Association Brain Food

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Creative Commons licensed photo by Clever Visuals 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…

Now that holiday feasting and festing is over (sad face), if you’re like me, you’ve recently renewed your commitment to a healthier lifestyle. What throws me off is attending conferences. The folks at Eventpedia understand this dilemma and share six ideas for planning a healthy event experience.

I’ve been a follower of Rohit Bhargava since the early days of Twitter and buy his non-obvious trends books every year. WBT Systems selected six of his 2018 trends and discussed how they apply to the world of online learning.

Women should lead our AI future, says Carlos Perez, author of The Deep Learning AI Playbook. Why? Because AI is currently designed without consideration of one half the human population—women. But, this is more than a diversity issue: “women have a greater intuitive understanding of what makes us all human.”

Cognitive biases explain so much about our political divide, all the –isms and –phobias warping people’s brains, and poor decision-making in general. Since being human means having cognitive biases, you should understand how they affect your opinions and sense of reality. Check out this explanation and visualization of common cognitive biases by Vassilis Tziokas. If you’d like an association context, Kathleen McQuilkin at DelCor Technology Solutions wrote a while back about cognitive biases and technology selection.

Peggy Hoffman shared some ideas on a recent Billhighway webinar on how to reinvigorate your chapters by creating more appealing volunteer opportunities and building a chapter leadership pipeline.

One of my favorite sessions at the Surge virtual summit hosted by Association Success was “Facing and Embracing the Future of Learning” so I’m glad they published an ebook on current trends in micro-learning, micro-credentialing, competency-based education, virtual reality, talent shortages and professional development, and the value ramp.

Some quick hits:

• The New York Times, with more than 3.5 million paying subscribers and growing, proves people will pay for content. After years of deleting cookies, I finally caved and subscribed to the $13/month plan so I can get recipes too. [Aside: Did you know you can get a really cheap digital Washington Post subscription if you’re an Amazon Prime member?] (Business Insider)

• Which college majors have the highest proportion of graduates working as waiters? [Being a waiter is an education in itself. I highly recommend it for young folks.] (Reddit)

• Check out these four predictions on the future of work. (World Economic Forum)

• On-demand streaming now accounts for the majority of audio consumption, says Nielsen. (TechCrunch)

• Four factors are merging the online and offline and in each one China is leading the way. [If you haven’t decided on a major, consider Chinese. Based on my one-semester continuing ed experience, it’s a fascinating language.] (The Economist)

Last week, I shared a list of ebooks on sale—books that have been critically acclaimed in one way or another. But I’ve been thinking, a list of this type is not professionally on topic for this blog. From now on, I’m going to share the list on my other blog—the long ignored Grabbing the Gusto. If you’d like to see that list every week, please subscribe over there. Since Gusto is my food blog, these weekly posts will also include links to recipes I’ve made during the past week or plan to make in the coming weeks.

Ok, finally, 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.

Tue 1/16 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.

Tue 1/16 at 1 p.m. – Telemarketing Still Has a Place in Today’s Association Marketing Mix

Learn why telemarketing is still important in the membership marketing world. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Marketing General Inc.

Presenters: Tim Butte, Relationship Director, and Charity Moody, Manager of Telemarketing Services, Marketing General Inc.

Tue 1/16 at 1 p.m. – GDPR Roadmap for Marketers: Getting Your Organization Primed for Compliance

Few marketers are truly prepared for the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), an aggressive new set of regulations that applies to all organizations, in any location, processing the personal data of a European Union (EU) subject. The GDPR comes with steep fines—up to 4% of global revenues—once enforcement begins on May 25, 2018. Learn what you need to know as marketers to prepare for this new enforcement regime but also turn this into an opportunity that will help you be more successful in your marketing efforts. Take away a 10-point action plan that covers the people, process and technology required to comply with GDPR. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Presenters:

• Alex Langshur, Founder & Co-CEO, Cardinal Path
• James McDermott, CEO, CEO & Co-Founder, Lytics

Tue 1/16 at 2 p.m. – Get Your Sh*t Together: Unsolicited Advice for Association Pros with Guest (Association Chat)

Watch/participate live or view the recording.

