Association Brain Food

Association Brain Food Weekly: 4.17.20

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

Crisis overwhelm. If you’re feeling stuck in the COVID-19 cave of despair and overwhelm, Tobin Conley, CAE, at DelCor Technology Solutions suggests you listen to the wisdom of a Disney princess (yes, you read that correctly). Trust me when I say this post is well worth reading and just might give you some street cred with all the little princesses in your life—as well as great advice to share with your colleagues.

Going virtual—how. In just three weeks, NIGP converted more than 50 in-person canceled courses to online courses. WBT Systems found out how they managed to pull that off so quickly. Hint, it has a lot to do with their course design strategy.

Going virtual—why. Associations are scrambling to virtually resurrect their canceled conferences. Doom and gloom abounds but all is not lost. In fact, MemberSuite describes the many ways associations can come out ahead by hosting virtual events.

Virtual connections. Chapters always had the advantage of face-to-face events, but now they don’t. Fret not, Billhighway has plenty of ideas for (and examples of) connecting chapter members virtually.

Virtual events. Since mid-March, Liz Lathan, CMP, has run, participated in, and consulted on virtual events of all types. She’s witnessed awesome and unbearable experiences. At MeetingsNet, she shares “ten ways to make your virtual events not suck.”

Leadership decisions. Lisa Block at Velvet Chainsaw Consulting reminds associations that decisions made in response to this crisis will have a long-term impact on members, so act with generosity and empathy. She addresses reserves, partnerships, marketing, and program development.

Hunger. Food banks are helping to feed kids who normally rely on school breakfasts and lunches as their nutrition for the day. You can help these kids out—as well as all the people, young and old, who have been laid off—by supporting your local food bank. Find yours on the Feeding America website. If you’re in North Carolina, I hope you’ll support the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.

Quick hits before we get to the list of this week’s free education:

25 tools and ideas for brainstorming in a remote world. (Ann Gynn, Content Marketing Institute)

Go on a virtual visit to the New York Times’ 52 Places to Go in 2020. (New York Times)

In the #becausegoats department… the Llandudno goats are so much better with a West Side Story soundtrack. (David Schneider)

Relax with sheep at Shafer Vineyards in Napa Valley. (Shafer Vineyards)

Good eats—skip down to the list of free webinars if you’re not into cooking:

I’ve been making this Thai Style Catfish recipe for years. The only changes I make are: using brown or palm sugar instead of white sugar and sprinkling chopped cilantro all over the fish when it comes out of the oven. I’m not a big fan of the farmed catfish you find in supermarkets—tastes mushy and musty to me. Find yourself a good source of local wild catfish or a premium catfish farm, you’ll love the difference.

One of our favorite dishes growing up was Mummy Lorraine cod, even more so than Mummy Lorraine macaroni. Her cod is still a favorite but I make it with local fish. Last week, I topped triggerfish (one of my favorites) with a mix of crushed Ritz crackers, melted butter, lemon zest and garlic salt. Bake until done, sooo good—and easy.

It’s asparagus season here. The asparagus in the farmers market is usually triple the price of asparagus on sale in the supermarket, but it tastes so much better, so I always treat myself to a few bunches during the season. But this year, I’ve noticed the prices in the farmers market are much lower than years past, probably because they’re not selling to restaurants and have a huge supply—sad for them, good for me. Last week, I simply steamed the spears and served them with melted lemon butter.

I had a hankering for donuts on Sunday morning so I made a recipe I’d been saving for a while: Ina Garten’s cinnamon baked doughnuts. You probably have everything you need to make them, except maybe two donut pans, but Amazon can quickly help you there. The recipe made more batter than I needed—not a problem since I baked the remainder in a small dish—and took longer than the prescribed 17 minutes to bake. But talk about easy!

It’s hard to pick a highlight this week because everything was so good. Our Sunday meal took more time so maybe it deserves the crown: rigatoni with spicy Calabrese style pork ragù. I’ve made this a few times before but this week, instead of Italian sausage, I used Portuguese chourico. I forgot it was supposed to simmer for four hours, whoops. According to my notes, I’ve forgotten this before. I simmered it for an hour or so and it was fantastic.

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 evening the week before it’s scheduled. I’ll be happy to feature it as long as it’s not too product-centric.

Stay safe, stay well, take care.

Fri 4/17 at 8 a.m.* – Challenges and Opportunities with Online Presenting and Teaching: A Question and Answer Webinar

Many educators have had to adapt to digital and online presenting and teaching, with little if any time to prepare. This webinar will be beneficial to all educators, presenters, and others who have to design and deliver presentations, courses, webinars, and other formats of digital and online education. It will allow participants to have their questions answered and to share their own best practices. More info/register.

Host: AMEE

Presenter: Lawrence Sherman, FACEHP, CHCP, President of Meducate Global, LLC

*All times are Eastern Daylight Savings Time unless otherwise noted.

Fri 4/17 at 1 p.m. – How to Go Virtual (While Still Creating an Engaging Experience)

Learn how to take events online in a way that is going to deliver high value, create an engaging experience, and preserve the outcomes you were seeking to achieve with your in-person conference. Hear about some major considerations for online engagement. Find out how to design for virtual-first experiences, satisfy the desire to network, and keep your members engaged. We’ll also touch on the tech, because we know it’s on your mind! More info/register.

Host: Matchbox Virtual Media

Presenters:

Graham Harvey, Chief Strategy Officer, Matchbox Virtual Media
Allen Lloyd, CAE, Executive Director, Montana Society of CPAs
Arianna Rehak, CEO & Co-Founder, Matchbox Virtual Media
Jeff Cobb, Managing Director, Tagoras

Fri 4/17 at 1 p.m. – HBA Live! Wellness Check

It’s gonna be another long week, friends. And the best way to preserve our mental health is to stay connected, to eat well and to keep moving. Join Healthy by Association for another installment of HBA Live. We hope you’ll join us for 30 minutes to debrief the week, to check in on our collective wellness and to set intentions for the weekend ahead. More info.

Facilitators: Aaron Wolowiec, CEO, Event Garde and Angela Pelc, owner, Sidecar Slider Bar

Fri 4/17 at 1 p.m. – Engagement That Scales

Join Rachel Happe for a weekly live conversation with a new special guest every week. She’ll be joined by community professionals, industry experts, and global thought leaders to explore a different topic each week. More info/register.

Host: Rachel Happe, founder, The Community Roundtable

Guest: Gretchen Schmelzer, Teleos

Fri 4/17 at 2 p.m. – Making Critical Decisions About Meetings Amid COVID-19: A CEO Dialogue

The decision whether to hold, cancel, or postpone in-person meetings or convert them to virtual offerings is front and center for association CEOs as the coronavirus pandemic continues. This CEO dialogue will include real case examples and examine key topics including the timeframe for decision-making, board involvement, refund policies, and communication with registrants. In conversation among peers, explore the thinking and rationale behind the decisions that association leaders are making in response to the current health and economic crisis. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Presenters:

Lori M. Anderson, FASAE, CAE, president and CEO, International Sign Association
Colleen Bagnasco, CMP, CAE, executive director, meetings, Association Management Center
Christie Tarantino-Dean, FASAE, CAE, chief executive officer, Institute of Food Technologists
Irving Washington, FASAE, CAE, executive director/CEO, Online News Association
Moderator: Amy Ledoux, CMP, CAE, chief learning and meetings officer, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership

Fri 4/17 at 2:30 p.m. – Sip and Share: Fears & Forecasts for Content Marketing

You’re invited to grab your beverage of choice (no judgement!), log on, and join us as we discuss today’s current hot topics surrounding content marketing (yes there’s more to life than just COVID news, although we’ll discuss that too), such as nichification, content automation, behavioral content marketing, and more. Then we’ll open up questions to attendees to learn about what’s keeping you up at night and where you think content is headed in 2020. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Presenters:

Alexis Fermanis (moderator), Communications Director at the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors
Dina Lewis, CAE, Founder of Distilled Logic
Erica Salm Rench, Director of Customer Success at rasa.io
Courtney Reyers, Assistant Director of Member Services at American Society for Microbiology

Mon 4/20 at 10 a.m. – Professional Development Town Hall Discussion: How Are You Managing Remote Work?

Join a discussion about managing remote work. Share tips, tricks, and hacks that can help everyone manage the remote work landscape. What are your tips and tricks for working with small children and family members at home? How are you handling the extra work COVID-19 has created in addition to your usual workload? How are you staying focused? More info/register.

Organizer: ASAE Professional Development Committee

Mon 4/20 at 1 p.m. – Chatting with Agnes & Cecilia

This series of 15-minute videos cover hot topics and issues related to 501c organization management. A new episode is posted every Monday by 1 p.m. More info.

Hosts:

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

Tue 4/21 at 11 a.m. – The Questions You Should Be Asking

When everything is uncertain, questions abound. But which questions you ask can make a world of difference. We’ll explore the questions you should be asking yourself, your volunteer leaders, and your members right now. We’ll discuss the role of qualitative and quantitative research in times like these and when data is helpful or harmful. More info/register.

Host: KiKi L’Italien, senior consultant, Tecker International, and founder, Amplified Growth

Guests:

Glenn Tecker, Tecker International
Robin Wedewer, Tecker International

Tue 4/21 at 11 a.m. – Best Practices for Developing High-Performing Volunteer Engagements

National Volunteer Week is a time for organizations across the country to honor volunteers for the irreplaceable impact of their time and energy all year round. It’s also a great time re-evaluate your volunteer program. Hear strategies to develop high-performing volunteer engagements that meet members expectations while moving your organization forward. More info/register.

Host: YourMembership

Tue 4/21 at 12 p.m. – COVID-19: Knowing How and When to Develop Partnership Proposals (Partnership Professionals Network Idea Exchange)

Many organizations send a prospectus to large numbers of companies. However, companies that associations are targeting for high-level sponsorships and partnerships receive large quantities of prospectuses and would be more receptive to a customized proposal. Join a discussion on how and when to develop partnership proposals. More info/register.

Organizer: Partnership Professionals Network

Tue 4/21 at 12 p.m. – Association Advocacy in COVID-19: The CARES Act and Future Legislation

In response to COVID-19, Congress passed the CARES Act, a $2.2 trillion relief package to provide Americans emergency aid and help combat the pandemic. While associations are included in some of the CARES Act’s programs, trade and professional associations experiencing severe revenue losses during the current pandemic were excluded from the popular and beneficial Paycheck Protection Program. This webcast will provide the latest updates on ASAE’s advocacy related to COVID-19 relief and how you can get involved. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Presenters:

Julia Judish, special counsel, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Sandra G. Swirski, partner, Urban Swirski & Associates
Mary Kate Cunningham, CAE, vice president for public policy, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership

Tue 4/21 at 1 p.m. – COVID-19 Disruptor: The New Normal for Event and Meeting Planners

Has the Coronavirus panic thrown your entire schedule or business off track? Are you wondering what the best message to send out to your attendees, vendors, speakers, sponsors and everyone else involved is? Do you feel lost in the middle of it all and unsure about what to do next? We’ll answer any questions you have about how to communicate about your event…the best way to react and respond to new developments…how to restore and retain a great relationship with attendees and others…and much more. More info/register.

Host: When & How

Presenters:

Former FBI Hostage Negotiator Chip Massey
Crisis Communications Expert Adele Cehrs
Adult Learning Expert Jeff Hurt

Tue 4/21 at 1 p.m. – Donor Management System Best Practices

Learn about donor management software best practices, including customizing your system to your organization’s needs, cleaning data, defining data standards and coding, and the importance of training staff to enter and extract data efficiently. More info/register.

Host: Idealware

Presenter: Jonathan Poisner, Strategic Consulting

Tue 4/21 at 2 p.m. – Timesaving Virtual Tools to Rock Every Fundraiser’s World

Communicating with donors needs to be immediate, personal, impactful, and as of today, 100% virtual. Get a bounty of free and affordable ideas to delight your donors, stand out, get virtually face-to-face, and know if your message is getting through. More info/register.

Host: Mighty Citizen

Presenters:

Rachel Clemens, CMO of Mighty Citizen
Rachel Muir, CFRE, fundraising consultant
Julia Campbell, author of Digital Storytelling

Tue 4/21 at 2 p.m. – 5G and Digital Events: Evolution or Revolution

What does the future hold for digital events when it comes to 5G adoption? Join us for this session where we will break down the impacts of 5G that will be seen, felt, and heard in the development of our digital events in 2020 and beyond. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Presenters:

Will Curran, Founder and Chief Event Einstein, Endless Events
Brandt Krueger, Owner, Event Technology Consulting

Tue 4/21 at 2 p.m. – Courage Required. Leading in the Time of COVID-19

Being a great leader in the business events industry is not for the faint of heart. Learn about the key skills required to move ahead and bring the team with you: how to help your people and yourself navigate this stressful time, the definition of “anticipatory grief,” and opportunities to chart the future. More info/register.

Host: Smart Meetings

Presenter: Tammy Blount-Canavan, executive vice president, principal, destination & travel practice at Fired Up Culture

Wed 4/22 at 12 p.m. – Content Forum Weekly Community Chat

Join Content Forum members for content strategy advice, to share what you are working on, and for support with any professional and personal challenges you are facing. Join first, then look in Events for more information

Host: Content Forum

Wed 4/22 at 12:30 p.m. – Technology Transactions for Nonprofits

Hear an overview of the approaches to use when evaluating or acquiring technology services, platforms, and systems. Understand the licenses and contracts that are involved in negotiations. Discuss the contract considerations that arise from existing laws applicable to the access and use of data, and the details that all nonprofits (and their advisors) should understand when conducting technology transactions. More info/register.

Host: Venable LLP

Presenters:

Nora Garrote, Partner, Intellectual Property Transactions Group, Venable LLP
Chris Kim, Associate, Intellectual Property Transactions Group, Venable LLP

Wed 4/22 at 1 p.m. – Marketing Your Mission & Core Values During the COVID-19 Crisis

There are certainly many tangible components of your brand and business that are affected by the COVID-19 crisis—from simply remaining open and operational during this time, to more granular details such as SEO and social media strategies. But the impact goes well beyond these considerations; the COVID-19 pandemic is also a test of your brand’s mission and core values. Learn how to stay true to your brand’s mission and core values during these trying times and how to balance the many challenges business owners face in today’s world. More info/register.

Host: Event Garde

Presenters:

Aaron Wolowiec, CEO of Event Garde
Rob McCarty, CEO of The Image Shoppe

Wed 4/22 at 4 p.m. – ASAE Key Consultants Committee Weekly Virtual Forum

During the month of April, ASAE’s Key Consultants Committee will convene a weekly virtual forum for all association consultants. These online gatherings will provide a space to share what’s happening with you, exchange ideas and practices, and seek support from your colleagues. Get Zoom invite.

Thu 4/23 at 12 p.m. – PCMA Digital Experience Institute Office Hours

We will be discussing the digital event resources that are available and sharing ideas for taking more events digital in the wake of the COVID-19. Participants will be able to submit their questions on the quick decisions being made in order to still host events, as opposed to a full cancellation and all things digital events. More info/register.

Host: PCMA Digital Experience Institute

Thu 4/23 at 12:30 p.m. – Virtual Coffee Talk: Uncovering New Sources of Revenue

The popular association Coffee Talks are going virtual and expanding beyond our usual DC-area networking gatherings to include execs from across the US. Join your association peers to share opportunities and strategies for “Uncovering New Sources of Revenue” by leveraging your website and digital properties. We’ll explore new membership models, content subscriptions, virtual meetings, customized professional development, sponsored search & content, and cross-selling & bundling. More info/register.

Host: Results Direct

Thu 4/23 at 1 p.m. – Designing for Success in the Current E-learning Landscape

We’ll explore an approach to planning, creating, and evaluating e-learning experiences that starts with clearly defined outcomes and focuses on maximizing relevancy and engagement for learners. We’ll also look at how to leverage learner data to inform updates, driving a continuous cycle of improvement. Along the way, we’ll share real-world examples plus tactics and techniques you can try. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Tagoras

Presenters:

Jeff Cobb and Celisa Steele, co-founders, Tagoras and Leading Learning
Janine Loechel, senior learning content manager, and Stacy Hunt, learning content manager, BenchPrep

Thu 4/23 at 1 p.m. – Empathetic Marketing: Cultivating Creativity and Connection in a Crisis

In everything we do, context matters. In this webinar, we are giving you permission to adapt and engage with tact, empathy, and a healthy dose of mindful marketing. Together, we will use Sara’s “C.A.R.E. Method” to leverage the unique set of skills and strategies that marketers bring to the table to help organizations and companies redefine success, build creative momentum, and pave a path forward with tangible steps that lead to tangible results. More info/register.

Host: Event Garde

Presenter: Event Garde’s Director of Communications and Engagement, Sara Krueger

Moderator: Aaron Wolowiec, Event Garde CEO

Thu 4/23 at 1 p.m. – Seven Things Standards Bodies Should Be Thinking About Right Now

Learn seven practical strategies that standards groups and technical consortia can use to adapt, not just for today’s crisis, but for tomorrow’s realities. Find out how to optimize decentralized decision models in a sub-optimal, decentralized environment, identify growth opportunities in a challenging world, and realign your operations in the face of uncertainty. More info/register.

Host: Virtual Inc.

Presenters:

Andy Freed, CEO, Virtual, Inc.
Greg Kohn, Chief Growth Officer, Virtual, Inc.
Alysia Johnson, Senior Vice President, Client Services, Virtual, Inc.

Thu 4/23 at 2 p.m. – Data Analytics for Learning and Certification: Fantastic News from the Front Lines of Data Analytics

Because many associations won’t enjoy the full benefit of conferences (and conference revenue) this year, other pillars of income become even more important, such as training and certifications. Hear how one association’s use of member-facing analytics for CEU tracking and certification helps current and potential participants better understand their path to achieving credentials and professional recognition. More info/register.

Host: Gravitate Solutions

Thu 4/23 at 2 p.m. – Real Solutions to Amp Up Your Online Presence

Many of you are considering virtual events and increasing your online presence during these uncertain times. Hear from association executives as well as our vetted solutions providers on how to engage your stakeholders, attract prospects, and enhance your member experience through their powerful tools. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: .orgCommunity

Thu 4/23 at 2 p.m. – Using Artificial Intelligence to Make Workflows Smarter

Learn about AI and automation tools that can help you make your organization’s workflows more intelligent as well as practical applications of AI tools available today, how to infuse AI into your organizational processes to make them smarter and less time-consuming, and how to embark on easy AI and automation experiments. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Presenter: Erica Salm Rench, Director of Customer Success at rasa.io

Thu 4/23 at 2:00 p.m. – This Or That: What Association Execs Are Using for Virtual Conferences

As association executives search for new ways to convert their in-person learning and events into online experiences, there is a constant refrain of “What do *you* use?” in the air. We’ll ask association executives who have made selections why they chose the solutions they did, about integrations with existing technology, and how they have addressed accessibility and inclusivity with their choices. Find out what they’ve learned (good and bad) about the experience and what they’re doing differently as they put on future virtual events. More info/register ($20 fee unless you’re a Patreon supporter of Association Chat)

Host: KiKi L’Italien, senior consultant, Tecker International, and founder, Amplified Growth

Guests:

Maricela Arias-Cantu, Society for Public Health Education
Michael Tatonetti, Professional Pricing Society
Samantha Evans, International Association of Accessibility Professionals

Thu 4/23 at 2 p.m. – The 8 Questions You Must Answer to Produce a Successful Virtual Event

Jay Baer and Brian Fanzo are marketing, CX, and virtual events experts with rich histories of producing live digital content in every conceivable form and format. They are coming together in this fast-paced, fact-based, no sacred cows session to teach you what you REALLY need to know to create your own outstanding virtual events. They’ll explain the 8 key questions you simply must answer to succeed with virtual events. And they’ll review the pros/cons/alternatives of every facet of the virtual events ecosystem. More info/register.

Hosts:

Jay Baer, President, Convince & Convert
Brian Fanzo, Digital Futurist | Keynote Speaker, iSocialFanz.com

Thu 4/23 at 3 p.m. – Finding New Revenue Streams

Many associations are being forced to re-write parts of their “playbook” to adapt to changes in the market, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Now is the time to identify which revenue streams are profitable and which ones are not. It’s also a time to look at the data and determine what new revenue opportunities might exist if you shifted your product and service offerings. Learn about quick reports you can run to identify and optimize revenue streams as well as popular channels you can analyze and how you can use the data insights to adapt your go-to-market plan. More info/register.

