The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
For the last six weeks, virtual events have been the focus of my reading and writing time—which is why you’ve seen the topic popping up so frequently here and on my Twitter stream too. So, I’m sorry or you’re welcome, whichever one applies.
Virtual worlds for association events. Here’s a pair of posts about a virtual event format I’ve only recently come around to. I must admit, I was a skeptic about using an avatar to attend an event in a virtual world. But after attending MemberSuite’s The Echo Virtual Summit (powered by VirBELA), I am sold.
My virtual summit experience didn’t require a VR headset like some of the experiences described by Lowell Aplebaum and Rhea Steele. They suggest associations go beyond Zoom and other web-conferencing tools and consider virtual reality for association meetings and events. “If we are looking to affirm our associations are dynamic, meaningful homes for connection and community, it is time to start looking further forward and creating elevated connection experiences.”
Then, see what Aaron Frank at Singularity Hub has to say about the spiking interest in virtual worlds for online collaboration. Virtual worlds don’t have the same issues of “non-verbal overload” and “lack of spatial distance” that cause Zoom fatigue. “In virtual worlds, users feel like they are at a place together and that place is persistent. This helps foster a sense of shared culture and brings back ‘water cooler’ opportunities and unplanned social collisions that just don’t happen on a conference call.”
Engaging virtual attendees. Sarah Michel at Velvet Chainsaw Consulting recorded a shortish video you should definitely watch: five tips to guarantee engagement at your virtual event. Pair that one with four keys to ensuring your virtual events are actually engaging—from Elisa Pratt at Association Success.
Virtual presenters. WBT Systems describes some of what they’ve learned as an LMS provider over the years about online teaching in their tips for new virtual presenters and instructors.
Chapter virtual education. Chapters have always been the community hub for members—and they can continue that role with virtual events. Billhighway shares recent examples of different virtual education options offered by chapters around the country, plus tips on how to get your chapter leaders started with virtual education.
Virtual conference session formats. Arianna Rehak at Matchbox Virtual Media explains how to design virtual conference sessions for different outcomes, for example, teaching a process, stoking community conversation, and more.
Virtual event sponsorships. Bruce Rosenthal gives some examples for how associations can pivot their sponsorship programs to virtual events. Pair his post with this one from Northstar Meetings Group: 17 ideas for incorporating revenue-generating opportunities into your online meetings, conferences and webcasts.
Hunger. Food banks are helping to feed kids who normally rely on school breakfasts and lunches as their nutrition for the day. You can help these kids out—as well as all the people, young and old, who have been laid off or lost their business—by supporting your local food bank. Find yours on the Feeding America website. If you’re in North Carolina, I hope you’ll support the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.
Quick hits before we get to the list of this week’s free education:
- A comprehensive list of COVID-19 resources for associations. (Florida Society of Association Executives)
- 20 great questions to ask right now instead of “How are you doing?” (Elizabeth Weingarten, Quartz)
- Your assignment: search for and buy local cheese. America’s artisan cheese industry is struggling to survive without restaurants. (Anne Saxelby, Eater)
- “My restaurant was my life for 20 years. Does the world need it anymore?” She writes like a goddess, but this is anguishing to read. (Gabrielle Hamilton, New York Times)
- Take a train ride from St. Moritz, Switzerland to Tirano, Italy through the Bernina pass. This stunning view from the cab (front) of the train was recorded last October.
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’m constantly jotting down and pinning recipe ideas, including one recently for stuffed flounder. But when it was time to cook, I found myself ignoring the recipe and winging it instead. And you know what? It was fantastic. I mixed up a package of thawed and squeezed frozen spinach, sort of softened cream cheese, grated parmesan, chopped parsley, garlic powder, and a mix of Italian and panko breadcrumbs. Topped the fillets, baked, and wow. Trust your gut, people.
- The next night I topped striped bass with some homemade basil pesto. I make lots of pesto during the summer and freeze it for the rest of the year.
- Because I have a surplus of sage, I made sage-walnut pesto this weekend. I plan to toss it with roasted caramelized kabocha squash for tonight’s dinner. And what else? Maybe I’ll add it to some fish, potatoes (now that would be good) or root veggies, and freeze what I don’t use this week.
