Your weekly list of free webinars and events for the association community…
My world is still buzzing with the news about the Community Brands/YourMembership takeover/consolidation/call-it-what-you-will of Aptify and Abila. I expect we’ll hear more announcements in the near future about the acquisition of other association technology firms.
I was talking to a friend this week about the deal and the unsettling feelings it’s causing people on the association side to have about the future of their technology and people on the vendor side to have about the future of their jobs. He echoed a ‘yogic’ attitude I’ve come to adopt over the years: no matter what is thrown at you, you have the power to choose your reaction.
Something else we discussed: don’t get so fixated on one future, one option, or one way forward that you miss other opportunities. Wherever you reside—the association or the tech vendor side—move forward with a curious mind open to all possibilities. And, good luck!
My friends at DelCor provide their take on the Community Brands deal—the known, unknowns, potential, and their advice for associations in all stages of an AMS investment.
Over the last year, Ben Martin CAE has been covering the moves of private equity firms in the association technology market on his theNird.org blog—the “NIRD” stands for Not-for-Profit Investments Research Department. His inside sources provide details I haven’t seen in other coverage. Subscribe to his blog to get the latest news, including his analysis of the deal, player by player.
Switching focus now: are you getting the most from your investment in your learning management system (LMS)? The lifelong learning experts at Tagoras share “five factors to consider and try – within reason – to answer before signing on the dotted line for a learning management system.” By the way, do you listen to the Leading Learning podcast? Seriously, if you’re an association professional, you should subscribe now.
After their series of posts on the joint national/chapter membership model, Billhighway is now delving into monthly auto-renewal membership—an attractive and affordable offer in our subscription economy. The first post goes over the benefits of monthly auto-renewal for national associations, chapters, and, most importantly, members, and the second post explains how to find out if monthly auto-renewal membership is a good option for your association.
If your organization has a webinar scheduled in the next few weeks, please send me the link. I’ll be happy to feature it as long as it’s not too product-centric.
Mon 4/24 at 12 p.m.* – What Apps Do I Need to Pay Attention to? (Columbia MD)
Learn about the best free and bargain apps and online resources that will help you release your inner nerd to become more organized, efficient and awesome at work and home. Location: Columbia MD. More info/register.
Presenter: Beth Ziesenis, Your Nerdy Best Friend
Organizer: ASAE Greater Washington / National Capital Community
*All times are Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.
Tue 4/25 at 12 p.m. CDT – Billhighway Chapter Roundtable (Chicago)
Connect with fellow Component/Chapter Relations Professionals (CRPs) to network and discuss current chapter challenges. Breakfast/lunch provided. 1.5 CAE credits. Location: Chicago. More info/register.
Host: Billhighway
Tue 4/25 at 12:30 p.m. – The Learning Business Maturity Model
The Learning Business Maturity Model was created to help organizations that provide continuing education and professional development define where you stand currently, visualize how innovative organizations perform, create concrete goals of where you would like to be in the future, and mature into the leading provider of education in your field. The model also serves as a conversation starter, especially with board members by helping them tune into the fact that learning is a business and needs to be viewed and managed as one. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: WebCourseworks
Presenters: Jeff Cobb and Celisa Steele, founders, Tagoras
Tue 4/25 at 2 p.m. – Being Chuck Fazio on Life, Art, and the Meetings Industry Fund (Association Chat)
Chuck Fazio is the award-winning photographer at every big association and meeting industry event. Everyone who’s anyone has been photographed by Chuck or one of his entourage, most of them also following along on his adventures on social media as he travels around the globe in the Chuckwagon, shooting pictures, and being unapologetically himself. Hear about Chuck’s unique views on life, art, and the Meetings Industry Fund—the cause he cares most about. Watch/participate live or view the recording.
Host: KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth
Thu 4/25 at 4 p.m. – Professional Development Book Club
Grab a copy of Charles Duhigg’s book The Power of Habit and start reading, then join the PD Book Club for a video conference to discuss the book and how it relates to the work you do as a PD professional. Join the discussion.
Host: ASAE Professional Development Section
Wed 4/26 at 8:30 a.m. – DC-PPN Idea Exchange (Washington DC)
Here is what one association executive who handles sponsorships said about DC-PPN’s Idea Exchanges: “It is wonderful to be in a roomful of people who ‘get’ what we do! And the information exchange is superb.” Location: Washington DC. More info/register.
Organizer: ASAE Partnership Professionals Network
Wed 4/26 at 12 p.m. – Demystifying Data Analytics (DC Swap Lunch & Learn)
Walk through a step-by-step guide for getting started with data analytics and a scorecard to help you judge the current state of analytics in your association, and identify opportunities for your association to grow. Learn how you can leverage data mining, predictive analytics and data visualization to turn raw data into meaningful information for effective decision making. Location: Washington, DC. More info/register.
