Association Brain Food

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

As a history major, I’ve been waiting for virtual reality (VR) to shake up the way history is taught and it’s finally happening—or maybe it’s been happening and I just haven’t noticed. Derek Ham, a North Carolina State University professor, asked: “What was it like to be there? How could VR transport us there?” His “there” is the Memphis sanitation workers strike and the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

If a competitor beat you to a new market opportunity or disrupted your business model, know you’re in good company. CB Insights collected 42 “foot in mouth” quotes from big corporate executives who laughed off disruption when it hit.

Expand how your association thinks about sponsorship: partner with companies whose sponsorship and involvement will add value to your online learning programs. TopClass LMS provider WBT Systems suggests several ways to create these new sponsorship opportunities.

Billhighway shares a success story from the Regulatory Affairs Professional Society (RAPS). By changing their mindset and conversations with chapters, RAPS built stronger relationships with their chapters and helped them increase member engagement.

Some quick hits before we get to the list of upcoming free webinars:

• More adults now share their living space because their kids are back in their old room. (Pew Research)

• Are we going to eat China’s dust when it comes to AI? (MIT Technology Review)

Off-topic: Check out my Grabbing the Gusto blog if you’d like to see the list of recipes I’ve made this week or plan to make in the coming weeks, and my list of recommended fiction and non-fiction ebooks (including cookbooks) on sale.

Now for the main event: upcoming free professional development events for the association community. If your organization has a webinar or educational event coming up, please send me the link. I’ll be happy to feature it as long as it’s not product-centric.

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Tue 3/13 at 2 p.m.* – Top Ten Legal Questions You Need Answered Before Producing a Digital Event

Take a deep dive into the world of digital law, specifically the top ten questions you need to think about to protect your participants, presenters and organization. Learn how to best navigate this space and hear tips for developing speaker contracts, guidelines for streaming music and insights into the nuances of medical digital events. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Presenters:

• Matt Mille, registered patent attorney and founder, MG Miller
• Debi Scholar, expert on virtual meetings

*All times are Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.

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Wed 3/14 at 1 p.m. – Your Event Marketing Survival Guide

Event marketing doesn’t have to be a nightmare, but it is a fight for survival—and our event’s survival depends on attracting engaged attendees every time. Driving attendance to events isn’t easy, but with some time-tested tactics, you can make it easier to retain and grow our audience year after year. Learn the seven steps to event marketing survival and top tactics to attract and engage attendees. Take away a sample 12-month marketing calendar. More info/register.

Host: Meetings Today

Presenter: Kevin Yanushefski, Product Marketing Manager, Cvent

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Wed 3/14 at 2 p.m. – G.D.P.R. and the Event Industry: A Fast-Track Guide to Compliance

Believe it or not, General Data Protection Regulation (G.D.P.R.) can affect your brand, as events and meetings are a surprising storehouse of personal data that falls directly under G.D.P.R. regulation. Are you armed with the tools you need to stay up to date? Learn about the legislation and its effects on the industry, including the importance of implementing new policies, procedures, and infrastructures. Hear about strategies and tactics to meet the requirements of one of the most modern and stringent personal data legislations. More info/register.

Host: BizBash

Presenters:

• Kerry J. Plowman, QuickMobile
• Chris Elmitt, Crystal Interactive

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Thu 3/15 at 12 p.m. – Adapt to Attract Millennial and Gen Z Talent 

Millennials make up the largest segment of the workforce. Generation Z, the oldest of whom turn 22 this year, is about to join the workforce and will further disrupt the world of work as we know it. Many associations will need to adjust their structure to attract and retain millennials and Gen Z, whose members will bring critical skills and a fresh perspective to the association community. Hear about the challenges associations face when vying for younger generations’ attention—and how to adapt. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Presenter: Sarah Sladek, author of Talent Generation: How Visionary Organizations Are Redefining Work and Achieving Greater Success

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Thu 3/15 at 12 p.m./12:30 p.m. – Sexual Harassment: What Should Your Nonprofit Be Doing to Keep Itself Out of the Headlines and Out of Legal Hot Water? (webinar and Washington DC)

Find out what constitutes unlawful sexual harassment, what a nonprofit organization’s obligations are under the law, and the steps a nonprofit organization can take to minimize potential liabilities stemming from claims of sexual harassment. Through an application of real-life examples, learn about best practices, common pitfalls, and areas of particular risk to nonprofit organizations. 1 CAE credit. Online and Washington DC. More info/register.

Host: Venable LLP

Presenters:

• Cindy Lewin, Esq. (moderator), Partner, Nonprofit Organizations Practice, Venable LLP
• Todd J. Horn, Esq., Partner, Labor & Employment Practice, Venable LLP
• Jennifer G. Prozinski, Esq., Counsel, Labor & Employment Practice, Venable LLP

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Thu 3/15 at 1 p.m. – The New GDPR Data Protection Regulations: What Associations Need to Know About Compliance

Learn about the GDPR and how it applies to U.S. associations; key principles behind the regulation and how they relate to compliance; mapping your data flows; GDPR gap assessment—knowing what needs fixing; and legal, technical, and management compliance issues. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: enSYNC Corporation

Presenter: Terrance Barkan, CAE, international association management consultant

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Thu 3/15 at 1 p.m. – Lead or Lose: Seven Principles of Learning Leadership

Explore seven principles for those working in learning businesses that provide professional development, continuing education, and lifelong learning. These “leading learning” principles focus on helping your business ensure its own success and the success of the learners you serve. Leave with practical insights into how you can implement these principles to build authority and buy-in within your organization and deliver lasting impact for the audiences you serve. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Hosts: Tagoras and Digitec Interactive

Presenters:

• Jeff Cobb and Celisa Steele, founders, Tagoras
• Jack McGrath, president and creative director, Digitec Interactive 

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Thu 3/15 at 2 p.m. – #ReviewChat Online Customer Product Reviews

Your members’ businesses are affected by online reviews—86% of consumers read reviews often or very often before buying. Hear how the Specialty Sleep Association is giving their members resources to help them cope and thrive in The Review Economy. Learn key takeaways from a panel discussion about online reviews of mattresses, and steps your association should take to educate your members about the effects of online reviews on buying decisions in B2C and B2B markets.​ More info/register.

Host: KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth

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Thu 3/15 at 2 p.m. – Don’t Retire – Move Into Your Next Career!

Launching into a new career path means re-branding yourself appropriately. Learn about the best starting point and direction to avoid the “Failure to Launch” syndrome. Find out how to demonstrate your personal and professional value, recognize professional development opportunities that facilitate your continuous improvement, and identify and generate a professional image that will assist you in working well in a leadership role with your colleagues. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Presenter: Lynne Wellish, CMP, CHSE CHO, speaker, consultant, trainer and Hospitality Educator with Triage Meetings and Events

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Thu 3/15 at 2 p.m. – How to Respond to Active Threats to Your Meetings

Although it is uncomfortable to think about, meetings and hospitality professionals alike no longer can afford to avoid thinking about how they would respond to realistic threats at their events. Learn how to prepare for the unthinkable happening at your meeting by understanding current threats against the hospitality industry that could affect meetings and events; develop a plan for active threat response; recognize the signs of terrorism; and work towards personal resiliency by knowing how to prepare physically, mentally, and emotionally. More info/register.

Host: MeetingsNet

Presenter: counterterrorism and security professional David H. Lau, Counterinsurgency Advisor (Retired), U.S. Army

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Thu 3/15 at 2 p.m. – Ideas for Delighting Attendees of All Ages

New research from IACC on trends in demands for the meeting room of the future could hold the secret captivating new audiences. From innovative ways to present information and use food and beverage to flexible room settings, find out what top planners are doing to make sure everyone is comfortable. More info/register.

Host: Smart Meetings

Presenter: Mark Cooper, CEO, IACC

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Tue 3/20 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable in Washington DC

Wed 3/21 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable in Alexandria VA

Thu 3/22 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable in Reston VA

Connect with fellow Component/Chapter Relations Professionals (CRPs) to network and discuss current chapter challenges, such as how to measure and increase the health of chapters; best practices for chapter operations (volunteer tools, processes, etc.); and how to get the right statistics to prevent national and chapter level members from leaving. Lunch provided. 1 CAE credit.

