The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Industry careers website. Once again, I’m asking for good examples of association (or association foundation) websites that feature an industry careers section. This page from SEMI about the semiconductor industry is an example of what I mean. Please send me links if you have one or know of a good one. Thank you!
Association education in 2024. Tagoras is conducting a brief survey to find out where learning and education businesses (i.e., associations) plan to focus their efforts in 2024.
Conference design. In part two of their Open Space series, TopClass LMS explains how to overcome common objections to using this engaging event format. In case you missed it, they described Open Space and its advantages, and shared a few association examples in part one.
Conference/abstract management. Ex Ordo describes how to implement conference and abstract management software for medical, technical, scientific, and academic association events. Their guide covers configuring software for abstract submission and peer review, issuing the call for papers, designing the conference program, and more.
Next gen membership #1. Based on conversations with young members, former members, and never-members from multiple industries, Michelle Maher of Highland describes why young professionals are engaging digital channels instead of associations and the unique value they seek from associations.
Next gen membership #2. Another take on the young professional recruitment challenge comes from James Young of Product Community. Although associations can offer opportunities for shared purpose and connections, they need to better understand this market segment and design a fresh value proposition for young professionals who want to engage in new ways.
Association deathwatch. Sarah Scire at Nieman Lab tells the sad backstory of the Society of Professional Journalists. Competing against niche professional organizations, membership and conference revenue has “slowed to a trickle.” The organization’s outgoing treasurer describes the financial situation as “dire.” The writing has been on the wall for a long time—follow the link in the story to the 2014 memo written by a former ED.
Association staff retention. GrowthZone explains how to improve morale and reduce employee turnover by providing a more enjoyable, rewarding, and humane work experience. They share a bunch of good ideas for onboarding, flexible work schedules, employee perks, recognition, and communication.
Content marketing. Content Marketing Institute shares highlights from their conference, Content Marketing World, including a quote from their chief strategy advisor Robert Rose: “Content marketing is what marketing is becoming. It is no longer a weird experiment in some back room with a tiger team.”
Also worth your time
Gen Z and the gender divide: With feeds full of the most unhinged takes, men and women are further apart in values and worldview than ever before—and the divide feels uncrossable. An eye-opening and depressing post from a young woman about the despicable impact of social influencers on perceptions and dating. Life was so much easier for my generation. (Freya India, Lean Out with Tara Henley)
Take a position, not a side: towards a healthier civic discourse. (William Deresiewicz, Persuasion)
You never grow old at the table
Skip down to the list of free educational events if you prefer takeout.
I rediscovered a recipe from Marcella Hazan’s More Classic Italian Cooking, published in 1978: baked bluefish with potatoes, Genoese style. The sticky brown potato slices are soooo good. On the side, zucchini and yellow squash pesto with red bell pepper, carrot, broccoli stem, onion, and tomatoes.
I was stuck for a fish idea but remembered I had a container of leftover chorizo/smoked Gouda filling from making only a half batch of stuffed jalapeños. I added minced red jalapeño to the remaining filling, spread the mix over fillets of flounder and striped mullet, and baked them a little longer than usual. Oh yes, that worked! It’s good in burritos too. On the side, roasted broccoli with red onion, garlic powder, and hot pepper flakes.
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 10/6 at 10 a.m.* – Artificial Intelligence | Coffee with Innovators: Association Design Circle
Every month, an association leader leads a conversation on an association innovation topic. Tom will lead us in conversation on artificial intelligence: How might AI disrupt associations? What opportunities and challenges do we foresee? What are the latest tools and how might they help us navigate change? More info/register.
Host: Product Design Community
Facilitator: Tom Lietz, veteran storyteller, community innovator, and thought leader at the intersection of storytelling and systems thinking
*All events are online at Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.
