The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Membership. I’ve used data from Marketing General Inc.’s 2023 Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report in many of the posts I’ve written for clients. Last year, 814 associations participated in MGI’s survey, which benchmarks the practices used by associations to recruit, engage and renew members. The 2024 survey is now open. Please help our community by taking the time to participate or forwarding it to a colleague on your association’s membership team.
Volunteer burnout. It’s scary to think what might happen to chapters if they can’t find enough members to lead them. Billhighway discusses the causes of leadership succession issues and offers strategies for preventing volunteer burnout, a big problem for chapters.
Leadership development for young members. TopClass LMS has a solution for empty volunteer pipelines: leadership development cohort programs. They explain how these educational programs attract young professionals who want to develop in-demand skills and build relationships with peers.
Email marketing news. Make sure staff who have anything to do with IT or email marketing get this critical message: Gmail and Yahoo have new requirements for bulk senders. Higher Logic explains what email marketers and their IT colleagues need to do.
Mentoring. The Art of Mentoring describes the benefits of offering a mentoring program for members. They also provide a checklist for implementing an effective mentoring program or enhancing an existing one.
Facilitation course: I normally don’t feature paid programs here, but this 12-week course is designed by two guys I really respect: Lowell Aplebaum of Vista Cova and Aaron Wolowiec of Event Garde. The spring cohort for their Association Facilitator Certificate Course begins on March 11. If it intrigues you, check it out—12 CAE credits too.
You never grow old at the table
I relied on one of my old standbys for a quick dinner last week, southern pan-fried catfish. Before the fillets hit the pan, dredge them in flour and garlic powder, then buttermilk mixed with lots of hot sauce, and finally cornmeal with your choice of spices. This time, I went with Old Bay and ancho chile powder. On the side, broccoli stems, carrots, red onion and tomatoes al pesto.
Just now I saw a tweet from Alton Brown that gave me an idea for another ingredient to add to that cornmeal: “Finely crushed, fried pork rinds are my new answer for everything.” Oh my, yes.
Another night, I came home with the most brilliantly dark hunk of bluefin tuna, so I made another favorite, pan-seared tuna with avocado, soy sauce, ginger and lime, which also makes a fabulous breakfast. On the side, roasted broccoli with red onion, garlic powder, red chile flakes, and sriracha sea salt—Jim got a little package of this for Christmas and it worked wonders on the broccoli.
I still remember a cup of avgolemono soup I enjoyed at a Greek restaurant several years ago, but had never made it until this past weekend. This chicken, lemon and rice soup enriched with eggs lived up to my memory. I skinned four bone-in chicken thighs so ended up with more chicken than the recipe called for. I didn’t boil the water. Since I didn’t want to buy extra-large eggs just for this recipe, I used two large eggs and two yolks. Excellent.
On the side, incredibly delicious cheesy cauliflower bread sticks. I could eat a whole pan of this, I swear.
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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 1/26 at 12 p.m.* – Unlocking Dahlia’s Secret Vault: Deliver More at Your Events
According to the latest Freeman trends report, 75% of attendees want demonstrations/hands-on activities and 52% want unstructured interactions with experts. Hear about event activations that deliver, such as innovative sponsorship activations that will set your events apart and create unforgettable experiences, engaging and rewarding surprise-and-delight tactics to amaze your participants and exhibitors, and strategies that offer real value, enhancing both the personal and professional lives of your event community. More info/register.
Host: DAHLIA+Agency
*All events are online at Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.
