The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Inclusion advice. A fellow NAHB alum and friend, Lakisha Woods, CAE, has three pieces of advice to share in her “Letter of Thanks and Ideas for Growth from an African-American CEO.”
Inclusion strategy. If your association wants to create a more inclusive association, you must identify and remove the barriers standing in the way of a member’s desire to volunteer or serve in leadership, says MemberSuite. They explain how communication plays a huge role in that effort.
Virtual event benefits. Fíonta suggests looking at your cancelled events as opportunities to design new experiences for attendees, sponsors and exhibitors—now you can have virtual events that generate both revenue and engagement.
Pandemic silver linings. Virtual events are responsible for some of the silver linings described by WBT Systems in their post this week. They see associations stretching their innovation muscle, learning new skills, reassessing assumptions, discovering ways to improve, and summoning up the courage to take tough steps forward.
CRP life. I like the upbeat theme going on with these recommendations so let’s continue it with this post from Billhighway about the CRP (component relations professional) secret to happiness.
Virtual conference of the week. Last month, someone from ACUI said in ASAE’s Collaborate forum, “We wrapped up the virtual conference yesterday, and participants are raving.” They held their virtual conference over two afternoons and evenings in May using Hopin as the event platform and Auctria for their silent auction. Attendees could view and chat with exhibitors. Drag queen bingo on the first night caught my eye as well as a video of a family surprising their dad with an ACUI award.
Quick hits before we get to the list of this week’s free education:
- How to hold a cocktail party on Zoom—and have better classes, conferences and meetings too. (Misha Glouberman)
- Quarantine has changed us and it’s not all bad—here are eight new habits people want to keep post-lockdown. (Sigal Samuel, Vox)
- Watch and listen to the surf of Ehukai Beach on Oahu, Hawaii. Imagine bliss. (Explore.org)
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.
- Thinking I didn’t have enough prepared fish for a second night of fish tacos, I baked catfish fillets with a rub of ancho chile powder, chipotle powder, cumin, coriander, dried oregano and salt. But I was wrong, I had plenty of fish, so what to do with all this spicy catfish? When in doubt, pasta, specifically a southwest-style pasta with onion, poblano and red bell pepper, jalapeño, garlic, calabicitas (more leftovers, a Mexican summer squash dish), cream and cilantro. Oh my. Too good. Dare I say, better than tacos.
- We had a spell of cool weather so last Sunday I made beef short ribs with red wine and prunes, a recipe from The French Slow Cooker by Michele Scicolone. Excellent! Although next time—and there will be a next time—I’ll add mushrooms. What an oversight! Served over mashed potatoes and accompanied by veggie pesto (broccoli stems, zucchini, yellow squash, poblano, red bell, onion, tomatoes and corn).
- The veggie pesto made a reappearance in a frittata topped with asiago cheese. Earlier in the week, I made a frittata with leftover cheesy black bean bake, beet greens and broccoli stems. Yeah, weird, but good.
- Kohlrabi has been a regular in my CSA share lately so I searched on Pinterest for something besides a sauté or salad. The Germans have lots of good-looking recipes. I found one in English for kohlrabi schnitzel, easy enough to prep. It was tasty on its own but I dipped a few in a mayo/ketchup combo to satisfy a salt/fat craving.
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 6/19 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)
*All times are Eastern Daylight Savings Time unless otherwise noted.
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
Mon 6/22 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
Tue 6/23 at 11 a.m. – Open For Business: How Associations Are Helping Members Navigate a New Norm (Save the Associations Summit series)
In this summit, executives of leading business, retail, hospitality, and tourism associations share the challenges their industries have faced in the process of closing down and re-opening of businesses globally, and how their associations evolved to respond to changing market needs. This is an opportunity for membership professionals to learn best practices from their peers on topics related to change management, membership growth, innovation, relevance, trends, and strategic planning. More info/register.
Host: Sarah Sladek
Tue 6/23 at 12 p.m. – If You Build it, Will They Come? How Two Large Fall Shows Are Forging Ahead
As many associations wrestle with decisions for their fall conferences and shows, the question on everyone’s mind is, if you build it, will they come? Learn how organizers of two very large events—one a trade association and the other professional—are tackling, planning and preparing for this fall. Find out how to navigate complex decision-making and scenario planning processes with staff and volunteer leaders, speakers, partners and exhibitors, and consider nimble practices for designing and refreshing event plans amid a crisis. More info/register.