Host: KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth

Guest: Jessica Levin, president and chief connector, Seven Degrees Communications

Wed 1/17 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

Wed 1/17 at 1 p.m. – How to Use Artificial Intelligence to Maximize Your Marketing

Marketers anticipate AI use will grow by 53%—a much higher rate than any other technology. Marketers view AI as a means of creating more efficiency in their operations, get more from their data, and ramp up personalization without burdening their teams. Hear what marketing leaders are saying about artificial intelligence, and learn how businesses plan to adopt this new, exciting technology. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Presenter: Bobby Jania, Sr. Director, Product Marketing, Salesforce

Wed 1/17 at 2 p.m. – What You Don’t Know About Your Resume Could Be Killing Your Career

Find out the best formatting tips to make your document pop to the reader. Understand how to write value-driven statements that show how you moved the needle, which is exactly what employers are looking for. Navigate through tough special considerations (i.e. job loss, employment gaps, age-related questions) to create a document that gets attention and ultimately, interviews. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Presenter: Dawn Rasmussen, president, Pathfinder Writing and Career Services

Wed 1/17 at 2 p.m. – Event Tech Tips to Reduce Risk and Improve R.O.I.

Learn the importance of audience and event data to better attribute marketing activities to business outcomes; how to consolidate event management functions to focus on developing content, creating engaging experiences, and building relationships; and important insights for improved decision-making and R.O.I. optimization. More info/register.

Host: BizBash

Presenter: Justin Panzer, CEO, Eventuosity

Wed 1/17 at 2 p.m. – How to Enhance Safety & Security at Your Event

Learn why your event might (or might not) be targeted for potential terrorist attack or even your attendees for more personalized, street attacks. Better understand the common pitfalls and stereotypes that can have us looking for the wrong things and the wrong people that could pose either harm to us or others. Learn specific tactics that can be used to distract us or even lure us into harm’s way. Hear 5+ “best practices” that can be implemented to mitigate such risks. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Pathable

Presenter: Jeff McKissack, President, Defense By Design

Wed 1/17 at 2:45 p.m. – Associations Tableau User Group Meeting (Washington DC)

Explore how Tableau can transform your association’s data. Whether you are new to Tableau or an advanced user, connect with other association professionals using Tableau and learn the latest practices and tips including visualization best practices, analyzing events, and annual reporting. Location: Washington DC. More info/register.

Host: Associations Tableau User Group

Wed 1/17 at 3 p.m. – Breaking Barriers to Entrepreneurship in Associations (Washington DC Idea Swap)

Executives and thought leaders in trade associations and membership societies who are interested in exploring entrepreneurship and change management are invited to help launch the Associations Catalyzing Entrepreneurship (ACE) group. Come discuss barriers to entrepreneurial thinking in associations and swap ideas and experiences to help tackle the other challenges. This is an in-person meeting but a conference line is provided so participants from outside the DC area can dial in. More info/register.

Hosts: Meena Dayak, American Public Power Association, and Jeannie Campbell, National Council for Behavioral Health

Thu 1/18 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

Thu 1/18 at 12:30 p.m. – The Top Privacy and Data Security Trends and Issues for Nonprofits in 2018

Get an overview on U.S. and global privacy and security trends for 2018. Learn about privacy practices that are facing regulatory and legislative scrutiny, and current data security practices and breach scenarios that are likely to attract attention for your nonprofit. Hear about the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as well as real-life compliance examples and practical solutions to the most common privacy and data security issues and challenges being encountered by the nonprofit sector. More info/register.

Host: Venable LLP

Presenters:

• Robert L. Waldman, Esq. (moderator), Partner and Co-Chair, Nonprofit Organizations Practice, Venable LLP
• Kelly DeMarchis Bastide, Esq., Partner, eCommerce, Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice, Venable LLP
• Joel Urbanowicz, Director, Information Security and ICT Process Governance, Catholic Relief Services

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.

