The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
What a whirlwind of a couple of weeks. I went from stunning grueling experiences—hiking 14 miles down the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, staying overnight at Phantom Ranch at the bottom, hiking 10 miles up the South Rim the next day, and more hiking in Sedona AZ (Bear Mountain was the highlight)—to the intense reality of preparing for a direct hit by Hurricane Florence.
Our tree-surrounded home was spared because the storm ended up hovering over eastern North Carolina before veering south. I’m saddened and stunned by the flooding in the eastern and southern parts of our state—and the rivers and creeks in some areas are still rising. Homes, farms, and businesses have been destroyed by flooding, animals lost, and lives forever changed.
If you have any money to spare, please consider giving to my favorite charity, the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Our independent weekly newspaper also has a list of organizations helping those in need.
What if your association didn’t have members? At Association Success, Tara Puckey considers that question along with several others that get to the gist of what it means to be an association. Her questions would make a great agenda for a brown bag lunch meeting.
You may have read coverage in Associations Now of the Component Hackathon at ASAE Annual, but in case you haven’t, Billhighway describes the newfangled ideas developed by the hackathon participants.
When you implement new technology, like an AMS or LMS, you don’t usually meet the brainiacs behind the scenes who created the software and map out the future of that software. WBT Systems peels back the curtain to introduce the players on the LMS development team and explains how they decide which new features to develop.
A few quick hits before we get to this week’s list of free webinars:
- Your blog posts must be supported by a content marketing ecosystem. (Articulate)
- Three ways to build trust on a remote team. (Achurch Consulting)
- How the INBOUND conference ditched the “manels” and achieved gender equity onstage. (GenderAvenger)
- Are you protecting your organization’s high performers from burnout? (Harvard Business Review)
Off-topic: Check out my Grabbing the Gusto blog for posts about the recipes I’ve made recently or plan to make soon.
Here are the educational events scheduled for next week plus a few extra. If your organization has a free webinar or event coming up, please send me the link. I’ll be happy to feature it as long as it’s not product-centric.
Tue 9/25 at 12 p.m.* – Does Your Website Comply with the ADA? Don’t Wait for a Class Action to Find Out (webinar & New York, NY)
Companies and nonprofits that sell goods or services through their website may be vulnerable to a website accessibility lawsuit. The stats are staggering: We have seen more than 900 complaints filed in district courts around the country since the start of 2018 – and more than 750 in New York alone. CLE credit. Location: online and New York, NY. More info/register.
Host: Venable LLP
Presenters:
- Nicholas M. Reiter, Counsel, Labor & Employment Practice, Venable LLP
- Karel Mazanec, Associate, Labor & Employment Practice, Venable LLP
- Ken Nakata, Director of Accessibility Consulting Practice, Cyxtera
- Douglas B. Mishkin, Partner, Labor & Employment Practice, Venable LLP (Moderator)
*All times are Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.
Tue 9/25 at 12 p.m. – AMC Client Evaluations: What to Ask and What to Do with the Findings
Join our panel of AMC executives for a discussion about the different approaches AMCs take to evaluate client satisfaction and get client feedback. What metrics should you use to gauge your company’s performance? What key performance indicators show your impact? What do you do with client feedback once you get it? Get answers to these questions and more from our seasoned AMC panel. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Association Management Company (AMC) Section
Presenters:
- Emily Petersen, AMPED
- Mike Dwyer, Association Headquarters
- Kaity Van Amersfort, Huntington Management
Tue 9/25 at 12:30 p.m. – The Power of Community: Why Social Media Isn’t Enough
Explore the differences between community and social media, and discuss which channel may be best for what activity. Investigate the limitations of a social-media-only approach to online community. Discover how to enjoy the best of both worlds, using a private community to drive action and social media to get people there. More info/register.