Host: Association Analytics

Thu 4/23 at 3 p.m. – Five Best Practices for Onboarding New Members

How you welcome your new community members matters. Having someone welcome you, give you some ground rules on behaviors, give you a tour of the community, etc., makes new members more comfortable, and you’re more likely to dip a toe in a new community if you have ideas for how to do it. Hear five best practices for onboarding new members into your community. More info/register.

Host: The Community Roundtable

Presenter: Kelly Schott

Thu 4/23 at 7 p.m. – Grapes and Games

The premise is two-fold: Grab your favorite grape (in wine form, of course) or cocktail of choice and spend an hour with us as we talk digital games. We’ve asked and you’ve shared with us some of the games you’re using to stay connected with colleagues, friends and family during this period of social distancing. Prior to each session, you’ll vote on the game you want to try out and we’ll play it together. We’ll discuss what we like, what we don’t, possible modifications and share in a laugh or two along the way. More info/register.

Host: Event Garde

Fri 4/24 at 1 p.m. – 13 Secrets to Help You Create an Insanely Engaging Virtual Meeting Today

Online meetings don’t have to be awkward or dull. Contrary to popular belief, virtual group meetings can be productive, collaborative, and ridiculously engaging. The strategy is to reimagine the usual in-person agenda, energize participants differently, and use the tools to cultivate what the internet is best for – co-creation. Explore how to host virtual meetings for your members that are as engaging as in-person meetings on an interactive platform like Zoom with groups from 13 – 300 participants. More info/register.

Host: Amanda Kaiser, founder, Kaiser Insights

Fri 4/24 at 1 p.m. – How to Go Virtual (While Still Creating an Engaging Experience)

Host: Matchbox Virtual Media

Presenters:

Graham Harvey, Chief Strategy Officer, Matchbox Virtual Media
Allen Lloyd, CAE, Executive Director, Montana Society of CPAs
Arianna Rehak, CEO & Co-Founder, Matchbox Virtual Media
Jeff Cobb, Managing Director, Tagoras

Fri 4/24 at 1 p.m. – HBA Live! Wellness Check

Facilitators: Aaron Wolowiec, CEO, Event Garde and Angela Pelc, owner, Sidecar Slider Bar

Fri 4/24 at 1 p.m. – Engagement That Scales

Host: Rachel Happe, founder, The Community Roundtable

Guest: Alan Pelz-Sharpe

Fri 4/24 at 3 p.m. – How To Bring Sponsor Value Online

Learn the key steps you need to meaningfully bring your sponsors along the virtual journey. Hear about creative strategies and best practices to bring sponsor value into virtual events, and how to maintain positive win/win/win relationships throughout. More info/register.

Host: Associations Catalyzing Entrepreneurship

Presenters:

Arianna Rehak, CEO & Co-Founder, Matchbox Virtual Media
Christina Lewellen MBA, CAE, Executive Director, Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools
Bruce Rosenthal,Convener, Partnership Professionals Network
Cindy Simpson,Manager of Member Services, National Society for Histotechnology

Tue 4/28 at 12 p.m. – It May Be Legal, But Is It Ethical? An Introduction to Association Lobbying and Ethics

Recent controversies in Washington, DC and beyond have highlighted the importance of ethics to the work of association government relations and advocacy professionals. Explore real-life case studies of unethical lobbying behavior, review the ‘rules of the road’ for association government relations and advocacy professionals, and join a discussion of best practices for avoiding ethical challenges in association lobbying. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Hosts: ASAE Government Relations and Advocacy Professionals Advisory Council and the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics

Presenters:

Tom Susman, Strategic Advisor, American Bar Association
Paul Miller, President and CEO, Miller/Wenhold Capitol Strategies
Tommy Goodwin, Head of Government Relations, Project Management Institute

Wed 4/29 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – MMCC Virtual

Immerse yourself in this virtual, interactive educational opportunity designed to help move your marketing, membership, and communication strategies forward in these challenging times. ASAE has reimagined its Marketing, Membership, and Communication Conference as a one-day virtual event featuring a “taste of MMCC,” including a keynote, 12 concurrent sessions that are most relevant to the community in the COVID-19 environment, chats and Q&A with presenters and attendees, and a moderated virtual happy hour. This event is free of charge thanks to the support of our platform provider, TopClass LMS by WBT Systems. 3 CAE credits. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Wed 4/29 at 2 p.m. – What You Miss in Selecting and Inspecting Sites Can Hurt You…More Now Than Ever

Learn how to sharpen your RFP checklists to address key issues in proposals and when inspecting venues/properties/cities to include more about accommodations and health. Develop better questions to ask, people to see, and timing for in-person or virtual site inspections including the actions in a city during a health or other emergency. Enhance your ability to delve deeper in predicting the future into what is not shown or addressed or even now known—or as said in improvisation, your “yes and…” skills. More info/register.

Host: Meetings Today

Presenter: meetings industry consultant and educator Joan Eisenstodt, principal of Eisenstodt Associates, LLC

Thu 4/30 at 2 p.m. – How to Create Effective Audience Surveys

Done well, surveys can empower you with real, actionable, and surprising insights into what your audiences do, think, and need. Smart surveys can turn your communications strategy into a fine-tuned, sophisticated engine of revenue. Learn how to build, deploy, and analyze the results of a great audience survey. Identify and sidestep the countless pitfalls that plague so many surveys. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Mighty Citizen

Thu 4/30 at 3:30 p.m. – Emerging from Crisis – What Associations Need to Consider in Order to Thrive in the Future

During a disruptive event such as the COVID-19 pandemic, organizational leaders must adopt a short-term time frame focused on adaptive strategies for providing value and ensuring survival. But as soon as possible, the focus must shift to how to prepare for the future, and the ability to emerge as a stronger, more resilient organization. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: .orgCommunity

Presenters:

Jeff De Cagna, Executive Advisor at Foresight First
Stefanie Reeves, Executive Director at Maryland Psychological Association
Sharon Rice, Managing Director of Business Strategy at .orgSource
Sherry Budziak, Founder and CEO at .orgSource

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 before Wednesday evening.

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Association Brain Food Weekly: 4.10.20

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

Virtual association survey. The Virtual Association Network (VAN) would like your participation in their third annual VAN benchmarking survey which addresses topics of interest to professionals serving in or interested in virtual association work environments.

Virtual conference engagement. Because so many associations are quickly converting their in-person conferences to virtual conferences, WBT Systems shares advice on engaging virtual conference attendees with the right kind of content design, networking ideas, and other extracurricular activities.

Event communications. MemberSuite suggests rethinking your normal promotional communication style when marketing a new virtual event. They also suggest ideas for communicating with people who registered for your cancelled event and other event stakeholders and provide advice on event FAQ page content.

Membership. Everyone is wondering, should we send out member renewals right now? Scott Oser gets right to the most important point in his answer. Sheri Jacobs is also providing advice on making membership decisions, like whether to launch a membership campaign, in her latest post.

Nonprofit spring cleaning. Just because you’re working from home, you don’t have to miss out on office spring cleaning. We’re not talking about hauling out the duster and trash can, although that’s not such a bad idea. Fionta describes 13 better ways nonprofits can declutter and reset for spring.

Quick hits before we get to the list of this week’s free education:

Tips for safer Zoom meetings—plus one of the best Zoom gallery views I’ve seen. (Valerie Aurora, Frame Shift Consulting)

This guy! He made a Zoom background of himself accidentally walking in on himself in a Zoom meeting. (Dan Crowd)

How to have a successful virtual happy hour—priorities, right? (Anna Goldfarb, New York Times)

Check out this list of virtual field trips from Creative Mornings.

Baby goat web cam! Goats, little and large, make me smile. We have a bunch of them in my neighborhood. I love hearing them bleat—is that what goats do?—as I walk by. (Beekman 1802)

Good eats—skip down to the list of free webinars if you’re not into cooking:

I made muhammara last week—a tasty combo of roasted red bell peppers (opened a jar, easy), walnuts, whole wheat bread crumbs, pomegranate molasses (magic ingredient), cumin, paprika, red pepper flakes and salt. Whip it up in a food processor and you’re good to go. I put it on top of baked bluefish fillets. It’d be great on potatoes or as a dip too.

The highlight of the week: spicy Korean-style gochujang meatballs. Boy, those were somah spicy meatahballs! Maybe because I added a long squirt of sriracha to the meat and to the glaze. Probably didn’t need that. Gochujang is that super fantastic Korean chile paste or sauce. The heat level varies by brand. I didn’t brown the meatballs. I simply baked them for about 20 minutes. Doubling the recipe works fine.

That’s all for this week, only two things because we enjoyed lots of leftovers and, true confession, a Friday night of snacking on the deck.

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

Stay safe, stay well, take care.

Fri 4/10 at 12 p.m.* – HBA Live! Wellness Check

Facilitators: Aaron Wolowiec, CEO, Event Garde and Angela Pelc, owner, Sidecar Slider Bar

*All times are Eastern Daylight Savings Time unless otherwise noted.

Fri 4/10 at 1 p.m. – How to Go Virtual (While Still Creating an Engaging Experience)

Host: Matchbox Virtual Media

Presenters:

Graham Harvey, Chief Strategy Officer, Matchbox Virtual Media
Allen Lloyd, CAE, Executive Director, Montana Society of CPAs
Arianna Rehak, CEO & Co-Founder, Matchbox Virtual Media
Jeff Cobb, Managing Director, Tagoras

Fri 4/10 at 1 p.m. – Ask Us Anything Expert Panel: Emotional Wellbeing, Relationship Management & Diversity/Equity/Inclusion

Learn tips for attending to participants’ personal and emotional well-being during virtual meetings. Understand how to create a supportive environment where participants or staff/team members can engage with one another. Hear tips for nurturing client, partner and team relationships in a time of uncertainty. Find out how COVID-19 impacts diversity, equity and inclusion. More info/register.

Host: Event Garde

Presenters:

Lindsay Gross, Director of Facilitation Services, Event Garde
Alina Cooper, Director of Project Management, Event Garde
Krista Rowe, Director of DEI, Event Garde
Aaron Wolowiec, CAE (moderator), CEO & Founder, Event Garde

Fri 4/10 at 1 p.m. – Adapt or Reinvent Your In-Person or Online Conference

Moving your conference online? Want to improve your annual conference? Have a big in-person or virtual meeting you’d like to spice up? Want to refresh your convention to make it more profitable, enjoyable, or effective?
Get to see, experience, and learn how to improve conferences, be they online or offline. Geared for conference organizers and event planners, this collaborative workshop gives conference professionals practical tips and experience, especially when moving an event online. More info/register (free with code “brainfood”)
Organizer: Better Meetings

Presenter: Lee Gimpel, meeting designer and facilitator, founder of Better Meetings

Fri 4/10 at 1 p.m. – Engagement That Scales

Host: Rachel Happe, founder, The Community Roundtable

Guest: Liz Miller, Constellation Research

Fri 4/10 at 2 p.m. – AAAE Member App & Virtual Event Tour

Learn how the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) is serving members during this time of “social distancing,” meeting cancellations, and uncertainly about the future. Find out how they are pivoting to engage their 7,000 members and rethink their meetings. More info/register.

Host: Results Direct | RD Mobile

Presenters:

Beth Arritt, Staff VP Marketing, AAAE
Lori Ely, Chief Revenue Officer, Results Direct | RD Mobile
Michael Jones, VP, Mobile Technologies, Results Direct | RD Mobile

Mon 4/13 at 1 p.m. – Chatting with Agnes & Cecilia

This series of 15-minute videos cover hot topics and issues related to 501c organization management. A new episode is posted every Monday by 1 p.m. More info.

Hosts:

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

Mon 4/13 at 2 p.m. – Congressional Town Hall: Association Advocacy on COVID-19

This video town hall will bring together association professionals and two of the top association advocates in Congress—Rep. Ami Bera (CA-7) and Rep. Stephanie Murphy (FL-7)—to discuss the critical need for associations to be included in an expanded Paycheck Protection Program. Association professionals will share stories about their associations’ economic strife as a result of this pandemic and describe how their organizations are making an impact in the effort to fight COVID-19. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Presenters:

Susan Robertson, CAE, president and CEO, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership
Jeffrey S. Tenenbaum, Esq., managing partner, Tenenbaum Law Group PLLC
Mary Kate Cunningham, CAE, vice president for public policy, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership
Ami Bera, member of Congress representing Sacramento County, California
Stephanie Murphy, member of Congress representing Orlando, Florida

Tue 4/14 at 7 a.m. – Adapt Now to Prepare Your Organisation For the Post COVID-19 Reality

No one knows exactly what the world will be like after COVID-19. Waiting to act until the pandemic subsides could be detrimental to your organisation. Learn how to identify actions you can take now to become more agile for the future, take three important steps to become a more data-driven organization, and leverage small, local ecosystems to make a greater impact on your community and business. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Presenter: International Business Strategist Rik Vera

Tue 4/14 at 9 a.m. – China: From Crisis to Recovery

Being the first to be impacted by COVID-19, China has since turned the tables and gained control over the outbreak as businesses slowly return. Hear from industry leaders in China on how government, meeting planners and companies have dealt with this major disruption and measures that have been put in place. Learn how businesses are finding ways to move towards recovery, post COVID-19 trends for the business events industry in 2020 and how our industry is being reshaped that will have us see brighter days ahead. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Tue 4/14 at 1 p.m. – Sales Survival Strategies Amidst COVID-19

Organizations worldwide are struggling to navigate their sales efforts during these uncertain times. Particularly for companies and associations who rely heavily on event-related revenue, the COVID-19 pandemic will likely have a significant impact on their bottom line, especially if they do nothing to adapt their sales strategies. Now is the time to be flexible, adjust your sales outreach efforts, fine-tune sponsor and customer value and expectations, and discover new revenue streams. More info/register.

Host: Event Garde

Presenter: Kara Nacarato, Director of Development & Special Initiatives, Event Garde

Moderator: Aaron Wolowiec, CEO, Event Garde

Tue 4/14 at 1 p.m. – COVID-19 Disruptor: The New Normal for Event and Meeting Planners

Host: When & How

Presenters:

Former FBI Hostage Negotiator Chip Massey
Crisis Communications Expert Adele Cehrs
Adult Learning Expert Jeff Hurt

Tue 4/14 at 1 p.m. – Is Salesforce Backlog Affecting Your Organization’s Efficiency? Find Out Ways to Herd the Cats and Effectively Get Your Backlog Under Control

No matter how large or small your CRM/AMS staff is, the list of to-do’s is always present and even growing. The list can quickly grow to what might seem as unmanageable, paralyzing your staff from making progress. Learn how to prioritize “to-do’s” to maximize productivity, what tools can help manage the intake of departmental requests, and what internal and external resources you can access that will help you focus more on strategy and overall vision. More info/register.

Host: Aplusify

Tue 4/14 at 1:30 p.m. – This Or That: What Association Execs Are Using for Virtual Conferences

Host: KiKi L’Italien, senior consultant, Tecker International, and founder, Amplified Growth

Guests:

Maricela Arias-Cantu, Society for Public Health Education
Michael Tatonetti, Professional Pricing Society
Samantha Evans, International Association of Accessibility Professionals

Tue 4/14 at 2 p.m. – Crisis Response Workshop for Associations

This webcast provides practical ideas, proven methods, and case studies that show how to thoughtfully communicate to your board, staff, members, and industry or profession at large what your association is focused on in these crucial days and weeks. The session details actions—including strategic communications that build stronger connections with key audiences—that can mitigate potential damage to the organization’s reputation, its revenue, and it future. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Presenters:

Jill Allread, APR, Chief Executive Officer, Public Communications, Inc.
Richard P. Whelan, CDM, President, Marketing General Incorporated

Tue 4/14 at 2 p.m. – COVID-19 Update and Its Impact on Events

Since we last spoke with Dr. Patel, the US has become the leader in COVID-19 cases and many hot spots are in the peak of the outbreak. Join this interview to understand what to expect on the horizon as we have seen China and Hong Kong open back up and what that means for another outbreak. Have we flattened the curve enough with all of the business disruption? What can we expect for the flu season this fall? Can this strand of COVID-19 live that long? More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Presenter: Dr. Robin Patel, Mayo Clinic

Tue 4/14 at 2 p.m. – Best Practices to Accelerate Your Pivot to Virtual Events

Learn how going virtual affects the event planning lifecycle (what stays, what goes, what changes), how to build an engaging virtual event your attendees will love, how to connect them with each other, and best practices from industry peers for virtual events of all sizes. More info/register.

Host: Cvent

Tue 4/14 at 2 p.m. – How to Cut Your Marketing Budget–Without Killing Your Marketing

Marketing is critical to growth, but good marketing doesn’t have to be expensive. In this webinar we will talk about how to get the most out of your marketing while saving your budget. We will cover options for websites, social media, email, and how intense focus may be the best tool you have. More info/register.

Host: Tech Soup

Presenter: Adam Walker, co-founder, 48in48 and Sideways8

Wed 4/15 at 11 a.m. – Advocacy and Lobbying Best Practices during COVID-19

With shoe leather lobbying no longer an option right now, there are multiple ways advocacy pros in associations can meet and educate lawmakers, and influence positive outcomes for their organizations. Government relations has taken center stage in its role to help their organizations win. Those forces were particularly apparent during the recent stimulus bill negotiations.

Learn actionable best practices you can use during the COVID-19 pandemic, straight from our panel of expert practitioners. More info/register.

Host: FiscalNote

Presenters:

Annie Russo, Vice President of Government Affairs, Airports Council International – North America
Aaron Stetter, Executive Vice President of Policy & Political Operations, Independent Community Bankers of America
Joshua Habursky, Head of Federal Affairs, Premium Cigar Association
Ingrida Lusis, Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs, American Nurses Association
Kate Ackley, Senior Staff Writer, CQ Roll Call

Wed 4/15 at 12 p.m. – Content Forum Weekly Community Chat

Host: Content Forum

Wed 4/15 at 12 p.m. – Cybersecurity and Events: More Important Than Ever

Learn how and why the meeting and events industry has become a target for malicious cyberattacks, gain a greater understanding of the most common methods used by attackers, and learn simple and concrete methods for protecting yourselves and your attendees’ data. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MPI

Presenter: Brandt Krueger, Technical Producer, Event Technology Consulting

Wed 4/15 at 1 p.m. – To Post or Not to Post: How to Modify Your Social Media Strategy Amidst COVID-19

After months of perfecting your social media strategy and finalizing your content calendar for 2020, you’re likely now in a position where you must deviate from the plan and, in a way, start from scratch. Get answers to questions like: – Is it okay for me to stick to my original content calendar? Are the topics I had mapped out for the year still relevant? Can I simply push back what I had planned for the coming months? Should I be posting ANYTHING right now? More info/register.

Host: Event Garde

Presenters:

Aaron Wolowiec, CEO, Event Garde
Rob McCarty, CEO, The Image Shoppe
Zach Guy, Digital Account Manager, The Image Shoppe
Amanda Morton, Social Media Manager, The Image Shoppe

Wed 4/15 at 1 p.m. – How to Make the Shift from In-Person to Digital Testing and Learning

Learn how your professional association can transition from live events to online, all while maintaining a high standard of instruction. Find out what tools work best for validating skills and how to create a scalable, repeatable teaching course that drives demand for your organization. More info/register.

Host: Credly

Wed 4/15 at 2 p.m. – Tips to Prepare Your Association for Virtual Work

Rebecca Achurch has taken many associations virtual in her consultancy. She will give tips and best practices to help you as you transition your organization from on-premise to remote work. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Altai Systems

Presenter: Rebecca Achurch, PgMP, PMP, CSM, CAE, founder, Achurch Consulting

Wed 4/15 at 2 p.m. – Virtual Events Don’t Have to Suck

Learn what key things to think about as you transition to virtual events, the best emerging trends around virtual engagement, and tactical advice on ensuring speakers, sponsors and attendees stay happy and connected. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Hubb

Presenters:

Naomi Clare Crellin, Founder, Storycraft Lab
Allie Magyar, CEO, Hubb

Wed 4/15 at 4 p.m. – ASAE Key Consultants Committee Weekly Virtual Forum

Wed 4/15 at 2 p.m. – Convert, Don’t Cancel! Rescue Your Live Event by Converting to Virtual in 5 Easy Steps

Learn how to convert your live meeting into an engaging virtual event in five easy steps, and hear about real-world best practices from recent, successfully converted virtual meetings. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MeetingsNet

Presenters:

John Werth, Senior Director, Early Candidate Clinic Lead, Neuroscience
Pfizer
Ryan Mazon, Senior Vice President of Business Development, Educational Measures

Wed 4/15 at 3 p.m. – 2020 Nonprofit Cybersecurity Incident Report

Hear the highlights of the second annual Community IT Nonprofit Cybersecurity Incident Report which looks at the different types of attacks that occur at small and mid-sized nonprofit organizations. Get advice on security improvements that provide protection against the most common attacks. Learn the role of leadership in placing a value on cybersecurity preparedness for your nonprofit and the long term planning that should accompany your immediate assessment of your security risk. More info/register.

