The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Grassroots advocacy survey. Amy Showalter, ASAE Government Relations and Advocacy Professionals Advisory Council member and author of ASAE’s Creating and Managing an Association Government Relations Program, is asking associations to contribute to the 2022 Grassroots Influence Pulse study. The study assesses trends in grassroots and PAC influence tactics, as well as lawmaker responses to those influence tactics. Past surveys revealed predictive variables that helped advocacy professionals wisely invest their time and resources in strategies and tactics that lead to legislator influence.
Virtual conference attendee’s attention. Is your virtual conference engaging enough to prevent multitasking? Don’t be so sure—and don’t assume that’s an impossible goal. WBT Systems describes the barriers to virtual attendee attention and suggests solutions for keeping your attendees engaged.
Member engagement. Whenever Dean West, FASAE, takes a seat at his blog bar, you can expect a good read. This time, he shares what conservation groups can teach associations about member engagement. Geez, it looks like they have A LOT to teach, especially in the editorial and revenue partnership departments.
Futurist thinking. If you want to think like a futurist, Michelle Russell at PCMA Convene talked to several members of the Association of Professional Futurists about how to become anticipatory rather than reactionary. You’ll need to keep your antennae up and use a mix of intuition, understanding and imagination to plan ahead. This is one of those articles I can see returning to again and again.
Cryptocurrencies. Just as you get the hang of blockchain, now it’s spawning all kinds of new stuff. Sidecar published a series of posts about blockchain-related concepts, like DAOs and NFTs. Start here with their post about cryptocurrencies.
Event NFTs. I find this new world fascinating, so I attended a U.S. Transactions Corp. webinar last week about NFTs. I made a promise to myself that I’d only buy an NFT if I absolutely fell in love with its concept and design—that hasn’t happened yet. At EventMB, Eileen Wennekers explores the many possibilities for event NFTs. I don’t see the real value yet but it’s early days. An NFT has to scratch an itch, solve a problem, or open up an opportunity, not just get stuck onto an event for novelty’s sake. But, hey, that’s just my opinion, today. Watch this space.
Good eats
Skip down to the list of free webinars if you prefer takeout.
Because we enjoyed leftovers, made do with snacks and ate out, I only made one dinner from scratch last week: NC-style pan-fried striped mullet (dredged in flour, then buttermilk with hot sauce, then cornmeal/panko with cayenne), roasted broccoli (with garlic powder, lemon zest and parmesan) and roasted sweet potatoes.
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 3/11 at 12 p.m.* – 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. In 2022, we are trying something new! Each Mindful Networking will feature one of our amazing AWTC award winners, followed by breakout rooms with these topics: platform overload, the future of transactions, baking (and her enemy, sourdough), and movies that are stupid that she loves (e.g., Twilight). More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Guest: Kerri L. McGovern, MPP, CAE, Senior Director of Membership, ACC
*All events are online at Eastern Standard Time on 3/11 and 3/12 and Eastern Daylight Time for the rest, unless otherwise noted.
Fri 3/11 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 3/11 at 4 p.m. – ASAE’s Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP)
Join your association colleagues to learn more about the ASAE DELP. We will have a recent graduate of the DELP as well as an ASAE staff member to explain the program. Registration recently opened, and the program was just revised. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Presenters:
- Ashley Roberts, Manager, Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP), ASAE
- Juan Amador, CAE, Director, Constituent Engagement, Association of American Medical Colleges
Sat 3/12 at 10 a.m. – Step Up & Step Out: Resetting Resilience in 2022
A free virtual half-day summit featuring women in associations and non-profits of African, Latin, Native, and Asian heritage. Join dynamic panelists, and fellow association and non-profit sisters for a candid conversation about resetting our resilience, how it feels, and what we can do about it. You’ll leave with checklists, real-life stories, resources, connections, and practical tools to recognize and combat the cycle of “doing too much,” and how to halt “being sick and tired.” 3 CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: Mariama Boney, Achieve More LLC
Mon 3/14 at 1 p.m. – Mindful Volunteering (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: Cristin Caine, founder and CEO at Charity Connect
Hosts:
- Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC
- Agnes Amos-Coleman, MBA, CMP, education, conference, event, certification consultant, Amos-Coleman
Tue 3/15 at 11 a.m. – Decoding the Buyer’s Journey
Your marketing team constantly talks about the buyer’s journey. You’ve heard of the term—after all, you’re a “buyer” yourself and you understand the typical decision-making process. But what are they really trying to define? And how does it generate growth in the form of new memberships? Join us as we sift through all the marketing lingo your team is throwing down to get to the heart of what constitutes a buyer’s journey, how it is built and how it delivers results. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: U.S. Transactions Corp.
