The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Member company employees. I know how frustrating it is when your association is only connected with a small percentage of employees at member companies. Granted, because of their job, some aren’t your target market, but many are. WBT Systems suggests ways to find these folks and introduce them to your association and education programs.
Gen Z values. In part 2 of this series, MemberSuite describes five more values that Gen Z holds dear. They explain how your association can align with these values, so you have a better chance of drawing this generation closer as attendees, customers, or members.
Instructional design. Blue Sky eLearn’s introduction to instructional design essentials will tell you how to determine the educational needs of your market, develop learning objectives and assessment questions, repurpose existing content, decide on a delivery format, and make a design plan.
Classism bias. Among all our known biases, this one has flown under the radar and is often the root cause of what appears to be a different bias. Do you or your co-workers treat people differently who are less educated than you? Maybe they speak differently or wear clothes you wouldn’t wear? Latoya James Torrance at Chief explains how to recognize and mitigate the effects of classism in the workplace.
Twitter. I still enjoy Twitter, maybe because I don’t follow people who enrage me—plus, I’m not easily enraged. The experience seems the same as it always was, no better, no worse. Chelsea Brasted at Sidecar suggests some considerations before you decide whether to bug out on Twitter.
Association podcasts. Launching a podcast isn’t as daunting as it used to be, thanks to resources and people who can help you get started, like Association Briefings. They explain how podcasts can benefit associations and their audiences, provide tips for starting an association podcast, and review the planning process and issues to consider before you dive in.
Quick hits
Forget every negative insinuation I’ve ever made about brainstorming… this is a brilliant exercise. Extreme questions to trigger new, better ideas. (Jason Cohen, A Smart Bear)
Unemployed professionals are flooded with fake job offers—this scourge is happening to people beyond the tech sector. (Imani Moise, The Wall Street Journal—free link)
Should writers take limited attention spans into account when they craft sentences? (Charles Schifano, Desk Notes)
Good eats
Skip down to the list of free educational events if you prefer takeout.
I think we might need a break from soup. Two weekends ago, I made caldo verde, then Jim made catfish and shrimp gumbo, and last weekend I made salmon chowder—with buttermilk cornbread on the side. All of them were spectacular but I’m thinking a solid protein for this weekend.
A busy day in the kitchen on Sunday… I made gingerbread granola and then pinto beans in the pressure cooker. When the beans were done, I mixed them into (while smooshing some too) sautéed onions, poblano, jalapeño, and garlic. They’ve been appearing in breakfast/lunch burritos with avocado, fried egg, hot sauce, and, sometimes, tomato.
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 1/27 at 4 p.m.* – Career Coach Series: Networking & Its Importance in Your Career Journey
Networking has never been more important than now. While it is always good to stay connected to your network, it is essential as you seek to advance your career and professional experiences. Hear about the importance of using and growing your network to enhance your career journey. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Speaker: Tina Erickson, Erickson Coaching & Consulting
*All events are online at Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.
Fri 1/27 at 5:30 p.m. – Black Association Executives 2023 Networking Kickoff (Reston VA)
2023 promises to be one of growth, expanding networking and fun. We rounded out 2022 with a small meet-up in DC and want to keep the momentum going with a networking meet-up in Reston, VA. Let’s catch up on what everyone is doing and stay in contact this year in support of our community. Location: Reston VA. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Black Association Executives
Mon 1/30 at 8 a.m. – Setting Wellness Goals (Nonprofit Conversations with Cecilia Sepp, CAE)
Nonprofit Conversations features guests from around the world discussing topics of interest to the nonprofit community. Episodes publish at 8 a.m. on Mondays and can be found on all major podcast platforms.
Guest: Fern Carbonell
Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC
Mon 1/30 at 1 p.m. – Trailblaze Without the Risk: 2023/2024’s Hottest Design Trends
0.5 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MPI
Mon 1/30 at 2 p.m. – Women in Associations LIVE!
Building on the enthusiasm for our Women in Associations webinar in 2022, we’re thrilled to have four pioneers in the association world join us again to continue the conversation on LinkedIn. We’ll talk about the barriers to female leadership in associations, how to overcome those barriers, and how to recognize and address your own implicit bias so you’re better positioned to dismantle the barriers for others. More info/register.
