embarked on their digital transformation project on behalf of their members and their industry. More info/register.

Host: Propel

Presenters:

Elizabeth Weaver Engel, M.A., CAE, founder, Spark Consulting
Hugh Seaton, Head of Construction Technology Practice, Cimatri
Maddie Grant, founder, Propel

Fri 7/16 at 1 p.m. – Associations and The Business of Belonging

Join an insightful discussion on how you can unlock the true value of community-driven business. Learn how to make community your competitive advantage, measure the quantifiable value of community, and develop a framework for building out your community strategy. More info/register.

Host: Community by Association

Presenters:

David Spinks, Co-Founder, CMX
Tirza Austin, Manager, Online Community, American Society of Civil Engineers

Fri 7/16 at 4 p.m. – Getting the Most From Your ASAE Annual Meeting Experience

The prospect of effectively networking at a conference as big and chockful of options as the ASAE Annual Meeting can be overwhelming. Hear practical tips and tactics for planning an effective networking strategy and using the ASAE Annual Meeting to advance your career. More info/register (must join first for free before registering).

Host: Fridays@4

Presenters:

Jennifer Baker, MSW, CAE, senior director, ASAE Business Services, Inc.
Cortney Whitlow, manager, meeting registration and industry partner engagement, ASAE

Mon 7/19 at 12 p.m. – A Fireside Chat about the Future of Virtual Events with ACE Virtual Events

Hear about the opportunity to build a different audience compared to in-person events, the ability to use different virtual event concepts, creating monetizing strategies, and learning to minimize logistic expenses by using virtual events. More info/register.

Host: Remo

Mon 7/19 at 1 p.m. – New CSE Position and Respecting Your Predecessor (Chatting with Agnes & Cecilia)

Guest: Victoria Elliott

Hosts:

Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC
Agnes Amos-Coleman, MBA, CMP, education, conference, event, certification consultant, Amos-Coleman

Tue 7/20 at 6 a.m. – Designing for Change: Planning Successful Events When the Landscape is Constantly Shifting

Moving forward means being innovative in your event design to deliver quality experiences that meet the needs of your delegates—whether they’re online, hybrid/blended or in-person—and adapt to last-minute changes. Learn how to design an event program that’s agile and includes a variety of experiences, adapt your plans without doubling your workload or breaking your budget, expand your options by complementing in-person events with online components, and maximize revenue through creative pricing and sponsorship models. More info/register.

Host: MemberWise

Presenter: Results Direct Mobile

Tue 7/20 at 11 a.m. – Hybrid Futures: How Peer Learning Can Bridge the Virtual/In-Person Audience Gap

Hear best practices in helping participants connect and learn from each other, gained from 10 years of collaborating with the top event professionals at PCMA, MPI, Adobe, Workday, Salesforce, Slack and more. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Presenter: Brudis Limar III, Head of Revenue – Sales and Marketing, e180

Tue 7/20 at 11 a.m. – How Unifying Your Data Expands Reach, Revenue, & Impact

Associations and publishers alike have long struggled with customizing content for different segments of their membership and audience. Integrating and managing data from disparate sources, leveraging data to create better digital experiences, and using data to grow new revenue are difficult concepts to understand, much less implement. Hear how HIMSS approached and addressed these issues, taking control of their data to grow their audience and tailor their outreach. Learn how to use these strategies to deliver better engagement and personalized experiences, boost recruitment and retention efforts, and support new product development. More info/register.

Host: Silverchair

Presenters:

Steve Lieber, HIMSS
Jake Zarnegar, Hum / Silverchair

Tue 7/20 at 12:30 p.m. – Meetings of Membership Minds

These impromptu, casual discussions about membership concepts, issues, and challenges are conducted live online and open to membership professionals to comment and offer insights. More info/register.

Hosts: Dan Ratner, The Business of Membership, and Scott Oser, Scott Oser Associates

Tue 7/20 at 2 p.m. – The Joy of Hybrid: Secrets to Making a Hybrid Remote Office Work

While “hybrid” might sound like the perfect compromise between work from office (WFO) and work from home (WFH) models, a successful transition requires intentionality and an emphasis on equity in the work environment. Without an intentional approach to workplace transition, leaders risk instituting arbitrary reasons for either WFO or WFH policies. Employees will quickly see through their veneer and cry foul. To help leaders create hybrid-remote policies and procedures that are equitable, legal, and embrace an inclusive culture, we will share actionable tips and “secrets” to optimize your burgeoning hybrid workplace. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Achurch Consulting

Presenter: Rae Ann Johnson, Esq., legal advisor, Achurch Consulting

Wed 7/21 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Benchmarking Pep Rally

We’re having a pep rally because this year’s Chapter Benchmarking Study is going to look a little different and it’s a BIG deal. We’re striving to continue the conversation around how we can help make chapters a bigger, more strategic focus within the association industry and expand on what we’re hoping to gain as a component relations community. Since this study is different than previous years, we wanted to provide more context, get your thoughts on how we can better help you and your chapters, and also share how you can help us accomplish this community goal. We hope you can join us for this engaging discussion. More info/register.

Hosts: Billhighway and Mariner Management

Wed 7/21 at 1 p.m. – The Fun Starts Here: How to Amaze, Delight, and Engage Your Event Attendees

Join us for an in-depth look at the event industry’s latest engagement tools, new ways to wow attendees, and real activity examples from recent events. More info/register.

Host: Socio

Wed 7/21 at 1 p.m. – The Future of Events: A Sneak Peek Into An Exclusive Industry Report

Hear preliminary insights that highlight the current state of the virtual and hybrid event industry along with some key findings in a survey that gained over 500 completions. Gain valuable findings into the virtual event industry and event industry as a whole that are not yet published anywhere else. Data such success metrics, the current state of the event industry, and the future of the event industry will be published in this sneak peek. More info/register.

