The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
If you haven’t already, you must read New Member Engagement Study, a collaboration between Kaiser Insights, Dynamic Benchmarking, 12 research partners and 160 association professionals. The report reveals best practices in new member engagement, onboarding, orientation and retention, along with expert video commentary from Amanda Kaiser.
While listening to speakers and fellow attendees at digitalNow, I kept thinking associations are their own worst enemy when it comes to innovation. This week’s post at WBT Systems resonates with that line of thought: they explore nine barriers to association innovation.
Billhighway explains how to work with your chapters to give new members the personal touch during their orientation and onboarding experience. They cover touchpoints like online orientation, onboarding email campaigns, first events, and more.
Save some of your personal touch for event attendees, especially the newbies. MemberSuite shares 17 tips for making first-time attendees feel so welcome and comfortable that they’ll return for your next event.
Some quick hits before we get to next week’s free webinars:
- 14 event planning blogs you should follow—they mention this one because of Association Brain Food Weekly. Thanks! (Dee McCurry, Ex Ordo)
- Kids who spend time in nature become happier adults. (Justin Housman, Adventure Journal)
- “Natural” means practically nothing when it comes to food. (Brenna Houck, Eater)
- The emotional benefits of cooking: people who frequently take on small, creative projects like baking or cooking report feeling more relaxed and happier in their everyday lives. (Melissa Locker, Southern Living)
Now for the educational events scheduled for next week. If you have any free webinars or events coming up, please send me the link. I’ll be happy to feature it as long as it’s not product-centric.
Mon 4/22 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.* – Virtual Chapters & Online Communities: Should We or Shouldn’t We (Washington DC)
Discuss elements your association should take into consideration when exploring or offering virtual components/communities, including volunteer roles and management, technology, membership models, financial banking, and more. Dive into what has been tried, what has worked (and what hasn’t), what to consider when evaluating whether virtual components are the right option for your association, and whether there’s a relevant difference between a virtual chapter and an online community. 4 CAE credits. Location: Washington DC. Info/register (fee).
Hosts: Billhighway and Mariner Management & Marketing
*All times are Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.
Tue 4/23 at 12 p.m. – Micro Learning for Associations (Washington DC Idea Swap)
Defined as short, specific bursts of information that fit naturally into your daily workflow, micro learning engages employees in voluntary participation and focuses on the neuroscience of how people learn. Micro learning also imparts knowledge employees need to be successful, and drives behaviors that positively impact association results. 1 CAE credit. Location: Washington DC. More info/register.
Presenter: Lynette Bradley-Baker, PhD, RPh, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Engagement, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
Tue 4/23 at 1 p.m. – Member Engagement Scoring
If increasing member retention, improving new member acquisition, and energizing conference registration are on your radar for 2019, you won’t want to miss this webinar. Learn about the concept of blended data and how trade association 340B Health used it to turn engagement scoring into actionable events that accomplished every one of those goals—all in the first year. More info/register.
Host: Gravitate Solutions
Presenters:
- Shane Kelley, Director of Member Services at 340B Health
- Rob Miller, CAE, Senior Vice President of Revenue, Gravitate
Tue 4/23 at 2 p.m. – Leverage Unstructured Data to Drive Member Engagement
When done correctly, analyzing unstructured data offers insights into what members are talking about, what they like or dislike, and offer a unique opportunity to better understand members. Find out what you can learn from your community to better understand member trends and ultimately know how to deliver more relevant content. Hear about several PowerBI visuals that would be useful for tracking member engagement. More info/register.
