Spark Consulting

FEBRUARY 13, 2014

According to the Association Lab survey, the association executives who responded believe that information management, including both volume and quality of information, is their members’ top concern in 2014. I’d like to question that.

Content 150

Content Survey Review Leadership 150

Spark Consulting

JUNE 19, 2017

A couple of weeks ago there was a fairly lengthy thread in the Executive Management Section on ASAE Collaborate, with the subject line “ ASAE Committees/Sections Feedback ” (member login required). Guest blog from my Include Is a Verb co-author, Sherry Marts (S*Marts Consulting).

Social Media 207

Social Media Committee Examples Report 207

Spark Consulting

DECEMBER 3, 2013

Online Community Results: Association executives continue to express major interest in online communities, and we get asked for platform recommendations all the time. Between the continued curiosity of association executives and growth of software options, the market is ripe for this paper. Spark: Why did you decide to write the Guide?

Software 150

Software Social Media Review Process 150

Spark Consulting

APRIL 21, 2014

I quote from the reg page : Association executives have more types and greater amounts of data readily available to us than ever before. It will formally drop next week, but you can get a preview this week via the YourMembership.com FREE webinar series.

Innovation 150

Innovation Leadership Tools Process 150

Spark Consulting

DECEMBER 6, 2013

Also, it seems like associations are finally catching up to – or realizing that we need to catch up to – business in moving IT out of the server room and onto the executive team, as a strategic partner focused on achieving business goals. What did you learn this year?

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Conference Technology Tools Team 150

Spark Consulting

NOVEMBER 19, 2013

One of our speakers, Jami Lucas , Executive Director/CEO at the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy & Foundation, admonished us to go beyond asking members what they want. At the inaugural ACE Symposium two weeks ago, one of the topics we discussed was the future of new value creation in associations.

Innovation 150

Innovation Education Organization 150

Spark Consulting

JANUARY 7, 2014

Each webinar features an experienced association executive sharing 10 tips in 20 minutes on her topic, followed by a short Q&A. Register now and learn how to kickstart your organizational culture in 2014!

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Recruiting Recruitment Tips Innovation 150

Spark Consulting

OCTOBER 10, 2013

Each webinar features an experienced association executive sharing 10 tips in 20 minutes on her topic, followed by a short Q&A. They are designed for people who are new to the profession of association management, new to particular topics in association management, or who just need a brush up on some concepts.

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Tips Innovation Leadership Association Management 150

Spark Consulting

JUNE 17, 2014

Paul today presenting for the Midwest Society of Association Executives’ annual meeting today. I’m in St. Two of my sessions are on familiar topics: The Mission Driven Volunteer and my Carpe Annum IGNITE session. But one’s new: Your Membership Dilemmas SOLVED! In it, I plan to share the great secret of consulting.

Innovation 150

Innovation Course Leadership Conference 150

Spark Consulting

JUNE 14, 2013

Reading over the session executive summaries graciously provided by ASAE and BullsEye Resources, I was reminded of one of keynoter Todd Henry ‘s questions to drive creativity: what’s inspiring you now? This really is the last post from #MMCCon – I promise.

Project 150

Project Conference Resources 150

Spark Consulting

OCTOBER 20, 2022

That left our project without an executive-level sponsor. The board doesn’t trust the executive director. I’m thinking of a particular project where a VP hired me and then promptly quit – his last day on staff was the day of our project kickoff meeting. Negative organizational culture.

Project 39

Project Proposal Committee Course 39

Spark Consulting

NOVEMBER 8, 2013

This week, I had the opportunity to serve as a “strategic listener” for the first ever Association Chief Executives Symposium.

Leadership 150

Leadership System 150

Spark Consulting

NOVEMBER 22, 2013

My spouse, without whose emotional and financial support none of this would be possible. I’ll be taking next week off blogging for the holiday.

America 150

America Team Course Project 150

Spark Consulting

JANUARY 21, 2015

Last week, I was teaching the volunteer management course for ASAE’s Association Management Week with the smart and talented Andrea Rutledge (Executive Director of the National Architectural Accrediting Board), and she and I got chatting about membership recruitment.

Recruiting 150

Recruiting Recruitment Texas Sample 150

Spark Consulting

MARCH 28, 2013

You need organizational buy-in at all levels, but particularly among executives and volunteer leaders. .” The question is why. It’s not like there’s some BIG secret around how to make online communities work. You need dedicated community manager(s) to shepherd process and nurture the community.

Communications 150

Communications Strategy Video Project 150

Spark Consulting

FEBRUARY 20, 2018

Over-work and too much stress are pretty much the norm for most association executives. Every day, we’re trying to do a lot for our members, and most associations are perpetually understaffed and tight on budget. This makes a digital detox sound like a really great idea. “Yeah!