Fri 10/6 at 12:30 p.m. – Ask Me Anything: Personalization
Learn how to use personalization to improve member communications, engagement, and transactions. Let’s talk candidly about what’s standing in your way and how to overcome those obstacles. Bring all your personalization questions. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Speaker: Alex Mouw, CAE of Amazon Web Services
Fri 10/6 at 4 p.m. – Association Management: Innovation Discussion (Membership Panel)
Join us for this week’s panel discussion on how innovation, creative problem solving, and data can support association health and membership growth. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Speakers:
- Kia Davis
- Vy Le, CAE, Linguistic Society of America
- Kerri L. McGovern, MPP, CAE
- Natasha Bethea Goodwin MS, CAE (moderator), Senior Director of Marketing and Membership, Information Technology Industry Council
Mon 10/9 at 8 a.m. – Claim Your Expertise: the 4 Es (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: Mike Bober, CEO, Pet Advocacy Network
Mon 10/9 at 1 p.m. – 30-Minute Monday: IMEX America 2023
Whether or not you plan to attend our industry’s top trade show, let’s deep dive into the show of shows, what makes it successful, how the experience has changed and the lessons learned by organizers who will share this year’s can’t miss experiences. 0.5 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MPI
Tue 10/10 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable (Reston VA)
Designed exclusively for professionals from component-based organizations in your area, our roundtables are not lectures but jam sessions where you can share, learn from your peers, and gain valuable feedback on your ongoing projects and goals. Discover the power of collaborative networking, knowledge sharing, and inspiring discussions in a casual, low-key setting. This interactive experience will give you actionable ideas, fresh insights, and inspiration to apply immediately. Location: Reston VA. More info/register.
Host: Billhighway
Tue 10/10 at 12 p.m. – LGBTQIA2+ Community Call
Please join this opportunity for association professionals (of all career levels!) to come together to share lunch time and discuss topics that are relevant and timely. Come prepared to join this judgment-free group with questions and issues that are top of mind for you in the LGBTQIA2+ association community. More info/register.
Host: ASAE LGBTQ Association Executives and Supporters
Tue 10/10 at 1 p.m. – Association Latinos Latina Equal Pay Day (Part 2)
At the end of 2022, Latina women earned 54 cents on the dollar compared to white men’s earnings, meaning Latinas must work an additional 11 months to earn what a white man earns in a year. Learn how to negotiate your salary and benefits. Get tools on how to prepare and execute a salary negotiation. Hear about the panelists’ experience in navigating salary and benefit negotiations in the association space. More info/register.
Host: Association Latinos
Tue 10/10 at 2 p.m. – Expert Series: Be the Association Hero: Increasing 2024 Non-Dues Revenue
Hear about key strategies that will help you drive more non-dues revenue and build a true career growth destination for your members in 2024 and beyond. Learn how to drive incremental non-dues revenue without lifting a finger, create a competitive advantage over competitors to maximize your revenue, offer great member value, and stay connected with members. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Non-Dues-A-Palooza
Speaker: Mike Kumpf, Director of Enterprise Sales for YM Careers
Wed 10/11 at 9 a.m. – PAR Member Meet-Up: How to Approach Revenue Forecasts for 2024
Hear how associations plan and deliver revenue forecasts from the basic to the advanced. Join other PAR members as we share forecasting metrics and tips on how to include internal colleagues and departments in the process. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Professionals for Association Revenue
Wed 10/11 at 11 a.m. – Transforming Associations: The Future of Productivity with AI
Discover practical applications of AI tools like ChatGPT in enhancing team productivity and operational efficiency within associations. Learn proven strategies to implement AI within your association, potentially boosting overall productivity by up to 40%. Get insights into the future of association workspaces, understanding how AI can transform your operations, streamline processes, and pave the way for innovation. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Bill McGlade, President, Community Leaders Institute & epIQ Creative Group
Wed 10/11 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable (Washington DC)
Designed exclusively for professionals from component-based organizations in your area, our roundtables are not lectures but jam sessions where you can share, learn from your peers, and gain valuable feedback on your ongoing projects and goals. Discover the power of collaborative networking, knowledge sharing, and inspiring discussions in a casual, low-key setting. This interactive experience will give you actionable ideas, fresh insights, and inspiration to apply immediately. Location: Washington DC. More info/register.
Host: Billhighway
Wed 10/11 at 1 p.m. – Transform Your Tired Conference; Create Something Amazing
Little has changed in the last 50 years when it comes to in-person event formats. You know the usual drill: keynote, sessions in large rooms, and an exhibit hall. But what attendees want has dramatically changed. Learn how to make your meetings better, no matter the scale, to provide more value and drive more connection and engagement. More info/register.
