The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
State of chapters. If you want to know what’s going on with chapters at other associations and how your chapter network compares, check out the 2022 Chapter Performance & Benchmarking Report from Billhighway and Mariner Management. Use it to benchmark your metrics, inspire innovations in chapter management, and start conversations about the future of chapters at your association.
Compliance training. WBT Systems shares the story of the Texas Restaurant Association (TRA) whose compliance training programs delivered a 465% increase in revenue in the last six months of 2021. WBT shares the strategies and tactics resulting in a 693% increase in certificates for TRA in a competitive compliance training market.
Non-dues revenue. MemberSuite looked at five essential member and market needs and came up with a slew of revenue-generating solutions, many of which are probably valuable for your members and market too.
SHRM’s loss of relevance. On the Punk HR podcast, host Laurie Ruettimann and her two guests discuss their disappointment with their association, the Society of Human Resource Management. SHRM isn’t keeping up with its industry, an industry at the center of how people work and how people are treated, led, managed, and empowered at work. “We’re building a new post-industrial revolution era of work, and we’re still getting articles from SHRM about dress code,” said guest Lars Schmidt. Because other groups have emerged to address HR’s present and future, “they’ve lost a whole generation of operators that they’ll never get back.” Guest Joey Price said, “SHRM prides itself on being the voice of HR. And I think right now, it should be the ears of HR.” I get the feeling SHRM excels at selling but is losing at leading.
Evolution of work. I hear stories about association employers that make my skin crawl. I want to shake their staff by the arms and cry, “Flee, go, get out!” I’m sure Jamie Notter at Propel sees the same thing. In writing about the Great Resignation, he takes employers to task for their “it’s all about me” perspective. Employees will continue to leave their frustrating and unfulfilling jobs. It’s up to employers to evolve if they want to hold on to staff. “If you want to win the Great Resignation, then ignore the resignations and start becoming the destination,” says Jamie.
What sponsors want. Partnership Professionals Network (PPN) and Dynamic Benchmarking shared the results of the State of Sponsorship Engagement Survey. Some results may surprise associations—and not in a good way. At Associations Now, Rasheeda Childress interviewed Bruce Rosenthal and Dan Kowitz, co-conveners of PPN, about some of the survey’s findings.
Quick hits
If you want to better understand the history behind the horrible events in Ukraine, these two articles from The Conversation are a good place to start.
- Why Putin has such a hard time accepting Ukrainian sovereignty. (Jacob Lassin and Emily Channell-Justice)
- Putin’s invasion of Ukraine attacks its distinct history and reveals his imperial instincts. (Olivia Durand)
For the Twitterati: yesterday, I started putting together a list of Ukraine experts.
7 design considerations for your in-person conference hub. (Dave Lutz, Velvet Chainsaw Consulting)
An incomplete history of Forbes as a platform for scams, grift, and bad journalism. (Joshua Benton, Nieman Lab)
Good eats
Skip down to the list of free webinars if you prefer takeout.
I had half a pound of Portuguese chouriço left over from another meal that I used as an excuse to make baked almaco jack with chouriço and cannellini beans, although any spicy sausage will do. I always add red bell pepper, garlic and spinach to this recipe. On the side, roasted broccoli with garlic, red pepper flakes and parmesan cheese.
We both love this one-pot meal: chorizo, sweet potato, black beans and spinach skillet. Since I doubled the recipe, I used both ground chorizo (with a ‘z’ this time) and ground chicken.
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 2/26 at 11 a.m.* – Sponsorships (The Association Show)
Almost no one in the association industry is speaking about the reckoning that is about to hit this year with membership and sponsor renewals after two years of virtual engagement. Hybrid events can help, but they require a different approach to member and sponsorship engagement. While most are planning for some element of hybrid in their on-site programs, there are substantial challenges based on an association’s budget and skills and resources within each team. We’ll be talking about sponsorships—how to get them, how to keep them—and hosting an interactive workshop. More info/register.
Host: EventMobi
Presenters:
- Tanya Hannah Rumble, CFRE, MFA-P™ of the Association of Fundraising Professionals
- Michael Tatonetti, CPP, CAE, Founder of Pricing for Associations
*All events are online at Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.