Social Media 150

Social Media Technology Course Organization 150

Spark Consulting

JULY 15, 2014

The CEO or executive director has to be supportive of the decision,” she says. Cochran estimates that today about 80 percent of the ideas proposed via the fund are successful—that is, proved themselves financially viable after three years and became part of the regular operating budget.

Proposal 150

Proposal Innovation Leadership DC 150

Spark Consulting

JULY 30, 2017

I also want to thank the many association executives who were willing to share the stories of their organizations’ work, struggles, and triumphs in the case studies that illustrate many of the concepts the white papers discuss.

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Case Study Project Team Resources 150

Spark Consulting

AUGUST 29, 2019

Shelly and I will be giving TWO FREE webinars this fall where you can get up to speed on what this technology is, how it works, and why association executives should care. This is your lucky day! Webinar 1 – Wednesday, September 25, 1 pm ET (hosted by Impexium) – register now.

Review 30

Review Technology Industry 30

Spark Consulting

SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

Why do you need to understand the benefits and drawbacks of various types of research methods?

Case Study 39

Case Study Review Course Resources 39

Spark Consulting

MARCH 4, 2015

California Society of Association Executives ELEVATE, April 2015.

California 150

California Case Study Member Engagement Review 150

Spark Consulting

MAY 5, 2014

In short, 18 was too many, and their aging definitions weren’t keeping up with post-recession conditions in the global investment management industry, anyway, says Michele Liston, CMP, deputy executive director at NICSA.

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Philadelphia Discount Analysis United States 150

Spark Consulting

SEPTEMBER 24, 2015

If you really need five printed, bound copies of all the proposals FedExed to your Executive Committee, fine. DON’T make vendors jump through dumb hoops. Don’t tell them what fonts, margins, etc. But don’t make vendors do that just to see if they will. Got anything good I missed? Leave it in the comments.

Proposal 150

Proposal Project Discount Process 150

Spark Consulting

FEBRUARY 20, 2018

Over-work and too much stress are pretty much the norm for most association executives. Every day, we’re trying to do a lot for our members, and most associations are perpetually understaffed and tight on budget. This makes a digital detox sound like a really great idea. “Yeah!

Social Media 60

Social Media Technology Course Organization 60

Spark Consulting

JULY 29, 2014

In other words, senior leadership sets the vision, and all the details about how that vision is executed are pushed down to those closest to where the activity is taking place, like so: All I can say to this is: YES! Our Executive Directors/Chief Staff Officers are supposed to be the bridge to the Board.

Leadership 150

Leadership Washington Review Revenue 150

Spark Consulting

JULY 28, 2015

Many association executives are familiar with ASAE’s online member community, Collaborate. In just under two weeks, at the 2015 ASAE Annual Meeting in Detroit, I’ll be facilitating a session called “ Request and Re-gift.”

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Detroit Conference 150

Spark Consulting

OCTOBER 17, 2013

Check out my article on this topic in the June 2013 issue of CalSAE’s The Executive. Attention to Detail – Association staff members wear many hats, and it’s easy to let little things slide in the pressure of the deadline, and the one after that, and the one after that. Image credit: Constant Contact blog.

Marketing 150

Marketing Revenue Examples Organization 150

Spark Consulting

MAY 9, 2013

As the title of this post states, the consultant and the association executive should be friends (bonus points if you get the Oklahoma! reference).

Oklahoma 150

Oklahoma Proposal Price Discount 150

Spark Consulting

SEPTEMBER 18, 2019

As part of our continuing effort to help association executives understand what blockchain is and how it’s going to affect us and our members, Shelly Alcorn and I recently recorded a podcast with Justin Burniske for fusionSPAN. In it, we addressed questions like: What *is* blockchain?

Process 37

Process Technology Innovation 37

Spark Consulting

MARCH 22, 2017

It’s an open secret that associations are deeply concerned about – and struggling with – our ability to recruit and retain Millennial young professionals, both as members and as association executives and talent in our industry.

millennials 150

millennials America New York Recruiting 150

Spark Consulting

APRIL 11, 2018

This is where I will say that nonprofits should not skimp on fundraising staff and professional executive development. And it is their job to make those sponsorships happen in tandem with a board and executive staff that is not shy, and can make the ask clearly, comfortably, and elegantly.

Strategy 150

Strategy Case Study Survey Project 150

Spark Consulting

JANUARY 30, 2017

Airports and cities large and small erupted into chaos this weekend as Donald Trump’s executive order temporarily banning Muslims from Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Somalia, Libya and Yemen from entering the US took effect.

Course 150

Course Conference Industry Leadership 150

Spark Consulting

NOVEMBER 21, 2016

Work with societies of association executives (SAEs) at the local, state, and regional levels to organize a series of town hall meetings to nurture an open and honest dialogue about the future of our country, with the intention of bringing people from across the political spectrum together as Americans.

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United States Proposal New York America 150