Host: Velvet Chainsaw Consulting
Presenters:
- Allie Barth, Senior Vice President of Industry Relations @American Gaming Association
- Debra L. Rosencrance, CMP, CAE, Vice President of Meetings & Exhibits @American Academy of Ophthalmology
- Sarah Michel, CSP, VP Professional Connexity @Velvet Chainsaw Consulting
Tue 6/23 at 12 p.m. – PPN Idea Exchange: Demonstrating ROI to Sponsors During COVID-19
Corporate sponsorships and partnerships are seldom philanthropy. Most companies use their marketing budgets for sponsorships and partnerships. Many companies need to derive ROI to justify this expenditure — especially during the pandemic. Find out how to demonstrate ROI to companies so they become — or renew as — corporate sponsors and partners. More info/register.
Host: Partnership Professionals Network (PPN)
Tue 6/23 at 12 p.m. – Marketing Your Educational Products: How to Write Effective Web Copy to Reach Audiences
The wrong words – or worse, the forgettable words – can cost your organization countless opportunities. The right words can spark emotion, spur action, and start a lifelong relationship. Learn how to write for how people read online, make your copy more readable, please Google and make your messages “sticky.” More info/register.
Host: Web Courseworks
Presenter: Rachel Clemens, Chief Marketing Officer | Mighty Citizen
Tue 6/23 at 2 p.m. – Making Video for Virtual Events
Learn what kind of video you need for a virtual conference, how to get the most out of the efforts you’re making to create video, and tips for producing video in the era of COVID-19, being authentic and making your videos stand out. More info/register.
Host: Gather Voices
Presenters:
- Kate Bradley Chernis, CEO of Lately
- Michael Hoffman, CEO of Gather Voices.
Wed 6/24 at 11 a.m. – Revenue Retention with Virtual Events
Discover how associations can provide value and earn revenue through online models. Learn best practices that engage sponsors and partners to invest in your virtual event. Explore innovative approaches to education and learn how next-generation associations engage with special interest groups in a virtual environment. More info/register.
Host: Meeting Expectations
Presenters:
- Ragan Cohn, Executive Director of the Oracle Applications and Technology Users Group
- Liz Klostermann, CEM, Senior Exhibit Manager at Meeting Expectations
- James Hobbs, Senior Director of Global Programs at Meeting Expectations
Wed 6/24 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 6/24 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 1 p.m. – Planner and Hotel Sales Relationships and Expectations in a Post-COVID-19 World
Explore the wants and needs of the planner/supplier relationship in a post-COVID-19 environment. Hear what new requests and concessions planners are asking for, whether hotels can achieve adequate RevPAR with meeting space originally designed to maximize the number of attendees, how that translate to rates for meetings, what a realistic timeline is for hotel staffing to be at adequate levels to accommodate face-to-face meetings, and what planners should expect and demand. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Meetings Today
Presenter: MaryAnne Bobrow, CAE, CMP, CMM, President, Bobrow Associates
Wed 6/24 at 1 p.m. – Creating Dynamic, Engaging Online Conferences & Webinars
Geared for conference organizers, event planners, and speakers, this online workshop provides practical tips and hands-on experience, especially when moving a presentation to the web. Learn how to create (or adapt) compelling content, decrease the burden on the planner and presenter, and involve the audience so they’re not just passive viewers. More info/register.
Host: Lee Gimpel, founder, Better Meetings
Wed 6/24 at 1 p.m. – #ExpoChat on Twitter
ExpoChat is a Twitter-based conversation on topics related to the trade show industry. More info.
Wed 6/24 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
Wed 6/24 at 2 p.m. – Chat & Learn: Not Your Grandad’s Webcast
Join an interactive Q&A featuring everything you wanted to know about the world of virtual events. The duo will talk about how they took Google from live event to live stream in the space of 4 weeks, what mistakes they made along the way, and ultimately how they are developing new ways of connecting communities whilst COVID remains a concern. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: PCMA
Presenters: Pete Erickson, Founder, and Dan Noake, Chief Operating Officer, Modev
Wed 6/24 at 2 p.m. – What You Need to Know about CEIR’s Head of Marketing Study
Hear an overview of research and findings from the Center for Exhibition Industry Research’s (CEIR) 2019 “Head of Marketing Insights Series” that discovered why some companies exhibit at trade shows and others don’t (including, for those who do exhibit, specific insights on their exhibiting objectives, budget approval process, and evaluation metrics), and next steps to use this data to improve your future trade shows. More info/register.
