The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Chapter benchmarking data. Billhighway explains what to do with benchmarking data you collect from chapters. They describe how the Association General Contractors of America shares this data with its chapters, provides resources to help them improve performance, and supports their growth with chapter leader training and development.
Online learning. Since everyone went virtual over the past year, the competition has heated up in the online learning marketplace. WBT Systems suggests a baker’s dozen ways to differentiate your online learning programs from the competition.
Virtual expo. Most of the people I know who exhibited at virtual conferences this past year were not pleased with the results. Tracy King has come to the rescue with an excellent idea: host the trade show/expo on your learning management system (LMS)—a long-lasting and sustainable solution for exhibitors, prospective customers and your association.
Exhibitors. Whether they’re at an in-person, virtual or hybrid trade show, a survey shows exhibitors are dissatisfied. Dana Freker Doody at Trade Show News Network suggests how to solve their biggest gripe: not enough real engagement with show attendees.
Virtual conference pricing. Casey Gale at PCMA Convene writes about two associations that tweaked their plans for a second year of digital events. The changes made by the American Society for Nutrition to their pricing model are worth noting.
Quick hits
- Four questions to help vet your content ideas. (Amanda Milligan, Content Marketing Institute)
- Yes, you can be an outgoing introvert—here are three signs you fit this personality profile. This is so me. (Erica Sloan, Well + Good)
- What is your click-to-open rate and how do you improve it? (Jessica Malnick, Databox)
Good eats
Skip down to the list of free webinars if you prefer takeout. If you’re a home cook, check out the irregularly published In The Kitchen posts on my Grabbing the Gusto blog.
- Lots of fish this past week. One night, we had blackened mahi mahi. On the side, leftovers—a sauté of summer squash, kohlrabi, green onions, garlic and basil.
- Another night, we had baked lemon parmesan white grunt for dinner. Since I had chervil from the CSA, I used lots of it in the topping. I mixed some of the leftover blackened spice mix from the night before into the summer squash sauté that was going on its third night.
- There’s something about the combo of coconut milk and curry paste, boy, I love it, so I jumped at making Fish in Choo Chee Thai Curry Sauce from Nancie McDermott’s Quick & Easy Thai: 70 Everyday Recipes. My notes from the last time I made it said, “Excellent. Yes, damn good.” This time I made it with a mix of catfish and striped mullet, and served it over jasmine rice—and, yes, it was damn good.
- On the side, a summer squash sauté again—I’m getting a boatload of squash every week from the CSA—tossed this time with a southeast Asian-style pesto.
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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 morning the week before it’s scheduled. I’ll be happy to feature it as long as it’s not too product centric.
Fri 6/25 at 11:30 a.m.* – DEI Practitioners Social Hour: Why Is It So Hard to Talk About Race?
Join fellow association colleagues and Mariama Boney, LMSW, CAE as we explore options around introducing a race equity framework to your organization. We will discuss how to identify the best framework for your organization and the challenges and successes that may arise as you implement. More info/register.
*All times are Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.
Fri 6/25 at 12 p.m. – The Global Journey: Cultural Tips To Help You Soar
Hear valuable cultural tips on nine countries/regions (USA, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Ghana, Middle East, India, China, Japan), including a brief overview of each culture’s customs and norms to help you understand the similarities and differences between them. 1 CMP credit. More info/register (possible fee for MPI non-members).
Host: MPI
Fri 6/25 at 12 p.m. – EventTech Chat
A weekly conversation about meeting and event technology, including software, hardware, and audiovisual for in-person and online events. More info/register.
Host: Brandt Krueger, founder Event Technology Consulting
Fri 6/25 at 1 p.m. – Demystifying LMS-AMS Integration Options: For Association Non-Techies
Get an overview of terms and technology concepts having to do with LMS-AMS integrations, discuss the important end-user and association staff benefits—and potential pitfalls—of LMS-AMS integrations, and see live examples of LMS-AMS integrations. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Blue Sky eLearn
Fri 6/25 at 1:30 p.m. – Re-Entry Roundtable: Mastering Hybrid Meetings & Events
As we transition to hybrid environments, hosting effective meetings and events becomes more complicated. Find out what an effective, inclusive meeting looks like for a hybrid team, which all-virtual activities we should maintain post-COVID, which activities should *only* be held in person, and wow to best engage with clients and members going forward. More info/register.
Host: Optimal Networks
Presenter: Joanna Pineda, CEO, Matrix Group
Fri 6/25 at 4 p.m. – Performance Driven: How to Overcome the Paradox of Potential
Learn the reasons why people say they’re missing their potential; how to make the switch from “wishing” to “doing;” how to gain clarity about plans, purpose and people, and how they relate to your success; the biggest limiting beliefs and how to circumvent them; and how to lead your team over the gap between potential and results. More info/register. (Must join Fridays@4 for free first.)