Fri 2/26 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 2/25 at 4 p.m. – Ask the Expert: Tips from Career Coach Series
As an executive coach, a common question I get is “how do I negotiate the offer?” and while there are no hard and fast answers there is a strategy, I recommend to getting an offer you won’t look back on with regret. However, it requires your willingness to do this one thing? Join us to learn the “one thing” and the strategies for making the ask. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Presenter: Pamela J. Green
Mon 2/28 at 11 a.m. – Make Sure You Have a Plan B & C for Your Content Strategy
Learn how to prioritize, organize, and deliver event content in both hybrid and virtual scenarios, and why what might work for live events doesn’t necessarily translate to hybrid or virtual. Find out how to make sure your event and organization has a proactive plan in place instead of a reaction to changing scenarios. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: PCMA
Presenters:
- Bruce Haag, Director, Education & Event Technology, National Electrical Contractors Association
- Donny Neufuss, Director, Business Development & Strategic Partnerships, MediaSite
Mon 2/28 at 1 p.m. – 2022 Update for Meeting Planners (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: Stuart Ruff-Lyon, CMP, DES, VP, Events & Exhibitions at RIMS
Hosts:
- Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC
- Agnes Amos-Coleman, MBA, CMP, education, conference, event, certification consultant, Amos-Coleman
Tue 3/1 at 12 p.m. – Business Analysis Skills for Data Analytics (Data Analytics Network)
Learn about the value of business analysis practices, communication techniques for interpreting and reporting results, and the business analysis professional role in influencing culture. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Data Analytics Network / Association Analytics
Presenters:
- Scott Bennett, Business Analyst Manager for IIBA
- Evan Reid, Director of Data Analytics for ASHA
Wed 3/2 at 11 a.m. – Critical Considerations for Your Next Website Redesign/CMS/DXP Implementation
There are dos and don’ts when planning a new website. Far too often, associations develop and issue RFPs full of requirements that don’t fit their audience’s needs or the size of their organization. There are always unknowns to be expected, but problems start to occur with misunderstood requirements. This leads to bids with huge cost disparities because of massive amounts of guesswork. Learn what you need to do and what not to do so next website project is successful. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: U.S. Transactions Corp.
Presenters: Jake Toohey, Senior Digital Consultant, and Joe Post, Vice President Strategy & Experience Design, Adage Technologies
Wed 3/2 at 12 p.m. – How Covid has Changed IT Priorities
The pandemic has shoved IT into the spotlight. Avoid missteps as you move the focus from streamlining operations to member engagement. Learn what association IT should be doing, how IT can help make the transition while increasing speed, how moving to the cloud changes IT’s role, how to make IT a strategic asset, what technologies you need to focus on, how the focus on security has changed, and how virtual/hybrid gets woven into IT’s DNA. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Insights in Old Town
Presenters:
- Adam Hostetter (moderator) of Fuse Search
- Adam Kuhn of FIA
- Juan Sanchez of Intelios
- George Breeden of ICI
- Gary Sundel of ABA
Wed 3/2 at 2 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? Get a whirlwind tour of some of our recent projects, digging deep into the strategy behind each project to share how other associations and non-profits are rethinking their member journeys and developing new and better ways to meet their members’ needs online. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Matrix Group
Wed 3/2 at 2 p.m. – How Will NFTs Impact Association Business Models in the Future: A Panel Discussion
You may have heard the term NFT but aren’t really clear on what it means, or how NFTs could impact your Association and members. Join us for a dynamic panel discussion touching on many aspects of NFTs and their potential impact on your organization and membership. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: U.S. Transactions Corp.
Presenters:
- Chad Faison, Executive Director, American Council of Engineering Companies of Maryland
- Craig Gill, Senior Director of Marketing, International Society for Technology in Education
- Austin McHenry, Crypto Practice Leader, U.S. Transactions Corp.
- Dustin Ray, bees.social
Wed 3/2 at 2 p.m. – Rethinking Meeting Design for Live Events
Beyond the addition of health and safety standards, the format of effective live gatherings has shifted, whether to engage attendees better, connect with both remote viewers and on-site participants, or offer more memorable in-person experiences that will make attendees’ travel more worthwhile. Hear about trends and ways to innovate going forward, and actionable best practices. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Northstar Meetings Group
Presenters:
- Anthony Vade, North American Director, Events Design Collective
- Sarah J.F. Braley (moderator), Managing Editor, Northstar Meetings Group
Wed 3/2 at 2 p.m. – Everything You Want To Know About Engagement Scoring (But Didn’t Know to Ask)
Find out about the basics of engagement scoring and the nuances of creating a model that truly reflects what you value most in your members, and what they value most about your association. Learn the do’s and don’ts of building the right model for your association by choosing the right activities (for individuals or organizations), assigning weights appropriately, understanding key principles of engagement scoring, and how to get started today – no expensive tools required. 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
Thu 3/3 at 11 a.m. – Keeping Association Audiences Engaged Beyond COVID-19
The need for fully virtual event options during the pandemic allowed associations to engage with and, in some cases, grow their membership, but if we lose sight of the connection and learning strategy that brought them in during COVID, we not only run the risk of losing them as members but we also break the trust we previously built. Learn strategies for engaging both your virtual and in-person audiences beyond the pandemic, why event marketers need to start thinking like digital marketers, and the key steps to creating a community engagement plan. More info/register.
Host: Sidecar
Presenter: Amanda Safdar, DES, customer success manager, JUNO
Thu 3/3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – REvolve From Events to Communities
As eventprofs, we organize, ideate, communicate, design, innovate. We create experiences that inspire people. But what would happen if we were both the organizers and the audience? Find out by joining the first crowdsourced event for eventprofs. More info/register.
