The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Advocacy’s membership value. When I worked in membership for a trade association, it was always difficult to convince prospects of the membership value of lobbying since it went on whether or not their company was a member. Quorum makes that job easier with their list of ways a government affairs team delivers membership ROI—talking points you should definitely share with your membership department.
Association-relevant fundraising trends. Every year, the Chronicle of Philanthropy publishes a list of nonprofits receiving the most charitable donations. WBT Systems picked out nonprofit successes and challenges that illuminate practices and trends your association should know about.
APIs. I’ve written a few times over the years about APIs, so I’ve had to figure them out. Empowered Margins not only describes what APIs are but also explains their potential. They believe an API strategy is crucial to defining your association’s value proposition and taking your “rightful leadership position to steer your industry.”
Integrations and iPaaS. After years of talking about integrations, a group of ASAE members developed the State of iPaaS in Association Industry survey. This is their first step in assessing the current state and emerging trends of integrations between systems as seen by vendors, consultants, and association IT folks. “The more of us share our thoughts and experiences with each other, the better each of us will be equipped to make future-proof decisions about evolving our IT ecosystems, products, or services.” Please share this survey with your IT team and your technology consultants and partners. It will only take 5 to 8 minutes to complete.
#1 membership benefit. MemberSuite reveals the disconnect between what associations dedicate resources (staff time and money) to and what members consider the top benefit of membership: connections, aka networking. What’s up with that? Members want connections, but you never see a staff person taking ownership of this most important benefit.
Association podcasts. I always have a podcast on while driving and often while cleaning and cooking too. Association Briefings makes the case for starting an association podcast, describes the steps in the planning process, for example, identifying your goals and defining your audience, and brings up other issues to consider before you dive in.
Data-driven DEI. Rasheeda Childress at Associations Now writes about the data-informed changes made by the American Geophysical Union to their peer review and awards processes, so their programs would become more inclusive. She also describes how data and technology can make conference and meeting participation more equitable.
Quick hits
How will you use that data? (Wes Trochlil, Effective Database Management)
10 ways to make your members happy to get your emails. (Beth Arritt, Higher Logic)
How to do walking meetings right. (Russell Clayton, Christopher Thomas and Jack Smothers, Harvard Business Review)
Turn chaos into calm. (Holly Duckworth, CAE, GrowthZone)
Good eats
Skip down to the list of free webinars if you prefer takeout.
It is worth making this dish just so you have leftover sauce to pour over pasta or rice for lunch. Trust me. I’m talking about the sauce I made for creamy piccata swordfish. Swoon!
My brothers and I loved the fish our mum made at least once a week when we were growing up. It’s an easy one to throw together after a day spent teaching middle school or writing blog posts: Mummy Lorraine cod or scrod. Last week, I made my version of her recipe for speckled sea trout. My topping includes crushed Ritz crackers, lemon zest, garlic powder and melted butter. First, salt your fillets, brush them with a thin coat of mayo, pat on the topping and bake.
Here are the educational events scheduled for next week. If you have a free webinar or event coming up, please send me the link by Wednesday afternoon the week before it’s scheduled. I’ll be happy to feature it as long as it’s not too product-centric.
Fri 4/15 at 12 p.m.* – EventTech Chat
A weekly conversation about meeting and event technology, including software, hardware, and audiovisual for in-person and online events. More info/register.
Host: Brandt Krueger, founder Event Technology Consulting
*All events are online at Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.
Fri 4/15 at 4 p.m. – Open Networking: So, You Want to Consult
Thinking of becoming a consultant? Hear from some of our members that have taken “the leap” into consultantship. Learn about what they have experienced on their road to starting their practice and building it to where it stands today. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Presenter: Kenjie Davis, The AMS Guy
Mon 4/18 at 1 p.m. – Best Practices for Product Development (Chatting with Agnes & Cecilia)
This series of 15- to 20-minute videos covers hot topics and issues related to 501c organization management. New episodes are posted around 1 p.m. every Monday. Check out Cecilia’s Nonprofit Executive Spotlight series too.