Host: Matrix Group
Speakers:
- Teri Carden, CEO & Founder of 100Reviews & Non Dues-a-Palooza
- Lee Gimpel, Founder and CEO of Better Meetings
- Joanna Pineda, CEO & Chief Troublemaker of Matrix Group
Wed 10/11 at 1 p.m. – Lightweight Framework for Your Association’s Data Strategy
Lack of a documented data strategy is a leading reason data initiatives struggle or even fail. This is primarily because it seems difficult, expensive, and overwhelming to create. That’s why we’ve built a lightweight process for mapping out and documenting a data strategy you can use in your association. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Bill Conforti, SVP of Strategy and Solutions, Association Analytics
Wed 10/11 at 2 p.m. – The Role of Ethics in Volunteer Engagement
Learn the difference between personal, organizational and professional ethics; the core values and principles identified by the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration; a process for ethical decision-making that can be applied in any situation—and then practice this using real-life scenarios related to volunteers. Hear about several specific strategies for increasing awareness of ethics within an organization and helping both volunteers and staff become more effective at handling ethical dilemmas. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration
Wed 10/11 at 2 p.m. – The Balancing Act: How to Maximize ROI and Stay Within Budget
In-person events are back, however, there are now added pressures related to inflation, budget constraints, and over-worked teams. Hear how to reduce costs across your events program. Learn how to centralize visibility of all meetings and events to cut duplicative programs, strategically source venues and vendors to reduce expenses, and use digital channels like webinars, and virtual events to maximize ROI. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MeetingsNet
Speaker: Julie Haddix, Senior Director, Solutions Marketing, Cvent
Thu 10/12 at 9:30 a.m. – Small Staff Percolator
An interactive online coffee break format 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 10/12 at 11 a.m. – Good to GREAT: Association Websites That Work
What’s the difference between a “good” website and a “GREAT” one? A GREAT website engages members with dynamic and personalized experiences that connect them with content and opportunities that meet their needs at all levels of their professional journey. Hear about award-winning success stories, strategies that increase member engagement, innovative solutions—such as AI—that deliver value, and opportunities to pivot quickly without a full redesign. More info/register.
Host: Results Direct | RD Mobile
Speakers: Laura Graham, Sr Solutions Consultant, and Steve Russell, Web Project Lead, Results Direct | RD Mobile
Thu 10/12 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable (Alexandria VA)
Designed exclusively for professionals from component-based organizations in your area, our roundtables are not lectures but jam sessions where you can share, learn from your peers, and gain valuable feedback on your ongoing projects and goals. Discover the power of collaborative networking, knowledge sharing, and inspiring discussions in a casual, low-key setting. This interactive experience will give you actionable ideas, fresh insights, and inspiration to apply immediately. Location: Alexandria VA. More info/register.
Host: Billhighway
Thu 10/12 at 12 p.m. – Mastering Revenue Growth: A Strategic Framework for Your Certification Training Program
The shifting landscape of professional learning has made lifelong education a necessity for associations and their members. Hear about the revenue-driving opportunities available in the modern digital learning landscape, a strategic framework for associations to identify and effectively leverage these opportunities, how to evaluate and strategize your journey within the framework, how to progress from initial identification to successful implementation, and case studies of two organizations that successfully transformed their certification training programs into major revenue drivers. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: .orgCommunity
Speaker: Ashish Rangnekar, CEO, BenchPrep
Thu 10/12 at 12 p.m. – Boosting Member Retention with Vibrant Communities
Learn about the connection between vibrant communities and member retention, the three biggest member experience risks you need to mitigate now, how to define and measure vibrancy in your community, and strategies to increase engagement, vibrancy and retention. More info/register.
Host: Forj
Thu 10/12 at 12 p.m. – The Community Check-In
A weekly community chat on Slack for black professionals working in the events industry. More info/register.