Host: PowerBI User Group-Association & Nonprofit Special Interest Group (SIG)
Presenters:
- Kyle Contrata, Data Analyst and Project Manager at the Association of International Educators (NAFSA)
- Christin Berry, Senior Director, Business Analytics at ASAE
- Julie Sciullo, CEO at Association Analytics
Tue 4/23 at 2 p.m. – Key Ingredients to a Complete Member Journey
Technology is at the center of engaging and understanding members through each stage of the member journey. From acquisition to renewal, how you best use your tech stack is the key to retaining members and acquiring new ones. Learn why choosing the right association technology is imperative, what types of technology to invest in to facilitate each stage of the member journey, and how to provide competitive differentiation and member value throughout the member lifecycle. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Hosts: Community Brands and Higher Logic
Presenters:
- Ed English, Chief Product Officer, Higher Logic
- Tristan Jordan, EVP and General Manager, Careers and Education Solutions, Community Brands
- Tom Lehman, Founder & CEO, Lehman Associates
Tue 4/23 at 2 p.m. – Get Them Engaged: Three Lessons for Increasing Retention at Meetings
Deepen engagement and increase retention at your meetings by embracing three fundamental shifts in the attendee experience: rethinking “attendees” as “participants,” moving from static to active meetings, and refocusing from the stage to the audience. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MeetingsNet
Presenter: Roger Haskett, President and Engagement Expert, Engagement Unlimited
Tue 4/23 at 2 p.m. – First Time Lessons That Lead to Future Successful Events
Your first live-stream event was a success. Now what? Hear about the first live stream that The Institute of Internal Auditors hosted, and what worked and what didn’t. Identify the key team members needed for a successful live-stream event. Differentiate between challenges you can anticipate and ones out of your control. Develop a template for event statistics reporting and general feedback. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: PCMA
Presenter: Samantha Lazo, CMP, DES, Manager, Production & Event Technology, The Institute of Internal Auditors
Tue 4/23 at 2 p.m. – 5 Things Every Nonprofit Needs to Consider About Its Website
Discover the five things every nonprofit should consider about its website: how to think about your website, how to craft a story through your website, how to make sure your website is doing something for you, how to craft a user path to engage more people, and how to manage, maintain, and expand your website. More info/register.
Host: TechSoup
Presenter: Adam Walker, CEO of Sideways8 & Executive Director of 48in48
Wed 4/24 at 11 a.m. – Uncovering the Secrets for Innovation and Growth: IT & Digital Maturity
Hear the powerful secrets of DelCor’s IT Maturity Model that can help you unlock the power of your technology and digital presence and transform it into your greatest strategic asset. Find out what the IT Maturity Model is, and how it can help transform your tech and organization. Learn how to inventory your technology and assess where it is on the maturity model. Discover how restrictive tech can hurt your organization’s productivity, morale and innovation; and how the opposite is true: strategic tech can empower your staff and organization. Learn how to get to there, if you’re not there—the essential elements for successfully pursuing IT maturity. Find out where associations struggle most with their technology, and which associations are getting it right with their digital approach. More info/register.
Host: Matrix Group
Presenters:
- Dave Coriale, President, DelCor Technology Solutions
- Joanna Pineda, CEO, Matrix Group
Wed 4/24 at 1 p.m. – Site & Destination Selection with Accommodation and ADA in Mind
Learn what will help make your meetings and events accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities, including those who, just before your meeting or on arrival, realize they need assistance. Develop greater sensitivity to issues that can be barriers to full accommodation and participation for people with disabilities (PWDs). Gain a better understanding of what the ADA doesn’t cover that may still be a barrier to participation. Expand your resources of “go-to” sites and services for assistance in making meetings and events accommodating. More info/register.
Host: Meetings Today
Presenter: Joan Eisenstodt, principal for Eisenstodt Associates, LLC
Wed 4/24 at 2 p.m. – Beneath the Surface: Unearth Hidden Non-Dues Revenue
Hear about some important, not-so-obvious revenue generators to help swing the pendulum for your association, such as print and digital ecosystems, sponsored content, and event opportunities and extras. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Adviser/Naylor Association Solutions
Presenters:
- Dave Bornmann, Chief Marketing Officer, Naylor Association Solutions
- Heidi Boe, Senior Group Publisher, Member Communications, Naylor Association Solutions
- Nate Brown, Director, Business Development, SaaS Solutions, Naylor Association Solutions
Thu 4/25 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT – Virtual Chapters & Online Communities: Should We or Shouldn’t We (Chicago IL)
Discuss elements your association should take into consideration when exploring or offering virtual components/communities, including volunteer roles and management, technology, membership models, financial banking, and more. Dive into what has been tried, what has worked (and what hasn’t), what to consider when evaluating whether virtual components are the right option for your association, and whether there’s a relevant difference between a virtual chapter and an online community. 4 CAE credits. Location: Chicago IL. Info/register (fee).
Hosts: Billhighway and Mariner Management & Marketing
Thu 4/25 at 12 p.m. – Let’s Integrate: How to Supercharge Your Website
Learn how the Foundation Center cracked their data integration and UX challenges with a new website design and complex data integrations (WordPress website, Eventbrite, GoToWebinar, Bridge LMS, NetSuite and Stripe) that allows nonprofits to find and enroll in training courses. Find out how to develop innovative cross-team collaborations to tackle complex digital projects like this. More info/register.