Host: Community IT

Presenter: Matthew Eshleman, Chief Technology Officer at Community IT

Thu 4/16 at 11 a.m. – Forever Transactions with The Membership Economy author Robbie Kellman Baxter

“The Membership Economy” author Robbie Kellman Baxter is back with a new book, “The Forever Transaction,” in which she draws out a blueprint for member-based organizations and how they can create and grow with long-term relationships with their customers. With a focus on how associations can master their own Forever Transactions, Baxter will discuss how to identify and utilize “superusers,” build recurring revenue for your organization and lead into the future. More info/register.

Host: Association Success

Thu 4/16 at 12 p.m. – COVID-19 & Your Chapters/Components: The Next Steps Virtual Idea Swap

It’s safe to say that our support for components took on a different look this past month. We had to scramble to re-orient messaging and timetables, shift resources, support chapters shifting to virtual, and maybe cancel volunteer leader training. How do we re-orient our support and training for the rest of 2020? What do we need to think about as long-term shifts? What other short-term shifts need to be adopted? We’ll use Zoom Breakout rooms to problem-solve and from there create a quick recap to share post meeting. This is a “training” in a meeting as we’ll check out how Zoom Breakout Rooms can be a tool to use in the future. More info/register.

Host: Mariner Management

Presenters:

Peggy Hoffman, president and executive director, Mariner Management
Peter Houstle, CEO, Mariner Management

Thu 4/16 at 12 p.m. – Grassroots Influence Pulse: Identifying the Tactics and Practices That Predict Legislative Success

According to the biennial Grassroots Influence Pulse® (GRIP) survey, there are clear indicators as to which advocacy tactics are more likely to provide the best outcomes. Learn how to take the guesswork out of your association’s grassroots advocacy work and start turning your association’s grassroots efforts into grassroots influence. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Government Relations and Advocacy Professionals Advisory Council

Presenter: Amy Showalter, GRIP® co-author and Principal, The Showalter Group, Inc.

Thu 4/16 at 12 p.m. – PCMA Digital Experience Institute Office Hours

Host: PCMA Digital Experience Institute

Thu 4/16 at 1 p.m. – Teambuilding Activities for a Remote Workforce

With a majority of the country now working from home, and the effects of social distancing taking a very real toll on the emotional and physical wellbeing of our teams, intentional teambuilding is more important than ever before. Learn about teambuilding activities that inspire positive thinking, promote an optimistic outlook, generate feelings of compassion, expand trust, and reduce both anxiety and stress. More info/register.

Host: Event Garde

Presenter: Aaron Wolowiec, CEO of Event Garde

Thu 4/16 at 1 p.m. – Planning & Producing Exceptional Online Events

With the future of in-person events uncertain in the near-term, associations are facing the challenging decision of whether to cancel or postpone conferences and meetings or transition them into online events. While there are many commonalities between face-to-face events and online events, the differences are important to understand while considering the move, planning and executing the event. More info/register.

Host: Virtual Inc.

Thu 4/16 at 2 p.m. – Content Governance 101: Managing Your Digital Content for Success

Associations often have too much content owned by too many stakeholders, and nobody knows how to manage all of it at once. But there’s a solution. A concrete, detailed content governance strategy will ensure that every piece of content your organization puts online—website, email, social media, etc.—is part of a larger, clearly managed system. Learn how to formulate a content governance plan and institute guidelines that can turn your content from a chore into a delight. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Mighty Citizen

Presenters: Texas Association of School Board Officials and Mighty Citizen

Thu 4/16 at 2 p.m. – Forever Transactions with The Membership Economy author Robbie Kellman Baxter

Host: Association Success

Thu 4/16 at 2 p.m. – Using Mobile to Keep Members Engaged During COVID-19

Hear how the Associated General Contractors of America, Advanced Solutions International (ASI) and the Pennsylvania Dental Association are using their mobile app to help their communities feel informed and connected, even from afar. Take a look at how mobile is helping to make remote work much more productive as well as its ability to create successful virtual events. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Clowder

Thu 4/16 at 2:30 p.m. – Is it Force Majeure? Dealing with Coronavirus and other Calamities in your Contracts

Learn when Coronavirus, or any other calamity, is a Force majeure; understand how Force Majeure clauses are interpreted and the role of “foreseeability” when preparing the clauses; and learn the meaning of Impossibility, Illegality, Commercial Impracticability, and Frustration of Purpose and how contract law applies these terms. 1 CMP credit. More info/register – fee for non-MPI members.

Host: MPI

Presenter: John Foster, JD, CHME, Partner, Attorney At Law, Foster, Jensen & Gulley

Thu 4/16 at 3:30 p.m. – 6 Characteristics of Transformational Leaders During a Disruptive Era

Disruption is all around us today. We have quickly gone from the sharing economy to the curbside pick-up economy. Whether we liked it or prepared for it, our lives and the way we work, compete and add value has changed. Explore examples of 6 leadership characteristics that were common in our interviews of 50 CEOs and entrepreneurs of associations and for-profit companies. We will also share with you the key questions to ask yourself and your organization to become better leaders. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: .orgCommunity

Presenter: Kevin Ordonez, President of .orgSource

Thu 4/16 at 4 p.m. – Forever Transactions with The Membership Economy author Robbie Kellman Baxter

Host: Association Success

Fri 4/17 at 1 p.m. – How to Go Virtual (While Still Creating an Engaging Experience)

Host: Matchbox Virtual Media

Presenters:

Graham Harvey, Chief Strategy Officer, Matchbox Virtual Media
Allen Lloyd, CAE, Executive Director, Montana Society of CPAs
Arianna Rehak, CEO & Co-Founder, Matchbox Virtual Media
Jeff Cobb, Managing Director, Tagoras

Fri 4/17 at 1 p.m. – HBA Live! Wellness Check

Facilitators: Aaron Wolowiec, CEO, Event Garde and Angela Pelc, owner, Sidecar Slider Bar

Fri 4/17 at 1 p.m. – Hack the Mind: Using Psychology to Boost Your Online Marketing

As professional communicators, we can recognize our brains’ habits—and make them work for us. In this entertaining, story-filled workshop, we’ll explore our minds’ most surprising tendencies and how they intersect with your website, marketing materials, and overall brand strategy. You’ll leave with a new understanding of the subtle, predictable, and (often) irrational ways we humans think. And you’ll get equipped with concrete ways to apply these great “brain hacks” to your organization. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Mighty Citizen

Fri 4/17 at 1 p.m. – Engagement That Scales

Host: Rachel Happe, founder, The Community Roundtable

Guest: Gretchen Schmelzer, Teleos

Fri 4/17 at 2:30 p.m. – Sip and Share: Fears & Forecasts for Content Marketing

Presenters:

Alexis Fermanis (moderator), Communications Director at the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors
Dina Lewis, CAE, Founder of Distilled Logic
Erica Salm Rench, Director of Customer Success at rasa.io
Courtney Reyers, Assistant Director of Member Services at American Society for Microbiology

Mon 4/20 at 10 a.m. – Professional Development Town Hall Discussion: How Are You Managing Remote Work?

Organizer: ASAE Professional Development Committee

Tue 4/21 at 12 p.m. – COVID-19: Knowing How and When to Develop Partnership Proposals (Partnership Professionals Network Idea Exchange)

Organizer: Partnership Professionals Network

Thu 4/23 at 1 p.m. – Designing for Success in the Current E-learning Landscape

Host: Tagoras

Presenters:

Jeff Cobb and Celisa Steele, co-founders, Tagoras and Leading Learning
Janine Loechel, senior learning content manager, and Stacy Hunt, learning content manager, BenchPrep

Thu 4/23 at 2 p.m. – Real Solutions to Amp Up Your Online Presence

Host: .orgCommunity

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Association Brain Food Weekly: 4.3.20

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

Sponsorships. Please participate in a short survey on the impact of COVID-19 on association conference sponsorships. The goal for this Partnership Professionals Network survey is to collect and share the concerns and insights of association staff. The findings from the survey will be disseminated by the Partnership Professionals Network via e-newsletter and website.

Experiment. I love the message Garth Jordan, SVP and Chief Strategy Officer for HFMA, delivers in Association Success. He says, “Association leaders, the time to experiment is right now.” I completely agree. Take advantage of this opportunity to try new things. Sure, maybe some won’t work but members will be forgiving in these trying times. Pun intended.

Volunteering. Purpose helps alleviate stress and anxiety. MemberSuite suggests calling your regular volunteers back to duty (if possible) and providing opportunities for virtual volunteering—and they have quite a list of virtual volunteering ideas.

Chapter leader communication. This week, Billhighway writes about communicating with chapter leaders—the most amazing volunteers of all. They share guidelines on the best communication style, options for different types of virtual meetings with chapter leaders, and ways to provide chapter leaders with news, resources and advice.

Repurposing cancelled conferences. WBT Systems describes options for repurposing content from a cancelled conference, such as online learning programs, podcasts and virtual conferences. They also explain how to prepare attendees for a virtual conference.

LMS selection. I have a feeling many associations will allocate more resources in the future to online learning. DelCor’s Tobin Conley, CAE, provides a list of selection criteria for a new learning management system.

Employee support. Jamie Notter suggests things you can do to support your employees’ success right now. “Their bandwidth is taxed, and the external support will go a long way. They probably won’t ask for it, either, as external support has not been something they have experienced as strongly in the culture.”

Quick hits before we get to the list of this week’s free education:

This pandemic offers an opportunity to experiment with meaningful digital gatherings. (Priya Parker, New York Times)

How to use cognitive reframing to take control when you’re emotionally overwhelmed by the coronavirus crisis. (Markham Heid, Medium)

COVID-19’s ripple effect: mapping out the societal and economic consequences. (Michael Jones et al, Notion)

Maybe you’ve seen this one before, it’s strangely mesmerizing, the fish jumping upstream… grizzly bears at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park, Alaska. (Explore Bears & Bison, YouTube)

Good eats—skip down to the list of free webinars if you’re not into cooking:

The best thing about this Bon Appetit recipe for crispy skinned fish with herb sauce was the sauce. I made more than I needed so I had leftover sauce for pasta lunches. But their cooking method didn’t work for me, my white grunt stuck to the pan. Grunt! Don’t know why, don’t blame the fish. Maybe I needed more oil, maybe I didn’t dry out the skin enough, who knows.

Another super sauce from Bon Appetit: blueline tilefish (instead of cod) poached in tomato curry. I took the advice in the comments and made these changes: increased the garlic and spices; added a jalapeño and scallion whites; used halved grape tomatoes; quadrupled the coconut cream (I used the entire can, why waste it?); and added a little fish sauce and scallion greens at the end. I served it over 90-second Uncle Ben’s jasmine rice—my time/effort saver.

This week’s highlight was calamari fra diavolo. I had two pounds of frozen squid (tubes and tentacles) just waiting for its moment. It came Sunday. Oh, this was good. The sauce was a bit thin but fine for serving over wheat spaghetti and dipping store-bought focaccia.

A week can’t go by without talking about greens. This week I had quite a collection from my produce drawer clean-out: collards, zesty greens (not sure what was in this mix from my CSA farmer), arugula, and radish greens. First, I sautéed linguica, red and sweet onion, scallions, and jalapeño, then added the greens.

Here are the educational events scheduled for next week. If you have any free webinars or events coming up, please send me the link. I’ll be happy to feature it as long as it’s not product-centric.

Stay safe, stay well, take care.

Fri 4/3 at 12 p.m.* – Not Governance as Usual: Virtual Approaches to Manage Your Governance Strategy

A time of global pandemic and self-isolation is forcing association leaders to think on their feet: How do we continue to lead? How do we sustain the organization through this crisis? Through these rapid shifts, what is needed more than ever is stability in strategic governance—even in a virtual environment. This webcast will focus on key considerations, including general guidelines for governance engagement; approaches to facilitating strategic conversations and outcomes remotely; insights into ASAE’s planning, development, and delivery of its board and strategic planning meetings; and responsible transparency and meaningful leadership communication with members. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Presenters:

Lowell Aplebaum, CAE, CPF, CEO and Strategy Catalyst, Vista Cova LLC
Reggie Henry, CAE, Chief Information and Engagement Officer, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership
Susan Robertson, CAE, President and CEO, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership

*All times are Eastern Daylight Savings Time unless otherwise noted.

Fri 4/3 at 12 p.m. – HBA Live! Wellness Check

Facilitators: Aaron Wolowiec, CEO, Event Garde and Angela Pelc, owner, Sidecar Slider Bar

Fri 4/3 at 12 p.m. – The Business Risks of COVID-19: Insurance Considerations and Solutions to Mitigate Impact on AMCs

More info/register – AMCI members only.

Host: AMC Institute

Fri 4/3 at 1 p.m. – How to Go Virtual (While Still Creating an Engaging Experience)

Host: Matchbox Virtual Media

Presenters:

Graham Harvey, Chief Strategy Officer, Matchbox Virtual Media
Allen Lloyd, CAE, Executive Director, Montana Society of CPAs
Arianna Rehak, CEO & Co-Founder, Matchbox Virtual Media
Jeff Cobb, Managing Director, Tagoras

Fri 4/3 at 1 p.m. – Ask Us Anything Expert Panel: Marketing, Revenue, Meetings & Technology

Hear about some of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the association space right now in light of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. Key topics will include empathetic marketing (cultivating creativity and connection in a crisis, adapting your sales strategies during COVID-19, managing events (both physical and virtual), and leveraging technology. More info/register.

Host: Event Garde

Presenters:

Aaron Wolowiec, CEO, Event Garde
Sara Krueger, Director of Communications & Engagement, Event Garde
Kara Nacarato, Director of Development & Special Initiatives, Event Garde
Kate Pojeta, Director of Meetings & Technology, Event Garde

Fri 4/3 at 1 p.m. – Engagement That Scales

Host: Rachel Happe, founder, The Community Roundtable

Guest: C.C. Chapman, Wheaton College (MA)

Mon 4/6 at 12 p.m. – How To Create Videos & Content That Are Needed When Your Audience Is Anxious & Overwhelmed

When people are drowning, the last thing they need is swimming lessons. And yet, there are a lot of videos posted online that are doing just that. Learn about the tools and techniques for creating remarkable videos that produce long term value and show your audience you care. Discover the essential elements that will take your video marketing plan from good to great. 1 CMP credit. More info/register. Fee for non-MPI members.

Host: MPI

Presenter: Antoine Dupont, CEO, Katapult Marketing

Mon 4/6 at 1 p.m. – Chatting with Agnes & Cecilia

This series of 15-minute videos cover hot topics and issues related to 501c organization management. A new episode is posted every Monday by 1 p.m. More info.

Hosts:

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

Mon 4/6 at 2 p.m. – Association CEO Roundtable: Response to COVID-19

Association CEOs are facing critical challenges and pivot points as they lead their organizations in and through the current COVID-19 environment. The way associations respond, plan, and forecast today will help inform their future success and sustainability. In this roundtable discussion, ASAE’s Key Committee chairs will offer insights, encourage you to share your own experiences, and listen and respond to your questions, concerns, and solutions. Share and learn what others are doing to lead in these unprecedented times. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Presenters:

Peter J. O’Neil, FASAE, CAE (moderator)
Michelle Korsmo, Chair, Key Industry Associations Committee
Bob Chalker, MBA, CAE, Chair, Key Global Associations Committee
Nat Bartholomew, CPA, Chair, Key Consultants Committee
Elaine Weiss, Chair, Key Professional Associations Committee
Bennett Napier II, CAE, Chair, Key Association Management Company Committee

NEW: Tue 4/7 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Pivoting to Virtual Engagement in the COVID-19 Era

We firmly believe that professional and trade associations are the backbone of many industries and we know you will stay viable, even grow in importance, as the world faces these current health and economic challenges. Your members will look to you for guidance on how to navigate the impact of it all. Learn how you as board leaders can help your associations pivot and thrive in the COVID-19 era. More info/register.

Host: StarChapter

Tue 4/7 – RemoteCon

RemoteCon is a remote conference on remote work. Dozens of speakers will talk about a variety of issues relating to remote work: tools and tech, organization and culture, and the law. More info/register.

Organizer: Marcel Salathé and a group of volunteers at EPFL

Tue 4/7 at 12 p.m. – Getting Started with Data Analytics (Association Data Analytics Brown Bag)

This opportunity is for association professionals who are responsible for reporting analytics to leadership, boards, and other stakeholders, to come together in a free-flowing environment to share their lunchtime and discuss data analytics topics. Conversations will include presentations and attendees discussing challenges and key points on each topic. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Organizer: Robert Taflinger

NEW: Tue 4/7 at 12:30 p.m. – Membership During a Crisis: An Open Discussion of Membership Recruitment and Retention in Difficult Times

Join other practicing membership professionals in discussing membership development during a crisis. This will be an open meeting format with Scott and Dan leading the discussion and fielding questions from the online attendees. More info/register.

Host: The Next Steps LLC

Tue 4/7 at 1 p.m. – COVID-19 Disruptor: The New Normal for Event and Meeting Planners

Host: When & How

Presenters:

Former FBI Hostage Negotiator Chip Massey
Crisis Communications Expert Adele Cehrs
Adult Learning Expert Jeff Hurt

Tue 4/7 at 1 p.m. – Charitable Online Solicitation: Is Your Nonprofit Compliant?

Learn about charitable solicitation registration and reporting, licensing for special fundraising activities, and the positive impact of compliance. More info/register.

Host: Nonprofit Tech for Good

Presenter: Sharon Cody, Partnership Manager at Harbor Compliance

NEW: Tue 4/7 at 2 p.m. – Engagement Strategies for Virtual & Hybrid Events

Learn how your next event – especially if it’s gone virtual now – can engage audience members for a richer, more compelling experience. Thom will address how to weave program content and promote interactions to set the tone for real connections. More info/register.

Host: The Expo Group

Presenter: emcee and expert human connector Thom Singer

Tue 4/7 at 2 p.m. – Leading Successful Change to Remote Training

For employees who are unfamiliar with meeting software such as Zoom and Google Hangouts, the difficulty of teaching “on the go” has become a noticeable hurdle. How can you train people remotely and effectively, without disrupting the flow of work? Learn about the impact a crisis has on people’s abilities to learn and adapt to change; and the resources you can utilize to make everything run as smoothly as possible – from digital meeting rooms, to the cutting-edge technology known as “digital adoption platforms.” More info/register.

Host: eLearning Learning Newsletter

Presenter: Dr. Britt Andreatta, PhD, CEO, 7th Mind, Inc.

Tue 4/7 at 2 p.m. – What’s Missing from Your Strategic Meetings Management (SMM)

Find out how using event technology can make your team more efficient, track fragmented program spend and eliminate simple meeting and event risk. Learn how simple meetings and events fit into SMM, how companies are managing their simple meetings, how to manage your simple meetings and events through a single tech platform, how to easily access and share valuable attendee and meeting data, and how to track and report on meeting and event spend. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MeetingsNet

Presenters:

Cliff Ryan, Director of Sales, CVENT | Kapow
Julie Haddix, Director of Enterprise Marketing, CVENT

Tue 4/7 at 2 p.m. – Case Studies of CPD in a Time of Social Distancing

Hear about ACOOG’s rapid response to adapt a live, annual, meeting in a time of pandemic and mandatory social distancing. Explore how, in a time of chaos, an organization can be guided by learning and implementation science to produce an effective educational intervention that aligns learner needs with organizational realities/constraints. More info/register.

Host: Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions

Presenters:

Andrew Crim, MEd, CHCP, FACEHP, Director of Education and Professional Development, American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOOG)
Brian McGowan, PhD, FACEHP, ArchMedX, Inc.

