The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Because I’m away next week, I’m not publishing Association Brain Food on Friday, July 29. This edition includes all the free events I could find for the next two weeks. I’ll be back on Friday, August 5.
Membership benchmarking. Marketing General Inc. (MGI) released the 14th edition of their Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report. As usual, it’s full of interesting findings—I’ve already referenced it in a client blog post. MGI added some new questions, share correlations and end with participant comments.
Skills training. The skills gap is a serious concern for employers in many industries. WBT Systems describes how you can help member companies train, upskill and reskill their employees. They also share skills training trends they see in research reports, such as soft skills training, microlearning, learning pathways, microcredentials and impact on job performance.
AMS myths. Selecting and implementing an AMS is not for the faint of heart. It’s a time-consuming project that often creates even more change as it goes. In case you get push-back from colleagues or higher-ups, Impexium offers responses for common objections to starting the search. These arguments will help people think differently and understand that no change may be the most frightening option of all.
Workplace wellbeing. Achurch Consulting shares three recommendations for improving wellbeing in a hybrid/remote workplace. You won’t see any self-care advice in this post—the onus is on the employer, not the employee. See if your association’s culture, people, and practices are up to snuff.
Trade shows. John Crosby, of the American Institute of Architects, tells Kent Panther at Wray Ward how they redesigned their trade show. I know many associations have enhanced the trade show experience for attendees and exhibitors, but I think we’ll see even more redesigns in the future since the trade show floor hasn’t changed in decades, if not longer.
Online community. I’ve got to think there are thousands and thousands of association members like me who value the online community more than any other benefit. Nimble AMS describes how an online community can help your association attract, engage and retain members, and lays out a useful plan for launching and managing a community.
Business travel. If you’ve flown recently, you’ve probably experienced higher prices, fewer choices, and, for the unluckiest, delays and cancelations. A few Korn Ferry leaders describe what they’re seeing in business travel, which has implications for conference attendance.
Quick hits
20 volunteer stats for your summer reading. (Carol Blattau, Mariner Management)
How to engage the younger generation: the case of AIPC. (Remi Deve, Boardroom)
How one organization shook up their DEI program. (Roxanne Bellamy, The Diversity Movement)
Your self-care prescription: news positivity. (Elizabeth Merritt, American Alliance of Museums)
Underwater beluga whale cam in Manitoba’s Churchill River Estuary—listen to them! (Explore.org)
Good eats
Skip down to the list of free educational events if you prefer takeout.
I love making this maple barbecue glaze recipe for mackerel, although it was created for salmon, which is easier to find. On the side, veggie pesto, a summer regular.
Amberjack is a fantastic fish we get regularly here in NC. I adapted this braised monkfish with tomatoes and basil recipe by using ouzo instead of water and bacon instead of pancetta—fish and bacon go really well together. Next time, I’ll add Kalamata olives too.
For a cookout at our house, I made guacamole—this recipe is always a hit.
I have a recipe for a green chili pork stew that I had for lunch at the Mile High Grill & Inn in Jerome AZ, but the recipe is no longer on their site. However, it’s like this one, except I don’t use flour and I add roasted tomatillos and jalapenos, poblano pepper, garlic, corn and sweet potatoes. On the side: broccoli roasted with red onion, garlic power and ancho powder.
Since I’m away next week, here are the educational events scheduled for next two weeks. 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’ll be happy to feature it as long as it’s not too product centric.
Fri 7/22 at 12 p.m.* – EventTech Chat
A weekly conversation about meeting and event technology, including software, hardware, and audiovisual for in-person and online events. More info/register.
Host: Brandt Krueger, founder Event Technology Consulting
*All events are online at Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.
Fri 7/22 at 3 p.m. – ERC Qualifications for Associations
The IRS estimates that 70-80% of U.S. companies qualify for ERC, and no doubt this includes associations. In fact, the nature of associations likely increases that percentage. Learn about the various qualifications for ERC, an easy solution to apply, and how your organization can likely get hundreds or thousands, if not millions, back from the IRS through a payroll tax credit. More info/register.
