The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Competition-beating strategies. Impexium shares seven strategies to differentiate your association from the competition in 2024. A few common themes I spotted: emphasizing what makes us and drives us as humans, taking advantage of AI and data, and extending your reach beyond the usual suspects.
DEI & education. Inspired by a session at the recent Learning Business Summit hosted by Leading Learning, TopClass LMS describes a data-driven approach to making DEI part of your educational strategy. They also identify common pitfalls you might encounter.
Post-event attendee engagement. You put a ton of effort into planning, promoting and hosting a conference, but once it’s over, attendees drift away. When will you see them again? EventMobi explains how to use a year-round community and content hub to keep attendees connected with each other and with your association.
Community. Lately, I’ve noticed more discussion during events and on blogs about community. Amanda Kaiser asks, “What if instead of focusing on providing networking opportunities, we set our sights on building a community?” That’s what people really want deep down inside—and associations can help members build these communities.
Feedback. Over on the Mariner Management blog, Chelsea Killam of Easy Tiger Insights shares cost-effective strategies for collecting member feedback. One of her suggestions, social media polls, regularly pop up on LinkedIn.
Conference/abstract management. Ex Ordo describes how to implement conference and abstract management software for medical, technical, scientific, and academic society events. Their guide covers configuring software for abstract submission and peer review, issuing the call for papers, designing the conference program, and more.
Quick hits
Five ways to tell if your data management strategy is ready for AI. | by Daniel Zagales, Datanami
More workers want to change jobs, but the market is getting tougher. | by Anne Marie Chaker, Wall Street Journal <Gift link—and by the way, have you adapted your marketing and programming strategies to this different job market?>
“When I was a hostage: My ordeal in Syria showed me how terrorism thrives in war. I see echoes in Gaza today.” | by Theo Padnos, Persuasion <Haunting and horrible. Hopeless too.>
Using big words doesn’t make you sound smarter. | by Tom Hartsfield, BigThink
You never grow old at the table
In honor of Mardi Gras, I made gumbo on Sunday night so we could have it again on Tuesday. I must make this more often, it’s so good. My version includes andouille, shrimp, chicken thighs, okra and the other good stuff. On the side, green beans sautéed with bacon, red onion, orange bell pepper, mushrooms and garlic.
Alton Brown shared this idea on Twitter: “Finely crushed, fried pork rinds are my new answer for everything.” What!?! That’s right up my alley so I crushed a small bag of rinds in the food processor, mixed them with garlic powder, paprika and s/p, dredged fillets of speckled sea trout in buttermilk, then the pork rind mix and put them in the oven to bake. Mighty tasty!
Got my southern on again with hot red drum for dinner—that’s our state fish and that’s hot as in Nashville hot chicken hot. The flavor is excellent although I’m not a fan of how the spices clump up in the sauce. I’ll have to figure out a fix for that. I served these delectable spicy fillets over cheesy grits. Made enough grits to have them for breakfast with sautéed kale, fried eggs and hot sauce.
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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 2/16 at 3 p.m.* – The Informal Consultants Networking Extravaganza
Organizer: Cecila Sepp, CAE, founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting
*All events are online at Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.
Fri 2/16 at 4 p.m. – The Rise and Fall of the Chief Diversity Officer
Host: Fridays@4
Speaker: Timothy E. (Tim) Findley Sr, EdD, MBA, CCDP/AP, Assistant Professor at Spalding University
Mon 2/19 at 8 a.m. – Looking Forward 2024 (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: Dean West FASAE, founder and president, Association Laboratory
Tue 2/20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Axe-con: Building Accessible Experiences
Building accessible digital experiences requires a team effort, across design, development, management, testing, accessibility experts, and of course, legal. Axe-con is the first of its kind, dedicating topics to each of these key players. This is not an assistive technology convention. Talks at axe-con will include case studies from enterprise companies leading in large-scale accessibility efforts, as well as best practices and updates from technology leaders around the world. More info/register.
Host: Deque Systems
Tue 2/20 at 12 p.m. – The Life Cycle of Volunteers (CRVM Crunch and Munch)
How can we shepherd volunteers at our organizations? Join a discussion on how we can grow the volunteer pathway, micro volunteer opportunities, leverage past leaders’ expertise without overwhelming current volunteers, and so much more. No matter your role within your organization, join us for an open conversation to share and learn. Crunch and Munch is a chance to come together once a month with peers for a casual conversation on hot topics relevant to the component relations and volunteer management community. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Council
Tue 2/20 at 2 p.m. – ASAE’s New Move: ASAE Launches Association Governance Institute
Learn about the Association Governance Institute’s (AGI) mission to refine governance practices for associations. Discover how AGI aims to equip board members, CEOs, and staff with the tools and knowledge needed for stellar governance. Hear valuable perspectives on building a governance framework that supports mission achievement, transparency, and stakeholder trust. More info/register.