Creative Commons licensed photo by Mārtiņš Zemlickis 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…

You’ve almost made it to the end of your first week back, hang in there!

I spent the holiday weeks coughing, sniffling, and reading books, not blogs, so I don’t have much in the way of reading to share this week. I bought a lot of books too. I’m always on the lookout for good ebooks on sale so I thought I might share some of my finds with you. My secret ebook sale sleuthing method is daily alerts from BookBub, Early Bird Books, and Goodreads.

As of Thursday afternoon, these ebooks were still on sale but act quickly if you want a bargain. Fiction first.

• Go, Went, Gone by Jenny Erpenbeck, a German bestseller about the European refugee crisis. ($2.99)
• The God of Small Things: A Novel by Arundhati Roy, a Man Booker prize winner about an affluent Indian family forever changed by one fateful day in 1969. ($2.99)
• Golden Hill: A Novel of Old New York by Francis Spufford was on lots of best-of-2017 lists, the adventures of a mysterious young man in mid-eighteenth century Manhattan, thirty years before the American Revolution. ($1.99)
• Tinkers by Paul Harding, a Pulitzer Prize winner about multiple generations of a New England family. ($2.99)

And in nonfiction…

• A Field Guide to Getting Lost by Rebecca Solnit, autobiographical essays by a writer much loved by Brainpickings and other literary critics. ($2.99)
• Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, from Missiles to the Moon to Mars by Nathalia Holt about a group of young women, known as “human computers” who “transformed rocket design, helped bring about the first American satellites, and made the exploration of the solar system possible.”
• The Life of Elizabeth I by Allison Weir, the one Elizabeth biography I’ve been waiting to read. ($2.99)

Here’s a story about how the American Nurses Association came up with their successful #FitNurseFriday campaign and how they convinced their components to get on board.

WBT Systems suggests starting off the New Year with these seven new habits for learning professionals. I especially like the first one—scheduling time for your own professional development—and not just because they mention Brain Food, but thanks!

We’re back in the lifelong learning business this week. 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.

Mon 1/8 at 8 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.* – 2018 Convening Leaders LIVE

Can’t make it to Nashville for Convening Leaders? The PCMA Digital Experience Institute will be streaming live the most talked about sessions including each day’s main stage, thought leaders from across the globe and business events experts focusing on the most pressing industry topics. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

*All times are Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.

Tue 1/9 at 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. – 2018 Convening Leaders LIVE

Can’t make it to Nashville for Convening Leaders? The PCMA Digital Experience Institute will be streaming live the most talked about sessions including each day’s main stage, thought leaders from across the globe and business events experts focusing on the most pressing industry topics. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Tue 1/9 at 12 p.m. – The Ins and Outs of ASAE’s Gold Circle Awards: What to Know Before You Apply

Discover how you can showcase your association’s successful membership, marketing and communications campaigns by submitting an application for ASAE’s annual Gold Circle Awards. Learn how to apply for the awards, what the judges are looking for, and the ROI of applying. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Presenters: current Gold Circle Awards Committee members, and previous winners and judges

Tue 1/9 at 2 p.m. – The Proctor Is In: eLearning and Virtual Proctoring (Association Chat)

Watch/participate live or view the recording.

Host: KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth

Guests:

• Greg Sadesky, psychometrician and Chief Scientific Officer, Yardstick Testing and Training Experts
• Mickie S. Rops, consultant who specializes in educating organizations on credentialing options

Wed 1/10 at 9 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. – 2018 Convening Leaders LIVE

Can’t make it to Nashville for Convening Leaders? The PCMA Digital Experience Institute will be streaming live the most talked about sessions including each day’s main stage, thought leaders from across the globe and business events experts focusing on the most pressing industry topics. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Wed 1/10 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. Duration: 1 hour. Location: Chicago IL. More info/register.