Host: Higher Logic
Speakers:
- Dawn Sweeney, Strategic Partner at JLL, Former President & CEO of National Restaurant Association
- Artesha Moore, FASAE, CAE, President and CEO at Association Forum
- Kim Nicholl-Keane, M.Ed., CAE, CMP, Deputy Executive Director, CPCU Society, The Institutes, Risk and Insurance Knowledge Group
- Beth Arritt, President & CEO, The Arritt Group
- Erika Jolly Brookes (moderator), Chief Marketing Officer, Higher Logic
Tue 1/31 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Virtual Platforms Demo Day
The demand for virtual and hybrid events remains in 2023, which means associations must keep up with the latest tools to meet member expectations. We narrowed down the ones you need to check out as you map out your events for the year. Get in-depth presentations from a select group of industry partners who will answer your questions and help you discover how to create unique and seamless virtual events for your members. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Tue 1/31, Wed 2/1 and Thu 2/2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Live Review
This free multi-day, online event allows you to efficiently and effectively see targeted demos of learning management systems aligned to serving organizations that market and sell adult lifelong learning, continuing education, and professional development. Each learning platform will be demonstrated in its own session, and each day will include educational sessions to help you better understand the current state of learntech and how to choose a platform to fit your needs. More info/register.
Host: Tagoras
Tue 1/31 at 11 a.m. – Q&A: Nurturing Business Development to Sell the Value of your Association
Learn why it’s important to have dedicated business development staff, how to create value that drives sales through business development, create an environment that motivates sales staff, and create a culture where mission- and money-driven staff cohesively work together. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Dianne Vance, Director, Sales And Business Development, American Occupational Therapy Association
- Tom Morrison, Chief Energy Officer, Metal Treating Institute Management
Tue 1/31 at 11 a.m. – Your Next AMS: Build versus Buy
Selection experts will dissect the age-old question of whether to build or buy your next association management system. Learn what you need to know about both approaches before making this critical decision, including: what is the difference between build versus buy, how the scale and size of an organization can affect the effectiveness of the “build” and “buy” approaches, the impact and risk of the project on your organization, and how to plan for a successful transition to your new member management system. More info/register.
Host: Nimble AMS
Speakers:
- Wes Trochlil, Founder, Effective Database Management
- Gretchen Steenstra, Director of Client Strategy, Delcor
- Moira Edwards, President, Ellipsis Partners LLC
- Jim Pearson, Senior Consultant, Ellipsis Partners LLC
- Jeff Golembiewski, Vice President of Business Solutions and Partnerships, Community Brands
Tue 1/31 at 1 p.m. – How to Grow Your Membership and Make Sure They Come Back Begging for More
Many associations were hit hard over the last few years, and membership has declined. The best associations are flat or growing marginally. Learn how to grow and retain members better by understanding their needs one member at a time by using the conversational engagement approach of ASK, CAPTURE, ACT. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Dave Will, Co-Founder and CEO, PropFuel
Wed 2/1 at 7 a.m. – Creating an Agile Association
Learn how to create an association that can quickly respond to changes and capitalize on opportunities. Discover best practices, real-life examples and practical advice on how to make your association more responsive, resilient and ready for the future. Hear how to create a culture of innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement. More info/register (subscribe first).
Host: Association of Association Executives
Speakers:
- John Collins, Executive Director, International Fruit and Vegetable Juice Association
- Tessie Laub, Executive Director, International Society of Paediatric Oncology
- Paul Walsh EMIAM (moderator), Seminar Programme Manager, Association of Association Executives
Wed 2/1 and Thu 2/2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Live Review
This free multi-day, online event allows you to efficiently and effectively see targeted demos of learning management systems aligned to serving organizations that market and sell adult lifelong learning, continuing education, and professional development. Each learning platform will be demonstrated in its own session, and each day will include educational sessions to help you better understand the current state of learntech and how to choose a platform to fit your needs. More info/register.
Host: Tagoras
Wed 2/1 at 11 a.m. – The Power of Zapier
1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Keith Hunter, President and CEO, Armstrong Enterprise Communications
Wed 2/1 at 12 p.m. – 10-1/2 Basic Things Every Association Executive Should Know About the Law
Hear strategies and tips to better understand your association and to help alleviate the legal review “black hole.” 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Insights in Old Town
Speaker: Andy Goldman, YourInHouseLaw
Wed 2/1 at 1 p.m. – A Song for the Unsung: Leadership at any Level
Using the fundamentals of Courageous Leadership: Authenticity, Resilience, Emotional Intelligence, Self-Discipline, and Commitment to Purpose, learn how to find you own power to be change agents as well as coaches, mentors, and allies to empower others. Hear from a knowledgeable panel representing various career stages as they share their lessons learned and suggestions to address obstacles and opportunities. Get inspired to commit to lifelong learning, community collaboration, and strategic thinking habits to become the hero of your own association story. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Cynthia Young, CAE, Executive Director, American Art Therapy Association
- Terri Cochran, Senior Manager, Member Services, American Art Therapy Association
- Maricel Laquindanum, Operations Coordinator, American Art Therapy Association
- Kelli Baxter, Executive Director, National Utility Contractors Association of Washington, DC
- Heather Wakefield, Senior Director of Program Strategy, Development, and Design, Council on Undergraduate Research
Wed 2/1 at 3 p.m. – Playing To Your Members’ Strengths – Forming Association Committees
Committees play a vital role in steering associations towards efficiently achieving goals. Whether you are forming one or are looking to realign your existing committee structure, this panel will inspire you with insights and best practices when planning out your committees. Learn how you can accomplish your organization’s needs through well-established and productive committees. More info/register.
Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing
Speakers:
- Mark Lewis, MS, CAE, CVA, Director of Membership at Raybourn Group International
- Cheryl Williams, Senior Consultant at Tecker International
- DeLaine Bender, CAE, Vice President of AMR Management Services
- Liz Wooten-Reschke, President & CEO of Connect For More
Thu 2/2 at 7 a.m. – Positioning Your Event as a Brand
Learn how to develop a strong event brand that connects with your target audience and reflects your association’s vision and advocacy objectives. Hear about key concepts and real-life examples, ask questions, and share your own insights with other association executives. More info/register (subscribe first).
Host: Association of Association Executives
Speakers:
- Pieter Swart CMP CMM, Business Events Strategist and Managing Director, Conference Consultancy
- Paul Walsh EMIAM (moderator), Seminar Programme Manager, Association of Association Executives
Thu 2/2 at 10 a.m. – Redesigning Your Association Website for Success
Hear expert tips and get your questions answered about: how to get started on a website redesign, budgeting for a redesign, getting the best results, designing your RFP, and choosing the best partner. More info/register.
Host: Results Direct | RD Mobile
Speakers: Dan Scheeler, CAE, EVP Client Engagement; Laura Johnson Graham, Sr Solutions Consultant; and Cecilia Satovich, Solutions Consultant, Results Direct | RD Mobile
Thu 2/2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Live Review
This free multi-day, online event allows you to efficiently and effectively see targeted demos of learning management systems aligned to serving organizations that market and sell adult lifelong learning, continuing education, and professional development. Each learning platform will be demonstrated in its own session, and each day will include educational sessions to help you better understand the current state of learntech and how to choose a platform to fit your needs. More info/register.
Host: Tagoras
Thu 2/2 at 11 a.m. – Are You Safeguarding Your Organization? Guide To Fraud Prevention
Learn how to reduce the likelihood of internal fraud, implement fraud prevention, and probe weaknesses that leave you vulnerable to bad actors. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Julie Broadway, President & CEO, American Horse Council & American Horse Council Foundation
- Greg Plotts, Partner, Aronson LLC
Thu 2/2 at 12 p.m. – Making Connections: Supercharging Your Association’s Networking Activities
Associations bank on the relationships built by their members amongst themselves and the communities they support. This is one of the many reasons why associations hold regular networking events. These events also function as community engagement activities that promote membership and new-found supporters. Learn how associations can further their causes through the power of networking. More info/register.
Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing
Speakers:
- Vinnu Deshetty, Founder and CEO of EVA
- Lee Gimpel, Founder of Better Meetings
- Teri Carden, Creator of Non Dues-a-Palooza and ReviewMyAMS
Thu 2/2 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 2/2 at 1 p.m. – The Future of Data Breach Risk Management: Response and Recovery
Having an annually updated response and recovery plan will help your organization successfully manage a data breach incident. Learn about regulatory requirements including state breach notification laws, FTC Red Flags Rule, HIPAA HITECH data breach requirements, PCI Data Security Standards, and COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act). Hear data breach risk management recommendations for affected individuals including employees and customers and data breach response and best practices. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Mark Pribish, Practice Leader, Identity Theft and Data Breach Solutions at Vero
Fri 2/3 at 4 p.m. – Diversity Discussion Series: Association Leadership Panel
Join us for a moderated panel discussion on association leadership experiences in honor of Black History Month and as the first session in our Diversity Discussion Series. Panelists will share their wins, opportunities and resources they’ve utilized throughout their careers to achieve success. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Speakers:
- Reggie Henry, CAE, Chief Information and Performance Excellence Officer at ASAE
- Tia Perry, Director of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity at Associated Builders and Contractors
- Gary Roebuck, MS, MOA, CAE, Deputy Executive Director at the Association of Research Libraries
- Anikia Brown, CAE, MS (moderator), Senior Marketing Manager at the National Alliance of Mental Illness
Tue 2/7 at 8 a.m. – Morning Coffee with BAE
Start your day with a casual coffee chat on Zoom with your favorite people. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Black Association Executives
Tue 2/7 at 11 a.m. – Newsletter Best Practices
Learn the dos and don’ts when it comes to your email communication pieces, how to determine if your data needs to be cleaned and what to look out for in your bounce report, and how to use your email communications to your advantage with personalization, surveys and more. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Alfred McKelvy III, Executive VP of Strategic Partnerships, Multiview
Tue 2/7 at 12 p.m. – Data Ethics (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 2/7 at 1 p.m. – Leadership Lessons from Martial Arts
The martial arts teach discipline, respect and technique. What can they teach us about leadership? Quite a lot. Hear five leadership lessons Joanna’s learned from studying two martial arts, TaeKwonDo and HapKiDo: why it’s useful to think of your staff as students with different degrees of skill levels (belts), how to have a conversation with a staff member who needs to switch jobs or seriously upgrade their skills (change to a new martial art), and how to teach your staff that they can be and should be leaders and followers at the same time. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Joanna Pineda, CEO & Chief Troublemaker of Matrix Group
Tue 2/7 at 2 p.m. – Charge Members For What You’re Worth
Learn how to uncover the value you offer, conduct market research to discover expanded opportunities, attach the right price to the value your organization provides, and communicate it to your audience. More info/register.