Tue 4/7 at 2 p.m. – A Guide For Meeting Planner and Hotel Sales Professionals

While the meeting industry is in an unprecedented “holding pattern,” this is a great time to take advantage of increasing your knowledge about meeting risk to make both you and your organization better equipped and competitive. More info/register.

Host: Smart Meetings

Presenters:

Kevin Coffey, founder and senior travel and meeting risk consultant at Goldspring Consulting
Neil Hammond, partner at Goldspring Consulting

Wed 4/8 at 11 a.m. – Leading Through a Crisis Day-by-Day

Learn about the three interdependent areas of crisis-management activity that help foster sustained high — even heroic — performance by your team. Hear how to think about all your stakeholders during uncertain times; find a way to demonstrate your loyalty, compassion, and commitment to workers and customers; and use aspiration to bring out the best in your team. More info/register.

Host: MIT Technology Review

Presenter: Eric J. McNulty, associate director of Harvard’s National Preparedness Leadership Initiative

NEW: Wed 4/8 at 12 p.m. – Content Forum Weekly Community Chat

Host: Content Forum

Wed 4/8 at 1 p.m. – Pivoting Your SEO & SEM Strategy During the COVID-19 Crisis

You’ve likely spent years modifying and perfecting your search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM) strategies, evolving with latest best practices and updates. Learn how to pivot your SEO and SEM strategies during this time of uncertainty—including when to retool and when to press pause. More info/register.

Host: Event Garde

Presenters:

Rob McCarty, CEO, The Image Shoppe
Zach Guy, Digital Account Manager, The Image Shoppe
Aaron Wolowiec, CAE, CEO Event Garde

Wed 4/8 at 2 p.m. – Space to Re-Think. Taking Back Control on COVID19 and Revenue Generation

This workshop is designed to help you think outside the box about what you can do to help your business through the Corona Virus. Walk through exercises to help you see where the opportunities are that will help get you ahead in the next few weeks and be ready for The Recovery. Now is the time to prepare and focus on that. How you react to this is within your control. 1 CMP credit. More info/register. Fee for non-MPI members.

Host: MPI

Presenter: Ciara Feely, Founder & Author, Conference Converter

Wed 4/8 at 4 p.m. – ASAE Key Consultants Committee Weekly Virtual Forum

Thu 4/9 at 12 p.m. – Driving Member Engagement by Showing #VolunteerLove

National Volunteer Week is April 19-25^th, an opportunity to spotlight association volunteers. Given that 20-25% of staff labor in associations comes from volunteer members, we should have year-round recognition and celebrate every day, and create the right supportive environment since volunteering is one of the stickiest forms of member engagement. Let’s draw from research and our own community for a dynamic discussion on how to show volunteer love. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Billhighway

Presenter: Peggy Hoffman, president and executive director at Mariner Management

Thu 4/9 at 12 p.m. – Basic Categorical Variable Analysis and Pivot Tables for Beginners

Learn about simple descriptive analysis and data visualization using Excel. Go over some basic analysis using a “countif” formula, walk through making a simple pivot table and see examples of visualizations you could make. Learn how to quickly figure out the number, or percent, of each category of a variable, or more than one variable with a pivot table. More info/register.

Host: Inciter

Presenter: Kristen Halsey, data analyst, Inciter

Thu 4/9 at 1 p.m. – Working Remotely + Collaboratively

Learn about priorities for an effective workday, how to establish boundaries for family and home (or how to at least find some semblance of balance), and introduce you to some tools and technologies that are quick to learn and easy to use when collaborating remotely. More info/register.

Host: Event Garde

Presenters:

Aaron Wolowiec, CEO, Event Garde
Kate Pojeta, Director of Meetings & Technology, Event Garde

Thu 4/9 at 2 p.m. – How to Bring Your Live or In-Person Events Online

Walk through the process of migrating your in-person event online. Learn how to use what you’ve already created, the best communications strategy to inform and engage your attendees and presenters, what technology you’ll need to execute a successful virtual event and fundraiser, and how to maximize your ROI and keep the momentum going for the rest of 2020. More info/register.

Host: TechSoup

Presenters: Kyle Barkins and Joe DiGiovanni, founders of Tapp Network

Thu 4/9 at 3:30 p.m. – Remain Relevant by Becoming a Digital Leader

Being a digital leader has never been more urgent for associations to remain relevant. While we may be in a health crisis, it has rapidly become a technology crisis for many associations. Adapting an integrated digital strategy and the way you work can make the difference between business continuity and a meltdown. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: .orgCommunity

Presenter: Sherry Budziak, founder and CEO, .orgSource

Fri 4/10 at 12 p.m. – HBA Live! Wellness Check

Facilitators: Aaron Wolowiec, CEO, Event Garde and Angela Pelc, owner, Sidecar Slider Bar

NEW: Fri 4/10 at 1 p.m. – Adapt or Reinvent Your In-Person or Online Conference

Presenter: Lee Gimpel, meeting designer and facilitator, founder of Better Meetings

Fri 4/10 at 1 p.m. – How to Go Virtual (While Still Creating an Engaging Experience)

Host: Matchbox Virtual Media

Presenters:

Graham Harvey, Chief Strategy Officer, Matchbox Virtual Media
Allen Lloyd, CAE, Executive Director, Montana Society of CPAs
Arianna Rehak, CEO & Co-Founder, Matchbox Virtual Media
Jeff Cobb, Managing Director, Tagoras

Fri 4/10 at 1 p.m. – Ask Us Anything Expert Panel: Emotional Wellbeing, Relationship Management & Diversity/Equity/Inclusion

Host: Event Garde

Presenters:

Lindsay Gross, Director of Facilitation Services, Event Garde
Alina Cooper, Director of Project Management, Event Garde
Krista Rowe, Director of DEI, Event Garde
Aaron Wolowiec, CAE (moderator), CEO & Founder, Event Garde

Fri 4/10 at 1 p.m. – Engagement That Scales

Host: Rachel Happe, founder, The Community Roundtable

Tue 4/14 at 1 p.m. – Is Salesforce Backlog Affecting Your Organization’s Efficiency? Find Out Ways to Herd the Cats and Effectively Get Your Backlog Under Control

Host: Aplusify

Wed 4/15 at 2 p.m. – Tips to Prepare Your Association for Virtual Work

Host: Altai Systems

Presenter: Rebecca Achurch, PgMP, PMP, CSM, CAE, founder, Achurch Consulting

Thu 4/16 at 12 p.m. – Grassroots Influence Pulse: Identifying the Tactics and Practices That Predict Legislative Success

Host: ASAE Government Relations and Advocacy Professionals Advisory Council

Presenter: Amy Showalter, GRIP® co-author and Principal, The Showalter Group, Inc.

Thu 4/16 at 2 p.m. – Content Governance 101: Managing Your Digital Content for Success

Host: Mighty Citizen

Presenters: Texas Association of School Board Officials and Mighty Citizen

Fri 4/17 at 1 p.m. – Hack the Mind: Using Psychology to Boost Your Online Marketing

Host: Mighty Citizen

NEW: Fri 4/17 at 2:30 p.m. – Sip and Share: Fears & Forecasts for Content Marketing

Presenters:

Alexis Fermanis (moderator), Communications Director at the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors
Dina Lewis, CAE, Founder of Distilled Logic
Erica Salm Rench, Director of Customer Success at io
Courtney Reyers, Assistant Director of Member Services at American Society for Microbiology

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Association Brain Food Weekly: 3.27.20

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

The Virtual Conferences Survey from Tagoras comes at an opportune time since virtual events are on everyone’s mind. It doesn’t matter if your association is a virtual conference pro, thinking about jumping in, or not likely to do anything with virtual conferences, they still would love for you to participate. Think of it as your good deed for the day.

You’ve probably seen stories about distillers in your area who are now producing hand sanitizer—I know they are in my part of North Carolina. Amanda Kaiser sees them as an example of “tossing out the ‘what we are’ focus in favor of the ‘what people need’ focus.” It’s an opportunity, she says, to rethink how you serve members.

WBT Systems provides ideas for helping members deal with the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis, including recession-focused information, resources, and benefits as well as guidance on pricing and marketing.

Chapters must stay open for business, although it won’t be business as usual. Billhighway explains how to help chapter leaders with virtual governance and volunteering.

Arianna Rehak at Matchbox Virtual Media has lots of experience running virtual events—you may know her work with Association Success’ Surge summit but that was just the beginning. She shares proven tactics for engaging audiences during virtual conferences.

The discomfort we’re all feeling is grief, says David Kessler at the Harvard Business Review. It makes sense when you read about the stages we go through. He shares advice for dealing with these emotions too.

Because so many kids rely on school breakfast and lunch as their nutrition for the day, food banks are filling in the gap—and need your support. You can find your local food bank on the Feeding America website.

If you’re in my part of North Carolina, your donation to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina goes even further this month. Thanks to a matching pledge, every $1 you donate in March provides 10 meals. Money goes further than cans.

Quick hits before we get to the list of this week’s free education:

26 ways to make online meetings, workshops, and programs a success. (Deborah Grayson Riegel, Inc.)

5 real-world techniques and tips from longtime remote workers in the association community (Shepherd Smith, Gravitate Solutions)

Trashy books clubs, cocktails and live music: 11 things to do without leaving home. (Emily Holden, The Guardian)

Live web cams from the Monterey Bay Aquarium—it’s hard to pick a favorite.

Good eats—skip down to the list of free webinars if you’re not into cooking:

The highlight of the week was Louisiana oyster and linguiça bake, an Emeril Lagasse recipe. The recipe doesn’t call for linguiça—a garlic paprika Portuguese sausage—but that’s what I always use, and I know Emeril would approve since he’s half Portuguese. I also added leftover salad spinach to the mix.

I usually buy my linguiça in bulk from Amaral’s in New Bedford or Gaspar’s in North Dartmouth, MA—just down the road from Emeril’s hometown, Fall River. In fact, Gaspar’s has an 8# deal going on, so I just ordered linguiça and chouriço (a spicier version).

Instead of shucking 50 oysters, I shucked 6 for myself and then steamed the rest for about 4 minutes. I still had to shuck them but it’s a lot easier when the shells have opened a bit. They stayed fairly plump too.

Another night I made bluefish poached with tomatoes, garlic-shallot oil and lime. I used regular couscous instead of Israeli couscous. I loved the garlic-shallot oil—I can imagine that on all kinds of things.

Since the meat shelves are bare at the supermarket, it’s a good thing I have plenty of local fish in the freezer. On Sunday, I wanted to make enough fish for two nights, so I baked fillets of golden tilefish and dogfish. I topped them with salt and a bit of butter before they went in. I served them with a delicious smoky red chimichurri. Chimichurri is usually green—a mix of herbs, shallot, garlic, hot pepper, vinegar and olive oil. This red one also included smoked paprika, chipotle powder and cumin—so good.

The farmers market had baby Brussels sprouts. I was torn between roasting and sautéing them, but I had an idea about roasting them with halved red seedless grapes, red onion, garlic and thyme, so that’s what I did.

Stay safe, stay well, take care.

Fri 3/27 at 12 p.m.* – HBA Live! Wellness Check

Facilitators: Aaron Wolowiec, CEO, Event Garde and Angela Pelc, owner, Sidecar Slider Bar

*All times are Eastern Daylight Savings Time unless otherwise noted.

Fri 3/27 from 12 to 2 p.m. (join when you can) – Feelings Edition of the Eventprofs Happy Hour
Meet, connect, and share with other event professionals. This will be a place to talk about how you are feeling and be heard by others, to share your circumstances, to meet new people and reconnect with old friends. More info.

Organizer: Adrian Segar, founder, Conferences That Work

Fri 3/27 at 12 p.m. – How to Maximize Agility, Velocity and Collaboration with Remote Teams (Live Discussion Event)

Join a live discussion from the executive, technology and organizational perspectives on how your organization can best shift to support a 100% remote working ecosystem. Hear how to tactically ensure your teams are set up successfully, keep your corporate culture and promote collaborate remotely, and maintain and increase your productivity velocity. More info/register.

Host: xScion

Presenters: Mason Chaudhry, Chief Transformation Officer, Keith Braddock, Principal, Enterprise Automation, and Bhavani Krishnan, Agile Expert, xScion

Fri 3/27 at 12 p.m. – COVID-19-Focused Engagement Lounge

This week we’ll be sharing info and ideas on mastering virtual engagement—keeping you, your staff and your clients engaged during remote work. More info/register (for AMCI members only).

Host: AMC Institute

Fri 3/27 at 12 p.m. – TED Connects: Community and Hope

A free, live, daily conversation series featuring experts whose ideas can help us reflect and work through this uncertain time with a sense of responsibility, compassion and wisdom. Today’s topic: How to create meaningful connections while apart. More info.

Hosts: head of TED Chris Anderson and current affairs curator Whitney Pennington Rodgers

Guest: Priya Parker, Author, The Art of Gathering

Fri 3/27 at 2 p.m. – Maintaining Culture and Community Leadership in a Time of Crisis

Mission-driven organizations have always known that even the best laid plans can come apart at a moment’s notice. Yet when a crisis hits, either at your organization or across the globe, how can nonprofits maintain composure and find a way to move forward? Join a discussion that will look to address how to process information in times of high stress, formulate immediate actions to maintain the culture that makes your organization strong, and chart a path forward to inspire others. More info/register.

Host: Neon One

Presenters:

Maddie Grant, Human Workplaces
Marc A. Pitman, Concord Leadership Group

Mon 3/30 at 12 p.m. – Coronavirus Dialogue Series: Building a Lean & Agile Business

Coronavirus is threatening the livelihood of businesses of all sizes in the meetings and events industry. Conferences and trade shows are getting canceled or postponed at historic rates with no sign of when the industry will bounce back. While small businesses are most vulnerable during times like these, the current global conditions remind businesses of all sizes of the importance of staying lean and agile. Now is the time to prepare your organization to sustain this crisis as well as other inevitable, and unpredictable, events that will impact our industry in the future. Learn about tools and resources available to you to build a sustainable business model. More info/register ($35 for MPI non-members).

Host: MPI

Presenter: Tracy Judge, MS, CMP, HMCC, CEO, Soundings Connect

Mon 3/30 at 1 p.m. – Working Remotely + Collaboratively

Learn the priorities to an effective workday, how to establish boundaries for family and home (or how to at least find some semblance of balance), and some tools and technologies that are quick to learn and easy to use when collaborating remotely. More info/register.

Host: Event Garde

Presenter: Kate Pojeta, CMP, Director of Meetings and Technology, Event Garde

Mon 3/30 at 1 p.m. – Chatting with Agnes & Cecilia

This series of 15-minute videos cover hot topics and issues related to 501c organization management. A new episode is posted every Monday by 1 p.m. More info.

Hosts:

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

Mon 3/30 at 2 p.m. – Tips and Tools for Creating an Awesome Virtual Event Experience

In an uncertain time, one thing is certain: People are looking to connect and learn virtually. To get started with virtual event design, you’ll need to look at the event from the perspectives of both the host and attendees. When you do so, you’ll be able to identify elements that will ensure an engaging, fruitful, and financially sustainable virtual event. Find out how meaningful conversations and genuine connections happen virtually, where sponsors fit into the picture, and what hosts can do to ensure their live event runs flawlessly. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Presenters:

Beth Surmont, Director of Experience Design, 360 Live Media
Arianna Rehak, CEO and Co-founder, Matchbox Virtual Media

Tue 3/31 at 12 p.m. – How Eventprofs Can Preserve Mental Health in a Time of Crisis

The coronavirus crisis has taken the event industry by storm. How can event professionals keep business going while preserving our mental health? Join us for an open conversation as we share tips and tactics on how to keep your mental health in times of crisis. More info/register.

Host: EventMB

Presenters:

Leila Heller, Director of Meetings and Incentives at VisitBritain
Juliet Tripp, Senior Events Manager at Chemical Watch
Helen Moon, Marketing and Communications Manager at Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust and Founder and Managing Director of EventWell, Event Wellbeing Day and Event Wellbeing Week
Julius Solaris, Founder and Editor in Chief, EventMB.com

Tue 3/31 at 1 p.m. – COVID-19 Disruptor: The New Normal for Event and Meeting Planners

Host: When & How

Presenters:

Former FBI Hostage Negotiator Chip Massey
Crisis Communications Expert Adele Cehrs
Adult Learning Expert Jeff Hurt

Tue 3/31 at 2 p.m. – Crisis Management for Your Meetings and Events

Learn how to face crises head on, create a game plan for when crises happen, and make sound decisions during difficult and emotionally-driven times. Hear about the five phases of crisis management, where we are now in the crisis management cycle for COVID-19, how to prepare for the next crisis, what to do about events we can’t see coming, and a framework for making decisions about your meetings and events in a time of crisis. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Matrix Group

Presenters:

Matrix Group CEO Joanna Pineda
Bob Mellinger, Founder & President of Attainium Corp and Crisis Management expert

Tue 3/31 at 3 p.m. – Personas & User Journey Mapping: Getting to Know Your Website’s Users & Journey Through Your Site

Developing a successful, user-centric website starts with knowing who is actually coming to your website, why they visit it, and then optimizing their journey through the site. But too often biases and technology get in the way of making sure the user is kept top of mind and that the path through your website results in a successful visit. Join us for a deep dive to see the role User Personas play in your website strategy, learn how to create Personas that drive success, and how to integrate them into your web planning and workflow. With Personas in hand, we’ll put them to work with User Journey mapping to make sure that your visitors can find what they want in your site and solve both the objectives of the visitor and your organization. More info/register.

Organizer: ASAE Marketing Professionals Advisory Council

Presenter: Ray van Hilst, Director of Client Results, Yoko Consulting

Wed 4/1 at 12 p.m. – Coronavirus Dialogue Series: How To Convert Your In-Person Event Into A Virtual Event

With in-person events canceling all around us, it is time for the events industry to evolve. What better way than to take the experience we have producing in-person events and create virtual events with the same strategy and execution of in-person events. Learn what you need to be thinking of when producing a virtual event from the strategy to the content to the technology. 1 CMP credit. More info/register. ($35 for MPI non-members).

Host: MPI

Presenters:

Dustin Westling of One West Events
Will Curran of Endless Events

Wed 4/1 at 12 p.m. – Is Your Event Canceled?

Learn what virtual options exist to recuperate revenues and engagement with all stakeholders. CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association TV

Wed 4/1 at 12 p.m. – Silver and Gold: Balancing New Market Outreach While Serving Your Core Members

When your association’s environment changes—and growth now depends on expanding to new audiences—how do you adapt while keeping your current members happy? Bring your own stories—successes and bombs both welcome—as there will be an open discussion of what works & what doesn’t. More info/register.

Organizer: Association Insights in Old Town—presented online this month

Presenters:

Kristine Metter, CAE, of Crystal Lake Partners
Barry Pilson, CAE, of the National Business Officers Association

Wed 4/1 at 1 p.m. – The Dos and Don’ts of Responding to the COVID-19 Crisis

During these unprecedented times, many brands are struggling to effectively market their organizations amidst the COVID-19 crisis. Get a high-level overview of how brands are currently responding to the COVID-19 crisis: the good, the bad and the ugly. Learn what to do, what not to do and how a company’s response can ultimately affect their brand for better or for worse. More info/register.

Host: Event Garde

Presenters:

Aaron Wolowiec, CEO of Event Garde
Rob McCarty, CEO of The Image Shoppe

Wed 4/1 at 1 p.m. – Advocacy for Associations: Timeless Principles, Modern Approaches

At many associations, member advocacy is based on an old, outdated model. Associations that don’t change with the times will be left behind. Learn how grassroots advocacy can strengthen your organization. Find out how to communicate with members to activate them for advocacy, teach your members to effectively engage lawmakers, and use social media and new technology to super-charge your advocacy efforts. More info/register.

Host: Gather Voices

Presenters:

Bethany Snyder, founder of Snyder Strategies
Michael Hoffman, co-founder and CEO of Gather Voices

Wed 4/1 at 1:30 p.m. – Is Your Event Continuing as Planned, or Postponed for the Future?

