The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Employers’ job market. TopClass LMS suggests putting a new spin on your membership and education marketing. In this employers’ job market, it’s tougher for members, customers and prospects to find a better position. Make them aware (or remind them) of the positive impact association membership and education can have on their careers.
Online experiences. Michelle Brien at Matchbox shared the results of their research on the value of virtual experiences to associations and their members. It’s encouraging to see associations willing to explore new ways to gather members together on online platforms.
Event trends. eShow predicts five event trends for 2024 and describes how technology can help you stay on top of them. Attendees expect associations to use AI, data analytics and other tools to enhance their event experience.
Data, AI and value propositions. Greg Pollack at Association Analytics recommends three useful strategies to elevate your association’s impact in the new year. His “Fresh Start” suggestions will make data collection much less daunting for associations who normally want to figure everything all out first before even taking a baby step.
Culture. The culture you worked so hard to establish is easily undermined by subpar or stressful working conditions. If you want to attract and retain exceptional talent, Impexium suggests providing a supportive environment where people can achieve both personal and professional fulfillment. They describe how technology can help strengthen your organization’s culture.
AI literacy. Jessica Davies at WorkLife outlines steps you can take to develop the new ‘power skill’: AI literacy. And, yes, she brings up privacy and intellectual property concerns too.
Twitter tips. I’m still tweeting. The usual reasons for abandoning Twitter seem overly hysterical to me. I find good reads there, including many of the articles I share here. Because of the people and accounts I follow, I also enjoy the “serendipity machine” aspect of Twitter. If you don’t see the point, spend a few minutes reading Nabeel S. Qureshi’s notes on using Twitter. His experience, like mine, is a positive one.
You never grow old at the table
Fresh local fish really doesn’t need more than salt and pepper, maybe a little lemon. But if you like lemon, a piccata sauce is a good way to go. And if you want to take that sauce to the next level, make it creamy. It’s pretty swoony on swordfish steaks or any other fish. On the side sautéed kale with bacon, red onion, garlic and chicken broth.
For Sunday soup night, I made a delicious wild rice and mushroom soup from the January/February 2013 issue of Cook’s Illustrated. It was even better two nights later—funny how soup works. If you’re not a subscriber to Cook’s, you’d usually be out of luck because they hide their recipes behind a paywall, but you can find this one on another blog. Copyright infringement? Probably, I didn’t check the details, but I’m not the internet police so…
I had a strange craving for cream of mushroom soup with wild rice but didn’t have a recipe. I could’ve Googled—lots of options there. But I thought I’d check the hundreds of cookbooks I own. After two cross-country moves, I’m down to three shelves, so most of them are on my Kindle. How did I go through them? I searched for a recipe on Eat Your Books, a cookbook index site.
For $40/year, you can add your cookbooks to your EYB online library and quickly find a recipe you already own. You can add magazines and websites too, which is how I found the Cook’s recipe.
Almost forgot… on the side, cauliflower cheesy breadsticks again. Next time, for a change, I’m adding pesto to the mix.
Would you like to subscribe? Please complete the form at the bottom of this post. I won’t share or sell your email address.
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.
Fri 2/9 at 12 p.m.* – Consultant Open House in the Association Marketplace
Come explore this new space for Association Professionals to connect with colleagues, learn about what’s new in the industry, and share their expertise and experience. Bring your ideas for adding value to your professional life. More info/register.
Host: The Association Marketplace
*All events are online at Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.
Fri 2/9 at 4 p.m. – Networking Discussion about Being an Ally Against Microaggressions
Join us for a facilitated discussion about how white people can be allies against microaggressions of black people at work. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Facilitator: Marjie George, Fridays@4 board member
Mon 2/12 at 8 a.m. – AI Advice for Associations (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
Guest: Johanna Snider, CEO, Blue Cypress
Mon 2/12 at 12 p.m. – Membership Mondays
Host: ASAE
Tue 2/13 at 12 p.m. – Price Elasticity Uncovered: Insights from Data
How often are price increase/decrease decisions based on opinion and fear, hampering an association’s ability to extract maximum value from our products because we’re afraid of customer attrition? Using data science, we can model the future state and help make a more informed decision. Hear how the speaker’s team developed a price elasticity forecast. Share your own data modeling stories and learn from in-the-trenches experiences of fellow data scientists. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Speaker: Denali Carpenter of Inteleos
Tue 2/13 at 12 p.m.- Tech Tuesdays
Were you unable to participate in the recent ASAE AI Summit? Do you still have questions on how AI can help you move the needle with your members and other stakeholders? Whether you attended the summit on Jan 30-31 or not, you won’t want to miss this wrap-up conversation on the summit and all things generative AI. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Speakers: Reggie Henry, ASAE and Dave Coriale, DelCor
Tue 2/13 at 12 MST – Pop-Up Lunch in Denver, CO
These intimate, informal gatherings are designed to help you build your network and connect with the AWTC community. Location: Denver CO. More info/register.