Host: Remo

Presenters:

John Follett of Demand Metric
Hoyin Cheung, CEO, Remo

Wed 7/21 at 2 p.m. – Professional Development Townhall: Do This, Not That: What’s Working NOW for Email Marketing

Forget what you think you know about email marketing and gain an understanding of the behavioral changes that are now affecting how email users notice, process and respond to your marketing messages. In this session, we’ll take a look at what’s directly impacting the way targeted audiences notice and process the email communications you’re sending. Drawing on data from successful email campaigns executed over the last 30 days, you’ll gain insight into specific B2B and B2C tactics that are working now. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Professional Development Professionals Community

Presenter: Jay Schwedelson

Wed 7/21 at 2 p.m. – #RealTalk Dialogue Series | A Conversation on Ageism

We see it, we hear it, and we usually skip the conversation. Ageism is defined as prejudice or discrimination on the grounds of a person’s age. In this #RealTalk we will discuss ageism as it relates to the meetings industry and beyond. 1 CMP credit. More info/register (possible fee for MPI non-members).

Host: MPI

Presenters:

Ashton Applewhite, Author, This Chair Rocks
Tanida Mullen, CMP, Association Sales Manager, Killeen Convention and Visitors Bureau

Wed 7/21 at 2 p.m. – 7 Change Actions Webinar: Designing Experiences that Truly Connect and Engage

Join a discussion about the true meaning of engagement and ways we can thoughtfully and impactfully integrate experiences that connect and inspire. Learn why designing for engagement first can boost interaction, learning, and satisfaction more than programs packed with content—especially as you bridge the gap between in-person attendees and digital participants. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Presenter: Jenny Sauer-Klein, Founder + CEO, Scaling Intimacy School of Experience Design

Thu 7/22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Mobile App Demo Day

Join us for presentations from a limited number of industry partners that offer mobile apps. Mobile experts will be showcasing apps and sharing their knowledge with the association market. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Thu 7/22 at 10 a.m. – Community Case Studies

Learn tips, tricks, and best practices from experienced community managers that have overcome the same challenges you’re faced with every day. Leave with new online community strategies and tactics and meet peers who are experiencing the successes and challenges of managing an online community. More info/register.

Host: The Community Roundtable

Thu 7/22 at 11 a.m. – Hybrid Events: The Next Big Challenge

Find out the questions to ask before planning the details of a hybrid event, and hear from those in the thick of it who will share what they are thinking about and how they have started to resolve some of the challenges for their events. More info/register.

Host: Society Street

Thu 7/22 at 11:30 a.m. – The Story of Lost Members: How to Reach and Re-Engage Lapsed Members Where They Are Today

Learn how to improve retention rates by understanding why members lapse, understand behaviors that could be sabotaging your retention rates, and develop strategies for a win-back campaign that can immediately be implemented. CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Your Membership

Presenter: Tirrah Switzer, Senior Product Marketing Manager

Thu 7/22 at 1 p.m. – A Year-Round Event Strategy: The Key to Community Building

Learn how to create the perfect combination of virtual, hybrid, and in-person events that nurture relationships throughout the year. We’re bringing together association leaders and event organizers from global associations to reveal their event strategies so that you can learn how to take an omnichannel approach to deliver “everywhere experiences,” identify the right kind of events specific to your audience and goals, and drive ROI for the larger ecosystem of suppliers, sponsors, and exhibitors. More info/register.

Host: Airmeet

Presenters:

Oscar Cerezales, Chief Strategy Officer, MCI Group
Lee Gimpel, founder, Better Meetings

Thu 7/22 at 2 p.m. – 3 Must-Haves for Your Post-Pandemic Event Strategy

For the first time in over a year, the idea of returning to in-person events actually seems possible. This comeback will require meticulous planning. Learn how to define your COVID-19 safety protocol, communicate safety measures to attendees, and evaluate event venues in a post-pandemic era. More info/register.

Host: Splash

Presenters:

Neha Prasad, Founder & President, ANP Safety Consulting
Bryan Stacy, Founder & CEO, Valheala
Camille White-Stern, Communications Manager, Splash
Rebecca Miller, Director, Marketing & Comms, Splash

Fri 7/23 at 4 p.m. – The Importance of Cultural Competence in the Workplace

Host: Fridays@4

Presenter: Dr. Randy Whetstone, Jr., Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Louisville

Tue 7/27 at 11 a.m. – Seven Ideas to Leverage Your Association’s Data to Drive Member Engagement

Description not available. 1.5 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: U.S. Transactions Corp.

Presenter: Julie Sciullo, CEO, Association Analytics

Wed 7/28 at 2 p.m. – Don’t Leave Money on the Table: How to Level Up Your Non-Dues Revenue Strategy with Video (NDaP Monthly Expert Series)

Host: Non-Dues-A-Palooza / 100 Reviews

Presenter: Michael Hoffman, CEO of Gather Voices

Thu 7/29 at 12 p.m. – Trends in Volunteer Engagement: Executive Management Dialogue

Host: ASAE

Presenters:

Megan Kuhman, CAE, senior manager of online communities, ASAE
Kristine Metter, CAE, president of Crystal Lake Partners
Artesha Moore, CAE, Vice President of Affiliation, Engagement, and Membership, American Geophysical Union

Thu 7/29 at 4 p.m. – Mindful Networking with Julie Sciullo

Host: Association Women Technology Champtions

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Creative Commons photo by Yasin Küçükdişli via Unsplash

Association Brain Food Weekly: 7.9.21

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

Training programs. The training of frontline (public-facing) employees has traditionally been the purview of a company’s HR department or, as with alcohol service training, for example, outsourced to a for-profit specializing in that niche. WBT Systems has found, however, several examples of associations that offer frontline training programs for individuals and companies, and they think your association should get in on the game.