Learn how you can hybridize with virtual options and retain or generate the maximum revenues and audience engagement. CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association TV

Wed 4/1 at 2:00 p.m. – Imagining, Creating, and Executing the Technology Strategy

Regardless of the size of your organization, you have a limited technology budget. How do you see beyond those constraints to what the organization truly needs from technology? How do you make a compelling argument for more investment and then deliver on that investment? What are the criteria for evaluating technologies that will not just upgrade your services, but modernize your organization? Hear about making a successful argument for new tech, how IT creates value for the business, and a framework for determining where and how to invest. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions (AWTC)

Presenter: Rebecca Bowen, Director of Information Technology at the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation

Wed 4/1 at 4 p.m. – ASAE Key Consultants Committee Weekly Virtual Forum

Thu 4/2 at 12 p.m. – Virtual Fireside Chat with Nonprofit Association CEOs: How to Navigate COVID-19 Crises

Dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic has stretched the world in new and unforeseen ways, brought out the best in some, highlighted weaknesses in processes that have worked well for years, and brought on unprecedented financial hardship. Join two partners in Venable’s Nonprofit Practice Group, who have been helping clients navigate this crisis, as they chat with two leading association CEOs about how they’ve led their organizations through the initial wave of change. More info/register.

Host: Venable LLP

Presenters:

Susan Cantrell, CEO, Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy
Robert Chalker, CEO, NACE International
George Constantine, Partner and Co-Chair, Nonprofit Organizations Group, Venable LLP
Jacobs, Partner, Nonprofit Organizations Group, Venable LLP

Thu 4/2 at 12 p.m. – PCMA Digital Experience Institute Office Hours

Host: PCMA Digital Experience Institute

Thu 4/2 at 1 p.m. – 3 Strategies to Future-Proof Your Association

Hear about technological breakthroughs in mobile, data analytics and membership management that help associations transform their business and serve members more intelligently and profitably. More info/register.

Host: Impexium

Thu 4/2 at 1 p.m. – Thriving in Tough Economic Times with Content Marketing

Get advice to help your business thrive digitally amidst growing uncertainties. More info/register.

Host: Venngage

Presenter: Venngage’s Chief Growth Officer, Nadya Khoja

Thu 4/2 at 2 p.m. – Embracing Wellness from a Distance

Join a discussion on “embracing” wellness while having to practice social distancing from others. The human interaction that we need and crave is no less a need and we need to figure out a new normal for achieving it during these uncertain times. How can we embrace wellness while physical isolation is impacting ourselves, our staff, our members, our clients, and our families? More info/register.

Host: KiKi L’Italien, senior consultant, Tecker International, and founder, Amplified Growth

Guest: Aaron Wolowiec, CEO and learning strategist, Event Garde, and founder, Healthy By Association

Thu 4/2 at 2 p.m. – Data Cleaning in Excel for Beginners

Learn a few tricks to help you prepare your data for analysis. This lesson is for those of us who enter data regularly, can navigate Excel and write some formulas, but unfortunately find ourselves manually making time-consuming changes in Excel. More info/register.

Host: Inciter

Presenter: Kristen Halsey, data analyst, Inciter

NEW: Thu 4/2 at 3:30 p.m. – Exploring Your Alternatives Using Decision Trees

Whether you are considering suspending dues or holding your meeting online, it is important to consider alternatives. Decision trees give you a framework to illustrate alternatives and determine the right direction. Learn how to anticipate multiple possible scenarios for how things might unfold over time using a decision tree. With things in flux, detailed, precise predictions are likely to be wrong. Using a decision tree will help prepare you for what’s next by assessing potential outcomes and consequences of certain actions. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: .orgCommunity

Presenter: Sharon Rice, Managing Director of Strategy for .orgSource

Thu 4/2 at 7 p.m. – Free Community of Practice: Grapes & Graphics

The premise is two-fold: Grab your favorite grape (in wine form, of course) or cocktail of choice and spend an hour with us as we talk facilitation graphics. In addition to sharing some of our tips/tricks, we’ll invite you to grab a notepad/marker and draw along with us to some fun prompts. There will be good company, lots of laughs, some hands-on practice with graphics and, of course, sharing your work. More info/register.

Host: Event Garde

Facilitators: Aaron Wolowiec, CEO, and Lindsay Gross, Director, Facilitation Services, Event Garde

NEW: Fri 4/3 at 12 p.m. – Not Governance as Usual: Virtual Approaches to Manage Your Governance Strategy

A time of global pandemic and self-isolation is forcing association leaders to think on their feet: How do we continue to lead? How do we sustain the organization through this crisis? Through these rapid shifts, what is needed more than ever is stability in strategic governance—even in a virtual environment. This webcast will focus on key considerations, including: general guidelines for governance engagement; approaches to facilitating strategic conversations and outcomes remotely; insights into ASAE’s planning, development, and delivery of its board and strategic planning meetings; and responsible transparency and meaningful leadership communication with members. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Presenters:

Lowell Aplebaum, CAE, CPF, CEO and Strategy Catalyst, Vista Cova LLC
Reggie Henry, CAE, Chief Information and Engagement Officer, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership
Susan Robertson, CAE, President and CEO, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership

Fri 4/3 at 12 p.m. – HBA Live! Wellness Check

Facilitators: Aaron Wolowiec, CEO, Event Garde and Angela Pelc, owner, Sidecar Slider Bar

Fri 4/3 at 1 p.m. – Ask Us Anything Expert Panel: Marketing, Revenue, Meetings & Technology

Host: Event Garde

Presenters:

Aaron Wolowiec, CEO, Event Garde
Sara Krueger, Director of Communications & Engagement, Event Garde
Kara Nacarato, Director of Development & Special Initiatives, Event Garde
Kate Pojeta, Director of Meetings & Technology, Event Garde

Wow, Aaron again. He’s sure keeping busy this week!

Tue 4/7 – RemoteCon

Organizer: Marcel Salathé and a group of volunteers at EPFL

Thu 4/9 at 12 p.m. – Driving Member Engagement by Showing #VolunteerLove

Host: Billhighway

Presenter: Peggy Hoffman, president and executive director at Mariner Management

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Association Brain Food Weekly: 3.20.20

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

Is it over yet? Wow, has this been the longest week ever or what? I’ve got more to share than usual—I think that might be a pattern for a while.

Virtual strategy meetings. As the new COVID-19 reality descended upon us, Lowell Aplebaum was in Chicago to facilitate a strategy session. Since half the participants chose to stay home it turned into a virtual/hybrid meeting. He shares useful lessons learned on virtual strategy facilitation.

Conference sponsorships. Associations are already taking a huge financial hit by having to cancel conferences. Don’t think your only option is refunding sponsor fees. Bruce Rosenthal says there’s a better approach to working with conference sponsors.

Emerging member needs. WBT Systems points out a whole new set of emerging member needs, like the craving for connection and community—I think we can all agree with that. Members also need vetted information and guidelines related to their new topsy-turvy world, including resources for wellbeing and remote work. And speaking of remote work…

Remote work. Rebecca Achurch of Achurch Consulting published a comprehensive (and free) e-book on preparing your association technically and mentally for virtual work during the COVID-19 crisis. She’s a remote work guru so it’s as good as you’d expect—that is, excellent.

Remote workers, hey, that’s you. Beth Zienesis aka Your Nerdy Best Friend created a new Facebook group for The Unexpected Telecommuters. She’s posting videos and resources, and, knowing Beth, probably instigating a lot of hilarity and proving a lot of support too. Join in if you’ve found yourself unexpectedly telecommuting.

Goodness within suckiness. Mark Schaefer is losing business all over the place because of COVID-19. See how he’s attempting to create opportunities out of chaos, you might get some ideas.

Reluctant volunteers. Once we can be socially close again, members will be more than ready to hang out with others in their association. Maybe even volunteer, maybe. MemberSuite describes the questions and thoughts that go through a member’s mind when they’re deciding whether or not to volunteer.

Crackling events. Members seek interaction, connections, and community as well as memorable learning experiences from chapter events. Even though events may not be on the horizon for your chapters, many of the key concepts discussed in this Billhighway post will add snap, crackle and pop to virtual as well as in-person events.

Help feed kids—and others in a bad spot. If you follow me on social media, you know I’m a huge advocate of food banks. Because so many kids rely on school breakfast and lunch as their nutrition for the day, there’s no better time to support your local food bank. You can find yours on the Feeding America website.

If you’re in North Carolina, your donation to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina goes even further this month. Thanks to a matching pledge, every $1 you donate in March provides 10 meals. Skip the cans, send money, please.

Quick hits before we get to the list of this week’s free education:

Yes, you can stop scrolling coronavirus news for like 5 minutes. (Kara Cutruzzula, Forge)

How to talk to your friends about social distancing when they’re going to bars—or participating in other nonsense. (Caroline Kitchener, The Lily)

In the company of two miniature horses, Arnold says, “Stay at home as much as possible. Listen to the experts, ignore the morons (foreheads). We will get through this together.” Thanks, Arnold. (Arnold Schwarzenegger on Twitter)

Penguins on an unchaperoned field trip in the Shedd Aquarium. More please! (Good Morning America, YouTube)

Good eats—skip down to the list of free webinars if you’re not into cooking:

Here’s an easy and excellent recipe: sheet pan harissa salmon with potatoes and citrus. I used blackfin tuna instead, but any sturdy fish will do, or chicken. Check out the comments for more ideas. I added carrots like someone suggested, and since I didn’t have quite enough harissa, I supplemented it with red curry paste. By the way, harissa is a North African chile and spice paste.

On Sunday, I made enough shepherd’s pie so we could have it again on St. Patrick’s Day. My recipe is from The Irish Pub Cookbook by Margaret Johnson. This was the second time I made it—so good. If you need a comfort food meal, give it a try—or find yourself a recipe online. Shepherd’s pie is made with ground lamb (our favorite) and cottage pie is made with ground beef—just so you know.

That’s it – lots of leftovers and sautéed greens, of course, with cabbage in the mix.

Here are the educational events scheduled for next week. Check in during the week for updates. Every day this past week, I updated the list with new COVID-19 related events—something I never usually do because, well, time. But these are not normal times. Stay safe, stay well, take care.

If you have any free webinars or events coming up, please send me the link. I’ll be happy to feature it as long as it’s not product-centric.

Fri 3/20 at 1 p.m.* – Ask Me Anything, How to Transition Your In-Person Event to a Virtual Event

Many organizations are being forced to transition their in-person events into virtual ones. Event organizers and education leaders may have questions about how to pull off this switch effectively and smoothly. Get answers to any questions you have, from re-purposing content to meet the needs of your learners to translating your on-site experience to an online platform. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: CommPartners

Presenters:

Tracy King, CEO and Chief Learning Strategist of InspirEd
Kate Ratcliffe, CMP, CommPartners Marketing Manager and former virtual event producer

*All times are Eastern Daylight Savings Time unless otherwise noted.

Fri 3/20 at 2 p.m. – Remote Work During COVID-19: Human Resource and Technology Considerations

In this time of crisis, many associations have decided that all staff members will need to work remotely for a while to protect their health and well-being. These decisions were made quickly, and some organizations had little time to put the right systems in place. In addition to ensuring that the necessary technology tools are available, managers need to communicate information about project workflow and set clear guidelines and expectations for employees. Learn about key considerations for managing your staff and technology needs through the COVID-19 crisis. Connect with colleagues to explore best practices that you can employ. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Presenters:

Rick Bawcum, CEO, CIMATRI
Larry Covert, Senior Director, Information Technology, ASAE
Sara Curtis, MBA, SPHR, CAE, Director of Human Resources, American Society of Anesthesiologists
Todd Tolbert, MBA, CAE, Chief Digital Strategy Officer, ASIS International
Sara Curtis (moderator), MBA, SPHR, CAE, Director of Human Resources, American Society of Anesthesiologists

Fri 3/20 at 2 p.m. – Talking Money: Cancellations, Refunds, Oh My!

Whether it’s refunds, postponements, or changing budgets, money tends to be the first thing people want to negotiate on, but the last thing they’re comfortable discussing. Learn ways to boost your confidence and get into an empowering and helpful money mindset. More info/register.

Host/Presenter: Certified Professional Behavior Analyst, Rachel Sheerin

Sun 3/22 at 3 p.m. – Finding Your Personal Power in Times of Uncertainty (Webinars for Good Series)

In our new series, Webinars for Good, we provide you with daily free one-hour webinars to help you adjust to a virtual environment, grow in professional acumen, and cope with the hypercomplexity we are currently facing. More info/register.

Host: Ubiquity University

Presenter: Lindsey Foreman

Mon 3/23 at 2 p.m. – How to Prepare for Recession: An Association Leaders Strategy Guide

It is very possible that we are headed into difficult economic times, and increasingly possible, a recession. What actions can help association leaders lead effectively in industries of all kinds? Hear how leaders can best prepare for a recession, how you should think through crisis management for your organizations, how associations have gone from terrible to great during a crisis in the past, and what is the best next thing you can do for your association right now. More info/register.

Host: KiKi L’Italien, senior consultant, Tecker International, and founder, Amplified Growth

Guest: Glenn Tecker, co-CEO of Tecker International

Tue 3/24 at 10 a.m. – FACILIT8me: Navigating the Virtual Environment

Given the current effects of COVID-19 on daily operations, many of us are transitioning our face-to-face facilitated events to online platforms. To aid in your planning and design work, we’re offering a special 90-minute digital discussion focused on navigating the virtual environment. This time will be focused on how to translate your facilitation toolbox in a digital medium. More info/register.

Host: Event Garde LLC

Facilitators: Aaron Wolowiec, Chief Executive Officer, and Lindsay Gross, Director, Facilitation Services, Event Garde LLC

Tue 3/24 at 12 p.m. – How and Why to Transition from Conference Sponsorships to Year-long Partnerships (Partnership Professionals Network Idea Exchange)

Many associations have a long history of a successful conference sponsorship program. However, times are changing! Many companies are saying they would prefer a year-long partnership …. not a three-day event sponsorship. This Partnership Professionals Network Idea Exchange brown bag lunch discussion and strategy session will address how and why to transition from conference sponsorships to year-long partnerships. More info/register.

Organizer: Partnership Professionals Network

Tue 3/24 at 12:30 p.m. – How to Use Impact Mapping to Thrive in a Crisis

Hear how to navigate an emergency situation with impact mapping. Greg will bring his experience finding opportunities in crisis and show you how to use this tool so you can too. More info/register.

Host: .orgCommunity

Presenter: Greg Larkin, founder of Bowery315, Head of Product Innovation at Spring Lab, and Senior Advisor at Dream See Do.

Tue 3/24 at 1 p.m. – COVID-19 Impact on Credentialing Practices

The spread of COVID-19 has had a strong impact on all industries. As news changes every day, we recognize that this is a challenging time as you navigate deadlines, questions from certificants, and process concerns. ICE is opening up this dialogue to determine what credentialing bodies should be asking related to impacts on the business practices most at risk. Hear how other organizations are adapting to these unexpected times. Share your thoughts and concerns as well as suggestions on how to respond to your certificants, applicants and volunteers. More info/register.

Host: Institute for Credentialing Excellence

Discussion leaders:

William M. Ellis MS, RPh, Executive Director, Board of Pharmacy Specialties
Julia Judish, JD,Special Counsel, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Sara Blair Lake, JD, CAE, CEO, International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners
Lisa Sallstrom, CAE, PMP, Vice President of Certification and Membership at the Association for Supply Chain Management
Karen Plaus, PhD, CRNA, FAAN, CAE, CEO, National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists
Denise Roosendaal (facilitator), CAE, ICE Executive Director
Nicholas Soto (facilitator), ICE Board Chair

Tue 3/24 at 1 p.m. – COVID-19 Disruptor: The New Normal for Event and Meeting Planners

Host: When & How

Presenters:

Former FBI Hostage Negotiator Chip Massey
Crisis Communications Expert Adele Cehrs
Adult Learning Expert Jeff Hurt

Tue 3/24 at 2 p.m. – A Very Interesting Quarantine

Most of your team working from home? Suddenly working with a remote audience and wondering how to liven things up? Need to boost engagement and camaraderie with virtual teams and members while practicing “social distancing?” Learn how to encourage engagement and collaboration for your virtual meetings attendees or remote staff with this fun way to learn more about others and keep things interesting. More info/register.

Host: KiKi L’Italien, senior consultant, Tecker International, and founder, Amplified Growth

Guest: Deedre Daniel

CANCELLED: ~~Tue 3/24 at 2 p.m. – Connectors Redefined: Integrations Done Right~~

As SaaS applications continue to grow exponentially, the term “Connector” is frequently used and often misunderstood. Learn some of the challenges and best practices. While an iPaaS makes integration development easier, find out why the basics, like requirements gathering, is still critical. More info/register.

~~Hosts: ReviewMyAMS and ShuffleLabs~~

Tue 3/24 at 2 p.m. – The Trouble Trifecta: Attrition, Cancellation, and Force Majeure

Whether you’re concerned about coronavirus, cyclones, or indecisive senior execs messing with your conference plans, the best line of defense is a well written contract that will protect your organization when the unforeseen or unimaginable happens. Review three critical clauses—attrition, cancellation, and force majeure. Find out what a fair clause looks like and the most common mistakes meeting planners make in the negotiations with their hotel partners. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MeetingsNet

Presenter: Barbara Dunn, Partner, Barnes & Thornburg

Wed 3/25 at 12 p.m. – Content Forum Community Chat/NTC Birds of a Feather Virtual Roundtable

Join your fellow Content Forum members for collegial support, to share what you are working on, and for advice with any professional and personal challenges you are facing with COVID-19. Join first, then look in Events.

Host: Content Forum

Wed 3/25 at 1 p.m. – Risk Management Primer: How to Protect Your Attendees and Organization From Disaster

Learn the most critical yet practical steps to developing a risk management strategy for all types of events, and also critical information about dealing with the current coronavirus pandemic. More info/register.

Host: Meetings Today

Presenter: Brenda Rivers, JD, HMCC, CIS, Founder and Strategic Consultant,
Andavo Meetings & Incentives, and SAFE

Wed 3/25 at 2 p.m. – 6 Non-Dues Revenue Opportunities Hidden in Your AMS

While average associations get the biggest chunk of annual revenue from membership dues, reliance on dues revenue is waning. According to the last ASAE Foundation’s Association Operating Ratio Report, over the last 65 years, the percentage of association revenue from dues has plummeted from 95.7% to 45.4% for trade associations and 30% for professional societies. Learn about the top 6 non-dues revenue opportunities you can utilize from an optimized AMS. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Hosts: ReviewMyAMS and Altai Systems

Presenter: Teri Carden, Founder of ReviewMyAMS and 100 Reviews

Thu 3/26 at 12 p.m. – What to Consider When You’re Considering an AMC for Government Relations and Advocacy

Hear from a panel of experts about how associations can work with AMCs to represent their interests before policymakers. Leveraging best practices and case studies, attendees will understand how associations and AMCs can partner to advance the interests of associations and their members in today’s fast-moving political ecosystem. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Hosts: AMC Professionals Advisory Council and the ASAE Government Relations and Advocacy Professionals Advisory Council

Presenters:

Paul Miller, President and CEO, Miller/Wenhold
Elissa Myers, Senior Director, Virtual, Inc.
Alfons Westgeest, Managing Partner, Kellen
Anne DeSeta DarConte, CAE, Managing Director, HillStaffer
Tommy Goodwin (moderator), Head of Government Relations, Project Management Institute

Thu 3/26 at 12 p.m. – Impact and Actions – Events and Coronavirus Round Table

Hear about the impact the coronavirus is having and how exhibitors and organizers can respond to recent developments. Learn how to manage the coming weeks and months amidst the changing events dynamic, keep your team and visitors safe during future events, and restart your events strategy to get the best results in 2020 and beyond. More info/register.

Host: Integrate Events

Presenters:

Alex Theuma, Founder of SaaStock
Colleen Leary, Senior Marketing Events Manager at Alert Logic
Chris Wickson, GM of Integrate Events

Thu 3/26 at 12 p.m. – Psychological Safety in the Face of Uncertainty

Navigating uncertainty is a fundamental human challenge; uncertainty can be both ungrounding and frightening. An expert panel will be sharing their personal experiences of how they are deepening psychological safety through challenging times, and how they are equipping people leaders to do the same for their teams. Panelists will be taking your questions and sharing their road tested experience of creating clarity, connection, and community. More info/register.

Host: 15Five

Thu 3/26 at 12 p.m. – 6 Tips for Improving the Member Digital Experience

Our members are so used to using online services that the level of performance, service and access has retrained them to expect more from ALL the brands they interact with—including your organization. Not every organization can afford to provide member services like a global company. However, we must understand how the quality of the digital experience has changed. Learn about the changing expectations of association members and how to select the right combination of technologies and tactics to help your organization stand out, build awareness and grow engagement online. More info/register.

