The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Upcoming association events. Although these events are not free, they’re organized by people I respect and admire—and will be attended by people you’ll love getting to know, like me at People Powering Tech.
- RevUp Summit on Wed Dec 6 and Thu Dec 7 in Annapolis MD, hosted by Professionals for Association Revenue
- AWTC Advance on Wed Dec 6 in Arlington VA, hosted by Association Women Technology Champions
- People Powering Tech on Thu Dec 14 online, hosted by Qiqo Inc. and BJA Solutions for Associations (aka Barbara Armentrout)
Awareness week. TopClass LMS explains how an awareness week gives your members a chance to feel good about themselves, the work they do, and their professional community, and attracts the attention of people who might want to learn more or join your industry.
Event recording release. Good timing by EventMobi because I’ve seen requests on ASAE Collaborate recently for a template like this. Their template documents a person’s consent to be photographed, filmed, or recorded in an online, in-person, or hybrid event or activity, and to have their footage shared.
Threats ahead. Jeff De Cagna of Foresight First warns us that this post he wrote for Naylor is “bleak by design.” In it, he describes the social, technological, economic, environmental, and political factors shaping a threatening decade ahead for the association community. He says you can’t hope your way out of “these perilous and unforgiving situations.” Instead, you must “acknowledge the very obvious dangers we now face” and take “bold action to at least minimize their detrimental impact.”
Next gen marketing. Brian Miller at Multiview explains how to capture the attention of the next generation. His advice is solid, but I’ll add one more tactic: improve your website SEO so people can learn about and find you.
Credit card processor. GrowthZone’s guide to selecting a credit card processor is perfect for those of you who need to understand the players and their roles, terminology, fees, rates, hard and soft costs, and security issues. They also suggest topics to ask about during discussions with vendors.
AI. Did you ever get around to reading President Biden’s Executive Order on AI? If not, here’s the TL;DR association version from Johanna Gundlach at Sidecar.
Off-topic
Practical philosophy. Until around 2010, philosophers couldn’t speak to one another, let alone communicate with the public, says Crispin Sartwell at Los Angeles Review of Books. That’s when some philosophy professors started addressing contemporary issues and writing for general audiences. A return to philosophy of all stripes is what I’ve needed to help me escape from and frame the daily onslaught of troubling domestic and global events.
Purposeful philosophy. A few weeks ago, an episode on the BBC In Our Time podcast about the late British moral philosopher Elizabeth Anscombe sent me on this philosophy bender. I’ve since become a major fan girl of the episode’s guest, the vivacious Rachael Wiseman who teaches philosophy as a discipline that can help us know how to live.
Charity watch. Make sure your favorite nonprofits, employer’s corporate foundation, or other orgs you support aren’t on Focus on Western Islamism’s list of US-based 501(c) charities/foundations that subsidize Hamas.
You never grow old at the table
I only make chicken with mustard sauce—a recipe from David Lebovitz via David Leite—when Jim is away because he’s not a fan of mustard—and I LOVE IT. I’ve been known to grab a spoon of Dijon straight from the jar. The sight turns my husband’s stomach. This excellent dish is best served over mashed potatoes alongside roasted broccoli with carrots, red onion, and garlic powder.
Another favorite while he’s off hunting: gorgonzola, mushroom, and spinach pasta. Poor fella, he’s not a fan of blue cheese either. This exquisite dish includes bacon, onion, red bell pepper, lots of cremini and shiitake mushrooms, garlic, spinach, pasta, heavy cream, lots of Gorgonzola, thyme, salt, and pepper.
I tried a new version of beef stroganoff for Jim’s homecoming (with venison backstrap, tenderloins, and hams in the cooler, yeah!) because it promised one-pot cooking. After sautéing the other ingredients, you add egg noodles to the mix along with beef broth and continue the cooking, instead of cooking the noodles in another pot. As the website says, it’s damn delicious! I made a few alterations: regular instead of sweet onion, sherry instead of white wine, and smoked instead of regular paprika.
On the side, a Brussels sprouts sauté (sliced lengthwise into quarters) with bacon, orange bell pepper, red onion, and garlic.