Order and change. Charlene Li believes you need order to create change—not what you picture when thinking about innovative organizations. She says, “Disruptive organizations create just enough order to allow change to happen smoothly. They do so by investing intentionally in a strong foundation—structure, policies, and rituals—that can weather change without crumbling or cracking.” Makes more sense now.

Member engagement. Anne McCarthy at Sidecar recaps a panel discussion at SURGE Forward about the new approaches to member engagement taken by associations during the pandemic. One invited early-career professionals to the table and actually acted upon their suggestion to use Slack as a networking platform. Other advice: do fewer things better and never go back to what it was—only move forward.

Digital networking. At the Velvet Chainsaw Consulting blog, Sarah Michel thinks they’ve cracked the code on digital networking. She describes the different tactics developed and practiced by Amanda Kaiser and Arianna Rehak during the 2021 Virtual Networking Incubator.

Office myth. Another example of wishful thinking disguised as conventional wisdom: Claire Cain Miller at the New York Times says there’s no evidence that chance meetings at the office boost innovation. File this one away in your “make a case for remote work” file.

Good eats

Skip down to the list of free webinars if you prefer takeout. If you’re a home cook, check out the irregularly published In The Kitchen posts on my Grabbing the Gusto blog.

You can always count on a Molly Stevens recipe, so I’ve turned to her braised monkfish with cherry tomatoes and basil a few times. On this occasion, I made it with only one pound of almaco jack, subbed bacon for pancetta and added chopped red onion. Scrumptious. On the side, roasted baby potatoes with rosemary and garlic, and roasted broccoli with garlic, parmesan and lemon zest.

I didn’t feel like going to the store one day. I had three varieties of summer squash from the CSA in the frig, and raided the cupboard, freezer and herb garden to make spaghetti with canned clams, Portuguese chourico, squash, onion, garlic, fresh corn, parsley, basil, oregano and hot red pepper flakes. Even though I’m Massachusetts born and raised, I’m not a snob about canned clams—they have their place. Would fresh clams be better? Of course, but canned do just fine in a pinch.

A few years ago, on a visit to my aunt in Rhode Island, I was inspired by the bean salad she made, so I developed my own recipe with additional inspiration from Our State It’s been a Fourth of July tradition ever since—a tradition made even more meaningful because the Fourth is my aunt’s birthday. The only thing missing from my recipe is waxed beans because I’ve never seen them at the store or farmers market.

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

Fri 7/9 at 12 p.m.* – Strategy First, Software Next

Are your technology capabilities aligned with your mission? To explore this question, we are kicking off a three-part series—the first will be “Strategy First, Software Next.” We will explore the importance of creating a technology strategy for your association that aligns with your organization’s mission and long-term goals. More info/register.

Host: AI Now for Associations

*All times are Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.

Fri 7/9 at 12 p.m. – EventTech Chat

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

Host: Brandt Krueger, founder Event Technology Consulting

Fri 7/9 at 1 p.m. – Improve Your Email Engagement with a Conversational Email Strategy

Find out how conversational email helps improve reply rates, scale outreach, and unlock email’s hidden potential. Learn how to send emails that people actually want to open, leverage proven strategies and tactics for writing conversational emails, and measure and optimize your conversational email results. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Presenter: Drift’s Sr. Director of Demand Generation Charm Bianchini

Fri 7/9 at 4 p.m. – Play to Win: Developing Your Political Intelligence

It’s no longer enough for leaders to have just IQ and EQ. These days, successful leaders must also have political intelligence (PQ). Find out what would change if you managed workplace politics with a new PQ mindset, and how to approach workplace challenges with a “how do I want to play this?” approach. Learn about the six behaviors that chip away at organizations and how to address them, and the play-to-win strategy to strengthen your PQ muscle. More info/register. (Must join Fridays@4 for free first.)

Host: Fridays@4

Presenter: Kathleen Zwarick Shanley, PhD, CAE, ACC, ELI-MP

Mon 7/12 at 1 p.m. – Regular Wellness series with Fern Carbonell (Chatting with Agnes & Cecilia)

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

Guest: Fern Carbonell

Hosts:

Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC
Agnes Amos-Coleman, MBA, CMP, education, conference, event, certification consultant, Amos-Coleman

Mon 7/12 at 2 p.m. – Appropriations 2021: Where Do We Go From Here

As the world heals from a global pandemic, the twelve House committees, and their subcommittees, are about to start racing toward an October deadline to decide spending levels across the government. So much focus lately has been on infrastructure, health care and defense, but where will the money ultimately go? Hear CQ Roll Call journalists discuss potential appropriations decisions and what they could mean for your organization. More info/register.

Host: FiscalNote

Tue 7/13 at 1 p.m. – Member Engagement in 2021: How Associations are Navigating Engagement in the Post-Pandemic Environment

The pandemic has reshaped every aspect of our lives: how we do business, how we communicate, and how, when and where we interact with each other as human beings. With that big of a cultural shift, associations have no choice but to adapt their engagement strategies to stay relevant in 2021. The panel will discuss societal observations, new engagement tools and tactics, updated association business models, and how data can help us make sense of this all. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: MemberSuite

Presenters:

Ryan Costello, Chief Strategy Officer, MemberSuite
Julie Sciullo, CEO, Association Analytics
Greg Melia, CAE, CEO, Customer Experience Professionals Association

Tue 7/13 at 1 p.m. – How to Breakthrough to New Audiences Using Virtual Events

Are you looking for ways to increase your interactions and engagement through online events? Hear helpful tips and tricks on how you can reach new audiences through virtual events. More info/register.

Host: Remo

Presenter: Kevin Green, CEO of iBreakthrough

Tue 7/13 at 2 p.m. – 3 Features to Look for in an Online Community Platform as an Association

Learn how advertising, networking opportunities, and a user-friendly experience work together to benefit community platforms, how to use features of your platform to increase engagement and sense of community, and how to raise non-dues revenue through a great member experience. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.