Presenters: Maneesha Manges, Director of Services, and Aimee Pagano, Senior Digital Marketing Advisor, HighRoad Solution
Tue 3/15 at 12 p.m. – Stop Scrolling, Start Connecting! Using LinkedIn to Level Up Your Business Relationships
Come take a journey through the world’s most powerful B2B platform and learn how to go from passive observer to active participant. Find out how to engage with your target audience using three connection strategies, create a healthy balance of content that helps you to be seen as a thought leader for your industry, and discover three of LinkedIn’s most effective content formulas that will “stop the scroll” and engage with your audience. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MPI
Presenter: Leanne Calderwood, CMP, Personal Branding and LinkedIn Trainer
Tue 3/15 at 2 p.m. – The Forest, The Trees, and the North Star: How a CRM Helps — and Doesn’t Help — Your Nonprofit’s Data Journey
Is your CRM alone enough to turn your data into analytical insights? Developing a true 360-degree view of your supporters and executing analytics-powered campaigns often requires an array of technology and expertise that goes far beyond the CRM. Learn about the advantages and limitations of a modern CRM, how to develop an analytics strategy that drives technological and organizational investments, and real-world lessons from nonprofit organizations that have already taken this analytics journey. More info/register.
Host: Civis Analytics
Presenters:
- Jenny Sy, Data Science Manager, USA for UNHCR
- Justin Birdsong, Vice President, Cause Craft Consulting
- Anna Berman, Sr. Applied Data Scientist, Civis Analytics
Tue 3/15 at 2 p.m. – How to Grow Your Association’s Membership
Learn about the biggest mistakes associations make with their memberships sites, the member engagement challenges that almost every association has — and how to overcome them, the single design mistake that is driving away your members, why your membership site will fail without these five features, and the three levels of member engagement that a membership site can create. More info/register.
Host: Grype
Presenter: Ronja Francoeur, Member Engagement Specialist
Wed 3/16 at 11 a.m. – Looking Forward 2022 (Impact): Trends and Analysis
Lessen your uncertainty heading into 2022 with the latest data in the Looking Forward® Impact survey, the most current and comprehensive examination of 75 critical factors affecting association members and the potential impacts on association strategy. The research covers factors affecting the association environment in six domains, including economic, information and technology, workforce, government, global and stakeholder perceptions. Understand the factors impacting association strategy and identify what associations are doing to strategically adapt. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: Association Laboratory
Presenters:
- Dean West, FASAE, founder and president, Association Laboratory
- Nikki Golden, CAE, strategist, Association Laboratory
Wed 3/16 at 11 a.m. – Meeting Pro’s Helping Meeting Pro’s
Join your meetings and events peers in a quick, fun networking format. In a series of short, one-on-one rotations, you’ll connect with the people you want to meet based on intelligent matching criteria. It’s a fun and productive format that may help you solve a tricky challenge or introduce you to a great new colleague. More info/register.
Host: Lee Gimpel, Better Meetings
Wed 3/16 from 12 to 3 p.m. – #EventProof: Level-Up Your Virtual Experiences
The event industry is emerging from multiple challenging years of uncertainty. Those who weathered the storm bring forth the tools and skills they acquired to adapt to bring people together despite the odds. Join them and your peers for a half-day summit dedicated to showing event profs how to become #EventProof. Learn how to level-up your virtual events and craft online experiences that satisfy attendees and sponsors alike. More info/register.
