The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Reboarding members. In a recent webinar, Reggie Henry introduced many in the association community, including WBT Systems, to the “reboarding members” concept—taking time each year to reacquaint yourself with a member’s goals, needs and interests, and reintroduce them to membership benefits and resources. WBT shares ideas for using what you learn during reboarding to better serve members.
Virtual event ebook. Ellipsis Partners and Achurch Consulting have been burning the midnight oil on a virtual events ebook that’s definitely worth checking out. It covers virtual event strategy and technology, including a list of platforms for different purposes.
Virtual learning strategies. During a virtual conference, attendee attention is more focused on the educational content. MemberSuite suggests several strategies for designing a more effective and memorable virtual learning experience.
Virtual networking. PCMA partnered with e180 to host PCMA Braindate: Future Event Scenarios on Wednesday. They described it as “a drop-in forum that will bring business events professionals together for authentic connections and topical conversation” in a virtual format. Participants posted their topics on e180’s Topic Market and sent invitations for one-on-one or group Braindates—video chat discussions on the Braindate platform. Intriguing. I wonder how PCMA and its attendees felt about the experience.
Virtual conference success story. In just five days, WalkMe turned their 500-person user conference into a virtual live talk show. Shoshana Friedman shared a detailed recap on the WalkMe blog and Dayana Nevo wrote about lessons learned on the MarTech Advisor blog.
Virtual conference of the week. The Online News Association is turning their conference into a virtual “global journalism innovation festival.” Their list of learning, networking and inspiration aspects of the program are good ideas for all virtual conferences.
Quick hits before we get to the list of this week’s free education:
- A funny one (or scary one, depending on your employment situation) from Shit Nonprofits Say on Twitter.
- Check out the midnight sun and aurora borealis, paddling down the Chena River, or dog mushing in these 360-view videos from Fairbanks, Alaska.
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.
- Two words: crunchy rice. I’ve always heard people rave about the crunchy rice (tahdig) at the bottom of a pot of Persian rice and now I understand their obsession. I made this recipe for striped bass (instead of cod) with soy-caramelized onions and potatoes, but I used cooked white rice instead of the potatoes. Little did I know how good that would be.
- The following night I was crunched for time and my original recipe plan wasn’t a great choice for yellowfin tuna. I looked at the condiment shelves in the frig and decided to sear the tuna, flip it and baste it with a mix of hoisin sauce and Kashmiri coconut hot sauce from Tattoo. Very tasty.
- The next day, I chopped the leftover tuna (with sauce) and added chopped hard-boiled eggs, sweet onion, celery, pickled kale stems, cilantro, turmeric, black pepper and mayo for a crazy delicious tuna/egg salad.
- This bulgogi meatloaf from Bon Appetit is the gift that keeps on giving since I had a few meatloaf sandwiches for lunch this week. The gochujang (Korean hot pepper paste) mayonnaise I slathered all over the meatloaf made them even better.
- It’s blueberry season here in North Carolina. Jim and I both brought home a few pints so I made Jordan Marsh blueberry muffins. Jordan Marsh was a department store chain in Massachusetts that was famous for its big blueberry muffins—mine aren’t as big but they’re just as good.
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 5/29 at 12 p.m.* – 3 Ways To Lower Anxiety & Boost Productivity: How To Gain Momentum In Uncertain Times
Learn how to use “emotional recipes” to shift from fear to freedom and procrastination to motivation. Discover the 5 levels of subconscious communication to avoid self-sabotage and seize opportunities. Acquire “mind tools” for boosting focus, productivity, and momentum in any environment. More info/register.
Host: MPI
Presenter: Tim Schurr, Schurr Success, Inc.
*All times are Eastern Daylight Savings Time unless otherwise noted.
Fri 5/29 at 1 p.m. – Agile Analytics for Associations
Hear how two associations responded to 2020 challenges by looking at member data in fresh new ways. The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics used agile analytics to forecast positive cases among member types and make decisions regarding renewal options. The American Association of Justice cross-referenced new membership trends and product purchases from their vast library to create highly-targeted product bundles. See how agile analytics can help guide your 2020 decisions. More info/register.