Another night, per Jim’s request, southern pan-fried flounder. On the side, an asparagus sauté with red bell, onion, carrot, tomatoes, and lemon zest.
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’m happy to feature it as long as it’s not too product-centric.
Mon 11/27 at 8 a.m.* – Rebranding the Solopreneur Consultancy (Radio Free 501c, the podcast of Rogue Tulips Consulting)
Every week Rogue Tulips brings the nonprofit community intriguing guests discussing vital topics affecting nonprofit organizations around the world—and we have fun doing it! Episodes are published Monday mornings in both audio and video format, available on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast (to name a few!).
Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting
Guests: Barbara Armentrout, CAE, founder and key principal, BJA Solutions for Associations
*All events are online at Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.
Tue 11/28 at 4 p.m. – What Were You Thinking? Ethics in Association Management
How do you recognize when a decision is ethics-based? What do you do once you realize that’s the decision you are making? How do you talk with those around you about it? In this session, we’ll use a series of scenarios to talk about how to recognize an ethical issue, understand how to apply ASAE’s Ethical Decision Making Model in your organization, and work through the ethical issues in the workplace. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Reston-Loudoun Idea Swap
Speaker: Rhea M. Steele, CAE, ODCP, Chief of Staff, School Nutrition Association
Wed 11/29 at 9 a.m. – PAR Member Meet-Up: Help Me Solve
PAR members share the most challenging situation they are managing at the moment. Need help with your 2024 plans? Have a proposal due, but no new ideas? Is your Board ready for innovation? Solve together with other association teams. PAR Member Meet-Ups are 30-minute sessions for industry professionals to collaborate on the ideas, skills and solutions our association teams need to move forward. What to bring: current work challenges and ideas to share with our PAR community. More info/register.
Host: Professionals for Association Revenue
Wed 11/29 at 12 p.m. – Event Apps 101: Your Playbook for Creating Engaging Event Experiences
Find out how to use an event app to streamline attendee communication and engagement for your annual conference, seminars, webinars, galas, and more. Learn how an event app benefits you and your attendees, key features to look for (and how to use them effectively), what types of events you should use an event app for, actionable ways to prove success and measure ROI, and how to get started with an event app of your own. More info/register.
Host: EventMobi
Speakers:
- Alistair Fernandes, Event Tech Manager, EventMobi
- Thorben Grosser, VP of Product Marketing, EventMobi
- Rheanna Spence, Sales & Marketing Manager, The Meetings Space
- Bob Vaez, CEO & Founder, EventMobi
Wed 11/29 at 12 p.m. – The State of Travel: Leisure, Group, and Everything In Between
Let’s look back on 2023 and assess the health of the hotel industry after the typically group-travel dependent fall season. Where are hotels still seeing growth and continued success, and where is demand starting to taper off? As we prepare for 2024, we’ll explore the important macro- and market-level trends that will define the industry for next year and beyond. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MPI
Speaker: Hannah Smith, Senior Consultant in the Consulting Division of STR
Wed 11/29 at 2 p.m. – How to Use Digital Ad Campaigns to Fuel Year-End Growth
Hear about real examples of display and social advertising strategies that have helped organizations raise awareness, nurture their audience, and build thriving communities. Learn why awareness and nurturing campaigns are critical at year-end and how to simplify and automate your digital advertising strategy. More info/register.
