The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Motivation and focus enhancer. If you’ve been distracted at work and dispirited by what’s going on in our country, WBT Systems has some timely advice: remember your purpose. You may look at your to-do list and wish you were working on bigger issues but the fact is, as their post reminds you, you’re already making a difference.
CRPs explained. It’s one of our community’s running jokes: anyone who’s worked in an association has dealt with family and friends who have no idea what they do—even after years in the profession. It’s worse for CRPs aka component relations professionals. Even co-workers don’t always know what they do. “Something with chapters?” Well, that’s a start. Billhighway went straight to the source and found out what people think CRPs do and what CRPs really do.
New ideas for associations. J.P. Moery of The Moery Company says, “We’ve adjusted, adapted, and pivoted. Now it’s time to recover, relaunch, and rebound.” He shares too many good points and ideas about communications, virtual events, and sponsorships to discuss here so go read it!
86 exhibit booths. You’ve probably seen articles over the past few years about the death of the trade show. Not surprising: I’ve heard some friends complain about lousy results from trade shows but others have done alright. Kristine Metter of Crystal Lake Partners says “Don’t move your exhibit program online. Bury it in the ground.” I’d love to see associations consider her idea but the challenge might be having the staff to scale it.
Virtual conference of the week. The CB Insights Tech Conference is relying on a session format that looks much more interesting than the standard association conference. The majority of their speakers are being interviewed for 25 minutes by academics or journalists. I also like the 30-minute roundtables (8 person limit) based on interest, 1:1 virtual networking with other senior-level attendees, and the countdown clock on their home page showing when the registration price goes up.
Quick hits before we get to the list of this week’s free education:
- Help your speakers embrace diversity and inclusion. (Jeffrey Cufaude)
- 15 creative virtual event sponsorship ideas. (Mariana Fernandes, Endless Events)
- Promote and profit off your virtual events with retargeting. (Shawn Smajstrla, Multiview)
- How to protect yourself online from misinformation right now. (Abby Ohlheiser, MIT Technology Review)
Good eats—skip down to the list of free webinars if you’re not into cooking. If you are, check out my weekly In The Kitchen posts for more.
- I’ve mentioned this one before: pan-seared fish fillets (this time, speckled trout) in a white wine, tomato and basil sauce. It doesn’t take much effort and the results are spectacular.
- Another quickie fish dish: baked striped mullet fillets. Just top them with a bit of butter, salt and shichimi togarashi—a Japanese spice blend of orange peel, black, white and toasted sesame seeds, cayenne, ginger, Szechuan pepper and nori.
- This dish is so good: one-pot turmeric coconut rice with greens, kale in my case. We had it as a side with the striped mullet. But it was also fantastic for breakfast with a runny fried egg or two on top.
- Sunday was fish (mahi mahi) taco night with homemade corn tortillas. The tortillas were easy to make—I used a Pyrex pie dish instead of a tortilla press. They came out great but got stale after a day or so in the refrigerator.
- I baked the mahi mahi fillets with a rub of ancho chile powder, chipotle powder, cumin, coriander, dried oregano and salt. Our taco toppings and sides were: shredded green cabbage, chopped radish, salsa verde (the raw version), guacamole, cheesy black bean bake, and calabacitas (a summer squash medley—they’re already showing up in our CSA). Quite a feast with enough leftovers for a second night.
Here are the educational events scheduled for next week. If you have a free webinar or event coming up, please send me the link before Wednesday evening the week before it’s scheduled. I’ll be happy to feature it as long as it’s not too product-centric.
Until next week, stay awkward, brave and kind.*
*I picked this up from Brené Brown whose podcast I’ve been enjoying lately.
Fri 6/12 at 1 p.m.* – How to Improve Your Association Business Model NOW!
Associations must be able to clearly explain how they create, deliver and capture value for stakeholders in these challenging times. Learn the steps to visually describe your current model and design new ones using the business model canvas. Hear about the nine building blocks of every successful model so you can determine where things must change to better meet member and critical stakeholder needs. More info/register.