Hosts/presenters: Beaconfire RED and Candid (formerly the Foundation Center)
Thu 4/25 at 1 p.m. – Next-Level Live Online Events: Strategies from Successful Associations
Live online events expand your organization’s reach and leave a lasting impact on member engagement and satisfaction. Learn how to develop a compelling theme and programming, choose delivery methods that fit your audience, showcase timely topics while serving long-term professional interests, and select the right tools and technology. Hear about considerations for balancing educational quantity and quality, and factors that drive effective content selection and creation. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Talented Learn
Presenters:
- John Leh, Lead Analyst and CEO at Talented Learning
- Julia K. Weaver, Website Manager, Pennsylvania Bar Institute
- Nora Murphy, Online Learning Manager, Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research
- Jessica Lane, Director of Client Success, Freestone LMS, Community Brands
Thu 4/25 at 1 p.m. – Start MOBILE-izing Your Base: Learn How to Get Started with SMS
With response rates four times higher than email, more and more nonprofits are beginning to integrate mobile into their digital programs. Learn why your organization should be investing in mobile, and how you can use it effectively. Find out about the differences between peer-to-peer vs. broadcast mobile platforms, mobile best practices, growth strategies and how both types of mobile (SMS) can be used effectively by your organization. More info/register.
Host: Idealware
Presenter: Sandi Fox, founder of Smart As A Fox LLC
Thu 4/25 at 2 p.m. – Creating a Sustainable Future for Events
Explore easy-to-implement, cost-effective ways to make a bigger impact with your events while making less of an impact on the earth. Learn how to create a business case for why sustainability matters for your events, apply earth-friendly event planning and production ideas without increasing costs, and engage key stakeholders to invest in long-term sustainability efforts. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: PCMA
Presenter: Melinda Kendall, senior vice president of sustainability for Freeman
Thu 4/25 at 2:30 p.m. – What Makes a Great Leader in the Association Game?
The very best CEOs are involved at some level in growing revenue – whether they’re actively leading the effort or making sales calls. The point is, your organization will follow your leadership. It’s up to you to set the bar high. How? Find out in a deep dive on the leadership chapter from J.P. Moery’s book, Association Hustle. More info/register.
Host: The Moery Company
Presenter: J.P. Moery, founder, The Moery Company
Thu 4/25 at 3 p.m. – Working with an Outsourced IT Manager
Get insights into working with any outsourced IT management function, including database or security management as stand-alone services, as well as managed services generally. Find out how to learn the IT lingo. Learn about the general timeline from first inquiry to fully outsourced coverage, including how to decide which functions can be outsourced. More info/register.
Host: Community IT
Presenters: Patrick Sprehe, Network Management Team Manager, and Steve Longenecker, Director of IT Consulting, Community IT
Tue 4/30 at 2 p.m. – How Hive Mind Could Transform Associations
What if you could use AI to know what your members really want or to create the best conference ever? Be sure to watch this interview with Dr. Louis Rosenberg discussing hive minds and swarm intelligence for associations. More info/register.
Host: KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth
Guest: Dr. Louis Rosenberg
Tue 4/30 at 2 p.m. – I Can’t Eat That! The Meeting Planners Guide to Planning Safe and Inclusive F&B
Understand the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) responsibilities—planners are responsible for providing attendees with risk-free access to food at events—and risk management implications of your F&B program. Learn to manage diverse dietary requirements in your planning and registration process to avoid last-minute hassles and unhappy attendees. Understand how to work with your venue to ensure that nonstandard meals are flavorful and banquet servers get the right meal to the right person. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MeetingsNet
Presenter: Tracy Stuckrath, CSEP, CMM, CHC, CFPM, Founder and chief connecting officer of Thrive! Meetings & Events
Wed 5/1, Thu 5/2 and Fri 5/3 from 12 to 4 p.m. – SURGE Co-Creation
SURGE is a free virtual conference assembling association professionals from around the world to have productive conversations around innovation and change. As the sessions play, a chat runs simultaneously, where attendees can interact with each other as well as the speakers. It’s our strong belief that the best way to solve industry problems is through collective knowledge, and SURGE is about coming together to learn from each other. More info/register.
That’s it for now. If you can’t attend a live webinar, go ahead and register if the topic interests you. Most webinar hosts send registrants a link to the recording.
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.
Creative Commons image by Ray Hennessy via Unsplash
Association Brain Food 