Guest: Theo Harris
Hosts:
- Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC
- Agnes Amos-Coleman, MBA, CMP, education, conference, event, certification consultant, Amos-Coleman
Tue 4/19 at 12 p.m. – The Webinar You Need to Get Your Leaders Onboard with New Tech
See the new tech world from other perspectives so you can understand why it’s so tough to get everyone on the same digital page when it comes to tech solutions. Identify how you subconsciously approach new technology. Gain insight into other views of technology to find common ground to be more productive. Discover techniques that make new technology work better for you, no matter your Technology Psychology. Leave with new tech tool ideas that you can use right away. More info/register.
Host: Billhighway and Mariner Management
Presenter: Beth Ziesenis: Author. Speaker. Nerd.
Tue 4/19 at 12 p.m. – The Secret to Creating an Extraordinary Experience with Your Members
The truth to creating an extraordinary experience and enhancing a sustainable platform for higher retention of members comes down to not “what you do” but “why you do what you do” from shared or similar core values. It’s what is compelling to them and not what makes your meeting unique. Learn how to implement processes to retain current members and attract more people to your functions based on similar values, be more compelling and influential to others as an authority in your segment, and create a value statement that can be part of any marketing or service strategy that will lead to more referrals and higher retention of members. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MPI
Presenter: Christopher Salem
Tue 4/19 at 12 p.m. – ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Section Council Crunch and Munch Monthly Chat
We’ll feature different questions from our community and assist each other with best practice sharing and idea generation. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Section Council
Tue 4/19 at 12:30 p.m. – Meetings of Membership Minds
These impromptu, casual discussions about membership concepts, issues, and challenges are conducted live online and open to membership professionals to comment and offer insights. More info/register.
Hosts: Dan Ratner, The Business of Membership, and Scott Oser, Scott Oser Associates
Wed 4/20 at 12 p.m. – Behind the Curtain of ASAE Individual Honors: What You Need to Now Before You Apply
Are you interested in submitting an application for the 2022 ASAE Individual Honors? Learn about the application and best practices for a strong application. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Presenters:
- Donald Dea, FASAE, the 2022 Academy of Leaders Award recipient
- Arlene Pietranton, Ph.D., FASAE, CAE, the 2018 Key Award recipient
- DJ Johnson, FASAE, CAE, Chair of the Individual Honors Awards Committee
- Rhea Steele, CAE, 2020 Professional Performance Award recipient, and Vice Chair of the Individual Honors Awards Committee
Wed 4/20 at 1 p.m. – Developing a Strategic Plan in an Uncertain CE Environment
Learn about a methodology to develop a strategic plan in an uncertain CE environment. Discuss known trends and how you can use them to develop a future-forward strategic plan. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Professional Development Professionals Community
Wed 4/20 at 1 p.m. – Culture: Is Yours Working for You or Against You?
Is your culture an engine fueling strategic goals or is it ping pong tables and free lunch? The pandemic has laid bare the significant cost of misunderstanding culture and what it should be doing for your association. Some organizations have been well-positioned to shift to the new requirements of a changing world of work, while others are struggling and will continue to struggle long term. Learn how to develop an intentional culture and harness the powerful role it plays in achieving your mission. More info/register.
Host: CEO Update
Presenters:
- Wylecia Wiggs Harris, CEO American Health Information Management Association
- Tom Bohn, CEO Association for Corporate Growth
- Jamie Notter, Co-Founder and Growth Strategist, Propel
Wed 4/20 at 2 p.m. – Can I Afford a Hybrid Event? Join the Discussion!
While hybrid sounds like a great option in theory—meet the event preferences of all your members at once—many organizations are struggling with hybrid. The costs can be astronomical, and it’s often double the work, or more, for your staff. Learn what hybrid looks like, what the options and considerations are, if you can afford it, and how associations, big and small, are coming up with creative ways to hold engaging, successful hybrid events that don’t break the bank. More info/register.