Fri 1/26 at 12:30 p.m. – Ask Me Anything: Data Analytics
What is data analytics? How can I make the most of the data I have? How can I help my organization be more data driven? Bring all your questions and join the AMA. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Speaker: Vinnu Deshetty, CEO/Founder, EVA | Event Tech Hub
Fri 1/26 at 1 p.m. – Elevating New Member Engagement
How well are your new members joining and engaging in your community? Learn about the neuroscience behind impactful first impressions, ways to welcome new members and foster a sense of safety and belonging, and designing a culture that elevates new member engagement in your community. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Forj
Speaker: Amanda Lea Kaiser, keynote speaker and author of Elevating Engagement: Uncommon Strategies for Creating a Thriving Member Community
Fri 1/26 at 4 p.m. – Association and Nonprofit Trends for 2024: Navigating a Rapidly Evolving Landscape
As we move into 2024, the landscape for associations is rapidly evolving, driven by technological advancements, changing member expectations, and an increasingly global context. Hear about key trends concerning digital transformation and technology, event models, member experience personalization, and evolving membership models. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Speaker: Dan Olson, Director of Business Development & Digital Strategist, ArcStone
Mon 1/29 at 8 a.m. – How to Get that Book Written & Published (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: Carl Weaver, Renaissance Man
Tue 1/30 at 11 a.m. – Ascend: Unlocking the Power of AI for Nonprofits
Gain insight into the current AI landscape and how this concerns your nonprofit organization, the power of present AI and where this fast-paced revolution is heading, and how to begin utilizing AI to further your nonprofit’s mission and better serve your community. More info/register.
Host: Sidecar
Speaker: Matthew Van Cleave, author, Ascend: Unlocking the Power of AI for Nonprofits
Tue 1/30 at 12 p.m. – Trends Talk with Sarah Sladek
Join Sarah Sladek and a special guest on the last Tuesday of each month for an engaging series of virtual events exploring NextGen trends. From emerging technologies to evolving societal values, these events promise to offer a deep dive into the forces driving change in the next generation. More info/register.
Host: Sarah Sladek, Founder and CEO, XYZ University
Guest: Beth Ziesenis, Author, Speaker, Nerd
Tue 1/30 at 12 p.m. – ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Book Club
Join the ASAE CRVM Book Club to discuss The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. We’ll talk about self-limiting beliefs and how to overcome them. Read the book (or an online review) and join us with a cup of coffee and your opinions on the concepts in the book. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Advisory Council
Facilitators: Vanita Murray and Rachel Grimes
Tue 1/30 at 1 p.m. – What to Consider When Your Association Is Considering a Merger or Acquisition (Part 3: Avoiding the Post-M&A Failure Trap)
70-90% of all M&A transactions ultimately fail. Why? Most organizations do not properly account for challenges such as post-merger integration, cultural fit, and more. Learn about the pitfalls associated with what happens after the deal is signed to help you ensure early- and long-term success. 1 CAE credit. More info/register (Executive Management Professionals Community).
Host: ASAE Executive Management Advisory Council
Speakers:
- Ellen Collins, Executive Director, Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy
- Sherrif Karamat, President & CEO, Professional Convention Management Association
- Pietro Macchiarella, Director, Center of Excellence, Young Presidents’ Organization
- Rhea Steele (moderator), Chief of Staff and Vice President of Strategy and Governance, School Nutrition Association
Tue 1/30 at 1 p.m. – Elevating Your Leadership: A Call to Learn from Your Team’s Wisdom (Part 1 of 2)
Explore why those being led are an often-overlooked source of invaluable leadership wisdom. Discover practical, low-maintenance methods for leaders to glean meaningful insights without resorting to burdensome practices (large 360 reviews, burdensome surveys, etc.). Uncover the untapped potential of learning from your team and preview key lessons for a more impactful leadership journey. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Ryan MacTaggart, PhD, Associate Director, Professional Learning, EDUCAUSE
Wed 1/31 at 12 p.m. – Revenue Revamp: 5 Game-Changing Fixes Help Chapters Increase Non-Dues Revenue in 2024
If sponsors, exhibitors, and advertisers believe your chapters can positively impact their bottom lines, chapters will convert more customers with less effort. But most chapters (and some associations) inadvertently turn off those buyers because of website navigation, collateral, and messaging that leaves prospects confused and unconvinced. Learn about simple changes that will help chapters attract and convert sponsors, exhibitors, and advertisers efficiently and effectively including: quickly creating a compelling case for investing money with your association, stats and stories that provide the most effective social proof of your value, and information buyers need at various stages of their buying journey. More info/register.
