The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Because next week is a short one, I won’t have the usual time to work on Association Brain Food, so this week’s edition includes events for the weeks of November 21 and November 28.
Data insights. Inspired by a Reggie Henry conference quote, WBT Systems encourages associations to adopt an active listening mindset. They explain how to start listening to what your data tells you and what you might learn from it.
Hybrid work pitfalls. Achurch Consulting describes six pitfalls that can unexpectedly snare your plans for a productive hybrid workplace. You definitely want to be aware of these issues even if you’ve already switched to a hybrid work model.
AMS selection. If a new AMS is in your future, you must get your hands on this guide from Ellipsis Partners. Don’t let the title fool you. You’ll get more than ten questions covering awkward or unfamiliar AMS issues, like customer support, logins, e-commerce, training, reports, data conversion, and more.
Overturned idols and beautiful sunsets. Danielle Russo, CAE, brings decluttering lessons from home to the association office. In her article for Naylor’s Association Advisor, she suggests how to assess and pare down your ever-growing list of programs and audiences.
Association and B2B sales. Millennials are changing what it takes to succeed in sales, says Lindsay Ellis at the Wall Street Journal (no paywall). Whether you’re selling membership or software, more people are involved in purchase decisions that take longer. Before a prospect agrees to talk with you, they will do their own research—that’s why content marketing works so well.
APIs demystified. Anyone who leads a technology project, like an AMS implementation, must understand APIs. If you don’t, you can cost your association a lot of time and money. Empowered Margins not only describes what APIs are but also explains their potential in a way that even non-techies will understand.
Quick hits
How to prioritize when everything’s a priority. (Khe Hy, RadReads)
Connection, attachment and meetings. (Adrian Segar, Conferences That Work)
Adrian’s post features a Sargent painting, which immediately caught my attention and prompts me to tell/remind you about the Sargent exhibition at the National Gallery of Art in DC. I’ve been attending the virtual lecture series associated with the show. Isn’t the web wonderful?
How to get the magic back—go into “art gallery mode,” a rewarding way of looking at art and seeing the world around you. (David Cain, Raptitude)
A definitive guide to networking for those who hate networking—you might get some new ideas. (Deb Liu)
Good eats
Skip down to the list of free educational events if you prefer takeout.
We had lots of leftovers this past week, so I only made two dinners from scratch, starting with one that’s becoming a favorite: hot fish and grits. I’ve been smearing the leftover hot spice paste on fried eggs and stirring it into the leftover grits. Oh my. On the side, shishito peppers blistered in a hot pan.
Pasta this week again, that’s the way to put more meat on the bones. My excuse: making space in the chest freezer. Yup, using that package of Italian sausage freed up so much room. We enjoyed a no-recipe recipe: cheese-filled regular and spinach tortellini with hot Italian sausage, mushroom, onion, eggplant, garlic, ground fennel, marinara sauce, basil pesto, heavy cream and parmesan. So good.
On the side, broccoli and cauliflower florets roasted with red onion and garlic powder.
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 11/18 at 12 p.m.* – AWTC Mindful Networking
Held the second Friday of each month, these intimate, virtual conversations are a chance to form meaningful connections with other women and allies in the association technology community. Each Mindful Networking will feature one of our amazing AWTC award winners, followed by breakout rooms with changing topics (selected by our featured guest). More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Guest: Barbara J. Armentrout, CAE, Managing Partner, Mesa Group
*All events are online at Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.
Fri 11/18 at 4 p.m. – Celebrating Creativity
Join us for an open discussion about celebrating creativity. Sir Ken Robinson shares his thoughts on creativity in this TedTalk, entitled ‘Do schools kill creativity?” Together we will discuss creativity and highlight recognition, expression, and celebration. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Mon 11/21 at 1 p.m. – That’s A Lot of Data: Now What?
