The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Association Brain Food is taking off next Friday, July 28 because I’m away all week at my state SAE conference and a family beach vacation. The next edition will go live on Friday, August 4.
Member education. It’s impossible to predict the skills we’ll rely on in ten years. Some of them don’t even exist now. But TopClass LMS/WBT Systems describes ten skills your members need to learn right now. See how you measure up!
Governance. McKinley Advisors surveyed association executives to understand the characteristics and behaviors that drive next-level board performance and strategic agility. In their report, Next-Level Governance™: Leading with Strategic Agility, they describe the critical elements for reinventing governance so you can position your association to deliver value to your members and industry amidst any disruption.
Workplace culture. You surely understand the extent to which your organization’s culture influences its success. But where and how do you even begin to improve that culture? Propel explains how a culture assessment can reveal your organization’s change readiness and its place on the cultural spectrum from traditional to contemporary to futurist.
Food as fuel for attendees. As someone who’s always thinking about my next meal, Jeffrey Cufaude speaks to my heart (yes, my stomach too) when he encourages facilitators not to overlook food when planning a program. He explains how food is fuel for enhanced attendee energy, attention and community.
AI, inventions and work. I like Benedict Evans’ historical approach to AI and the automation of work. He reminds us that “every time we go through a wave of automation, whole classes of jobs go away, but new classes of jobs get created.” These are good times, folks!
Online community. Online communities are extremely popular with younger audiences. Nimble AMS explains how an online community can help you attract, engage and retain members. They also provide a useful plan for launching and managing a community.
Threads. Twitter lost its magic when celebrities and partisan journalists arrived years ago, and then everyone, including me, started scheduling tweets. But I still enjoy seeing what flows through my home stream because the tweets are from people I actually follow. Unlike on Threads, which, Kate Lindsay at Embedded says, is “a mecca of Millennial brain rot.” Yeah, it sucks.
Just the facts. “The fact is a recent invention,” says Jon Askonas at The New Atlantis. I’d add “relatively” since he traces them back to the 17th century. “The rise of facts was the triumph of a certain kind of shared empirical evidence over personal experience, deduction from preconceived ideas, and authoritative diktat.” He describes the rise of facts—a wonderful trip through history—and their replacement in our age by manipulable data points.
Good eats
Skip down to the list of free educational events if you prefer takeout.
Shrimp scampi with tomatoes and corn is summer in a bowl. But please only buy American shrimp and not that nasty frozen slave-labor Asian crap—google it. Shrimp should be a luxury.
You don’t see boldly flavored ribbonfish that often. When I do, I like giving it the puttanesca treatment. On the side, summer veggie pesto with zucchini, carrot, broccoli stem, red bell, poblano and onion.
A new party dish: sheet pan quesadillas. I added poblano, jalapeno and garlic to the mix. It’d be smashing with ground chorizo or venison (instead of beef) or filled with Korean-style gochujang pulled pork.
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 7/21 at 1 p.m.* – Cracking the Value Code: Uncovering Strategies for Pricing Your Learning Programs
When you start taking a hard look at your learning product landscape, common conundrums around “value” and “pricing” often surface. Learn about a 5-step method for pricing your learning programs and selling the value to get buy-in from your board. This 5-step process can even be applied to sponsorship, membership, certification, education, in-person events, virtual events, or the next big thing your team creates. 0.75 CAE credit. More info/register
Host: Blue Sky eLearn
Speaker: Dr. Michael Tatonetti, Founder and CEO, Pricing for Associations
*All events are online at Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.
Fri 7/21 at 4 p.m. – Nonprofit Management Series: Finance and Budgeting
Many professionals in the association and nonprofit space have never been fully exposed to financial statements, budgeting, and how to be a proper steward of your organization’s resources. Learn the basics of nonprofit finance, including how to read your budget to actual monthly financial statements, as well as understanding the foundations to a budget, trends in association finances, and how to generally feel more comfortable talking about numbers. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Speaker: Rob Batarla, MBA, CPA, Chief Financial Officer of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Mon 7/24 at 8 a.m. – Post-Lockdown Membership Recruitment (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: Mark Sterne
Tue 7/25 at 11 a.m. – The Future of Digital Communication Management
Explore ways your association can leverage new technologies like AI to enhance overall member experience, optimize communications across multiple platforms, and ultimately increase revenue. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers: Brian Miller, VP, Strategic Partnerships, and Bill Sheehan, VP, Strategic Partnerships, Multiview
Tue 7/25 at 12 p.m. – ASAE Tech Tuesdays: Technology Strategy
Join us as we consider these three questions: What is IT’s role/accountability in developing an enterprise-wide technology strategy for their organization? What is IT’s accountability/role in developing overall strategy for their organization? What are the barriers in developing a formal technology strategy in your organization? More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Facilitators:
- Dave Coriale, CAE, President, DelCor Technology Solutions
- Reggie Henry, CAE, Chief Information and Performance Excellence Officer, ASAE
Tue 7/25 at 1 p.m. – AWTC Salon: The Art of Saying No
Saying no at the right times is essential for professional success (and personal fulfillment) and knowing when and how to say no can be challenging. Join an interactive conversation about saying no. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Speakers:
- Tori Miller Liu, MBA, FASAE, CAE, President & CEO of the Association for Intelligent Information Management
- Alex Mouw, CAE, Principal Strategic Advisor for Amazon Web Services
Tue 7/25 at 2 p.m. – Best Practices for Engaging Your Board Throughout the Executive Search Process
Learn about board and search committee roles and responsibilities, effective communication strategies to keep board members and staff informed and engaged throughout the search process, techniques to ensure the board’s priorities are reflected in the candidate selection criteria, involving board members in engaging with executive finalists to provide additional input, harnessing the board’s unique perspectives and diverse skill sets to make informed decisions, strategies for fostering a positive and collaborative relationship between the board and the newly appointed executive, and challenges and obstacles that may arise during the executive search process and how to address them proactively. More info/register.
