The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
ALS awareness. Last year, Mark Wallach of Results Direct was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, an always fatal, progressive neurodegenerative disease. If this is the first time you’re hearing this, I know the gut punch you’re feeling. Mark (aka @AssocITMan) wants “thousands of people living with ALS. The keyword here is living,” so treatment becomes profitable and possible. In the meantime, he’d like us to consider donating to I Am ALS, a patient-led community that provides critical support and resources to those living with ALS. His birthday is Sunday and I can’t think of a better gift.
Course evaluations. Most course (and conference) evaluations are pretty useless, says WBT Systems, because they measure how a learner felt about the course, not whether the course was effective. Relying on the expertise of Will Thalheimer, they describe how to improve the typical “smile sheet” evaluation and better measure a course’s effectiveness and value.
The great reassessment. Nearly two-thirds of Americans said their idea of a happy life shifted during the pandemic so they’re stepping off the hamster wheel, reports Megan Leonhardt at Fortune. This ‘great reassessment’ and ‘awakening’ is yet another sign we are never going back to ‘normal’ and that’s okay. The same observation was made by Dean West, FASAE, in an Association Laboratory article I featured last week. Throw your conventional wisdom out the window and take a fresh look at who your members, attendees, and customers have become.
Reimagining volunteering. Recruiting volunteers and leaders has always been a challenge for some associations and chapters, but as the Fortune article pointed out, now you’re dealing with a whole new set of issues. Fíonta explains why volunteer recruitment has become more difficult since the pandemic and suggests strategies for filling your leadership pipeline again.
AMS requirements. Shopping for an AMS is daunting, especially when you don’t know what you don’t know. Trust me, that’s a lesson you’ll never forget. Impexium recommends eight requirements that all associations should have on their AMS list. Make sure these critical issues are on your radar.
Women and conferences. Two recent studies found that as professional conferences went virtual, more women attended, reports Cheryl Winokur Munk at The Wall Street Journal (free link). Is your association offering virtual options now? Because many women can’t attend in-person events. Consider surveying members and nonmembers who don’t attend in-person events to find out whether a virtual event would interest them and why. You might discover a bigger virtual audience than you imagined.
Marketing automation. Once a pipe dream for small and mid-size associations, marketing automation is now within any organization’s reach. GrowthZone describes the benefits of marketing automation and how it differs from email marketing.
Quick hits
How to spot a budding trend—I hadn’t heard of this promising approach before. (Amanda Kaiser)
Excellent tips for looking for a job while looking after yourself. (Carolina Gomez Gilbert)
Try these 15 small adjustments to get back hours of time every week. (Forbes Business Council)
Good eats
Skip down to the list of free educational events if you prefer takeout.
Snack alert! I discovered Cazo de Oro’s kettle-style, fire-roasted Hatch chile corn tortilla chips last weekend. They remind me of freshly made chips and blow away all other supermarket tortilla chips. When I got home, I had to make guacamole.
Back to healthy food, one of my favorites is pan-seared fish (in this case, mahi) in white wine tomato basil sauce. On the side, an asparagus sauté with orange bell pepper, red onion and fennel pollen.
Sunday comfort food: Italian chicken casserole. Ingredients and amounts vary but here’s what went into mine this time: chicken thighs, bacon, cremini mushrooms, yellow onion, red bell pepper, garlic, canned roasted tomatoes, canned cannellini beans, arugula, spinach, egg noodles, chicken broth/flour sauce (aka velouté), topped with a mix of parmesan, asiago and mozzarella cheese.
On the side, another asparagus sauté but this time with orange and red bell pepper, garlic chives and fresh basil. Also, cauliflower roasted with red onion, red pepper flakes and fennel pollen.
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 5/27 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
*All events are online at Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.
Tue 5/31 at 1 p.m. – Reimagining Association Ecommerce: Exceeding High Member Expectations in Today’s Digital Age
Associations often struggle with e-commerce. Most understand that members and non-members have extremely high expectations in today’s digital age thanks to Amazon, Google, Target, etc. A common struggle is how to deliver that kind of experience, particularly when transactions happen in their AMS and other platforms that were not built to do so. Learn how to think of e-commerce and the use of traditional association platforms differently and how to decouple the store or marketplace from legacy systems to provide a great buying experience for the user. 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
Tue 5/31 at 1 p.m. – The Resignation of Old Ideas: Offsetting Challenges of Association Management
There are several ways to streamline a process that includes various approaches and modern business technology platforms that help organizations thrive. Learn which techniques can you apply to your association. Hear how to optimize association management processes and support the next generation of leaders. More info/register.