Host: Tecker International
Presenters:
- Michael Anderson, CAE, FASAE, FAUSAE, Senior Consultant, Tecker International LLC
- KiKi L’Italien, Senior Consultant, Tecker International, LLC
*All times are Eastern Daylight Savings Time unless otherwise noted.
Fri 6/12 at 1 p.m. – How to Go Virtual (While Still Creating an Engaging Experience)
Learn how to take events online in a way that is going to deliver high value, create an engaging experience, and preserve the outcomes you were seeking to achieve with your in-person conference. Hear about some major considerations for online engagement. Find out how to design for virtual-first experiences, satisfy the desire to network, and keep your members engaged. We’ll also touch on the tech because we know it’s on your mind! More info/register.
Host: Matchbox Virtual Media
Presenters:
- Graham Harvey, Chief Strategy Officer, Matchbox Virtual Media
- Allen Lloyd, CAE, Executive Director, Montana Society of CPAs
- Arianna Rehak, CEO & Co-Founder, Matchbox Virtual Media
- Jeff Cobb, Managing Director, Tagoras
Fri 6/12 at 2 p.m. – Exploring Anger, Frustration and Hopelessness: From COVID-19 to George Floyd
From COVID-19 to the public deaths of black citizens, this virtual session will explore the impact of multiple pandemics, challenges to interacting with and serving each other across different viewpoints, and approaches to effectively have these difficult conversations. Participants will discuss and learn strategies to identify and work through emotions elicited by our current reality, effective communication techniques for dialogue and increased understanding across differences, and our individual responsibilities for moving forward with intention and purpose. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Presenters:
- Janet Crenshaw Smith, cofounder and president, Ivy Planning Group
- Gary A. Smith, cofounder and senior partner, Ivy Planning Group
Mon 6/15 at 12 p.m. – Time for Action: Modern-Day Support for Equity & Justice Panel Discussion
Join this timely discussion of commitment to action and sustainable change in regards to increasing representation in leadership, supplier diversity and inclusive event practices. The time has passed for our industry to take action in support of equity for all people and demonstrate tactics that solve inequality. Discuss ways you can personally and professionally be an ally to those who continue to seek equal rights. 1 CMP credit. More info/register – fee for MPI non-members.
Host: MPI
Mon 6/15 at 1 p.m. – Chatting with Agnes & Cecilia
This series of 15-minute videos cover hot topics and issues related to 501c organization management. A new episode is posted every Monday by 1 p.m. More info.
Hosts:
- Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC
- Agnes Amos-Coleman, MBA, CMP, education, conference, event, certification consultant, Amos-Coleman
Mon 6/15 at 2 p.m. – American Associations Week 2020: Policy Briefing
This webcast will provide a briefing on the policy issues at stake for the association community, including the effort to include associations in the Paycheck Protection Program and the creation of a Pandemic Risk Insurance Program that would provide a federal backstop for prospective insurance claims. Join the session to learn the latest on congressional relief efforts and what you can do to grow support for associations on Capitol Hill. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Presenters:
- Susan Robertson, CAE, president and CEO, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership
- Mary Kate Cunningham, CAE, vice president, public policy, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership
- Jeff Evans, associate director, public policy, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership
- Sandra G. Swirski, partner, Urban Swirski & Associates
Mon 6/15 at 3:30 p.m. – American Associations Week 2020: Fireside Chat with Kimberly Reed
Join this session to hear from Kimberly Reed, CAE, the chairman of the Export-Import Bank and a former association professional. Reed will share how EXIM supports associations, their small-business partners, and association members who export. She will also discuss the EXIM COVID-19 relief program. A question-and-answer session will follow. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Presenters:
- Susan Robertson, CAE, president and CEO, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership
- Kimberly A. Reed, CAE, president and chairman, Export-Import Bank of the United States
- Mary Kate Cunningham, CAE, vice president, Public Policy, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership
Tue 6/16 at 12 p.m. – Adaptation: The New Competitive Advantage (Coronavirus Dialogue Series)
Businesses need to think about how to adapt quickly, how to make quick decisions, how to pivot their business operations, or perhaps even what products they offer to their customers. In order to survive companies, need to think about their organizational capabilities that foster rapid adaptation. Understand foundational adaptation theory and how it can apply to various industries and businesses. Identify signals in the market that can impact how you operate. Find out how, when you’re overwhelmed with changing information, you can pick up the right signals to understand and harness change. 1 CMP credit. More info/register – fee for MPI non-members.
