The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Sponsor survey. To help associations increase sponsorship revenue, the Partnership Professionals Network and Dynamic Benchmarking are conducting a survey of association sponsors to find out:
- Why companies sponsor associations.
- What companies want to sponsor.
- Whether companies are increasing or decreasing their sponsorship expenditures and the number of associations they sponsor.
- What sponsor benefits are of greatest value to companies.
- How companies measure sponsorship success.
They’re asking you to help by sending the Association Sponsor Engagement Study to your sponsors. The survey closes on Friday, November 5.
Virtual conference research. Leading Learning released The Virtual Conferences Report 2021. Here are a few tidbits:
- 1% of participants report that registrations for their virtual conference either met or exceeded expectations.
- 5% say they will offer another virtual conference in the future.
- 6% have no formal, documented strategy for their virtual conference.
The report covers much more, including what self-described successful organizations are more likely to do.
Flexible work model. Achurch Consulting explains how to convince your board (or CEO) to adopt a flexible (remote or hybrid) work model. They address why leadership may want employees to return to the office and describe some benefits associations reap from remote/hybrid work.
Learning design. WBT Systems lays down some learning science this week. They describe Gagne’s 9 Events of Instruction: a proven approach to instructional design that improves the learner’s experience and effectiveness of education programs.
Board silence. Lowell Aplebaum, CAE, explains why you should never accept a board’s silence as agreement. Instead, when you hear crickets, he suggests you ask board members to use specific language—he shares several examples—to express their stance on an issue or proposal.
Sponsorship sales. Lewis Flax says a mistake made by associations when communicating with sponsors is focusing on what the association offers instead of the prospective sponsor’s needs, desires, and motivations. He describes his S.C.O.R.E approach to these critical conversations.
Marketing education. Velocity Partners always publishes enlightening and entertaining articles like this one, A Stakeholder Through the Heart. They explain why senior execs are ruining your marketing plans and what you can do about it.
Good eats
Skip down to the list of free webinars if you prefer takeout.
- To go along with leftover carnitas tacos earlier this week, I made a sauté of pac choi, collards, kale, radish and kohlrabi greens with bacon, sweet peppers and onions.
- We also enjoyed baked fillets of red drum and sheepshead topped with a panko bread crumb, parmesan, Italian parsley, garlic and red pepper flake topping—enough for two nights and a lunch. On the side, roasted potatoes and daikon radish with garlic and fresh rosemary and thyme, plus a sauté of green cabbage with bacon, onion, carrot, jalapeno and sweet peppers.
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 10/29 at 12 p.m.* – DC Book Club – Diversity & Inclusion: Process and Policies
Many associations have plans to revisit or implement a Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) strategy. What process should your association take to develop a D&I strategy? What policies should it implement? What difficulties might arise in development and implementation? Thankfully, ASAE has developed and made available an array of resources and policies that can help guide association professionals through this process. This event will make use of ASAE’s experience and materials as a starting point for our dialogue. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: DC Association Professional Book Club
Guest: Robb Lee, Chief Strategy Officer, ASAE
*All events are at Eastern Daylight Time and online unless otherwise noted.
Fri 10/29 at 12 p.m. – Data Analytics and Member Engagement Scoring
Member engagement scoring has been a member-industry priority for more than a decade, yet many associations still believe scoring can and should be delivering more meaningful insights into both current and potential members. Learn how modern data analytics augments member engagement scoring and offers insights across the membership spectrum, and get a look at three newly-developed engagement examples for 2022. More info/register.
Host: Gravitate Solutions
Fri 10/29 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 10/29 at 12:30 p.m. – Non-Dues-a-Palooza Ideation Session: Spooktacular Edition
Don’t let the ghosts of the past haunt your future online education and non-dues revenue. Belly up to your computer for this fun yet exciting brainstorming and ideating session. This time it’s online education-focused and shining a light on ideas to generate non-dues revenue from education programs. We’ll work together to come up with so many ideas to ward off the gremlins of the past couple of years. More info/register.
Hosts: Non-Dues-a-Palooza and WBT Systems
Fri 10/29 at 4 p.m. – Becoming an Inclusive Leader: A Hands-On Approach, Part 2
We will walk attendees through exercises on how to connect their own personal leadership traits, experiences and skills to the traits needed to create an inclusive organizational culture. You will get the knowledge needed to work on your inclusive leadership muscles, using specific exercises and language that can help you lead these exercises with your own teams. All this in an effort to help more organizations strengthen their foundation and fill the world with more trained, experienced inclusive leaders. More info/register—must join before registering.
Host: Fridays@4
Presenters:
- Heba Mahmoud, Senior Manager of Inclusion & Diversity at MITRE Corporation
- Tim Hopkins, CAE, Senior Consultant, McKinley Advisors
Mon 11/1 at 1 p.m. – Get Your Gig On!