Host: Meeting Expectations
Presenters: from Meeting Expectations: Karl Kirsch, CAE, Vice President; Amanda Hammerli, CMP, Association Manager; Amelia Neiger, Education Specialist; and Joey Sirmons (Moderator), Director, Multimedia Production
Tue 5/31 at 2 p.m. – Breaking Through the Bamboo Ceiling in the Meeting and Events Industry
It’s been more than a year of conversations and awareness around the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities and the challenges that continue to be experienced. There remains, however, a proverbial “Bamboo Ceiling” for AAPI individuals still challenged by underrepresentation and lack of inclusion and voice in visible and critical industry leadership positions. Learn about their experiences and develop thinking and actions to learn to create inclusion for the AAPI and other underrepresented groups in our industry. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MPI
Presenters: Gary Murakami, CMP, CMM, DES; Elaiza Shepherd; Joan Eisenstodt; Jenny Ng, CMP; Charlene Liu, CMP, DMCP
Wed 6/1 from 7 to 11 a.m. – Webinar Days 2022
Two days packed with inspiration and practical advice to, and from, the webinar makers, the marketing professionals and the marketing leaders who are transforming the way companies communicate, relate and connect with their audiences in webinars and digital events. The time is now to finally orchestrate webinars and digital events in your marketing stack. More info/register.
Host: TwentyThree
Wed 6/1 at 11 a.m. – Live Q&A: Introduction to the Metaverse for Business Events
The Metaverse is coming. How and when will it impact your business events? Stas has built numerous successful businesses, and his perspective on the timing and use cases for immersive experiences may help answer your most pressing metaverse questions. 0.5 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: PCMA
Presenter: Stas Zaslavsky, CEO of immersive experiential platform Vii
Wed 6/1 at 12 p.m. – AWTC Lunch Meet-Up (Bethesda MD)
Join an intimate, in-person lunch with Cynthia De Jesus (Association Analytics), Diane Harris (Association for Financial Professionals), Gayathri Kher (FusionSpan), and Tori Miller Liu (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association). We’re keeping things small and capping registration at 12 people. We ask that you be fully vaccinated and we will abide by local masking policies. Lunch is on your own. Location: Bethesda MD. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions (AWTC)
Wed 6/1 at 12 p.m. – Navigating the “New Normal” Workforce
Some say the Great Resignation is actually the Great Reassessment. People are re-evaluating their work-life balance, commute, culture, and careers. Learn how an employee-centric culture can create the kind of engagement where people think twice about exiting stage right. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Insights in Old Town
Presenter: Shira Lotzar, Chief Engagement Officer of Purposeful Hire
Wed 6/1 at 1:30 p.m. – Keeping Your Members Engaged from Onboarding Through Renewal on Your Membership Site
Learn how to experience your website and membership site through the eyes of your user; to predict what they are looking for and anticipate what they will find relevant and helpful. More info/register.
Host: Grype
Presenter: Ronja Francoeur, Membership Website UX Specialist
Thu 6/2 from 7 to 11 a.m. – Webinar Days 2022
Two days packed with inspiration and practical advice to, and from, the webinar makers, the marketing professionals and the marketing leaders who are transforming the way companies communicate, relate and connect with their audiences in webinars and digital events. The time is now to finally orchestrate webinars and digital events in your marketing stack. More info/register.
Host: TwentyThree
Thu 6/2 at 11 a.m. – The Digital Ecosystem Approach: How It’s Shaping The Future For Associations
To achieve member satisfaction, associations must evolve their everyday tools by selecting software that integrates so they can leverage member data and track member engagement in real-time. When tools and technology are able to communicate and interact with one another, it creates a digital ecosystem, the way of the future—and the present. It provides freedom and flexibility to choose tools and technology that work best for your association while facilitating a centralized hub for member data. Hear about practical examples so you can feel confident as you begin to form your digital ecosystem. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: U.S. Transactions Corp.
Presenter: Wicket Co-founder and CEO, Jeff Horne
Thu 6/2 at 12 p.m. – Pivot-Proof Your Event Planning Ride
The events industry has been on a wild ride over the past two years. From in-person to virtual to hybrid, and back again, it’s no wonder we feel like we haven’t gotten off the rollercoaster. It’s time to step off the carousel and talk about planning in the new normal. Your attendees depend on your expertise, so you don’t want to miss any industry updates while you’re creating seamless networking and engagement opportunities. Learn pro-event planning tips and ensure that no attendee is left behind. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Pathable
Presenter: Ross Sawai, Vice President, Sales and Business Development, Community Brands
Thu 6/2 at 1 p.m. – Improving Online Conference Engagement Through Meeting Design: A Case Study
How do you deliver not just great, relevant content for online conference attendees, but how do you also allow attendees to really engage with that content and with each other? How do you break away from a more typical “sit and listen” model to one that is more active and participatory? Join us for a frank, behind-the-scenes conversation about the evolution and ultimate delivery of the 2022 ACT Conference. The case study will feature input from a partnership that brought it all together. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: EVA
Presenters:
- Lee Gimpel, President, Better Meetings
- Ginny Winkworth. Program Manager, Agents Council for Technology (ACT)
- Vinnu Deshetty, Event Tech Advocate, EVA
Thu 6/2 at 2 p.m. – Member First Design
Explore how ASAE’s recent member-focused design exercises helped them break the cycle of designing systems for staff rather than members. Hear a lively exchange between ASAE and their consulting partner Yes& on how they worked closely together to reveal their truths and impact their members. This approach could be applied by your organization to solve members’ true problems to accelerate your mission, discover the problems members face completing “jobs to be done” while using association systems and how to solve them, give members what they need rather than what you think they need, and understand how to design systems that meet member needs. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: 501Works
Presenters:
- Reggie Henry, CAE, Chief Information and Engagement Officer, ASAE
- Amy Hissrich MA, CAE, Vice President, Global & Web Strategy, ASAE
- Tracy Betts, Senior Vice President Digital Innovation, Yes&
- James Marquis, CIO, 501Works
Thu 6/2 at 2 p.m. – The Myth of Digital Fatigue: Rethinking Audience Engagement for a Digital-First World
“Digital fatigue” is just another way of saying people are tired of boring marketing. Today, audiences expect more. They want digital experiences that are interactive, engaging and authentically human. Maybe even fun. Hear about a new vision for audience engagement in a digital-first world, including having an audience centric approach to webinars and events, moving from presentations to serialized programs, personalizing content experiences, and turning audience engagement into data that converts. More info/register.