Hosts: Billhighway, Mariner Management and Impexium
Speaker: Carrie McIntyre, founder, Navigate
Wed 1/31 at 12 p.m. – Lead vs Member Scoring: How to Data Mine Effectively
What data points should you use to measure member engagement? More importantly, would your association align and agree upon those indicators across all business units and course-correct accordingly? How about if they were trying to identify candidates that are a good fit for membership? Measuring activity means understanding the customer journey and how audiences interact with all of your programming across all channels. Learn about potential data sets that can help you kick-start your ROE definition within your organization to build your own personalized engagement algorithm for leads as well as members. More info/register.
Host: HighRoad Solutions
Wed 1/31 at 1 p.m. – The Art of Charts: Choosing the Right Visualization to Tell Your Story
Do you have data but struggle with how best to depict the story the data is telling? Get a glimpse into the power of data visualization and take away tips, techniques, and examples of effective storytelling graphics. Learn about the core concepts and essential elements that contribute to effective data visualization and storytelling graphics, different types of commonly used charts, and chart types to select based on the data and the story that needs to be told. More info/register.
Hosts: IMA and Your Part Time Controller, LLC
Speakers: William Schwab and Edwin Harvey, Your Part-Time Controller, LLC
Wed 1/31 at 2 p.m. – Don’t Fall Victim to a Cyberattack or Data Security Breach
No organization, however large or small, is immune to data breaches and cyberattacks, so you need to be prepared with an incident response plan. Plus, board directors are being held liable under various state privacy acts for not taking responsibility for the protection of the data they hold. Hear what can go wrong, what has worked well, what remains uncertain when dealing with the inevitable data breach or security incident, and steps to take to mitigate risk. Walk through a cyber incident response simulation and review the actions taken from the viewpoint of forensic investigation and mitigation, legal, cyber insurance and law enforcement considerations. More info/register.
Host: Meetings Today
Speakers:
- Tara N. Cho, CIPP/US, CIPP/E, Partner, Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP
- David Clarke, FBCS, Chief Technology Officer, The Trust Bridge
- Hayden McKaskle, North America Sales Manager, Law Firm Channel, Palo Alto Networks / Unit 4
- Bill Mew, Associate Consultant Cyber, The TrustBridge
- Penny Heyes (moderator), COO, The TrustBridge
Wed 1/31 at 3 p.m. – Navigating the Member Journey Part 1: Using Your Data to Create a Winning New Member Strategy
In the first session of this 6-part series, learn how to tap into the potential of your non-member audience by breaking down your engaged non-members by demographics and behavior to create targeted new member campaigns, finding individuals who align with your current member demographics but have not yet engaged with your association, understanding why and when converting non-members into members might not matter, and walking through a concrete example of one of these scenarios and seeing what kind of impact this approach can have on your association. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Analytics
Speakers: Bill Conforti, SVP of Strategy & Solutions, and Greg Pollack, SVP of Sales Enablement, Association Analytics
Thu 2/1 at 11 a.m. – Strategic Partnership Essentials: 7 Key Elements in High Demand by Corporate Sponsors
Gain insights into the evolving corporate sponsorship landscape and how these trends impact sponsorship strategies in 2024. Hear about the seven essential elements that corporate sponsors are seeking and the elements critical for successful sponsorship arrangements. Learn how to apply strategic insights to develop and enhance your own sponsorship strategies. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Lori Zoss Kraska, MBA, CFRE, Founder and Chief Principal, Growth Owl, LLC
Thu 2/1 from 12 to 2 p.m. – Looking Forward 2024 Impact: First Look at Trends and Analysis
Hear about new research about economic, information and technology, workforce, government, global, and stakeholder perception factors affecting the association environment. Hear what associations are doing to strategically adapt and using this research data with their volunteer leaders and staff. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: Association Laboratory
Speakers: Nikki Golden, CAE, strategist; Felicia Kenan, JM, MPA, CAE, CMP, strategist; and Dean West, FASAE, founder and president, Association Laboratory
Thu 2/1 at 12 p.m. – Meeting Your Members: Tips for Conference Engagement
Struggling to stand out in a sea of faces? Hear the secrets for commanding attention and building lasting connections. Learn how to craft unforgettable introductions, project confidence, and leave a memorable impression.