Host: Billhighway

Wed 1/10 at 1 p.m. – CAE Brown Bag

You’ve seen the letters “CAE” after someone’s name, you’ve heard about the exam, the hours needed, and the application process; now you’re ready to start, but where? Join an informational session on various aspects of obtaining the CAE, such as what is a CAE, benefits of a CAE, application process, eligibility requirements, obtaining and tracking CAE hours, preparing for the exam, what’s on the exam, Association Forum study group, CAE expenses, and CAE scholarships. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Forum

Thu 1/11 at 12 p.m. – Small Staff Association Brown Bag Lunch (Farragut/Dupont, Washington DC)

This casual lunch group of association colleagues is specifically for those who work at small staff associations. Attendees share ideas and ask questions about other associations’ best practices. Location: Washington, DC. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Small Staff Association Professionals

Thu 1/11 at 12:30 p.m. – Improved Employee Engagement through the Gift of GAB (Goals, Attitude, Behavior)

Whether you believe the Gallup poll that only 30% of US workers are “engaged” or not, there’s no doubt that improving employee engagement will enhance not only the workplace environment but also the bottom line. Learn how the Gift of GAB (Goals, Attitude, Behavior) provides a powerful, memorable framework to improve employee engagement, the workplace and the bottom line. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: .orgCommunity

Presenter: Conor Cunneen, IrishmanSpeaks

Thu 1/11 at 1 p.m. – 7 Steps to the Right LMS for Your Association

Great content is only part of the equation for successful online education—most organizations also need a way to effectively deliver the content, track participation, and manage credit and certificates. The right technology can mean the difference between a big success and a big headache, but the selection process can be daunting. Learn about a time-tested process for selecting a learning management system and the pitfalls to avoid. Gain a clear understanding of how to lead your organization in choosing the right learning technology. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Hosts: Tagoras and Community Brands

Presenters:

• Jeff Cobb and Celisa Steele, co-founders, Tagoras
• Anna Toon, product marketing manager for careers & education, Community Brands

Fri 1/12 at 1 p.m. – Structured Content- A Marketer’s Secret Weapon

Structured content is a methodology that enables customers to find your content more easily online, and allows your team to redeploy it more efficiently into multiple formats and media types. Get a crash course on structured content, and how to start using it to your advantage today. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Presenters:

• Joe Pairman, Lead Consultant, Mekon
• Matt Dion, CEO, Mintent

Save the date:

Tue 1/16 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable in Washington DC

Wed 1/17 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable in Alexandria VA

Thu 1/18 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. Duration: 1 hour. Host: Billhighway.

Location: Washington DC. More info/register.

Location: Alexandria VA. More info/register.

Location: Reston VA. More info/register.

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.

Creative Commons licensed photo by Matt Nelson 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…

Researchers learned that children (aged 4-6) perform better during boring tasks when dressed as a superhero or character they admire like Batman or Dora the Explorer. I wonder if I should dress up like one of my heroes when I’m dealing with a tough assignment.

Everyone’s starting to understand blockchain a little bit better since the dramatic rise in Bitcoin’s value has made it a daily headline—and if you don’t, check out this blockchain explainer. Now, here’s a look at 30 non-financial applications of blockchain (or distributed ledger) technology.

One of the things that really bothers me about Bitcoin—besides the fact that I didn’t buy some when I first considered doing so this spring—is its enormous energy consumption. One source says “it could use as much electricity as the whole of the U.S. by the summer of 2019.”

Tis the season for predictions. Daniel Newman, author of Futureproof, identifies five areas where AI will grow in 2018.

If you’re still feeling a bit unsure about AI, machine learning, and deep learning, this short read about AI from rasa.io will clear it up. If you’re willing to spend more time digging in, check out this presentation from Jason Mayes, senior creative engineer at Google.

One example of how AI is becoming part of daily life: Pew Research says “nearly half of Americans use digital voice assistants, mostly on their smartphones.”