The gig economy is alive and well in the meetings industry, but what does it take to be an event freelancer? How is freelancing different from employment? What does it take to set yourself up, market yourself, and actually get contracted for work? Learn the risk and rewards, the ups and downs, and the freedom enjoyed by freelancing. 0.5 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MPI (possible fee for non-members)
Presenters:
- Todd A. Taranto, President, Cadre
- JoAnn Zeisig, Owner, Elevation Event Management & Salty Kisses Destination Weddings
Mon 11/1 at 1 p.m. – Diversity Programs (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: Wendy Toyama, Chief Executive Officer at American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Hosts:
- Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC
- Agnes Amos-Coleman, MBA, CMP, education, conference, event, certification consultant, Amos-Coleman
Mon 11/1 at 3 p.m. – Successful Membership Site Transition: Ensuring Buy-In from Your Team and Membership
Building a new website, membership site or moving to a new AMS? Learn how to use change management techniques for associations who are planning to build a member portal or membership site. More info/register.
Host: Grype
Presenter: Betsy Bond, President & Founder, Bonding Change Inc.
Tue 11/2 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Engage 2021
Learn how to create authentic engagement using real video content. Learn from each other’s successes, share best practices, and collaborate to solve common challenges. More info/register.
Host: Gather Voices
Tue 11/2 at 2 p.m. – How Healthy Is Your Learning Program? Protect the Physical and Mental Health of Your Learners with These Insights from Neuroscience
Learn how to assess the health of your eLearning program to protect the physical and mental health of your learners. Find out how the brain changes during prolonged experiences with eLearning, isolation, and screen time; how the pandemic rendered nearly every existing training program obsolete, and what you can do to revitalize yours; and how intelligence automation might be the key to providing a truly personalized learning experience that re-energizes your learners, your business, and you. More info/register.
Host: Association Universe
Presenter: Margie Meacham, Chief Freedom Officer of Learningtogo, LLC
Tue 11/2 at 2 p.m. – Give the People the Hybrid They Want
The future may be hybrid, but not in the way you think. Hear how we will learn, connect and grow post-pandemic. Learn how to help all audiences engage authentically, creatively plan to maximize content to meet people’s needs, and be MVPP (Most Valuable Planning Professional) on any team. More info/register.
Host: Smart Meetings
Presenters:
- Ryan Byrne, CEO, Buzzcast
- Robin Farmanfarmaian, author, “Facilitating Virtual Events”
- Gianna Gaudini, Author of The Art of Event Planning and Head of Events, AWS Training and Certification
Wed 11/3 at 10:30 a.m. – CEO Update LIVE: Executive Compensation
Seemingly unaffected by the pandemic, executive compensation in associations has been seeing strong growth at the senior levels. Explore the latest data and trends, how organizations should be considering compensation for staff, executives and the CEO in light of the new business paradigm, and how groups can continue to incentivize top performers. More info/register.
Host: CEO Update
Presenters:
- Charles Quatt, Quatt Associates
- Leslie Hortum, Spencer Stuart
Wed 11/3 at 11 a.m. – Live Q&A: Hybrid Event Engagement for Sponsor, Partners, and Exhibitors
Learn how to increase engagement for sponsors and partners at your hybrid event, how to structure packages for exhibitors online vs in-person, and what content sponsors, partners, and exhibitors should provide for hybrid events. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: PCMA
Presenter: Mary Beth Micucci, Engagement Director, beedance
Wed 11/3 at 11 a.m. – Meetings and Connection
Learn if hybrid events are really for your association. This series will help you reinvent your association’s strategies for events, membership, and leadership. More info/register.
Host: The Association Show
Wed 11/3 at 12 p.m. – AWTC Lunch Meetup
For our first in-person event since February 2020 (gasp!), you’re invited to an intimate lunch with Cynthia De Jesus, Solutions Advisor, Association Analytics. We’re keeping things small and capping registration at 12 people. All attendees must be fully vaccinated. More info/register.
Location: Fairfax, VA
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Wed 11/3 at 12 p.m. – Increasing Sponsorship Revenue During Uncertain Times
Covid has taken a huge bite out of sponsorship revenue. Learn how you can develop a plan to increase sponsorship and recoup lost income. Find out what to say to your sponsors when the status of future events is unclear and understand the three stages sponsors go through prior to making a decision. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Insights in Old Town
Presenters: Lewis Flax, Flax Associates
Wed 11/3 at 12 p.m. – 2022 COVID Guide for Meeting Professionals
Gain a solid understanding of the latest, cutting-edge health security strategies and resources available to meeting professionals at their upcoming meetings. Walk away with a step-by-step guide to how to develop a customized health security plan that will significantly increase the chances that your meeting will not be interrupted by COVID-19. Learn about the health security trends in the meeting industry, receive benchmark data from your most respected peers, and have a better handle on the COVID-19 outlook for 2022 and beyond. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MPI (possible fee for non-members)
Presenter: Dr. Jonathan Spero, M.D., CEO, InHouse Physicians
Wed 11/3 at 12 p.m. – How to Do Hybrid Work Right
Learn about the considerations of “place” and “time” in designing an effective hybrid work model, how a hybrid work model affects different jobs and roles in unique ways, why you should engage employees to understand what they really want and need, the challenges and benefits of reorganizing projects and workflows, and how you can build a culture of fairness and inclusion in a hybrid work setting. More info/register.