Host: Protech Associates

Presenter: Rob Bean, chief strategist at Refactored

Thu 3/26 at 12:30 p.m. – Moving from Brick and Mortar to a Virtual Office Quickly

Hear lessons learned about moving to a collaborative virtual environment. AACE already had some remote workers but expedited their transition to a full virtual office due to COVID-19. More info/register.

Host: .orgCommunity

Presenters:

Sherry Budziak, CEO of .orgSource
Travis Cheatham, Director of Technology Operations and Digital Solutions with the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE)

POSTPONED TO 5/21: ~~Thu 3/26 at 1 p.m. –~~ ~~What Two Years of Technology Assessments Reveal About Association IT~~

~~Hear about the five top areas for improvement in the technology domains of data, digital, infrastructure, and management. More info/register.~~

~~Host: DelCor Technology Solutions~~

~~Presenters: Mike Guerrieri and Dan Lautman, DelCor Technology Solutions~~

Thu 3/26 at 1 p.m. – How To Go Virtual While Still Creating an Engaging Experience

Learn about providing value virtually, captivating members diversely, satisfying members’ networking needs, and designing for an optimized virtual-first experience. More info/register.

Host: Matchbox Virtual Media

Presenters:

Graham Harvey, Chief Strategy Officer, Matchbox Virtual Media
Allen Lloyd, CAE, Executive Director, Montana Society of CPAs
Arianna Rehak, CEO & Co-Founder, Matchbox Virtual Media
Jeff Cobb, Managing Director, Tagoras

Thu 3/26 at 1 p.m. – Speaker Showcase: Spring 2020

This webinar brings together speakers, executives, and planners in a unique virtual setting where those doing the hiring can see and hear a variety of speakers in just one hour from the convenience of – anywhere! Some of our speakers will be available to live chat with attendees on the spot so if you see someone you want to lock-in for an upcoming event, you can start the conversation right then and there. More info/register.

Host: ReviewMySpeaker

Tue 3/26 at 1:30 p.m. – Data Integration: It Doesn’t Have to be Fancy

Your fancy data warehouse won’t do much if you don’t have a clear strategy about what you collect, and good data hygiene to make sure data is clean and complete. Learn how to create data strategies and practices that are essential to data integration, whether you are managing multiple databases or multiple excel spreadsheets. More info/register.

Host: Inciter

Presenters: Taj Carson and Jacob Joseph, Inciter

Thu 3/26 at 2 p.m. – Online Communities for Member Self-Service and Member Management

Given the current pandemic and the cancellation of NTEN’s annual conference (NTC), we have decided to offer our NTC session as a webinar and have updated the content to address how nonprofits and associations can leverage online communities during this unprecedented global crisis. More info/register.

Host: Fionta

Thu 3/26 at 2 p.m. – Member Engagement: Creating the Member Experience

The decision to remain a member comes down to more than the quality of the product or program purchased — it is about the experience that surrounds the interaction. The value opportunities you create for your member should be expressed not as a list on a brochure, but as targeted solutions that can help them wherever they may be in their career. This webinar will challenge you to think about new approaches to create an experience that will deepen the connection with (and increase the retention rate of) your members. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Member Clicks

Presenter: Lowell Aplebaum, CAE, CPF, CEO and Strategy Catalyst, Vista Cova

Thu 3/26 at 2 p.m. – Virtual Association Roundtable: Navigating Upcoming Events

Are you challenged with how to move forward with your events during this rapidly evolving time of travel and meeting restrictions? Hear how your association colleagues are already implementing innovative solutions as their organizations are cancelling in-person events. The panel will share their first-hand experience with tackling these challenges and finding solutions – from communications strategies to moving to virtual events, and more. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Results Direct

Presenters:

Beth Arritt, American Association of Airport Executives
Alicia Roundy, Mortgage Bankers Association
Aydan Savaser, Secured Finance Network
Zané Mullins, Virginia Society of CPAs
Dan Scheeler, CAE, EVP, Client Engagement, Results Direct l RD Web
Michael Jones, VP, Mobile Technologies, Results Direct l RD Mobile

Thu 3/26 at 2 p.m. – Coronavirus and The President’s Budget

With President Trump’s budget released, 12 subcommittees have begun meeting to determine the federal budget for 2021 and what will stay and what will go. However, with the spread of COVID-19 and the untold toll of this virus, everything across the country is shifting to focus on how to manage this international crisis. We have the insights you need to see how the federal budget will impact your industry and organization, and how COVID-19 will affect the president’s budget. More info/register.

Host: FiscalNote

Presenters:

Bruce Mehlman, Founder, Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas
Jennifer Shutt, Budget and Appropriations Reporter, CQ Roll Call
Chris Lu, Senior Strategy Advisor, FiscalNote

Thu 3/26 at 2 p.m. – Rise of the Event Technologist

By creating the event technologist role, an organization can benefit from having a single individual devoted to aligning event needs with technology to deliver on KPIs and more. Learn about trends defining the rise of the event technologist, how to build out the role of the event technologist, benefits of insourcing vs. outsourcing, and what it takes to become an event technologist. More info/register.

Host: Cvent

Presenters: Taylor Bohn, Senior Event Technology Analyst, and Alyssa Peltier, Manager, Event Marketing, Cvent

Tue 3/31 at 3 p.m. – Personas & User Journey Mapping: Getting to Know Your Website’s Users & Journey Through Your Site

Organizer: ASAE Marketing Professionals Advisory Council

Presenter: Ray van Hilst, Director of Client Results, Yoko Consulting

Wed 4/1 at 2:00 p.m. – Imagining, Creating, and Executing the Technology Strategy

Host: Association Women Technology Champions (AWTC)

Presenter: Rebecca Bowen, Director of Information Technology at the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation

Thu 4/2 at 2 p.m. – Embracing Wellness from a Distance

Host: KiKi L’Italien, senior consultant, Tecker International, and founder, Amplified Growth

Guest: Aaron Wolowiec, CEO and learning strategist, Event Garde, and founder, Healthy By Association

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 before Thursday noon.

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Association Brain Food Weekly: 3.13.20

UPDATED Wednesday morning 3-18-20 with COVID-19 events and updates. Look for “NEW” and other prefixes.

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

Before we get to the good stuff…

What do your “engaged” members not know about?

We all know to never make assumptions about member behavior (or preferences, needs, interests) based on your own behavior. But, I discovered a positive aspect of that tempting cognitive bias: your own behavior might give you something to explore.

Last weekend, I was catching up on ASAE Collaborate discussions, one of which was about year-round membership apps (as opposed to event apps). Someone mentioned ASAE’s app and I thought, huh? I have the ASAE Events app but I didn’t even know about the ASAE app, so I downloaded it. With it, I can read ASAE and Associations Now articles as well as Collaborate discussions on my phone.

Why didn’t I know about this? What does this say about me and my engagement with ASAE? Honestly, I’m not sure. I’m a regular reader of Collaborate (with a subscription to dozens of daily digests) and Associations Now. I go to one or two ASAE conferences a year and usually volunteer as a session proposal peer reviewer for one of them. But, I’ve got to admit, I barely read the annual renewal thank you emails which, I’m guessing, would remind me about benefits.

How did I miss this news about the ASAE app? How long has it been around? So that got me thinking… What are your members missing—even the supposedly engaged ones? Make no assumptions about how often you need to promote the benefits of membership to existing members.

Worthy reads about you know what

Wasn’t it nice to not think about the coronavirus for a minute? That’s a luxury many of you don’t have since you have to make decisions about events, member resources, and employees. In our personal lives, we have to figure out whether to attend a happy hour with friends (I did on Wednesday) or a state SAE lunch (I’m won’t today).

Seth Godin recently said, “Overwhelmed is a choice.” Work has to get done, responsibilities fulfilled, so you must manage the distractions this crisis presents. You can cut through the noise and save time by focusing on a few good sources of information. I like the curated approach of the MIT Technology Review’s Coronavirus Tech Report. A bit more geeky but worthwhile, Coronadaily.

KiKi L’Italien is curating a daily list of association-specific information at Association Chat. She’s also compiled a Twitter list of good follows for COVID-19 news and information.

Associations are also gathering information: PCMA, MPI, Events Council and ASAE.

Good normal reads

The Association Brain Food show must go on!

Some day, events will be back on track, at least at the chapter level. Why? Because, Billhighway says, people crave connection and community, and for now, in-person events do that better than virtual.

Meanwhile, many Gen Z and Millennials are still trying to get a handle on the whole adulting thing. WBT Systems suggests offering adulting programs to help young professionals in your industry survive and thrive in their careers.

Tirza Austin believes mentoring is “not a year-long, one-on-one relationship.” At Community by Association, she describes how she shook up the traditional mentoring model, looked for a new type of mentor, got some pushback, but made it work.

The workforce is graying. “In the U.S., 16% of people aged 65 and over are still employed. By 2035, that figure will be 21%.” Abby Levene at Dropbox explains how businesses can benefit from age diversity, especially from the wisdom and life experience of older employees.

Quick hits before we get to the list of this week’s free education:

Why your organic traffic might be dropping… and how to fix it. (Levi Wardell, Association Chat)

Save this one, it’s real helpful: How to use Google Analytics to improve SEO performance. (Michal Pecanek, Ahrefs)

If you care about restaurants, take the time to read this: The American restaurant is on life support. Never more so than now. (Karen Stabiner, The Counter)

How can you ease their financial burden and get a better table? Pick up the phone if you want a restaurant reservation. (Monica Burton, Eater)

Good eats—skip down to the list of free webinars if you’re not into cooking:

Bluefish has a bad rep as a “fishy” fish, but it’s not “fishy” if it’s fresh. It will deteriorate (get fishy) if it’s exposed too long to oxygen or warm temps. My bluefish last week was full of excellent flavor as fresh bluefish should be. I topped it with a mix of Thai basil pesto I made and froze last summer and panko breadcrumbs.

My recipe for Thai basil pesto includes Thai basil, garlic, ginger, peanuts, sesame oil, brown (or palm) sugar, rice wine vinegar, fish sauce, red pepper flakes and soy sauce. I’ll share the recipe on my Grabbing the Gusto blog this weekend. Go on over there to subscribe if you don’t want to forget to grab it.

This week’s culinary high point has to be this slow cooker coq au vin. My feller was monopolizing the oven with some slow-roasted ribs so I went to plan B, the slow cooker. Oh, man, so good. I made a giant batch and since there’s only two of us, we’ve had this three times this week for dinner. Not complaining!

What did we have on the side, besides mashed potatoes, for the coq au vin—greens, of course! What else would you expect from me? Round one: collard and spinach sauté with red onion, carrot, poblano, orange bell, jalapeno and bacon. Round two: kale and arugula sauté with bacon, red onion, jalapeno, mushroom and tomato.

Here are the educational events scheduled for next week, phew, it’s a long one. Keep in mind, details may have changed since last I checked. If you have any free webinars or events coming up, please send me the link. I’ll be happy to feature it as long as it’s not product-centric.

Mon 3/16 at 11 a.m.* – Tech Talk: Best Practices for Working Remotely

As you may know, Matrix Group has 10 remote employees, and many of you have reached out to ask about our policies and what best practices we follow. Hear our tips, tricks, and best practices for working remotely, including communication tools we love – Slack, Zoom, Google Hangouts, and more; our favorite collaboration tools and managing documents in the cloud; our governance and policies for remote work; tips on how to thrive as a remote worker; and strategies for effectively managing your team. More info/register.

Host: Matrix Group

Presenters: CEO Joanna Pineda, CTO Maki Kato, and two full-time remote staff: Leah Monica, Director of Marketing, and Maria Lima, Director of Special Projects

*All times are Eastern Daylight Savings Time unless otherwise noted.

NEW: Mon 3/16 from 11:45 a.m. to 8:20 p.m. – COVID-19 Virtual Summit: Introduction to COVID-19 & Current State of Affairs

Singularity University is fortunate to have access to the world’s leading experts in health and medicine, technology, society, and impact. We’re hosting a three-day virtual summit that will leverage this brain trust to share facts, facilitate discussion, answer questions, and address your concerns around COVID-19—as well as the impact of outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics—in a measured and thoughtful way. We will humanize what is happening, share practical steps you can take to manage fear and uncertainty surrounding your health and work, and uncover strategies for adapting to future challenges like COVID-19, as well as the long-term impacts they have on society. More info/register.

Host: Singularity University

CORRECTED TIME: Mon 3/16 at 12 p.m. – Crisis Communications: Coronavirus Edition

Whether you intend to cancel your event or not, the coronavirus outbreak has made one thing abundantly clear: we need to be prepared to communicate to our meeting’s stakeholders. Learn how you can communicate effectively with or without a plan currently in place. Get ready to learn 10 tips for communicating during this crisis, how to craft your messages, and the impact good crisis communications can have on your event’s brand long-term. More info/register ($35 for MPI non-members).

Host: MPI

Presenter: Alex Plaxen, MTA, President, Little Bird Told Media

NEW: Mon 3/16 at 12 p.m. – Virtual Town Hall: Cornonavirus & Your Social Impact Workforce

If you have been scrambling to create presentation materials for your upcoming staff meeting about the coronavirus then tune in for answers. We will cover the following during the Virtual Town Hall: your organization’s safety statement; how to provide information/resources/prevention tips about the issue; assembling your COVID-19 team of early responders; office closure scenario planning; local, state and federal closures; and more. More info/register.

Hosts: Nonprofit HR and Independent Sector

Presenters:

Lisa Brown Alexander, CEO, Nonprofit HR
Victor Reinoso, Chief Operating Officer, Independent Sector

Mon 3/16 at 1 p.m. – Chatting with Agnes & Cecilia

This series of 15-minute videos cover hot topics and issues related to 501c organization management. A new episode is posted every Monday by 1 p.m. More info.

Hosts:

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

NEW: Mon 3/16 at 2 p.m. – Pants Aren’t Optional – Configuring Your Home Office to Look Better on Video Conferences

So many people SUCK at videoconferences. You’re talking to their chin. They’re looking at the other screen. You can’t hear them. But you still need to present yourself as the professional you are. How do you look better on camera? What do you need for lights, microphone, and camera? What if you’re not a techie? Hear the details on what we need to know to look better on our video conferences from our home offices…and pants aren’t optional. More info/register.

Host: KiKi L’Italien, senior consultant, Tecker International, and founder, Amplified Growth

Guest: Beth Ziesenis, author, speaker, nerd

NEW: Mon 3/16 at 2 p.m. – Motivating Your Team In A Crisis

When distractions are high and stress is mounting, keeping your team engaged and focused on their goals may feel like its own battle. Get insight into fast and effective motivational tools for leaders and peers alike to boost morale in stressful times. More info/register.

Host/Presenter: Certified Professional Behavior Analyst, Rachel Sheerin

NEW: Mon 3/16 at 2 p.m. – Capitol Hill and Coronavirus: What to Expect

Coronavirus is in the Capitol. With recess canceled, what will Congress and the executive branch do in the face of COVID-19? From the Federal Budget and appropriations funding, to logistics on planning and policy updates, learn what to expect in the coming days and weeks. Hear insights into the latest policy developments on the Hill to help you manage your organization’s response to the pandemic. More info/register.

Host: FiscalNote

Presenters:

Jason Dick, Deputy Editor, CQ Roll Call
Katherine Tully-McManus, Congressional Staff Writer, CQ Roll Call
Mary Ellen McIntire, Reporter on Health Care, CQ Roll Call
David Lerman, CQ Budget Editor, CQ Roll Call

Tue 3/17 at 12 p.m. – In-House Video Production Best Practices Online Discussion

With an emphasis on how smaller associations manage limited resources to deliver effective video content to their members, we will hear from several association professionals who have successfully navigated the challenges of selecting the right equipment, developing content and production workflows, distributing to various media channels, and tracking performance. More info/register.

Organizer: ASAE Communication Professionals Advisory Council

Presenter: Ben Rome, Manager, Marketing, American Industrial Hygiene Association

NEW: Tue 3/17 from 12:45 to 7:45 p.m. – COVID-19 Virtual Summit: Future Implications and Considerations

Host: Singularity University

NEW: Tue 3/17 at 1 p.m. – How to Work Remotely Q&A

Jason Fried, co-founder of Basecamp and author of REMOTE, will host a livestream and give tips on how to work with remote teams. More info.

Tue 3/17 at 1 p.m. – 6 Ways to Make Your Nonprofit’s WordPress Site Secure from Getting Hacked

The last thing you want added to your list is trying to figure out how to fix a site that’s been suddenly hijacked or taken offline. Learn why strong security is important for WordPress, what can happen when your nonprofit’s website gets hacked, six practical steps you can take to keep your site protected, and security recommendations and tips. More info/register.

Host: Nonprofit Tech for Good

NEW: Tue 3/17 at 2 p.m. – Real-World Crisis Communications in the Age of COVID19

A crisis can come in all kinds of forms, but what do you say to your members when a never-before-seen virus appears and no one knows for sure what will happen next? What is your strategy for talking with the Board? Or working with international chapters? Find out how one association is making these tough decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic and receive ideas you can apply in your own messaging. Find out what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next. More info/register.

Host: KiKi L’Italien, senior consultant, Tecker International, and founder, Amplified Growth

Guests: Peter O’Neil, CEO, and Andy Cutler, Director of Communications, ASIS International

NEW: Tue 3/17 at 2 p.m. – Engaging A Team That’s Working From Home

With the option to work from home becoming more available than ever, it’s important to learn the steps you can take that will keep your team engaged, happy, and crushing their goals. Learn ways to immediately boost trust, understanding, and performance. More info/register.

Host/Presenter: Certified Professional Behavior Analyst, Rachel Sheerin

Tue 3/17 at 2 p.m. – Contract Crisis Preparedness for Suppliers

Basic knowledge of your contract language is not enough. You must have the right steps in place to act quickly when a customer wants to make a change due to unforeseen circumstances. Learn how to protect your business and customer interests with potential solutions when challenges arise before and during events. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Presenter: Lisa Sommer Devlin, attorney

NEW: Wed 3/18 at 11 a.m. – Remote Control

This workshop will feature curated tips from remote-work veterans and newbies, teaching you everything you’ll need to know to make a smooth transition from working at the office (or teaching at university) to working from home. Whether you’re a manager, professor, individual producer, or HR specialist supporting staff through a new remote-work policy, we think you’ll find something in this workshop that’s worth bringing home. More info/register.

Host: Quartz

Presenters:

Wade Foster, co-founder, Zapier
Cate Huston, engineering manager, Automattic
Heather Landy, executive editor, Quartz, and editor of Quartz at Work
Grace Bacon, vice president of business operations, Quartz
Phoebe Gavin, editorial director of audience, Quartz
Courtney Kobylanski, national advertising director, UK, Quartz

NEW: Wed 3/18 at 11 a.m. – Event Live Streaming Basics

Learn the basics of what’s needed to get started and how live streaming can benefit your organization: pros and cons of professional live streaming versus DIY; hardware and software; and live streaming and equipment costs. More info/register.

Host: Pro Video Talent

Presenters: Donna Davis, owner of Pro Video Talent, a video production and live streaming company, and Thomas Wallis, a technical expert in live streaming

Wed 3/18 at 11 a.m. – Your CX Advantage

Customer experience (CX) efforts remain inconsistent in many organizations, but 2020 could be a game-changer. In an age when consumers can reach a competitor in a click, CX is the key differentiator. Increasingly, organizations are spending more on CX and placing greater importance on their results. Hear about advice for new CX leaders, the relationship between the CX leader and CMO, and why more organizations are increasing CX spending. More info/register.

Host: Gartner

Presenter: Augie Ray, VP analyst, Gartner for Marketers

NEW: Wed 3/18 from 11:20 a.m. to 9:10 p.m. – COVID-19 Virtual Summit: Business Impact, Leadership, & Strategies for Today

Host: Singularity University

NEW: Wed 3/18 at 12 p.m. – COVID-19 & Your Chapters/Components: FREE Virtual Idea Swap

Here at Mariner we are home to three chapter organizations. All rely on revenue from in-person events. Yikes! Diana Tucker, CAE, Vice President, Membership & Chapter Relations at NAIOP oversees 50+ chapters juggling the same challenge. So, Diana, Peter and Peggy said let’s talk about how to help our chapters thru a turbulent time. More info/register.