Host: Trade Show Summer School
Presenter: Robin Davis, founder, Exhibitors WINH LLC
Wed 6/24 at 2 p.m. – Event Planning Considerations and Design Trends in a New World
Hear a review of the top trends in event design for 2020 and how they will be influenced by the new realities of the trade show, meeting and event world. Find out how design trends can be applied to promote a sense of well-being and help reduce anxiety when people begin to meet again. More info/register.
Host: Skyline Exhibits
Presenter: Kevin Dana, Executive Director of Merchandising and Product Development at CORT Events
Thu 6/25 at 11:30 a.m. – No dues left behind: How to increase non-dues revenue and membership dues post-crisis
Association and member behaviors are changing. You must prepare for your revenue streams to keep flowing in changing times – be it member churn, cancelled events, lost sponsorships, or anything else. Hear tips to retain your existing membership dues and customer examples of increasing non-dues revenue during a crisis. More info/register.
Host: YourMembership
Presenters: Michelle Schweitz, Marketing Manager, and Tirrah Switzer, Product Marketing Manager, YourMembership
Thu 6/25 at 12 p.m. – The Local Experience: The Changing Approach to Member and Customer Engagement
In three months, we have gone from a nation of large-scale, in-person events to socially-distant, small gatherings. these changes — and more — are impacting the way associations engage stakeholders and underscoring the importance of the local experience. Hear how three associations are meeting members “where they are” with highly customized, local resources and initiatives. More info/register.
Host: McKinley Advisors
Presenters:
- Kevin Watkins, MBA, CAE, Senior Vice President, Affiliate & Member Engagement, National Apartment Association
- Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE, CQIA, President and CEO, Association Forum
- Wendy Kavanagh, CAE, President, Georgia Society of Association Executives
- Shelley Sanner, M.A., CAE, Senior Vice President of Industry Relations
Thu 6/25 at 2 p.m. – APEX COVID-19 Business Recovery Task Force: Hotel Best Practices
The APEX COVID-19 Business Recovery Task Force has set out to aggregate accepted practices across the events eco-system and provide a framework for restarting the industry. Join the co-chairs as they will walk us through the first information release on accommodations. Learn about the accepted best practices that hotels are putting in place post COVID-19, what questions you need to ask when working with hotels, and how to find the latest information, tools and resources to navigate across the events eco-system post-COVID-19. More info/register.
Host: Smart Meetings
Presenters:
- Amy Calvert, CEO, Events Industry Council
- Michael Dominguez, President and CEO, Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI)
- Kristin Horstman, Senior Director, Strategic Events, Salesforce
Thu 6/25 at 2 p.m. – Evaluating Your Meetings Portfolio to Go Digital
Hear best practices in assessing what types of events and meetings translate easily to a digital format and what a digital event implementation looks like through 2021. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: PCMA
Presenter: Nicola Kastner, VP of Global Event Marketing Strategy for SAP
Thu 6/25 at 2 p.m. – How Events Will EVOLVE in the New Normal
Let’s look at the trends we’re seeing in the industry and how your event marketing programs will need to evolve for the rest of 2020 and beyond.
Hear about the convergence of digital and event marketing, the differences & similarities between virtual & in person events, why hybrid (virtual + in person) events are emerging as a huge part of the future, and how to re-think your venue strategy to account for health, safety, and social distancing. More info/register.
Host: Cvent
Presenter: Cvent’s CMO, Patrick Smith
Thu 6/25 at 2 p.m. – The Impact of COVID-19 on the Recruitment Industry: Current Analysis and Future Opportunities
Find out about the current hiring disruption, state of the recovery to date, explore the hardest hit industries as well as industries seeing hiring gains, and share strategies to help associations serve their members and advertisers in order to find qualified candidates – helping companies get back on the path to operational and financial growth. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Web Scribble
Presenters: Web Scribble CEO Alexey Gutin and Director of Marketing Dawn DiLorenzo
Thu 6/25 at 3 p.m. – Best of Breed Data Ecosystem
The AMS is not dead, but its role in our data ecosystem is evolving. In this webinar we’ll hear from Industry experts on best practices for choosing the best tools for your association and how to tie everything together. More info/register.
Host: Association Analytics
Thu 6/25 at 3 p.m. – How Leading Associations are Using Mobile Apps to Navigate the “New Normal”
With in-person meetings being cancelled and remote work the norm, associations are being challenged with how best to communicate with and support members. Learn how you can leverage a mobile app to provide real-time member communication, peer-to-peer networking, and virtual event support. Explore the mobile trends that have been accelerated by the current pandemic and share how three associations are succeeding with mobile. More info/register.