Host: Fridays@4
Presenter: Thom Singer, CSP, executive search consultant and a professional speaker
Mon 6/28 at 1 p.m. – CyberStory with Sanjay Deo (Chatting with Agnes & Cecilia)
This series of 15- to 20-minute videos cover hot topics and issues related to 501c organization management. New episodes are posted by 1 p.m. every Monday. Check out Cecilia’s Nonprofit Executive Spotlight series too.
Guest: Sanjay Deo
Hosts:
- Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC
- Agnes Amos-Coleman, MBA, CMP, education, conference, event, certification consultant, Amos-Coleman
Tue 6/29 at 11 a.m. – Sponsorship Growth for Your Nonprofit
Are you currently utilizing sponsorship as a funding source for your nonprofit organization? Do you hope to launch a sponsorship program but don’t know where to start? Does your current program need a refresh to maximize your results? Learn how to leverage sponsorship and corporate partnerships to benefit the future of your organization. More info/register.
Host: Nonprofit Learning Lab
Presenter: Melissa Lagowski, Big Buzz Idea Group
Tue 6/29 at 2 p.m. – Revenue Success from Scratch: One Association’s Story
Learn how The National Alliance generated non-dues revenue from continuing education and certification, how they continue to innovate and develop new education offerings to their industry, and tips for growing non-dues revenue from education and certification programs, marketing strategies, pricing models, and partnerships with members. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: 100 Reviews/Non-Dues-A-Palooza
Presenters:
- William Hold, President and CEO of The National Alliance of Insurance Education and Research
- Michelle Brien, VP of Marketing and Product Strategy for TopClass LMS by WBT Systems
Tue 6/29 at 2 p.m. – #RealTalk Dialogue Series | State of Crisis: Leveraging Meetings for Transgender Justice
2021 has seen a 250% increase in anti-transgender discriminatory bills introduced at the state level since 2017, when many people first remember hearing about “bathroom bills.” 33 states have introduced more than 100 bills this year aiming to diminish, or completely take away, the rights of transgender people in the United States. Learn how the industry has served as a catalyst for change on LGBT issues before and how it can be done again, how to better serve transgender tourists and event attendees in meaningful ways while avoiding “rainbow capitalism,” and understand the influence of your dollar and the message socially responsible economic spending sends. 1 CMP credit. More info/register (possible fee for MPI non-members).
Host: MPI
Presenters:
- Chase Brunson, Marketing and Development Manager, The Rise School of Austin
- Marques Davison
- Katrina Whaley, Field Producer, Reel Impact
Tue 6/29 at 2 p.m. – Post-Pandemic Contract Clauses You Need to Know
Hear a general overview of key contractual provisions to keep in mind for negotiations with all types of venues as things continue to open up to try and mitigate issues in the future. Learn what to include—and not include—in venue contracts, real world force majeure clause triggers in a post-Covid world, and how to negotiate for a win-win and prepare for the worst. More info/register.
Host: Smart Meetings
Presenter: Ty M. Sheaks, faculty legal advisor to the International Association of Venue Managers, and lead for McCathern, Shokouhi, Evans, Grinke’s Restaurant & Hospitality Section
Tue 6/29 at 3 p.m. – Pronouns Are Evolving: Here’s What You Need to Know
We’ll help you navigate your way through this new and evolving world of expanding pronouns that is more than just being ‘grammatically or politically correct.’ It’s about better understanding our colleagues, peers, suppliers, clients, planners and attendees and providing them the same respectful treatment we strive to accord everyone. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: PCMA
Presenters:
- Sarah Lewis, Porter Novelli
- Ed Salvato, LGBTQ marketing specialist
Tue 6/29 at 3 p.m. – Driving Diversity: Move Beyond the Checkbox and Unlock the Value of DEI
Do you want to engage in the diversity conversation but need to know where to ask and how to start? Hear how to go beyond the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) checkbox and develop a program where employees thrive and business outcomes are achieved. Explore the powerful impact that DEI has on people, culture and performance. Go back to the basics of what diversity is, how to manage unconscious bias and how to create meaningful DEI impact in our rapidly changing world. More info/register.
Host: Boma
Presenters:
- Donald Thompson, founder and CEO of The Diversity Movement
- Kaila Colbin, co-founder, Boma
Wed 6/30 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. – Day of Diversity
In our increasingly interconnected world, openness and appreciation of differences are paramount to create welcoming experiences. LGBT MPA welcomes all to recognize the past, honor the present, and strive for a stronger future together through our “Day of Diversity.” In honor of PRIDE month 2021, this day will promote self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of diversity in the meetings and events industry. More info/register.