Host: Billhighway

Location: Washington DC. More info/register.

Location: Alexandria VA. More info/register.

Location: Reston VA. More info/register.

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Wed 3/21 at 11 a.m. – Search, Navigation and Wayfinding on Your Website: Best Practices and Lessons Learned

Do you hear “I can’t find anything on your website” or “I have to use Google to find anything on our website”? Learn about the many ways people “wayfind” (orient themselves in physical space and navigate from place to place) on a website or app, including navigation, search, Google, and related links. Find out how navigation and search should work together, the importance of content strategy to a good site search, the latest technologies available for good wayfinding, and how analytics can and should guide your wayfinding strategy. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Matrix Group

Presenters: Joanna Pineda, CEO, Alex Pineda, Creative Director, and Dave Hoernig, Search Guru (aka Director of Software Engineering), Matrix Group

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Wed 3/21 at 1 p.m. – Beyond the Fear: Embracing Simplicity with the GDPR

Starting May 25, new European Union data privacy regulations mean that your organization can be fined nearly $25 million for mishandling even relatively benign personal information about attendees from the EU. Join a different discussion about GDPR, its underlying principles, and how we can improve and transform the business of events with it. Learn what consequences GDPR will have on the meetings industry, what types of data fall under the GDPR, how vulnerable your organization may be, and how organizations can protect themselves from violating GDPR. More info/register.

Host: Meetings Today

Presenter: KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth

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Wed 3/21 at 2 p.m. – Steal These Ideas: 3 Growth Strategies from Top Fundraisers

Hear about strategies membership organizations can steal from fundraisers to create compelling campaigns that bring in money, build relationships, and attract diverse audiences. Find out why the most successful fundraisers raise more money by NOT treating everyone equally, and why you shouldn’t either; the keys to creating compelling, multi-channel campaigns to recruit new members and volunteers; and why millennials are loyal to some organizations and not others, and how you can create the right experience to attract them. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Wild Apricot

Presenters: authors of the recently released whitepaper Steal Like a Fundraiser

• Elizabeth Weaver Engel, CAE, CEO and Chief Strategist, Spark Consulting LLC
• Sohini Baliga, director of communications, Taxpayers for Common Sense, and executive director, Vienna Choral Society

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Wed 3/21 at 3 p.m. – Vetting Member Needs and Market Opportunities (Executive Exchange: Associations Catalyzing Entrepreneurship – Washington DC or teleconference)

Explore how entrepreneurial thinking can point the way to association success in a time of growing competition. Discuss how to really listen to members and leverage data on engagement; how to gauge the needs and find market opportunities that members don’t know about yet; and how to test products and programs before market launch. More info/register.

Moderator: Meena Dayak, VP, Media & Communications, American Public Power Association

Presenters:

• Nicole Beidler, Marketing Manager, American Speech Language Hearing Association
• Anthony Shop, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Social Driver

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Thu 3/22 at 2 p.m. – Solving the Mystery of Association Innovation: 7 Practical Steps to Increasing Members, Revenue and Value

Learn how to ease into innovation and apply it to membership, growth and organizational sustainability. Find out how to identify and break down the leading barriers to innovation; quickly and inexpensively assess which innovations members value the most; create a collaborative innovation strategy that starts today; and form a culture of continuous innovation. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Digitec Interactive

Presenters: Wendy Scott, CAE, and Bob Reed, founders, ReedScott

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That’s it for now. If you can’t attend a live webinar, go ahead and register if the topic interests you. Most webinar hosts send registrants a link to the recording.

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.

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Creative Commons licensed photo by Jonas Nordberg on Unsplash.

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

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

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages transitioned into a benefits-based membership model. At Association Success, Howie Berman said they created membership packages with different levels of benefits “to give members a meaningful choice, and to provide them with value for their dues. We also wanted the flexibility to expand beyond traditional member profiles, offering a home to other stakeholders who might not have felt welcomed or included in the traditional categories.”

The best marketing for educational programs is content marketing, said LMS provider WBT Systems—and I agree. Content marketing helps you develop a relationship of trust with the reader because you’re providing them value, not spewing promotions at them.

The consensus on the value of marketing personas is starting to shift. Digital strategist Brandon Andersen suggested moving from assumptions about what a category of people wants to insight based on data that identifies their needs and pain points. “People put themselves into their own buckets. This self-identification through a buyer’s own actions gives us a much clearer picture of their true pain points.”

When you’re shopping for new technology, look beyond what the software does. Spend time evaluating whether the company behind the software is the right one for you. Eventpedia explained how to choose the right partner when shopping for an event app—advice that holds true when shopping for any technology.

Some quick hits before we get to the list of next week’s free webinars:

• Website advice: Above the fold is a myth. It’s not 1997 anymore. (Rob Lafratta)

• Symantec certificate users: Google Chrome will label thousands of websites as “unsafe” in the next few months. (TechRepublic)

• Wells Fargo customers: here’s a devious social engineering attack you need to know about. (KnowBe4)

• How to keep your resolution to read more. (The Millions)

Off-topic: Check out my Grabbing the Gusto blog if you’d like to see the list of recipes I’ve made this week or plan to make in the coming weeks, and my list of recommended fiction and non-fiction ebooks on sale.

Finally, the free professional development events for the association community scheduled in next week or so. If your organization has a webinar coming up, please send me the link. I’ll be happy to feature it as long as it’s not product-centric.

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Tue 3/6 at 2 p.m.* – The Influencer Economy (Association Chat)

Watch/participate live or view the recording.

Host: KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth

Guest: author Ryan Williams

*All times are Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.

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Tue 3/6 at 2 p.m. – Nonprofit Financial Reporting Implementation: A Deep Dive

Learn techniques for implementing FASB’s “Presentation of Financial Statements of Not-For-Profit Entities” standard. Find out how to identify the standard’s requirements, determine which elements of the standard provide flexibility for preparers, and evaluate alternative disclosure and presentation approaches. CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Johnson Lambert LLP

Presenters:

• Audrey Newton, CPA (moderator), Partner, Johnson Lambert LLP
• Andrea Wright, CPA, MBA, Partner, Johnson Lambert LLP
• Paul Preziotti, CPA, Principal, Johnson Lambert LLP
• Melanie Barthel, CPA, Manager, Johnson Lambert LLP

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Wed 3/7 at 12 p.m. CST – Chapter Roundtable in Chicago IL

Connect with fellow Component/Chapter Relations Professionals (CRPs) to network and discuss current chapter challenges, such as how to measure and increase the health of chapters; best practices for chapter operations (volunteer tools, processes, etc.); and how to get the right statistics to prevent national and chapter level members from leaving. Lunch provided. 1 CAE credit. Location: Chicago IL. More info/register.

Host: Billhighway

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Thu 3/8 at 2 p.m. – #ReviewChat Online Customer Product Reviews

Your members’ businesses are affected by online reviews—86% of consumers read reviews often or very often before buying. Hear how the Specialty Sleep Association is giving their members resources to help them cope and thrive in The Review Economy. Learn key takeaways from a panel discussion about online reviews of mattresses, and steps your association should take to ​educate your members about the effects of online reviews on buying decisions in B2C and B2B markets.​ More info/register.

Host: KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth

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Thu 3/8 at 2 p.m. – Cultivating Thought Leadership to Build Your Personal Brand

Are you looking to build your personal brand in 2018? Thought leadership and content delivery is a valuable part of modern marketing. Learn how to identify your key thought leadership areas, overcome your fear of the launch, develop a process that ensures you never run out of content, and scale the content for multiple platforms. More info/register.