Host: Feathr
Wed 11/29 at 2 p.m. – Smart Strategies for Growing Attendance
With a rising number of registrations coming in closer to the event, it’s difficult to predict attendance figures. Hear about battle-tested approaches to connect better with your audience and attract more meeting participants. Learn how to amplify event marketing by way of committed participants, strategically use content to grow the audience, and base marketing and projections on data rather than best guesses. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Northstar Meetings Group
Speakers:
- Earla Jones, MS, CMP, Director, Conference Services & Operations, American Library Association
- Rachel Stephan, CEO, Snöball
- Michael J. Shapiro (moderator), Executive Editor, Northstar Meetings Group
Thu 11/30 at 11 a.m. – Why Futures-Thinking Helps Leaders Make Better Decisions Today
How can you and your volunteer leaders best prepare for ongoing environmental ambiguity and unexpected developments? By constantly scanning for weak signals and adopting a future-oriented mindset. Hear from four experienced association executives who have benefited from embracing and integrating futures-thinking throughout their associations. Learn how to proactively lead your board and staff colleagues toward a futures mindset, create a future-focused organizational culture, and overcome resistance to change. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Lindsay Currie, CAE, Executive Officer, Council on Undergraduate Research
- Melody Jordan-Carr, Vice President, Membership Operations, American Trucking Associations
- Kristine Metter, CAE, President at Crystal Lake Partners LLC
- Donté P. Shannon, FASAE, CAE, Non-profit Exec., Strategist, Public Speaker, Author, PMA Nonprofit Leadership and Vista Cova
Thu 11/30 at 11 a.m. – Navigating a World in Conflict: Key Global Policy Issues for 2024
Given the constant flux of legislative, regulatory, market, and geopolitical dynamics, coupled with political turbulence and pressing challenges, the array of potential negative impacts an organization must monitor seems boundless. Learn about the global issues and themes to monitor over the next six months, staying ahead of global issues and using them to your organization’s advantage, and leveraging technology to monitor risks and opportunities. More info/register.
Host: FiscalNote
Speakers:
- Martina Bozadzhieva, Chief Research Officer, FrontierView
- Nick Redman, Director of Analysis, Oxford Analytica, and Editor in Chief, Oxford Analytica Daily Brief
- Lucas Machado, Global Policy Analyst, FiscalNote Professional Services
- Daniel Pietikainen, Global Policy Advisor, FiscalNote Global Professional Services
- Hagen Schlotzhauer (moderator), Team Lead, FiscalNote Professional Services
Thu 11/30 at 12 p.m. – The Community Check-In
A weekly community chat on Slack for black professionals working in the events industry. More info/register.
Host: Black In Events Network
Thu 11/30 at 1 p.m. – From One Path to Another: Tips for Successfully Navigating Career Pivots
Hear insights and experiences in navigating career transitions, and practical tips for making a successful career pivot. Learn how to identify transferable skills, use your personal brand to stand out in a competitive job market, and center wellness and self-care during your journey. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Speakers:
- Dany Bourjolly-Smith, SHRM-SCP, Principal Consultant, DB Smith Consulting, LLC
- Scott Conley, Vice President, Naylor Association Solutions
- Jennifer Lewi, MBA, CAE, ACC, Vice President, Career Development and Conferences, School Nutrition Association
- Donté Shannon, FASAE, CAE, Executive Director, Industrial Designers Society of America
- Camille Sanders, CAE, PCM, DCMA (moderator), Senior Director, Career and Workforce Solutions, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership
Thu 11/30 at 2 p.m. – Emerging Association Meeting Strategies
Learn how meeting professionals are bringing their memberships together in new and more meaningful ways, why starting with purpose is the fastest route to success, what the next generation of attendees want from a convention, why your voice is important, and how to build your power through continuing education. 1 CAE/CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Smart Meetings
Speaker: Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE, President and CEO of ASAE
Mon 12/4 at 1 p.m. – How to Engage, Communicate, and Get More Out of Your Nonprofit Board Members
Learn how to help new board members get off to a faster start and quickly understand how to be more effective during their first year of board service, how to take a proactive approach to help board members find a pathway for continuing their board leadership roles and find leadership styles that meet their skills and time constraints, and how to optimize and consider using and finding interactive opportunities for retiring board members, especially past presidents (chairs) in a manner that brings enjoyment to the individual while helping the organization and not getting in the way of the seated board of directors. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Michael Gellman, CPA, CGMA, Co-Founder at Sustainability Education 4 Nonprofits
- Paul Preziotti, CPA, Partner, Johnson Lambert LLP
Tue 12/5 at 11 a.m. – Common Audit Findings, the Internal Control Issues Behind Them, and How to Respond
Nobody can guarantee a “clean audit,” but we’ll work together in this session to build a framework for continuous improvement and oversight that will strengthen your organization’s internal controls. Learn about audit findings such as absent documentation, errors in the financial closing process, and common accounting errors within nonprofits. Explore internal control issues that lie beneath the surface and give rise to audit findings. Plot a course for responding to and reducing recurrences of findings during your audit. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Will Donahue, Audit Director, Nonprofit Aprio
Tue 12/5 at 12 p.m. – Year in Review (Data Analytics Network)
Join association professionals for peer-led discussions on topics related to data and analytics. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Data Analytics Network
Tue 12/5 at 1 p.m. – Sneak Peek into Recent Association Web Projects
Have you ever wished you could be a fly on the wall in another organization’s office as they’re developing their digital strategy or making big decisions about which web technologies and platforms to use? Go on a whirlwind tour of some of our recent projects. Dig deep into the big-picture strategy behind each project; implementation strategy, including the technology selected—or not selected; pain points and lessons learned along the way; and unique ways our clients are adapting their digital strategies to create more thoughtful and intentional member journeys. More info/register.