Organizer: Association Women Technology Champions
Tue 2/13 at 1 p.m. – The Neuroscience of Finding Your Purpose and Creating Meaningful Work
Host: Think and Grow
Speaker: Dr. Britt Andreatta
Tue 2/13 at 2 p.m. – LGBTQIA2+ 2024 Community Call
Share and discuss topics that are current and significant to the LGBTQIA2+ association community. Whether you have burning questions, pressing issues, or insightful experiences to share, this judgment-free zone welcomes your valuable contributions. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Tue 2/13 at 3 p.m. – Operation Efficiency: Streamlining Processes for Associations
Discover the key to success for associations in today’s fast-paced world by exploring strategies for optimizing operations and improving efficiency. Hear about common mistakes associations make that reduce efficiency, strategies and industry best practices for associations, and how associations can leverage technology. More info/register.
Host: NXUnite/Nexus Marketing Agency
Speakers:
- Michelle Brien, Vice President of Marketing at Matchbox Virtual Media
- Mark Prevost, SVP of Growth at Billhighway
- Todd Tolbert, Director of Associations and Nonprofits at UDig
Wed 2/14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. – New Year, More Questions
Breakout group topics: #1: Learning Gaps – Leading up to a certification/assessment exam, what areas of learning would you like to see improved and what areas have been beneficial for your learners to utilize? #2: SMEs – What are the biggest challenges you are facing with your SMEs? #3: Value of Credential – How can we better market/promote the value of certification or other credentials, e.g. micro-credentials? #4: DEI – Are you aware of, and prepared to deal with, current and pending regulation and legislation that might affect your credentialing program? More info/register.
Host: Certification Network Group
Facilitators:
- Christine DePascale, Psychometrician at Professional Testing
- Mark Franco, Counsel at Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP
- Marybeth Kurland, Chief Executive Officer at Commission for Case Manager Certification
- Jake Schoch, Enterprise Account Executive at Benchprep
- Amy Scott, Certification Director at Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
Wed 2/14 at 11 a.m. – Beyond Tradition: Association Transformation into Media Empires
Find out how your association’s unique knowledge, vast networks, and compelling stories can be leveraged to drive impactful narratives and shape public discourse. Learn the steps and best practices to transition your association from a traditional convener to a dynamic, content-producing powerhouse. Hear about the potential benefits and challenges of such a transformation, from increased reach and engagement to new revenue streams, while learning how to navigate potential obstacles. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Bill Mcglade, President, Community Leaders Institute & epIQ Creative Group
Wed 2/14 at 12 p.m. – Your Communications Policy: The Easy Playbook to Organize Comms Activities
Learn how to clarify which channels to use for which types of information; state the organization’s expectations for style; affirm communication commitments throughout the organization; educate workers about file organization, nomenclature and storage; and develop an internal communications roadmap that adjusts seamlessly as you grow. Leave with tools you can use today to build a strategy that best fits your organization. More info/register.
Host: Lizabeth Wesely-Casella, Founder and CEO of L-12 Services Corp.
