The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Professional development. You’re more likely to go to the gym if you’re following a workout plan designed by a trainer, right? Likewise, members and customers are more likely to attend education programs when they’re following a professional learning plan. WBT Systems explains how professional learning plans benefit both your association and members and how to get them going.
Sunsetting programs. Avenue M writes about “the complex journey of phasing out obsolete programs in associations,” especially in the face of resistance. They suggest questions to ask before terminating a program and offer advice for the sunsetting process.
Board management. In an article at the Institute of Corporate Directors, Jeff De Cagna of Foresight First says intentional learning is a non-negotiable requirement for board members. One overlooked source of intentional learning is boardroom dissent. I agree. Healthy human dissent—“sharing contrarian or divergent perspectives”—should be normalized again. Too many people, perhaps following the poor example of politicians and media, have forgotten how to do this respectfully.
Change readiness. Nine times out of ten, humans deserve the blame for technology that doesn’t live up to expectations. Starkweather Association Services’ shares best practices for change readiness that will help you understand and minimize the complications your people might bring to technology or any other change project. Change management chops can make a tremendous difference for projects and for your career.
Event data. PCMA Convene recaps a Convening Leaders 2023 session led by Joe Colangelo of Bear Analytics: “From Stats to Stories—Making Event Data Work for You.” It’s interesting to see how two organizations rely differently on data to market their event to attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors.
Gen Z, AI and marketing. Bill Sheehan at Multiview shares his top takeaways from ASAE’s 2023 MM&C conference related to Gen Z, AI and marketing—fun topics. Differentiate yourself and don’t be afraid to try new things.
Customer/member personas. Mercury Creative Group explains why you should have an ideal buyer in mind when crafting marketing content. They guide you through the steps for creating a persona or avatar who represents a segment of your target audience.
Good eats
Skip down to the list of free educational events if you prefer takeout.
My sister-in-law gave us a dozen fresh figs, so I made Ina Garten’s fresh fig and ricotta cake, a quick and easy recipe. I whipped heavy cream with a little maple syrup for a topping. But I guess that wasn’t good enough because the next night Jim came home with a pint of vanilla bean ice cream.
A big hit around here is salmon collard curry. You can use any fish (or shrimp) and red or green Indian or Thai curry paste. This time, I added red and orange bell pepper, poblano pepper, garlic, a mix of collards, spinach and arugula, basil, mint and cilantro to the recipe.
A simple spiced breadcrumb topping is always good on fish fillets, especially speckled sea trout. I added fresh basil to the recipe because I had to prune my plants and didn’t have enough for a batch of pesto. On the side, roasted broccoli with parmesan, garlic powder and New Mexican ground chile.
After my periodontal surgery a few months ago, my seafood share included soft shell crabs. But since I was on a liquid diet, I stashed them in the freezer. Defrosted, dried, dusted with flour and sautéed with butter, nothing is better. We enjoyed another favorite for our main dish: creamy piccata swordfish. I added shallots at the start and basil (instead of parsley) and parmesan cheese at the end.
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 7/14 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: Wendy Sahli, Director of Technology, Regulatory Affairs Professional Society
*All events are online at Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.
Fri 7/14 at 4 p.m. – CEO’s First 90 Days: Breathing Tips for the Other End of the Fire Hose (Book Discussion)
Whether you’re considering applying for your first CEO job or have already signed a contract, preparing for your arrival is one of the most important things you can do. You only get one shot at doing it well and being perceived as masterful. Leading a new business, moving from a company CEO to a non-profit CEO, or vice versa, will call into demand differing skill sets and understanding nuances of how work gets done. Join a discussion of this free e-book (CEO’s First 90 Days) from Cynthia Mills. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Mon 7/17 at 8 a.m. – Promoting Your Consultant Practice (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: Michael Wyland, Owner/Partner, Sumption & Wyland
Mon 7/17 at 12 p.m. – ASAE Membership Monday
A poll will be sent to determine this month’s topic. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Tue 7/18 at 12 p.m. – Component Relations and Volunteer Management Crunch and Munch
Come prepared to engage, participate and listen as we discuss current topics. Anyone is welcome to participate. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Professionals Community
Tue 7/18 at 12 p.m. – Marketing Artificial Intelligence in Action
Learn about low-lift, low-cost AI tools you can begin experimenting with right away at your organization, which are specific to the marketing, membership, and communications functions. 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. More info/register.