Host: NXUnite / Nexus Marketing Agency
Speakers:
- Thorben Grosser, Vice President of Product Marketing at EventMobi
- Scott Oser, President at Scott Oser Associates
- Adam Robertson, Director of Digital – Marketing, Membership & Sales at Kellen Company
- Rusty Williams, Co-Founder at AnswerStage
Thu 2/1 at 12:30 p.m. – SME Relationships: Proven Solutions for Seamless Collaboration and Success
Learn scenario-specific strategies on how to get things back on track with your SMEs when things have gone south. Hear about the basics of building and fostering successful working relationships with your SMEs, so you can minimize or prevent similar problems in the future. More info/register.
Host: Association Universe
Speaker: Tim Buteyn, President of ThinkingKap Learning Solutions
Thu 2/1 at 1 p.m. – Workplace Culture and Employee Wellness: A Rx for Organizational Success
Hear about the importance of workplace culture and employee wellness, how a supportive workplace culture and employee wellness helps organizations succeed, best practices and strategies for building a culture of well-being in the workplace, and key tools and resources to create a more supportive and productive workplace. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Speaker: Richard Safeer, MD, Chief Medical Director of Employee Health and Well-Being at Johns Hopkins Medicine
Thu 2/1 at 2 p.m. – Grassroots Advocacy Expert Exchange
Our monthly “Ask Me Anything” sessions are designed to provide you with an opportunity to interact with seasoned public affairs experts and ask all of your burning questions. Shake off the norms and engage in an enriching, informal experience that takes your public affairs game to new heights. More info/register.
Host: Quorum
Speaker: Brian Rubenstein, President, Rubenstein Impact Group
Thu 2/1 at 3 p.m. – 3 Scoops and a Mission Statement
From their funky, chunky ice cream flavors to their social impact, the iconic Ben & Jerry’s ice cream brand has reimagined how organizations can make an impact on their communities. Learn how Ben & Jerry’s unique three-part mission statement can be translated into actionable strategies for serving association members while building economic resiliency for the organization. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Pete Zimek, CEO, Novi AMS—and former Ben & Jerry’s franchisee
Fri 2/2 at 4 p.m. – Microaggression at Work
Microaggressions can be directed at members of any marginalized group and are broken down into three categories: microassaults, microinsults, and microinvalidations. Here, we’ll focus on those geared toward the Black community. Our panel will provide examples of microaggressions they have faced in the workplace. Learn why certain comments are offensive and how they make others feel. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Speakers:
- Feborah Dixon, CMP, seasoned meetings professional
- Grace Dobson, SHRM-SCP, Human Resources Analyst at The City of Frederick
- Pamela Williams, MS, PHR, Founder and CEO of CorpEx, LLC
Tue 2/6 at 12 p.m. – AI Powered Possibilities: Leading Your Association
From reducing manual burdens on staff and streamlining processes, to strengthening member engagement and retention with better utilization of member data, generative artificial intelligence (AI), like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, is changing the way associations work. Hear about the endless possibilities for adopting AI and how generative AI goes hand-in-hand with becoming a learning organization, one that learns from every member interaction leading you to a path of continuous performance improvement. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: iMIS by ASI
Speakers: Kristina Drosos, Director of Client Experience; Andrea Robertson, Director of Product Management; and Michael Weatherton, Software Architect, iMIS by ASI
Tue 2/6 at 12 p.m. – Generative AI and Analytics, Part 2 (Data Analytics Network)
Join association professionals for peer-led discussions on topics related to data and analytics. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Data Analytics Network
Tue 2/6 at 1 p.m. – AI Basics for Today’s Business Leaders
Learn about AI, its capabilities, potential impact on your organization, latest developments in AI technology and how they can benefit your organization. Find out how to avoid common misconceptions and pitfalls of implementing AI, and stay ahead of the competition by utilizing emerging AI strategies to improve your business operations. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers: Stacey Campbell, Director of Business Development, and Chris Rounds, Senior Solutions Architect, Express Info
Wed 2/7 at 12 p.m. – Ask Me Anything: Content Strategy
Does “content strategy” mean the same thing to everyone in an association? Do associations have a common understanding of the content that staff and members create? What are the biggest challenges associations face in making their content more effective, and how can they overcome those challenges? Bring all your questions to the AMA. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Speaker: Hilary Marsh, Chief Strategist, Content Company, Inc.
Wed 2/7 at 12 p.m. – Why Do Your Members Need Your Association?
The answer is your unique value proposition, the reason they choose you over YouTube, LinkedIn, or the rest of the internet. Today, It’s not just your industry-leading info, your subject matter experts and your networking opportunities. It’s how you package them all together and serve them to your members that moves you from valuable to invaluable. Learn how to identify what’s valuable to your members, serve it to them in an attractive and engaging way, and get your stakeholders on board. More info/register.
Host: WorkerBee.TV
Speakers:
- Dana Otillio, vice president, marketing and communications, Society of Petroleum Engineers
- Marcus Leite, director of sales and marketing, WorkerBeeTV
Wed 2/7 at 1 p.m. – Project Success Is Up to You: Taking Your Project to the Next Level
I get it. You have a full-time job, and doing systems projects isn’t it. Yet, here you are. Don’t think it’s just up to your partner to get the job done. You (the client) have critical roles and responsibilities in a project, and I bet no one’s ever sat you down to explain them. Learn about these 10 essential roles and responsibilities and how to do them as efficiently and effectively as possible. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Andrea Hall, Customer Success Manager, Innovia Consulting
Thu 2/8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Event Tech Demo Day
Hear presentations from a limited number of industry partners that offer event tech platforms: EVA Event Tech Hub, Higher Logic, Community Brands Event Technology, eventPower, A2Z Events by Personify, eShow, and Matchbox. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Thu 2/8 at 9:30 a.m. – Small Staff Percolator
An interactive online coffee break designed for you to discover more peers in our dispersed community, bring up a topic that’s brewing in the daily grind, and have a casual chat with others who know your lingo. More info/register.
Host: Qiqo
Thu 2/8 at 1 p.m. – Reducing Operational Risk: Security and Continuity
Designed for executives and leaders in association operations, this session offers guidance on how to minimize disruption caused by an attempted or successful cyberattack. Explore realistic repercussions of common threats, and dissect business continuity as a means of preserving the member experience. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Heinan Landa, Founder & CEO, Optimal Networks
Thu 2/8 at 2 p.m. – AMS/CRM Software Selection Survey 2023: What People Really Think Now
If your association is planning or currently going through an AMS/CRM selection or implementation process, be the first to hear a summary of new data results from the 2023 AMS/CRM System Selection Survey. Get valuable feedback from those who have gone through the process. Gain insights from vendors and consultants who took part in the survey. Ask your questions to experts and peers about what the survey revealed and how it relates to your projects. More info/register.
Host: 501Works
Speaker: Olivia Wilkins, Business Analyst/Project Manager, PerByte
Thu 2/8 at 3 p.m. – Zero-Based Budgeting: An Approach for 21st Century Financial Management
Learn the strategies of zero-based budgeting as a way to begin fiscal year budgeting. Practice implementing zero-based budgeting strategies in sample scenarios. Discuss the steps needed to consider financial planning based on future needs, not current realities. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Lawrence M. Paska, Ph.D., CAE, Executive Director, National Council for the Social Studies
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.
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Association Brain Food 