Wed 2/14 at 1 p.m. – Mastering Memorable Online Experiences: A Budget-Friendly Blueprint
Hear about effective strategies for delivering engaging and memorable online experiences, overcoming budgetary constraints and time limitations. Gain insights into adapting traditional activities such as career fairs, interactive events, and award presentations to the online environment. Learn practical tips and actionable steps to create unique, impactful virtual experiences that resonate with your audience and align with your association’s goals. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Barbara J. Armentrout, CAE, Founder & Key Principal, BJA Solutions for Associations
- Lucas Cioffi, CTO and Co-Founder, QiqoChat
- Sandra Nam, CEO and Co-Founder, QiqoChat
Wed 2/14 at 1 p.m. – Connection Mindset™: Your Key to Engaging Others and Getting More Done with Less Stress for Everyone
Hear how our desire to help others and solve problems can inadvertently get in the way of connection and create stress and resistance for you and others. Learn a new approach to leading authentically that will allow you to care for and grow others without sacrificing results. Practice a powerful four-step process for deepening your emotional intelligence which has been proven to increase both happiness and business impact. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Fonteva
Speaker: Scott David, Owner, Executive Coach, The Authentic Executive
Thu 2/15 at 10 a.m. – Website Redesign Success Story: Featuring ISHLT
How do you successfully redesign your outdated website to provide a superior “member-first” experience and receive a stellar response from leaders, even with a small staff? Hear about the International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation’s (ISHLT) website redesign project, including how they secured buy-in and invested in change, optimized the experience for mobile, established goals and success measures, empowered staff and created efficiencies, and succeeded with a small team. More info/register.
Host: Results Direct
Speakers:
- Jess Burke, Director of Marketing & Communications, International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation
- Laura Graham, Senior Solutions Consultant, Results Direct
Thu 2/15 at 12 p.m. – How AI and Automation are Reshaping the Future for Associations
This educational leadership seminar is designed exclusively for the C-Suite and Director-level executives, seeking to understand the importance of new, emerging technologies and how to effectively weave them into their digital transformation strategy for their association. Learn about the transformative power of AI and automation, how to navigate the tech evolution and position your association for unparalleled success, and key strategies to consider when adjusting your digital roadmap. More info/register.
Host: iMIS by ASI
Speakers:
- Rob Wenger, CEO, Higher Logic
- Tim Clarke, Chief Revenue Officer, ASI
- Troy Stenback, Director of Client Performance Improvement & Client Success, ASI
Thu 2/15 at 12 p.m. – Member ROI Group
The live discussions will be predominately in CAE education domains related to member ROI on the first and third Thursdays of the month with some exceptions. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Ed Rigsbee
Thu 2/15 at 1 p.m. – Strategies for Effective Annual Board Planning
Learn how your board can achieve a stellar planning system that accounts for inevitable unknowns. Explore the challenges and considerations that impact annual board planning, best practices for creating an efficient and strategic planning framework, and how technology like board management software and AI can simplify and enhance your planning cycle. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Speakers:
- Erik Hanberg, author of four books on nonprofit management, fundraising, social media, and board governance
- Jordan Castel, Association Governance Consultant at OnBoard
Thu 2/15 at 2 p.m. – How Higher Logic Embraced AI While Mitigating Risk
Hear a case study example of how Higher Logic internally explored and adopted AI tools while maintaining security and privacy controls. Learn about the positive potential of AI for staff time-savings, our cautions when approaching AI use, and the goals, guidelines, and results of our staff “AI Month” challenge. Get ideas from what we did for strategies you can try out at your organization. More info/register.
Host: Higher Logic
Speakers: Rob Wenger, CEO and founder, and Daryl Dore, Director of IT, Higher Logic
Thu 2/15 at 2 p.m. – Researchers Reveal Insights Into Communication with Lawmakers and How to Make Them Take Notice
Learn who most effectively reaches Congress and what characteristics they share; major influencers driving the conversation and how the bias operates; insights into the relationship between media coverage and the issues constituents write about; tactics to ensure your advocacy campaigns resonate with the topics your constituents care about the most in a busy election year; and strategies to optimize your advocacy campaigns, ensuring your messages cut through the noise and truly influence policy decisions. More info/register.
Host: VoterVoice
Speakers:
- David Broockman, associate professor at UC Berkeley
- Kristin St. John, senior manager of coalition and advocacy campaigns at McKesson
- Nick Consler (moderator), general manager of advocacy and constituent services at FiscalNote
Thu 2/15 at 2 p.m. – Security By Design
Stay above the fray and maintain security with strategic planning. The security threats on the news may seem new and scarier than ever, but most intrusions capitalize on traditional vulnerabilities. Come learn about planning your company’s IT strategy so security is a design element instead of a problem you react to. More info/register.
Host: Association Technologies Inc.