From the Self-Serving department: Does business blogging still get results? New data from 1,000 bloggers says, “Yes!”

I couldn’t find any webinars scheduled for the upcoming week, but did find several professional development events for the association community scheduled the next week, so save an hour or two on your calendar for one of these. 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.

Mon 1/8 at 8 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.* – 2018 Convening Leaders LIVE

Can’t make it to Nashville for Convening Leaders? The PCMA Digital Experience Institute will be streaming live the most talked about sessions including each day’s main stage, thought leaders from across the globe and business events experts focusing on the most pressing industry topics. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

*All times are Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.

Tue 1/9 at 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. – 2018 Convening Leaders LIVE

Can’t make it to Nashville for Convening Leaders? The PCMA Digital Experience Institute will be streaming live the most talked about sessions including each day’s main stage, thought leaders from across the globe and business events experts focusing on the most pressing industry topics. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Tue 1/9 at 12 p.m. – The Ins and Outs of ASAE’s Gold Circle Awards: What to Know Before You Apply

Discover how you can showcase your association’s successful membership, marketing and communications campaigns by submitting an application for ASAE’s annual Gold Circle Awards. Learn how to apply for the awards, what the judges are looking for, and the ROI of applying. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Presenters: current Gold Circle Awards Committee members, and previous winners and judges

Tue 1/9 at 2 p.m. – The Proctor Is In: eLearning and Virtual Proctoring (Association Chat)

Watch/participate live or view the recording.

Host: KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth

Wed 1/10 at 9 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. – 2018 Convening Leaders LIVE

Can’t make it to Nashville for Convening Leaders? The PCMA Digital Experience Institute will be streaming live the most talked about sessions including each day’s main stage, thought leaders from across the globe and business events experts focusing on the most pressing industry topics. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Wed 1/10 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. Duration: 1 hour. Location: Chicago IL. More info/register.

Host: Billhighway

Wed 1/10 at 1 p.m. – CAE Brown Bag

You’ve seen the letters “CAE” after someone’s name, you’ve heard about the exam, the hours needed, and the application process; now you’re ready to start, but where? Join an informational session on various aspects of obtaining the CAE, such as what is a CAE, benefits of a CAE, application process, eligibility requirements, obtaining and tracking CAE hours, preparing for the exam, what’s on the exam, Association Forum study group, CAE expenses, and CAE scholarships. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Association Forum

Thu 1/11 at 12:30 p.m. – Improved Employee Engagement through the Gift of GAB (Goals, Attitude, Behavior)

Whether you believe the Gallup poll that only 30% of US workers are “engaged” or not, there’s no doubt that improving employee engagement will enhance not only the workplace environment but also the bottom line.

Learn how the Gift of GAB (Goals, Attitude, Behavior) provides a powerful, memorable framework to improve employee engagement, the workplace and the bottom line. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: .orgCommunity

Presenter: Conor Cunneen, IrishmanSpeaks

Thu 1/11 at 1 p.m. – 7 Steps to the Right LMS for Your Association

Great content is only part of the equation for successful online education—most organizations also need a way to effectively deliver the content, track participation, and manage credit and certificates. The right technology can mean the difference between a big success and a big headache, but the selection process can be daunting. Learn about a time-tested process for selecting a learning management system and the pitfalls to avoid. Gain a clear understanding of how to lead your organization in choosing the right learning technology. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Hosts: Tagoras and Community Brands

Presenters:

• Jeff Cobb and Celisa Steele, co-founders, Tagoras
• Anna Toon, product marketing manager for careers & education, Community Brands

Fri 1/12 at 1 p.m. – Structured Content- A Marketer’s Secret Weapon

Structured content is a methodology that enables customers to find your content more easily online, and allows your team to redeploy it more efficiently into multiple formats and media types. Get a crash course on structured content, and how to start using it to your advantage today. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Presenters:

• Joe Pairman, Lead Consultant, Mekon
• Matt Dion, CEO, Mintent

Save the date:

Tue 1/16 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable in Washington DC

Wed 1/17 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable in Alexandria VA

Thu 1/18 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. Duration: 1 hour. Host: Billhighway

Location: Washington DC. More info/register.