Host: Hopin
Wed 3/16 at 2 p.m. – Association Revenue: Plan Your Work, Work Your Plan
Associations are crossing new territory as members, attendees, sponsors and advertisers have higher demands and options for their investments. To meet the challenge, our associations must meet the critical task of upskilling our teams and improving our revenue strategies. Hear about a strategic approach to the tactical elements of sales planning, including actions and activities to increase revenue, pipeline quadrants of territory management, and forecasting best practices. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Professionals for Association Revenue
Presenter: Dan McGrath, Vice President, Client Development, COACH MEdia
Wed 3/16 at 2 p.m. – The Myth of Digital Fatigue: Rethinking Audience Engagement for a Digital-first World
“Digital fatigue” is not a sign of our changing times, it’s a sign that people are tired of bad marketing. Audiences want digital experiences that are interactive, engaging and human. Learn how to take an audience-centric approach to content and give audiences more personalized experiences. More info/register.
Host: Content Marketing Institute
Presenter: VP of Marketing at ON24, Mark Bornstein
Thu 3/17 at 11 a.m. – 15 Ways to Take Your Newsletter to the Next Level
Email newsletters are a great way to share industry news with your members, but a lot has changed in the world of email. Learn how to use email newsletter marketing to engage your members about current topics and industry trends, newsletter best practices, increasing engagement, curating outside content and automation. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: U.S. Transactions Corp.
Presenter: Erica Salm Rench, Director of Client and Market Success, rasa.io
Thu 3/17 at 1 p.m. – How to Turn the Great Resignation into a Great Credentialing Opportunity
The Great Resignation has left many organizations trying to make do with fewer workers and scrambling to hire talent in this hypercompetitive employment market. But the surge in resignations represents a golden opportunity for learning businesses. More individuals are hungry for effective, efficient ways to gain and demonstrate skills and knowledge as they look for their next position, and organizations need ways to attract and retain talent. The certifications, licenses, certificates, and other credentials offered by your learning business can address the needs of both learners and employers. Get a clear sense of the opportunity the current moment represents and how to leverage credentialing to grow—and have a greater impact in the world. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Leading Learning / Tagoras
Presenters:
- Jeff Cobb and Celisa Steele, co-founders of Tagoras and Leading Learning
- Ashish Rangnekar, CEO at BenchPrep
Thu 3/17 at 1 p.m. – Association Creative Marketing Masterclass
This course provides a framework for evaluating creative copy and design via practical collateral critiques, and for following brand standards while ensuring marketing performance. In this class, David explains landing page and microsite strategies and discusses the top reasons for failure. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Academy / Ricochet Advisory Services
Presenter: David Alexander, General Manager and Chief Communications Officer, Rotary International
Thu 3/17 at 1 p.m. – Virtual Conference and LMS Integration: Extending Conference Content
Many organizations consider using their Learning Management System (LMS) to extend the life of their conference content. Adding these recordings to an LMS may seem to be the natural next step. There, however, are many considerations to address before content is simply imported into an LMS. Learn about the key factors to consider before embarking on an integration and the data-logistics of a successful integration. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: EVA
Presenters:
- Matt Peterson, relationship director, MapleLMS
- Vinnu Deshetty, event tech advocate, EVA
Thu 3/17 at 1 p.m. – MAACME Chat
A virtual, one-hour, peer-to-peer conversation related to our work in continuing medical education. All health education professionals are invited to attend, regardless of your role, experience, or organization. More info/register.