Host: The Moery Company

Presenter: J.P. Moery, founder and president, The Moery Company

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Fri 3/9 at 1 p.m. – Taking a Member-Centric Approach in New Program Development

By focusing on empathy and iteration, the design thinking process helps you create solutions that are grounded in the experience of your stakeholders and informed by their feedback through a co-creation process. This helps protect your organization from costly program development that you ultimately discover has no audience. Learn how to use this approach in designing innovative, cutting-edge programs. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: BlueSky eLearn

Presenter: Carol Hamilton, Principal, Grace Social Sector Consulting

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Thu 3/15 at 12/12:30 p.m. – Sexual Harassment: What Should Your Nonprofit Be Doing to Keep Itself Out of the Headlines and Out of Legal Hot Water? (webinar and Washington DC)

Find out what constitutes unlawful sexual harassment, what a nonprofit organization’s obligations are under the law, and the steps a nonprofit organization can take to minimize potential liabilities stemming from claims of sexual harassment. Through an application of real-life examples, learn about best practices, common pitfalls, and areas of particular risk to nonprofit organizations. 1 CAE credit. Online and Washington DC. More info/register.

Host: Venable LLP

Presenters:

• Cindy Lewin, Esq. (moderator), Partner, Nonprofit Organizations Practice, Venable LLP
• Todd J. Horn, Esq., Partner, Labor & Employment Practice, Venable LLP
• Jennifer G. Prozinski, Esq., Counsel, Labor & Employment Practice, Venable LLP

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Thu 3/15 at 1 p.m. – The New GDPR Data Protection Regulations: What Associations Need to Know About Compliance

Learn about the GDPR and how it applies to U.S. associations; key principles behind the regulation and how they relate to compliance; mapping your data flows; GDPR gap assessment—knowing what needs fixing; and legal, technical, and management compliance issues. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: enSYNC Corporation

Presenter: Terrance Barkan, CAE, international association management consultant

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Thu 3/15 at 1 p.m. – Lead or Lose: Seven Principles of Learning Leadership

Explore seven principles for those working in learning businesses that provide professional development, continuing education, and lifelong learning. These “leading learning” principles focus on helping your business ensure its own success and the success of the learners you serve. Leave with practical insights into how you can implement these principles to build authority and buy-in within your organization and deliver lasting impact for the audiences you serve. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Hosts: Tagoras and Digitec Interactive

Presenters:

• Jeff Cobb and Celisa Steele, founders, Tagoras
• Jack McGrath, president and creative director, Digitec Interactive 

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Thu 3/15 [time not provided yet on ASAE site] – Adapt to Attract Millennial and Gen Z Talent 

Millennials make up the largest segment of the workforce. Generation Z, the oldest of whom turn 22 this year, is about to join the workforce and will further disrupt the world of work as we know it. Many associations will need to adjust their structure to attract and retain millennials and Gen Z, whose members will bring critical skills and a fresh perspective to the association community. Hear about the challenges associations face when vying for younger generations’ attention—and how to adapt. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Presenter: Sarah Sladek, author of Talent Generation: How Visionary Organizations Are Redefining Work and Achieving Greater Success 

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Tue 3/20 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable in Washington DC

Wed 3/21 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable in Alexandria VA

Thu 3/22 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable in Reston VA

Connect with fellow Component/Chapter Relations Professionals (CRPs) to network and discuss current chapter challenges, such as how to measure and increase the health of chapters; best practices for chapter operations (volunteer tools, processes, etc.); and how to get the right statistics to prevent national and chapter level members from leaving. Lunch provided. 1 CAE credit.

Host: Billhighway

Location: Washington DC. More info/register.

Location: Alexandria VA. More info/register.

Location: Reston VA. More info/register.

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That’s it for now. If you can’t attend a live webinar, go ahead and register if the topic interests you. Most webinar hosts send registrants a link to the recording.

Association Brain Food Weekly is published Friday mornings. If your organization offers professional development for the association community, please send me the link via email or Twitter.

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Creative Commons licensed photo by Andrew Gloor on Unsplash.

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

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

Content is everywhere and a good deal of it is crap. Over at Spin Sucks, you can learn a few ways to ensure your content stands out in the stream of mediocracy.

One of the most useful things you can do for your members or customers is to filter through all that crap and find the most valuable, relevant posts for them. The Content Marketing Institute has an excellent post on how to curate content like a pro—and it’s not a list of lame content curation tools, thankfully, it’s real advice.

Would you like to pull the plug on some of your legacy educational programs, but don’t know where to start? WBT Systems outlines the criteria and process for sunsetting educational programs.

In the last of their three-part series on AI for associations, rasa.io wraps up by explaining where to start if your organization would like to easily and affordably experiment with AI.

Almost every organization has them: employees who keep failing simulated phishing tests or worse—falling for phishing emails. Dan Lautman at DelCor explains how you can prevent this from happening in the first place and what to do if a few employees continue to put your association at risk.

Some quick hits before we get to the list of next week’s free webinars:

• Apple finally made podcast analytics available and, to everyone’s relief, podcast listeners are a great audience for advertisers. Has your association considered podcast advertising yet? (Wired)

• You can trick your brain into thinking you have more time in the day. (Fast Company)

• You may have seen this one before, I have, but we can’t see these type of posts enough: the top five regrets of the dying. Sink in, sink in, sink in. (The Guardian)

Check out my Grabbing the Gusto blog if you’d like to see the list of recipes I’ve made this week or plan to make in the coming weeks, and my list of other recommended fiction and non-fiction ebooks on sale.

Here’s the list of free professional development events for the association community scheduled for next week. If your organization has a webinar scheduled in the near future, please send me the link. I’ll be happy to feature it as long as it’s not too product-centric.

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Tue 2/27 at 8:30 a.m.* – Engaging Your Association’s Staff and Board in Your Corporate Partnership Program (Washington DC)

Learn why and how to get your organization’s staff and board engaged in your program. Hear about some creative, persuasive, and (maybe) some Machiavellian strategies. Location: Washington DC. More info/register.

Host: DC-Area Partnership Professionals Network Idea Exchange

Presenters:

• Bruce Rosenthal, consultant in strategy and implementation of corporate partnership programs
• Barbara Armentrout, provider of personalized services for nonprofits

*All times are Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.

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Tue 2/27 at 12:30 p.m. – Usability Tips for a Seamless LMS

Learn how usability testing can help drive significantly improved user experiences based on case studies and research. Find out what visuals are preferred by members when it comes to their user experience, how many events you should have on your events page, what type of language should be used in navigation items, what you are doing that is causing people to miss content, and what is confusing to your members and how you can make usability easier. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Web Courseworks

Presenter: Michael Hartman, Executive Experience Director, Sandstorm Design

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Tue 2/27 at 2 p.m. – How Your Association Can Use Artificial Intelligence to Increase Member Engagement Right Now

Associations excel at engaging members deeply over the course of two or three days, once a year, at meetings with extensive educational programming. Between these enriching experiences, it is difficult to compel your members to interact on a regular basis. Learn how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an accessible tool your association can use to increase member engagement. Find out how AI can be easily leveraged in your communications with members. More info/register.

Host: rasa.io

Presenter: Amith Nagarajan, founder, rasa.io

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Tue 2/27 at 2 p.m. – Steal Like a Fundraiser (Association Chat)

I imagine KiKi will ask Elizabeth and Sohini about their paper, Steal Like a Fundraiser: Innovations in Cause-Oriented Fundraising for Associations, which shares the secrets to charity fundraising success: building relationships with donors at all levels and how that relates to membership relationship building and management, creating and running outstanding campaigns, and attracting millennial/young professional supporters. Watch/participate live or view the recording.

Host: KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth

Guests:

• Elizabeth Weaver Engel, CAE, CEO & Chief Strategist, Spark Consulting
• Sohini Baliga, communications expert from the charitable fundraising world

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Tue 2/27 at 2 p.m. – LMS Discussion

Join an open discussion with others who are navigating the world of many LMSes and feel stuck. How did you decide which LMS to go for? Any horror stories? Any recommendations? What if you are a small association? Do I even need an LMS? More info/register.

Host: ASAE Learning Management System Community

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Tue 2/27 at 2 p.m. – Meet Member Expectations with a Modern Website

Your website is your greatest asset, and it’s ultimately what converts your prospects into members. Learn where to start with a redesign project. Hear about clean design elements that capture the attention of new and existing members for increased engagement, user experience strategies that convert prospects into members, and a strategy for a successful website redesign. More info/register.