Host: U.S. Transactions Corp.

Presenter: Benjamin Muscolino, President & CEO, Breezio

Wed 7/14 at 12 p.m. – Emails That Don’t Creep But Get You…Like Really Really Get You

Members and prospects are more likely to engage with your content and programming if you demonstrate that you know and understand their needs. It’s the underlying principle of Inbound Marketing. How do you personalize a digital experience across multiple channels that doesn’t come off as creepy or stalkerish? It starts with data, but association marketers need to be selective with the data they choose and map it to programming and content. Better yet, they need a continuous feedback loop to keep the content personalized and relevant based on what their audiences consume. Learn how you can create a hyper-personalized email experience without needing a staff of 10 to pull it off. More info/register.

Host: HighRoad Solutions

Presenters: Maneesha Manges, Director of Services, Kim Cregan, Strategic Account Manager, and Chris Park, Development Manager, HighRoad Solutions

Wed 7/14 at 12 p.m. – The Science of Meetings & Events Series: Nature of Space – An Ecosystem for Event Success

Using the recently released “Nature of Space” whitepaper by IMEX, we will use a neuroscience lens to explore the lessons from nature to help build an event that helps our attendees have a healthier, happier, and more meaningful event experience. Discover how adapting nature’s best lessons can help create a successful event. Explore ways to leverage lighting and environmental features to inspire innovation. Learn how patterns and shapes found in nature can accelerate and strengthen connections and community. 1 CMP credit. More info/register (possible fee for MPI non-members).

Host: MPI

Presenter: Janet Sperstad, Facility Director, Meeting and Event Management, Madison College

Wed 7/14 at 12:30 p.m. – Supercharge Your Hybrid Event with an Event Community

As organizations begin to stage hybrid and return to in-person events, one thing is clear, the desire to connect is stronger than ever. Learn how to build event communities to increase satisfaction and retention, create additional revenue opportunities and drive higher attendance to your hybrid events. 1 CAE/CEM credit. More info/register.

Host: Personify

Presenter: Rich Vallaster, Director of Marketing and the Tradeshow Wonk at Personify

Wed 7/14 at 1 p.m. – Pragmatic Usability Testing Workshop: How to Easily Improve Your Digital Properties

Walk a mile in your member’s shoes. Gain insights and tear down the biggest barriers with digital properties such as your website, member communities, credentialing paths, member surveys, platforms, or any other online member interaction point. Learn how the basics of implementing usability testing can improve your member’s experiences and interactions with your association. More info/register.

Hosts: Altai Systems and Ellipsis Partners

Presenter: Moira Edwards, founder, Ellipsis Partners

Wed 7/14 at 1 p.m. – The New Live Engagement Program: Virtual is Here to Stay

Although most of us missed our in-person meetings, we discovered some advantages of virtual events like extended reach and accessibility. This has unlocked new opportunities for organizations to build valuable relationships with their customers, prospects, and other constituents through live events- both virtual and in-person. Hear tips and best practices on how to improve your virtual event channel so you can deliver great virtual events that your attendees will love. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Meetings Today

Presenter: Julie Haddix, Senior Director, Industry Solutions for Cvent

Wed 7/14 at 2 p.m. – The Race for Relevance in Post-Pandemic Times

Years before COVID-19, time pressures, higher member expectations, increased member diversity, differing generational values and accelerated advances in technology challenged the relevance of traditional association structures and practices. The pandemic acted as a powerful accelerant to these changes, forcing association leaders to think differently and reinforcing the need for real change. Hear association execs share their experiences creating more intentional approaches to governance, rethinking the scope of their programs and services, and intensifying their adoption of “digital first” thinking. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host/presenter: Mary Byers, CAE, CSP, former association executive, consultant, professional speaker, and association advisor

Presenters:

Harrison Coerver, president of Harrison Coerver & Associates
Mark Dorsey, CAE, FASAE, CEO of the Construction Specifications Institute
Karen Silberman, CAE, Executive Vice President of the American Chiropractic Association
Len Toenjes, CAE, President of AGC of Missouri

Wed 7/14 at 2 p.m. – What’s New in Association Meetings? Everything.

As Covid restrictions ease and large, maskless meetings become feasible, what’s next for association meetings? To move forward effectively, we need to rethink nearly everything about the structure of membership organizations and how they serve their constituents. In this Q&A-style session, hear about planning, partnerships, programs, and how to pay for it all. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Northstar Meetings Group

Presenters:

Gregg Talley, FASAE, CAE, president and CEO of Talley Management Group
Loren Edelstein, Vice President, Content Director, Northstar Meetings Group

Wed 7/14 at 3 p.m. – Beyond the New Normal, Part 2: Implementing Work Anywhere Future for Associations

In the second installment of Beyond the New Normal, we’ll be checking in to see how associations are implementing changes to create the Work Anywhere Era for their organizations. After a panel discussion, we’ll go into breakout rooms for a deeper exploration into implementing different facets of the Work Anywhere Era (e.g., technology, human resources, physical space, leadership, engagement, etc.). 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Presenters:

Rebecca Achurch, PgMP, PMP, CSM, CAE, Chief Executive Officer, Achurch Consulting
Genevieve Borello, CAE, Senior Manager, Member Engagement, ACTFL
Emily Kirkpatrick, MBA, Executive Director, National Council of Teachers of English
KiKi L’Italien, Chief Executive Officer, Association Chat
Tori Miller Liu, MBA, CAE, Information Systems Director, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Janet McNichol, SPHR, CAE, Human Resources Director at American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Barbara J. Armentrout, CAE (Moderator), Client Engagement Manager, Aplusify

Wed 7/14 at 3 p.m. – How to Use Data to Create Relevant Content

Learn how to discover your top trending topics by analyzing member engagement data, as well as expressed and implicit interests; targeted interests and needs for different member segments based on demographics and engagement behaviors; potential volunteers by drilling down into your most active members; and speakers for events and webinars by identifying community influencers and thought leaders. More info/register.

