The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Non-Dues-A-Palooza Digital Backstage Pass. Teri Carden is cooking up a phenomenal-sounding digital experience for anyone interested in increasing their non-dues revenue. A digital pass subscription gets you regular small group meetups, monthly expert live streams, weekly newsletter, benchmarking data, on-demand content, one-on-one brainstorming session, and event discounts.
Community manager survey. The Community Roundtable invites online community managers to participate in their 2021 State of Community Management survey, however, the survey closes today, Friday, February 5.
CAE study group. Fridays@4 is hosting a free CAE study group—you have to join first, but that’s free too. Weekly Zoom calls will be held on Tuesday evenings from February 16 to April 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The group will be self-directed, giving participants the ability to collectively customize its direction, structure and agenda to meet their own needs and preferences. Current CAEs are also encouraged to participate and share their expertise.
SEO for education programs. If you create education and conference program titles and descriptions for your association’s website, search engine optimization (SEO) will make those programs more discoverable by potential learners and attendees. WBT Systems explains the basics of SEO so you can get Google to do the bulk of your marketing for you.
Remote work models. In the coming months, you’ll have to give some thought to what the future of work looks like at your association. Achurch Consulting describes six different models for remote work as well as the pros and cons of each.
Association strategies. No one knows what 2021 will bring but MemberSuite says you should plan for a few different scenarios. They suggest seven strategies that will position your association to deliver value, and preserve and strengthen member and customer engagement and loyalty.
Quick hits
- What deer hunting taught me about strategy. As a venison lover, I enjoyed this post. (Dean West, Association Laboratory)
- Conference insights from forward-thinking association event directors. (Lisa Block, Velvet Chainsaw Consulting)
- How to check for inclusive language in Microsoft Word. (Rob Woodgate, How to Geek)
Good eats
Skip down to the list of free webinars if you prefer take-out. If you’re a home cook, check out the weekly In The Kitchen posts on my Grabbing the Gusto blog.
- When I saw this one-pot gingery chicken and rice with peanut sauce recipe, I thought, hmm, I think I’ll do it with fish instead. I was going to add fillets of black sea bass about 15 minutes before the rice finished cooking but lost track of time, so I baked them and then added them to the pot. I loved the sauce, and the cukes and cilantro as a garnish.
- This spiced and fried haddock (flounder, in my case) recipe from my pretend best friend Nigella was a bit of a disappointment because I could barely detect the flavors of the odd spice mix—ginger and paprika. Next time, I’ll increase the amounts.
- On the side, not her broccoli purée, but thanks for the idea, Nigella, but the New York Times version, which we really loved. It’s fun to have broccoli in a new format.
- On Sunday, I marinated flank steak, broiled it and then let it sit on chopped rosemary and thyme while it was resting. On the side, balsamic-maple roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon—a preparation that’s becoming a regular in our house. We also had roasted wedges of butternut squash spiced with cayenne, cinnamon and smoked paprika.
- But wait, one more side and it’s a good one… A while back, I roasted a duck—and saved the fat. Finally, I, well, remembered I had it, and found a good reason to use it—crispy duck fat potatoes. Oh my, potatoes never tasted so good. I’m thinking about rendering chicken fat (schmaltz) for a slightly less luxurious version.
Here are the educational events scheduled for next week. If you have a free webinar or event coming up, please send me the link before Wednesday evening the week before it’s scheduled. I’ll be happy to feature it as long as it’s not too product centric.
Fri 2/5 at 10 a.m.* – Member ROI Simplified: Safeguarding Your Organization’s Future
The most important method for safeguarding your organization’s future is to research, embrace, and maximize your Member ROI. Learn how to measure your current ROI in actual dollar numbers, use the numbers for influencing the membership decision, grow your ROI, and prove beyond a doubt that membership in your organization is a good business decision. More info/register.
Host: Ed Rigsbee, CAE, president at Rigsbee Research
*All times are Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.