Host: Personify
Tue 9/25 at 12:30 p.m. – Re-Purposing with a Purpose
Your annual conference is a flagship event featuring content you’d love to endure throughout the year. While this is a good instinct, the lure of repurposing recorded content as eLearning is resulting in digital libraries full of under-utilized content. Instead of repurposing, let’s talk about purposing and leveraging conference content for professionally produced eLearning. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Web Courseworks
Presenter: Tracy King, MA, CAE, Chief Learning Strategist & CEO, InspirEd
Tue 9/25 at 2 p.m. – The Show and Tell of Microcredentialing (Association Chat)
Microcredentialing is a hot topic in the association space right now. So what are the considerations before launching a microcredentialing program? Are there costs? Are they a good way for an association to “start to get into the business of certification?” Do they carry the clout and legal weight of a regular certification? More info/register.
Host: KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth
Guest: Lenora Knapp, President of Knapp & Associates International, Inc.
Tue 9/25 at 2 p.m. – 6 Biggest Mistakes Executive Directors Make (And How to Avoid Them)
Learn concrete steps to prevent and fix the six common mistakes EDs make, a holistic approach to “tuning up” your organizations for better performance, and pro-tips on how to reduce stress on the job. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Wild Apricot
Presenter: Sean Kosofsky, Founder, Mind the Gap Consulting
Tue 9/25 at 2 p.m. – Music Licensing and Your Event: What You Need to Know
Knowing the rules of music licensing is an important aspect of ethical meeting planning and can keep you and your organization out of legal trouble. Cut through the acronyms with practical advice on what licenses you need, how much they cost and where to get them. Learn about your responsibility for licensing, whether hiring a DJ, band, or production company, or playing music off your phone. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: PCMA
Presenters: SongDivision CEO Andy Sharpe and leading music rights organization BMI’s Executive Director of Industry Relations, Jessica Frost
Tue 9/25 at 2 p.m. – Everyday Meeting Disasters: Creative Work Arounds—and Smart Planning Strategies to Save Your Event
While it’s critical to prepare for once-a-career issues like hurricanes or terrorism, it’s the “everyday disasters” that meeting professionals have to manage wisely onsite that can make or break a meeting. Veteran meeting pros will walk through eight “everyday disasters,” from medical emergencies to construction interruptions to intoxicated executives, to share their in-the-moment reactions as well as the key planning strategies in order to avoid or mitigate the problem at the next event. More info/register.
Host: MeetingsNet
Presenters:
- Betsy Bondurant, CMM, CTE, president of Bondurant Consulting
- Michal Skalski, account manager at Creative Group
Tue 9/25 at 2 p.m. – Design Trend Forecast 2019
Simply stated, fashion dictates the trends that will follow in home decor and, ultimately event and meeting decor, with heavy influence through social media. In this session, you will learn how to set yourself apart as an industry leader and master the skill of translating the latest fashions into chic events. More info/register.
Host: Smart Meetings
Presenter: Kate Patay, CMPE, Chief Strategy Officer at Patay Consulting
Wed 9/26 at 1 p.m. – Risk Management: Need to Know
Learn why and how you can craft an emergency plan, including threat assessments, by following a few simple steps. Find out what to put in an emergency management plan, what civic organizations to consult with before an event, what security questions to ask venue managers, and resources to explore the issue further. More info/register.
Host: Meetings Today
Presenter: MaryAnne Bobrow, principal of Bobrow & Associates
Wed 9/26 at 2 p.m. – Programmatic Advertising: What It Is, What It Isn’t and What It Can Do for Associations
Programmatic is the fastest growing form of digital advertising and can help your association achieve more advertising relevance. You may be unfamiliar with the term, but you’ve most likely experienced it when using the internet. Learn the basics of programmatic advertising and how it can help your association maximize non-dues revenue, drive member engagement, and add advertiser value. CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Advisor
Presenter: Laura Taylor, Vice President of Digital Operations and Development, Naylor Association Solutions
Wed 9/26 at 2 p.m. – Why Your Event Video Investment Could Garner Big Returns
Explore new strategies to engage your audience with video. From pre-event promotions to year-round programs, uncover how to leverage your content to generate revenue. More info/register.
Host: BizBash
Presenters: Shane Tracy and Tammy Jackson of Mediasite
Thu 9/27 at 12 p.m. – 20+ Tips for Corporate Partnership Renewals (Partnership Professionals Network Idea Exchange – Washington DC)
This is the time of year that many associations focus on renewing their corporate partners and sponsors. However, companies are seeking ROI and have many choices on how to spend their marketing dollars. Renewals aren’t a sure thing. Come to learn – and share – tips for corporate partnership renewals. This is a brown bag (bring your own) lunch meeting. More info/RSVP.