Host: Matrix Group
Speaker: Joanna Pineda, CEO and Chief Troublemaker, Matrix Group International, Inc.
Tue 12/5 at 1 p.m. – Understanding Unrelated Business Income
Get a survey-level view of the tax on unrelated business income (UBI), and how it relates to tax exempt organizations. Explore the legislative, judicial, and regulatory history of UBI to develop a better understanding of how UBI fits into the tax-exempt sector, and strategies to reduce the tax impact to your organization. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers: Andrew Hassler, Senior Tax Associate, and J. Calvin Marks, CPA, Tax Manager, Johnson Lambert LLP
Tue 12/5 at 3 p.m. – Q4 Consultant Community Call
We’re excited to open lines of communication for ASAE staff to update the consultant community and create a space for our consultant members to network with one another. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Wed 12/6 at 11 a.m. – Common Errors in Nonprofit Revenue Recognition and How to Avoid Them
Learn about the most common issues with nonprofit revenue recognition, including accounting, presentation, and disclosure issues and errors that are commonly missed by nonprofits. Hear about processes and controls that could be implemented to prevent these errors from happening. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers: Melissa Dunn, CPA, Assurance Partner, and Mark Robins, CPA, Partner, Aprio LLP
Wed 12/6 at 5 p.m. – AWTC End-of-Year Happy Hour (Arlington VA)
Come network with the AWTC community of women and allies. Location: Arlington VA. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Thu 12/7 at 11 a.m. – How Toxic Tech Is Really Affecting Your Association
Learn how detrimental toxic technologies are affecting your association and what to do to rise above the chaos. Examine root causes and risks including: your association’s culture and technical mindset, digital maturity level, business strategy alignment (or misalignment) and more. Hear from a panel of association executives and technology experts who have tackled their toxic tech cultures head-on and how they’ve shifted to a continuous performance improvement mindset. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: iMIS by ASI
Thu 12/7 at 12 p.m. – AWTC Pop-Up Lunch (Atlanta GA)
These intimate, informal gatherings are designed to help you build your network and connect with the AWTC community. Location: Atlanta GA. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Thu 12/7 at 2 p.m. – Looking Towards 2024… Predictions, Pitfalls and Possibilities
As we close out 2023, we’re sitting down with some special IT peeps to talk about some of the challenges we’ve faced and how you can take charge of your technology in 2024. Find out how to assess technology requirements to meet the needs of your organization based on available skills, resources, and budget. Learn how the economy, cyber security issues, AI and even world events could impact technology in 2024. Ask questions and get straight-forward answers and insights into where technology is headed in 2024. More info/register.
Host: 501Works
Speakers:
- Chris Love, Vice President, Information Technology, Advanced Medical Technology Association
- James Marquis, CIO, 501Works
Fri 12/8 at 12:30 p.m. – Conversations with Champions
Each conversation features an AWTC leader or AWTC Award winner, followed by breakout rooms with topics selected by our featured guest. This month’s topics are: member engagement, and holiday cocktails and mocktails. These intimate, virtual conversations are a chance to form meaningful connections with other women and allies in the association technology community. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Guest: Nicole Bowen, Supervisor at RSM
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 by Wednesday afternoon the week before it’s scheduled.
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