The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Good advice never goes out of style. WBT Systems offers the wisdom of Stoic philosophers like Marcus Aurelius and Seneca on topics pertaining to life inside and outside of associations, such as lifelong learning, change management, leadership, making the best of crappy situations and living in the now.
Chapter self-assessment. If you want to help chapters improve their performance, the typical compliance checklist is not going to do it. Billhighway describes the chapter self-assessment exercise used by the Associated General Contractors of America to collect data for chapter benchmarking. Their guidebook shows chapters how they scored in each of five KPI areas, describes best practices to follow to raise those scores, and provides links to additional resources on the AGC website. A terrific idea to steal!
Membership committees. Is it difficult to find members to serve on your membership committee? Do you wonder if their time could be better spent? MemberSuite discusses the challenges faced by staff in charge of membership committees and suggests ways you can make improvements by revamping (or retiring) your membership committee.
Making remote work friends. It’s much more challenging to make work friends when you’re a new employee in a remote workplace. Achurch Consulting shares advice for all you new guys/gals on the job, including suggestions for rethinking your virtual background, taking advantage of existing opportunities, scheduling meetups and paying attention to personality clues.
Virtual conference networking. Lee Gimpel of Better Meetings is calling out virtual conference organizers for giving the label “networking opportunities” to five types of experiences that don’t deliver on the networking promise, including the ubiquitous chat box.
Quick hits
- Lessons learned while planning a hybrid conference for APHON. (Jennifer Schap, Allison Whitley and Kari Messenger, Association Management Center)
- How to conquer communication debt aka email/message overwhelm. (Ernie Smith, Associations Now)
- How some Americans are breaking out of political echo chamber—check out the unbiased news sites he mentions. (Matt Fuchs, Wired)
Good eats
Skip down to the list of free webinars if you prefer takeout. If you’re a home cook, check out the irregularly published In The Kitchen posts on my Grabbing the Gusto blog.
- I stumbled upon one of my forgotten creations—a “toss the ingredients in the pan one after another until it’s the right level of scrumptiousness” sort-of-recipe. Start by sauteing linguica (Portuguese sausage) and onion, then garlic, then diced tomatoes (melt) and fresh thyme, then white wine (reduce), then broth (shrimp or chicken), then spinach and shrimp, then cooked orzo (boiled in shrimp broth is the best). Yes, it’s as good as it sounds.
- On the side, a sauté of summer squashes, kohlrabi, green onion, garlic and fresh basil.
- This citrus-coconut almaco jack recipe is a quick and easy preparation for any fish. You can bake it or pan-fry it—baking is more hands off. On the side, a mix of CSA greens (baby green cabbage, chard and radish) sautéed with bacon, red onion, green onions, red bell, serrano, jalapeño, poblano and dried cranberries.
Here are the educational events scheduled for next week. If you have a free webinar or event coming up, please send me the link before Wednesday evening the week before it’s scheduled. I’ll be happy to feature it as long as it’s not too product centric.
Fri 6/18 at 11 a.m.* – The Labor Drought… Where Are the People
The labor shortage America is currently experiencing is the largest issue disrupting supply chains, disrupting every industry and causing every member to rethink how they get the work done. Hear about how associations need to shift their mindset on recruiting, training and education; workforce trends that will shape the future labor market; and why retaining employees is more important than ever. More info/register.
Hosts: PropFuel’s Dave Will and Metal Treating Institute’s Tom Morrison of the Association Strong Podcast
Guest: Ron Hetrick, Development of Staffing Product at Emsi Data
*All times are Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.
Fri 6/18 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 6/18 at 12:30 p.m. – Speakeasy Virtual Networking
Hear a conversation about how Joanna and Liz see the future of virtual networking and how various formats work for different audiences. More info/register.
Host: TechsyTalk
Presenters: Matrix Group CEO Joanna Pineda and Liz King Caruso of Liz King Events & TechsyTalk
Fri 6/18 at 4 p.m. – Open Networking, Fridays@4-style
This session’s featured topic will be “Landing Your Dream Job.” Come join us to make new connections, reconnect with old ones and engage in interesting discussions that will help you and your peers on the road to the next job. More info/register. (Must join Fridays@4 for free first.)
Host: Fridays@4
Facilitator: Anuja Miner, Project Management | Association Executive | Membership Executive | Account Director | Fridays@4 Member
Mon 6/21 at 1 p.m. – Board Leadership (Chatting with Agnes & Cecilia)
This series of 15- to 20-minute videos cover hot topics and issues related to 501c organization management. New episodes are posted by 1 p.m. every Monday. Check out Cecilia’s Nonprofit Executive Spotlight series too.
