The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Free member education. Should associations list education programs as a membership benefit if members have to pay for them like everyone else does? I don’t think so and neither does WBT Systems. They suggest options for offering members a selection of free education programs as a true membership benefit or as part of a membership tier.
Gen Z communities. Well, this is a slap in the face. Meagan Loyst, founder of Gen Z VCs—“a global collective of 22,000+ Gen Z VCs, founders, angel investors, operators and aspiring VCs,” so, yeah, cred—writes about the amazing success of paid membership communities with Gen Z audiences in nearly every industry. Sadly, associations only merit one mention—as has-beens. Don’t mean to be a Debbie Downer, but we have work to do.
Mentoring program. “While starting a mentoring program isn’t rocket science, there’s certainly an art to it.” With 20 years of experience developing mentoring programs, Art of Mentoring knows both the art and the science. They describe the seven steps of starting a successful association mentoring program from pre-evaluation and research to planning, design, recruitment, matching, training, support and evaluation.
Membership marketing. MemberSuite reminds us why data-informed content marketing is such a powerful tool for associations. They describe how webinars, blog posts, podcasts, YouTube, social media and influencer content can help you attract and retain members.
AI and associations. Tori Miller Liu, CAE, president and CEO of AIIM International, offers advice to her fellow association executives about the wild west era of AI. She suggests you become familiar with AI tools and their output and have discussions about how your organization will and won’t use AI.
After Tori’s article, read the open letter Jeff De Cagna, FASAE, executive advisor of Foresight First, wrote to the association community in which he shares six critical questions and six essential actions to take in response to the rapid adoption of generative AI. He strongly encourages association leaders to engage their boards in conversations about the impact of AI on the industries they serve and to always ask yourselves: “What will our successors say about us?”—the preoccupying question of his professional life.
Change readiness. Nine times out of ten, new systems fail because of the human factor. Starkweather Association Services’ guide to best practices for change readiness helps you “understand and control the complications that people bring to a change project.” You can’t overestimate the importance of change management knowledge and skills.
Coaching learners. Many associations and for-profit education providers offer coaching sessions as part of their online learning programs, either built into the program design or offered as a premium upgrade. WBT Systems explains why this is becoming more popular and how it’s done.
Quick hits
Beyond the rainbow—build a diverse board of independent thinkers. (Sherry Budziak, .orgSource)
Neurodiverse candidates increase productivity and growth—here’s how to support them. (Lindsey Galloway, Chief)
Use the 30-90 rule to take the perfect nap. (Jessica Stillman, Inc.)
Good eats
Skip down to the list of free educational events if you prefer takeout.
My kitchen report this week will only interest you if you’re looking for fish recipes.
- Blackened almaco jack
- Blackfin tuna with roasted red bell pepper sauce
- Black drum and black sea bass au gratin
On the side, the usual roasted broccoli with red onion, garlic powder and Parmesan. Another night, green beans with caramelized red onions—sort of like this recipe, but I added quartered grape tomatoes, garlic, chicken broth, herbes de Provence instead of tarragon, and Parmesan cheese.
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 4/12 at 11 a.m.* – Generative AI for Associations – How to Use ChatGPT and AI Tech Right Now
Learn about AI fundamentals—what it is, how it works, and where you can use it; generative AI and how it works; mainstream apps like ChatGPT, DALL·E 2 and others; 8+ association-specific use cases that will give you paths to implementing right now in your organization; what’s likely to happen with AI in the next 12-24 months; and what you can and should do next to experiment and take your organization forward. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Sidecar
Speakers:
- Reggie Henry, Chief Information and Performance Excellence Officer, ASAE
- Dray McFarlane, Co-Founder, Taiso
- Amith Nagarajan, Founder and Chairman, Blue Cypress
*All events are online at Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.
Fri 4/21 at 12:30 p.m. – ASAE Young Professionals Advisory Committee Ask Me Anything (AMA)
Applications are now open to join the ASAE Young Professionals Advisory Committee (YPAC). If you have some questions or want to learn more about our work, join us for a quick discussion and ask me anything (AMA) with YPAC Chair Lori Granich, Vice Chair John Losh, and current committee members. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Young Professionals Advisory Committee
Mon 4/24 at 8 a.m. – Quarterly Wellness Session (Radio Free 501c)
Radio Free 501c, the podcast of Rogue Tulips Consulting (formerly Nonprofit Conversations) features guests from across the nonprofit community and the business world to share expertise on a variety of topics related to the practice of nonprofit management. Episodes are published Monday mornings in both audio and video format on most podcast services.