Host: Black In Events Network
Thu 10/12 at 1 p.m. – The True Implications of AI for the Association Industry: Part 2 – Considerations for Adding AI to Your Tech Stack
AI functionality has been part of our tech stack for a while, but we’re about to see an avalanche of new tools, plugins and features from the big platforms we use every day (looking at you, Microsoft and Google). How do we manage this onslaught of shiny tools? How do we get proactive about researching and adding other new tools to evolve our tech strategy and tech stack? How do we keep on top of security risks? Bring your questions, ideas, and resources/links, and take away actionable resources from panelists and participants. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Rick Bawcum, CAE, CISSP, CEO and Founder, Cimatri
- Hilton Gray, Co-Founder, MemberJunction
- Tori Miller Liu, MBA, FASAE, CAE, CEO, The Association for Intelligent Information Management
- Rhoni Rakos, Director of Digital Strategy, fusionSpan
Fri 10/13 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: Amilie Parent, President at Showcare
Fri 10/13 at 4 p.m. – Career Planning (Panel Discussion)
Whether you’re considering transition, pursuing new opportunities within your current role or organization, or looking to the future, career planning should be top of mind. Fridays@4 is hosting a moderated panel discussion on career planning. Come ready to learn, share, and discuss strategy, resources, and challenges. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Speakers:
- Shan Haugabrook, Director of Membership, Atlanta Apartment Association
- Rob Henry, Vice President of Development, Culture and Talent, Council of Advancement and Support of Education
- Donté P. Shannon, FASAE, CAE
- Shanae McFadden, CMP, DES (moderator), Consumer Healthcare Products Association
Tue 10/17 at 11 a.m. – Successfully Deploy AI in Your Digital Workplace With Strategy and Governance
Learn about the characteristics of a digital workplace and its emerging importance for work, AI tools that are available or coming soon for use in your digital workplace, possible risks of uncontrolled usage of AI tools in your digital workplace, and how to develop a governance framework for designing an effective digital workplace. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Troy Ewert, IT Solutions Manager, Minnesota Automotive Dealers Association
- Tom Jelen, MBA, Senior Strategic Consultant, Technology Consulting, DelCor Technology Solutions
Wed 10/18 at 12 p.m. – Beyond Borders: Uniting Chapter Communications
Learn how to foster clear communication and collaboration among your chapters. We’ll guide you through an exploration of best practices and innovative techniques to uncover challenges hindering effective chapter communication, cultivate a culture of open communication, discover methods to resolve communication breakdowns, and measure your effectiveness and identify areas for improvement. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Hosts: Billhighway and Mariner Management
Speakers:
- Sheri Singer, Singer Communications
- Peggy Hoffman, Mariner Management
Wed 10/18 at 12 p.m. – Is Your Martech Stack Helping You Deliver On Your Goals?
It’s one thing to say that you can meet your goals using technology. It’s another to determine if you have a marketing technology stack designed to support and grow as the strategic needs of your organization progress. Learn about the types of technology needed for associations looking to retain, engage or grow membership and revenue programming. More info/register.
Host: HighRoad Solution
Speakers: Morgan Mulgrew, Strategic Account Manager, and Kat Ybarra, Senior Digital Advisor, HighRoad Solutions
Wed 10/18 from 12 to 5 p.m. – AI Summit: How Marketers can Harness the Power of AI
Hear insights and tactical tips from some of the top marketing leaders, AI strategists, researchers, and AI podcasters. Speakers will dive into how marketers can use AI to improve workflows, creativity, events, and campaigns. Learn how to use AI efficiently, creatively, and ethically; tactical approaches for weaving AI into your daily work; ways to spark creativity using generative AI; and ideas for using AI to turn your events into a multi-channel content strategy. More info/register.
Host: Goldcast
Wed 10/18 at 2 p.m. – Create Revenue Producing Learning Opportunities Beyond Virtual Webinars
Whether you call it a webinar, a virtual workshop or something else entirely, your association is almost certainly producing online learning opportunities for your audience. Webinars are an important learning tool for associations, but it is becoming increasingly clear that they can’t be the only online learning opportunity we provide. Learn how associations can begin to think beyond the traditional webinars to provide new value for members and create revenue. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Professionals for Association Revenue
Speakers: Jeff Cobb and Celisa Steele, co-founders, Tagoras
Thu 10/19 at 11 a.m. – The True Implications of AI for the Association Industry: Part 3 – Personalization, Privacy and AI
Personalization, targeted content, and questions of privacy have been points of discussions for years. Why then are the very people who touted the value of personalizing online experiences decrying the wickedness of generative AI? Google, Facebook, and even LinkedIn ply us with ads and content based on algorithms we will never see. In fact, harnessing those algorithms to our benefit is the holy grail of marketers. Hear about the high-level differences that make the considerations for generative AI and narrative chat a new, and often concerning new tool in the hands of both good and bad actors. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Rick Bawcum, CAE, CISSP, CEO and Founder, Cimatri
- Becky Breeden, CEO, BrightFind
- Josh Jones, Director of IT, American Institute for Ultrasound Medicine
- Bailey Kasten, CAE, ICE-CPP, Executive Director, Virginia Recreation and Park Society
Thu 10/19 at 11:30 a.m. – Tapas Talk: Nondues Revenue
The program begins with short presentations by Barbara Armentrout, Founder & Key Principal of BJA Solutions for Associations and Carrie McIntyre Principal of Navigate, Customer Experience & Sales Consulting. Then, meet subject matter experts who will briefly describe their breakout room topics. Get a good understanding of several market-tested methods and best practices that you can put to work right away. More info/register.
Host: QiqoChat
Speakers:
- Lewis Flax of Flax Associates
- Rich Lawson of SALA
- Scott Oser of Scott Oser Associates
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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