Host: KiKi L’Italien, VP of Marketing & Community, Big Red M and Editor-in-Chief, Association Chat
Guest: Paul Pomerantz, FACHE, FASAE, Managing Director, Association Governance Institute
Tue 2/20 at 3 p.m. – Mastering the Art of Email Newsletters: 15 Strategies for Success
Email newsletters are a fantastic medium for sharing relevant content to your members, but it’s crucial to ask: are your newsletters truly resonating with each individual, or are they just another generic email in their inbox? Discover how to leverage email newsletter marketing to captivate your members with the latest industry insights and trends. Hear best practices for elevating your newsletter content, boosting member engagement, curating diverse external content, and harnessing the power of automation. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Erica Salm Rench, MBA, COO, Rasa.io
Wed 2/21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Axe-con: Building Accessible Experiences
Building accessible digital experiences requires a team effort, across design, development, management, testing, accessibility experts, and of course, legal. Axe-con is the first of its kind, dedicating topics to each of these key players. This is not an assistive technology convention. Talks at axe-con will include case studies from enterprise companies leading in large-scale accessibility efforts, as well as best practices and updates from technology leaders around the world. More info/register.
Host: Deque Systems
Wed 2/21 at 12 p.m. – Going Virtual? Key Data from Virtual Associations
The shift towards remote work among associations is a trend expected to continue in 2024 with many associations choosing to go virtual or using a hybrid model. The Virtual Association Network (VAN) conducts an annual survey that collects data about benefits, logistics, and operational concerns and examines today’s post-Covid challenges for associations that are embracing virtual or partial virtual business models. Hear about VAN’s 2023 survey key findings. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Xchange
Speakers:
- Kevin Helm, CAE, Executive Director of ASET-The Neurodiagnostic Society, and Co-Founder/President of VAN
- David Westman, CAE, Executive Director, The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
Wed 2/21 at 12 p.m. – YPAC Lunch & Learn: Advocating for Oneself
Advocating for oneself seems to be as simple as deciding to eat better, you know you should, but maybe you don’t know where to start. Hear about different scenarios young professionals often find themselves in with regards to advancing their career and strategies to achieve your goals. From interviewing for a job, getting a promotion, or setting boundaries between work and your personal life, find out what works. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Young Professionals Community
Speaker: Gabriella Lehimdjian Srour, Senior Communications Manager, ASIS International
Wed 2/21 at 12:30 p.m. – Managing Risk in an Election Year: Considerations for Nonprofits
The election year offers nonprofit organizations tremendous opportunities to shape debate and engage an activated electorate. But many organizations pause over how to pursue these opportunities while complying with the limits and restrictions of their tax status and campaign finance laws. Learn how to navigate common election-year activities, including voter education, engaging with candidates and officeholders, and the personal political activities of employees. Get advice on the rules and best practices to keep your organization compliant. More info/register.
Host: Venable LLP
Speakers: Meredith McCoy, Partner, and David Owens, Counsel, Venable LLP
Wed 2/21 at 2 p.m. – 5 Ways Your Business Development Team Can Leverage AI
AI is the latest set of tools available to our associations and it has the power to drastically enhance our sales approach. But it can be challenging to approach a rapidly evolving industry like AI to know which tools to use and how to integrate them into our daily work. Discover 5 ways your business development team can incorporate simple AI practices to identify prospects, foster partnerships and drive revenue growth. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Professionals for Association Revenue
Speakers:
- Jay Blankenship, SVP, Revenue Strategy & Operations, Enterprise, MCI USA
- Brittany Shoul, SVP, Revenue Strategy & Operations, MCI USA
Wed 2/21 at 2 p.m. – How to Craft a True Multilingual Strategy for Your Website
Hear an in-depth case study about how the Safe Quality Foods Institute reimagined their multilingual strategy and now have a new website that is available in 9 languages, staff capable of responding to inquiries in 9 languages, and a technology stack that fully supports multilingual. Hear about their goals of being multilingual, how far to take their multilingual presence—brochure site, full site, emails and forms, the languages to provide translations in, what content to have manually translated vs. AI translation, and how to support inquiries and communications in other languages. More info/register.