Host: Lateral Solutions
Fri 7/22 at 4 p.m. – Mitigating Bias in Hiring
Learn about the six types of unconscious bias that underlie the mental shortcuts and assumptions which lead to inequitable hiring outcomes: confirmation bias, availability bias, affinity bias, implicit stereotyping, the halo effect, and the horn effect. These biases fundamentally disadvantage candidates from historically marginalized groups, while advantaging privileged candidates that will keep your workforce and culture homogeneous. Gain greater awareness of how to catch yourself engaging in these biases and how to reduce their impact in both yourself and others involved in the hiring process. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Presenter: Isis Fabian, DEI leader at Carta
Mon 7/25 at 12 p.m. – ERC Qualifications for Associations
The IRS estimates that 70-80% of U.S. companies qualify for ERC, and no doubt this includes associations. In fact, the nature of associations likely increases that percentage. Learn about the various qualifications for ERC, an easy solution to apply, and how your organization can likely get hundreds or thousands, if not millions, back from the IRS through a payroll tax credit. More info/register.
Host: Lateral Solutions
Mon 7/25 at 1 p.m. – 30-Minute Monday: 50 Pieces of Flair
Marketing oneself is important. Resumes need to be more than a list, but multi-dimensional. You need to stand out and showcase all your potential—soft skills, transferable skills, credentials, etc. Many of you are verified in specific areas, join us to learn how you are using your strengths to stand out from the rest. 0.5 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MPI
Presenters: Leanne Calderwood, CMP; Nancy Snowden, M.A.; Danielle Kloap
Mon 7/25 at 1 p.m. – The Financially Astute Association (Nonprofit Conversations with Cecilia Sepp, CAE)
This series of 15- to 20-minute videos covers hot topics and issues related to 501c organization management. New episodes are posted around 1 p.m. every Monday. Check out Cecilia’s Nonprofit Executive Spotlight series too.
Guest: Kevin Mayeux
Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC
Tue 7/26 at 1 p.m. – Efficiency Hacks Every Event Planner Needs
Learn how to streamline back-end event tech processes to efficiently manage speakers, staff, sponsors, and exhibitors; strengthen event collaboration and eliminate attachment overload; and stay in control at all points of the experience. More info/register.
Host: Notified
Presenters:
- Emily Longvall, Manager, Industry Research and Education, Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO)
- Allie Magyar, Chief Product Officer, Notified
Tue 7/26 at 2 p.m. – #RealTalk Dialogue Series: American Disability Act in the Meetings & Events Industry
1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MPI
Presenters: Zoe Moore, CDP; Marques Davison; Pawntra Shadab, CIS, CTA
Tue 7/26 at 2 p.m. – Insider Secrets for Planning Events at an All-Inclusive Resort
All-inclusive resorts offer all the perks of paradise bundled together in one convenient price tag, perfect for incentive trips, company retreats, and more. Learn about star ratings in the world of All-Inclusive, new ideas for exciting networking with no concerns on who’s picking up the tab, and what questions to ask before you sign the contract to alleviate grey areas on additional fees. More info/register.
Host: Smart Meetings
Presenter: Colette Baruth, Vice President and Commercial Director of All-Inclusive, Hilton
Wed 7/27 at 12 p.m. – Can You Hear Me? Effective Practices in Communicating with Chapter Leaders
Have you ever been frustrated by the lack of transparency between you and your chapters? Or felt like your communication revolved around administrative asks instead of resources and advice? Some super communicator CRPs share advice and examples on creating effective chapter communication practices. Learn how to change the conversation with your leaders. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Hosts: Billhighway & Mariner Management
Presenters:
- Peggy Hoffman, Mariner Management
- Michele Champion, California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
- Jennifer Steffan, National Institute of Governmental Purchasing
- Wesley Carr, American Inns of Court
Wed 7/27 at 12 p.m. – Associations Trends Talk: Growth-Focused Pricing Strategy
Association membership models and pricing strategies have shifted with changes to the value of participating in-person, remotely, or both. Hear insights from a pricing expert’s research and work with associations on how to navigate this changing landscape and evolve your organization to meet new demands. Learn about aligning membership dues, conference registration rates, credentialing programs, sponsorships, and more to match the value these offerings provide. More info/register.
Host: Ewald Consulting
Presenter: Ben Malakoff, Director and Head of Sales Operations, Expel
Wed 7/27 at 12 p.m. – Digital Conversation Starter: Changing Habits to Positively Impact Your Wellbeing
The recent Mental Health edition of Convene‘s COVID 19 Dashboard surveyed the industry’s state of mind and the results are not surprising. Burnout and anxiety about the future are some key emotional states being experienced by planners and suppliers alike. Join this conversation to hear some emerging trends and share habits to positively impact your mental health. More info/register (members only).