Thu 2/15 at 4 p.m. – Elevate Your Executive Presence
Whether you’re presenting to a board or an annual conference your presence is what builds trust and respect. Explore what executive presence means for association leaders. Share your thoughts, insights, and observations in breakout groups and learn from each other. Leave with a clearer understanding of executive presence, the impact, and how to elevate your own presence. More info/register.
Host: Reston-Loudon Idea Swap for Associations
Speaker: Diane DiResta, CSP, is Founder and CEO of DiResta Communications, Inc.
Thu 2/15 at 4 p.m. – How To Sell Out Your Association Event With Paid Social
Imagine your next association, membership, webinar, or workshop event filled with your ideal client profile and that registered early without the stress of selling out all seats. Hear about the event business framework we use for our 7-8 figure clients to sell out events every time, four detailed case studies with screenshots and data you can learn from immediately, how to get hyper-targeted traffic that converts visitors to buyers with a profitable ROI, and how we do it all using automation and scaling strategies so you can grow and serve clients hands off. More info/register.
Host: Chaosmap
Fri 2/16 at 3 p.m. – The Informal Consultants Networking Extravaganza
Organizer: Cecila Sepp, CAE, founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting
Fri 2/16 at 4 p.m. – The Rise and Fall of the Chief Diversity Officer
Host: Fridays@4
Speaker: Timothy E. (Tim) Findley Sr, EdD, MBA, CCDP/AP, Assistant Professor at Spalding University
Tue 2/20 at 3 p.m. – Mastering the Art of Email Newsletters: 15 Strategies for Success
Email newsletters are a fantastic medium for sharing relevant content to your members, but it’s crucial to ask: are your newsletters truly resonating with each individual, or are they just another generic email in their inbox? Discover how to leverage email newsletter marketing to captivate your members with the latest industry insights and trends. Hear best practices for elevating your newsletter content, boosting member engagement, curating diverse external content, and harnessing the power of automation. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Erica Salm Rench, MBA, COO, Rasa.io
Wed 2/21 at 12 p.m. – Going Virtual? Key Data from Virtual Associations
The shift towards remote work among associations is a trend expected to continue in 2024 with many associations choosing to go virtual or using a hybrid model. The Virtual Association Network (VAN) conducts an annual survey that collects data about benefits, logistics, and operational concerns and examines today’s post-Covid challenges for associations that are embracing virtual or partial virtual business models. Hear about VAN’s 2023 survey key findings. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Xchange
Speakers:
- Kevin Helm, CAE, Executive Director of ASET-The Neurodiagnostic Society, and Co-Founder/President of VAN
- David Westman, CAE, Executive Director, The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
Wed 2/21 at 2 p.m. – 5 Ways Your Business Development Team Can Leverage AI
AI is the latest set of tools available to our associations and it has the power to drastically enhance our sales approach. But it can be challenging to approach a rapidly evolving industry like AI to know which tools to use and how to integrate them into our daily work. Discover 5 ways your business development team can incorporate simple AI practices to identify prospects, foster partnerships and drive revenue growth. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Professionals for Association Revenue
Speakers:
- Jay Blankenship, SVP, Revenue Strategy & Operations, Enterprise, MCI USA
- Brittany Shoul, SVP, Revenue Strategy & Operations, MCI USA
Wed 2/21 at 2 p.m. – How to Craft a True Multilingual Strategy for Your Website
Hear an in-depth case study about how the Safe Quality Foods Institute reimagined their multilingual strategy and now have a new website that is available in 9 languages, staff capable of responding to inquiries in 9 languages, and a technology stack that fully supports multilingual. Hear about their goals of being multilingual, how far to take their multilingual presence—brochure site, full site, emails and forms, the languages to provide translations in, what content to have manually translated vs. AI translation, and how to support inquiries and communications in other languages. More info/register.
Host: Matrix Group
Speaker: Joanna Pineda, CEO and Chief Troublemaker of Matrix Group International, Inc.
Thu 2/22 at 2 p.m. – ASAE AI Summit: Continuing the Conversation
Join your association community colleagues to continue the conversation on artificial intelligence and its implications for associations. More info/register.
Host: Jeff De Cagna, Executive Advisor, Foresight First
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.
Creative Commons licensed photo by K8 via Unsplash
Amazon and AssociationBrainFood.com links allow me to earn a royalty on any sales or leads that result from clicking. Thank you!
Association Brain Food 