Guest: Fern Carbonell
Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC
Tue 4/25 from 8:50 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Association Management System (AMS) Demo Days
Hear presentations from a limited number of industry partners that offer AMS platforms. AMS experts will be showcasing platforms and sharing their knowledge with the association market. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Tue 4/25 at 11 a.m. – Why Futures-Thinking Helps Leaders Make Better Decisions Today
Learn how you and your volunteer leaders can best prepare for environmental ambiguity and unexpected developments. Hear how to proactively lead your board and staff colleagues toward a futures mindset, the power and importance of scenario planning and creating a future-focused organizational culture, overcoming resistance to change, contingency planning, and risk mitigation. 1.0 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Lindsay Currie, CAE, Executive Officer, Council on Undergraduate Research
- Melody Jordan-Carr, Vice President, Membership Operations, American Trucking Associations
- Kristine Metter, CAE, President at Crystal Lake Partners LLC
- Donté P. Shannon, FASAE, CAE, Non-profit Exec., Strategist, Public Speaker, Author, PMA Nonprofit Leadership and Vista Cova
Tue 4/25 at 1 p.m. – Catalyst for Navigating Change
Learn how to manage change effectively and boost your chances of reaching every one of your transformational goals. Find out how to secure and maintain executive sponsorship, encourage employee involvement to empower change agents, and drive awareness and excitement with honest and timely feedback. Hear about the key components of IIN’s successful digital transformation. 0.75 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: D2L
Speakers:
- Nora McCaffrey, Chief Academic Officer at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN)
- Joanne Struch, Learning Strategy Consultant, D2L
Tue 4/25 at 2 p.m. – Virtual Panel Discussion: What’s (Really) on the Event Horizon? Takeaways from the 2023 Conference Industry Report
Omnipress’ 2023 Conference Industry Report, based on a survey of over 200 event and association professionals, explores what “back to normal” actually means in 2023 and whether the events of the past three years have permanently transformed event delivery and attendee expectations. Hear key findings from the report, including how the role and format of conferences is evolving in 2023 and beyond, how they’re planning more “purposeful” meetings, what they’re doing to attract new attendees—especially young professionals, and what they see as the greatest challenges for the conference industry in the next 1-3 years. More info/register.
Host: Omnipress
Speakers:
- Joan Eisenstodt, Principal, Eisenstodt Associates – Meetings & Hospitality Consultant
- Devon Montgomery Pasha, CMP, CED, Founder, DMP Creative
- Beth Surmont, FASAE, CMP-Fellow, CAE, 360 Live Media
Wed 4/26 at 7 a.m. – Maintaining Your Staff’s Passion For Your Association
Hear from association executives who have successfully motivated and inspired their staff to stay committed to their association’s mission and vision. The session will cover topics such as employee recognition, career development, work-life balance, and fostering a positive and supportive work culture. Learn practical tips and strategies for maintaining staff passion and engagement, whilst creating an environment that promotes staffs well-being and professional growth. More info/register.
Host: Association of Association Executives
Speakers:
- Huan Japes, Membership Director, English UK
- Martin Reid, Director of Professionalism and Customer Experience, Education and Training Foundation
- Paul Walsh EMIAM (Seminar Chair), Seminar Programme Manager, Association of Association Executives
Wed 4/26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Association Management System (AMS) Demo Days
Hear presentations from a limited number of industry partners that offer AMS platforms. AMS experts will be showcasing platforms and sharing their knowledge with the association market. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Wed 4/26 at 11 a.m. – Event Planning for Associations & Nonprofits
The biggest challenge small to medium sized associations and non-profits face when organizing events in-house is the limited time and resources available to them. Learn the three keystone questions for all successful events, 12 concrete and cost-effective tips on how to elevate your events, the best method to capture data and measure the results of your events to create long-term impact, and solutions available for associations and non-profits looking to create impactful large-scale events in-house. 1.0 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Sharon Ashton, Open Academy & Events Director, EURORDIS
- Ksenija Polla, CMP, North America Regional Director, International Congress and Convention Association
Wed 4/26 at 11 a.m. – Journey to the Metaverse (Breakfast Club 2023)
For learning, the metaverse can allow people to practice (even tasks or roles that are rare, dangerous or expensive) in collaborative digital environments, from the comfort and safety of their own home or workplace. It can bring information to people in the flow of work, and it allows the practice of both hard skills and more human skills, such as empathy. But the metaverse is still shrouded in mystery for many, especially those who aren’t sure where to begin their journey. How are L&D leaders leveraging immersive technologies to further their learning efforts? And how do you determine when it’s the right option for learning—and when it’s not? More info/register.