Host: PCMA
Presenter: wellness champion Janice Cardinale
Wed 7/27 at 1 p.m. – Strategic Negotiating Fundamentals
Learn about the current marketplace and how it affects planner strategy during negotiations, key contract clauses and how to defend them to benefit your organization’s bottom line, and variables that hotels consider when reviewing your overall business value. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Meetings Today
Presenter: Robyn Mietkiewicz, strategic partner for INNOV8 Meetings + Events
Wed 7/27 at 2 p.m. – Association Viewpoint: An Age of Acceleration
McKinley Advisors’ 2022 Association Viewpoint study, An Age of Acceleration, outlines the key priorities, challenges and opportunities associations face today. Join three of the leaders who contributed to this year’s study and hear how their organizations are capitalizing on An Age of Acceleration. Hear about workforce issues, digital transformation, expansion of programs and impact investing; associations’ outlook for the year, including drivers of optimism and concern; and where associations plan to invest and what priorities have shifted. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: McKinley Advisors
Presenters:
- Ann Jordan, Chief Executive Officer, American Society for Quality
- Brad Rathgeber, Head of School & CEO, One Schoolhouse
- Jacob Barker, Marketing Communications and Outreach Strategist, National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying
- George Miller, M.S., CAE, Practice Director, McKinley Advisors
Wed 7/27 at 3 p.m. – Analytics in Action: Expanding the Value of Your AMS with Analytics
Learn how to unlock the potential of the data you already have by aggregating it in a data warehouse for analysis. Find out how to move beyond reporting and embrace the age of analytics, extend the value of the data already living in your AMS, and use analytics for strategic purposes like growing revenue, increasing member retention and improving engagement. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Analytics
Presenters: Bill Conforti, SVP of Strategy & Solutions, and Greg Pollack, VP of Sales, Association Analytics
Thu 7/28 at 11 a.m. – What You Are Not Being Told About Credit Card Processing and How It Impacts Your Bottom Line
Learn about four important payment trends which emerged from the pandemic, two key changes you should make in 2022 with your payment and credit card collection practices, what you are not being told about credit card fees and why that is costing your organization money, alternatives to credit card collections—the ecosystem that supports Visa/MasterCard and AMEX definitely don’t want you to know this, PCI compliance and security issues for 2022 and why are you not aware of this, and how to do an RFP for Merchant Services—an outline that you can use today. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: U.S. Transactions Corp. (UST)
Presenters: Jen Glaze, COO, and Wade Tetsuka, CPA, President, UST
Thu 7/28 at 12 p.m. – The Long Game: How Executives Can Plan Their Association’s Future
Hear about strategies for bringing your association into the future. Find out what’s happened in the past year that can help associations plan for the future, how technology can help, how to convey to members the future you see for the association, how to incorporate members into decision making on your association’s future, best practices to start the preparation for the future, how not to lose sight of today when future prepping, and how to make a plan that is flexible when unforeseen circumstances occur. More info/register.
Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing
Presenters:
- Damian Hutt,Executive Director, Association of Association Executives
- Mark Patterson, CEO, Fionta
- Nicholas Strozza,VP of Marketing and Sales, Interpro
- Colleen Carroll (moderator),Content Publishing Coordinator, Nexus Marketing
Thu 7/28 at 12 p.m. – To Future Proof Your Association, Become a Digital Leader
Organizations are pushed to embrace the latest technological advances to remain competitive as members demand better digital experiences. Emerging technologies make greater innovation possible, but also present real challenges, like building your team’s digital fluency and prioritizing the implementation of various emerging technologies to meet future needs. Learn how future-thinking organizations are promoting a customer-centric mindset and hear advice about recruiting the right talent and growing teams to drive your digital agendas. 0.5 CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: .orgCommunity
Presenters:
- Sherry Budziak, CEO, .orgSource
- Patrick Dorsey, Executive Vice President of Marketing, Impexium
- Wendy Sahli, Director, Technology, at Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society
Thu 7/28 at 1 p.m. – Association Creative Marketing Masterclass: Banner Ad Creative
A course to help develop practical creative and copywriting skills, professional critique techniques, and balanced brand stewardship. Each instructor will share learnings from their career and evaluate real-life association marketing collateral, providing their recommendations, ideas, and concerns. In this session, Todd discusses banner creative elements that drive clicks and identifies the irrelevant components that don’t affect performance. 1 CAE credit per session. Thursdays through August 11. More info/register.
Host: Chris Gloede, Association Academy
Session instructor: Todd Unger, Chief Experience Officer, SVP Marketing & Member Experience, American Medical Association
Thu 7/28 at 1 p.m. – Event Summer Camp Series: Part 3: Event Production
With many groups returning to in-person events, it’s time to uplevel your production skills. From live streaming vs. prerecorded video to content delivery and speaker options, learn about the latest trends in event production to wow your attendees. More info/register.