Host: American Marketing Association
Presenter: Mark Bornstein, VP of Marketing at ON24
Fri 6/3 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 6/3 at 4 p.m. – ASAE Member Benefits: Make the Most of Your Membership
Hear about ASAE resources members have used to excel in association management. By the end of this session, you will be prepared to explore all ASAE membership and network have to offer and be familiar with opportunities to expand your network and pursue professional development. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Presenter: American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Member Relations Manager Vanessa Gonzalez-Leyva
Tue 6/7 from 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. – SURGE: Explore
The goal of SURGE 2022 is to learn from the unfamiliar and go beyond the boundaries of what we think is possible. With lessons learned from two years of a pandemic, the Great Resignation and plenty of new technologies changing the way we work, you’ll be prepared for what comes next. With lessons from association pros who have experienced many of the issues you’re facing today, you’ll learn to look beyond current challenges and develop into a leader of the future. CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: Sidecar
Wed 6/8 from 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. – SURGE: Explore
The goal of SURGE 2022 is to learn from the unfamiliar and go beyond the boundaries of what we think is possible. With lessons learned from two years of a pandemic, the Great Resignation and plenty of new technologies changing the way we work, you’ll be prepared for what comes next. With lessons from association pros who have experienced many of the issues you’re facing today, you’ll learn to look beyond current challenges and develop into a leader of the future. CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: Sidecar
Wed 6/8 at 2 p.m. – Secrets for Maximizing Virtual & Hybrid Event Engagement
After two years of virtual and hybrid meetings, what have we learned about what works and what doesn’t when it comes to attendee engagement? Join us as we share tips for formulas for creating a program that offers a mix of education, discussion and networking; the best times to offer networking sessions; encouraging interactions during education sessions, including how to track if your attendees are actually paying attention; scaling your expectations about interactivity based on attendee types and job level; creating live sessions that go beyond a speaker and a PowerPoint; encouraging attendee networking with each other; and soliciting feedback and insights from your attendees. More info/register.
Host: Matrix Group
Wed 6/8 at 2 p.m. – How Associations Make Mission Critical Connections on LinkedIn: Tactics, Ideas and Stories Your Teams Need to Know
LinkedIn is the most impactful professional network in existence. This virtual workshop will give you and your association actionable steps to improve your LinkedIn presence, including embracing and positioning your association’s value proposition on LinkedIn; strategies for Groups, Events, Company Pages and connection outreach; planning for content that connects; building bridges to new association revenue opportunities; and why your team’s individual posts impact hiring and talent acquisition. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Professionals for Association Revenue
Presenters:
- Larry Eason, Senior Strategist
- Colleen McKenna, CEO and Founder, Intero Advisory
Thu 6/9 from 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. – SURGE: Explore
The goal of SURGE 2022 is to learn from the unfamiliar and go beyond the boundaries of what we think is possible. With lessons learned from two years of a pandemic, the Great Resignation and plenty of new technologies changing the way we work, you’ll be prepared for what comes next. With lessons from association pros who have experienced many of the issues you’re facing today, you’ll learn to look beyond current challenges and develop into a leader of the future. CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: Sidecar
Thu 6/9 at 1 p.m. – Learning, Practice, and Credentials: Building a Virtuous Cycle for Your Learning Business
Your learning business can support learning’s cyclical nature by connecting it with practice and credentials, creating a virtuous cycle that benefits your learners and your learning business’s reach, revenue, and impact. Learn why, if you offer education, practice, or credentials, expanding to offer the others makes logical and business sense. Explore how to create effective practice opportunities, look beyond competencies and consider outcomes when creating credentials, and use the Learning Business Maturity Model to act on the opportunity for your organization. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Leading Learning
Presenters: Jeff Cobb and Celisa Steele, co-founders, Tagoras and Leading Learning
Fri 6/10 at 12 p.m. – AWTC 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. Each Mindful Networking will feature one of our amazing AWTC award winners, followed by breakout rooms with changing topics (selected by our featured guest). More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions (AWTC)
Guest: Villy Savino, Vice President of Technology Transformation for CoreNet Global
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 licensed photo by Ronald Diel via Unsplash
Association Brain Food 