Host: Peggy Hoffman & Peter Houstle, Mariner Management

NEW: Wed 3/18 from 12 to 2:30 p.m. – Leading in Uncertain Times

We have been having conversations with many of you regarding the impact of COVID-19 on your organizations and want to provide resources to you as you lead during these uncertain times. Join us for valuable insights and key takeaways you can implement now to prepare for whatever is next. Agenda includes: Lessons Learned During the 2008 Recession, Scenario Planning: Preparing for Whatever May Come, Lean on Your Culture in Difficult Times, and Where Do We Go from Here? Get tools and connections to help you achieve the best outcome possible. Join us for all the sessions or pop in and out throughout the day. More info/register.

Host: .orgCommunity

NEW: Wed 3/18 at 12 p.m. – Content Forum Community Chat

Join us for whatever you need. We are here to listen, to be a sounding board, and to share advice. Join your fellow Content Forum members for collegial support and to share the professional and personal challenges you are facing with COVID-19. More info/register.

Wed 3/18 at 12 p.m. – Pivot to Virtual

Coronavirus has taken the event industry by storm. Many events have been canceled and sponsors are pulling out of their commitments. Join a two-hour dive into the key challenges, crisis management strategies, and solutions needed for meetings and events. Learn what the WHO and CDC are asking planners to do to keep attendees safe, how to decide to cancel and what to tell your attendees, how to manage the virtual experience from a production perspective, how to make money with digital events from a case study, and how to use event apps for online event engagement. 2 CMP credits. More info/register.

Host: EventMB

Presenters:

Adele Cehrs, Crisis Communication Expert
Chip Massey, Crisis Communication Expert
Brent Rogers, Vice President, Creative & Digital at PSAV
Taylor Estes, President & CEO, Apple Box LLC
Joseph Estes, Co-Founder & Head of Production at Apple Box LLC
Mike Piddock, Founder and CEO, Glisser
William Thomson, MD, Gallus Events
Corey McCarthy, Chief Marketing Officer, Socio
Chris Shipton, Scribe and Art Director at Live Illustration Ltd.
Julius Solaris, Founder and Editor in Chief, EventMB
Dylan Monorchio, Deputy Editor, EventMB

POSTPONED: ~~Wed 3/18 at 12 p.m. – The Impact of Mergers & Acquisitions on a Business Model: How the ABA Responded to Change (Washington DC)~~

Learn how the ABA approached the growing issue of industry consolidation and its impact on their business model. Find out how they identified critical components of the model and then adjusted ABA’s approach to the market accordingly. This high-level tour of an association facing a market shift will include a few deep dives into areas common to all associations. Also hear Younger’s thoughts on helping organizations face industry consolidation by evaluating the Value Proposition and investigating alternative membership structures. 1 CAE credit. Location: Washington DC. More info/register.

~~Host: ASAE Executive Management Professionals Community~~

~~Presenters:~~

~~Leann Shepp, Vice President of Membership Operations and Business Intelligence at the American Bankers Association (ABA)~~
~~Jay Younger, President and Chief Executive Officer of McKinley Advisors~~

EVENT “ON HOLD” PER ASAE COLLABORATE: ~~Wed 3/18 at 12 p.m. – Small Association Brown Bag Discussion (Washington DC)~~

This regularly scheduled meeting is a great way to share ideas and ask questions about other associations’ leading practices, and you will get to know colleagues in an informal setting. The discussion topic for the first portion of the meeting: membership renewals and innovative techniques to drive renewal rates. More info/register.

Wed 3/18 at 12 p.m. – The 3 Pillars of an Effective Learning Program

While digital, one-size-fits-one approaches are gaining recognition across the industry, many organizations are still relying on outdated solutions that leave learners wanting more. Without incorporating modern learning methods, you run the risk of a bad learning experience which results in high dropout rates, poor learner engagement, and ROI left on the table. Learn how to adopt a new learning strategy that aligns with today’s learners. Take a deep dive into the 3 core pillars of an effective learning program to ensure your learning program is set up for success. More info/register.

Host: BenchPrep

Presenter: Katie Babbili, Learning Technology Analyst, BenchPrep

Wed 3/18 at 1 p.m. – A Fresh Look at Learning Analytics: How to Squeeze More Insights from Your Data

How can learning analytics help your organization use more of your data, more wisely? Learn how to distinguish between LMS reporting and analytics, five must-have metrics for every executive dashboard, how to select your most valuable business data sources, creative ways to combine data for deeper insights, how to manage data overload, and tips for getting started with learning analytics—even with limited data. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Talented Learning

Presenters:

John Leh, CEO and Lead Analyst at Talented Learning
Tamer Ali, Co-Founder and Director at Authentic Learning Labs

Wed 3/18 at 1 p.m. – Cutting Through The Noise: Writing On-Brand, Effective, And Accessible Content

If you’re like many organizations, your brand guidelines focus heavily on your visual brand language, but voice guidelines are equally important in creating a consistent and distinct on-brand experience, reinforcing your values, mission or purpose. Learn how to develop a brand voice from your existing brand foundation, what plain language best practices are and how they can quickly improve your existing content, and how to apply accessibility best practices to your content so it meets the needs of all users. More info/register.

Host: Phase2

Presenter: Cara Lemieux, Director, Communications & Content, Phase2

NEW: Wed 3/18 at 2 p.m. – Remote Work and Cybersecurity: Supporting Employees in the Midst of a Pandemic

Cyber criminals are taking advantage of the new remote workforce, and attacks are increasing. Remote work, however, can be done securely with the proper procedures, training, and technology in place. Learn how organizations can support their team while protecting their valuable data. Hear about the most common types of attacks facing remote employees; strategies hackers are using to exploit the coronavirus; practical steps employees can take to reduce their cybersecurity risk; and how an organization’s IT department or MSP can provide the necessary support to their remote employees. More info/register.

Hosts: TCDI and ASMGi

NEW: Wed 3/18 at 2 p.m. – Staying Positive for Clients in the Face of Panic

Discover the three biggest mistakes professionals make with freaked out clients, and strategies to calm and connect. Way past self-care, learn the high-performing mental habits that will calm you down and lift you up affecting your clients team and community. More info/register.

Host/Presenter: Certified Professional Behavior Analyst, Rachel Sheerin

Wed 3/18 at 2 p.m. – Communicating Clearly During Crisis Situations

We live in a time of increased risks that make it critical for business event organizers to have a strong, cohesive crisis communications plan. If a crisis hits that impacts your event, you should be ready to communicate to participants, internal and external stakeholders, as well as the media with tailored, targeted messages. Learn how to deliver the right messages with the proper tone and communication channel when a crisis occurs. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Presenter: Michael Wigent, Regional Operations Manager – Americas, Cisco

Wed 3/18 at 2 p.m. – Running Your Mission in the Middle of the COVID-19 Outbreak

In the midst of a global outbreak, our operating models, programs and services, and fundraising may all need to pivot as we address our new reality. Listen in on interviews with leading nonprofits on how the crisis will impact their work, change their decision-making, and affect their teams. More info/register.

Host: Salesforce

Presenters:

Erin Barnes, Co-Founder and CEO, IOBY
Mary Nemerov, Chief Advancement Officer, Sierra Club
Chris Thomas, VP Nonprofit Executive Engagement, Salesforce.org

Wed 3/18 at 2 p.m. – Microsoft Teams: The New Paradigm in Association Collaboration

Your association is probably already using Microsoft Office, but are you effectively using one of its most collaborative tools? As Skype for Business is being phased out, Microsoft is not only pushing its functionality into Teams but adding more ways for you to better engage with your team. Hear how ASAE is using Teams to improve their operational engagement across their entire organization. Learn ways you can leverage your investment in Microsoft and foster better collaboration throughout all your teams. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Altai Systems

Presenter: Reggie Henry, Chief Information & Engagement Officer, ASAE

NEW: Wed 3/18 at 3 p.m. – Virtual Project Management (Webinars for Good Series)

Host: Ubiquity University

Presenter: Jesper Sonne, Partner & Co-founder of RETHNK

Wed 3/18 at 3 p.m. – 12 Questions Nonprofits Should Ask to Evaluate a Managed Service Provider (MSP)

In our 25 years in serving the nonprofit IT community, we’ve heard lots of stories of IT support that didn’t work out. We used our experience to develop a list of 12 questions you can use to vet any managed service provider as you evaluate your needs and their services. Learn about avoiding common pitfalls and getting the right level of service for your nonprofit. More info/register.

Host: Community IT

Presenters: Steve Longenecker, Director of IT, and Johan Hammerstrom, President and CEO, Community IT

NEW: Wed 3/18 at 7 p.m. – Association Chat Town Hall

Discuss the early impact of the Coronavirus and what it means for the association industry. Joining remotely will be association executives, speakers, event planners, and solution providers from the association industry who have already been seriously impacted by the coronavirus. More info/register.

CANCELLED – A VIRTUAL COFFEE TALK WILL BE SCHEDULED INSTEAD, DETAILS TO COME: ~~Thu 3/19 at 8:30 a.m. – March Madness: Your Website’s Road to the Championship (Coffee Talk, Alexandria VA)~~

~~1 CAE credit. Location: Alexandria VA. More info/register.~~

~~Host: Results Direc~~t

NEW: Thu 3/19 at 11 a.m. – Communicating [in] Crisis: 4 Proven Strategies to Communicate in Quarantine

Learn four proven strategies to communicate in quarantine. Hear about challenges of the workplace in times of crisis, strategies that work best to ensure your message is received by all your employees, reasons your message matters more than ever—and why it’s important to choose your words carefully, and best practices for organizations that can and cannot enforce a work from home policy during times of crisis. More info/register.

Hosts: IABC and Staffbase

Presenter: Jason Etter, Staffbase

Thu 3/19 at 11:30 a.m. – Artificial intelligence 101: The Pros, Cons, and Many Applications for Associations (Alexandria VA)

Hear about common and potential AI uses in associations, tips for introducing AI to members/customers, legalities and clauses to consider, and a host of other considerations for taking your technology to the next generation. 1 CAE credit. Location: Alexandria VA. More info/register.

Organizer: Talisa Thomas-Hall, ACS ALB, VCP, The Association Whisperer

NEW: Thu 3/19 at 12 p.m. – Maximizing Productivity for Remote Teams

Discover how to maximize productivity with a distributed team. Learn five key strategies for leading impactful remote meetings, how to maintain connections and productivity across distributed teams, and top remote learning techniques from experts in live online education. More info/register.

Host: General Assembly

Presenters:

Caitlin Davey, Senior Learning Experience Architect, General Assembly
Matt Brems, Global Lead Data Science Instructor, General Assembly
Adi Hanash, VP, Product, Tempest

Thu 3/19 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Chat: How a CRP Helped Turn Around a 15-Year Membership Decline

With a membership drop of 2% year over year for 15 consecutive years and drowning chapters, NCGA was at a crossroads. They’d been doing the same thing over and over again with their clubs (chapters) and expecting different results. Find out what tools and tactics NCGA used to prevent major chapter mayhem. Under Rick’s helm, NCGA has corrected course, now seeing 6% membership growth year over year since 2016. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Billhighway

Presenters:

Rick Rangel, director of growth, Northern California Golf Association (NCGA)
Peggy Hoffman, president and co-founder, Mariner Management

Thu 3/19 at 12 p.m. – Building Member Journeys That Convert

This is the second session in a four-part webinar series exploring marketing automation, how to avoid common missteps, and how to optimize its use to gain marketing intelligence and grow association revenue. Learn how to identify and develop member persona segments, use various data sources to identify the ideal member journey, and focus campaigns on conversion and revenue. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Presenter: Aimee Pagano, senior digital advisor at HighRoad Solutions

Thu 3/19 at 1 p.m. – A Why-To and a How-To: Virtual Conferences in the COVID-19 Era

Hear the case for virtual conferences, including longstanding benefits like lower cost and greater reach, as well as more timely drivers like COVID-19 and climate change. Learn how, with a lean team and budget, we’ve planned and run our multiday online conference, Learning • Technology • Design, the past four years. Find out about DIY technologies we’ve used, as well as fuller-service, purpose-built technology alternatives. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Tagoras

Presenters: Jeff Cobb and Celisa Steele, co-founders of Tagoras and Leading Learning and co-hosts of the virtual conference Learning • Technology • Design

NEW: Thu 3/19 at 2 p.m. – At-Home Coping Mechanisms (Webinars for Good Series)

Host: Ubiquity University

Presenter: Raji Jayasinghe, VP for Asia of Ubiquity University

NEW: Thu 3/19 at 2 p.m. – Ensuring Your Virtual Meetings Are Productive

With the switch to digital communication, we have an opportunity to make meetings better than ever. In this fast and fun webinar, learn how professional presenter and team trainer Rachel Sheerin makes virtual meetings productive, collaborative, and energizing. More info/register.

Host/Presenter: Certified Professional Behavior Analyst, Rachel Sheerin

Thu 3/19 at 2 p.m. – Lessons Learned from Toronto’s 2003 SARS Outbreak

In 2003, Toronto experienced two deadly SARS outbreaks resulting in a travel warning from the World Health Organization that heavily slowed tourism and disrupted the event and convention business. PCMA’s Sherrif Karamat and Bruce MacMillan, both at Tourism Toronto at the time, will share their response to event cancellations, their communication approach with stakeholders and their crisis recovery plan. CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Presenters:

Sherrif Karamat, CAE, President and Chief Executive Officer of PCMA
Bruce MacMillan, Chief Marketing Officer, PCMA’

Thu 3/19 at 2 p.m. – The Secret to Creating Email Newsletters That People Will Want to Read

Email newsletters still represent the channel with the highest impact to deliver business results for B2B companies. Unlike social media platforms, you own this audience. Learn how to build your audience, including how to attract and keep quality subscribers; make sure your email actually makes it into your subscribers’ inboxes; and what to write, how often and in what format to deliver the biggest impact. More info/register.

Host: Rep Cap / Managing Editor

Presenters: Mary Ellen Slayter, founder and CEO, and Ginny Engholm, director of editorial operations, Rep Cap

Thu 3/19 at 3 p.m. – Small Staff Association Book Club: The Power of Moments

Maybe the third time is the charm. Rescheduled again.

Join a discussion of the book, The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact, by Chip Heath and Dan Heath. This book explores “why certain brief experiences can jolt us and elevate us and change us—and how we can learn to create such extraordinary moments in our life and work.” During book club, we’ll explore how we can apply the book’s lessons to our work. For example, how can you ensure the opening reception at your conference is memorable, not just ho-hum? More info/register.

Host: ASAE Small Staff Association Professionals Community

Thu 3/19 at 3:30 – Stop Thinking Like an Instructional Designer, Start Thinking Like a Game Designer

Instructional designers tend to think content first and action second. Game designers tend to think action first. As a result, most games are engaging, intriguing, and immersive, while instructional content tends to be boring and perfunctory. learn five methods to help you think like a game designer while playing a game. The experience will help you transform your stale training into an exciting and interesting experience for you learners. More info/register.

Host: eLearning Learning

Presenter: Karl Kapp, Professor of Instructional Technology, Bloomsburg University

Fri 3/20 at 2 p.m.* – Remote Work During COVID-19: Human Resource and Technology Considerations

Host: ASAE

Presenters:

Rick Bawcum, CEO, CIMATRI
Larry Covert, Senior Director, Information Technology, ASAE
Sara Curtis, MBA, SPHR, CAE, Director of Human Resources, American Society of Anesthesiologists
Todd Tolbert, MBA, CAE, Chief Digital Strategy Officer, ASIS International
Sara Curtis (moderator), MBA, SPHR, CAE, Director of Human Resources, American Society of Anesthesiologists

NEW: Fri 3/20 at 2 p.m. – Physical Maintenance/Detox (Webinars for Good Series)

Host: Ubiquity University

Presenter: Nora Silini, Training Biotransenergetic Counselor and Program Coordinator at Ubiquity University

NEW: Fri 3/20 at 2 p.m. – Talking Money: Cancellations, Refunds, Oh My!

Host/Presenter: Certified Professional Behavior Analyst, Rachel Sheerin

NEW: Mon 3/23 at 2 p.m. – How to Prepare for Recession: An Association Leaders Strategy Guide

Host: KiKi L’Italien, senior consultant, Tecker International, and founder, Amplified Growth

Guest: Glenn Tecker, co-CEO of Tecker International

Tue 3/24 at 12 p.m. – How and Why to Transition from Conference Sponsorships to Year-long Partnerships (Partnership Professionals Network Idea Exchange – Washington DC and online)

Organizer: Partnership Professionals Network

Wed 3/25 at 2 p.m. – 6 Non-Dues Revenue Opportunities Hidden in Your AMS

Hosts: ReviewMyAMS and Altai Systems

Presenter: Teri Carden, Founder of ReviewMyAMS and 100 Reviews

Thu 3/26 at 12 p.m. – What to Consider When You’re Considering an AMC for Government Relations and Advocacy

Hosts: AMC Professionals Advisory Council and the ASAE Government Relations and Advocacy Professionals Advisory Council

Presenters:

Paul Miller, President and CEO, Miller/Wenhold
Elissa Myers, Senior Director, Virtual, Inc.
Alfons Westgeest, Managing Partner, Kellen
Anne DeSeta DarConte, CAE, Managing Director, HillStaffer
Tommy Goodwin (moderator), Head of Government Relations, Project Management Institute

Thu 3/26 at 1 p.m. – What Two Years of Technology Assessments Reveal About Association IT

Hear about the five top areas for improvement in the technology domains of data, digital, infrastructure, and management. More info/register.

Host: DelCor Technology Solutions

Presenters: Mike Guerrieri and Dan Lautman, DelCor Technology Solutions

Thu 3/26 at 1 p.m. – Speaker Showcase: Spring 2020

Host: ReviewMySpeaker

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Association Brain Food Weekly: 3.6.20

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

At the Association Component Exchange (CEX) in 2018, I participated in a chapter member journey mapping exercise—that’s a lot of nouns, I know. This exercise unleashed so many insights among my tablemates that I could see how powerful journey mapping could be in real life. WBT Systems explains why and how to map the learner journey at your association.

At CEX 2019, many CRPs (that’s component relations professionals, in case you didn’t know) shared their chapter success stories. Billhighway brings us two tales of chapter turnarounds—from exhausted despair to satisfying growth at the Project Management Institute and from begrudging compliance to proactive involvement at the Association for Corporate Growth.

Time is our most valuable asset so it’s no surprise members are reluctant to spare time for volunteering. MemberSuite digs into the reasons for this mindset and provides ideas on how you can get members involved in a truly micro-commitment way.

Tanya Basu at MIT Technology Review writes about private micro-networks, like Cocoon, which some believe are the future of connecting. “…[S]uch micro-networks and the control they offer might redefine how we think about and use social media in the next decade, whether it is Cocoon or another app that follows in its wake.”

You’ve probably read somewhere that restraints (aka limited resources aka no budget) are catalysts for creativity. This theory isn’t just sugarcoating a crappy situation. At Harvard Business Review, Laura Huang writes about an experiment she ran with college students that proved constraints don’t have to be constraining.

Quick hits before we get to the list of this week’s free education:

Ultimate webinar stats for 2020. (Joni Taisey, WorkCast)

How to create a better distribution plan to get your content seen. You can have the best content money can buy, but… (Jodi Harris, Content Marketing Institute)

On reading more than one book at a time. (Austin Kleon)

There’s nothing like staring into an eagle’s eyes, which you can do thanks to the Big Bear bald eagle cam. The cam sits beside an eagle’s nest (with eggs!) in the San Bernardino National Forest in Southern California. Don’t click this when you have work to do.

Good eats—skip down to the list of free webinars if you’re not into cooking:

My favorite meal last week was striped bass with spiced chickpeas. Bon Appetit calls this recipe “foolproof,” and I suppose it is. I couldn’t get enough of these flavors. You could leave out the fish and just make the chickpeas—they’re so good.

The other fish in last week’s seafood share was mackerel. I like matching mackerel with bold flavors like this maple-barbeque glazed fish recipe. Quick and easy.

Like oysters? If you see Hatteras Salts on the menu, order as many as you can. I have a few before lunch on Monday at Locals Seafood Oyster Bar in the Transfer Company Food Hall (Raleigh). I’m still thinking about them.

I finally remembered the big ham bone from Thanksgiving lurking in my freezer and gave it a fitting destination: split pea soup with ham. I didn’t have to add any additional ham like the recipe instructed because my bone had plenty extra on it. I used water instead of chicken broth because I knew the meaty bone would provide enough flavor—and it did. I love watching marrow slowly disappear from a bone into the broth to work its magic.