Host: Harvard Business Review
Presenter: Lynda Gratton, professor of management practice at London Business School and founder of HSM, the future-of-work research consultancy
Wed 11/3 at 1 p.m. – How to Reframe and Refocus Current Frustrations into Future Success
It’s a challenging time to be a revenue producer. We’ve planned, proposed, reworked, rescheduled and reimagined our work continuously over the course of the last 18 months. And we’re tired, right? Learn how to make meaning of the difficult situations we’ve experienced as revenue producers trying to provide stability in an unstable time, celebrate the personal and professional growth we’ve experienced, and collaborate with our peers to reimagine what the association industry could look like over the next 12 months. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Professionals for Association Revenue
Presenter: Rachel Druckenmiller, CEO, Unmuted
Wed 11/3 at 1 p.m. – #ExpoChat on Twitter
ExpoChat is a Twitter-based conversation on topics related to the trade show industry. More info.
Wed 11/3 at 2 p.m. – State Legislative Preview: The Biggest Issues You Need to Focus On in 2022
Hear about the legislative challenges and opportunities coming up at the state level next year, including the biggest themes and issues state legislatures will tackle in the upcoming year, which states and topics your organization should keep an eye on, and how to implement an effective, modern state government relations strategy. More info/register.
Host: FiscalNote
Wed 11/3 at 3 p.m. – Association Insights Survey Part 1: How to Get Actionable Data From Surveys
Most associations use surveys to collect data from members, but too often the resulting data is not leveraged to improve operations or member experience. Learn how to get actionable insights from your surveys including what to ask and how to ask it. Gain key insights into how other associations use (or plan to use) survey analytics to better their organizations. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Analytics
Presenters:
- Bill Conforti, SVP of Strategy & Solutions, Association Analytics
- Greg Pollack, VP of Sales, Association Analytics
Wed 11/3 at 3 p.m. – Leading at 90 Below Zero: A Unique Look at Leadership (Keynote Speaker Series)
Learn how to look at leadership in a unique way—through the lens of Antarctic history; be a leader every day no matter what your title, pay level, industry or experience is; and deal with issues that your people live with and work with every day. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: U.S. Transactions Corp.
Presenter: Mike Pierce (Antarctic Mike), Author and Keynote Speaker
Thu 11/4 at 12 p.m. – The Future of Association Tech
According to Community Brands 2021 Association Trends Study, only half of association professionals feel technologically prepared for the future. Hear a discussion about today’s association tech landscape, tech that’s non-negotiable in the next normal, and tips and tricks for convincing your board it’s time for new tech budget. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Community Brands
Presenters:
- Reginald Henry, CAE, Chief Information & Engagement Officer, ASAE: The Center For Association Leadership
- Jeff Golembiewski, Vice President Sales Engineering, Community Brands
- Jason Daiger, Events Product Architect, Community Brands
Thu 11/4 at 2 p.m. – How to Mine Your Data to Find Volunteers
Learn about reports you can run to identify engaged members who may be willing to answer the call to volunteer, how to review their past volunteer experience in your database, and how to spot engaged members on social media. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Matrix Group
Thu 11/4 at 2 p.m. – Tips and Tricks for Creating Effective IT Software RFPs
Learn key components to include in your RFP process that can help vendors better visualize and ultimately meet your needs, why having an emphatic approach to vendors can help you shape the relationship from the selection process through final implementation, and how to write concise requirements and summaries in your RFP that attract attention and get great responses to your RFP. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: 501 Works
Presenters:
- Bryan Clark, Director of Business Development, Matrix Group Intl.