Presenter: Tori Liu, vice president, Association Analytics
Organizer: ASAE Greater Washington / National Capital Community
Wed 4/26 at 1 p.m. – Site Selection: Checklist for Success
Most groups and individuals selecting a meeting site know, in their heads, what they’re looking for. Preparing a checklist is a better way to ensure the items most important to your meeting and audience will be sought. Learn what questions to ask about taxes, service charges, and hidden costs; what accessibility means and how, in an actual or verbal site inspection, to look differently; how to determine the level of safety and security for all venues used; and what’s in the news to inform your selection of destinations and sites. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Meetings Today
Presenter: meetings industry educator Joan Eisenstodt, chief strategist for Eisenstodt Associates
Wed 4/26 at 2 p.m. – Introduction to Reading the Waves of Change
Learn a simple approach to help you identify potential impacts for your association. Find out how to identify potential waves of change to explore, analyze an individual wave for possible impacts, and explore for potential opportunities and challenges for your association. More info/register.
Host: Cynthia D’Amour MBA, author of The Lazy Leader’s Guide to Outrageous Results and founder of “Wake Up Wednesdays”
Wed 4/26 at 2 p.m. – Why You Should Make Mobile Part of Your Event Marketing Mix
Today’s event audience has become increasingly resistant to traditional methods of communications. Learn how forward-thinking event professionals are using interactive mobile communication strategies to engage users, how to take advantage of mobile and gain user insights, and where mobile can fill the gaps in your marketing mix. More info/register.
Host: MeetingsNet
Presenters:
- Matt Keowen, vice president of marketing, Guidebook
- Sue Pelletier (moderator), content director, MeetingsNet
Wed 4/26 at 2 p.m. – The Top Nonprofit Tools Used by the Pros
Learn how the most successful nonprofit pros manage to get everything done, by taking advantage of more than 30 free and inexpensive tech tools specifically designed for nonprofits. Discover tips for staying on top of new and emerging online tools and the number one pitfall when using and evaluating online tools. More info/register.
Host: Wild Apricot
Presenters:
- Mark Hallman, president, Evergreen Digital Marketing
- Shub Sengupta, digital media coordinator, Capacity Canada
- Jason Shim, associate director, digital strategy and alumni relations, Pathways to Education Canada
Wed 4/26 at 5:30 p.m. – Event Tech Trends: What to Know, Where to Look & How to Cut Through the Noise
The event tech ecosystem is constantly changing, making it difficult to know where to focus your attention. Find out what’s trending globally, demystify the jargon, learn about tools and websites that help you stay on top of what’s happening, and discover how to analyze benefits for your events. More info/register.
Host: Event Tech Tribe and Hubb
Presenters:
- Marie-Claire Andrews, CEO, ShowGizmo
- Lara Simmons, marketing manager, ShowGizmo
Thu 4/27 at 1 p.m. – Virtual Book Club – Socialnomics
To continue the momentum from the December Tech Conference, Erik Qualman’s bestselling book, Socialnomics: How Social Media Transforms the Way We Live and Do Business is the first book discussion for 2017. Subject matter experts will be on hand to ensure a learning opportunity that’s also a great conversation. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Technology Council
Thu 4/27 at 2 p.m. – This Is How Our Most Successful Clients Fill Their Events
Learn about three trends preventing people from registering for your events, one simple way to avoid event-related cash flow problems, and a proven three-step process to fill events fast and cut your workload in half. More info/register.
Host: Wild Apricot
Presenter: Terry Ibele, growth specialist, Wild Apricot
Thu 4/27 at 2 p.m. – PCMA Business School: Maximizing Mental Agility
The most agile thinkers have habits that allow them to maximize the quality of their knowledge and to use that knowledge when they need it. Learn about the research behind this aspect of effective thinking and get tips to develop new thinking habits and to make the people around you smarter. More info/register.
Host: PCMA
Presenter: Dr. Art Markman, professor of psychology and marketing, University of Texas at Austin
Fri 4/28 at 8:30/9:00 a.m. – Creating the Great Conference Experience (AENC Meeting Planners Round Table – Durham NC)
Content is critical for bringing participants to your event. But how do you create an experience that will have them raving, returning and referring your event others? Share ideas at the round table with peers and take away a few good ideas to make your next conference great. 1 CAE credit. Location: Durham NC. More info/register.
Fri 4/28 at 1 p.m. – How to Build the Content Machine: Creating Relevance, Reach, and Revenue
Learn about content consumption behaviors, how to position and describe your content, and ultimately how to build a content machine that brings you new revenue and reach, and results in greater relevance. More info/register.
Host: Blue Sky eLearn
Presenter: Kevin Novak, CEO, 2040 Digital
Save the dates: Wed/Thu June 7-8 – AMS Fest in Chicago
Two loaded days engaging in discussions around nothing but AMS/CRM. Speakers include high-profile association experimenters, rule breakers and action takers. Register before May 1 for only $250. More info/register.
Host: ReviewMyAMS.com
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.
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