Host: Grype
Speaker: Dr. Michael Tatonetti, Founder and CEO, Pricing for Associations
Wed 2/8 at 11 a.m. – Association Business Development Meet-Up: Beat the Competition with Compelling Sales Materials
Visualizing an outcome is a key component in the buying process. As buying options continue to increase, organizations that can show their customers a path forward will stand out from the competition. That’s where sales materials come in: utilizing the right ones can help turn customers into partners. Learn about sales materials that work, share ideas and ask questions. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Professionals for Association Revenue
Facilitator: Sean Soth, Founder and Leadership Advisory Board Chair of Professionals for Association Revenue
Wed 2/8 at 11 a.m. – Cybersecurity Questions You Should Be Asking
As critical as this topic is for an organization’s future and brand reputation, it is one of the least understood by organization leaders. This webinar cuts through the tech-talk and explains the must-know facts about cybersecurity risks, what leaders need to understand, what questions to ask, and how to ensure your IT team is headed in the right direction at an adequate pace. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Brian Scott, President, CIO, ClearTone Consulting LLC
Thu 2/9 at 11 a.m. – Marketing Artificial Intelligence in Action
Learn about low-lift, low-cost AI tools, specific to the marketing, membership, and communications functions, you can begin experimenting with right away at your organization. Hear about AI marketing tools such as SEO/search optimization tools that use NLP for semantic-powered inline optimization as well as search volume recommendations; email tools that leverage AI for content recommendation and send time optimization; content generation and inline editing tools; image and other content generation tools; and AI-powered audio editing tools. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Erica Salm Rench, MBA, COO, Rasa.io
Thu 2/9 at 12 p.m. – Beyond Personality Type: How CliftonStrengths Can Accelerate Your Professional Success
There are several tools in the marketplace that evaluate personality, work style, and ambition, including CliftonStrengths, a Gallup product that can help measure indicators where you can excel and develop. Learn about
CliftonStrengths and how to best use its results. Hear about other personality evaluations and when a participant may experience them. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Speaker: Rebecca Achurch, Founder and CEO of Achurch Consulting and a certified CliftonStrengths coach
Thu 2/9 at 12 p.m. – Drowning in Data: Focus on These 5 Key Event Data Points That Affect Your Whole Association
Learn what event data points are the most beneficial to associations. Explore how to use event data to make key strategic decisions that can help you achieve enhanced member engagement and experiences that attendees keep coming back to. More info/register.
Host: .orgCommunity
Speaker: Vinnu Deshetty, the Founder and CEO of EVA – Event Tech Hub
Thu 2/9 at 2 p.m. – AMS Selection from the Trenches
Hear the real-life stories of two associations who just finished the selection process and how they managed and engaged their SME team and CEO to help with selection. Learn tips on how to handle your upcoming software selection process for an AMS or other key systems (LMS, communities, financial system, MSP) that you may plan to select in 2023. Get your questions about AMS selection answered by those who just went through the process. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: 501 Works
Speakers:
- Joye Blanscett, Executive Director of Operations, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association
- Annie A. Coldstream, Vice President of Member Engagement and HR, Massachusetts Bankers Association
Fri 2/10 at 12 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: Moira Edwards, MS, CAE, owner and president of Ellipsis Partners LLC
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 by Wednesday afternoon the week before it’s scheduled.
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