Host: MPI
Presenter: Dr. Chitra Anand
Tue 6/16 at 1 p.m. – Coronavirus and Your Meeting Contracts
If your meeting is scheduled to occur in the next few months, this webinar will discuss what your options are in making a Go or No-Go decision and how to interpret your contracts regarding liability. It will also cover how to prepare future contracts and the four legal standards to include to protect meeting sponsors from not only epidemics and diseases, but other disasters as well. 1 CE credit. More info/register.
Host: Prevue Meetings & Incentives
Presenter: John Foster, Esq., CHME, attorney at Foster, Jensen & Gulley
Tue 6/16 at 2 p.m. – American Associations Week 2020: Share Your Story
A powerful way to communicate is through storytelling. This webcast will help you tell your association story in ways that resonate with Congress and Capitol Hill staff, provide you with tools for preparing congressional calls to action, and explore strategies for using social media for advocacy. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Presenters:
- Dani Mackey, president, Dani Mackey Communications
- Chris Vest, CAE, director, public policy, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership
- Jeff Evans, associate director, public policy, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership
- Nate Fisher, manager, public policy and APAC, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership
Tue 6/16 at 2 p.m. – From Competitor to Compatriot (Association Chat)
“Coopetition” could be a financial win for the organizations that opt to go that direction. With rising costs of R&D and globalizing competition, it often makes sense to collaborate with competitors on product development, innovation and joint manufacturing. But becoming a collaborator with your competitor can be a challenge. Hear about the ways competitors can work together and why they should consider it. More info/register.
Host: KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth, and senior consultant, Tecker International, LLC
Guest: Mahoganey Jones, founder of Event Specialists
Tue 6/16 at 2 p.m. – Breaking Open a New Channel for Member Engagement
Before COVID-19 changed the game, associations were already looking to geographic components (aka chapters) as an increasingly important engagement channel. Fast forward a couple of months and the value intensifies. In the reasonable scenario that large meetings are on hold through much of 2021, the value of geographic chapters increases as members look for learning closer to home. Explore the data and the stories from the field to unlock how we can use chapters to stay connected to members. More info/register.
Hosts: ReviewMyAMS and Mariner Management
Presenters: Mariner Management’s Peter Houstle and Peggy Hoffman, FASAE, CAE
Tue 6/16 at 2 p.m. – Security Considerations For Your Next Event
Attendee safety has always been a top priority for any event organizer, and now the world is on high alert. Security measures have increased in every aspect, so we have brought in the experts. Join us as we move through protocols and procedures to keep everyone, from attendees to VIPs, safe when they step back into face-to-face events. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: PCMA
Presenters:
- Michael Wigent, Americas Manager, Global Protective Service, Cisco Systems
- Nick Willis, Regional Operations Manager EMEAR, Protective Services, Cisco Systems
Tue 6/16 at 2 p.m. – How Planners and Suppliers are Coming Together to Plan Meetings Now
Hear how meeting professionals are coming together from all over the world to continue planning against all odds, how meeting professionals are safely transitioning back to events, and the tools to continue sourcing events with confidence. More info/register.
Host: Smart Meetings
Presenters:
- Sandy Hammer, CMO and Co-Founder, Allseated
- Marin Bright, CEO, Smart Meetings
Wed 6/17 at 9:30 a.m. – NonProfit, How Will Your Events Remain Special? (Fireside Chat Series)
PopChic Events is thrilled to launch PopChic Chats, a live video series featuring experts and entrepreneurs from around the events industry. We aim to inform, enlighten, engage, and build community for the transition from live to virtual events. More info/register.