Location: Alexandria VA. More info/register.

Location: Reston VA. More info/register.

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.

Creative Commons licensed photo by Ruben & Sophie Bialon

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

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men. 

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Thanks for being a loyal reader of Association Brain Food Weekly. Wishing you and yours a merry holiday season!

Since it’s the season to be merry, here are 99 reasons why 2017 was, in fact, a good year. Thanks, Angus Hervey, for putting this list together, we need it.

And now, in sourpuss news: has your iPhone’s performance been crappy lately? Ever since I downloaded a recent iOS update—not this past one but the one before—I’ve noticed a dramatic decrease in responsiveness. Everything is slower, especially the Podcast app. I suspected Apple was up to no good and it looks like I was right, per this news from the BBC.

Life gets better when you have a new AMS, but heed this advice from Aptify before you plunge in: every new AMS (or any technology) project needs a change management team.

More advice, this time from DelCor Technology Solutions on what your association needs to know before jumping on the Office 365 bandwagon.

Find out how your association can build a culture of curiosity and collaboration just like rocket scientists do. WBT Systems pulled some lessons from the opening keynote at the ASAE Technology Conference.

There’s nothing going on next week as you would expect during the holiday season, but save an hour or two on your calendar for these upcoming free professional development events for the association community. 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.

Mon 1/8 at 7:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. CST* – 2018 Convening Leaders LIVE

Can’t make it to Nashville for Convening Leaders? The PCMA Digital Experience Institute will be streaming live the most talked about sessions including each day’s main stage, thought leaders from across the globe and business events experts focusing on the most pressing industry topics. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

*All times are Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.

Tue 1/9 at 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CST – 2018 Convening Leaders LIVE

Can’t make it to Nashville for Convening Leaders? The PCMA Digital Experience Institute will be streaming live the most talked about sessions including each day’s main stage, thought leaders from across the globe and business events experts focusing on the most pressing industry topics. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Tue 1/9 at 12 p.m. – The Ins and Outs of ASAE’s Gold Circle Awards: What to Know Before You Apply

Discover how you can showcase your association’s successful membership, marketing and communications campaigns by submitting an application for ASAE’s annual Gold Circle Awards. Learn how to apply for the awards, what the judges are looking for, and the ROI of applying. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Presenters: current Gold Circle Awards Committee members, and previous winners and judges

Wed 1/10 at 8:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. CST – 2018 Convening Leaders LIVE

Can’t make it to Nashville for Convening Leaders? The PCMA Digital Experience Institute will be streaming live the most talked about sessions including each day’s main stage, thought leaders from across the globe and business events experts focusing on the most pressing industry topics. More info/register.

Host: PCMA

Wed 1/10 at 12 p.m. CST – Chapter Roundtable in Chicago IL

Tue 1/16 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable in Washington DC

Wed 1/17 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable in Alexandria VA

Thu 1/18 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. Duration: 1 hour. 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.

Fri 1/12 at 1 p.m. – Structured Content- A Marketer’s Secret Weapon

Structured content is a methodology that enables customers to find your content more easily online, and allows your team to redeploy it more efficiently into multiple formats and media types. Get a crash course on structured content, and how to start using it to your advantage today. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Presenters:

• Joe Pairman, Lead Consultant, Mekon
• Matt Dion, CEO, Mintent

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.

Creative Commons licensed photo by Douglas Rahden.

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

Thanks to all of you who told me during the ASAE Tech Conference that you read Brain Food. I meant it, you made my day.

I’m getting tired of all the “sky is falling” articles about AI. Sure, some jobs will be phased out—historically, some jobs have always been phased out, that’s how the world rolls. But, AI is also going to make work more productive and rewarding for many people, as rasa.io explains in their post about the winning combination of AI + people.