Host: Association Analytics

Presenters: Bill Conforti, SVP of Strategy & Solutions, and Greg Pollack, Vice President of Sales, Association Analytics

Wed 7/14 at 3 p.m. – Dirty Data: Understanding the Hidden Costs for Associations—and How to Prepare for a Clean-up Effort

In this session we will explore data hygiene: why it is important for operational and staffing efficiency, how to organize your team and create a data cleanup plan, and discuss some modern approaches to addressing data cleanup using automation. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.

Host: U.S. Transactions Corp.

Presenters:

Brittany Carter, President, Association TRENDS
Lisa Stahl, Data Project Manager, Columbia Books & Information Services

Wed 7/14 at 3 p.m. – Your New Venue Sourcing Strategy: The New Legal Landscape for Event Contracts

In part two of our two-part webinar series, we will look at new considerations for contracts and legal issues planners need to be aware of while negotiating to protect their organizations. What should you be asking for in terms of cancellation, attrition, and other ways to share the risk with venues? Do force majeure clauses apply to COVID-related cancellations? More info/register.

Host: Event Leadership Institute

Presenters:

Joshua L. Grimes, Esq., Grimes Law Offices
Joan Eisenstodt, Eisenstodt Associates
Tammy Kockaya, CMP, CMM

Wed 7/14 at 3 p.m. – Events. Reimagined.

Let’s reimagine events together and learn how to solve some of the most pressing problems that event professionals face. Get help solving three challenges for planners: profit, engagement, and tech knowledge. More info/register.

Host: Hubilo

Wed 7/14 at 3 p.m. – Your Guide to a Seamless Online Event

This workshop is designed to give an overview of how to host a great online event. We will be covering tips on how to use and implement your platform into your organization as well as how to engage attendees. Attendees will gain an understanding of what support they will need internally or externally to run a seamless online event. More info/register.

Host: Nonprofit Learning Lab

Thu 7/15 at 11 a.m. – How To Do Hybrid: Practical Tips for Delivering Successful Events

Join us for insights on designing hybrid events and leveraging technology to deliver personalized experiences that resonate with your attendees and sponsors – whether they’re online or on-site. Learn how to successfully transition from online to hybrid events, deliver superior experiences for attendees and sponsors, choose the right technology to deliver your events (regardless of budget), and ensure ROI for your organization. More info/register.

Host: Results Direct

Presenters:

Katie Atkinson, President & CEO, Results Direct | RD Mobile
Jeanette Brown, Sr. Director, Strategic Marketing & Communications, America’s Blood Centers
Michelle Dickinson, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, Virginia Assisted Living Association
Brian James, Assistant VP, Conference Operations, National Association of Manufacturers

Thu 7/15 at 11 a.m. – How to (Really) Engage Members for Short-Term Success & Long-Term Survival

Learn how to attract more members, keep members longer – and at lower cost, increase member satisfaction, improve member meetings and conferences to drive retention, add or change programs to address real member needs, decrease acquisition and maintenance costs to retain members, and build self-sustaining membership communities. More info/register.

Host: Lee Gimpel, Better Meetings

Presenters:

Lee Gimpel, Better Meetings
Nick Beadleston, founding partner, Good Impacts

Thu 7/15 at 11 a.m. – Talent Generation: Getting Members Ready for the Future of Work

Future workforce is a hot-button issue in many industries. The lack of incoming talent, coupled with a wave of approaching retirements, and gaps between education preparedness and industry needs, have long been predicted as urgent workforce needs. Hear from the associations prioritizing workforce development, job creation, and partnerships with youth and education to better prepare their industries for the future of work. More info/register.

Host: Sarah Sladek and Company, Save The Associations

Thu 7/15 at 11 a.m. – How to Choose the Right Technology for Your Hybrid Event

When it comes to planning your next (or first) hybrid event, it all starts with choosing the right technology partner. How will you seamlessly blend the in-person and digital channels? Learn how to choose the right technology and production services in light of emerging best practices. Hear about the latest cutting-edge event technology that allows you to redesign the shared experience and deliver creative, consistent, and measurable experiences for attendees. More info/register.

Host: Virtual Events Institute

Presenters: Ben Chodor and Dan Lotzof of Intrado Digital Media LIVE

Thu 7/15 at 12 p.m. – Are Grasstops Networks an Advantageous & Crucial Advocacy Strategy?

As the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, it’s tempting for associations to resume depending solely on staff-driven methods in pursuing their legislative priorities. Learn how grasstops have proven beneficial in different association settings and hear ideas for identifying and cultivating your own network of key contacts. More info/register.

Host: ASAE’s Government Relations and Advocacy Professionals Advisory Council

Presenters:

Maria D. Matthews, CAE, Director, Policy & Advocacy, New Classrooms
Kimberly A. Jones, Esq., CAE, Executive Vice President, Council for Opportunity in Education
Oyango A. Snell, Esq., CAE, ‎Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, ‎Western States Petroleum Association
David M. Lusk, Founder & CEO, Key Advocacy

Thu 7/15 at 1 p.m. – Ultimate Member Engagement: The Power of Data-Driven Decision Making

Learn how to leverage visualizations and analytics to better understand the data, mine the right data to improve your member’s experience, and determine a successful ROI on your collection and analysis of member data. More info/register.