- In a chicken-buying frenzy at Mae Farms a few weeks ago, I took home a bunch of drumsticks they had from Dawnbreaker Farms. Farm chicken looks so much better than supermarket chicken—pinker and not water-logged and puffed up like it’s on roids. I made this turmeric chicken recipe. Oh my, so good. I added extra water to the sauce and now I have leftover sauce too. I’m tempted to slurp it down plain but will resist and use it on something else, maybe eggs or rice.
- Never has risotto been so easy. I made lemon risotto with asparagus, peas and leeks in the Instant Pot. It’s a forgiving method. After the initial steam, I left it for a few hours while we hung out on the deck. When I came back in, I finished the recipe. The rice didn’t have that bite like regular risotto but it tasted fantastic so no biggie.
- I can’t seem to keep my flour canister full. Last weekend, I made cinnamon swirl quick bread for Sunday breakfast—and snacks and dessert. I chose this recipe because I had all the ingredients in house, including some very old buttermilk—regular buttermilk will do fine for the recipe. Somehow the bread was all gone by the next morning.
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.
Stay safe, stay well, take care.
Fri 5/1 at 9 a.m.* – Exec Connect: Navigating the New Normal
What does the future look like for your Association: business as usual, new norm, or time to make changes. How is your association demonstrating leadership to its members and community? Are you finding board members more receptive to change? What does a down economy mean for your association….how are you preparing for shortfalls (budget, membership, advertising)? 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: New York Society of Association Executives
Presenter: Gregory Offner, keynote speaker and disruption expert
*All times are Eastern Daylight Savings Time unless otherwise noted.
Fri 5/1 at 12 p.m. – Technology Continuity in Times of Crisis: A CEO and CIO Dialogue
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed the biggest business continuity challenge the association community has ever seen. Organizations have adapted their operations to function in an emergency situation with no endpoint in sight. Looking forward, CEOs and CIOs should have critical conversations as they continue to refine their technology response to workforce changes. How resilient and adaptive are our business-critical systems? Are we providing seamless service delivery to our employees and members? How will our technology need to change when we return to an office environment, and what modifications will need to be made to support a hybrid workforce? More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Presenters:
- Mark Golden, FASAE, CAE, executive director, National Society of Professional Engineers
- John Sullivan, chief information officer, American Chemical Society
- Mark Dorsey, FASAE, CAE, chief executive officer, Construction Specifications Institute
- Kara Freeman Lee, MBA, PMP, CAE, senior vice president and chief operating officer, American Council on Education
- Reggie Henry, CAE (moderator), chief information and engagement officer, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership
Fri 5/1 at 12 p.m. – Food Safety: What is the New Normal and How do Meeting Planners Need to Prepare?
While COVID-19 has not been proven to be transferable through food, can it theoretically be possible? Think about all the touch points there is with the food and beverage we serve at events. Food safety is something planners often overlook, relying on caterers to handle. In the new normal, what do we need to consider about our attendees safety as it relates to the food and beverage we serve them. Buffets vs plated vs boxed? Single-serve prepackaged food? Seating & social distancing? Sneeze guards? Number of servers? Hand washing stations? Bottled water? 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MPI
Presenter: Tracy Stuckrath, Founder and Chief Food Officer, Thrive! Meetings & Events
Fri 5/1 at 1 p.m. – How the American Association of Geographers (AAG) Took Their Annual Meeting Virtual
Hear how AAG moved their annual meeting to virtual. As an early April conference, they were one of the first to have to make the shift. 1500+ people attended virtually over a 5 day period. Oscar Larson will tell us how they did it along with the insights he received from his post-meeting surveys. This presentation will be followed up with a live Q&A session with special guest, Reggie Henry. More info/register.
Host: OpenWater
Presenters:
- Oscar Larson, Director of Conferences, AAG
- Reggie Henry, CIO of ASAE
- Kunal Johar, CTO, OpenWater
Fri 5/1 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 5/1 at 1 p.m. – Healthy By Association Live! Wellness Check
Our emotional, career, physical, social and spiritual wellbeings are in a constant state of flux. To maintain some semblance of balance, it’s important that we stay connected, eat well, sleep well, move our bodies and practice self-care. But that’s a lot to juggle among homeschooling, working from home and the countless other demands we’re currently facing. So take 30 minutes to join this edition of Heathy By Association Live. More info.
Facilitators: Aaron Wolowiec, CEO, Event Garde and Angela Pelc, owner, Sidecar Slider Bar
Fri 5/1 at 12 p.m. – Reactor, Planner, Experimenter? Diverse Approaches = Better Outcomes
Do you find yourself learning more in a retrospective than the kickoff? How do you figure out the real question or problem you are trying to solve rather than reacting to a series of symptoms? Join a panel of your peers to discuss: What does it mean to you to identify and treat causes versus symptoms? Do you have an a-ha moment AFTER you are in the heat of a problem of the root case? How do you set up an environment to ‘work to learn’? More info/register.
Host: George Rears
Mon 5/4 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
NEW: Mon 5/4 at 3 p.m. – Market Transformation Series: Associations
One of the biggest reckonings the current pandemic has brought to the surface is whether traditionally relied upon systems for delivering value are still pertinent. Nowhere has this conversation gone on longer than in the association market, where traditional membership value and models of delivery have ruled for decades. This discussion among association leaders and managers will take a look at the changing landscape for associations, the serious decisions they are facing, give a general guide on the discussions that are currently taking place on how to adjust for the climate, and hopefully bring into focus a future that is anything but certain. More info/register.
Host: Event Leadership Institute
Presenters:
- Amy BurkeSenior Vice President, Engagement, Association Solutions, MCI – USA Association Solutions, and Executive Director, Special Libraries Association
- Erin Fuller,President, MCI – USA Association Solutions
- Kevin White,Founder & Chief Strategist, XPL
- Kiki L’Italien,CEO, Association Chat
- Paul Van Deventer,President & CEO, Meeting Professionals International
Tue 5/5 at 11:30 a.m. – Validate Your UX: How to Get the Most Out of Your Website Budget
Understand what usability testing is and why it is an important investment. Learn the basics of conducting usability testing and how to use the results to drive your online strategy. More info/register.
Host: Astriata
Tue 5/5 at 12 p.m. – Creating Quick Wins for Convincing Your Team to Use Data Analytics (Association Data Analytics Brown Bag)
This opportunity is for association professionals who are responsible for reporting analytics to leadership, Boards of Directors, and other stakeholders, to come together in a free-flowing environment to share their lunchtime and discuss data analytics topics. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
NEW: Tue 5/5 at 12:30 p.m. – A Meeting of the Membership Minds
Join a discussion about running membership programs during a crisis. We will start the conversation and then field questions about the challenges we are facing and the changes we are making in growing and maintaining membership programs in these unusual times. Join meeting. Meeting ID: 920 3258 2452. Password: 116939.
Hosts: Scott Oser and Dan Ratner
Tue 5/5 at 2 p.m. – COVID-19: Moving from Triage to Modeling a Future for your Association
Association executives have spent the past few weeks in triage as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, moving operations to a virtual environment and making decisions about upcoming activities, meetings, events, and general operations. Scenario modeling and planning for the future are the next logical steps. Explore how to use scenario modeling to develop a plan with multiple options to address the rapid changes occurring in these challenging times. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Presenter: Lisa Stover, CPA, CGMA, CAE, principal, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP)
Tue 5/5 at 2 p.m. – Staying Afloat: How Nonprofits, Associations and Corporations are Coping During COVID-19
Associations reliant on member renewals, nonprofits dependent on fundraising, and corporations who need to build and retain clients are all suffering during the 2020 Coronavirus crisis. Join a discussion with public and government affairs professionals from all three sectors to hear what’s happening on the ground and to learn best practices you can apply to your work. We’ll also discuss the Payment Protection Program, and how organizations are securing funding and resources for their employees. More info/register.
Host: FiscalNote
Presenters:
- Jan Masaoka, Chief Executive Officer, California Association of Nonprofits
- Mary Kate Cunningham, Vice President of Public Policy, American Society of Association Executives
- Doug Pinkham, President, Public Affairs Council
- Sherry Whitworth, Managing Director, FiscalNote
Tue 5/5 at 2 p.m. – Monetizing Virtual Events: Building Sponsorship Strategies
We’ve all been asked to make the leap to virtual events with unprecedented speed, and while virtual events can augment the reach of physical events, how can you monetize these events. Explore strategies for generating revenue through sponsorships, partnership and other sales opportunities through virtual events. Find out how to develop sales inventory that can be segmented and included into a number of different packages, which can then be sold to potential sponsors. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: PCMA
Presenter: Meg Fasy, founder, FazeFWD
Tue 5/5 at 2 p.m. – Effective Speaker Training for Virtual Events
Learn how to train your speakers to give online presentations that kick-ass. Hear about the fundamentals of effective storytelling, how to create a persuasive presentation structure, tips for creating (and keeping) engagement in a virtual environment, and the traps of virtual presenting and how to avoid them. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Hubb
Presenters:
- Kerri Garbis, President & Founder, Ovation
- Jamie Timperley, President, Dynamic Events
- Allie Magyar, CEO, Hubb
Tue 5/5 at 2 p.m. – Technically Speaking: How to Talk AV
Learn the basics of audio-visual, including some equipment terminology, tips on working with your supplier, and ideas for when you’re working with a tight A/V budget. At least you’ll be able to speak in a common language with your supplier to ensure efficient planning and amazing results. More info/register.
Host: Smart Meetings
Presenter: Michael Granek, CSEP, President & COO of the Event Leadership Institute
Tue 5/5 at 4 p.m. – Association Women Technology Champions (AWTC) Cinco de Mayo Happy Hour
Join us for a virtual AWTC Happy Hour on Cinco de Mayo! Come with your best fun Zoom background and a non-work related fact about yourself. It’s going to be a party (social distance style). And don’t forget your preferred beverage. More info/register.
Organizer: AWTC
Hosts:
- Tori Miller Liu, Director, Information Systems, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
- Christina (Tina) Marmor, Director, Marketing Events, Fonteva
NEW: Wed 5/6 at 11 a.m. – The ROI of Words: How to Write Website Copy that Will Drive Member Renewal and Recruitment
As important as website design and functionality is…so is excellent influence copy…perhaps more important. Regardless of your desire…getting members back into the fold or inviting the uninitiated…you must clearly explain the value of membership. Learn how to write the kind of benefit (or what’s in it for me) copy that will influence the decision to join or renew. More info/register.
Host: Ed Rigsbee, president, Rigsbee Research
Wed 5/6 at 12 p.m. – Prosperity and Adversity: A Decade of Data and Insights
The Great Recession, February 2020, and today—these three points in time provide us with a remarkable window into the economy and how associations have navigated, responded and even thrived in times of prosperity and adversity. We will share data from our Economic Impact on Associations study, which originally launched during the Great Recession in 2009 and has gathered data every year since—including in the weeks leading up to the COVID-19 crisis. We’ll also share data collected in early May, which will provide a snapshot of where we stand today. More info/register.
Host: McKinley Advisors
Presenter: Shelley Sanner, M.A., CAE, Senior Vice President of Industry Relations, McKinley Advisors
Wed 5/6 at 12 p.m. – Driving Revenue when the Engine Stalls
In the blink of an eye, the pursuit of additional association revenue has shifted from nice-to-have for many to must-have for all. Cancelled conferences and member attrition concerns have resulted in identifying new revenue streams as code red priorities. Join this eye-opening workshop on how and where to pivot next. Lewis serves as a guide on how to implement game-changing sponsor relationships and Dave focuses on how to become indispensable to your members. More info/register.
Host: Association Insights in Old Town
Presenters:
- Lewis Flax of Flax Associates
- David Schulman of Associations Rewired
Wed 5/6 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 5/6 at 1 p.m. – The Future of Advocacy
With association advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill never more urgent, who does Congress listen to in an over-communicated world? What do congressional staffers believe are the most effective communications tactics for influencing undecided Members of Congress? How can “grasstops” advocates be trained to influence Congress? How can associations use social media to impact legislative outcomes? Hear insights on the emerging advocacy strategies to influence legislative outcomes, as well as update attendees on the status of Congressional office operations and activities in light of COVID-19. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Hosts: ASAE Government Relations and Advocacy Professionals Advisory Council and the Congressional Management Foundation
Presenters:
- Bradford Fitch, President and CEO, Congressional Management Foundation
- Seth Turner, Director of Citizen Engagement, Congressional Management Foundation
NEW: Wed 5/6 at 3 p.m. – Market Transformation Series: New Venue Protocols
Every in-person event has three things: people, a program, and of course, a place. But what will gathering look like in a Covid world? This is perhaps the biggest question producers, corporations, non-profits and certainly venues are pondering as we try to move forward during the next 12-18 months. Take a look at the science of cleaning in a virus-spreading world, hear how venue managers from large to small are developing new protocols to ensure guest safety in uncertain times, and find out what all of this means for the future of event design which is very much venue-dependent. More info/register.
Host: Event Leadership Institute
Presenters:
- Antony Bonavita, CVEExecutive Vice President, Venue Operations, Cleveland Cavaliers/Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
- Ken Bickerton CIH CSP,VP & Sr. Safety and Industrial Hygiene Consultant, Phase Associates
- Kevin White,Founder & Chief Strategist, XPL
- Ryan Simonetti,Founder & CEO, Convene
Wed 5/6 at 3 p.m. – Developing Your Association’s COVID-19 Scenarios of the Future
Even as association boards, CEOs and senior executives manage the day-to-day operational challenges created by a global pandemic, they are beginning to ask a deeper question: how do we work together to navigate our association, our stakeholders, and our field through the next 18-36 months of serious risk and uncertainty? This foresight session will focus participants’ attention on developing high-impact scenarios of the future they can use as a meaningful learning resource, a powerful tool for effective decision-making, and a platform from which to build the critical new capacity their associations will need to survive and thrive in the months and years ahead. More info/register – $39 for Association Forum non-members.
Host: Association Forum
Presenter: Jeff De Cagna, FRSA, FASAE, Executive Advisor, Foresight First LLC
NEW: Thu 5/7 at 12 p.m. – Mission Critical: How One Global Association Transformed its Live Annual Event to Virtual in Record Time
The American Association of Suicidology’s annual meeting had been growing steadily in recent years. When their reimagined conference couldn’t take place in late April, staff and volunteers went into overdrive to transition the physical meeting to a virtual one in a matter of days. They knew how critical it was to their global community to deliver much-needed content. Hear the unvarnished truth about what they learned, what they’d do differently and the surprising results of the efforts of their team. More info/register.
Host: Velvet Chainsaw Consulting
Presenters:
- Conference architects and speakers: Colleen Creighton, CEO, AAS
Jonathan Singer, PhD, AAS Board President and 2020 Program Chair - Sarah Michel (facilitator), VP, Velvet Chainsaw Consulting
Thu 5/7 at 12 p.m. – The Show Must Go On: Transforming Your Meeting to Virtual in the Wake of COVID-19
This year we have worked with our client partners to transform their essential events into new virtual formats so that they can engage their members, deliver essential content, and continue vital revenue streams for their associations. Hear several case studies on how we have transformed these meetings and how it can work for your association. More info/register.
Host: Talley Management Group (TMG)
Presenters:
- Joe Sapp, TMG Chief Operating Officer
- Danielle Barsuglia, TMG Meeting and Exhibit Manager
- Cheryl Gallagher, TMG Senior Meeting Manager
- Stephanie Moyer, TMG Meeting Manager
- Heather Seasholtz (moderator), Director, TMG Meetings and Events Management
Thu 5/7 at 12 p.m. – IFTF Online Collaboration: A Global Communication Hackathon
Explore the future of human communication, collaboration and connection through emerging media technologies. The covid-19 pandemic has instigated an unprecedented global experiment as people around the world try to figure out how to translate their social, personal, and professional lives into the constraints of online tools and networks. The presenters are looking both at the urgent futures during this forced global hackathon, as well as the long-term futures of social virtual reality platforms where people will be embodied as 3D avatars and inhabit shared virtual worlds. More info/register.