We are joined back with Association Analytics continuing the conversation of what to do with all that data you have, how to use it to create event success. 0.5 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MPI
Speaker: Association Analytics
Tue 11/22 at 11 a.m. – ASAE’s Digital Transformation: Embracing the Ecosystem Approach to Software
For decades, ASAE had a traditional AMS-centered stack as the core of their business systems infrastructure. Two years ago, ASAE started to explore alternatives to the traditional model, and now in 2022 are beginning the rollout of a new suite of tools that will transform and modernize the organization. Key to this transformation includes embracing an ecosystem approach to software: use purpose-built tools, connected together, focusing on the member experience. Hear about the key components of ASAE’s new technology stack including the Member Data Platform (MDP), Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS), eCommerce platform, and other cloud-based solutions. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Jeff Horne, Co-Founder, CEO, Wicket
- Reggie Henry, CAE, Chief Information and Performance Excellence Officer, ASAE
- Mani Jagadeesan, President & CEO, ShuffleLabs
Thu 11/24 at 9 a.m. – 12 Ways Member Organizations Can Get ROI from Community
A common question for membership organizations is: “What is community, and why should I invest in it?” Our expert panelists will highlight 12 ways member organizations are getting value from placing community at the heart of their member offering. More info/register.
Host: Guild
Speakers:
- Lisa Collins, Managing Director at Dovetail Creative
- Stacey Telford, Community Manager at The Marketing Society
- Michelle Goodall, CMO at Guild
Mon 11/28 at 1 p.m. – Planner Expectations Supplier Reality: The Post Pandemic Gap
It’s not 2019 anymore, the world has changed and incentive trends have changed right along with it. Dive into the IRF study Incentive Expectations And Reality In The Hospitality Industry and hear about what those changes are. 0.5 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MPI
Speakers: Andrea Hutchinson and Stephanie Harris
Mon 11/28 at 1 p.m. – Improving Board Oversight through Best Practices (Nonprofit Conversations with Cecilia Sepp, CAE)
Extended episode with exercises. 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: Lesedi Lesetedi
Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC
Tue 11/29 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. – Association Executive Symposium
Hear from association executives and learning leaders about designing educational programs that drive professional development, membership and revenue growth; monetizing and demonstrating the ROI of your learning programs by using the right experience model; using authentic assessments to measure competencies in learning, tackle the skills gap and increase engagement for the future of work; and leverage three key elements of a successful digital transformation: data and analytics, change management strategy, and accessibility. 4.5 CAE credits. Locations: online and Washington DC. More info/register.
Host: D2L
Tue 11/29 at 11 a.m. – The High Life and Dangers of an Undercover Member Forum
Learn how to go undercover to review association website pages and the results of voicemails, emails, and contact-us forms. You will be trained as an undercover member to understand what these experiences and interactions can be within any organization through the perspective of an association member. Learn what to look for that may be confusing, unclear, or outdated for your members and prospective members. Additionally, in this highly engaging session, you will be challenged with examples and illustrations to elevate the member and event attendee experience. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Jay S. Daughtry, M.Ed., Chief Communications Officer/Owner, CQbd
Tue 11/29 at 12 p.m. – How Do You Mend A Broken Cart
Dive into reengagement campaigns and how you can leverage your customers to achieve your goals. Learn about four common reengagement campaigns—abandoned cart, back-in-stock, low-inventory, and loyalty campaigns—and how you can double down on strategies that work. Hear examples of typical, better, and best campaigns for each campaign type. More info/register.
Host: American Marketing Association
Speakers:
- Valentina Benaglio, Product Marketing Manager, Bloomreach
- Zsuzsa Kecsmar, Chief Strategy Officer, Antavo
- Paige Schafer, Alliance Manager, Movable Ink
Tue 11/29 at 1 p.m. – Everything You Want to Know About Engagement Scoring (But Didn’t Know to Ask)
Learn how to create an engagement model that reflects what you value in your members and what your members value in your association; choose the right activities, behaviors and weights for your engagement scoring so they are actionable metrics; and use your engagement scores to guide your association’s strategic decisions. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Bill Conforti, SVP of Strategy and Solutions, Association Analytics
Tue 11/29 at 2 p.m. – The Love Languages of Component Relations
‘Tis the season of giving thanks. Whether a federation or franchise model, the health of component/national relationships has never been more important. With geopolitical turmoil, inflation and recession swirling, and member availability and loyalty possibly waning, what are the “love languages” within the component/national relationship. How did you identify and leverage them for mutual benefit and maximum member value? More info/register.