Host: Evolve Community / Swapcard
Thu 3/3 at 11 a.m. – Amplify Your Association Through Powerful Partnerships
Learn why and how expanding your association’s reach and effectiveness through new partnerships and alliances could be your next winning strategy. Hear about the importance of partnerships and how to seal the deal on your next partnership opportunity. By amplifying your voice, multiplying capabilities, maximizing resources—and more—we’ll show you how partnerships can be an invaluable key to your association’s success. More info/register.
Host: Meeting Expectations
Presenters:
- Ragan Cohn, CAE, Executive Director, OATUG
- Michelle Lee, Executive Director, OSAP
- Joey Sirmons (Moderator), Director, Multimedia Production
Thu 3/3 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 his class, Chris explains how to conduct a Creative Review of marketing collateral, sharing time-tested best practices he learned while working for global ad advertising agencies and consumer marketing companies. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Academy / Ricochet Advisory Services
Presenter: Chris Gloede, founder, Ricochet Advisory Services, and Past Chief Marketing Officer, American Bar Association
Thu 3/3 at 2 p.m. – 5 Ways to Turn Your Members into an Army of Marketers Utilizing Social Media
If your association has tons of great content sitting idle, this session can help you explore new avenues to get that content working for your association and engaging prospects, members and stakeholders more effectively. Learn how to achieve a huge boost to engagement by prompting your members to disseminate content for your association, ways to game the LinkedIn algorithm to get 10x the clicks and views on your content, and the challenges your association is facing today and how to manage those problems with new software tools that can help. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: 501Works
Presenters:
- Adrian Dayton, founder, Clearview Social
- James Marquis, chief innovation officer and CIO, 501Works
Thu 3/3 at 2 p.m. – 5 Powerful Growth Strategies to Boost Non-Dues Revenue for Your Association in 2022 and Beyond
Achieving sustainable non-dues revenue growth year over year can be a challenging task for any association. For associations to thrive in the coming years, they’ll need to spend considerable time focusing on growth initiatives. But what are the best strategies to achieve sustainable growth in 2022 and beyond? More info/register.
Host: Canadian Society of Association Executives
Thu 3/3 at 3 p.m. – What Associations Can Learn from High-Growth Tech Startups
Learn how to scale your membership and diversify your revenue, using high-tech business models and member feedback to drive member engagement. Find out how to create a vision that people want to be a part of. It is all about the people. You can grow your association by investing your time and resources in understanding your members and having a “product” mindset. More info/register.
Host: Grype
Presenter: Laura Buhler, President and CEO of C100
Fri 3/4 at 4 p.m. – Hitting a Wall: Tips for Your Job Search Fatigue
Details coming soon, per website. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Presenter: Janelle Spratley, HR Generalist
Tue 3/8 at 1 p.m. – Biggest Shifts About to Happen in AMSs
Associations are giving everyone a voice like never before, using open APIs to enable grassroots voting, smarter committees and stronger online community. Associations also are setting in motion better data analytics and visualization to deliver unique industry insights available nowhere else. Meanwhile tech giants are consolidating the industry by fully integrating software solutions to add seamless email marketing, accounting and post-COVID phygital conferencing, while the Cloud, in its second decade, is helping databases to connect anything to anything more securely at less cost. It used to be that your AMS could never quite keep up, but now the roles have reversed: are you keeping up with your AMS? More info/register.
Host: Review My AMS
Presenters:
- Teri Carden, founder of Review My AMS
- AMS experts Owens Gollamandala and Thomas McClintock of Empowered Margins
Thu 3/10 at 10 a.m. – RD Mobile What’s Working Now: A Tale of 2 Meeting Successes
Are you challenged with how to plan your association’s events amid the current uncertainties? What happens if conditions necessitate shifting your event format at the last minute? Hear how the NAM Council of Manufacturing Associations and CESSE seamlessly navigated these exact situations for their CEO conferences in January. They will share their experiences successfully shifting events from in-person to online, introducing creative new solutions to connect and engage attendees, facilitating sponsor lead generation, and leveraging event platforms to accommodate change. More info/register.
Host: Results Direct
Presenters:
- Shonzia Thompson CAE, CMP, Managing VP, Association Partnerships of NAM’s Council of Manufacturing Associations
- Christopher Ocampo, Marketing Manager, Council of Engineering & Scientific Society Executives
- Michael Jones, VP of Mobile Technologies, Results Direct | RD Mobile
Thu 3/10 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, Todd discusses banner creative elements that drive clicks and identifies the irrelevant components that don’t affect performance. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Academy / Ricochet Advisory Services
Presenter: Todd Unger, Chief Experience Officer, SVP Marketing & Member Experience, American Medical Association
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
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.
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 Tina Hartung via Unsplash
Association Brain Food 