Host: Mid-Atlantic Alliance for Continuing Medical Education
Thu 3/17 at 2 p.m. – Behind the Curtain of ASAE’s Power of Associations Awards: What You Need to Know Before You Apply
Learn what you need to know before applying for the Power of Associations Awards. Hear about the application and best practices. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Presenters:
- Mark A. Vasquez, CAE, Chair of the Power of Associations Awards Committee and Sr. Program Manager, IEEE
- Victoria Forlini, CAE, two-time Summit Award winner and Vice Chair of the Power of Associations Awards Committee, and Director, Meetings, AGU
- Mary Kate Cunningham, CAE (moderator), SVP, Public Policy, ASAE
Thu 3/17 at 2 p.m. – The State of Cryptocurrency: Challenges, Regulations, and How to Leverage this Tech
Cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based technologies are transforming business, government, and global economic activity forever. This technology has already faced its share of hurdles, with regulatory concerns around consumer protection, tax compliance, securities and commodities oversight, financial surveillance, anti-money laundering, and privacy and identity. Hear about the current state of cryptocurrencies, including legal and regulatory guardrails in place plus the evolving state and federal regulatory and legislative landscape of cryptocurrencies; policy challenges and changes surrounding crypto assets and blockchains; insights on the path forward and the technological innovations ahead; and how to leverage the benefits of these technological innovations for your organization. More info/register.
Host: FiscalNote
Presenters:
- Lisa Ledbetter, Partner, Reed Smith
- Anne Warner, General Counsel, Algorand
- Salman Banaei, Head of Public Policy, Chainalysis
- Teana Baker-Taylor, Chief Policy Officer, Chamber of Digital Commerce
- Kimberly Quinones, Executive Vice President and CFO, Hudson River Park Trust
Thu 3/17 at 2 p.m. – The RFP of the Future
Find out what the RFP of the future looks like and, more importantly, how meeting professionals can leverage their meetings portfolio to maximize their success. Hear what is keeping meeting professionals up at night, what resources are helping them move forward, and real-world examples of what is working now. More info/register.
Host: Smart Meetings
Presenters:
- Emily Scheiderer, director of education, sales and services, Destinations International
- Darren Green, senior vice president of sales and services, Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board
Fri 3/18 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 3/18 at 1 p.m. – Getting (& Keeping) A Seat At the Table: Strategies for Being A Trusted Advisor
Learn how to identify and implement strategies for being a trusted advisor to your clients, use several different techniques for helping clients articulate measurable event goals, evaluate and apply different models for calculating event ROI, and craft and deliver a narrative to senior stakeholders for how your event drives business goals. More info/register.
Host: Event Leadership Institute
Presenter: Howard Givner, Founder and CEO for the Event Leadership Institute
Fri 3/18 at 4 p.m. – Speed Networking
Join your association colleagues for an open networking event—ten five-minute, one-on-one breakout sessions. Introduce yourself using your elevator pitch if you have one. Let your partner know about any particular skills or other ways you are willing to help those in your network and learn the same from them. If time permits, come back together as a group and ask volunteers to share some things they learned from those they spoke with. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Facilitator: Mike Ulmer, founder and CEO of Eagle Creek Partners
Tue 3/22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – LMS Demo Day
Join us for the just-in-time virtual LMS demo day featuring presentations from a limited number of industry partners that offer LMS platforms. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Tue 3/22 at 2 p.m. – Partnership + Innovation = Non-Dues Revenue Success: New Solutions to Non-Dues Revenue Challenges
By teaming up with industry suppliers to develop mutually beneficial programs, association leaders can deliver more non-dues revenue. Learn how disruptions from changes in the event landscape to the labor shortage have amplified non-dues revenue challenges; how associations and corporations can work together as partners to deliver significant impact; innovative non-dues revenue ideas that deliver value for associations’ members, sponsors, and the industries they serve; and real-world examples of innovative non-dues revenue campaigns that have delivered results for associations and their sponsors. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Gather Voices
Presenters:
- Teri Carden, founder, 100Reviews, and creator of Non Dues-a-Palooza
- Bruce Rosenthal, co-founder, Partnership Professionals Network
- Joel Resnik, Gather Voices
Wed 3/23 at 12 p.m. – Idea Swap: Ways to Celebrate & Appreciate Our Volunteers