Fri 2/5 at 12 p.m. – The Importance of Data to Demonstrate the Value of Meetings
Hear about several strategies for gauging a customer’s (i.e., member, participant, etc.) satisfaction, including the Net Promoter Score (NPS), which offers a unique look into brand loyalty. Learn about the importance of evaluation data and how you can demonstrate and leverage the true value of your events. After all, numbers do not lie and it’s more important now than ever to showcase the impact of meetings. 1 CMP credit. More info/register (fee for MPI non-members).
Host: MPI
Presenter: Kyle Jordan, Ed.M., MS, CAE, CMM, CMP, Vice President of Membership and Meetings, National Confectioners Association
Fri 2/5 at 3:45 p.m. – Time Management and Goal Setting for Optimal Productivity
Learn about the impact of setting goals and managing time effectively to achieve your goals, both personal and professional. Hear ways to limit procrastination as well as how to better prioritize and plan. Join a discussion of current time management habits – both successes and pitfalls – and brainstorm practical approaches to improve your current issues. More info/register (must join Fridays@4 first, it’s free).
Host: Fridays@4
Presenter: JoDee Curtis, SHRM-SCP, CPA, founder of Purple Ink
Mon 2/8 at 11 a.m. – The ROI Member Recruitment Brochure: How to Crea8e Brochures That Positively Influence Membership Decisions
Learn to determine who should be membership targets, which features of membership should be highlighted, how to develop an effective brochure layout, decision motives for joining, and how to train your members to use the brochure. More info/register.
Host: Ed Rigsbee, CAE, president at Rigsbee Research
Mon 2/8 at 1 p.m. – Chatting with Agnes & Cecilia
This series of 15- to 20-minute videos cover hot topics and issues related to 501c organization management. New episodes are posted by 1 p.m. every Monday. Check out Cecilia’s Nonprofit Executive Spotlight series too.
Hosts:
- Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC
- Agnes Amos-Coleman, MBA, CMP, education, conference, event, certification consultant, Amos-Coleman
Tue 2/9 at 11 a.m. – The #AskFeathr Show: Digital Advertising Special Edition
Join your peers for another Q&A session–this time focused on all things digital advertising. Whether you’re using Feathr for retargeting or running your own ad campaigns on LinkedIn, Facebook, or another platform, we’re here to help you level up your advertising game to reach and convert more audience members. More info/register.
Host: Feathr
Presenters: Ariana Aragon, Director of Implementation, and Abhay Khurana, Chief Marketing Officer, Feathr
Tue 2/9 at 12 p.m. – AI Interpretation: Breaking Language Barriers In Your Meetings
Meeting planners can now have translations into many languages for less than the price of hiring even a single human interpreter. Learn how to attract and excite new attendees who care about transcription and translation, adapt meeting designs to maximize the benefits of real-time translation, and present the pros and cons of new translation solutions to clients for informed plans. 1 CMP credit. More info/register (fee for MPI non-members).
Host: MPI
Presenters:
- Lisa Busby, Principal, LB+ Events
- Kirk Hendrickson, Chief Operating Officer, Wordly
Tue 2/9 at 1 p.m. – Why are Members Leaving? Finding Out Before It’s Too Late
Explore the trends and technologies your association can better monetize and/or innovate with so you can more effectively educate and communicate with your members, constituents, and the public. More info/register.
Host: Jay Daughtry, Chief Communications Officer/Owner, CQbd
Guest: Terry Nawrot of Insightpath
Tue 2/9 at 1 p.m. – Covid-19 and Meeting Contracts
Need to cancel or postpone your meeting (perhaps for a second time) because of COVID? This hour of advice on contract clauses will focus on force majeure and include a Q&A session where attendees can share their specific experiences and concerns. More info/register.