Host: Impexium

Thu 7/15 at 1 p.m. – AMS Selection in a Post-Pandemic Era

Learn how to approach AMS selection in a post-pandemic world, from consideration to launch and beyond, based on member research and the many lessons learned this past year. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Nimble AMS

Presenter: Tirrah Switzer, Association Advocate, Nimble AMS

Thu 7/15 at 1 p.m. – Leading the Hybrid Workplace: Real-World Challenges

Leading and developing a hybrid workplace―one that is constantly changing―requires new strategies to succeed. How will you bridge the cultural schism, create equity, and sustain the gains of a distributed workforce? A remote work expert, HR executive, and strategic consultant will share transition insights to leading a hybrid workplace and the culture shift that is required for success. Hear actionable tactics and strategies for managing the workforce of today featuring a real-world case study. More info/register.

Host: Allen Interactions

Presenters:

Christina Coidakis-Barss, HR, learning and organizational change expert
Deborah Smith Cook, strategist and team performance coach
Deborah Southerington, Vice President of HR at The MetroHealth System

Thu 7/15 at 2 p.m. – Thriving During a Pandemic, Thanks to Tech

How did the National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES) manage to not just survive, but thrive, during the COVID-19 pandemic? How were they able to deepen their members’ involvement with the organization during this difficult time? Learn what the NAES staff did to serve members, how they struggled, how technology was critical to their success, and how they tied all of their offerings together through their membership database. More info/register.

Hosts: 100 Reviews and Matrix Group

Presenters:

Jonathan Cooper, Communications Manager at NAES
Joanna Pineda, CEO and Chief Troublemaker of Matrix Group
Teri Carden, founder of 100 Reviews and ReviewMyAMS

Thu 7/15 at 2 p.m. – The CIO Hour: PCI in July

Processing credit cards means you need to manage PCI compliance. Learn about the latest in PCI requirements and how a modern payment processor can help with this critical function. We’ll also discuss how Finance and IT departments can work together to lower costs and increase security in the online purchase process. More info/register.

Host: 501Works

Presenters:

Christian Fadel, CFO, Affinipay
James Marquis, Chief Information Officer, 501Works

Thu 7/15 at 2 p.m. – Innovation in a Hurry

Learn how and where to start with Agile principles and Lean Innovation Principles (combining the Design Thinking and Lean Startup frameworks). More info/register.

Host: Fonteva

Presenter: Guillermo Ortiz de Zárate, Chief Innovation & Information Officer at NCARB, and President at Lineup

Thu 7/15 at 2 p.m. – Event Talk Live: The Future of Hybrid Events

We’ll present the results of our survey, The Future of Hybrid, and ask event experts their thoughts on what hybrid events will look like moving forward. More info/register.

Host: Accelevents

Presenters:

Melinda Burdette, MPI
Kate Patay, Patay Consulting

Thu 7/15 at 8 p.m. – Talent Generation: Getting Members Ready for the Future of Work

Host: Sarah Sladek and Company, Save The Associations

Fri 7/16 at 12 p.m. – Your Ultimate Guide to Hybrid Experiences, Abridged

Host: MPI

Presenters:

Jessie States, CMP, CMM, MPI Academy Director, MPI
Brandt Krueger, Technical Producer, Event Technology Consulting

Fri 7/16 at 1 p.m. – The No BS Guide to Digital Transformation

The research is clear: the key to lasting, responsive digital transformation is intentional and focused culture change. Still, associations struggle to get beyond “digitizing” and truly “go digital.” Hear some of the findings from the new, deeply researched whitepaper, The No BS Guide to Digital Transformation: How Intentional Culture Change Can Propel Associations Forward. Find out how the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) embarked on their digital transformation project on behalf of their members and their industry. More info/register.

Host: Propel

Presenters:

Elizabeth Weaver Engel, M.A., CAE, founder, Spark Consulting
Hugh Seaton, Head of Construction Technology Practice, Cimatri
Maddie Grant, founder, Propel

Fri 7/16 at 1 p.m. – Associations and The Business of Belonging

Host: Community by Association

Presenters:

David Spinks, Co-Founder, CMX
Tirza Austin, Manager, Online Community, American Society of Civil Engineers

Fri 7/16 at 4 p.m. – Getting the Most From Your ASAE Annual Meeting Experience

Host: Fridays@4

Presenters:

Jennifer Baker, MSW, CAE, senior director, ASAE Business Services, Inc.
Cortney Whitlow, manager, meeting registration and industry partner engagement, ASAE

Tue 7/20 at 2 p.m. – The Joy of Hybrid: Secrets to Making a Hybrid Remote Office Work

Host: Achurch Consulting

Presenter: Rae Ann Johnson, Esq., legal advisor, Achurch Consulting

Wed 7/21 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Benchmarking Pep Rally

Hosts: Billhighway and Mariner Management

Wed 7/21 at 2 p.m. – Professional Development Townhall: Do This, Not That: What’s Working NOW for Email Marketing

Host: ASAE Professional Development Professionals Community

Presenter: Jay Schwedelson

Thu 7/22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Mobile App Demo Day

Host: ASAE

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Creative Commons photo by Olivier Darbonville via Unsplash

Association Brain Food Weekly: 7.2.21

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

Peer advisory groups. When I worked at NAHB, I always thought the Builder 20 clubs were such a great idea. WBT Systems does too. This week, they discuss peer advisory groups for association members who want to learn from and with each other. They explain how these groups work and why your association may want to consider offering them.

Volunteer fatigue. I’ve been hearing lots of stories about volunteer fatigue lately—a dangerous trend for associations and chapters. MemberSuite shares nine strategies for preventing volunteer burnout so you can keep your leaders in office and your pipeline full.

Supplier members. The Vendor Value Manifesto is a must-read for association and event professionals who have anything to do with sponsorship, exhibitions and education. It comes from a group of legal vendors who met late last year “to explore the current state of legal industry conferences and discuss ways they might partner with conference organizers to build a better experience for all.” I imagine the suppliers in your industry would say the same things, but why don’t you ask them?