Host: Webex Events
Presenters: Yvonne deFuria, Event Production Manager, and Sheehan Ramey, Team Lead, Professional Services, Webex Events (formerly Socio)
Thu 7/28 at 2 p.m. – Career Security: How to Move Your Mission into the Workplace
Learn how to position career security as a timely and powerful member benefit by delivering personalized, professional opportunity and access across your digital ecoscape. Find out how to activate your shared mission in the workplace, create demand for members’ talents, foster industry and organizational retention, properly value impactful partnerships, amplify and leverage member successes, and, of course, expand non-dues revenue. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Non-Dues-a-Palooza
Presenter: Joshua Slyman, Product Strategist, Web Scribble
Thu 7/28 at 2 p.m. – Obtaining Your CAE (ASAE Member Learning Session)
Host: ASAE
Presenters: ASAE CAE team
Thu 7/28 at 2 p.m. – Lessons Learned: Real-Life Local Government Affairs Success Strategies & How to Copy Them
With hugely impactful regulatory decisions made at municipal and county levels across the U.S. every day and new issues constantly bubbling up, streamlining your local strategy is crucial for your organization’s survival—and your sanity. Hear about strategies that contributed to wins at the local level, tips and tricks for refining your local strategy—plus what not to do, and how to develop relationships at the local level and open doors for your organization. More info/register.
Host: FiscalNote
Presenters:
- Tammie Hetrick, President & CEO, Washington Food Industry Association
- Danielle Powell (Moderator), Managing Director of Municipal Strategy & Operations, Curate
Fri 7/29 at 12 p.m. – EventTech Chat
A weekly conversation about meeting and event technology, including software, hardware, and audiovisual for in-person and online events. More info/register.
Host: Brandt Krueger, founder Event Technology Consulting
Fri 7/29 at 1 p.m. –Don’t Reinvent the Wheel: How to Repurpose Your Learning Content
It takes a lot of time, energy, and resources to create learning content for your organization. Once it’s created, how do you make sure you get the most mileage out of your efforts? Learn what to do with your old content (and how to define “old”), how to get multiple uses out of new content, and how your content creation process can bolster your marketing efforts and increase engagement on LinkedIn and other social media platforms. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: BlueSky eLearn
Fri 7/29 at 3 p.m. – National Leadership Development Day
Now in its fourth year, our 2022 expert speakers will highlight recent research, discuss the post-pandemic trends in leadership that will impact organizations for the foreseeable future, and provide tips and techniques you can put into practice today—either to develop your own leadership skills or the skills of those you lead. More info/register.
Tue 8/2 at 12 p.m. – Data Analytics Network: Monetizing Data
1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Analytics
Tue 8/2 at 12 p.m. – ERC Qualifications for Associations
The IRS estimates that 70-80% of U.S. companies qualify for ERC, and no doubt this includes associations. In fact, the nature of associations likely increases that percentage. Learn about the various qualifications for ERC, an easy solution to apply, and how your organization can likely get hundreds or thousands, if not millions, back from the IRS through a payroll tax credit. More info/register.
Host: Lateral Solutions
Wed 8/3 at 12 p.m. – Learning How to Look Ahead & New Approaches to Board Orientation
Our organizations and leadership have been challenged by one crisis response and sudden opportunity after another. Intuitive foresight—translating trends into possibilities of tomorrow—isn’t learned by accident. Learn and practice a framework of past, present, and future trend identification and discover what questions can connect trend fluency to better mission-focused decisions. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Insights in Old Town
Presenter: Lowell Aplebaum, FASAE, CAE, CPF, CEO of Vista Cova
Wed 8/3 at 2 p.m. – 5 Tips to Deliver a Better Member Experience: How to Present Your Member Benefits for Max Engagement
Learn the biggest mistakes associations make with their membership site, the member engagement challenges that almost every association has and how to overcome them, the single design mistake that is driving away your members, why your membership site is going to fail without these five features, and how to drive member engagement and member retention. More info/register.
Host: Grype
Presenter: Lydia Israel, Membership Specialist, Grype
Thu 8/4 at 1 p.m. – Association Creative Marketing Masterclass: Landing Page Creative
A course to help develop practical creative and copywriting skills, professional critique techniques, and balanced brand stewardship. Each instructor will share learnings from their career and evaluate real-life association marketing collateral, providing their recommendations, ideas, and concerns. In this session, David explains landing page and microsite strategies and discusses the top reasons for failure. 1 CAE credit per session. Thursdays through August 11. More info/register.