Host: Matrix Group
Wed 4/20 at 2 p.m. – Your Guide to the Federal Budget & How it Can Affect Your Organization
While the federal budget process has an official timeline, it doesn’t always go according to plan. Learn how the budget is created and approved, things to know about this year’s budget, and how to get the funding your organization needs. Find out what we can expect in the federal budget process over the coming months, where the disagreements and concessions will be made, and what proposed additions and cuts will be finalized. More info/register.
Host: FiscalNote
Presenters:
- Peter Cohn, Policy Editor, CQ Roll Call
- Lindsey McPherson, Senior Reporter, CQ Roll Call
- Laura Weiss, Economic Policy Reporter, CQ Roll Call
- John Donnelly, Senior Writer, CQ Roll Call
Wed 4/20 at 2 p.m. – The Biggest Hybrid Meeting Trends of 2022
Dive into the findings from the 6-week educational event: The Ultimate Hybrid Master Class. Hear how major questions have been answered, new trends have emerged, and expert advice has been attained. Learn all that hybrid events have to offer in 2022 and beyond. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MeetingsNet
Presenters: Brandee Plott, Director of Marketing, and Lauren Huffman, Director of Marketing Operations, MeetingPlay + Aventri
Wed 4/20 at 3 p.m. – What it Takes to Make Analytics Part of Your Routine
Learn what data you should be tracking daily, weekly, monthly, and annually; how to create a consistent process and frequency for tracking analytics; and how to regularly review and discuss your metrics. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Analytics
Presenters: Bill Conforti, SVP of Strategy & Solutions, and Greg Pollack, VP of Sales, Association Analytics
Thu 4/21 at 11 a.m. – Deep Dive: 2022 Membership Performance Benchmark Report
Take a deep dive through the recently released 7th annual 2022 Membership Performance Benchmark Report. Nearly 300 association professionals participated, with findings showcasing the latest member engagement and retention strategies, the impact of new technologies, the power of digital transformation, and the ongoing effects of COVID-19. More info/register.
Host: ASI
Thu 4/21 at 11 a.m. – Generating Year-Round Revenue with Meeting Data
Meetings and conferences are data-rich entities that can leverage that data to generate revenue well beyond the event. Now, in addition to what you sell at your meeting, you can sell year-round engagement and connections. Learn how and what to collect—and what to do with it, including various approaches to packaging and monetizing the data, and how HIMSS turned first-party data into a large revenue stream. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: PCMA
Presenters:
- Paul Mattioli, Sr. Director, Product Marketing & Sales Enablement, HIMSS
- AnnMarie Wills, CEO/President, Leverage Lab
- Cari Lesh, Director, Client Partners, Leverage Lab
- Donna Sanford, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Ascend Media
Thu 4/21 at 1 p.m. – How to Co-Create Impactful Content with Event Attendees, Speakers, and Sponsors
Many event planners are finding it challenging to reach the same levels of attendance and engagement at their live events as they did in the pre-pandemic world. That’s because event attendees’ expectations have totally changed. Learn how to gather, build, and publish user-generated content before, during and after live events; assess your organization’s strategic initiatives to identify areas of opportunity to include more authentic video content co-created with members who attend your events; and design a request for user-generated video content and identify execution tactics to use at the event. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: U.S. Transactions Corp.
Presenters:
- Joel Resnik, Chief Revenue Officer, Gather Voices
- Drew Holmgreen, Vice President of Brand Engagement, Meeting Professionals International
- Erica Klinger, Senior Director of Marketing, Association for Accessible Medicines
Thu 4/21 at 2 p.m. – The Great Contemplation: Lessons in Leadership for Empowering Your Events Team
Research shows that nearly half of employees across sectors are thinking about quitting their current jobs, searching for a better work-life balance—a phenomenon Forbes and several other leading publications have coined The Great Contemplation. Hear tips for attracting, building, retaining, and empowering talent as we get back to business in an uncertain labor market where event professionals are considering what’s next on their career journey. More info/register.