Host: KiKi L’Italien, senior consultant, Tecker International, and host, Association Chat
Speaker: Elisa Pratt, CEO and Chief Strategist of Brewer Pratt Solutions
Wed 11/30 from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. – Winter Symposium (Washington DC)
Four dynamic sessions with a focus on finance, tech and strategy. See descriptions and speaker information in the webinar descriptions below. 4 CAE credits. Location: Washington DC. More info/register. (I’m making an exception to list this $25 event because lunch and happy hour are included in the price.)
Host: UST Education
Wed 11/30 at 10 a.m. – How Does your Association/Nonprofit Develop and Execute Its Strategic Plan?
Learn about the key factors in developing and communicating a strategic plan, the impact your board composition can have on your strategic plan design and funding, and different ways strategic plans are funded. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- David Keen, CFO Business Development at American Physical Therapy Association
- Jennifer Brearey, Chief Financial and Operating Officer at AdvaMed
Wed 11/30 at 11 a.m. – 4 New Ways to Boost your Event Marketing in 2023
Traditional event marketing is struggling. Your audience no longer responds to email, social, or paid ads like they did in 2019. Everything and everyone is now digital. How do you evolve your event marketing to reach your attendees and fill empty seats? The first step is to stop marketing your event alone. 0.75 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: PCMA
Speaker: Rachel Stephan, Founder, snöball Event Marketing
Wed 11/30 at 11:15 a.m. – 5 Steps To Selling Your Board of Directors on Your Required Technology Spend
It can be a nerve-wracking task to have just one chance to present to not one, but multiple people, on the value of a technology upgrade to the organization. Hear about best practices for the board meeting itself and the specific steps you should take before the meeting even occurs, both while preparing a presentation and speaking with board members privately. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Ali Niroo, Managing Partner, BridgePointe Technologies
Wed 11/30 at 1:30 p.m. – How to Craft a Compelling Story for Your Organization Using Financial Footnotes and Forms (990)
Sophisticated donors often delve deeper than just the numbers before making contributions. Learn to use the 990 and financial statement footnotes to tell the story, and to work across departments to develop the story. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Rob Eby, CPA, CGMA, Experienced Accountant of Nonprofit Organizations, Partner at Aronson LLC
- Stacy Cullen, Tax Director, Aronson LLC
Wed 11/30 at 2:45 p.m. –Cybersecurity Fundamentals for 501C Executives
This session does away with the tech-talk and explains the must-know facts about cybersecurity risks, what executives need to understand, what questions to ask, and how to ensure your IT team is headed in the right direction at an adequate pace. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Brian Scott, President, CIO, ClearTone Consulting LLC
Wed 11/30 at 3 p.m. – Knowing Your Audience: Content Strategy for Associations
A robust content plan can serve as a guide to your goals and is an important consideration when building and maintaining lasting relationships with your association members. Careful content planning has the power to make members feel appreciated and included, as well as market your association to future members. More info/register.
Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing
Speakers:
- Andrea Callicutt, Director of Marketing, Sales & Communications at Keystone Systems
- Aimee Pagano, Director of Programming & Senior Digital Marketing Advisor at HighRoad Solutions
- Ashwath Narayanan, Founder & CEO at Social Currant
Thu 12/1 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 12/1 at 2 p.m. – Where Will 2023 Take Your IT? Predictions, Pitfalls and Possibilities
As we close out 2022, we are talking about the challenges we have faced the last two years and how you can take charge of your technology in 2023. Hear how to assess technology requirements to meet the needs of your organization based on available skills, resources, and budget; how the economy, cyber security issues and world events might impact technology in 2023; what changes are coming to your everyday technology, and what is the future of social media, AI, and mobile devices and apps. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: 501 Works
Speakers:
- Alex Mouw, CAE, Principal Strategic Advisor, Amazon Web Services
- Mark Moen, CAE, CIO, American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
Thu 12/1 at 3 p.m. – Think Outside the AMS
Hear about a rapidly evolving shift in how associations build their IT ecosystems to best support their mission and their members. Learn about various approaches, key concepts, and practical examples of how various commercial off the shelf systems can talk to each other, exchange information, and work together, with minimal technical expertise and headaches on your part. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Michael Getter, Head of Technology, Corporate Legal Operations Consortium
- Pete Zimek, CEO, Novi AMS
Fri 12/2 at 10 a.m. – Association Purpose (Coffee with Innovators)
We are association people. We welcome diverse perspectives and all experience levels. We meet on the first Friday of each month. Each session will have a featured facilitator and new theme. We share ideas through connection. The vibe of the circle is thoughtful, casual, and kind. More info/register.