Hybrid events. Don Neal of 360 Live Media shares good advice at PCMA Convene about digital and in-person events. He also says there is no such thing as a hybrid event; there are digital events and in-person events. I can’t imagine any benefit to simultaneous digital and in-person events. Focus your attention on one audience at a time. Do you really think attendees on site care much about virtual attendees or vice versa? I doubt it.

Data cleanup. Wes Trochlil suggests how to tackle a big data cleanup project—one bite at a time. I needed to hear this advice again, but not for cleaning data. Thankfully, those days are behind me, although still very much in my memory.

The meaning of work. Stowe Boyd’s post is titled: The Ideal Worker Is All Work, All The Time: Is ‘Love Your Work’ Just Propaganda? Oh boy. His post will have you reflecting upon your attitude toward work and your expectations for how your employees should work. Happy Friday!

Good eats

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

I could eat this one all week: Pressure Cooker Spicy Korean Pork Shoulder aka Korean pulled pork or Korean barbecue. You can make this in a crockpot or low and slow in the oven. Damn, it’s good. Crazy good. It’s a NY Times recipe so if you can’t get at it, email me and I’ll send you my Word doc version—warning, I double the sauce.

I felt like shrimp-stuffed flounder but I was too lazy to peel and devein shrimp and had white grunt in the frig, not flounder. Instead, I mixed spinach (thawed and squeezed package of frozen), softened cream cheese, parmesan, fresh oregano and basil, garlic powder, panko breadcrumbs and melted butter, spread it out over a bunch of white grunt fillets and baked until the topping was slightly browned. Not as fancy as my shrimp-stuffed dreams but really good.

Another night, a simpler dish: baked black sea bass fillets topped with chervil, Japanese 7-spice and melted butter.

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

Fri 7/2 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 times are Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.

Mon 7/5 at 1 p.m. – Mergers & Acquisitions (Chatting with Agnes & Cecilia)

Guest: Michael Butera, President and CEO, Association ActiVision

Hosts:

Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC
Agnes Amos-Coleman, MBA, CMP, education, conference, event, certification consultant, Amos-Coleman

Tue 7/6 at 12 p.m. – Data Analytics Network “Office Hours”

For the first time ever, our Data Analytics Network planning team will be hosting an “office hours” style webinar covering topics of interest from our series registrants. Choose your own adventure: Visualizing Data with Christin Berry, Culture & Adoption with Jamie Paulsen, or Date Hygiene/Management with Jennifer Richards. Each session leader will explore the topic with attendees, moderate discussions and answer any questions you have. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Analytics

Presenters:

Christin Berry, VP of Business Analytics & Data Services, ASAE
Jamie Paulsen, Director of Business Analytics, CASE
Jennifer Richards, Director of Membership, AAAE

Wed 7/7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Evolve Homecoming: The Big Industry Comeback

Learn the practical logistics of going hybrid and building communities. Hear expert insight on hybrid event design. Discover everything you need to know about going back to in-person safely. Network and learn from a global community of 13,000+ eventprofs. More info/register.

Host: Swapcard

Wed 7/7 at 12 p.m. – Succeed in Challenging Times by Being Negotiation Ready

Learn the first three steps in a practical, easy-to-implement approach for negotiating with clients, contractors, staff, vendors, and even friends or family, and find out how to adopt a positive negotiation mindset. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Insights In Old Town

Presenter: Susan Borke

Wed 7/7 at 12 p.m. – Re-Engage Virtual: Planning the Event of Tomorrow

Sessions: How to Create an Effective Social Media Strategy for Your Event; How to Use Virtual Events to Promote Your In-Person Event; Reinventing Live, The Always-On Future of Events; The Future of the Event Industry – What Is Hybrid!? How to Use Creative Solutions to Engage Attendees; How to Become a Better Speaker/Moderator. More info/register.

Host: Airmeet

Wed 7/7 at 8 p.m. – Planners on Purpose July Book Club: Engaging Virtual Meetings by John Chen

Your virtual meetings need to be dynamic, engaging, and just packed full of amazingness. Want to know what you need to do to engage in virtual meetings? Join Naomi Tucker and author John Chen for a discussion about his latest book, Engaging Virtual Meetings. More info/register.

Host: Planners on Purpose

Thu 7/8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Evolve Homecoming: The Big Industry Comeback

Host: Swapcard

Thu 7/8 at 12 p.m. – Community Book Club: The Art of Gathering

We’ll read Priya Parker’s incredible book The Art of Gathering and then watch her in conversation with Gali Kling Schnieder, SAP. The first 100 registrants will get a FREE digital copy of the book. More info/register.

Host: The Community Roundtable

Thu 7/8 at 2 p.m. – Selecting a Cloud System – A Guide for Association Executives

Hear tips, advice, and independent research on how to make a successful cloud technology investment for your association. We’ll guide you through all aspects of the cloud system selection process including: Cloud 101; the procurement process when considering a cloud system; how to ensure your business strategy drives your technology investments; the real costs of pay-by-the-month cloud systems—customizations, integrations, and upgrades; where accounting fits in the mix; common questions and concerns about moving to the cloud—including security, data storage, training, support and implementation; and what you should be looking out for and what you should be asking vendors. More info/register.

Host: Advanced Solutions International (ASI)

Thu 7/8 at 2 p.m. – Creating your Content Stream—from Marketing to Sales to Programs

Content is key to marketing and sales success across the entire member lifecycle from prospect to paying member to actively engaged volunteer and leader. It is used to drive marketing campaigns, anchor sales conversations, and fuel the member experience. Learn how to determine the content that’s going to serve each of your personas and ensure minimal overlap as you seek to move marketing leads to sales leads, sales leads to conversions, and conversions to ever deeper engagement with your organization. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Presenter: Aimee Pagano, HighRoad Solutions

Thu 7/8 at 3 p.m. – Community Case Studies

Host: The Community Roundtable

Fri 7/9 at 12 p.m. – Strategy First, Software Next

Are your technology capabilities aligned with your mission? To explore this question, we are kicking off a 3-part series—the first will be “Strategy First, Software Next”. We will explore the importance of creating a technology strategy for your association that aligns with your organization’s mission and long-term goals. More info/register.