Host: Prevue Meetings
Presenter: Kimberly A. Pendo, Founding Member, Chicago Law Partners
Tue 2/9 at 2 p.m. – What We’ve Learned About What Works (and What Doesn’t) for Virtual and Hybrid Events
Hear what we’ve learned about virtual and hybrid events this past year. More info/reminder.
Host: KiKi L’Italien, CEO and host, Association Chat, and senior consultant, Tecker International, LLC
Guest: Tahira Endean, head of events, Society for Incentive Travel Excellence
Tue 2/9 at 2 p.m. – Proven Content Strategies to Boost Online Audience Engagement
Discover how the American Nephrology Nurses Association cracked the code to continuously grow their online audience (and revenue). Hear about content tips and strategies your organization should execute. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: PCMA
Presenters:
- Celess Tyrell, Director of Online Learning & Innovation at the American Nephrology Nurses Association
- Brian Zambotti, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Digitell, Inc.
- Donna Kastner (moderator), Conversation Catalyst, Retirepreneur
Tue 2/9 at 2 p.m. – Event Science: The Adventure Begins
Attend the kick-off of the Adventures of James Caspian, a webinar series following the legendary James Caspian as he begins his quest into the future. Described as the first adventure TV show for planners, this fun journey will uncover emerging strategies for producing powerful events. Learn pricing strategies, risk management tips and how to embrace change for the better. More info/register.
Host: Smart Meetings
Presenters:
- Heather Mason, CEO of Caspian Agency
- Carl Winston, Director of the Payne School of Hospitality at San Diego State
Wed 2/10 at 11 a.m. – Down, But Not Out: Flash Mentoring to Build Your Resiliency
During this dynamic live session, participants will develop meaningful 1-on-1 connections in structured mentoring conversations. Each participant will both mentor and be mentored on as we focus on developing a critical skill: resiliency. Like a boxer, sometimes we get knocked down, but we can get back up. Together, we’ll explore the phases of resistance, response and resiliency. More info/register.
Host: Sidecar (formerly Association Success)
Presenter: Julie Silard Kantor, founder of Twomentor, LLC
Wed 2/10 at 11 a.m. – Holding the Perfect Virtual Fly-In
Hear about best practices and winning strategies on the art of the virtual fly-in that engage your members across the country and help push your advocacy agenda over the line. Learn about all stages of creating a successful virtual fly-in in 2021, from ideation all the way through execution; metrics to consider when evaluating the success of your fly-in strategy; how to encourage subject matter experts and other important stakeholders to participate in your fly-in; and best practices to break through the noise and make your voice rise above the rest. More info/register.
Host: FiscalNote
Wed 2/10 at 11 a.m. – Future of Work Post COVID
Join a discussion about the changes and challenges organizations can expect to address this year, including what work-life balance means to employee wellness in this new environment and how greater flexibility and professional development will help with retention and recruitment. Hear about the impact employee engagement and recognition have on culture, how diversity, equity and inclusion are being addressed, and the ways technology is being used to enhance how, when and where we work. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Finance and Business Operations Professionals Community
Presenter: Patricia (PJ) Trudeau, founder of the HR Roundtable
Wed 2/10 at 11 a.m. – The ROI of Words: How to Write Website Copy That Will Drive Member Renewal and Recruitment
You can no longer depend on interns or web designers to write your member value copy for influencing renewals and retention. They do pretty, you must do effective. Learn how to write the kind of benefit (or what’s in it for me) copy that will influence the decision to join or renew. More info/register.
Host: Ed Rigsbee, CAE, president at Rigsbee Research
Wed 2/10 at 1 p.m. – New Idea$: Not Your Grandma’s Non-Dues Revenue
Explore the trends and technologies your association can better monetize and/or innovate with so you can more effectively educate and communicate with your members, constituents, and the public. More info/register.
Host: Jay Daughtry, Chief Communications Officer/Owner, CQbd
Guest: Teri Carden of ReviewMyAMS
Wed 2/10 at 1 p.m. – #ExpoChat on Twitter
ExpoChat is a Twitter-based conversation on topics related to the trade show industry. More info.