When I’m in a need-a-quick-veggie jam, I grab some broccoli, slice them into individual florets, slice big chunks of red onion and toss it all on a sheet pan (or two—might as well make a big batch) with olive oil. Sprinkle with kosher salt and bake at 400. When the florets are just approaching tender, add garlic slices and red pepper flakes, toss again, and bake until the florets are partly caramelized (nearly burnt) and the stems are at the tenderness you desire.

For Sunday breakfast, I made this German apple pancake from Serious Eats. It reminded me of a clafouti—dessert for breakfast, I guess. Satisfyingly tasty. Per the recipe, you need a non-stick, oven-safe pan. My Tramontina non-stick did just fine in the oven, in case you have one of those. Increase the cinnamon, you won’t regret it.

Here are the educational events scheduled for next week–lots of COVID-19 (coronavirus) webinars. If you have any free webinars or events coming up, please send me the link. I’ll be happy to feature it as long as it’s not product-centric.

Fri 3/6 at 12 p.m.* – How I Create Social Media Content for Association Chat

Host: KiKi L’Italien, senior consultant, Tecker International, and founder, Amplified Growth

*All times are Eastern Daylight Savings Time unless otherwise noted.

Mon 3/9 at 1 p.m. – Chatting with Agnes & Cecilia

This series of 15-minute videos cover hot topics and issues related to 501c organization management. A new episode is posted every Monday by 1 p.m. More info.

Hosts:

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

Tue 3/10 at 11 a.m. – The Ethical Nonprofit

This online course equips association executives and other nonprofit leaders with best practices for making ethical decisions. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: The 501c League

Presenters:

Cheryl Ronk, CAE, president of So Right LLC
Cecilia Sepp, CAE, chief executive officer and founder of The 501c League

Note: This course fulfills the new ethics requirement for CAE applications and renewals, which is why I’m attending.. I’m breaking my “free” rule and publicizing it despite the $45 registration fee ($25 for 501c League members).

Tue 3/10 at 12:30 p.m. – Meetup for Sections/Interest Group Professionals

As interest group management can be very different from chapter/affiliate management, we wanted to bring together association executives to chat about how our associations structure management of these unique components, including if there are separate fees to be a member, allocating budget funds to these groups, how volunteers are appointed, what these sections/interest groups develop in terms of association resources/products, etc. Location: Washington DC. If you are interested in attending, RSVP to Mark Fernando.

Tue 3/10 at 2 p.m. – Association Chat on Twitter (#assnchat)

Join an online tweet chat with fellow association professionals by following the #assnchat hashtag on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. Check KiKi’s Twitter stream to see if a chat is scheduled and to get the latest details.

Host: KiKi L’Italien, senior consultant, Tecker International, and founder, Amplified Growth

Tue 3/10 at 2 p.m. – People, Place, and Thing: The Future of Work for Associations

Thanks to technology, the way work is accomplished in associations has changed – more of it, coming faster, and expected to contain greater accuracy. The work environment will only continue to change as we move into a new decade. Associations can be closer to their members and other stakeholders, and address their needs quickly. But to achieve that end result, employees must have the skills necessary for success in this on-demand world. More info/register.

Host: Pathable

Presenter: Jennifer C. Loftus, MBA, SPHR, PHRca, GPHR, SHRM-SCP, CCP, CBP, GRP, is a Founding Partner of and National Director for Astron Solutions

Dang, that’s a lot of credentials!

Tue 3/10 at 2 p.m. – Data and Perception: How American Cancer Society (ACS) Uses Surveys to Increase Engagement

Recently, ACS embarked on a journey to better connect and build a community around study participants with the aim of increasing engagement and better delivering information to them. Learn how nonprofits can create a research-focused community, communicate effectively with participants about upcoming surveys, and develop best practices around messaging and program development. Find out how ACS uses surveys as a mechanism to collect data, understand the audience, and make data-driven decisions. More info/register.

Host: TechSoup

Presenters:

Vivek Bhaskaran, founding member and Executive Chairman of QuestionPro
Alpa V. Patel, principal investigator of ACS Cancer Prevention Study-3

Tue 3/10 at 2 p.m. – Tricks for Easier Contracts and Negotiations

Learn what needs to be in a contract and what clauses are not really necessary, the meaning of legal terms, such as force majeure, and new issues to consider in 2020. More info/register.

Host: Smart Meetings

Presenter: Lisa Sommer Devlin, J.D., attorney at Devlin Law Firm P.C.

Tue 3/10 at 2 p.m. – CL20 Rebroadcast: This is Your Event. This is Your Event on 5G.

Get the inside scoop on how meetings and events can prepare for 5G, the next giant leap in mobile technology. With connectivity speeds nearly 100 times faster than current broadband services, 5G will reshape how we use mobile devices at events. Explore what faster file upload/download speeds, virtual and virtual reality meetings, rich media experiences and other technology innovation can mean for your organization and business events. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Presenters:

Will Curran, Founder and Chief Event Einstein, Endless Events
Brandt Krueger, Owner, Event Technology Consulting

Tue 3/10 at 4:30 p.m. – Get the Facts on COVID-19

With so much media coverage of COVID-19, and the global developments changing by the minute, it’s hard to determine what steps are necessary – and when to act. PCMA and the American Society for Microbiology are delivering this joint webinar featuring a panel of medical experts to separate fact from fiction helping you decide if and how this impacts your event audiences and stakeholders. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Presenter: Dr. Robin Patel, Director of the Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory, and Co-Director of the Clinical Bacteriology Laboratory, Mayo Clinic

Wed 3/11 at 12 p.m. or 12:30 p.m. – COVID-19: What Your Nonprofit Needs to Know (online and Washington DC)

This presentation will address the legal issues that can arise with COVID-19 and look at questions surrounding workers, contracts, insurance, events, travel, and workplace situations and how to handle them. CAE credit. Locations: online and Washington DC. RSVP.

Host: Venable LLP

Presenters:

George Constantine, Partner, Nonprofit Organizations Group, Venable LLP
Michael Davis, Partner, Environmental and Natural Resources Group, Venable LLP
Anne Gerson, Counsel, Nonprofit Organizations Group, Venable LLP
Ronald Jacobs, Partner, Nonprofit Organizations Group, Venable LLP
Jennifer Prozinski, Partner, Labor and Employment Group, Venable LLP

Wed 3/11 at 1 p.m. – Is Your Event Feedback Providing Actionable Insights?

When gathering attendee feedback, it can be challenging to figure out how to take feedback and make it have an impact. Learn how to align feedback with event goals to provide actionable insights, and different types of feedback and questions to ask based on event type and goals so that you get the data you need to take action. More info/register.

Host: Meetings Today

Presenter: Brian Ludwig, Senior Vice President, Event Cloud Sales, Cvent

Wed 3/11 at 1:30 p.m. – How to Conduct Comprehensive Audience Research and Organize, Analyze and Apply Your Findings

Comprehensive audience research is required to truly assess your members’ wants, needs and reasons to become and stay a member. Learn how to gather audience research and utilize it to highlight member benefits, increase retention and grow your association. More info/register.

Host: .orgCommunity

Presenters: Ruizhi Liu, Lead User Experience Designer, and Jake Toohey, Senior Digital Consultant, Adage Technologies

Wed 3/11 at 2 p.m. – A Guide to Remote Work During COVID-19

Get a comprehensive overview of the more effective strategies, tools, and techniques to help workers stay productive remotely. Learn how to set up a high-quality remote work program or significantly improve an existing one. More info/register.

Host: Constellation Research

Presenter: Dion Hinchcliffe, Vice President and Principal Analyst, Constellation Research

Wed 3/11 at 2 p.m. – Webinar Benchmarks for 2020

Webinars have become the most powerful tool for creating the kinds of engaging digital experiences that audiences love. Learn best practices across the entire webinar life cycle, based on benchmarks from over 20,000 events over the past year, including: best days and times to promote and run webinars, most popular interactive tools, registrant to attendee conversion stats, and on-demand viewing metrics. More info/register.

Host: ON24

Presenter: Mark Bornstein, VP of Content Marketing, ON24

Thu 3/12 at 11 a.m. – Digital Transformation for Nonprofits and Associations

In 2020, digital disruption offers a number of benefits, but the risk associated with transformation is real and addressing that risk should be a top priority on your Enterprise Risk Management plan. Learn how nonprofits and associations can strategically mitigate risks while reaping the increasingly significant advantages of digital technology. Find out how leaders of organizations can enhance project management through best practices and lessons learned. More info/register.

Host: GRF CPAs & Advisors

Presenters:

Melissa Musser, CPA, CITP, CISA, Principal, Risk & Advisory Services, GRF CPAs & Advisors
Ricardo Trujillo, CPA, CITP, CISA, Partner, Audit, GRF CPAs & Advisors
Tricia Katebini, CPA, MBA, Senior Manager, Audit, GRF CPAs & Advisors
Yevgeniy Sukhenko, CPA, Supervisor, Outsourced Accounting & Advisory Services, GRF CPAs & Advisors

Thu 3/12 at 1 p.m. – Hosting Events Amidst a Coronavirus

Get best practice tips on how to mitigate transmission, reduce risk and exposure, and keep your live event. Learn best practices and apply public health principles from the WHO, CDD, and Johns Hopkins Public Health. More info/register.

Host: Constellation Research

Presenter: R “Ray” Wang, founder of Constellation Research

Thu 3/12 at 2 p.m. – Is Your Event Covered in a Crisis Situation?

Event organizers should examine their organization’s contracts concerning events in light of cancellations caused by unforeseen circumstances, like COVID-19. Learn what to look for and answer your burning questions about evaluating what’s included in your contracts and whether your standard language will protect the interests of your organization. CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Presenter: Barbara Dunn, partner with the Associations and Foundations Practice Group at Barnes & Thornburg

Thu 3/12 at 2 p.m. – Planting the Seeds of AMS Success

Choosing and implementing a new AMS is a huge undertaking, like growing a new lawn from the soil up. When you take the time to seed and feed your new AMS, you can cultivate a brighter future for your association. Hear about real world AMS experiences that can help you identify and avoid traps when choosing and implementing a new AMS. More info/register.

Host: Noah AMS

Tue 3/17 at 2 p.m. – Contract Crisis Preparedness for Suppliers

Host: PCMA

Presenter: Lisa Sommer Devlin, attorney

Wed 3/18 at 1 p.m. – A Fresh Look at Learning Analytics: How to Squeeze More Insights from Your Data

Host: Talented Learning

Presenters:

John Leh, CEO and Lead Analyst at Talented Learning
Tamer Ali, Co-Founder and Director at Authentic Learning Labs

Wed 3/18 at 2 p.m. – Microsoft Teams: The New Paradigm in Association Collaboration

Host: Altai Systems

Presenter: Reggie Henry, Chief Information & Engagement Officer, ASAE

Thu 3/19 at 8:30 a.m. – March Madness: Your Website’s Road to the Championship (Coffee Talk, Alexandria VA)

1 CAE credit. Location: Alexandria VA. More info/register.

Host: Results Direct

Thu 3/19 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Chat: How a CRP Helped Turn Around a 15-Year Membership Decline

Host: Billhighway

Presenters:

Rick Rangel, director of growth, Northern California Golf Association (NCGA)
Peggy Hoffman, president and co-founder, Mariner Management

Thu 3/19 at 2 p.m. – Lessons Learned from Toronto’s 2003 SARS Outbreak

Host: PCMA

Presenters:

Sherrif Karamat, CAE, President and Chief Executive Officer of PCMA
Bruce MacMillan, Chief Marketing Officer, PCMA’

Thu 3/19 at 3 p.m. – Small Staff Association Book Club: The Power of Moments

Maybe the third time is the charm. Rescheduled again.

Join a discussion of the book, The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact, by Chip Heath and Dan Heath. This book explores “why certain brief experiences can jolt us and elevate us and change us—and how we can learn to create such extraordinary moments in our life and work.” During book club, we’ll explore how we can apply the book’s lessons to our work. For example, how can you ensure the opening reception at your conference is memorable, not just ho-hum? More info/register.

Host: ASAE Small Staff Association Professionals Community

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Association Brain Food Weekly: 2.28.20

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

One of my soapbox topics is associations taking a more holistic and innovative approach to sponsorships, so I enjoyed reading this MemberSuite post on sponsored experiences. They provide several examples to get you thinking, including some hallway activations at PCMA’s Convening Leaders.

WBT Systems channels Ralph Waldo Emerson in their post about the need for self-reliance in lifelong learning if you want to remain relevant in the workplace. They explain how associations can get this message out and help members and customers become self-reliant learners.

Are you still using sales funnels to map your customer journeys? Forget that. Lifecycle marketing is where it’s at, says Julia McCoy at Marketing Profs.

Billhighway shares two chapter transformation stories told by component relations professionals at the Association Component Exchange (CEX) back in October. One’s about a chapter struggling with poor event attendance that now sells out events (and grew membership too), and the other’s about a chapter that couldn’t fill leadership positions but now has a full leadership roster and pipeline.

Is a new AMS, LMS or CMS in your future? Read the highlights of DelCor’s Dave Coriale’s podcast conversation with Gretchen Steenstra about system selection.

Quick hits before we get to the list of this week’s free education:

7 phrases leaders should stop saying in 2020. I’ve seen a few posts about overused business jargon lately, but this one features unique examples. (Ginny Hamilton, Enterprisers Project)

TikTok: what it is and why you need to know how it works. (Kelly Samuel, Forbes)

The big data of big hair. Based on my hairstyles in the past, I correctly guessed the year for peak big hair. (Elle O’Brien and Jan Diehm, The Pudding)

In praise of art books. Yes. (Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution)

Good eats—skip down to the list of free webinars if you’re not into cooking:

As soon as I saw the name of this recipe, lentil kielbassoulet, I was in. I love cassoulet, but who has the time for duck confit? This Bon Appetit shortcut gave me an excuse to buy really good kielbasa from Mae Farm—they’re right next door to my seafood store in the farmers market. The results: a hearty and tasty Sunday dinner.

Two busy weeknights had me relying on old faithfuls. First, my three-step dredge for pan-fried white grunt—that’s a fish, y’all. One, dredge in flour. Two, dip in buttermilk with hot sauce. And, three, dredge in seasoned cornmeal. This time, I added some panko breadcrumbs to the cornmeal.

My second standby was for NC swordfish. If you’re a regular reader, you’ve seen this one before: melted butter with lemon juice, garlic salt and Aleppo pepper flakes.

A meal doesn’t seem complete unless the plate includes a protein, veggie and starch, or two veggies. Three’s the magic number unless I’m making a one-bowl meal, like pasta or stew, although I’ll make a vegetable too if the bowl isn’t veggie-forward. Sweet potatoes are a regular starch around here, but in a pinch, a can of white beans comes in handy. Throw them in a pan with some garlic, rosemary and lemon zest, and voilà.

I can never remember ingredient ratios for pancakes so I’m always consulting a recipe. Cook’s Illustrated has a good one but I saw this buttermilk pancakes recipe in my stream, so that’s what I made for Sunday breakfast. It’s a keeper! I added blueberries and served them with breakfast sausage from Mae Farm.

Mon 3/2 at 1 p.m.* – Chatting with Agnes & Cecilia

This series of 15-minute videos cover hot topics and issues related to 501c organization management. A new episode is posted every Monday by 1 p.m. More info.

Hosts:

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

*All times are Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.

Tue 3/3 at 11 a.m. – The Imposter Phenomenon in High Achieving Women

Up to 70% of women and men, especially high-achievers, experience imposter syndrome at some point in their career. This false belief system leads some people to self-sabotage, turn down career and growth opportunities, and limit their own career trajectories. Learn about imposter syndrome and how you can begin to overcome this negative thought cycle. Find out how to identify and normalize imposter thoughts and learn an effective strategy to cope with this fearful thinking. More info/register.

Host: Insight Partners

Presenter: Paulette Rao MCC BCC, Executive Coach, True North Resources

Tue 3/3 at 12 p.m. – Data Hygiene: Making Your Data the Right Data (Association Data Analytics Brown Bag)

For association professionals who are responsible for reporting analytics to leadership, boards, and other stakeholders, share your lunchtime and discuss topics such as customer facing analytics. Online conversations will include presentations and attendees discussing challenges and key points on each topic. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Organizers: Association Analytics Network

Tue 3/3 at 2 p.m. – Association Chat on Twitter (#assnchat)

Join an online tweet chat with fellow association professionals by following the #assnchat hashtag on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. Check KiKi’s Twitter stream for the latest details.

Wed 3/4 at 12 p.m. – What Are Associations Looking For When Hiring Today? A Conversation with the “Lobbyist Hunter” (online and Washington DC)

Better understand what associations are looking for today when hiring senior leaders, learn the “5 Ps” that all association government relations advocacy professionals need to master, and get your questions about today’s job market answered by the go-to executive recruiter of association and government relations leaders. Locations: online and Washington DC. More info/register.

Organizer: ASAE Government Relations and Advocacy Professionals Advisory Council

Presenter: Ivan Adler, President, Ivan Adler Associates

Moderator: Tommy Goodwin, Head of Government Relations, Project Management Institute

Wed 3/4 at 12 p.m. – You’ve Heard of Data Visualizations—What About Content Visualizations? (Alexandria VA)

Have you ever thought of bringing together all of the good stuff your association has in too many internal places and third-party systems into one dashboard-like visualization? Hear about content visualization-forward ways to drive prospects and new members to all of your content while also introducing long-time members to great content that is not on their radar. 1 CAE credit. Location: Alexandria VA. More info/register.

Organizer: Association Insights in Old Town

Presenter: Adam Hostetter, CEO of FUSE Search

Wed 3/4 at 12:30 p.m. – Career Navigators in Component Relations and Volunteer Management

Hear from three association professionals who all have taken various paths in leadership but all have one thing in common – they started in component relations and volunteer management. Get advice, ideas, and motivation to jump start your career journey. Learn about ASAE’s Career HQ and the resources that your ASAE membership provides. More info/register.

Organizer: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Professionals Community

Wed 3/4 at 1 p.m. – The Hidden Value of Event Apps

Attendee satisfaction is consistently a top metric used to measure the success of events. But do you consider the event app a key factor in determining attendee satisfaction? Learn why mobile apps are the new event Swiss-army knife, how to help attendees achieve their own event objectives, and how to determine metrics that focus on attendee engagement. More info/register.

Host: Meetings Today

Presenter: Lauren Turner, Mobile Solutions Team, Cvent

Wed 3/4 at 2 p.m. – Why They Won’t Join: Why Associations Are Losing Members (and What To Do About It)

In recent years, national research has indicated a slow but steady decline in membership. The majority of associations now report flat or declining membership. Is this a new norm to simply accept? Learn about triggers that have either led to the decline or exponential growth depending on how the association responded to those triggers. More info/register.

Host: XYZ University

Presenter: Sarah Sladek, founder and CEO, XYZ University

Thu 3/5 at 1 p.m. – GDPR Overview & Implementation Recommendations for US-based Nonprofits and Associations

Get an overview of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) framework and how it relates to nonprofits and associations based in the U.S. Learn about GDPR requirements and responsibilities, and best data privacy practices. Find out how to plan for implementation and develop a GDPR compliance plan. More info/register.

Organizer: ASAE Technology Professionals Community

Presenters:

Dorothy Deng, Partner, Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLC
Wendy Sahli, Director of Technology, Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society

Thu 3/5 at 2 p.m. – The Next Frontier in Learning: Continuing Education by Text (Association Chat aka #assnchat)

A series of conversations with students in Yemen left Michael Ioffe with an idea—that text messages could be used to bridge the digital learning access gap. That idea became Arist, the first text message university, which was just named a finalist in Fast Company’s 2019 World-Changing Ideas competition. More info/register.

Host: KiKi L’Italien, senior consultant, Tecker International, and founder, Amplified Growth

Guest: Michael Ioffe, co-founder of Arist

Thu 3/5 at 3 p.m. – Refresh Your Meetings and Events (Reston VA Idea Swap)

Meetings take a ton of work and are often a hallmark of an association’s outreach, be they conferences, conventions or members’ summits. In this presentation, you’ll learn—and apply—a few easy techniques to see your own events with fresh eyes and get actionable, innovative solutions to improve them. This collaborative session is focused on refreshing meetings and events so they are more engaging, fun, profitable, or serve to better connect attendees and share knowledge. 1 CAE credit. Location: Reston VA. More info/register.

Organizer: ASAE Greater Washington / National Capital Community

Presenter: Lee Gimpel, founder of Better Meetings

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