Host: Chief Learning Officer
Speakers:
- Christopher Lind, Vice President and Chief Learning Officer, ChenMed
- Allison Sadler, Chief Learning Officer, Sales & Service, USAA
- Rob Lauber (moderator), CEO Founder, XLO Global LLC
Wed 4/26 at 12 p.m. – The New Must-Have Skill: How to Think Like a Product Developer
Your event is a product, and it should be designed to meet the needs of your audience. Hear about an exciting new approach to enhancing your events. Learn core design constructs to help you think about your event in new ways and break into interactive groups for prototyping. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Xchange
Speaker: Bill Zimmer, Vice President of Strategy, 360 Live Media
Wed 4/26 at 1 p.m. – 5 NEW Ideas to Transform Your Auction. It Might Not Be What You Think (Expert Series)
Auctions are not new to the fundraising scene but hosting an auction can be overwhelming. Hear about five unique ways to ensure your auction raises more non-dues revenue, reduces the amount of staff time needed to produce a well-rounded event, and gives your attendees and sponsors the best mobile-friendly, easy-to-use auction experience. Transforming your auction might not be as hard as you think. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Non Dues-A-Palooza
Speaker: Tony Rissley, owner and CEO, Expo Auctions
Wed 4/26 at 1 p.m. – The Future Life Cycle of Event Planning | Community Connect
MPI Community Connect experiences provide the platform for global members of MPI’s affinity communities to commune, engage and learn together across borders. Join us for an interactive conversation discussing the challenges and pitfalls of planning in our current landscape. You’ll gain tips and tools to help you from the vision to the execution of your next event. 2 CMP credits. More info/register.
Host: MPI
Speaker: Lindsay Plath, CMP
Wed 4/26 at 1 p.m. – Site Selection & Inspection: Recalculating the Basics
You’ve heard the GPS “recalculating” when your car goes in a not-expected direction. That’s where we are now and will be for the foreseeable future—headed in not-previously-expected directions when we select destinations and sites for upcoming meetings. We will briefly review basics of demographics and budgets, and move into new calculations for safety, security, laws and policies, staffing, service, and charges. Learn what to provide in RFPs and responded to by CVBs and venues to provide what we need to know that can impact contract negotiations and meeting and event outcomes. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Meetings Today
Speaker: Joan Eisenstodt, Principal, Eisenstodt Associates, LLC
Wed 4/26 at 1:30 p.m. – Leveraging the Power of AI: A Guide for Association Executives
Learn how AI can enhance member engagement, streamline operations, and drive growth for your association. Walk away with a list of things you can immediately implement to boost productivity. See how AI can be viewed as a tipping point for associations to achieve even greater relevance with niche data models. Hear about the ethical implications and how they can translate into a more significant opportunity for associations. More info/register.
Host: Insight Guide
Speakers:
- Conor Sibley CTO of Association Analytics (Former CTO of Higher Logic)
- Andy Steggles CEO & Founder of Insight Guide (& Founder of Higher Logic)
Wed 4/26 at 2 p.m. – The Planning Power Play: Using Event Types to Drive ROI
Hear about power plays you can use to make your event program more impactful by using the right event types, deploying the right technology, wowing attendees, and proving ROI. Learn how to analyze event objectives, metrics, and KPIs; build your event program matrix; use different event types to achieve your goals; and develop your event execution toolkit. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MeetingsNet
Speakers: Allyson Keenan, Senior Manager, Event Technology and Operations, and Olivia Pelzer, Senior Client Success Manager, Cvent
Thu 4/27 at 7 a.m. – Innovations in E-Learning
Learn how associations can leverage e-learning to improve the engagement and learning outcomes of their members. The session will cover topics such as gamification, microlearning, personalized learning, and social learning, and attendees will learn about best practices and innovative approaches to e-learning design and delivery. More info/register.
Host: Association of Association Executives
Speakers:
- Lara Le Noan, Project Manager Education, European Psychiatric Association
- Daniel Phillips, Senior Account Executive, Savion Ray
- Paul Walsh EMIAM (Seminar Chair), Seminar Programme Manager, Association of Association Executives
Thu 4/27 at 11 a.m. – Leadership and Learning Series: The Importance of Authenticity as a Leader
Learn what authenticity is and why it’s important, traits of authentic leaders, and next steps for being your authentic self and creating a culture that encourages others to be authentic. 1.0 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Julie Broadway, President & CEO, American Horse Council & American Horse Council Foundation
- Sherry Essig, Executive and Life Coach, Flow Dynamix
Thu 4/27 at 11:45 a.m. – AI & Advocacy: Promise & Pitfalls
Explore the rapidly expanding world of artificial intelligence and its impact on advocacy efforts in today’s digital landscape. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Hosts: ASAE’s Government Relations and Advocacy Professionals Advisory Council and Technology Professionals Advisory Council
Speakers:
- Mark Ames, Director of Government Relations, AIHA
- Carlos Cardenas, Cofounder of Association Latinos and Senior Director of Information Technology, National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists
- Mary Kate Cunningham, Senior Vice President of Public Policy, ASAE
- Gretchen Steenstra, Director, Client Strategy, DelCor Technology Solutions
- Sherry Stanley Whitworth, Managing Director, FiscalNote
Thu 4/27 at 12 p.m. – AWTC Salon: Servant Leadership
Join an interactive exploration of servant leadership. What does it mean to be a servant leader? What is the value of servant leadership? How do you become a servant leader? What resources are available to those who want to learn more? More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Moderators:
- Amreetha Nagaraj, Head of Consulting, East Coast and Canda, Box
- Rhoni Rakos, Director of Digital Strategy, FusionSpan
- Juan Sanchez, CIO, Inteleos
Thu 4/27 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 4/27 at 12 p.m. – Real Membership Growth: Leverage Data to Predict and Prevent Churn
Although membership churn is somewhat expected, you can anticipate where it will happen and lower the churn rate. Learn which factors have the highest impact on retention, how to use data mining to create predictive modeling for member churn, and how to reduce member churn through targeted recruitment, effective onboarding, engagement tracking, and retention practices. More info/register.
Host: Hight Performance Group
Speaker: Cathi Hight, President of Hight Performance Group
Thu 4/27 at 2 p.m. – Brain Fog HQ: Memory Enhancement Techniques for Professional Development
At best, brain fog makes you slower and less efficient. At worst, your performance and cognitive functions are impaired, resulting in memory, management, and task completion problems. Learn life-changing skills that will greatly enhance your professional development and lifelong learning. Discover your mind’s untapped potential to recall information such as names, numbers, presentations, instructions, proverbs, foreign languages, software commands, technical terms, laws, statutes, training material, and even more. More info/register.
Host: Association Universe
Speaker: Chester Santos, Author, Keynote Speaker, Executive Coach, Corporate Trainer, Memory Expert, U.S. Memory Champion
Thu 4/27 at 2 p.m. – 118 Days into the 118th Congress: What’s Happened So Far & What to Expect Next
Hear about key legislative and regulatory priorities for the 118th Congress that can impact your organization in 2023, obstacles that could impede any legislative and regulatory changes in the near-term, and potential cuts to spending and what that means for your organization. More info/register.
Host: CQ
Speakers:
- Peter Cohn, Deputy Editor, CQ and Roll Call
- Jason Dick, Editor in Chief, CQ and Roll Call
- Lindsey McPherson, Senior Reporter, CQ and Roll Call
Fri 4/28 at 11 a.m. – Learn to Maximize Volunteer Engagement
Learn best practices for recruiting volunteers, including outreach strategies and messaging; strategies for managing volunteers, including training, supervision, and recognition; leveraging technology for volunteer management and engagement; and tips for building a culture of volunteerism in your organization. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Sidecar
Speaker: Meagan Gallagher, Director of Programs at OCA, A Special Place for Special Needs
Fri 4/28 at 12 p.m. – Exam Development
Learn how to design and administer exams that are valid and reliable, while incorporating best practices in assessment design. Gain an understanding of the principles of good test construction, explore the different types of exams, and get hands on experience in constructing exams. Learn the importance of item analysis, the role of feedback in exam development, and the need for test security. More info/register.
Host: Leverage Assessments, Inc.
Speaker: Maxwell E. Uduafemhe, PhD.