Host: Gravitate Solutions
Presenters:
- Danielle Deane, Membership Manager, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
- Lacy Packard, MPM, Director of Information Technology, The American Association of Justice
Fri 5/29 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
Mon 6/1 at 12 p.m. – Pivot Virtual Summit: Visioning a New Future for the Events Industry through Self Care, Innovation & Community
Hear industry-leading thought leaders talk about the events industry as we know it today and what we see for the future. More info/register.
Host: Liz King Events
Today’s sessions:
- Change Starts NOW – Leslie Short, CEO, K.I.M. Media
- It’s All About the Comeback: Take Control of Your Narrative and Rewrite Your Reality – Courtney Stanley, Keynote Speaker & Career Success Coach, CS Consulting
- Thriving Through COVID-19: True Stories from an Independent Event Professional – Nicole Gallub, CEO, Pelonkey
Mon 6/1 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 6/2 at 12 p.m. – Advocacy, Diversity & Inclusion
With COVID-19 disrupting the way any association functions today, “business as usual” is no longer viable. But this disruption also brings the opportunity to do things differently. Hear three association executives share their thoughts on incorporating diversity and inclusion into advocacy efforts, bringing in different areas of expertise and leveraging on their synergies for a holistic approach and impactful results. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Organizer: ASAE Government Relations and Advocacy Professionals Advisory Council
Presenters:
- Stefanie Reeves, Executive Director, Maryland Psychological Association
- Carmen Elliott, VP Payment and Practice Management, American Physical Therapy Association
- David Lusk, Founder, Key Advocacy
- Danielle Duran Baron (moderator), Founder, Insightful Concepts
Tue 6/2 at 12 p.m. – Data Hygiene and Quality—Data Wrangling (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.
Organizer: Robert Taflinger
Tue 6/2 at 12 p.m. – How to Create & Execute Virtual Meetings & Events
Identify approachable actions, define key roles, and apply fundamentals to begin producing virtual events on your own. Determine steps to discovering and selecting a virtual platform to meet the goals and objectives of the event. Understand how to strategically design a virtual event with all stakeholders in consideration in order to maximize success. 1 CMP credit. More info/register – fee for MPI non-members.
Host: MPI
Presenter: Mandy Brown, Lecturer, San Diego State University L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality & Tourism Management
Tue 6/2 at 12 p.m. – Pivot Virtual Summit: Visioning a New Future for the Events Industry through Self Care, Innovation & Community
Hear industry-leading thought leaders talk about the events industry as we know it today and what we see for the future. More info/register.
Host: Liz King Events
Today’s sessions:
- Co-Creation & Virtual Experience Design – Anthony Vade, Experience Architect, FMAV
- Digital Event Roles: Identifying the Skills You Need For Success for a Virtual Event – Leslie Bailey, Education Manager, PCMA
- How to Create an Engaging Virtual Event – Alysha Parker, Corporate Marketing Manager, Bizzabo
- Fundraising in our Virtual Climate – Jenn Glynn, Managing Partner, Meeting Encore Ltd.
Tue 6/2 at 1 p.m. – Digital Media Production on a Shoestring Budget
Hear about the tools and best practices you’ll need to effectively create, shoot, edit, and publish videos and podcasts on a shoestring budget. Learn whether hiring a professional service is a better option than DIY, which technical tools to use for your DIY project, and a strategy for getting your video seen or podcast heard. More info/register.
Host: TechImpact
Presenters:
- Steve Boland, Managing Partner, Next in Nonprofits
- Nhu Ngyuen, Senior Multimedia Designer, Warschawski
Tue 6/2 at 2 p.m. – Why You Still Need a Crisis Comms Plan (Association Chat)
Discover why, even if you’ve navigated the Covid-19 crisis relatively unscathed, having a crisis communications plan is necessary & why now is the perfect time to create one. More info/register.