Wed 2/10 at 11 a.m. – Becoming a Data Centric Association: Digital Transformation Part 2
Based on a case study involving ASAE, learn about the concept of bringing enterprise data into a central repository, how centralized data should be structured to provide analysis to inform strategic decision making, the inroads and obstacles to migrating from siloed data to centralized data, and how this data-centric approach can help an organization’s member engagement and member satisfaction. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: U.S. Transactions Corp.
Presenters:
- Julie Sciullo, CEO, Association Analytics
- Reggie Henry, CAE, Chief Information and Engagement Officer, ASAE
Wed 2/10 at 5 p.m. – I’m Speaking: Conversations on Race, Gender and Ethical Leadership – Conversations That Move
This series will move you through truth telling, inspire you with local success stories of change, and invite you to learn what can done as an ally within workplaces. Women of color are centered in the curation and representation of this series. Each conversation will help you move into closer allyship with the women and people of color in the community. More info/register.
Host: University of South Florida, Muma College of Business, Women and Leadership Initiative
Curators:
- Sam Obied, Program Director, Community Tampa Bay
- Michelle Madden, Chief Diversity Officer, USF St. Petersburg campus
- Ruthmae Sears, Associate Professor, USF College of Education
- Skye Idehen, Founder and CEO, AfroCurators
Thu 2/11 at 8 a.m. – Manage What You Measure: Five Tools to Make 2021 the Year of Data
Join us for a monthly breakfast series of strategy, planning and engaging peer discussions on common challenges faced by organizations, along with best practices to overcome them. More info/register.
Host: Halmyre
Thu 2/11 at 11 a.m. – What is Accessibility? 3 Things Association Execs Need to Know
Accessibility is the practice of making your website usable by as many people as possible. Even if you are not personally responsible for maintaining and optimizing your website, you want to make sure your site meets the basic accessibility requirements. To do that, you need to understand accessibility as an issue and know what questions to ask. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Hosts: Madgex and Knowbility, Inc.
Thu 2/11 at 11 a.m. – Event Monetization Success
Throughout 2021 new monetization strategies will continue to emerge. The winners will be companies who embrace these new monetization opportunities and broaden their offerings. Industry leaders will discuss a whole raft of new revenue initiatives including value-based pricing, data analytics, subscription models, content monetization, and more. More info/register.
Host: Virtual Events Institute
Thu 2/11 at 12 p.m. – Taking Full Advantage of the PPP and Employee Retention Tax Credit
At the end of 2020, a new law was enacted to expand the availability of Paycheck Protection Program SBA loans to 501(c)(6) organizations. That law also provided for enhanced options for many employers to take advantage of the employee retention tax credit. These opportunities may help cash-strapped organizations get through a difficult time. Hear about lessons learned since the initial rollout of PPP last spring, the interplay of the retention tax credit and PPP loans, the certification of necessity, and maximizing the opportunity for forgiveness of PPP loans. More info/register.
Host: Venable LLP
Presenters:
- Meredith Boylan, Partner, Financial Services Group, Venable LLP
- George Constantine, Partner, Nonprofit Organizations, Venable LLP
- Christopher Moran, Associate, Nonprofit Organizations, Venable LLP
Thu 2/11 at 12 p.m. – WEC Grapevine: How We Did It – Pandemic Meetings Duty of Care
Join this deep dive into the considerations and design of the Duty of Care strategy for the WEC Grapevine event. From social distancing and mask policies to health checks and onsite medical care, walk through the questions MPI asked and the steps we took to ensure a safe-as-possible experience for our participants and guests. Take advantage of MPI’s hard lessons well learned and find a path forward to meeting safely, when health and government authorities say it is safe to meet. 1 CMP credit. More info/register (fee for MPI non-members).