How do we authentically reward, recognize and support our chapter volunteers? To celebrate National Volunteer Week, we’ve compiled our favorite ways to show appreciation now or at any time of the year. In reality, we don’t need a month or week designated to thank our volunteers; instead, we should be showing our appreciation all year long. Join us for an idea swap with your CRP peers chocked full of ideas and inspiration to show your volunteers some love. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Hosts: Billhighway and Mariner Management
Wed 3/23 at 12 p.m. – Membership Roundtable Discussion: Recruiting Student and Early-Career Members
Swap successful practices in student and early-career membership recruitment. Hear examples from experienced association professionals and discuss your own student and early-career membership programs during break-out sessions focused on topics, including: value proposition and member benefits for students and early-career professionals; the great debate—free vs. paid student memberships; sourcing and prospecting students (how to find them); and how chapters can support student and early-career membership. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Membership Professionals Advisory Council
Presenters:
- Elisa Joseph Anders, Senior Account Director, Marketing General Incorporated
- Julie Boggs, Vice President of Membership Development, ConnexFM
- Matt Rankin, Director of Membership Development, Intellectual Property Owners Association
- Tim Fest, CAE, Senior Membership Manager, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
Thu 3/24 at 10 a.m. – What’s Working Now: Biggest Missed Opportunities When Redesigning Your Website
If you’re planning a website redesign, the last thing you want to be saying six months from now is “If only we…” Hear lessons learned for laying the groundwork for a successful website that engages your members, generates more revenue, and makes your job easier, such as improving user experiences by involving members in the process, increasing ROI by planning strategies to drive revenue, and simplifying site management by curating content. Learn about the value of member interviews, usability testing, SEO planning, content audits, and performance metrics. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Results Direct
Presenter: Laura Johnson, Sr. Solutions Consultant, Results Direct | RD Mobile
Thu 3/24 at 12 or 12:30 p.m. – Nonprofit Chapters and Sections: Animating Component Activities while Managing Legal Risk
Hear the pros and cons of typical chapter and section structures, examine how to effectively minimize legal risks to the parent organization, get an update on changes to the group exemption process, and discover tips and strategies to help resolve friction and tension in the component family. More info/register. Locations: Washington DC and online.
Host: Venable LLP
Presenters:
- George E. Constantine (moderator), Partner, Venable LLP
- Judith Y. Kim, Counsel, Venable LLP
- Andrew L. Steinberg, Associate, Venable LLP
Thu 3/24 at 1 p.m. – The Key to Unlocking the Gold: Getting Buy-In on New Non-Dues Revenue Ideas
In this ideation session, we will take several education-related non-dues revenue ideas, flesh them out, and co-create plans to help put these real ideas into action and, most importantly, get support from your colleagues and approval from your board. Get all the tools you need to put your new education and certification ideas to work to create an incredible impact this year. More info/register.
Hosts: WBT Systems and Non-Dues-A-Palooza
Presenters:
- Michelle Brien, vice president, marketing and product strategy, TopClass LMS by WBT Systems
- Teri Carden, founder, 100Reviews
Thu 3/24 at 1 p.m. – Pandemic Compliance & Safety at Live Events (Part VI): Experiences from Event Pros in the Field
Event experts will share their experiences and lessons learned planning and executing safe live events. Hear how they handled different situations and balanced engagement and safety. 1 CAE/CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Event Farm
Presenters:
- Jennafer Ross, CEO, JR Global Events
- Ryan Costello, co-founder, Event Farm, and chief strategist, MemberSuite
Thu 3/24 at 1 p.m. – Association Creative Marketing Masterclass
This course provides a framework for evaluating creative copy and design via practical collateral critiques, and following brand standards while ensuring marketing performance. In this class, Julie talks about email copy and design and the latest technologies and techniques she’s using to improve deliverability and click-through performance. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Academy / Ricochet Advisory Services
Presenter: Julia Fitzgerald, Chief Marketing Officer, American Lung Association
Thu 3/24 at 3:30 p.m. – Culture-Driven Technology Decisions for the Hybrid Workplace: Role of Workplace
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 (AWTC)
Presenter: Maddie Grant, co-founder, 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 photo by Patrick Hendry via Unsplash
Association Brain Food 