- Ana Loden, Senior Account Executive, MemberSuite
- James Chen, President/CEO, MemberPlex
- James Marquis (moderator), Chief Innovation Officer and CIO, 501 Works
Thu 11/4 at 2 p.m. – One Step Ahead, Predicting the Future of Event Technology
Technology is ever-changing at an incredibly fast pace, becoming more accessible all the time, and our industry has undergone massive change in the last year alone. What’s next? Hear about the hottest trends taking the meetings and events industry by storm, in three key areas: getting to the event, venues of the future and “at the event” tech. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MeetingsNet
Presenter: Brian Ludwig, Senior Vice President, Sales, Cvent
Fri 11/5 at 9:30 a.m. – NYSAE Engagement Lounge: How to Show Up as a Leader
People are often promoted into positions of leadership and management without having formal training in ether. Leadership is something you can work on and develop over time. Even if you’re a born leader, your skills can be improved if you’re willing to be self-reflective. Learn about some of the necessary skills and behaviors that will help you show up as a leader, regardless of where you are in your career or on the organizational chart. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: New York Society of Association Executives
Presenter: Linda Aronson
Fri 11/5 at 10:30 a.m. – Small Steps to Big Change: Online Chat with Bobby Heard, COO for ACEP
Join us for a chat with a change-maker COO to share how he is engaging audiences in the digital and hybrid arena for the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). More info/register.
Host: Juno
Presenter: Bobby Heard, MBA, CAE, COO, ACEP
Fri 11/5 at 4 p.m. – What’s Your Favorite TED Talk?
What’s your favorite TED talk? Join your Fridays@4 colleagues for an open networking session, where as we talk about our favorite TED Talks and how they impacted the way we look at the world. More info/register—must join before registering.
Host: Fridays@4
Moderator: Heather Story, consultant, Volunteer Strategies
Tue 11/9 at 1 p.m. EST – The Evolution of Office Space and Technology in the Roaring 2020s
Progressive employers are turning toward hybrid work environments to facilitate flexibility and retain top talent. Learn how to reevaluate the way your team uses office space, best practices and types of technology needed for working in a hybrid environment, and how best to use office space to maximize efficiency from your teams. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Achurch Consulting
Presenters:
- Erik Haas, designDATA
- Dan Shapiro, Cresa
- Rae Ann Johnson, Achurch Consulting
Tue 11/9 at 1 p.m. EST – Navigating Vaccine Mandates in Professional Development Settings (ASAE PD Town Hall)
As we plan for meetings through the end of 2021 and into 2022, vaccine mandates and adjusting for COVID remains top of mind for many in professional education. Join this townhall for an open discussion amongst your peers to talk about what your plans are to address social distancing in instructional design, how mandates are being communicated to staff, speakers and stakeholders, what best practices are emerging around access to hybrid/recorded content and more. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Professional Development Professionals Community
Presenters:
- Tanika Coates, Senior Director, American Health Law Association
- Steve Legault, Director of Knowledge, Learning and Assessment at American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
Tue 11/9 at 4 p.m. EST – World Café
In 2021, in a series of moderated conversations, association executives led a conversation centered on some of the key areas to consider when building new and sustaining existing international efforts, including mission, vision, and governance; strategy and operations; and resources and implementation. Join us as we continue the virtual conversation in informal, small-group conversations. More info/register.
Host: ASAE International Associations Advisory Council
Wed 11/10 at 11 a.m. EST – Looking Forward® (DEI): Perceptions, Challenges and Solutions for DEI in Associations
Conversations about DEI are taking place every day among our volunteer leaders and staff. Unfortunately, these conversations are taking place without the data to guide decisions or monitor progress. Hear the findings from Looking Forward® (DEI), a ground-breaking study by Association Laboratory that collects insights from the association sector on the perceptions, challenges and solutions to DEI issues. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: Association Laboratory
Presenters: Dean A West, FASAE, Nicolette Haton Shanks, MBA, CAE, Meg Whedbee, MPP, Nikki Golden, and Miranda Barrett, CAE, PMP, Association Laboratory
Wed 11/10 at 12 p.m. EST – Give a Marketing Team of 3 the Power of 15
Lean marketing teams have to figure out how to deliver on goals with less resources and dedicated time. Learn how to use your martech stack so you can focus on the value-added activities instead of the time-intensive ones. Hear about a new way to approach, manage and automate your marketing funnel. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: HighRoad Solutions
Presenter: Aimee Pagano, Sr Digital Advisor, HighRoad Solutions
Wed 11/10 at 12:30 p.m. EST – Race for Relevance Book Discussion
Join a live Q&A with the authors. More info/register.
Hosts: Eileen Acker and Abby Mund
Presenters: Mary Byers, CAE and Harrison Coerver
Wed 11/10 at 2:30 p.m. EST – Building Your 2022 Communications Plan
Discover everything that needs to go into your 2022 communications plan, and learn how to set goals that bring value, define activities and tactics for your goals, identify key audiences, and manage your plan throughout the year (no matter what it brings!). An annual communications plan template and marketing and communications budget template will also be provided. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Mighty Citizen
Presenters:
- Rachel Clemens, CMO at Mighty Citizen
- Nicole Araujo, Client Engagement Director at Mighty Citizen
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.
Photo from the Kitchen Mesa trail at Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, New Mexico
Association Brain Food 