Host: Chris Gloede, Association Academy
Session instructor: David Alexander, General Manager and Chief Communications Officer, Rotary International
Thu 8/4 at 1 p.m. – Today’s Duty of Care
With the rise of new COVID variants and grappling with ever-changing state mandates and entry requirements internationally, how can meeting and incentive planners ensure safe in-person events? Get advice from an expert in on-site safety management and contact tracing. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Prevue Meetings
Presenter: Amanda Schleede, Chief Executive Officer, Attend Safe
Thu 8/4 at 2 p.m. – The CIO Hour: Who Let the Devs Out?
Learn about the role of developers in the software development process and on association IT projects; what bugs are and how you can help developers fix them; how you can work with them to improve the success of your future IT projects; and why some developers may seem scary but really aren’t. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: 501Works
Presenters:
- Josh Carlson, Founder & Chief Innovator, PerByte
- Andrew Warth, Senior Software Engineer, 501Works
Fri 8/5 at 12 p.m. – EventTech Chat
A weekly conversation about meeting and event technology, including software, hardware, and audiovisual for in-person and online events. More info/register.
Host: Brandt Krueger, founder Event Technology Consulting
Fri 8/5 at 4 p.m. – Influencing Up: Leading When You’re Not in Charge
Leadership requires influence, otherwise, you’re not leading, you’re managing. How do you make the shift from managing to influencing, especially those in more senior positions? Learn how to become a leader of influence, and strategies and techniques that will affect the behavior of those around you regardless of their position in the organization. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Presenter: Pamela J. Green
Wed 8/10 at 12 p.m. – Mitigating Microaggressions in the Workplace
Have you faced microaggressions before? Are you able to recognize and mitigate microaggressions? In this workshop, expert speakers will help you understand microaggressions and provide insight on how to respond to microaggressions in the workplace. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Presenters:
- Mariama Boney, LMSW, CAE, President & CEO, Achieve More LLC
- Alexis Redmond, JD, MA, CAE, Managing Director, Legal, Risk & Compliance Community, Manufacturers Alliance
- Rhoni Rakos (Moderator), Director of Digital Strategy, fusionSpan
Wed 8/10 at 2 p.m. – Competing for Non-Dues Revenue: How to Increase and Keep Corporate Sponsor Investment in Your Association
Association executives often believe their organization is the leading source of information and expertise for their members. However, companies and members have a wide range of choices when they’re seeking information and affinity. Learn who is competing with associations for exhibit and sponsor spend, the value a wide range of competitors is delivering to your association’s members and other stakeholders, and how to “flip” competition to create opportunities for association sponsors and members. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Professionals for Association Revenue
Presenter: Bruce Rosenthal, Corporate Sponsorship Consultant and Co-Convener of the Partnership Professionals Network (PPN)
Thu 8/11 at 11 a.m. – The 3 R’s of Membership | The Second R: Retain | Mastering Engagement Scoring & Personas
Scoring member engagement is critical in any plans to measure and increase engagement for a modern association. Learn how to define an engagement scoring strategy for your association that supports your organizational goals, including how to identify and nurture future committee volunteers and leaders, encourage more activity in programs, and enhance loyalty, including fostering competition. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: iMIS by ASI
Presenters: Nathan Slovin, Director of Client Excellence Programs, and Paul Ramsbottom, Managing Director Asia-Pacific, iMIS by ASI
Thu 8/11 at 1 p.m. – Association Creative Marketing Masterclass: Email Creative
A course to help develop practical creative and copywriting skills, professional critique techniques, and balanced brand stewardship. Each instructor will share learnings from their career and evaluate real-life association marketing collateral, providing their recommendations, ideas, and concerns. In this session, Julie talks about email copy and design and the latest technologies and techniques she’s using to improve deliverability and click-through performance. 1 CAE credit per session. Thursdays through August 11. More info/register.
Host: Chris Gloede, Association Academy
Session instructor: Julia Fitzgerald, Chief Marketing Officer, American Lung Association
Fri 8/12 at 12 p.m. – AWTC Mindful Networking
Held the second Friday of each month, these intimate, virtual conversations are a chance to form meaningful connections with other women and allies in the association technology community. Each Mindful Networking will feature one of our amazing AWTC award winners, followed by breakout rooms with changing topics (selected by our featured guest). More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Guest: Megan Cottrell, director of digital strategy, CREW Network
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.
Creative Commons licensed photo by Steve Adams via Unsplash
Association Brain Food 