Host: KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Consulting, and Senior Consultant, Tecker International, LLC
Guest: Alex Plaxen, Nifty Method Marketing & Events
Tue 6/2 at 2 p.m. – Virtual is Vital: Event Strategy, Design and Engagement
Listen to two case studies: rapidly converting a face-to-face meeting to a virtual event within 3.5 weeks, and the steps they are taking to use traditional face-to-face experience and event design strategy tools to plan for a hybrid event at the in-person fall conference and the contingency for a virtual-only event. More info/register.
1 CMP credit. Host: PCMA
Presenters:
- Victoria Fanning, CMP, DES, Sr. Manager of Online Events at the Medical Group Management Association
- Megan Finnell, CMP, Director, Meetings & Conferences with Medical Group Management Association
Tue 6/2 at 2 p.m. – Setting the Table for a Shift in Event F&B Service
Find out how to reset the table to provide safer, cleaner, and more transparent food and beverage events. Learn how to define duty of care as it applies to food safety and COVID-19, the questions you should be asking about food safety for the front and back of the house, and how social distancing will impact F&B service. More info/register.
Host: MeetingsNet
Presenter: Tracy Stuckrath, CSEP, CMM, CHC, Trainer and Consultant, Thrive! Meetings & Events
Wed 6/3 at 9 a.m. – Case Study: How to Shift an In-Person Conference to Virtual in Just 2 weeks Amid Covid-19
Learn how to quickly assess your resources and put a virtual event plan in place, develop an effective program with human elements to breathe life into your event, and keep attendees engaged long after the virtual conference. More info/register.
Host: ASI
Presenters:
- Martin Angelin, Performance Improvement Leader, ASI
- Edward Wendling, Global VP of Marketing, ASI
Wed 6/3 at 12 p.m. – Leading Engagement From The Outside-In
Learn a new definition of association engagement by refocusing engagement to generate real value and placing engagement at the heart of your strategy. Find out how member-centric engagement propels your association to become your members’ indispensable partner. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Insights in Old Town
Presenter: Elizabeth Weaver Engel, M.A., CAE—Chief Strategist, Spark Consulting, LLC
Wed 6/3 at 12 p.m. – Protecting Your Meetings and Events Budget in Difficult Times – Seven Actions to Take Now
Learn how to measure the return on investment of a major M&E program using a standard ROI calculation. Hear about seven actions you can take now to protect your M&E budget. 1 CMP credit. More info/register – fee for MPI non-members.
Host: MPI
Presenters:
- Jack J. Phillips, Ph.D, Chairman, ROI Institute, Inc.
- Patti Phillips, Ph.D, CEO, ROI Institute, Inc
- Sally Mainprize, Owner and Event Yoda, Iron Peacock Events
Wed 6/3 at 12 p.m. – Pivot Virtual Summit: Visioning a New Future for the Events Industry through Self Care, Innovation & Community
Hear industry-leading thought leaders talk about the events industry as we know it today and what we see for the future. More info/register.
Host: Liz King Events
Today’s sessions:
- Science not stopped by Coronavirus: How a large scientific meeting successfully pivoted to virtual in record time – Silke Fleischer, Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder, ATIV Software
- Looking at the Future of Experiential Xvents Post COVID-19 – Erica Taylor Haskins, Partner & Chief Growth Officer, Tinsel Experiential Design
- Thinking Beyond: Visioning a Future for Special Events Post COVID-19 – Daniela Grafman, Chief Amazement Officer/Partner, Vision Event Co
Wed 6/3 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 6/3 at 1 p.m. – The State of Community Management 2020
Get an inside look at The State of Community Management 2020 report, , the longest-running, and most comprehensive industry report for online community professionals. This webinar will explore top trends and key findings from the 2020 report. More info/register.
Host: The Community Roundtable
Presenters:
- Rachel Happe, The Community Roundtable
- Heather McNair, Higher Logic
Wed 6/3 at 1 p.m. – #ExpoChat on Twitter
ExpoChat is a Twitter-based conversation on topics related to the trade show industry. More info.