Host: PopChic Events
Presenter: Yolanda F. Johnson, President, YFJ Consulting
Wed 6/17 at 10 a.m. – American Associations Week 2020 – Congressional Town Hall with Rep. Rob Wittman (VA-01)
Join this session to hear from Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) and to celebrate him as a recipient of a 2020 ASAE Sentinel Award for his stewardship of important issues in the nonprofit community. Rep. Wittman will discuss his critical bill, the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act (H.R. 5339), and the importance of postsecondary education and credentials. There will be Q&A at the end of the town hall. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Wed 6/17 at 12 p.m. – Remote Employee Engagement: 4 Ways to Tap into Employee Ideas
We’re all working remotely now—but is it working? If you simply transplant the way you did things in the office to the remote environment, it’s going to cause friction, and results will start to suffer, conflicts and miscommunications will arise, and progress will slow because of it. Learn about specific adjustments you can make to your remote work environment to help it run more smoothly. More info/register.
Host: Human Workplaces and QuestionPro
Presenters:
- Jamie Notter, Founding Partner, Human Workplaces
- Anup Surendran, VP – Product, QuestionPro
Wed 6/17 at 12 p.m. – Content Forum Weekly Community Chat
Join Content Forum members for content strategy advice, to share what you are working on, and for support with any professional and personal challenges you are facing. Join first, then look in Events for more information
Host: Content Forum
Wed 6/17 at 1 p.m. – #ExpoChat on Twitter
ExpoChat is a Twitter-based conversation on topics related to the trade show industry. More info.
Wed 6/17 at 1 p.m. – Association Reserves: Investment Lessons Learned and How to Apply Them
Hear critical lessons learned and discuss what actions associations should be considering now, such as: is it time to buy stocks, are bonds safe, should we rebalance, what sectors are the safest, and more. We’ll also look at the critical role investment policies could have made in guiding decisions and bringing discipline when it was needed most, review areas in which many investment policies fell short, and share best practices from the peer benchmarking Study on Nonprofit Investing for Associations. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Finance and Business Operations Professionals Council
Presenter: Dennis Gogarty, CFP®, AIF®, President, Raffa Wealth Management, LLC
Wed 6/17 at 2 p.m. – American Associations Week 2020: Advocacy Amid Uncertainty
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that advocacy work is more than just when Congress or a state legislature is in session. Regardless of our current crises, a year-round advocacy strategy drives greater engagement, builds stronger relationships, and is a mark of successful advocacy programs. This webinar will provide expertise to help develop a plan for every month of the year. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Presenters:
- David Lusk, founder and CEO, Key Advocacy
- Sherry Stanley Whitworth, managing director, FiscalNote
- Quardricos B. Driskell, MPP, legislative & political affairs manager, American Urological Association
- Danielle Duran Baron, CAE (moderator), founder, Insightful Concepts
Wed 6/17 at 3 p.m. – Remote Staff, Office Staff—Tech Tips For Nonprofits
With the sudden shift to working from home, many organizations scrambled to put tools and systems in place quickly for their remote staff and office staff. In the rush to be operational, it was hard to take the time to compare new tools to existing tools, or consider the security ramifications of any of these sudden changes. Now, the question is: How to take the benefits from that experience and bring new data, policies, and processes into our official systems of record and cybersecure best practices? More info/register.