Host: American Marketing Association
Speaker: Erica Salm Rench, Chief Operating Officer, rasa.io
Tue 7/18 at 1 p.m. – Fireside Chat: Getting Ready to Be Data Driven
Learn about NCARB’s journey to become a data-driven organization. Hear about organizational culture, getting comfortable with your data, ways to leverage data in your association, and the positive impacts of data-driven decision making. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Katherine Matthews, CAE, Assistant Vice President, Data & Analytics, National Council of Architectural Registration Boards
- Alex Mouw, Principal Strategic Advisor, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Tue 7/18 at 3 p.m. – Preparing Your Association for AI
AI has been around for years. It’s the new generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Bard that have captured the attention—and imagination—of industry and associations alike. Hear about the importance of prompt engineering and creating successful prompts, how to use AI to increase member value and revenue streams, and what to do with your data for AI to work most effectively. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Conor Sibley, Chief Technology Officer, Association Analytics
Wed 7/19 from 9 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. – Engagement & Mobile Platforms Demo Day
Watch presentations from a limited number of industry partners that offer engagement and mobile platforms. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Wed 7/19 at 12 p.m. – Drive Member Engagement through Revitalized Chapter Events
Delve into the art of planning chapter events that drive participation and cultivate a thriving community. Hear insights, best practices, and actionable tips to breathe new life into your chapter events. Learn strategies for engaging members and designing relevant events, techniques for crafting compelling event themes and agendas, how technology can enhance experiences and boost participation, tips for effective promotion and communication, and methods for measuring event success and continuous improvement. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Hosts: Billhighway and Mariner Management
Speaker: Peggy Hoffman, president and executive director, Mariner Management
Wed 7/19 at 12 p.m. – Are You in Touch with Your Data?
We’ve hit the halfway mark of the year, so measuring KPIs is key, but what is your data really saying? Should you continue as planned or course correct? Are you seeing any performance gains or does it all just look the same? Your data is always telling you something, but you might need to read between the lines to act on it. Learn how your data sets should be organized to support your goals, as well as how best to cross connect different sources to build a narrative that you can rely upon. More info/register.
Host: HighRoad Solutions
Speaker: Maneesha Manges, CXO, HighRoad Solutions
Wed 7/19 at 12 p.m. – Alexandria Association Execs w/ AIOT Leaders’ Lunch Discussion (Alexandria VA)
Today’s association execs are stewarding their investment portfolios and operating reserves while making sense of new retirement plan rules—all while continuing to advance their members’ priorities. Join a small group discussion for association leaders on these topics and more. Location: Alexandria VA. More info/register.
Hosts: Alexandria Association Execs and AIOT
Speaker: Justin Wasfy Kaufman, Senior Financial Advisor, Kast & Wasfy | Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Wed 7/19 at 12 p.m. – AI: The Untapped Potential for Associations
Hear about various AI-driven advancements, their impact on associations and the untapped potential they bring. From AI-powered data analytics and predictive modeling to intelligent automation and personalized member engagement, learn about the wide-ranging applications of AI that are reshaping the association landscape. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Ewald Consulting
Speakers:
- Shawn Petersen, Account Executive, Maple Lane
- Erica Salm Rench, COO, Rasa.io
- Emily Youngblood, Client Services Director, Mercury Creative Group
Wed 7/19 at 1 p.m. – The Executive’s Guide to Financial Fraud & Cybersecurity
Hear the cybersecurity information that association executives need to know without any fluff or scare-tactics. Get up to speed on the threats that are actively impacting your industry and learn how to prioritize critical action items. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Paul Hudson, CIO Consultant, Optimal Networks, Inc.
- Heinan Landa, Founder, Optimal Networks
Wed 7/19 at 1 p.m. – Next-Step Career Advice for Meeting Planners
Join a frank discussion with a long-time recruitment and placement pro about how the employment landscape has changed for meeting planners since COVID. Find out what she’s seeing in meeting planning job placement, and learn more about the contract and part-time opportunities that exist for planners. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Prevue Meetings
Speaker: Dawn Penfold, President of Meetingjobs
Wed 7/19 at 2 p.m. – Effective Advocacy in Restricted Industries: Ideas for Campaign Success
Working in a restricted industry presents a unique set of challenges for advocacy groups, requiring them to think outside the box to advocate for their issues and effect change. Even if your industry doesn’t have many restrictions, there are still lessons to be learned from professionals in stricter sectors that can help you get out of a rut and solve problems more creatively. More info/register.