Thu 6/4 at 12 p.m. – Pivot Virtual Summit: Visioning a New Future for the Events Industry through Self Care, Innovation & Community
Hear industry-leading thought leaders talk about the events industry as we know it today and what we see for the future. More info/register.
Host: Liz King Events
Today’s sessions:
- From Public Speaker to Virtual Event Host – Ramon Ray, Entrepreneur, Smart Hustle Magazine
- Adapting to Disruptions with Your Intangible Skills – Nick Borelli, Strategist, Borelli Strategies
- Future of Meetings in Post-COVID World: Operational Necessities in Evaluating a Venue – Phoenix Porcelli, Global Strategy Director, Convene
- Post Pandemic Sales Strategies for the Event Industry – Heather Hansen O’Neill, President, Find Your Fire
Thu 6/4 at 1 p.m. – Personalization vs. Control in Email Marketing Content
Learn how best to apply personalization and control in email marketing communications, the pros and cons of each strategy, and what it means to find “an appropriate balance” and how to implement it. More info/register.
Host: rasa.io
Presenters:
- Jared Loftus, COO of rasa.io
- Scott Rogerson, CEO of UpContent
Thu 6/4 at 1 p.m. – Taking Your Sponsorship Program Virtual
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced organizations to cancel and postpone live events, or shift to a virtual or hybrid format. In cases of cancelled/postponed events, associations are struggling to find ways to save sponsorship revenue. Learn how to identify new sponsorship opportunities, mitigate sponsorship refunds, and manage sponsor expectations to support sponsor/partner retention. More info/register.
Host: Event Garde
Presenters:
- Kara Nacarato, Director of Development & Special Initiatives, Event Garde
- Aaron Wolowiec, CEO & Founder, Event Garde
- Lindsay Gross (moderator), Director of Facilitation Services, Event Garde
Thu 6/4 at 2 p.m. – 5 Ways to Drive Leads at Virtual Trade Shows
The shift from in-person events to virtual has left those of us who use trade shows to connect with customers and prospects struggling to fill a lead gap in our marketing and sales funnels. Join us to find out how to re-calibrate your strategy to drive leads virtually. More info/register.
Host: Cvent
Presenters:
- McNeel Keenan, Vice President, Product Management, Cvent
- Barbara Pavesi, Senior Tradeshow Planner, Cvent
Thu 6/4 at 3 p.m. – Know Your Members! How to Collect and Leverage Member Data
Associations consistently cite better member data as a top priority–for segmentation, communication, products and services, and improving member experience. Learn how to integrate, store, and act on data from multiple sources and platforms your association uses every day. More info/register.
Host: Association Analytics
Thu 6/4 at 3:30 – Accelerating Digital Transformation: How COVID-19 Has Accelerated the Association Need for Digital Event Strategies
The new normal will be to deliver hybrid (in-person and online) and virtual (online-only) events. The need for on-demand consumption, mobile-friendly delivery, and multimedia assets (video, audio, and text) will become necessary if associations are to stay relevant. Hear about “the new normal” for associations and what digital strategies need to be in place to meet these new demands. Then join an open forum on digital transformation and virtual events. 0.75 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: .orgCommunity
Presenters:
- Dan Stevens, President of WorkerBee.TV
- Sherry Budziak, Founder & CEO of .orgSource
Thu 6/4 at 4 p.m. – The Customer Journey: How to Optimize the User Experience to Drive Satisfaction, Retention, and Transactions
Learn about the customer journey and why it’s an important part of the planning process; how to map customer/member journeys through the organization’s multiple digital channels; tech tools to gather data and to understand what the data are telling you; how to identify and eliminate sources of friction that stand in your way of customer success; and how to optimize the journey to increase conversions and revenue. More info/register.
Organizer: Reston/Loudon Idea Swap
Presenter: Alexandra Mouw, CAE, Principal Digital Strategist, Results Direct
Fri 6/5 at 12 p.m. – Virtual Town Hall Discussion: Virtual Meeting Best Practices and Considerations
Hear from an expert and your peers in the association world as they share their expertise on platforms, best attendee experiences, verification of virtual programs, pricing options, and methods of virtual offerings (on-demand, pre-recorded, live). More info/register.