Host: Institute for the Future
Presenters: Toshi Anders Hoo, Emerging Media Lab Director, and Mark Frauenfelder, Research Director, Institute for the Future
Thu 5/7 at 1 p.m. – Nonprofit Data for Beginners: Asking the Right Questions
A three-week course designed to help you ask the right questions, find the data you need, and use your data to strengthen your organization. Simply collecting data is not enough. Deciding early on what you will do with that data—and why you want it in the first place—will help you to define goals and approaches. We’ll talk through how to define your organization’s own data-based metrics strategy from the ground up. More info/register.
Host: Idealware
Presenter: Eric Leland, Founder and Director of FivePaths
Thu 5/7 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. – Non-Dues-a-Palooza LIVE
Associations were desperate for non-dues ideas and exposure to innovative people and products before. But now in light of the thousands of association events that have been disrupted, there is no better time to look at diversifying revenue streams. We’re partnering with the big dogs to provide an incredible virtual experience for all Non Dues-a-Palooza registrants. All registrants get an all-access pass to Non Dues-a-Palooza LIVE on May 7 plus the in-person event September 24 in Nashville. More info/register (fee).
Host: Teri Carden, founder, ReviewMyAMS
Thu 5/7 at 2 p.m. – Monetizing Virtual Events: Update Your Event Model
We’ve all been asked to make the leap to virtual events with unprecedented speed, and while virtual events can augment the reach of physical events, how can you monetize these events. Explore strategies for updating your event model in light of the current climate. Find out how to develop sales inventory that can be segmented and included into a number of different packages, which can then be sold to potential sponsors. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: PCMA
Presenter: Meg Fasy, founder, FazeFWD
Thu 5/7 at 2 p.m. – Create Connection and Raise Money Using Zoom for Virtual Fundraising Events
If you need to quickly create a virtual fundraising opportunity, learn how to apply the principles of creating successful in-person fundraising events to creating virtual events using Zoom. Discover how you can create profitable events that give your community the feeling of togetherness, even while keeping a physical distance. More info/register.
Host: TechSoup
Presenter: Quierra Trammel, founder, Tribe Table
Thu 5/7 at 3 p.m. – Projects that Lead to Analytics Success
Having a solid foundation for data analytics is a journey and requires your team to accomplish many small projects along the way. Now is the time to get started at these projects, so you are more prepared for the future that requires data to help inform key strategy decisions. In this session, you will hear from thought leaders from the association community who have implemented quick wins that provide a framework for your association’s analytics success. More info/register.
Host: Association Analytics
Thu 5/7 at 3:30 p.m. – Staying Sane, Motivated & Productive Right Now!
COVID-19 has huge economic impact for our business, but it also has a significant impact on our well-being and productivity. This program won’t help you with your cash deposits right now, but it will help you with your mental deposit and how you can improve your current work environment in a way that will help you stay sane, motivated and productive during these (ahem) challenging times. Hear about simple, actionable steps to improve your performance and productivity right now. More info/register.
Host: .orgCommunity
Presenter: Conor Cunneen, IrishmanSpeaks
NEW: Thu 5/7 at 4 p.m. – 13 Secrets to Help You Create an Insanely Engaging Virtual Meeting Today
Contrary to popular belief, virtual group meetings can be productive, collaborative, and ridiculously engaging. The strategy is to reimagine the usual in-person agenda, energize participants differently, and use the tools to cultivate what the internet is best for – co-creation. Explore how to host virtual meetings for your members that are as engaging as in-person meetings on an interactive platform like Zoom with groups from 13 – 300 participants. More info/register.
Host: Amanda Kaiser, founder, Kaiser Insights
Thu 5/7 at 4 p.m. – Everything Must Change: Navigating Well Through Winds of Change (Reston/Loudon Swap Virtual Event)
Learn how to unveil the opportunities hidden beneath the surface of problems. Discover how to stay inspired and maintain optimism in your organization, understand the human side of change and communicate effectively, get rid of a culture of retreat and embrace a culture of advancing, mine for opportunities to better serve clients and not merely survive but thrive, and turn your COVID-19 experience into a debrief that sets a pattern for future preparation. RSVP.