Host: Smart Meetings
Presenters:
- Cindy Brewer, Principal, LEO Events
- Natasha Ashworth, Manager, Sales Programs & Events, FedEx Services
- Shelley Hodgkinson, Sr. Director, Event Solutions, Walmart
Thu 4/21 at 4 p.m. – Learn Concepts to Focus on Creating an Intentional Culture
The 2020 CAE content outline contained some significant shifts focused on creating an intentional culture: a culture of diversity, an ethical culture, a performance culture, a culture of foresight, a culture of accountability, a culture of learning. Learn about Intentional Culture and how you can make a difference in your organization. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Reston-Loudoun Idea Swap
Presenter: Sue Radwan, CAE, SMP, GSP
Fri 4/22 at 11 a.m. – Community (The Association Show)
Whether you realize it or not, community-building is core to what associations do and you can strengthen your mission through online communities. Learn how to foster community within your association. More info/register.
Host: EventMobi
Presenter: Marjorie Anderson, Founder of Community by Association
Fri 4/22 at 12 p.m. – CMP Academy: Coffee & Conversation | Meet the Instructor & Chart Your CMP Path
Studying for your CMP? Grab a coffee and chat about how to chart your CMP study path. Learn more about our new CMP Academy course, which will be offered in-person at WEC and live-online. Learn about the tools and knowledge you need to help you navigate the CMP exam with ease and answer each question with confidence. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MPI
Presenters:
- Nick Estrada, CMP, CAE
- Nancy Snowden, M.A., Manager of Educational Experiences, MPI
Fri 4/22 at 12 p.m. – EventTech Chat
A weekly conversation about meeting and event technology, including software, hardware, and audiovisual for in-person and online events. More info/register.
Host: Brandt Krueger, founder Event Technology Consulting
Fri 4/22 at 4 p.m. – Courageous Purpose: 3 Actions to Reclaim Yours
Are you doing what you love or what you have to do to survive? Do you feel compelled to do something different in your life or career, but aren’t sure you have the courage to try? Are you ready to live every day with greater passion and energy? If you’ve asked yourself any of these questions, don’t miss this workshop where you will hear about the biggest barriers to living your dreams, the secrets to reclaim your courage and purpose, and how to avoid a life of survival and regret. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Presenter: Vivian Blade
Tue 4/26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – AMS Demo Days
Hear presentations from a limited number of industry partners that offer AMS platforms. AMS experts will be showcasing platforms and sharing their knowledge with the association market. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Tue 4/26 at 12:30 p.m. – Marketing’s Seat at the Table: Obtain and Leverage Marketing’s Role in Organizational Strategy
Learn about the skills and abilities needed to become a CMO, what attributes CMOs need to be recruited—from a CEO perspective, the value of having marketing at the C-suite table, the barriers that prevent marketing from being a strategic contributor, and the obstacles and best practices for increasing the influence and impact of marketing on strategic decisions. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Marketing Professionals Community
Presenters:
- Eric O’Connor (moderator), Chief Growth Officer, American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology
- Paul Pomerantz, FACHE, Chief Executive Officer, American Society of Anesthesiologists
- Maureen Geoghegan, Chief Membership and Communications Officer, American Society of Anesthesiologists
- Veronica Purvis, MSM, CAE, Associate Executive Director, Skin of Color Society
Tue 4/26 at 1:30 p.m. – How to Create a Well-Functioning Organization That Allows You to Focus on Higher Impact Activities
Learn how to expand your personal comfort zone and turn challenges into opportunities, help your team function like a well-oiled machine that can solve its own problems so you can stop fighting other people’s fires, and build a culture of innovation, experimentation, agility and accountability that grows itself. More info/register.
Host: Propel
Presenter: Jamie Notter, co-founder, Propel
Tue 4/26 at 2 p.m. – Association Chat Open Chat on Zoom
Open to anyone who wants to catch up on association industry news. Jump in and let’s talk! More info.