Host: Matrix Group
Speaker: Joanna Pineda, CEO and Chief Troublemaker of Matrix Group International, Inc.
Wed 2/21 at 2 p.m. – Optimizing Engagement: A Guide to Maximizing Your Event Website
Learn strategies for elevating your event’s online impact and boosting attendee acquisition. Uncover the secrets to enhanced engagement and a stronger brand presence. More info/register.
Host: eShow
Speaker: Hans Lim, Assistant Director of Creative Services, eShow
Wed 2/21 at 2 p.m. – What an Event Attendee Wants
Hear the results of a survey of 1000+ conference attendees. Find out what they said about in-person vs. virtual conferences, key motivators driving attendance, and unmet attendee needs. Learn innovative ways to leverage event technology to conquer these challenges. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Meetings Net
Speaker: Kirstin Sargent, Team Lead, Meetings and Events, Cvent
Wed 2/21 at 2 p.m. – Your Role in Sustainable Meetings
Learn strategies for initiating or expanding sustainable meeting planning practices, including finding a sustainability mentor, assessing the environmental impact of typical meetings, and making the case for more sustainable practices. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Northstar Meetings Group
Speakers:
- Michele Fox, Founder, Members United for Sustainable Events
- Shawna McKinley, teacher, writer, researcher and consultant
- Sally Braley, Managing Editor, Northstar Meetings Group
Wed 2/21 at 2:30 p.m. – The Basics of Endowments and the Changing Landscape (Falls Church, VA)
Learn about the basics of endowments as well as the changing landscape for endowments. More info/register.
Host: M&T Bank
Speaker: Walter J. Dillingham, Jr., CFA, Director of Endowments & Foundations Practice at Wilmington Trust
Thu 2/22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Axe-con: Building Accessible Experiences
Building accessible digital experiences requires a team effort, across design, development, management, testing, accessibility experts, and of course, legal. Axe-con is the first of its kind, dedicating topics to each of these key players. This is not an assistive technology convention. Talks at axe-con will include case studies from enterprise companies leading in large-scale accessibility efforts, as well as best practices and updates from technology leaders around the world. More info/register.
Host: Deque Systems
Thu 2/22 at 9:30 a.m. – Association Percolator
Check in with other association professionals every other Thursday. Here’s your chance to ask that burning question or commiserate with your peers about your latest crazy board member. More info/register.
Host: Association Marketplace
Thu 2/22 at 10 a.m. – Associations Addressing Sustainability at COP28 and Internationally
Hear from association executives who participated in the United Nations’ Climate Conference, COP28, about why they chose to participate along with a behind-the-scenes look at what the process was like, and their lessons learned. Learn how associations can work with destinations, governments and international bodies to advance their sustainability objectives. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Speakers:
- Constance Cullman, President and CEO, American Feed Industry Association
- Virginie De Visscher, SEP, Executive Director, Business Events, Destination Canada
- Bill Kent, C.E.M., Executive Director, Association of Energy Engineers
- Mark Shimamoto, Vice President, Global Outreach and Partnerships, AGU
- Derek Washam, Sr. Director, Global & Industry Engagement, AIA
- Jakub Konysz (moderator), MBA, IOM, CAE, Founder and CEO, Global Navigators
Thu 2/22 at 12 p.m. – Elevating New Member Engagement
Did you know nearly three-quarters of new members never use their member benefits? Explore crucial steps to turn this trend around, such as engagement solutions you can easily add to what you are already doing; fun, fresh ideas for new member engagement; and simple processes you can quickly implement with your staff. More info/register.
Host: GrowthZone
Speaker: Amanda Kaiser, speaker, author and engagement strategist, Kaiser Insights
Thu 2/22 at 12 p.m. – Show Your Auditors Some Love! Stay Audit-Ready All Year Round
Get tips to keep your auditors happy by staying audit-ready all year-round. Find out how to leverage the month-end close to confidently prepare for and navigate the financial statement audit process. More info/register.
Host: Your Part-Time Controller
Thu 2/22 at 2 p.m. – ASAE AI Summit: Continuing the Conversation
Join your association community colleagues to continue the conversation on artificial intelligence and its implications for associations. More info/register.