Presenter: Carlton Reed, president, Carlton Reed Seminars
Fri 5/8 at 12 p.m. – Meeting Executive Re-Think Tank on Lessons Learned & Continued Impact
Join a virtual roundtable to debrief, debate and discuss COVID-19’s impact on our businesses, events, teams, and the overall meeting and events industry. In a moderated, peer discussion format we will focus on lessons learned and what we see happening in the months ahead. Bring your own case studies, observations and burning questions to share in this interactive “group therapy” session on the COVID-19 crisis. More info/register.
Host: MPI
Presenters:
- Kristi C. Sanders, CMP, CMM, Senior Director of Community Engagement, MPI
- Tyra W. Hilliard, PhD, Esq, CMP, Attorney, Professor, Speaker, College of Coastal Georgia
NEW: Fri 5/8 at 2 p.m. – The Impact of COVID-19 on Small Staff Associations: A CEO Dialogue
The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant financial and workforce challenges, meeting cancellations, and planning disruptions for all associations. The impact on small-staff associations is magnified by their leaner resources, smaller budgets, and limited ability to pivot in the face of turbulence. Hear small-staff executives share their “on the ground” experiences and strategies for the future and join an open-ended discussion of the unique challenges you are facing. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Presenters:
- Kerwin Brown, CAE, president and CEO, Bakery Equipment Manufacturers and Allieds
- Janice Crampton, CAEP, executive director/CEO, Association of Independent School Admission Professionals
- Tara Puckey, chief staff officer, Radio Television Digital News Association
- Steven Stout, FASAE, CAE, executive director, Texas Society of Association Executives
- Keith Skillman, CAE (moderator), senior research and content advisor, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership
Tue 5/12 at 3 p.m. – How Do Members (Especially New Members) Want to Be Engaged?
Join us as we each slip into our member’s shoes and look at engagement from their perspective. Discuss how engagement feels, and the seemingly benign things associations do that derail engagement. Weigh in on the differences in member engagement between trade and professional associations. Share engaging ideas that you can use in your career and for your association. More info/register.
Hosts: Kaiser Insights, Dynamic Benchmarking and Matchbox Virtual Media
Presenters:
- Reggie Henry, CAE, Information and Engagement Officer, ASAE
- Carey Goryl, CAE, CEO, Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment
- Eric Lanke, President/CEO, National Fluid Power Association
- Amanda Kaiser, MBA, Member Engagement Specialist, Kaiser Insights LLC
Wed 5/13 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Tap Chapters as a Member Engagement Channel
Dive deep into the data on membership needs, loyalty, and behavior. Exploring the data, we’ll work to create strategies that help your chapters generate engagement and value based on your members’ career stages. Not only will you walk away with a playbook of new ways to engage the next big wave of individuals starting their careers or reinventing themselves, but you’ll also uncover ways to better prepare volunteers to be the face of your association. 3 CAE credits. More info/register ($29 fee includes $10 Grubhub eGift Card for lunch).
Hosts: Billhighway, Mariner Management and Community Brands
Wed 5/13 at 2 p.m. – Going Virtual Overnight: A Retrospective
In March, when workplaces everywhere found themselves suddenly needing to support a fully remote staff, even those that had started down the path of accommodating more telework and remote-only employees were thrown for a loop. So, let’s talk about it. Agile methodologies include the concept of a retrospective – taking the time, as a team, to look back on a specific period of time or event and discuss what went well, what went not-so-well, what happened, what didn’t happen, and what should happen next time. Let’s work together to create real, helpful insights and guidance for our peers (and future selves). More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions (AWTC)
Wed 5/13 at 2 p.m. – Growing Non-Dues Revenue in Times of Crisis & Beyond
Most associations are facing challenges when it comes to generating non-dues revenue during our current crisis. Discover ways to grow your non-dues revenue through expanding your digital communication strategy, opening more exclusive and targeted opportunities, and working with advertisers and sponsors to shift their messaging. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Hosts: Naylor Association Solutions and Association Adviser
Presenters:
- Laura Taylor, Vice President of Digital Operations, Naylor Association Solutions
- John Bacon, Senior Group Publisher, Naylor Association Solutions
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.
Creative Commons image by Brian Fegter via Unsplash
Association Brain Food 