Fri 4/28 at 4 p.m. – Career Management Toolkit: Best Practices for Leveraging the Power of Professional Coaching
Ever wondered what it’s like to work with a professional coach? Unsure what to expect or how they can help? Want to maximize a professional coaching relationship you already have? Meet five professional coaches, experience two focused sessions, and learn how, when done right, working with a professional coach can help you navigate change, level-up your leadership, map out an action plan to achieve a goal, and much more. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Speakers:
- Jaya Koilpillai Bohlmann, MA, APR, MSMOB, ACC
- Tina Erickson
- Kathy Kiernan, MBA, PCC
- Jeff Koziatek
- Parker Mabry, MA, PCC, BCC
Tue 5/2 at 12 p.m. – Quick Wins (Association Analytics Network)
Join association professionals for peer-led discussions on topics related to data and analytics. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Analytics
Wed 5/3 at 9 a.m. – Best Practices for Managing a Sales Team and Outcomes (PAR Member Meet-Up)
Whether you lead a sales team of one or many, this PAR Member Meet-Up will help you generate ideas on best practices for sales team management. Join us as PAR members share metrics their teams are tracking, effective reporting practices and accountability tactics that lead to successful outcomes. More info/register (members only).
Host: Professionals for association Revenue
Wed 5/3 at 11 a.m. – Successful Volunteer Leadership: The Ultimate Balancing Act
How can you encourage and develop passionate volunteers that make values-centered decisions and put the association and its members first? How can you win as an individual, professional, a volunteer member of an association, all with the same amount of time as the rest of us? Learn the critical leadership skills needed to thrive as a volunteer in all domains of life; the fundamentals behind balancing the needs of the volunteer member, local/chapter, and national organization to achieve maximum synergy and drive excellent results; how to avoid burnout as a volunteer and as a leader; and the art of achieving balance in all areas of life. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Brian Haney, Founder and CEO, The Haney Company
Wed 5/3 at 12 p.m. – The Operational Value of Paying Attention to Culture
Learn how to diagnose unrest and disengagement within your workforce and implement strategies to retain high-caliber talent. Hear how to leverage your teams’ knowledge and personal investment to create solutions tailored to your organization’s needs, deploy effective surveys that mine critical information from your team, what tools to deploy to address various levels of burnout, and how to use this pre-Return to Work Movement moment to build a culture of attraction and employee evangelists who recruit high-caliber talent. More info/register.
Host: Association Insights in Old Town
Speaker: Lizabeth Wesely-Casella, Founder and CEO of L-12 Services
Thu 5/4 at 11 a.m. – What Do Sponsors Really, Really Want?
Many planners don’t know how to drive the onsite engagement sponsors crave—jeopardizing the financial support, credibility, and added value they bring to events. Logos and banner ads are a great start, but a home-run sponsor engagement program will guarantee sponsors will return over and over. Learn how to create engaging digital sponsorship opportunities, increase sponsor value by keeping them top of mind in between sessions, drive attendee-sponsor engagement by manipulating show floor traffic, and help sponsors smash their lead goals by more efficiently qualifying leads onsite. More info/register.
Host: EventMobi
Speakers: Alistair Fernandes, Event Tech Manager; Thorben Grosser, VP of Product Marketing; and Christine Mack, Manager, Customer Success, EventMobi
Thu 5/4 at 11 a.m. – Streamline and Simplify: Multimedia Publishing Made Easy for Associations
Learn how to shift from an article first to a multimedia publishing organization. Hear about tools to make multimedia publishing possible and affordable, how to determine what mediums to publish your content, and when to use all mediums. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers: Jeff Baker, Association Solutions, and Dan Stevens, President, WorkerBee.TV
Thu 5/4 at 2 p.m. – Unleashing the Power of Data: Debunking Myths and Maximizing Impact
Learn how to make sense of managing and realistically using your data to power your organization. See how a data analytics expert works with an association executive to make it all happen. Discover how the live data you have on hand now is worth more per record today than any other time in your organization’s history, how good data management is driving member-led product improvement, get a mindset that data is truly an asset—and it’s appreciating, and how data can be your crystal ball to success. More info/register.
Host: 501Works
Speakers:
- Joe Colangelo, CEO and Co-Founder of Bear Analytics
- Chris Love, Vice President, Information Technology, Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed)
- James Marquis, CIO, 501Works
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, Twitter or LinkedIn by Wednesday afternoon the week before it’s scheduled.
Creative Commons licensed photo by Rodion Kutsaiev via Unsplash
Association Brain Food 