Host: Jeff De Cagna, Executive Advisor, Foresight First
Fri 2/23 at 4 p.m. – Bring Your Favorite Quote from a Black Author and Tell What It Means to You
In continuing to honor Black History Month, our networking discussion will be about Black authors. Please bring your favorite quote from a Black author and tell what it means to you. Come prepared for an open conversation. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Tue 2/27 at 12 p.m. – Launching Your Association’s Chapter Ambassador Program: Ramp Up Member Engagement
Each time your stakeholders describe your association with a different voice, it muddies your brand. But there’s a way to ensure that your association spokespersons are conveying your brand: a Chapter Ambassador Program. Hear about the benefits of a Chapter Ambassador Program, how to recruit Ambassador members, the steps needed to launch the program, how to leverage this as a member benefit, and the overall value proposition. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Hosts: Billhighway and Mariner Management
Speaker: Sheri Singer, president, Singer Communications
Wed 2/28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Marketing Technology Demo Day
Tasked with finding the right marketing technology systems for your organization? Wondering what platforms are out there and what features you should be looking for? Experience seven in-depth demos from industry partners that are standing by ready to help. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Presenters: HighRoad Solutions, SilverTech & Kentico, Blend Interactive & uMarketingSuite, Storyblok + Reason One, HubSpot, Aplusify, Higher Logic, and rasa.io
Wed 2/28 at 9 a.m. – PAR Member Meet-Up: Strategic Negotiating
Learn key negotiating strategies to improve your negotiation outcomes. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Professionals for Association Revenue
Speaker: Susan Borke, Principal, BorkeWorks
Wed 2/28 at 11 a.m. – Marketing and Membership Survival Guide
Look at communicating through a new lens. Better understand the psychology of how people are engaging with content and trying something a little different based on your strengths. Explore messaging that shares your mission, vision, thoughts, and expertise that turns heads and stops the scroll. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Amy Hager, Organic Marketing Mentor, Amy Hager Solutions
Wed 2/28 at 12 p.m. – What is RevOps?
The intersection of data, technology, and digital marketing has influenced the need for a RevOps role within marketing teams. But what does RevOps really mean? Delve into the operational needs of marketing teams, the responsibilities of this type of role, how technology supports the position, and how associations should prepare for future staffing and upskilling needs. More info/register.
Host: HighRoad Solutions
Speakers: Chandler Miller, Sr. Digital Advisor, and Aimee Pagano, Director of Programming, HighRoad Solutions
Wed 2/28 at 3 p.m. – Navigating the Member Journey Part 2: Using Your Data to Improve Member Engagement
Learn how to use engagement scores to see trends over time and how they have changed; define member personas (which members like which things) based on engagement activities; find potential event attendees, speakers, donors, volunteers and more; and build a member journey from Interested (just learning) to Connected (donor or board member). 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Analytics
Speaker: Bill Conforti, SVP of Strategy & Solutions, Association Analytics
Thu 2/29 at 12 p.m. – Creating a High-Performance Organizational Culture
Is your organizational culture high-performing? Is it fully in sync with your external brand? Does it attract innovators (and promote innovation) or is it a drag on your organization… and possibly even toxic? No matter where your culture is now, is there a way to do better? Learn about practical tools and strategies to turn your organizational culture into one that retains and attracts talent, drives your business, and improves the quality of your deliverables. More info/register.
Host: Braintrust Professional Institute
Speakers: Randall Craig and Ronja Francoeur
Thu 2/29 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. – Member Engagement Lab: Prime Members to Participate
Which stakeholder group do you most want to engage? Attendees? Potential volunteers? Sponsors? Exhibitors? Students? Young professionals? You’ll vote on the stakeholder group you most want to engage with, and we’ll experiment with many great ideas you can apply immediately. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Hosts: Impexium and Billhighway
Facilitator: Amanda Lea Kaiser, keynote speaker and author of Elevating Engagement: Uncommon Strategies for Creating a Thriving Member Community
Thu 2/29 at 3 p.m. – The Duty of Foresight: Elevating Association Board Stewardship for a Better Tomorrow
Learn why it’s critical for association boards to set a higher standard of stewardship, governing, and foresight; why associations must confront, interrogate, and defeat their orthodox beliefs; how the duty of foresight reshapes the purpose and work of association boards; and what you can do to build your board’s capacity and elevate its performance for the future. More info/register.
Host: Grype
Speaker: Jeff De Cagna FRSA, FASAE, Executive Advisor, Foresight First
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.
Creative Commons licensed photo by Joshua Gresham via Unsplash—this is why southern Utah is my happy place, memories of a long day in a slot canyon
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