Host: VoterVoice
Speakers:
- Patrick Anderson, Principal, ProVenture Consultants
- Alyssa Erickson, Public Affairs and Marketing Coordinator, U.S. Hemp Roundtable
- Joshua Habursky, Deputy Executive Director and Chief Lobbyist, Premium Cigar Association
- Sherry Whitworth (moderator), Managing Director, Public Affairs and Advocacy, FiscalNote
Wed 7/19 at 2 p.m. – How to Scale Your Email Efforts by Leveraging AI and Automation
Learn about scaling up the production and effectiveness of your email marketing efforts. AI and automation aren’t just the buzz words of 2023, they’re the tools you need to use to lift your marketing efforts today. Hear how to use automation to create better, smoother journeys for your audiences and how to keep the human at the center while leveraging new technologies. More info/register.
Host: Feathr
Wed 7/19 at 3 p.m. – Executive Dashboarding: Compelling Data Stories for Senior Leadership
Staying ahead of the curve for your members nowadays demands a data-driven approach that enables you to measure key performance indicators (KPIs), identify trends, and make informed decisions that drive retention, engagement, and growth. Learn how AAPA defines and shares strategic goals across the entire organization; uses a KPI dashboard to track and measure non-dues revenue, member retention and more; and drives dashboard adoption through gamification with staff. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Analytics
Speakers:
- Kristin Sanders, Director of Data Analytics for the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA)
- Bill Conforti, SVP of Strategy & Solutions, Association Analytics
- Greg Pollack, SVP, Sales, Association Analytics
Thu 7/20 at 11 a.m. – Leadership & Learning Series: Culture Change Made Easy: Part 3, Incomplete Innovation
Culture change is easier than you think and can result in meaningful improvement in both engagement and bottom-line results. The secret lies in uncovering your hidden culture patterns and then fixing the ones that are holding you back. In Part 3, we’ll dig into innovation, something most cultures say they need, yet few are fully implementing. Hear about concrete actions you can take that will improve your ability to unlock new value using sound innovation practices, and details from a case study organization that has turned this pattern around. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers: Maddie Grant, CAE, Culture Designer and Digital Strategist, and Jamie Notter, Co-Founder and Culture Strategist, PROPEL
Thu 7/20 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 7/20 at 1 p.m. – Sales Enablement for Associations
Associations need marketing, membership and sales working as one unit with a drive towards shared goals. While this sounds like a no-brainer statement, it’s often not the reality at many organizations. Why? Because legacy strategies and mindsets have aligned sales teams with traditional sponsorship and advertising goals, leaving membership acquisition and other programs out of the sales function altogether. Learn how to use the right marketing technology to collect insights and develop strategies to power up your sales capabilities, all while aligning your membership, marketing and sales to work together. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Maneesha Manges, Director of Services, HighRoad Solutions
Thu 7/20 at 1 p.m. – What’s the Difference Between a “Good” Website and a “Great One?
Are you looking for new ways to increase member engagement, satisfaction, and loyalty? Are you effectively leveraging your website to attract younger and more diverse audiences? Hear award-winning association website success stories that will empower your team to take your website from good to great, including actionable strategies that increase member engagement and retention, innovative solutions—such as AI—that deliver value, and opportunities to pivot quickly without a full redesign. More info/register.
Host: Sitefinity
Speaker: Results Direct
Thu 7/20 at 1 p.m. – CME Resilience: Reflections on our CME Operations Post COVID
Hear a panel of CME colleagues reflect on their CME program operations post COVID and discuss how they adapted to survive, lessons learned, and unexpected outcomes, as well as ongoing opportunities for improvement. Topics will include: staffing, budgets, committee meetings, RSS activities, conferences and vendors, activity evaluation, and reaccreditation. More info/register.
Host: Mid-Atlantic Alliance for Continuing Medical Education
Thu 7/20 at 2 p.m. – Navigating Event Registration Challenges and Opportunities
Hear about the findings of extensive research into the common challenges faced by over 300 organizations managing event registration, key trends and common challenges faced by event professionals throughout the registration process, and best practices to help you deliver a successful registration experience for your attendees. More info/register.
Host: Personify
Thu 7/20 at 3 p.m. – Checking All the Boxes: What to Consider When Planning Your Association’s Next Big Event
No description available. More info/register.
Host: Nexus Marketing Agency
Speaker: Vinnu Deshetty, Event Tech Advocate/CEO & Founder at EVA
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
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
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 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
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. – 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
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 Amanda Phung via Unsplash
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