Host: YourMembership

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Tue 2/27 at 2 p.m. – The Business Impact of Marketing Automation on Event Registrations

Hear how one association used inspiration from the retail industry to accelerate event registrations by 25% and drive over $72,000 in event revenue. Walk away with a new approach to crafting timely, targeted event campaigns that capitalize on the digital clues your members leave behind to increase conversions. Learn how to “market like Amazon” with strategic, automated messages, improve segmentation using digital breadcrumbs from members’ online activity, and ease concerns about over-emailing. More info/register.

Host: Higher Logic

Presenters:

• Beth Arritt, Staff Vice President, American Association of Airport Executives
• Vivian Swertinski, Manager of Strategic Services, Higher Logic

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Tue 2/27 at 2:30 p.m. – How a Microlearning Program for Your Members can Boost Non-dues Revenue and Member Engagement

With professionals reporting only about five minutes per day to devote to continuing education, small bites of information are the easiest to fit into the days of your members. They can also be the most effective at keeping your association top of mind. Learn how creating a microlearning program within your continuing education program can help you boost non-dues revenue and member engagement. More info/register.

Host: Upability

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Tue 2/27 at 2 p.m. – LinkedIn Bootcamp: Are You Making the Most of Your Profile?

Learn how to find practically anything you want in LinkedIn through specific search tricks. Understand how you can be found and optimize your searchability for clients, opportunities, or new jobs. Discover best practices for LinkedIn etiquette and building meaningful, long-term relationships. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Presenter: career management coach and LinkedIn guide Dawn Rasmussen, CMP

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Wed 2/28 at 10:30 a.m. – Gain Insight on the Global Association Market (Washington DC)

Gain insight on the role Asia plays in the global business landscape and discover how U.S.-based associations can tap opportunities in this region. Hear about strategic ways Singapore can play a part in your growth and development strategy. Location: Washington DC. More info/register.

Host: ASAE International Section

Presenter: Lavan Thiru, Chief Representative, Monetary Authority of Singapore

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Wed 2/28 at 12 p.m. – “CAEing” – Are You Ready?! Tips for Taking the CAE Exam

Learn about the entire CAE process from submitting your application to being approved to sit for the exam, studying tips and tools, and how your CAE designation will elevate your career and opportunities within the field. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Young Professionals Committee

Presenters:

• Lowell Aplebaum, CAE, CEO & Strategy Catalyst, Vista Cova, LLC
• Christina McCoy, CAE, Account Executive, AMPED Association Management
• Shawn E. Boynes, FASAE, CAE, Executive Director, American Association of Anatomists
• Jacob Wilder, CAE, Director of Communications and Technology, Building Owners and Managers Association of Georgia

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Wed 2/28 at 12 p.m. – Discover Asia through a Global Health Perspective (Washington DC)

Gain insight on the role Asia plays in the global healthcare market and how your association can enter international developing markets. Learn about strategic roles that Singapore and other Asian countries can play in your growth and development strategy. Location: Washington DC. More info/register.

Host: ASAE International Section

Presenter: Tommy Zheng, Regional Vice President, Singapore Economic Development Board

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Wed 2/28 at 1 p.m. – Powerful Social Media Strategy

Learn strategies for optimizing social media marketing for your meetings and events. Find out how social media can drive attendance and create engagement and save time and money. Hear about new measurement techniques. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Meetings Today

Presenter: KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth

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Wed 2/28 at 2 p.m. – Power Up Your Networking

Learn how to move beyond the business card to developing a networking plan for success. Find out how to build a networking blueprint and social networking strategies, how to M.I.N.G.L.E., and how to turn contacts into contracts and connections. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Pathable

Presenter: Tarsha Polk, The Marketing Lady

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Thu 3/1 at 12 p.m. – How to Create a Collaborative Chapter Marketing Movement

With the generational shift and rise of digital engagement, more chapter-based associations are starting to incorporate influencer models into their digital media marketing strategies. Unsurprisingly, many association leaders are looking to their chapters to help keep their marketing momentum going. Learn what other associations have done to drive membership engagement, particularly with younger generations. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Billhighway

Presenter: Peggy Hoffman, CAE, Co-Founder & President, Mariner Management & Marketing LLC

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Thu 3/1 at 1 p.m. – 6 Reasons Why Infographics Matter

People love infographics—but should your nonprofit love them enough to create them? Learn about the role infographics play in a healthy communications mix. More info/register.

Host: Idealware

Presenter: Laura Quinn

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Thu 3/1 at 2 p.m. – Top Tips for Engaging Potential Attendees on Social Media

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and even Pinterest and Snapchat can be combined with your website, blog and content strategy to build your audience and connect with the people who matter to you most. Get up to date on the popular social media networks and their latest functionality. Learn about best practices for building your following, and more importantly, engaging your audience through social media. More info/register.

Host: Smart Meetings

Presenter: Liz King Caruso, CEO, Liz King Events & techsytalk

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Thu 3/1 at 3 p.m. – Facilitating Virtual Meetings (Reston/Loudoun County VA Idea Swap)

1 CAE credit. Location: TBD. More info/register.

Organizer: ASAE Greater Washington / National Capital Community

Presenter: Alice Waagen, Workforce Learning

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Fri 3/2 at 1 p.m. – Know Your Persona’s Entire Buying Experience to Unlock Marketing ROI

Learn how to gain insight into what matters to real buyers. Find out how to align your marketing decisions—from positioning and messaging through content marketing and sales enablement—with your buyer’s most essential expectations. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Presenters:

• Adele Revella, CEO & Founder, Buyer Personas Institute
• Matt Dion, CEO, Mintent

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Save the date:

Wed 3/7 at 12 p.m. CST – Chapter Roundtable in Chicago IL

Tue 3/20 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable in Washington DC

Wed 3/21 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable in Alexandria VA

Thu 3/22 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable in Reston VA

Connect with fellow Component/Chapter Relations Professionals (CRPs) to network and discuss current chapter challenges, such as how to measure and increase the health of chapters; best practices for chapter operations (volunteer tools, processes, etc.); and how to get the right statistics to prevent national and chapter level members from leaving. Lunch provided. 1 CAE credit.

Host: Billhighway

Location: Chicago IL. More info/register.

Location: Washington DC. More info/register.

Location: Alexandria VA. More info/register.

Location: Reston VA. More info/register.

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That’s it for now. If you can’t attend a live webinar, go ahead and register if the topic interests you. Most webinar hosts send registrants a link to the recording.

Association Brain Food Weekly is published Friday mornings. If your organization offers professional development for the association community, please send me the link via email or Twitter.

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Creative Commons licensed photo by JF Brou on Unsplash.

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

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

ASAE members, check out the excellent GDPR resources and advice shared on Collaborate last week by the Technology Section Council. If you’re not familiar with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation taking effect in May, please please please review these resources so your organization is in compliance.

At the 2016 ASAE Technology Conference, I ran into an old NAHB IT colleague of mine who told me about this new software they were using to streamline and automate dues and data collection from their 700+ local home building associations. I nearly dropped to the floor and, seriously, my eyes probably misted up too—that’s like an impossible dream come true. I lived that pain at both NAHB and CBIA. But it’s no dream and Joe explained how they did it in this post from Billhighway.

You know what else is a pain to the IT team? Cybersecurity. Their frustration is intensified because their colleagues in other departments, including the C-suite, don’t always take ownership of security like they should. Dan Lautman at DelCor explains what the IT department can do to increase security awareness around the office.

The only way your organization can stay competitive and agile enough to solve today’s problems and face tomorrow’s unknown challenges is to develop a culture of learning. WBT Systems describes the steps required for that transformation.

Associations now have access to affordable AI tools they can use to learn more about their members and deliver more valuable services to those members. Rasa.io describes a few ways AI can help staff provide personalized content to every individual member, an inhuman task made possible by AI.

Some quick hits before we get to the list of next week’s free webinars:

• Organic reach is declining on social media—here’s what to do about it. (Hootsuite)

• How to convert blog readers into leads. (Kissmetrics)

• Why you should surround yourself with more books than you’ll ever have time to read. Done. (Inc.)

Check out my Grabbing the Gusto blog if you’d like to see the list of recipes I’ve made this week or plan to make in the coming weeks, and my list of other recommended fiction and non-fiction ebooks on sale.

Here’s the list of free professional development events for the association community scheduled for next week. If your organization has a webinar scheduled in the near future, please send me the link. I’ll be happy to feature it as long as it’s not too product-centric.

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Tue 2/20 at 7:30/8 a.m.* – Hire Purpose Career Café (Washington DC)

When a career opportunity surfaces, how can you know it’s the right one? This peer roundtable will help you explore which talents engage you and how you can best serve with passion. Learn how to awaken your personal brand and build “hire purpose” connections. Location: Washington DC. More info/register.

Presenters/Hosts:

• Shira Harrington, Purposeful Hire
• Dana Theus, InPower Coaching

*All times are Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.

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Tue 2/20 at 8:30 a.m. – Association Coffee Talk: Web Usability Workshop: Strategies for Big Results (Alexandria VA)

Improving your website—design, user experience, personalization, SEO—doesn’t have to mean a complete redesign or a large investment in new software. Come share and discuss strategies you can implement immediately that will produce big results. 1 CAE credit. Location: Alexandria VA. More info/register.

Host: Results Direct

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Tue 2/20 at 2 p.m. – The Dangers of Generational Orthodoxy (Association Chat)

Many of the assumptions made by generational thinking are flawed, misguided or just plain wrong—a form of emergent orthodoxy that may well do more harm than good for associations. Join a provocative conversation with association contrarian Jeff De Cagna about how you and your association can think and act beyond generational orthodoxy and learn with the unfolding under-40 future. Watch/participate live or view the recording.

Host: KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth

Guest: Jeff De Cagna, FASAE, executive advisor, Foresight First LLC

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Tue 2/20 at 3:30 p.m. – Let’s Learn More about LinkedIn as a Tool to Drive Membership & Engagement (Columbia MD)

Hear case studies and ideas on how to use LinkedIn to drive membership and engagement. Bring your stories, ideas and questions and together we’ll look for answers. Location: Columbia MD. More info/register.

Hosts: ASAE Columbia Idea Swap and Association Networking Group (ANEX)

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Wed 2/21 at 1 p.m. – Money and Meaning: Finding Well-Being at Work

Learn why leaders and employers should prioritize their employees’ well-being as one of the most effective ways to make broader impact in 2018. Find out how to better motivate employees through a focus on individual strengths in the workplace, and how employers can help employees feel more secure through financial wellness workshops aimed at helping employees make holistic, sound financial decisions. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Financial & Business Operations Section

Presenters:

• Matthew J. Grace, CLU, CLTC, Financial Advisor, First Financial Group and Park Avenue Securities
• Jill Smerkers, PHR, Vice President for Professional Services, Positively Partners

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Wed 2/21 at 1 p.m. – Ultimate Member Engagement: The Power of Data-Driven Decision Making

The historical, financial, social and demographic data in your AMS is useless unless it tells a story and enhances your ability to drive desired results. Learn how to analyze and visualize your existing data; identify which data to mine to improve your member’s experience; and determine a successful ROI on your collection and analysis of member data. More info/register.

Host: Impexium

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Wed 2/21 at 1 p.m. – 10 Ideas That Will Change Your Event

So many attendees have that “been there, done that” attitude these days. It’s difficult to show them something they haven’t seen. That’s why we’ve scoured the ends of the earth to come up with ten innovative ideas and actionable tips to help you create your most memorable event ever. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Event Manager Blog

Presenter: Christina Green, blogger, Event MB

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Wed 2/21 at 2 p.m. – How to Maximize Audience Engagement at Your Events Using Second Screen Technology

Second screen technology gives event attendees a direct line to interact with your speakers. You’re turning your presentations into conversations that not only engage your audience but lets you gather valuable data in real time. Learn how to obtain important event analytics through attendee engagement and responses; use live polling and digital Q&A to break the monotony of PowerPoint and keep your attendees engaged; and transform meaningful messages through second screen technology at your next event. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Pathable

Presenter: Meaghan Carey, Glisser US

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Wed 2/21 at 4 p.m. – Association Women Technology Champions Meetup (Washington DC)

Are you a woman? Who works in or with associations? Who’s a technology geek? [By the way, fly that flag proudly.] Then this is your group. Wish I could be there. Location: Washington DC. More info/register.

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Wed 2/21 at 4 p.m. – Five Hacks to Weave Constituent Experience into Your Organization

Constituents increasingly expect a rich, personalized experience when engaging with nonprofits. Learn five customer experience “hacks” that come before diving into any technology project and turn your organization into a constituent-centric one. More info/register.

Host: Community IT

Presenter: Kyle Haines, Build Consulting

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Thu 2/22 at 8:30 a.m. – Association Coffee Talk: Web Usability Workshop: Strategies for Big Results (Reston VA)

Improving your website—design, user experience, personalization, SEO—doesn’t have to mean a complete redesign or a large investment in new software. Come share and discuss strategies you can implement immediately that will produce big results. 1 CAE credit. Location: Reston VA. More info/register.

Host: Results Direct

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Thu 2/22 at 9 a.m. – Doing Business in Singapore & Southeast Asia

Get an overview of business issues to consider if your association is contemplating expansion into Southeast Asia: economic reasons for doing business in Southeast Asia, security issues, travel restrictions and visa issues, internet and mobile connectivity, cultural questions, and conference venue availability. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE International Section Council

Presenter: Zarina Othman, business development expert, MCI Singapore

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Thu 2/22 at 12 p.m. – How to Write Emails for People Who Don’t Read (Washington DC Idea Swap)

Find out why people don’t read emails and what you can do about it. Learn strategies for writing a better subject line to give your email a fighting chance for the reader’s attention; and how to present the most important info at the beginning of the message. Walk away with tips for writing emails that are easy to read on a mobile device. 1 CAE credit. Location: Washington DC. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Greater Washington / National Capital Community

Presenter: Leslie O’Flahavan, owner, E-WRITE

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Thu 2/22 at 2 p.m. – Strengthening Board and Staff Relationships: A Roadmap to Building Trust and Transparency

The staff and board relationship is critical to fulfilling mission and vision through mutual collaboration and support. Learn how to build greater trust between the board and staff by managing roles, responsibilities and scope of decision-making; steps to develop a culture of transparency between the board and staff; how to manage board/ staff relationships and set expectations through collaboration; and how to ensure buy-in and accountability through innovative strategic planning. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Reed Scott

Presenters:

• Melissa Driver Beard, MPA
• Wendy Scott, CAE

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Thu 2/22 at 2 p.m. – Generations@Work

Organizations find themselves managing four generations—each with their own distinct values and attitudes toward work. To successfully integrate these generations into the workplace, organizations need to embrace radical changes in recruitment, benefits, and culture. Learn how to bridge the generational gap using recruiting, retention, motivation, and management techniques that will inspire each generation and lead your organization to greater success. More info/register.

Host: XYZ University

Presenter: Jodie Swee, Generational Engagement Expert, XYZ University

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Thu 2/22 at 2 p.m. – Conquering Resolution Slippage: The Power of Habit

Explore The Power of Habit, a bestseller with a simple three-step process to break bad habits and adopt new ones to make 2018 your best year yet. Learn about smart ways to “chunk down” big resolutions into a series of mini-milestone achievements. Take away tips and tools to fuel extra-mile performance throughout 2018 and beyond. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Presenter: Donna Kastner, founder, Retirepreneur

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Thu 2/22 at 2 p.m. – Understand Your Participants through Attendee Personas

Learn the characteristics of six different attendee personas—brand fanatics, knowledge seekers, social butterflies, reluctant attendees, inspiration seekers, and tech-savvy networks—and how to tailor events to connect with what each persona values. More info/register.

Host: MeetingsNet

Presenter: Milton Rivera, American Express Meetings & Events

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Thu 2/22 at 2 p.m. – Triple Threat: Event Tech, Engagement, and the Attendee Experience

Learn how on-site technology can be used to optimize the attendee journey and increase your event’s impact, what data you should be tracking, tools and tactics to get audiences engaged and networking, and how to take advantage of missed opportunities at future events. More info/register.