Host: Clowder
Fri 6/26 at 2 p.m. – Evolving Legal Considerations During COVID-19: Ask an Association Attorney
Associations are dealing with enormous change as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and virtually all of it has legal consequences. It is no easy feat to deal with these challenges, adhering to legal guardrails, avoiding legal pitfalls, and otherwise protecting your association as you navigate this new path. In this webcast, a leading association attorney will guide you through these issues and considerations. 1.25 CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Presenter: Jeffrey S. Tenenbaum, Esq., managing partner, Tenenbaum Law Group PLLC
Fri 6/26 at 2:30 p.m. – Upgrading to Drupal 9 and the Importance of Ongoing Web Maintenance
This webinar will cover the newly released Drupal 9, suggest a timeline for upgrading, and describe why regular and recurring Drupal maintenance is essential to the health of any website. We’ll also talk about how to manage and hopefully avoid technical debt during any sort of web project. More info/register.
Host: Fíonta
Tue 6/30 at 2 p.m. – Exploring Accepted Practices for In-Person Events During and After COVID-19
The Events Industry Council has convened a COVID-19 Business Recovery Task Force to quickly aggregate accepted practices and provide a framework for meeting in-person again safely. The task force will follow two parallel paths. The first will address the immediate need for guidance on accepted practices and work already underway to restart the industry. The second will address the long-term need to examine adaptation and transformation for the future stability of the association workforce and the relevance and resiliency of the industry. Learn more about the work of the task force and the variables you should consider when crafting in-person gatherings in the future. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Presenters:
- Amy Calvert, CEO, Events Industry Council
- Michael Dominguez, president and CEO, Associated Luxury Hotels International; cochair, APEX COVID-19 Business Recovery Task Force
- Amy Ledoux, CAE, CMP, chief learning and meetings officer, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership
Wed 7/1 – ExOrdoCon 2020: Beyond the Conference Walls – Exploring the Power of Virtual Experiences
In-person research events all over the world have been postponed or outright cancelled. And right now, organizers’ only option is to go virtual. But starting from scratch can be scary. So, to help you get your disrupted event back on track, we’re hosting a virtual conference on virtual conferencing (yes, that’s a bit of a mouthful). Explore what virtual means for research conferences. Learn from the community about what works, and what doesn’t. Hear the experiences of organizers who have successfully delivered virtual research events to their communities. More info/register.
Host: ExOrdo
Wed 7/1 at 12 p.m. – Nobody Knows Us: Launching A Public Education Campaign For Your Association
Many associations want to broaden their audience and reach by increasing the public’s understanding of their members’ role and impact. Learn the 7 key steps to improve your organization’s visibility and influence. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Insights In Old Town
Presenter: Sheri Singer, owner of Singer Communications
Wed 7/1 at 1 p.m. – Association D, E & I Efforts In Action: A Showcase of Models
In recent weeks, associations around the country (and world) have put forward statements and commitments in support of diversity, equity, and inclusivity efforts—the first step toward affecting change, bridging divides, and bringing healing to communities which have long been discriminated against. Yet, many organizations are struggling with finding practical examples of what a next-step commitment looks like in action. Hear brief, powerful narratives from association executives whose organizations have had diversity, equity, and/or inclusion programs in place for years and those who are rolling out new initiatives. More info/register.
Host: Lowell Aplebaum, FASAE, CAE, CEO & Strategy Catalyst, Vista Cova
Wed 7/1 at 2 p.m. – Content Curation: Your Association’s Secret Weapon Against Information Overload
Your members are overwhelmed by the volume and variety of information coming at them. They need you to hand-pick accurate, relevant information and add critical context that is uniquely yours to provide – in other words, to curate content. Learn how your association can use sophisticated content curation strategies effectively to move your association from a “nice-to-have” option into becoming a vital partner in your members’ professional success. More info/register.
Host: Impexium
Presenters:
- Hilary Marsh, Chief Strategist, Content Company
- Elizabeth Weaver Engel, Chief Strategist, Spark Consulting
Thu 7/2 – ExOrdoCon 2020: Beyond the Conference Walls – Exploring the Power of Virtual Experiences
In-person research events all over the world have been postponed or outright cancelled. And right now, organizers’ only option is to go virtual. But starting from scratch can be scary. So, to help you get your disrupted event back on track, we’re hosting a virtual conference on virtual conferencing (yes, that’s a bit of a mouthful). Explore what virtual means for research conferences. Learn from the community about what works, and what doesn’t. Hear the experiences of organizers who have successfully delivered virtual research events to their communities. More info/register.
Host: ExOrdo
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.
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