Organizer: ASAE’s Professional Development Section Council
Presenters:
- Jack Coursen, Director, Professional Development, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
- Kyle Lambert London (moderator), Manager, Association Leadership Engagement, National Association of REALTORS®
Fri 6/5 at 12 p.m. – Future of Meetings: Creative New Strategies from Hotels, AV Companies & Design Agencies
Learn how senior levels professionals from a hotelier, audio visual technology company, and a design agency are working with planners given the new social distancing and CDC advisements. 1 CMP credit. More info/register – fee for MPI non-members.
Host: MPI
Presenters:
- Lori Pugh Marcum, CMP, CMM, HMCC, CED, Head of Meeting Innovation, Meeting Professionals International
- Lenny Talarico, CSEP, CH, Director of Sales, BluePrint Studios
- Ian Seidenberg, CSEP, Director of Event Technologies, Encore Event Technologies
- Katie Bohrer, CMP, Vice President, Meeting Design & Experience, Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI)
Fri 6/5 at 12 p.m. – Pivot Virtual Summit: Visioning a New Future for the Events Industry through Self Care, Innovation & Community
Hear industry-leading thought leaders talk about the events industry as we know it today and what we see for the future. More info/register.
Host: Liz King Events
Today’s sessions:
- Setting the Table for a Shift in Event F&B Service – Tracy Stuckrath, CSEP, CMM, CHC, CEO, thrive! meetings & events
- WellBeing: Taking Good Care of Yourself and Your Attendees – Rachael Riggs, WellBeing Leader, Maritz Global Events
- Future-Ready Skills for Meetings – Lori Pugh Marcum, Head of Meeting Innovation, Meeting Professionals International
Tue 6/9 at 10 a.m. – SURGE Connect
SURGE Connect is a three-day opportunity to connect with association professionals around the world through a virtual conference dedicated to problem-solving, inspiration and creative leadership. CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Success
Tue 6/9 at 11 a.m. – How to Develop a Successful New Member Onboarding Campaign through Marketing Automation
Learn what a new member onboarding campaign is and why it’s so important for member retention. Hear about NAES’ transition from physical to digital for new member onboarding, strategies for creating an effective email onboarding program even when you’re pressed for time and resources, how NAES achieved marketing automation success by making use of the tools and systems they already had in place, why segmentation is so important for new member onboarding email campaigns, and the results of NAES’ onboarding campaigns. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Matrix Group
Presenters:
- Jonathan Cooper, Communications Manager, National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES)
- Joanna Pineda, CEO, Matrix Group
Tue 6/9 at 2 p.m. – Connectors Redefined: Integrations Done Right
As SaaS applications continue to grow exponentially, the term “Connector” is frequently used and often misunderstood. Hear about some of the challenges and best practices. Learn that while an iPaaS makes integration development easier, the basics, like requirements gathering, is still critical. More info/register.
Hosts: ReviewMyAMS and Shuffle Exchange
Wed 6/10 at 10 a.m. – SURGE Connect
SURGE Connect is a three-day opportunity to connect with association professionals around the world through a virtual conference dedicated to problem-solving, inspiration and creative leadership. CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Success
Thu 6/11 at 10 a.m. – SURGE Connect
SURGE Connect is a three-day opportunity to connect with association professionals around the world through a virtual conference dedicated to problem-solving, inspiration and creative leadership. CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Success
Fri 6/12 at 1 p.m. – How to Improve Your Association Business Model NOW!
Associations must be able to clearly explain how they create, deliver and capture value for stakeholders in these challenging times. Learn the steps to visually describe your current model and design new ones using the business model canvas. Hear about the nine building blocks of every successful model so you can determine where things must change to better meet member and critical stakeholder needs. More info/register.
Host: Tecker International
Presenters:
- Michael Anderson, CAE, FASAE, FAUSAE, Senior Consultant, Tecker International LLC
- KiKi L’Italien, Senior Consultant, Tecker International, LLC
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 Lynne Pelzek via Unsplash
Association Brain Food 