Host: MPI
Presenter: Melinda Burdette, CMP, Director of Events, MPI
Thu 2/11 at 1 p.m. – Laugh Your Way to Success!
Join us for an improv-based workshop to help you hone communication skills every successful leader needs to have, boost your productivity—and have a good laugh. This is a hands-on experience. Come ready to play with other participants. Walk away smiling—and delighted at how much you learned. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host/Presenter: Cynthia D’Amour, MBA, Leadership Strategist, People Power Unlimited
Thu 2/11 at 1 p.m. – Virtual Conference Platform Selection: Simplifying a Strategic Decision
Virtual conference platform providers run the gamut from do-it-yourself options to full-service models. Find out how a provider’s origin—as a webinar technology vs. a streaming video provider, for example—suggests strengths and weaknesses. Learn how to assess factors that impact your technology needs, including the driving reason for your conference (convening members, marketing to potential customers) and key requirements, such as the number of sessions and concurrents. Become better equipped to lead your organization in choosing a virtual conference platform aligned with your strategic needs. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Leading Learning
Presenters: Jeff Cobb and Celisa Steele, co-founders of Tagoras and Leading Learning
Thu 2/11 at 1 p.m. – The Key to Financial Sustainability Is Pricing
Explore the trends and technologies your association can better monetize and/or innovate with so you can more effectively educate and communicate with your members, constituents, and the public. More info/register.
Host: Jay Daughtry, Chief Communications Officer/Owner, CQbd
Guest: Dr. Michael Tatonetti, CAE, CPP of The Michael Tatonetti Team
Thu 2/11 at 1 p.m. – Using 2020 Lessons Learned to Succeed in 2021 and Beyond
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic took certifiers by surprise and changed how we did business – from communications to policies to test delivery. And we learned more than a few lessons along the way. Lessons we can carry forward to be more successful in 2021 and beyond. More info/register.
Host: Knapp & Associates International
Presenters:
- William Ellis, Executive Director, Board of Pharmacy Specialties
- Tom Granatir, Senior Vice President for Policy and External Relations, American Board of Medical Specialties
Thu 2/11 at 2 p.m. – The Importance of Association Apps in 2021
As we adjust to a new normal in 2021, human interaction has evolved and apps have become a saving grace when it comes to sustaining connectivity. Take a look through the lens of association apps and their ability to restore and strengthen membership value and engagement. Through client examples and case studies, join us as we look at the successes an on-hand, all-encompassing app can bring about after a year of many challenges. More info/register.
Host: Clowder
Presenter: Clowder’s Director of Sales, Billy Barnes
Fri 2/12 at 11 a.m. – Delivering Your Hybrid Event: Tips From The Trenches
Hear from two event organizers who safely delivered hybrid events for their associations at the end of 2020: WISPA2020 hosted by the Wireless Internet Service Provider Association and the ICCA Congress 2020. More info/register.
Host: EventMobi
Presenters:
- Harneet Singh, Director of Marketing, Preseem
- Sina Bünte, CMP, Event Designer, ICCA │SheSharp
Fri 2/12 at 3:45 p.m. – Read the Room: Improving Your Emotional Intelligence
Explore the five core factors of EQ: Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation, Motivation, Social Awareness, and Social Regulation. Learn how to take your own emotional temperature to manage various emotional states in a positive manner and explore how to observe and manage the emotional states of those around you. More info/register (must join Fridays@4 first, it’s free).
Host: Fridays@4
Presenter: Cara Silletto, MBA, CSP, President & Chief Retention Officer, Magnet Culture
Tue 2/16 at 5 p.m. – Facilit8me Grapes & Games
The premise is two-fold: Grab your favorite grape (in wine form, of course!) or cocktail/mocktail of your choice and spend 30 minutes with us as we talk digital games. Bring at least one of the games you’re using to stay connected with colleagues, friends and family during this environment of social distancing and work-from-home. We’ll discuss what we like, what we don’t and possible modifications for your facilitation work, as well as share in a laugh or two along the way. More info/register.
Host: Event Garde LLC
Wed 2/17 at 12 p.m. – 10 Purposeful Provocations for Association Boards in 2021 (Association Xchange, formerly DC Swap)
With the future arriving with full force in 2020, the urgent challenge before association boards in 2021 is crystal clear: strengthen board performance to begin shaping a better future for stakeholders and successors. To act on this imperative, directors, officers, chief staff executives, and other governing contributors must collaborate to establish a new shared point of view on board purpose, composition, structure, and work for the rest of The Turbulent Twenties. This talk will share ten purposeful provocations to frame generative conversations and accelerate board reinvention this year. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Xchange
Presenter: Jeff De Cagna, FRSA, FASAE, Executive Advisor, Foresight First LLC
Wed 2/17 at 2 p.m. – Virtual Meeting Hack-a-Thon: New Year, New Opportunities
Let’s talk about how you’re applying what you learned last year to market your virtual meetings this year and increase engagement. Participants will have three breakout areas to exchange ideas and build best practices for prospect engagement, attendee engagement and post-event engagement. More info/register.
Hosts: ASAE Communications Professionals Advisory Council, Membership Marketing Advisory Council and Meetings & Events Advisory Council
Facilitators:
- Alexandra Bradley, Director of Communications and Engagement, American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
- Nikki Golden, CAE, Strategist, Association Laboratory
- Leah Jones, CMP, CAE, Director of Meetings and Events, Auto Care Association
Thu 2/18 at 1 p.m. – Using Analytics to Drive Training Business Growth
Smart organizations combine LMS progress reports with data from other systems to predict, measure and improve business results. Get practical guidance for advanced learning analytics, including the difference between LMS reporting and analytics, key metrics to measure, how to use business data sources, lots of examples, real-life success insights from AAOS and how to get started. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Talented Learning
Presenters:
- John Leh, CEO and Lead Analyst at Talented Learning
- Tamer Ali, Co-Founder and Director at Authentic Learning Labs
- Maria Incrocci, Associate Director at AAOS
Thu 2/18 at 2 p.m. – AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Reinventing Association Boards (Clubhouse)
If you’re a member of Clubhouse, you can sign up here for Jeff’s AMA. If you’re not a member, join the club, ha ha. You need an invite from a member—and members only get two invites to distribute until they somehow earn more, so good luck! I’m not a member yet (hint hint) so sorry, I can’t help you.
Presenter: Jeff De Cagna, FRSA, FASAE, Executive Advisor, Foresight First LLC
Thu 2/18 at 3 p.m. – “New Normal” in Association Learning CoP: Developing a Game Plan
This is a working meeting of a continued community of practice. All are encouraged to participate in this guided discussion. This month’s topic is: Developing Your Virtual Event Game Plan. The meeting kicks off with an introduction of a digital workbook that can be used to brainstorm your strategy. Attendees will test out this workbook product in small groups, debrief, then identify and investigate other topics of interest to inform our continued conversation. More info/register.
Hosts:
- Bucky Dodd, PhD, LX Studio
- Lee Gimpel, Better Meetings
- Carolyn Thompson, Training Systems, Inc
Presenter: Josh Yavelberg, PhD, Flying Cloud Solutions, LLC.
Fri 2/19 at 3:45 p.m. – How to Become a Better Boss
Learn how to develop leadership qualities, delegate effectively, choose inspirational and engaging tasks for yourself and others, use wisdom and understanding to lead others, identify the roles of your team, and trust others and earn their trust. More info/register (must join Fridays@4 first, it’s free).
Host: Fridays@4
Presenter: Laura Wood, PHR, SHRM-CP, President, Out of the Woods HR
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 before Wednesday evening.
Creative Commons photo by Gary Bendig via Unsplash
Association Brain Food 