Host: BizBash

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Thu 2/22 at 2 p.m. – Need Volunteers? Four Tech Trends You Need to Know

Learn how new technology is impacting the public’s expectations of causes and charities; four key tech trends that will help you recruit, grow, engage, and recognize volunteers; and low-cost, simple tips to address common volunteer challenges using technology. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Wild Apricot

Presenter: Tobi Johnson, MA, CVA, president and founder, VolunteerPro

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Save the date: Thu 3/1 at 12 p.m. – How to Create a Collaborative Chapter Marketing Movement

With the generational shift and rise of digital engagement, more chapter-based associations are starting to incorporate influencer models into their digital media marketing strategies. Unsurprisingly, many association leaders are looking to their chapters to help keep their marketing momentum going. Learn what other associations have done to drive membership engagement, particularly with younger generations. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Billhighway

Presenter: Peggy Hoffman, CAE, Co-Founder & President, Mariner Management & Marketing LLC

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That’s it for now. If you can’t attend a live webinar, go ahead and register if the topic interests you. Most webinar hosts send registrants a link to the recording.

Association Brain Food Weekly is published Friday mornings. If your organization offers professional development for the association community, please send me the link via email or Twitter.

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Creative Commons licensed photo by Simon Matzinger on Unsplash.

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

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

Ernie Smith at Associations Now provides really smart advice on SEO (search engine optimization) for your website and blog based on Google algorithm changes over the last few years. You can’t keep doing what you’ve always done because those old things may no longer work (and could hurt your rankings in some cases), and you need to comply with Google’s new demands.

Congratulations, you’ve got a great idea for a new online course. How do you know it will work? WBT Systems explains how to validate an online course idea to make sure there’s market demand for it.

“Risk aversion, weak customer focus, and siloed mind-sets have long bedeviled organizations. In a digital world, solving these cultural problems is no longer optional,” says McKinsey. They discuss each of these familiar-to-associations challenges and provide “a focused set of reinforcing practices to jump-start change.”

When choosing technology, one of the criteria is always user experience. In the case of event apps, you have two groups of users to consider, each with different needs: event attendees and event planners. Eventpedia explains what app features and functions you should have to make the planner’s life easier.

In a new series of posts, rasa.io is sharing three ways associations can easily and affordably experiment with AI. This week’s explains why AI is suddenly everywhere and how associations can use AI-powered chatbots to engage with website visitors.

Some quick hits before we get to the list of next week’s free webinars:

• My old home, Washington DC, is featured in this article: White collar workers are fleeing their desks to become artisans. (The Economist’s 1843)

• New research shows a couple of glasses of wine a day can actually help clean the mind of toxins. (University of Rochester Medical Center)

• This is the best thing you’ll look at all day: the UPS Dogs Instagram account. You must click. (Instagram)

Check out my Grabbing the Gusto blog if you’d like to see the list of recipes I’ve made this week or plan to make in the coming weeks, and my list of other recommended fiction and non-fiction ebooks on sale.

Here’s the list of free professional development events for the association community scheduled for next week. If your organization has a webinar scheduled in the near future, please send me the link. I’ll be happy to feature it as long as it’s not too product-centric.

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Tue 2/13 at 12 p.m.* – Chapter Roundtable in Washington DC

Connect with fellow Component/Chapter Relations Professionals (CRPs) to network and discuss current chapter challenges, such as how to measure and increase the health of chapters; best practices for chapter operations (volunteer tools, processes, etc.); and how to get the right statistics to prevent national and chapter level members from leaving. Lunch provided. 1 CAE credit. Location: Washington DC. More info/register.

Host: Billhighway

*All times are Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.

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Tue 2/13 at 12 p.m. – Employee Loyalty is Dead; Long Live Employee Loyalty

Employee loyalty isn’t dead, it just looks different, and can be infinitely more valuable to managers and companies who understand how to harness its power. Learn why we have so much inter-generational conflict in the workplace today and how to turn that conflict into a high-performing, positive dynamic that inspires longer tenures and lifetime employee loyalty. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Association Management Company (AMC) Section

Presenter: Lee Caraher, author, Millennials & Management: The Essential Guide to Making It Work at Work and The Boomerang Principle: Inspire Lifetime Loyalty from Your Employees

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Tue 2/13 at 1 p.m. – The 3 Keys to Successful Content Marketing

Discover the best ways to acquire new customers and improve retention and growth opportunities within your customer base. Learn what channels generate the most leads. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Presenters:

• Rachel Anderson, Director of Content Marketing, Screen Pilot
• Justin McHeffey, Product Marketing Manager, ReadyTalk

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Tue 2/13 at 2 p.m. – Building Change-Agent Events – Part 1

Whether large or small, building impactful, change-agent events starts with a defined strategy, mission and purpose as well as incorporation of the five senses. This two-part series will explore how a public-private partnership built a series of symposiums to create demand for their research and strengthen their industry leadership. Learn the importance of defining the mission and purpose, how to choose the right partners, and how the venue and format can breathe life into the event. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Presenter: Jennifer D. Collins, CMP, President & CEO, JDC Event

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Wed 2/14 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable in Alexandria VA

Connect with fellow Component/Chapter Relations Professionals (CRPs) to network and discuss current chapter challenges, such as how to measure and increase the health of chapters; best practices for chapter operations (volunteer tools, processes, etc.); and how to get the right statistics to prevent national and chapter level members from leaving. Lunch provided. 1 CAE credit. Location: Alexandria VA. More info/register.

Host: Billhighway

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Wed 2/14 at 1 p.m. – 5 Tips to Make Mobile Event App Adoption Easy As Pie

Learn how to use sustainability goals to promote app usage; how to use engagement features so that attendees get the most out of your app and your event; why behavior types are important to look at to ensure you are providing what your attendees need in order to adopt; and why social is important and how to use it to increase adoption. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Meetings Today

Presenter: Myllisa Patterson, Director of Marketing, CrowdCompass by Cvent

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Thu 2/15 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable in Reston VA

Connect with fellow Component/Chapter Relations Professionals (CRPs) to network and discuss current chapter challenges, such as how to measure and increase the health of chapters; best practices for chapter operations (volunteer tools, processes, etc.); and how to get the right statistics to prevent national and chapter level members from leaving. Lunch provided. 1 CAE credit. Location: Reston VA. More info/register.

Host: Billhighway

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Thu 2/15 at 12 p.m./12:30 p.m. – Nonprofit Mergers, Alliances, and Joint Ventures: Options, Best Practices, and Practical Tips (virtual or Washington DC)

Learn some of the primary means by which nonprofits frequently combine, affiliate, or come together: mergers, consolidations, asset transfers, dissolutions, federations, parent-subsidiary relationships, management company model, partnerships, joint ventures, and strategic alliances. Find out what each means with examples. Learn about proven negotiation strategies; how sometimes “living together before getting married” is the best approach; common pitfalls, roadblocks, and elements of success and failure; and key benefits, detriments, and primary considerations that come into play with each option. Location: virtual or Washington DC. More info/register.

Host: Venable LLP

Presenters:

• George Constantine, Esq. (moderator), Partner and Co-Chair of the Nonprofit Organizations Practice, Venable LLP
• Andrew L. Steinberg, Esq., Associate, Nonprofit Organizations Practice, Venable LLP
• Thomas Dente, President & CEO, Humentum (formerly InsideNGO)
• Scott Cotenoff, Partner, La Piana Consulting

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Thu 2/15 at 1 p.m. – It’s Time to Go Full Frontal

Learn how to drive transformative thinking by effectively leveraging your frontal lobe. Find out how to train yourself to think more strategically and increase your productivity. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: CommPartners

Presenter: Jeff Hurt, Executive VP, Education & Engagement, Velvet Chainsaw Consulting

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Thu 2/15 at 2 p.m. – Building Change-Agent Events – Part 2

Whether large or small, building impactful, change-agent events starts with a defined strategy, mission and purpose as well as incorporation of the five senses. This two-part series will explore how a public-private partnership built a series of symposiums to create demand for their research and strengthen their industry leadership. Learn the importance of defining the mission and purpose, how to choose the right partners, and how the venue and format can breathe life into the event. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Presenter: Jennifer D. Collins, CMP, President & CEO, JDC Event

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Thu 2/15 at 2 p.m. – How to Find & Negotiate with the Right Speaker for Your Event

Learn eight basic ways to find the right speaker, eight ways to know that the speaker you have identified will be easy to work with and will please your audience members, and more than 30 negotiation strategies so that both you and the speaker can come to agreement. More info/register.

Host: Smart Meetings

Presenter: veteran speaker Jeff Davidson, MBA, CMC

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Fri 2/16 at 1 p.m. – AMS or CRM: What Is Best for You?

Learn about the AMS and CRM technologies, their similarities and their differences. Hear from two associations who recently went through a selection process—one selected a traditional AMS and one selected CRM. Each of these case studies will highlight the decision process they went through and why they determined that their selection was best for their organization. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Membership Section

Presenters:

• Joanne Rang, President, Information Technology Advisory Group (ITAG)
• Michael Woodward, Deputy Executive Director, American Association of Physicists of Medicine
• Charles Redding, CIO, The Internal Institute of Auditors

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That’s it for now. If you can’t attend a live webinar, go ahead and register if the topic interests you. Most webinar hosts send registrants a link to the recording.

Association Brain Food Weekly is published Friday mornings. If your organization offers professional development for the association community, please send me the link via email or Twitter.

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Creative Commons licensed photo by Andrew Preble on Unsplash

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

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

Amanda Kaiser (aka Smooth The Path) and Dynamic Benchmarking just published the New Member Engagement Study. This report explains why every association should have a new member onboarding or orientation program, what you should expect from your program, how to launch the best program, and how to improve your existing program. Onboarding is critical to retention—and a rewarding membership experience.

Last week, I shared an excellent article from The New York Times Magazine about Bitcoin and its underlying technology . I missed another good one on Bitcoin when it ran in December—you won’t want to. “Bitcoin’s rise may reflect, for better or worse, a monumental transfer of social trust: away from human institutions backed by government and to systems reliant on well-tested computer code.”

Studies say work isn’t rewarding for most people, not as productive as it used to be, bad for your health, and unequally distributed. And now it’s threatened by automation. The Guardian takes a fascinating look at “post-work: the radical idea of a world without jobs” from both historical and futuristic perspectives. What does a world with little or no work mean for our lives? What does it mean for your association?

More on work from the Harvard Business Review: If our sense of purpose is tied to our work, and automation transforms our work, our sense of self-worth will transform too. How’s that going to pan out? How can associations help people fill that psychic hole?

If your job isn’t given you the satisfaction you desire, become an association intrapreneur. WBT Systems explains this rewarding mindset and how you can develop your intrapreneurial chops.

Figuring out how to optimize for voice search should be on every marketer’s mind, says KiKi L’Italien, founder of Amplified Growth, since now more than half of U.S. teens and 41% of U.S. adults use voice search on a daily basis. Wow, I had no idea it was that much.

Some quick hits before we get to the list of next week’s free webinars:

• Google’s warning to mobile publishers: Slow-loading pages will see reduced rank. (Fast Company)

• Research proves switching to the shorter line almost always backfires. (Lifehacker)

• The real reason why Spaniards eat late. I had no idea. (BBC Travel)

Check out my Grabbing the Gusto blog if you’d like to see the list of recipes I’ve made this week or plan to make in the coming weeks, and my list of recommended ebooks on sale.

Here’s the list of free professional development events for the association community scheduled for next week. If your organization has a webinar scheduled in the near future, please send me the link. I’ll be happy to feature it as long as it’s not too product-centric.

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Tue 2/6 at 2 p.m. – Creativity and Persistence: Lessons from a Song a Day (Association Chat)

What can we learn about creativity and persistence from the man who holds the Guinness World Record for Most Consecutive Days Writing a Song? Watch/participate live or view the recording.

Host: KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth

*All times are Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.

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Tue 2/6 at 2 p.m. – Beyond Event Contract Basics: Do You Need Special Clauses?

You’re familiar with the usual contract clauses like cancellation or attrition, but what other clauses should you be considering, for example, sexual harassment policies, emergency preparedness, “do not disturb” policies or other issues? More info/register.
Host: Smart Meetings

Presenter: Lisa Sommer Devlin, JD, attorney with over 25 years’ experience in representing hotels in contract matters

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Wed 2/7 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. – 2018 Convening Leaders Rebroadcast

Join PCMA for a full day of online education and networking. The PCMA Digital Experience Institute will be rebroadcasting the most talked about sessions from Nashville. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

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Wed 2/7 at 12 p.m. CST – Chapter Roundtable in Chicago IL

Connect with fellow Component/Chapter Relations Professionals (CRPs) to network and discuss current chapter challenges, such as how to measure and increase the health of chapters; best practices for chapter operations (volunteer tools, processes, etc.); and how to get the right statistics to prevent national and chapter level members from leaving. Lunch provided. 1 CAE credit. Location: Chicago IL. More info/register.

Host: Billhighway

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Thu 2/8 at 12 p.m. – How to Train, Support & Inspire Chapter Leaders in One Place

Chapter leaders are incredibly dedicated volunteers, but they’re not association management experts. They can be easily overwhelmed by your association’s expectations and the responsibilities of leadership. Ensure your chapter leaders have the knowledge and resources they need to succeed by inviting them to a chapter leadership conference. Join us as we walk through how to train, support and inspire your volunteers all in one place. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Billhighway

Presenter: Peggy Hoffman, CAE, Co-Founder & President, Mariner Management & Marketing LLC

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Thu 2/8 at 12:30 p.m. – Personal Fulfillment Fuels Your Professional Development

So many pieces of life get in the way of professional fulfillment: debt, finances, relationships and just the daily grind. It’s proven that if you are not fulfilled personally, you will never be fulfilled professionally. Discover the four components you need to achieve the quality of life you want. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: .orgCommunity

Presenter: Tom Morrison, CEO, Metal Treating Institute

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Thu 2/8 at 2 p.m. – How to Address Meltdown and Spectre Vulnerabilities at Nonprofits

Learn the best approaches for addressing the Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities as hardware and software manufacturers continue to release and revise their solutions. Hear about the latest fixes and best strategies for applying them. More info/register.

Host: Community IT

Presenters: Matt Eshleman, CTO, and Galen Wenger, Centralized Services Manager, Community IT

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Thu 2/8 at 2 p.m. – Webinar Marketing Predictions for 2018

Take a look into the future of webinar marketing and highlight how you can supercharge your webinar programs in the New Year. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Presenter: Mark Bornstein, VP Content Marketing, ON24, Inc.

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Thu 2/8 at 2 p.m. – Strategic Planning: Creating a Road Map for Association Success

Learn an easy method for looking at the wider context your organization operates in, and why it is important to key into your strengths and opportunities. Find out about a tool for just in time strategic thinking and how to adapt to your situation. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: iCohere

Presenter: Carol Hamilton, Principal, Grace Social Sector Consulting, LLC

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Save the date:

Tue 2/13 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable in Washington DC

Wed 2/14 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable in Alexandria VA

Thu 2/15 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable in Reston VA

Connect with fellow Component/Chapter Relations Professionals (CRPs) to network and discuss current chapter challenges, such as how to measure and increase the health of chapters; best practices for chapter operations (volunteer tools, processes, etc.); and how to get the right statistics to prevent national and chapter level members from leaving. Lunch provided. 1 CAE credit.

Host: Billhighway

Location: Washington DC. More info/register.

Location: Alexandria VA. More info/register.

Location: Reston VA. More info/register.

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That’s it for now. If you can’t attend a live webinar, go ahead and register if the topic interests you. Most webinar hosts send registrants a link to the recording.

Association Brain Food Weekly is published Friday mornings. If your organization offers professional development for the association community, please send me the link via email or Twitter.

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Creative Commons licensed photo by Andrew Ridley on Unsplash

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

It’s that time of year again. Marketing General Inc. is inviting associations to participate in their 10th annual Membership Marketing Benchmarking Survey. Of all the benchmark reports released in the association community each year, this is one of my favorites. The deadline is February 2. Please make sure someone in your association is participating. Your community thanks you.

We can’t predict the future but we can imagine different futures and prepare ourselves and our organizations for those scenarios. WBT Systems shares advice this week on how to think like a futurist.

One thing we can predict about the future: implementing new technology will never stop. A key ingredient for successful technology projects is collaboration. Mike Guerrieri at DelCor Technology Solutions explains how technology and collaboration can be a virtuous cycle.

Warren Buffett invests 80% of his time in reading and thinking. Bill Gates read a book a week. Professionals who don’t keep learning are the new “at-risk” group. Do yourself a favor and read this article by Michael Simmons at Quartz about the necessity for lifelong learning.

If you wish, you can find a lot to complain about in the world. But Nicholas Kristof at The New York Times explains why 2017 was the best year in human history.

Some quick hits:

• Learning to code will eventually be as useful as learning Ancient Greek. (Robert C. Wolcott, Quartz)

• Have a subscription strategy: why a monthly service could be a savvy play for associations. (Ernie Smith, Associations Now)

• Buh bye landlines. More than 50% of homes in the US are now mobile-only. (National Center for Health Statistics)

• Australian raptors deliberately spread brush fires to flush out their prey. (New Scientist)

Check out my Grabbing the Gusto blog if you’d like to see my list of ebook sales and recipes I’ve made this week or plan to make in the coming weeks.

Here’s the list of free professional development events for the association community scheduled for next week. If your organization has a webinar scheduled in the near future, please send me the link. I’ll be happy to feature it as long as it’s not too product-centric.

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Tue 1/23 at 8:30 a.m. – New Year, New Business Trends Your Association Should Watch (Association Coffee Talk – Alexandria VA)

Join a discussion of emerging technology trends and the promise they hold for associations and non-profits, for-profit business practices that can grow revenue for your association, and how to better communicate and connect with your audiences in the new year (and beyond). 1 CAE credit. Location: Alexandria VA. More info/register.

Host: Results Direct

*All times are Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.

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Tue 1/23 at 2 p.m. – Future Proofing Your Career: How to Stay Relevant in the Age of Automation

Hear about the unexpected ways technology has impacted the career trajectories of event professionals worldwide. Discover innovative methods to advance professionally, despite these new challenges. Learn four simple strategies that will help you manage these changes, and succeed as an event strategist. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Presenter: Dan Berger, Founder and CEO, Social Tables

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Tue 1/23 at 2:30 p.m. – Wow Your Members with a New eLearning Program in 2018

Learn how to build a content library, get started with an LMS, and motivate your members to join in the program. More info/register.

Host: UpAbility

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Wed 1/24 at 8:30 a.m. – Partnership Professionals Network Idea Exchange

Staff who manage corporate partnership and sponsorship programs often struggle with tracking. Two former association executives who have developed and managed corporate partnership programs will answer question such as: What should I track? Why should I track? How should I track? For whom should I track? What do I do with the results of tracking? More info/register.

Presenters:

• Bruce Rosenthal, consultant in strategy and implementation of corporate partnership programs
• Barbara Armentrout, provider of personalized services for nonprofits

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Wed 1/24 at 1 p.m. – You Won’t Believe What 1,000+ Association Execs Told Us

Hear the results of a survey of more than 1,000 association professionals across the U.S. and Canada—the results aren’t what you think. Discussion topics include health insurance coverage, member renewal, member benefits, top challenges, plus our personal favorite: what association executives wish their board realized. More info/register.

Hosts: ReviewMyAMS and GrowthZone

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Wed 1/24 at 1 p.m. – 3 Strategies to Future-Proof Your Association

Join association executives and technologists to discuss technological breakthroughs in mobile, eMarketing, data analytics and membership management that help associations transform their business and serve members more intelligently and profitably. Hear experiences and best practices designed to create unlimited event value, be where your members are, measure and optimize, analyze and visualize, make it personal, and identify and drive new revenue opportunities. Bring your ideas and experiences and be ready to contribute to this engaging discussion on how to future-proof your association. More info/register.

Host: Impexium

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Wed 1/24 at 1 p.m. – 10 Event Trends for 2018

Get an overview of the mega trends affecting the industry and an overview of over 70 trends defining event technology, event marketing and social media, venues and destinations, event experience, event decor and styling, and destination management companies. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Event Manager Blog

Presenter: Julius Solaris, editor, Event Manager Blog

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Wed 1/24 at 4 p.m. – Technology Trends Round Table

Hear what New Year’s resolutions the experts have regarding nonprofit technology trends in security, technology management, the cloud, infrastructure, and more. Find out what you can expect in 2018, including how Microsoft Office 365 updates may change your work flow, what’s next after Single Sign On for security, how to upgrade your data management mindset and what new platforms are on the horizon to enable team work. More info/register.

Host: Community IT

Presenters: President and CEO Johan Hammerstrom, Vice President of Operations Johanny Torrico, Chief Technology Officer Matthew Eshleman, and Director of IT Consulting Steve Longenecker, Community IT

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Thu 1/25 at 8:30 a.m. – New Year, New Business Trends Your Association Should Watch (Association Coffee Talk – Reston VA)

Join a discussion of emerging technology trends and the promise they hold for associations and non-profits, for-profit business practices that can grow revenue for your association, and how to better communicate and connect with your audiences in the new year (and beyond). 1 CAE credit. Location: Reston, VA. More info/register.

Host: Results Direct

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Thu 1/25 at 1 p.m. – Creating Competency-Based Microlearning, Following an Agile Development Process

Learn how to design and deliver just-in-time, competency-based learning, leveraging a microlearning approach. Using a specific case study, we will follow the prerequisite steps to determine the skills and competencies needed (needs analysis), explain how to use a roles matrix, identify the outcomes, and select the appropriate instructional delivery modality (competency based). More info/register.

Host: Digitec Interactive

Presenter: Jack McGrath, President and Creative Director, Digitec Interactive

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Thu 1/25 at 2 p.m. – Don’t Make a $23 Million Mistake: What You Need to Know About GDPR

Learn what GDPR is, why it’s happening, and why it matters to meeting planners throughout the world; what planners will need to be able to demonstrate to stay in compliance; and what the impact of GDPR will be on events. Get access to resources for checklists, questions to ask tech vendors, and more. More info/register.

Host: MeetingsNet

Presenter: Kevin Iwamoto, Senior Consultant, Goldspring Consulting

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Thu 1/25 at 2 p.m. – Using Lean Start Up at Your Association

Lean startup methodology has taken the business world by storm in the last several years, with businesses of all sizes and life stages experiencing success following its principles. By building a minimum viable product (MVP), designing experiments to test your MVP with end users, measuring what happens, you are positioned to learn whether to proceed, stop, or pivot. Learn the basics of the lean start up methodology. Discover how this process helps save money. Review methods for co-creation that work for association programs and services. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: iCohere

Presenter: Carol Hamilton, Principal, Grace Social Sector Consulting, LLC

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Thu 1/25 at 5:30 p.m. – Scotch Tasting Happy Hour (Washington DC)

The BeeKeeper Group have graciously offered to host a new year happy hour for ASAE communication section members. More info/register.

Organizer: ASAE Communications Section

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Fri 1/26 at 1 p.m. – How to Go from Zero to eLearning Hero in 2018

Hear about Kara’s eLearning journey, starting with the time she googled “What’s a webcast?” to launching a Learning Management System (LMS) in three months with seven existing online courses and 40 webcasts. Find out where Kara netted out after 12 months, how her organization’s LMS grew revenue by over 130% and what to expect when launching your own LMS. More info/register.

Host: Blue Sky eLearn

Presenter: Blue Sky’s Client Success Manager, Kara Adams

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Save the date: Tue 1/30 at 1 p.m. – How Much Does an AMS Really Cost?

Learn about pricing confusion, what you can expect to pay for an AMS, and how you can keep costs down. Find out what goes into pricing, how to control the costs of a new AMS, and what questions you should be asking technology vendors to ensure the right fit. More info/register.

Host: Community Brands

Presenters:

• Sig VanDamme, Brand Ambassador, Community Brands
• Eric McDonald, sales executive and pricing expert

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That’s it for now. If you can’t attend a live webinar, go ahead and register if the topic interests you. Most webinar hosts send registrants a link to the recording.

Association Brain Food Weekly is published Friday mornings. If your organization offers professional development for the association community, please send me the link via email or Twitter.

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Creative Commons licensed photo by Clever Visuals on Unsplash

 

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