Aptify discusses the huge role association management systems (AMS) play in marketing to prospective members and customers and to existing members and customers. If your AMS can’t do what their post is talking about, it’s time for you to start thinking about replacing it.

Some association staff never miss an opportunity to bitch about chapters—so tiresome and so toxic to the national/chapter relationship. Billhighway recently wrote about a chapter ROI metric developed by association CRP (component relations professional) Patrick Algyer that provided the numbers he needed when he heard the “why do we have chapters” question.

Another scourge: employers who don’t provide a professional development budget to their staff. Ugh, Neanderthals. WBT Systems explains why many employers are so lame about professional development and how your association can help them evolve.

I’m sharing a lot of reads because only a few webinars are scheduled for next week. And, you’ll have lots of reading time over the holidays. Here are some quick hits.

• For the first time, a robot passed a medical licensing exam. (Futurism)
• Interested in any of these 21 jobs that humans will have after robots take over? (Business Insider)
• “Everyone will have 5 years to get their car off the road or sell it for scrap.” Really? (Automotive News)
• What if we didn’t have members? (Indiana SAE)
• Email is not dead. Younger generations expect to use email more in the future than they do now. (Marketing Charts)
• Make journaling one of the best things you do in 2018—14 ways to make that habit stick. (Ryan Holiday)

I shared this one before, but it’s worth sharing again now that Bitcoin is making headlines every week: an explainer on blockchain technology from CB Insights.

Jay Younger from McKinley Advisors identifies five major drivers of change that he’s seen this year in the association sector. These should all be regular topics on staff meeting agendas.

Is your organization actually set up to support your strategy? Although this Harvard Business Review article is written for a corporate audience, the main points apply to associations as well.

As you would expect during the holiday season, there’s not much going on in the way of professional development 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.

Tue 12/19 at 1 p.m.* – Technology Disconnect: Examining the Gap Between Member Expectations and Association Technology

Community Brands surveyed both members and association staff in the U.S. to better understand current member experiences and the technology that supports them. Their insights help identify the growing disconnect between member expectations and the experiences organizations are delivering today. Get a first look at the study findings and dig deeper into the role technology plays in member loyalty, digital behavior and technology adoption trends, and how to prepare your organization for rising member expectations. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Community Brands

Presenters:

• Jenna Jameson, Research Manager, Community Brands
• Sig VanDamme, Membership Software Evangelist, Community Brands

*All times are Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.

Wed 12/20 at 1 p.m. – How to Use Social Insights to Build a Content Strategy

Learn the five steps to creating a winning content marketing strategy, one that’s built with insights culled from a holistic view of your audience—a rich data set illuminating the most relevant topics, time of day and even type of content that engages your audience. More info/register.

Host: American Marketing Association

Presenters:

• Chris Woody, Director of Partner Strategy, Networked Insights
• Sabina Bhasin, Marketing Content Manager, Networked Insights

Wed 12/20 at 2 p.m. – How to Enhance Safety & Security at Your Event

Learn why your event or your attendees might (or might not) be targeted for a potential terrorist attack or more personalized, street attacks. Understand the common pitfalls and stereotypes that can have us looking for the wrong things and the wrong people that could pose either harm to us or others. Learn tactics that can be used to distract us or even lure us into harm’s way. Hear about best practices that can be implemented to mitigate such risks. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Pathable

Presenter: Jeff McKissack, President, Defense By Design

Thu 12/21 at 2 p.m. – Chapters vs. National: Combat the Conflict

Hear about practical strategies you can start using immediately to unify your own organization. Learn how to spot disconnects between chapters and national, from misperceptions to strategic misalignment in vision. Discover how to use communications and process changes to defuse tension, while harnessing solid governance and technology to rebuild trust and respect across the organization. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Billhighway

Presenter: Kyle Bazzy, director of growth, Billhighway

That’s it for this week. 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.

Creative Commons licensed photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash