The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Membership benchmarks. iMIS invites you to participate in their 9th Annual Membership Benchmark Survey. In seven minutes, you can help our community learn about association industry trends in membership engagement and retention levels, digital transformation, the adoption of AI, generational priorities, and more.
Career website. The competition for talent is as tough as ever. Many associations are putting great emphasis on career websites, so they can help industry employers with workforce development. TopClass LMS highlights distinctive site features from several excellent examples.
Orthodox beliefs. Jeff De Cagna delivers a thought-provoking and necessary wake-up call about our assumptions about associations. He identifies six “orthodox beliefs” that associations must confront before the Threatening Thirties. I imagine upon reading them that many of you will nod your head and think “guilty.” But that’s not enough. How do you overturn these beliefs at your association?
Mentoring. The Art of Mentoring describes the benefits of offering a mentoring program to your members. They also provide a checklist for implementing an effective mentorship program or enhancing an existing one.
Governance. If associations are to adapt to our new environment, they must rethink governance, says Michael Butera. He explains what associations have to do to enhance their capability and realize their potential—a short, powerful list.
Local community building. Ewald Consulting describes how the Association of Workplace Investigators uses Local Circles to build connections and foster community among members and non-members. Perhaps a concept like this could serve as a low-admin alternative to chapters?
Marketing to younger generations. Trying to figure out how to market more effectively to Gen Z and millennials? Mercury Creative Group explains how to build an association brand that attracts and retains younger members.
Strategic partnerships. Sherry Budziak at .orgSource describes how two associations’ partnerships with civic and governmental organizations acted as safety nets in times of crisis. She also shares the story of another association that partnered with an outside expert to fill in a service (and revenue) gap.
Value proposition. What is your association’s secret sauce? James Young at Product Community says you need “a world-class value proposition” for your association and for each product or experience. He suggests using empathy maps and value proposition canvases to home in on the unique value you offer.
Also worth your time
If you allow hate to seep into your words, thoughts, or heart, please watch this video from Arnold Schwarzenegger, my fantasy president.
Unlock the power of timeboxing for project management and professional development. (Marc Zao-Sanders, Harvard Business Review)
It’s easy to screw up on breaking news. But you have to admit when you do. (Nate Silver talking about the troubling journalistic standards lately at the NY Times, Washington Post, BBC, AP, and other legacy media outlets)
You never grow old at the table
Skip down to the list of free educational events if you prefer takeout.
We spent last weekend at my niece’s, who lives just down the road from the Intracoastal Waterway, across from uninhabited Masonboro Island in North Carolina. Crabbing, clamming, and feasting were on the agenda. Saturday night, I made our traditional dinner of shrimp scampi with linguine: onion, garlic, tomatoes, white wine, lemon juice, NC shrimp, butter, pasta water, and linguine.
Back at home, with some of our harvest, Jim made steamed crabs and clams for dinner. The next night, I made spaghetti with white clam sauce: chouriço sausage, onion, red jalapeno, garlic, red pepper flakes, white wine, lemon juice, clams, butter, pasta water, parsley, and whole wheat spaghetti. On the side, roasted broccoli with lemon zest, garlic powder, and parmesan.
Another night, I pan-seared NC yellowfin tuna steaks with lemon zest and juice, and black pepper. On the side, roasted broccoli (again!) with red onion, red jalapeño, and garlic powder.
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 10/27 at 9:30 a.m.* – World Café: International Meetings & Events
Explore three aspects of international meetings: developing (regionally) relevant content, possible business models, and navigating the tension between local/global/US-centric cultural expectations. More info/register.
Hosts: ASAE International Associations Professionals Community and Michiel Gen, Partner, Exempla Management & Consulting
Speakers:
- Sylvia Gonner, CAE, President & Owner, CultureWiz
- Matt Riley, CAE, Director of Associations, International Conference Service
- Dianna Steinbach, COO, National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors
*All events are online at Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.
Fri 10/27 at 11 a.m. – Monthly Virtual Consultants Town Hall for Networking/Connecting
This monthly networking meeting is for connecting and sharing among consultants. The agenda will be created by the community through suggesting topics and/or volunteering to share content via a presentation. More info/register.
Organizer: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNP, founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting
Fri 10/27 at 12:30 p.m. – Ask Me Anything: Marketing Automation
Learn about marketing automation. How can technology and automation make our marketing efforts less painful? What can automation be used for? Bring all your marketing automation questions and join the AMA. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Speaker: Genevieve Borello, CAE, MPA, oversees the American Bar Association’s Tax Section’s membership, marketing, and diversity initiatives
Fri 10/27 at 1 p.m. – eLearning Marketing Makeover: Refresh Your Approach to Reach More Learners
Learn how to develop targeted content that speaks to your different member personas, market eLearning to both members AND non-members, seamlessly connect your website and LMS for maximum impact, and leverage your LMS to market your programs. 0.75 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Blue Sky eLearn
Speakers: Cassie Garcia, Director of Marketing, and Dr. Kristen Wall, MA, EdD, Director of Learning and Development, Blue Sky eLearn
Fri 10/27 at 4 p.m. – Nonprofit Management Series: Lesson from Organizational Strategies for Personal Growth
Nonprofits and trade groups develop strategies to manage transition, solicit feedback from their community or members, and reassess priorities in response to outside trends. Join this dialogue to discover ways to incorporate lessons from organization-wide changes to personal professional growth. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Speakers:
- Ted Miller, Founder, Ted Miller Strategies
- Shandell Richards, Chief Program Officer, Horton’s Kids
Mon 10/30 at 8 a.m. – Unleashing the Power of BI (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
Guests: Daniel Elacqua and Gwen Garrison, authors of the book, Unleashing the Power of BI
Tue 10/31 at 11 a.m. – Don’t Let Dirty Data Spook You Away From Analytics
We’ve worked with hundreds of associations just like yours, who once believed they weren’t ready to delve into analytics due to dirty data. However, once they took the plunge, they realized analytics wasn’t the scary monster they imagined. Learn why a lot of the data you’ve been hoarding isn’t that important, you’ll never have immaculate data, and you don’t need pristine data to leverage analytics. 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
Tue 10/31 at 11 a.m. – Leadership & Learning: Leadership and the Weight We Carry: Navigating the Murky Waters of Leading and Being Human
Explore the limitations of the common advice to “leave it at the door” for effective leadership; the impact of authenticity when it goes too far, casting a shadow on the entire team; the potential of trust and curiosity as the cornerstone of healthy, authentic leadership; and the interplay of personal challenges and leadership in diverse contexts. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Ryan MacTaggart, PhD, Associate Director, Professional Learning, EDUCAUSE
Tue 10/31 at 11 a.m. – Mastering Year-End Reporting: 5 Tricks and Treats for Advocacy Teams
It’s important to show your leadership team, board, and members or clients what you’ve accomplished in the past year, but it’s even more important to connect past success to future plans, especially with a tumultuous election year ahead. Learn how to craft a successful year-end report in half the time and a winning strategy for next year. Hear about the metrics and data you need to showcase the value of your work in 2023, tips to build a strong strategy heading into a presidential election year, and real-life stories and examples from advocacy professionals to copy for your own reporting and strategy. More info/register.
Host: VoterVoice
Speakers:
- Jamie Cobby, Senior Regional Grassroots Manager, National Federation of Independent Business
- Jessica Cooper, National Director of Grassroots Strategies, National Federation of Independent Business
- Sherry Whitworth (moderator), Managing Director of Public Affairs and Advocacy, FiscalNote
Tue 10/31 at 12 p.m. – Tech Tuesdays: Protecting Your Organization’s Data from Malicious Attacks
How are we protecting our organizations from all the threats our digital environments are subject to? Let’s get together and talk about how we’re securing our networks and desktops, how we’re promoting cybersecurity as a “culture” within our organizations, and where we are lacking. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Technology Council
Speakers:
- Reggie Henry, ASAE
- Dave Coriale and Andrew Legett, DelCor
Tue 10/31 at 12 p.m. – ASAE CRVM Reading Club: Atomic Habits
Join the ASAE CRVM Reading Club to discuss Atomic Habits by James Clear. We’ll talk about habit stacking, incremental changes and how to improve yourself 1% every day. We’d love to hear your opinion of these techniques and what works for you. Read the book (the author’s summary or an online review) and join us with a cup of coffee and your input on habits. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management (CRVM) Advisory Council
Tue 10/31 at 1 p.m. – Leadership & Learning Series: The Generational Shift: Moving Forward Together
Learn about the generational shift and what makes it unique at this point in history. Gain insights into perspectives across the generations including leadership, recognition, and motivation. Hear about practical applications to improve organizational effectiveness with care, curiosity, and collaboration. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Katherine Jeffery, PhD, Generational Strategist, CEO, KJ Consulting, LLC
Tue 10/31 at 1 p.m. – Cybersecurity Best Practices: A Treat for Your Entire Association
According to the Community Brands Association Trends Study, just 28% of members rank their organization as an excellent technology user when protecting member data and offering secure transactions. Learn cybersecurity best practices to protect your member data and empower staff, valuable data security insights from leading association professionals, and what to look for in an association tech stack to prioritize cybersecurity. More info/register.
Host: Community Brands
Speakers: Michelle Schweitz, Sr Director of Marketing, and Doug Stopper, Vice President of Cybersecurity, Risk, & Compliance, Community Brands
Tue 10/31 at 2 p.m. – Demystifying the Speaker and Entertainment Industries
Hiring the right speaker or entertainer isn’t just finding the right content—the contract terms must align with your budget as well as attendee and stakeholder expectations. Hear about current business trends and advice on planning and booking unforgettable experiences with top talent, whether you’re booking direct or partnering with a bureau/agency. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MeetingsNet
Speakers:
- Nichole Beasley, President and Founder, West End Entertainment
- Diane Goodman, CMP, President and Founder, Goodman Speaker Management and Founder, Goodman Speakers Bureau
Wed 11/1 at 11 a.m. – PCI Compliance
Learn best practices for associations in implementing PCI Compliance. Get a basic overview of PCI Compliance and what it’s designed to achieve. Hear nine practical tips you can implement immediately to ensure a more secure payment environment. Find out what you should know about the Self-Assessment-Questionnaire (SAQ). 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers: Julie Duncan, Association Practice Leader, and Jenni Glaze, COO, US Transactions Corporation
Wed 11/1 at 12 p.m. – Don’t Be a Data Hoarder: 5 Steps to Recovery
Data hoarding wastes staff time, creates a bad member experience, and costs your association revenue. Learn how to weed your data garden, improve staff efficiency, common use cases supported by data integrations, how to identify the use cases you will need, and basic steps you can take to validate those use cases against a system API when selecting a new system. More info/register.
Host: Association Insights in Old Town (AIOT)
Speaker: Justin Burniske, Principal Consultant and Co-Owner, Meta-Dao
Wed 11/1 at 12 p.m. MDT – AWTC Pop-Up Lunch: digitalNow (Aurora CO)
Are you attending digitalNow? If so, meet up with your AWTC peeps beforehand. These intimate, informal gatherings are designed to help you build your network and connect with the AWTC community. Location: Aurora CO. More info/register.
Organizer: Association Women Technology Champions
Wed 11/1 at 1 p.m. – An Association Professional’s Guide to AI
Hear real-world examples that illustrate how both large and small associations can adopt AI-driven strategies successfully. Learn how AI can amplify the role of an association professional, decision-making and operations can be refined and streamlined through the use of AI, and specific AI applications can be integrated into an association’s practices. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Fonteva
Speaker: Joe Burak, Founder and Chief Strategist, TRANSiT Strategy & Analytics
Wed 11/1 at 2 p.m. – Setting a Strategy for Recruiting Talent
Learn about best practices for effectively hiring candidates for both permanent and project work in the meetings and events industry, including defining the role and devising a game plan for recruiting. Hear how to establish a game plan and timeline, define the role and skills needed, and engage consistently to avoid “ghosting.” 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Northstar Meetings Group
Speakers:
- Dawn Penfold, President, Meetingjobs.com
- Todd Taranto, President, Cadre
- Sarah J.F. Braley (moderator), Managing Editor, Northstar Meetings Group
Thu 11/2 at 2 p.m. – Know Before You Go: Wisdom to Set Your Organization Up for Success on Software Projects
Ready to find the perfect software solution for your association in 2024? Don’t know where to start? Our expert panel is here to offer practical advice, easy-to-follow guidance, and valuable resources to help you start your journey towards success. Whether you need an AMS, LMS, CRM, or Community system, we’ll cover the key steps for maximizing your chances of success. More info/register.
Host: 501 Works
Speakers:
- Laura Armstrong, Senior Consultant, Cimatri
- Vanessa Dennison, CAE, CBAP, Dennison & Associates, Principal
- Craig Peake, Vice President, AMS Geek
Thu 11/2 at 2 p.m. – The Exhibitor’s Wishlist: Planning for 2024’s Exhibitor Trends
Find out what exhibiting and sponsoring companies, large and small, truly want from trade shows and event organizers like yourself. Learn about their top priorities and biggest concerns, how budgets and other marketing priorities are guiding their decisions for events next year, and what will make your event, exhibiting and sponsoring packages, stand out from the rest. More info/register.
Host: Personify A2Z Events
Thu 11/2 at 3 p.m. – From Prospects to Promoters: Key Strategies to Recruit and Retain Members
Get actionable insights into best practices for member recruitment and powerful communication tactics to retain members. Hear about the value of using multiple communication tools to reach members, innovative ways to engage members and non-members, and the importance of frequency and timing of communication across your association. More info/register.
Host: Grype
Speaker: Scott Oser, president, Scott Oser Associates
Thu 11/2 at 7 p.m. – House Social
Join us for our quarterly Open House. Meet the community, hear what is happening and how you can be involved. More info/register.
Host: Black in Events
Fri 11/3 at 4 p.m. – Recognizing Burnout Before It’s Too Late
Hear from association professionals who will share their experiences with burnout and its effects on their professional and personal wellbeing. Participate in a moderator-led breakout session with a small group of fellow attendees for an in-depth discussion on how burnout is affecting you, your team, and your workplace. Leave with steps you can take today to address burnout before it’s too late. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Speakers:
- Alexandra Bradley, director of marketing and communications, American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery
Tue 11/7 at 12 p.m. – Using Generative AI (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
Wed 11/8 at 11 a.m. – Creating Personalized Member Experiences with Your Data
What if you could elevate the experience of your own members and delight them with unforgettable moments? Using data-driven insights and AI can help you be invaluable to your members. Learn how break down the data silos and work towards a single source of truth, build trust and confidence in the integrity of your data, and make informed decisions using data driven and AI insights. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: iMIS by ASI
Wed 11/8 at 11:30 a.m. – Tapas Talks (Cyber & Security) in the Small Staff Association Marketplace
Always conversational and lively, a mixture of planned content and virtual f2f discussions with subject matter experts, plus the serendipity of talking through challenges with your peers. November’s theme is all things Cyber & Security. The program opens with a presentation by Brian Scott of ClearTone Consulting and 501CISO. More info/register.