Host: KiKi L’Italien, senior consultant, Tecker International
Wed 4/27 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – AMS Demo Days
Hear presentations from a limited number of industry partners that offer AMS platforms. AMS experts will be showcasing platforms and sharing their knowledge with the association market. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Wed 4/27 at 12 p.m. – Association Tips and Tricks to Leveraging Data to Increase Conversion, Engagement and Growth
Do you ever wonder what’s the magic sauce to growing your membership, engaging members or increasing conversions within your ecommerce flow? Hear what your association peers are doing with their data, their lessons learned and how you can utilize data to inform decisions and help your organization hit its goals. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Marketing Professionals Community
Wed 4/27 at 12 p.m. – Burnout or Burn Bright?
Burnout is a key factor affecting professional and personal productivity. Hear about risk factors leading to burn out, how to recognize the early warning signs, and how to develop tangible skills for improving resilience on both an individual and institutional level. Learn about resources that will help association executives learn how to recognize, manage, and mitigate burnout. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Xchange
Presenter: Anees Chagpar, MD, MBA, MPH, FACS, FRCS(C) is a Professor in the Department of Surgery at Yale School of Medicine
Wed 4/27 at 2 p.m. – How Alaska’s Largest Telecommunications Company Transitioned to a Hybrid Workforce
In March 2020, GCI sent most of their workforce home to work as they “waited out” the pandemic. After a few short months, they realized that many of their teams were just as or even more productive working from home. Seeing how successful their teams were working virtually, GCI leadership began considering additional benefits of switching to a remote-first hybrid work model such as recruiting top talent outside of Alaska. Learn how GCI approached such a massive undertaking and hear the lessons they learned throughout this transition and where GCI is headed as they look toward the future of work. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Achurch Consulting
Presenter: Brad Spees, Vice President & Operating Group Manager for GCI Business
Wed 4/27 at 2 p.m. – Association Board Effectiveness in 2022
Hear the key challenges, trends, and best practices in board engagement and effectiveness from OnBoard’s annual Board Effectiveness Survey. Gain an understanding of the research and dive into association-specific results. Learn from a peer how the research translates into real world board activities. Ask and receive answers to your questions about board engagement and effectiveness challenges, trends, and best practices. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Presenters:
- Rashmi Bijai, Vice President of Marketing at OnBoard
- Ahava Goldman, Associate Director at the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Thu 4/28 at 1 p.m. – Non-Dues DIY: Spring Cleaning Your Corporate Sponsorship Proposals
Learn about proposal strategies that resulted in successful increases in non-dues revenue via sponsorship funding as well as resource support for associations and other purpose driven organizations. Hear feedback from corporate sponsorship decision makers as to what they look for in an optimal proposal as well as when a proposal needs a new coat of paint. More info/register.
Host: Non-Dues-a-Palooza
Presenter: Lori Zoss Kraska MBA, CFRE from Growth Owl, LLC
Thu 4/28 at 1 p.m. – Nonprofit Leadership Roundtable
Leaders often struggle on their own to solve their challenges. But what if you could get coaching from your peers on your burning issue—not advice, but insightful questions that invite you to think about your challenge or opportunity from a different angle. Join us to be coached and to coach. Not only will you get help with the issues you are grappling with today, you will practice important leadership skills. More info/register.
Host: Carol Hamilton, Grace Social Sector Consulting
Thu 4/28 at 3:30 p.m. – Culture-Driven Technology Decisions for the Hybrid Workplace: Defining Collaboration
As associations contemplate a return to the office, it’s tempting to start by talking about logistical issues—what days of the week should staff be in the office? What tech do we need? Should we redesign our meeting rooms? Let’s flip the conversation! If we start with answering some underlying culture questions, our technology decisions should be more sustainable, meaningful, and future-focused. Join this special workshop series where we will explore how four key culture decisions impact technology decisions for the hybrid workplace. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Presenter: Maddie Grant, expert digital strategist and culture change consultant, Propel
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 by Wednesday afternoon.
Creative Commons licensed photo by Dulcey Lima via Unsplash
Association Brain Food 