Organizer: Bruce Rosenthal, founder, Bruce Rosenthal Associates, LLC
Thu 9/27 at 2 p.m. – Get the Most Out of APIs (AWTC Meetup & Happy Hour – Washington DC)
You’re probably familiar with APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), but have you developed a strategy for how to get the most out of APIs? Have you determined how APIs play a role in your organization’s IT ecosystem? Get a breakdown on APIs and learn about tools and information you can use in conversations with vendors and your organization’s leadership. Location: Washington DC. More info/register (register before 5:00 p.m. on Tue 9/25).
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Presenter: Gayathri Kher, Co-Founder and President of fusionSpan and the Vice Chair of the ASAE Technology Section Council
Thu 9/27 at 2 p.m. – The Review Economy: How Online Recommendations Impact Your Association and its Members
Empower your members to make more informed buying decisions at work by creating a resource that pairs customer reviews with the authoritative, unbiased essence of your organization. Learn why associations are perfectly positioned to provide a safe place for members to give and read reviews about the products and services they use at work. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: enSYNC Corporation
Tue 10/2 at 12 p.m. CDT – Chapter Roundtable in Rosemont 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: Rosemont IL. More info/register.
Host: Billhighway
Tue 10/2 at 2 p.m. – Geek Chic and Innovation in the Association for High IQs! (Association Chat)
As pop culture has embraced high intelligence and Geek Culture thanks to the popularity of the Big Bang Theory, House, Scorpion, etc., American Mensa is taking this opportunity to inform and engage a new audience who are not as aware of the organization. Learn how the organization is leveraging these cultural influences to enhance its brand through new partnership and licensing opportunities, as well as how the membership is shaping the perception of high intelligence. More info/register.
Host: KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth
Guest: Trevor Mitchell, CAE, executive director/CEO, American Mensa Ltd. and the Mensa Foundation
Wed 10/3 at 12 p.m. CDT – 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
Fri 10/5 at 12 p.m. –Association Analytics Brown Bag (online)
An opportunity for association professionals who are responsible for reporting analytics to leadership, Boards of Directors, and others stakeholders, to come together in a free-flowing environment to share their lunch time and discuss topics such as data analytics, presenting data to a Board of Directors, making a case with data, creating relevant dashboards, or storytelling with dashboards. More info/register.
Tue 10/9 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
Tue 10/9 from 12 to 4 p.m. – Association Palooza VI (Washington DC)
Join your colleagues from the DC-area’s leading associations for leading-edge content, top-notch networking, and lessons learned about “Crafting a Digital Strategy,” “Effective User Experience,” and “Optimizing Your Website for Ongoing Success.” Registration is complimentary for association executives and includes lunch and CAE credit. Location: Washington DC. More info/register.
Hosts: Results Direct & Sitefinity
Tue 10/9 at 2 p.m. – How Associations Can Prepare for the Future of Search & SEO – Voice & Robots (Association Chat)
The system of searching will change, but the needs of the end user won’t. People are always going to be looking for things, and you just need to know how to get your results to show up for them. Learn how associations must prepare for the future of Search and SEO through voice and robots. More info/register.
Host: KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth
Guest: Jeremiah Smith, Cofounder and CEO of SimpleTiger
Wed 10/10 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
Thu 10/11 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 10/11 at 12 p.m. – Surveys Suck: How to Add Member Feedback Automation to Your AMS
You probably send out an annual survey to members. Maybe you capture feedback after a conference. You’re listening to your members. But, there’s so much more you can do to drive continuous feedback. Learn about the best way to capture valuable feedback on a regular basis that will allow you to drive greater member value than ever before. Get access to the knowledge and tools necessary to automate continuous feedback from your members, your staff and your board. More info/register.
Hosts: ReviewMyAMS and PropFuel
Presenters:
- Teri Carden, founder, ReviewMyAMS
- Dave Will, founder, PropFuel
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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