Host: Nonprofit HR
Speakers:
- Hakimu Davidson, MBA, Senior Consultant, Search, Impact Search Advisors by Nonprofit HR
- Danisha Martin, MBA, CSC, Team Leader & Senior, Consultant, Search, Impact Search Advisors by Nonprofit HR
- Salima Moolji, Senior Consultant, Search, Impact Search Advisors by Nonprofit HR
- Bert Ruiz, MS, Managing Director, Impact Search Advisors by Nonprofit HR
Wed 7/26 at 11 a.m. – Generative AI and Chat GPT: Uses, Pros, and Cons for Associations
Get up to speed on the current and future uses of generative AI and ChatGPT for associations. Learn how to efficiently assess business value across all association processes, what advantages are associated with applying generative AI technology to streamline workflows, and how to keep your association ahead of the curve by learning about potential risks and challenges. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Lisa Rau, PhD, Founder, Chief Growth Officer, Fíonta
Wed 7/26 at 1 p.m. – Expert Series: Your Non-Dues Revenue Initiatives are Only as Good as Your User Journeys
Nine times out of ten, when a launch falls flat, it’s not your offering that’s the problem, it’s the user journey to get there: to find, to purchase, to register. Learn how simply focusing on your member journeys can increase conversions and drive serious revenue for your organization. Hear how to audit your current customer and member journeys, how to determine where the pain points are, ways to use design to make an experience intuitive and smooth, how crossing systems (e.g., from CMS to CRM or AMS to LMS) is often where user experiences go south and what to do about it, and recent examples of user experiences optimized for clients and what we learned as a result. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Non Due$-A-Palooza
Speaker: Joanna Pineda, CEO & Chief Troublemaker, Matrix Group
Wed 7/26 at 1 p.m. – Crystal Ball Predictions for the Future of Associations
Find out what the panelists are seeing in their professions and with their memberships and what this means for associations moving forward. Hear about the impact of the current value of time and how this relates to associations; what AI means for associations and how it will impact staffing for association professionals; where associations should focus their attention on data; and how associations can better support their members and attendees with opportunities for learning in a new era of expectations. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Fonteva
Speakers:
- Lowell Aplebaum, FASAE, CAE, CPF, Chief Executive Officer, Vista Cova
- Bailey Kasten, CAE, ICE-CPP, Chief Data Officer, Design-Build Institute of America
- Kimberly Mosley, Executive Director, Digital Analytics Association
- Pete Pomilio, Chief Executive Officer, American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nurses & Society of Urologic Nurses
Wed 7/26 at 1 p.m. – Unveiling the Dark Side: Navigating the Risks and Dangers of Artificial Intelligence
For each of these issues—sensitive data breaches, incomplete/compromised answers, and legal compliance objectives—we will establish the risk and discuss how we can operate in this rapidly evolving technology space, while applying controls to keep your organization and users safe. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: James Nicholas, VP of IT, Tigunia
Wed 7/26 at 1 p.m. – UnPAC’d: Navigating Government Affairs Without or With a Small PAC
1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Government Relations and Advocacy Professionals Advisory Council
Speakers:
- John Boling, Director Of Government Relations, International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants
- James A. Kahl, Partner, Co-Chair of Associations, Nonprofits and Political Organizations Section, Whiteford
- Michelle Ly (moderator), Director of Advocacy, NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association
Wed 7/26 at 1 p.m. – Contract Strategies for the Evolving Marketplace
Learn about our current marketplace and how it affects a planners’ strategy during negotiations, key contract clauses and how to defend them to benefit your organization’s bottom line, and variables that the hotels consider when reviewing your overall business value. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Meetings Today
Speaker: Robyn Mietkiewicz, strategic partner at INNOV8 Meetings + Events
Wed 7/26 at 2 p.m. – “Spilling the Tea” on Gen Z as Your Future Members & Employees
Look beyond sweeping generalizations and instead focus on truly understanding how current world events are shaping the views, behaviors, and expectations of young professionals today. Get a better understanding of what they need and want, and how you can best “meet them in the middle.” You don’t need to ditch your entire strategic playbook, but you may need to make some adjustments to reach and engage them, while being prepared to mentor them through an era of unprecedented uncertainty. More info/register.