Host: Association Design Circle
Facilitator: Barbara Silverstone, executive director and attorney, most recently of the National Organization of the Social Security Claimants’ Representatives
Fri 12/2 at 11 a.m. – World Café: Ways to Grow International Membership
Hear about ways to grow international membership using leading examples among small and large associations, and discussing the roles of value propositions, chapters/affiliates, and dues pricing. World Café will kick off with a panel of speakers followed by small group discussions, drawing from the experiences of our diverse community of peers. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE International Associations Professionals Community
Tue 12/6 at 12 p.m. – Data Analytics Network: Year in Review
Join association professionals to engage in peer-led discussions on topics related to data and analytics. More info/register.
Host: Data Analytics Network & Association Analytics
Tue 12/6 at 1 p.m. – Data Hoarders: Association Edition
Navigating the line between data as an asset and liability is increasingly difficult as our associations face cyber-security, privacy and logistical challenges related to managing the volumes of data we collect. Learn what data governance is, why data governance is important, how you can get data governance started in your organization, the importance of quality checking your data, and how to establish a process for continued success. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: 501Works
Speakers:
- Villy Savino, VP of Technology Transformation at CoreNet Global
- James Marquis, CIO at 501Works
Tue 12/6 at 2 p.m. – Exploring The Six Toughest Decisions Association Boards Must Make
Join an informal discussion of Jeff’s recent two-part series of articles on “The Six Toughest Decisions Association Boards Must Make” (links on registration site). 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Jeff De Cagna, executive advisor, Foresight First
Wed 12/7 at 11 a.m. – Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Association Executives
This webinar does away with the tech-talk and explains the must-know facts about cybersecurity risks, what executives need to understand, what questions to ask, and how to ensure your IT team is headed in the right direction at an adequate pace. More info/register.
Host: Sidecar
Speaker: Brian Scott
Wed 12/7 at 12 p.m. – Create Your 2023 Personal Strategic Plan
Strategic planning isn’t just for organizations. Create your personal strategic plan to align your goals and actions with what matters most in your life. In this interactive session, review your 2022 (reflecting on your 2022 triumphs and other lessons-learned) and set yourself up for success, with intentionality, in 2023. More info/register.
Host: Association Insights in Old Town
Speaker: Carol Vernon, executive coach and founder, Communication Matters: Executive Coaching & Team Development
Thu 12/8 at 12 p.m. – Behind the Curtain of ASAE’s Gold Circle Awards: What You Need to Know Before You Apply
Find out what you need to know before you apply for the ASAE Gold Circle Awards, including an overview of the application, updates to the categories and criteria, tips for a successful submission, and insider knowledge about what the judges are looking. Learn how you can volunteer to be a judge for the awards program. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Thu 12/8 at 1 p.m. – The 2023 Learning Business Landscape
Hear about key developments that will impact learning businesses in 2023 and beyond, what survey data says about how organizations are investing in learning, and insights into specific areas of focus like personalization, blended learning, AI, cohort-based learning, data, and more. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Leading Learning
Thu 12/8 at 1 p.m. – Overcoming Challenges with International Conferences
Meeting professionals who specialize in international conferences understand the challenges that come along with taking their meeting overseas. From site selection to onsite logistics, conference planners take into consideration many factors to ensure their international attendees, speakers and exhibitors have a seamless journey. Learn what’s changing in the international conference market; the pros/cons of virtual, in-person, and hybrid; and ways to mitigate chaos. 1 CAE/CMP/CEM credit. More info/register.
Host: EVA
Speakers:
- Lisa Dyson, CMP, DES, Conference Director for the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics
- Vinnu Deshetty, founder, EVA
Fri 12/9 at 12 p.m. – AWTC Mindful Networking
Held the second Friday of each month, these intimate, virtual conversations are a chance to form meaningful connections with other women and allies in the association technology community. Each Mindful Networking will feature one of our amazing AWTC award winners, followed by breakout rooms with changing topics (selected by our featured guest). More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Guest: Himali Shah, Manager of Consulting at FusionSpan
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 the week before it’s scheduled.
Creative Commons licensed photo by George Pagan III via Unsplash
Association Brain Food 