Host: AI Now for Associations

Fri 7/9 at 1 p.m. – Improve Your Email Engagement with a Conversational Email Strategy

Learn how to turn your static emails conversational. Find out how conversational email helps improve reply rates, scale outreach, and unlock email’s hidden potential. Learn how to send emails that people actually want to open, leverage proven strategies and tactics for writing conversational emails, and measure and optimize your conversational email results. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Presenter: Drift’s Sr. Director of Demand Generation Charm Bianchini

Fri 7/9 at 4 p.m. – Play to Win: Developing Your Political Intelligence

Host: Fridays@4

Presenter: Kathleen Zwarick Shanley, PhD, CAE, ACC, ELI-MP

Tue 7/13 at 1 p.m. – Member Engagement in 2021: How Associations are Navigating Engagement in the Post-Pandemic Environment

Host: MemberSuite

Presenters:

Ryan Costello, Chief Strategy Officer, MemberSuite
Julie Sciullo, CEO, Association Analytics
Greg Melia, CAE, CEO, Customer Experience Professionals Association

Wed 7/14 at 12 p.m. – Emails That Don’t Creep But Get You…Like Really Really Get You

Host: HighRoad Solutions

Presenters: Maneesha Manges, Director of Services, Kim Cregan, Strategic Account Manager, and Chris Park, Development Manager, HighRoad Solutions

Wed 7/14 at 2 p.m. – The Race for Relevance in Post-Pandemic Times

Years before COVID-19, time pressures, higher member expectations, increased member diversity, differing generational values and accelerated advances in technology challenged the relevance of traditional association structures and practices. The pandemic acted as a powerful accelerant to these changes, forcing association leaders to think differently and reinforcing the need for real change. Hear association execs share their experiences creating more intentional approaches to governance; rethinking the scope of their programs and services; and intensifying their adoption of “digital first” thinking. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host/presenter: Mary Byers, CAE, CSP, former association executive, consultant, professional speaker, and association advisor

Presenters:

Harrison Coerver, president of Harrison Coerver & Associates
Mark Dorsey, CAE, FASAE, CEO of the Construction Specifications Institute
Karen Silberman, CAE, Executive Vice President of the American Chiropractic Association
Len Toenjes, CAE, President of AGC of Missouri

Wed 7/14 at 3 p.m. – Beyond the New Normal, Part 2: Implementing Work Anywhere Future for Associations

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

Presenters:

Rebecca Achurch, PgMP, PMP, CSM, CAE, Chief Executive Officer, Achurch Consulting
Genevieve Borello, CAE, Senior Manager, Member Engagement, ACTFL
Emily Kirkpatrick, MBA, Executive Director, National Council of Teachers of English
KiKi L’Italien, Chief Executive Officer, Association Chat
Tori Miller Liu, MBA, CAE, Information Systems Director, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Janet McNichol, SPHR, CAE, Human Resources Director at American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Barbara J. Armentrout, CAE (Moderator), Client Engagement Manager, Aplusify

Wed 7/14 at 3 p.m. – How to Use Data to Create Relevant Content

Host: Association Analytics

Presenters: Bill Conforti, SVP of Strategy & Solutions, and Greg Pollack, Vice President of Sales, Association Analytics

Thu 7/15 at 11 a.m. – How To Do Hybrid: Practical Tips for Delivering Successful Events

Host: Results Direct

Presenters:

Katie Atkinson, President & CEO, Results Direct | RD Mobile
Jeanette Brown, Sr. Director, Strategic Marketing & Communications, America’s Blood Centers
Michelle Dickinson, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, Virginia Assisted Living Association
Brian James, Assistant VP, Conference Operations, National Association of Manufacturers

Thu 7/15 at 11 a.m. – How to (Really) Engage Members for Short-Term Success & Long-term Survival

Host: Lee Gimpel, Better Meetings

Presenters:

Lee Gimpel, Better Meetings
Nick Beadleston, founding partner, Good Impacts

Thu 7/15 at 11 a.m. – Talent Generation: Getting Members Ready for the Future of Work

Host: Sarah Sladek and Company, Save The Associations

Thu 7/15 at 2 p.m. – Thriving During a Pandemic, Thanks to Tech

Hosts: 100 Reviews and Matrix Group

Presenters:

Jonathan Cooper, Communications Manager at NAES
Joanna Pineda, CEO and Chief Troublemaker of Matrix Group
Teri Carden, founder of 100 Reviews and ReviewMyAMS

Thurs. 7/15 at 2 p.m. The CIO Hour: PCI in July

Host: 501Works

Presenters:

Christian Fadel, CFO, Affinipay
James Marquis, Chief Information Officer, 501Works

Thu 7/15 at 8 p.m. – Talent Generation: Getting Members Ready for the Future of Work

Host: Sarah Sladek and Company, Save The Associations

Fri 7/16 at 1 p.m. – The No BS Guide to Digital Transformation

The research is clear: the key to lasting, responsive digital transformation is intentional and focused culture change. Still, associations struggle to get beyond “digitizing” and truly “go digital.” Hear some of the findings from the new, deeply researched whitepaper, The No BS Guide to Digital Transformation: How Intentional Culture Change Can Propel Associations Forward. Find out how the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) embarked on their digital transformation project on behalf of their members and their industry. More info/register.

Host: Propel

Presenters:

Elizabeth Weaver Engel, M.A., CAE, founder, Spark Consulting
Hugh Seaton, Head of Construction Technology Practice, Cimatri
Maddie Grant, founder, Propel

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Creative Commons photo byRobert Woeger via Unsplash

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