Host: Community IT
Presenter: Community IT Innovators CEO Johan Hammerstrom
Wed 6/17 at 3:30 p.m. – American Associations Week 2020: Congressional Town Hall with Senator Tim Kaine
Join this session to hear from Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) about the latest on what Congress is doing to support America amid COVID-19, his support for the association community, and how associations can continue to help this country recover. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Thu 6/18 at 12 p.m. – Pivoting Your Chapter Leadership Conference to Virtual
Learn about a framework to take your physical chapter leader conference virtual. Get tips on how to train, support and inspire volunteers at your virtual chapter leader conference, ideas for how to use an online platform for chapter leader training so they can experience virtual education themselves, and real-world examples of associations that took their chapter leader conference virtual with details on their successes and takeaways. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Hosts: Billhighway and Mariner Management
Presenter: Peggy Hoffman, FASAE, CAE, president and executive director, Mariner Management
Thu 6/18 at 12 p.m. – Diversity and Inclusion Starts with You (virtual DC Idea Swap)
52% of nonprofits have a diversity statement but true D&I goes beyond developing a statement. You need a diversity strategy and a way to implement that strategy. Whether you’re at the start of your process, or your D&I strategy needs updating, learn how to understand diversity, equity and inclusion, your role in DEI change, and the positive impact your DEI actions can have on your association. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Greater Washington / National Capital Community
Presenter: Trevor Mitchell, MBA, CAE, Executive Director/CEO of American Mensa, Ltd. and the Mensa Foundation
Thu 6/18 at 1 p.m. – An Hour of Innovation
Hear about dozens of tools, tips and resources for injecting innovation into your programs, covering every aspect of meeting planning, from technology to meeting formats to F&B and more. More info/register.
Host: Prevue Meetings & Incentives
Presenter: James D. Feldman, CSP, CITE, CPIM, CPT
Thu 6/18 at 2 p.m. – American Associations Week 2020: Leveraging Data to Achieve Policy Goals
With an increase in digital advocacy the competition for policymakers’ attention is tougher than ever. This session will examine how research and data serve as critical tools to demonstrate your case to legislators. During this program, GovPredict will join us to cover new trends in research, data visualization, and how to employ a data-driven approach to effectively engage with elected officials, now and into the future. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Presenters:
- Susan Robertson, CAE, president and CEO, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership
- Mary Kate Cunningham, CAE, vice president, public policy, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership
- Max Perkins, vice president, Lobbyit
- Emil Pitkin, CEO, GovPredict
- Margarita L. Valdez, assistant director of congressional relations, American Society for Radiation Oncology
Thu 6/18 at 2 p.m. – Top Tips for Member Onboarding
It’s exciting when a new member joins or an existing member renews. Do they know how excited you are? They should! Learn the tips and tricks that will help you engage members and increase their likelihood of getting involved (and staying involved) with your association or chamber without feeling overwhelmed. More info/register.
Host: MemberClicks
Presenter: Scott Oser, President, Scott Oser Associates
Thu 6/18 at 2 p.m. – Differentiating Virtual Events to Increase Engagement
Over the past few months, event planners have been faced with the challenge of transitioning their events to the virtual world. Learn how meals can bring everyone to the table while they log in remotely, driving not only attendance but also engagement from attendees. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MeetingsNet
Presenter: Heather Grobaski, Senior Enterprise Sales Executive, Grubhub
Thu 6/18 at 2 p.m. – Level Up Your Virtual Events – How to Bring Live Event Production Value to Your Virtual Audience
Get a dose of inspiration from keynote speaker David Meltzer, then learn how production value enhances the message and is vital to virtual events. More info/register.
Host: Smart Meetings
Presenters:
- David Meltzer, co-founder of Sports 1 Marketing
- Brian Lagestee, CEO of Clarity Experiences
Thu 6/18 at 2:30 p.m. – How to Host a Virtual Conference
Join us for a lively discussion on how to host a virtual gala, conference, or annual meeting. This will include a presentation by Justin Watson from Association Virtual Conferences followed by discussion from attendees. More info/register.
Host: DC-Metro Association-Nonprofit Tech Network
Thu 6/18 at 3 p.m. – Using Data to Plan, Execute, and Measure Association Marketing Strategies
The association website is a powerful tool to share resources and deliver value to members. This webinar will focus on how associations can build a winning website and optimize their digital presence to maximize results. More info/register.