Host: LGBT Meeting Professionals Association
Wed 6/30 at 10 a.m. – 10 Essential Steps When Planning Hybrid Events
A new Eventsforce research study with 200+ event planners, shows that 75% are planning on running hybrid events in 2021-2022, with the majority of those taking place from October this year. Even with the right budgets and resources to fund a hybrid event strategy, many organizers feel unsure where to start. Learn about the ten essential steps when planning your hybrid event from agenda design and new sponsor opportunities to blending your virtual and in-person experiences, plus how to apply learning from virtual to hybrid and choose the right hybrid event model. More info/register.
Host: Eventsforce
Wed 6/30 at 11 a.m. – The Most Innovative Campaigns in Digital Advocacy
From doubling advocate databases, conducting hugely successful virtual fly-ins, using social media to mobilize supporters and capture lawmakers attention to change legislation, we’ve seen multiple clients turn what was an existential threat into their most productive year ever. Hear about some of the best campaigns of the last few years and where digital advocacy is headed due to the recent events of the past 16 months. More info/register.
Host: FiscalNote
Wed 6/30 at 12 p.m. – Let’s Reboot Volunteer Training
You have a solid base for recruiting and training chapter volunteers that has worked well in the past. Then came the evidence-based research on volunteers challenging our percepts, followed by the pandemic and increased volunteer burnout. Turns out our training programs need a new approach. Learn how to use volunteer motivations and personas to drive learning and rethink our approach so we can retain volunteers and develop future leaders. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Hosts: Billhighway and Mariner Management
Presenters:
- Peggy Hoffman, FASAE, CAE, Mariner Management
- Kristine Metter, MS, CAE, Crystal Lake Partners
Wed 6/30 at 12 p.m. – What Sponsors Want from Your Event and Your Sales Team: Pros and Peers Share
Customer relationship management has taken priority in business development best practices, but does your team feel like you are not meeting customer expectations? During this peer-to-peer active learning huddle, learn what successful associations are doing to shorten the gap in their product and team offerings. Hear insights from leading sponsor and event business development experts on successful engagement and share ideas and notes from association peers on what is working for their events. More info/register.
Host: Professionals for Association Revenue
Wed 6/30 at 12 p.m. – Extinguishing Burnout Fires: A Roadmap for Association Professionals
Learn about the ramifications of burnout and hear about resources, examples and tips on what association executives can do to extinguish these burnout fires. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Xchange
Presenters:
- Carmen Elliott, MS, CAE (moderator), Executive Director, American Physical Therapy Fund, and Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the American Physical Therapy Association
- Teshera Hull, Manager, Preceptorship, Coaching and Retooling, American College of Surgeons
- Maureen Markey, MBA, CAE, Director of Membership & Marketing, The Gerontological Society of America
Wed 6/20 at 12:30 p.m. – Diving Deeper into UBIT: How to Engage Sponsors in the Hybrid Virtual World
As nonprofits consider offering innovative sponsorship opportunities in the hybrid event model, understanding your organization’s unrelated business income tax (UBIT) obligations is of the utmost importance. Hear about sponsorship and convention/trade show UBIT exceptions and tips on how to maximize your tax-free revenue potential. More info/register.
Host: Venable LLP
Presenters:
- George Constantine, Partner, Nonprofit Organizations, Venable LLP
- Ryan Kasdin, Associate, Nonprofit Organizations, Venable LLP
- Judith Kim, Associate, Nonprofit Organizations, Venable LLP
Wed 6/30 at 1 p.m. – Strategic Negotiating in the Post-Shutdown World
Learn about tactical strategies that will help you negotiate and defend your organization in the post-shutdown world. Hear a review of key contract clauses, negotiations tips and strategies to ensure a strong contract to protect your organization. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Meetings Today
Presenter: Robyn Mietkiewicz, strategic partner for INNOV8 Meetings + Events
Wed 6/30 at 1 p.m. – How to Use Tiktok, Instagram and Facebook Insights: Propel Your Content Strategy
Find out how to tap into social conversations that are taking place on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook to take a data-driven approach to consumer and market intelligence and discover insights and identify critical trends. More info/register.
Host: American Marketing Association
Presenters: Harvey Ranola, Global Head of Media Intelligence, and Mike Baglieto, Global Head of Product Marketing, Netbase Quid
Wed 6/30 at 1 p.m. – #ExpoChat on Twitter
ExpoChat is a Twitter-based conversation on topics related to the trade show industry. More info.
Wed 6/30 at 2 p.m. – Production in the Age of Hybrid Events
Connecting two audiences across the digital divide, balancing live vs pre-recorded sessions, and creating moments of impact are just some of the production challenges we tackled at the Untethered Design-a-thon. Join three veteran event profs as they share the ideas they have tested. They will also discuss which production strategies will shape events in fall 2021 and beyond. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Hubb
Presenters:
- Hilary Laney, Owner and CEO, Evia
- Laurel Miller, CEO, Seamless Event Solutions
- Jennifer Kingen Kush, DES, Founder and Strategist, Kingen Kush Solutions, LLC
Wed 6/30 at 3 p.m. – Your New Venue Sourcing Strategy: What Does an RFP for Hybrid Events Look Like? (Part 1)
In part one of our two-part webinar series, we’ll evaluate sourcing strategies that relate to hybrid meetings. What should you ask for in your RFPs? How do you determine your space needs? What does availability look like? And what’s happening to rates? More info/register.
Host: Events Leadership Institute
Presenters:
- Steve Enselein, SVP Event Operations | Hyatt Hotel & Resorts
- Linda McNairy, Vice President – Americas, Meetings & Events | American Express Global Business Travel
- Heather Sharpe, Instructor | Event Leadership Institute
- Caroline England, Head of Product | Convene
- Howard Givner, Founder and CEO | Event Leadership Institute
Wed 6/30 at 4 p.m. – Mindful Networking with Edima Elinewinga
Enjoy a small group setting for participatory conversations led by visionary leaders who will share knowledge but not deliver a formal presentation. Edima is Chief Tech Officer at Zero to Three and previously was Exec Dir of Info Tech at the United National Foundation. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Wed 6/30 at 2 p.m. – What’s Special About Nonprofit Mergers: 6 Things You Need to Know on Your M&A Journey
Learn about the main drivers for nonprofits to consider a combination, various alternate forms of combination, M&A compelling factors for nonprofits, inhibiting factors, important considerations for building consensus, and the important steps in merger/consolidation. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: U.S. Transactions Corp.
Presenter: Jerald A. Jacobs, Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Thu 7/1 at 12 p.m. – Re-Engage Virtual: Planning the Event of Tomorrow
Sessions: Get 7 Times Revenue by Shifting From Offline Workshops to On-Demand Online Workshops; How to Build an Engaging Community; Virtual Event Monetization Models – What Is Best for You? What Not to Do When Organizing and Producing a Virtual Event – the Tips and Tricks. More info/register.
Host: Airmeet
Wed 7/7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Evolve Homecoming: The Big Industry Comeback
Learn the practical logistics of going hybrid and building communities. Hear expert insight on hybrid event design. Discover everything you need to know about going back to in-person safely. Network and learn from a global community of 13,000+ eventprofs. More info/register.
Host: Swapcard
Wed 7/7 at 12 p.m. – Succeed in Challenging Times by Being Negotiation Ready
Learn the first three steps in a practical, easy-to-implement approach for negotiating with clients, contractors, staff, vendors, and even friends or family, and find out how to adopt a positive negotiation mindset. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Insights In Old Town
Presenter: Susan Borke
Wed 7/7 at 12 p.m. – Re-Engage Virtual: Planning the Event of Tomorrow
Sessions: How to Create an Effective Social Media Strategy for Your Event; How to Use Virtual Events to Promote Your In-Person Event; Reinventing Live, The Always-On Future of Events; The Future of the Event Industry – What Is Hybrid!? How to Use Creative Solutions to Engage Attendees; How to Become a Better Speaker/Moderator. More info/register.
Host: Airmeet
Wed 7/7 at 8 p.m. – Planners on Purpose July Book Club: Engaging Virtual Meetings by John Chen
Your virtual meetings need to be dynamic, engaging, and just packed full of amazingness. Want to know what you need to do to engage in virtual meetings? Join Naomi Tucker and author John Chen for a discussion about his latest book, Engaging Virtual Meetings. More info/register.
Host: Planners on Purpose
Thu 7/8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Evolve Homecoming: The Big Industry Comeback
Learn the practical logistics of going hybrid and building communities. Hear expert insight on hybrid event design. Discover everything you need to know about going back to in-person safely. Network and learn from a global community of 13,000+ eventprofs. More info/register.
Host: Swapcard
Thu 7/8 at 12 p.m. – Community Book Club: The Art of Gathering
We’ll read Priya Parker’s incredible book The Art of Gathering and then watch her in conversation with Gali Kling Schnieder, SAP. The first 100 registrants will get a FREE digital copy of the book. More info/register.
Host: The Community Roundtable
Fri 7/9 at 12 p.m. – Strategy First, Software Next
Are your technology capabilities aligned with your mission? To explore this question, we are kicking off a 3-part series—the first will be “Strategy First, Software Next”. We will explore the importance of creating a technology strategy for your association that aligns with your organization’s mission and long-term goals. More info/register.
Host: AI Now for Associations
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 morning.
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