Host: QiqoChat
Wed 11/8 at 12 p.m. – Everything You Need to Know About ChatGPT: The Hottest (and Scariest) Technology of 2023
Just a few months ago, the world as we know it changed forever. ChatGPT can write whole essays from a simple text prompt, formulate 100 social media post ideas from a single sentence, create computer code with just a description and compose poetry and songs in any artist’s style in milliseconds. With this type of AI tool, there are ethical issues, legal issues, bias issues, quality issues, creativity issues, copyright issues, issue issues…and issues we haven’t even considered. Get an in-depth look at ChatGPT and similar tools to discover how it works, what it can do, how it can help you do your job better, who it hurts, and, most importantly, how far it can go. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Hosts: Billhighway, Impexium, and Mariner Management
Speaker: Beth Zienesis, Your Nerdy Best Friend
Wed 11/8 at 12 p.m. – PAR Member Meet-Up: There’s No Playbook for That
Hear association teams share the craziest member, attendee or client experiences. Challenges help us grow—tune in and learn how association teams have solved their craziest moments and lived to tell the tale. PAR Member Meet-Ups are 30-minute sessions for industry professionals to collaborate on the ideas, skills and solutions our association teams need to move forward. More info/register.
Host: Professionals for Association Revenue
Wed 11/8 at 12 p.m. – Cybersecurity and AI: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
A recent ASAE survey revealed that while less than 25% of associations currently are using AI, most were in the planning stages and likely to implement plans, assessments, work groups, and seek advice about AI in the next year. One way associations could leverage AI is for cybersecurity. And the cyber threat to associations is real. It isn’t a question of if your association’s data will be compromised, it’s when. Hear how AI can be used to help associations prevent cyber threats. Learn about recent cybersecurity innovations associations might leverage to improve their cybersecurity. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Xchange
Speaker: S. Keith Moulsdale, Partner and Co-Chair of the Cyber Security, Information Management & Privacy practice at Whiteford Taylor & Preston
Thu 11/9 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Fall Symposium (Washington DC)
An opportunity to engage with thought leaders and subject-matter experts who will guide us through the intricate and fascinating world of personal and professional development. Sessions:
- Rise Up Together: Navigating the Journey of Member Loyalty in Communities with Bill Mcglade, President, Community Leaders Institute & epIQ Creative Group
- A Magic Wand For Member Retention with Greg Pollack, SVP of Sales, Association Analytics
- Member Engagement is an Art and a Science. Do Both! with Brianne Wheeler, Director of Marketing at PropFuel
- Test Drive Your Shiny New Membership Model with Aimee Pagano, Senior Digital Marketing Advisor at HighRoad Solution
Location: Washington DC. 4 CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Thu 11/9 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Fall Symposium (Virtual)
An opportunity to engage with thought leaders and subject-matter experts who will guide us through the intricate and fascinating world of personal and professional development. Sessions:
- Rise Up Together: Navigating the Journey of Member Loyalty in Communities with Bill Mcglade, President, Community Leaders Institute & epIQ Creative Group
- A Magic Wand For Member Retention with Greg Pollack, SVP of Sales, Association Analytics
- Member Engagement is an Art and a Science. Do Both! with Brianne Wheeler, Director of Marketing at PropFuel
- Test Drive Your Shiny New Membership Model with Aimee Pagano, Senior Digital Marketing Advisor at HighRoad Solution
4 CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Thu 11/9 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. – MemberSips Workshop – Change Management: Unlocking Post Go-Live Success (McLean VA)
Explore strategies and best practices to ensure your organization’s transformation initiatives thrive long after the go-live date. Learn how to maintain the initial excitement and commitment to change; communication techniques to keep stakeholders engaged, informed, and aligned throughout the post go-live phase; the common sources of resistance to change and strategies to address them effectively; define, track, and evaluate the impact of post go-live changes using key performance indicators, and foster a change-centric culture where adaptability and continuous improvement are the norm. Location: McLean VA. More info/register.
Host: Impexium
Speaker: Rebecca Achurch, CEO of Achurch Consulting
Fri 11/10 at 12:30 p.m. – – Conversations with Champions
Each conversation features an AWTC leader or AWTC Award winner, followed by breakout rooms with changing topics (selected by our featured guest). These intimate, virtual conversations are a chance to form meaningful connections with other women and allies in the association technology community. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Guest: Katherine Schowengerdt, Director of Operations at American College of Sports Medicine
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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