Host: Omnipress
Speaker: Tracy Grzybowski, Director of Marketing, Omnipress
Thu 7/27 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
Fri 7/28 at 4 p.m. – Diversity Discussion: 4-Gen Leadership: Thriving in a Multi-gen Workforce
Learn about the characteristics of the four generations, how the generations formed, and the new generation gaps that have emerged with the advent of the internet-based society. Hear tips to recruit and retain these generations. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Speakers:
- Sami Scarpitti, multigenerational workplace consultant
- Mark White, author, 5-Gen Leadership: Leading 5 Generations in Schools in the 2020s, and adjunct instructor at Muskingum University and Ashland University
Mon 7/31 at 8 a.m. – Quarterly Wellness Topic (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: Fern Carbonell
Tue 8/1 at 12 p.m. – Using Data to Evaluate Product Performance (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
Tue 8/1 at 2 p.m. – What Associations Need to Know About Generative AI
Whether you feel excitement or trepidation about generative AI, the fact is, you can’t ignore it. Learn about AI tools, ideas for how generative AI can be useful for your association, the risks of using generative AI, including accuracy, data privacy, legal considerations, and more. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Higher Logic
Speakers:
- Mitch Eisen, CTO and Co-Founder, Contentware
- Carrie Mahon, Chief Marketing Officer, Unanet
- Dave Rahmoeller, Director of Digital Campaigns at The American Speech Language Hearing Association
- Kelly Whelan (moderator), Content Marketing Manager, Higher Logic
Wed 8/2 at 11 a.m. – Shifting Paradigms: Driving Association Growth Through a Content-Led Marketing Approach
Learn about the inherent potential of a strategic, content-first approach to marketing, focusing on practical methods of implementation and the impressive results this strategy can deliver. With live examples, case studies, and expert insights, explore the role of compelling, resonant content in fostering member engagement, bolstering growth, and enhancing the overall impact of your association. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Bill Mcglade, President, Community Leaders Institute & epIQ Creative Group
Wed 8/2 at 12 p.m. – Attract and Retain Millennials and Gen Z Using Mobile Technologies
The greatest opportunity for attracting new members and member retention is Millennials and Generation Z. Associations not offering mobile technologies to reach these generations will miss the opportunity to engage and recruit them. Learn about the next steps for implementing mobile as a must-have technology. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Insights in Old Town
Speaker: Mark Wallach, Director, Mobile Business Development for Results Direct
Wed 8/2 at 12 p.m. – Associated and Engaged: Member Engagement Strategies for Associations
Engaging and retaining members is crucial for associations to thrive in today’s competitive landscape. Cultivating a vibrant and active membership requires careful strategizing and execution. Discover innovative approaches to enhance member engagement. More info/register.
Host: Nexus Marketing Agency
Speakers:
- Traci King, VP of Sales, Event Tech at Cadmium
- Thomas McClintock, Senior Client Services Manager at Empowered Margins, Inc.
- Benjamin Muscolino, Founder & CEO at Breezio
- Erica Salm Rench, COO at Rasa.io
- Chris Vaughan, Chief Strategy Officer at Sequence Consulting
Thu 8/3 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 8/3 at 2 p.m. – Privacy 101: Understanding the Landscape
As cyber threats continue to grow, five states—Virginia, California, Colorado, Connecticut, and Utah—have or will implement new state privacy laws in 2023. Hear how these new laws may impact your association’s ability to collect and manage personal data for members, prospects, and stakeholders. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: 501C Works
Fri 8/4 at 10 a.m. – Association Learning Strategy | Coffee with Innovators: Association Design Circle
Every month, an association leader leads a conversation on an association innovation topic. Our topic this month is association learning strategy. More info/register.
Host: Product Design Community
Facilitator: Nancy Bacon, founder, Nancy Bacon Consulting
Sat 8/5 at 4 p.m. – AWTC Happy Hour at ASAE Annual (Atlanta GA)
connect with old and new friends before heading to the ASAE Opening Reception, a short walk away. Location: Atlanta GA. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Mon 8/7 at 6 p.m. – Fridays@4 Meet and Greet at ASAE (Atlanta GA)
This will be a “Dutch-treat” dinner at a restaurant within walking distance of the conference center. Location: Atlanta GA. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Wed 8/9 at 9 a.m. – Creating Year-Round Opportunities from Your Association Event
Event attendees are looking for new ways to learn, connect and experience what your association has to offer. But the event itself is just the beginning! Successfully engaging the event attendees you had and the event attendees you want takes a year-round approach. Join this PAR Member Meet-Up to share how your association creates opportunities before, during and after your annual event. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register (PAR members only).
Host: Professionals for Association Revenue
Thu 8/10 at 9:30 a.m. – Small Staff Percolator
A new 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
Fri 8/11 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: Sarah Lewis, Senior WordPress Developer at Yoko Co.
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 of a barred owl—one sits in a tree near our deck, stalking our cats at dusk every night—by Patrice Bouchard via Unsplash
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