Host: Association Analytics
Thu 6/18 at 3:30 p.m. – American Associations Week 2020: Fireside Chat with Andrew Grossman, Chief Tax Counsel for the House Ways and Means Committee
Join this session to hear from Andrew Grossman, chief tax counsel for the House Ways and Means Committee, and to celebrate him as a recipient of a 2020 ASAE Sentinel Award for his stewardship of important issues in the nonprofit community. Grossman will give updates on what the Ways and Means Committee is working on for the rest of the year and will answer questions from the audience. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Fri 6/19 at 12:30 p.m. – Risk Management in Meetings Moving Forward
Get an overview on managing risks when entering into meetings and event contracts in the age of COVID-19. More info/register.
Host: HopSkip
Presenters:
- Barbara Dunn, Partner, Barnes & Thornburg LLP (representing group clients)
- Lisa Sommer Devlin, Principal, Devlin Law Firm, P.C. (representing hotel clients)
Fri 6/19 at 1 p.m. – How to Go Virtual (While Still Creating an Engaging Experience)
Learn how to take events online in a way that is going to deliver high value, create an engaging experience, and preserve the outcomes you were seeking to achieve with your in-person conference. Hear about some major considerations for online engagement. Find out how to design for virtual-first experiences, satisfy the desire to network, and keep your members engaged. We’ll also touch on the tech because we know it’s on your mind! More info/register.
Host: Matchbox Virtual Media
Presenters:
- Graham Harvey, Chief Strategy Officer, Matchbox Virtual Media
- Allen Lloyd, CAE, Executive Director, Montana Society of CPAs
- Arianna Rehak, CEO & Co-Founder, Matchbox Virtual Media
- Jeff Cobb, Managing Director, Tagoras
Fri 6/19 at 2 p.m. – Why Just Video Conferencing is Not Sufficient for Association Governance
Many organizations have turned to videoconferencing tools like Zoom, GoToMeeting, and Skype to help their leaders come together and stay connected during this crisis. But is that enough? Learn the most common challenges inherent in virtual meetings and remote collaboration, best practices and tools for addressing common challenges, and a meeting workflow that can help you run effective and productive leadership, board, and committee meetings from anywhere. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Presenter: Paul Lockhart of Passageways-OnBoard
Wed 6/24 at 1 p.m. – How Integrated Payments Can Benefit Your Nonprofit
Nonprofits deal with a lot of moving parts to ensure their operations are always running smoothly, and payment processing is no exception. Hear tips for reducing monthly processing fees, how integrated payments can amplify your growth, and the importance of data security and PCI compliance. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: MemberSuite
Wed 6/24 at 2 p.m. – Wow Your Virtual Attendees and They’ll Beg for More
Wondering how you can craft a virtual conference that is more than just a series of Zoom meetings? Want to recreate the big energy and zest of an in-person event, while also providing a way for your attendees to connect in meaningful ways just like they do in the hallways? Hear lessons learned from transforming in-person events into virtual events, and how you can create an experience that will blow your attendees away. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Matrix Group and 100Reviews
Presenters:
- Joanna Pineda, CEO, Matrix Group
- Teri Carden, Co-Founder of 100Reviews
Thu 6/25 at 2 p.m. – Innovation, Associations as Catalysts, A Virtual Conversation
Help the taskforce explore the role associations play in serving as catalysts for innovation in their industry, especially during a time of universal uncertainty and rapidly evolving societal needs. We’d like to hear how your association has cultivated innovation within the discipline or industry you represent, and the successes and challenges that innately come when serving as an agent for change. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Research Foundation’s Innovation Taskforce
Facilitators:
- Lowell Aplebaum, CEO & Strategy Catalyst, Vista Cova
- Preet Bassi, CEO, Center for Public Safety Excellence
- Matthew D’Uva, CEO, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
Association Brain Food Weekly is published Friday mornings. If your organization offers free professional development for the association community, please send me the link via email or Twitter before Wednesday evening.
Photo: one of mine, Bryce Canyon NP (that’s for you, Teri!)
Association Brain Food 