Guest: Lesedi Lesetedi
Hosts:
- Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC
- Agnes Amos-Coleman, MBA, CMP, education, conference, event, certification consultant, Amos-Coleman
Tue 6/22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Community Platform Demo Day
Join us for the just-in-time virtual Community Platform demo day featuring presentations from a limited number of industry partners that offer community platforms. Community experts will be showcasing platforms and sharing their knowledge with the association market. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Tue 6/22 at 11 a.m. – 6 Things You MUST Include in Your New Member Onboarding Campaigns
Learn about the six critical elements of a successful onboarding campaign and the data you need to analyze. More info/register.
Host: Matrix Group
Tue 6/22 at 11:30 a.m. – The Ultimate Board Approval Checklist: Gaining Board Approval for New Membership Management Software
Hear about the components of the ultimate board approval checklist for big decisions, including budget for new association management software. Learn how to build a business case for technology and speak to your board’s priorities. More info/register.
Host: Your Membership
Presenters: Michelle Schweitz, Marketing Manager, and Tirrah Switzer, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Community Brands
Tue 6/22 at 1 p.m. – How to Demonstrate the Value of Components to Your Association Through Data, ROI & Strategic Vision
As our capacity for in-person engagement starts to open back up, the question is how can we better mobilize our chapters to serve members and advance the mission of our association while creating a win/win for everyone? The answer is in real-time chapter data. Learn how other associations are defining and measuring success of their components as it pertains to delivering member value and on the mission of the association. Explore the possibilities of tracking component data and measuring chapters to prove ROI and drive the future vision for component-based associations. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Billhighway
Presenters:
- Mark Prevost, Billhighway
- Fred Ulreich, Founder and Managing Director of The Eastwind Group & Former CEO of NARI
Tue 6/22 at 2 p.m. – Polished, Not Perfect: How to Make Authentic User-Generated Video Content from Your Community Even More Powerful
Turning the content you collect from your community into compelling video stories can feel daunting. But polishing user-generated content into authentic video stories is easier than you think. Get a 30-minute crash course on the simple video best practices you need to know to drive more engagement than ever before. More info/register.
Host: Gather Voices
Presenter: Michael Hoffman, CEO of Gather Voices
Tue 6/22 at 2 p.m. – How to Plan for an Ambiguous Work World
This conversation features HR and IT leaders who will be discussing their strategies around how they are adapting to the rise of worker flexibility with a focus on the following topics: the main challenges that come with managing a hybrid workforce, how HR and IT leaders are listening to employees to plan for these challenges, and the role of technology in leveling the playing field of communication and collaboration. More info/register.
Host: Sift
Presenters:
- Annie Lin, VP of People, Lever
- Mary Ellen Slayter (Moderator), CEO, Rep Cap
- George LaRocque, Founder and Principal Analyst, WorkTech
- Andrea Bice, Director of HR, Esler
- Nicole Vasquez, Founder and Chief People Officer, Deskpass
- Sarah Parks, Director of Technology, Esler
Wed 6/23 at 12 p.m. – Creating Innovative New Classes, Certifications & Association Products That Wow Members — and Your Board
How can your organization improve or create new, innovative and profitable offerings that benefit both your members and your organization? Whether it’s a new course, a new certification or any other event, it can be hard to pinpoint what will make them super engaged. Learn about some quick product-development sprint techniques, then work with your association colleagues to invent—or re-invent—your very own new offerings during our hands-on session. More info/register.
Host: Lee Gimpel, founder, Better Meetings
Wed 6/23 at 12 p.m. – Effective Strategies for Leveraging Local Media to Advance Advocacy Efforts
Hear the panel’s insights on the importance of media advocacy and how to effectively incorporate local media engagement into your association’s overall lobbying strategy. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Government Relations and Advocacy Professionals Community
Presenters:
- Dan Meyers, Senior Director and Head of Advocacy, North America, APCO Worldwide
- Sue Ramsett, Vice President and General Manager, KWQC TV-6, Davenport, Iowa
- Karen Bailey-Chapman, Senior Vice President for External Affairs, American Beverage Association
- Hannah Y. Kim, Principal of Butterfly Strategies
- David Morgan (moderator), Principal at D. Morgan and Partners and President of the Multicultural Media & Correspondents Association
Wed 6/23 at 12 p.m. – Thinking Beyond the Room: Creating Enduring and Valuable Content from Your Experiences
What if we thought about events and experiences as content generators that produce enduring, engaging content that can be used for other purposes such as content marketing? Learn how to use your experiences to create content for your marketing initiatives and generate content that drives value long after your event has ended. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: PCMA
Presenter: Joe Lovett, Strategic Marketing Consultant and 7 Change Actions Contributor
Wed 6/23 at 1 p.m. – The Shift to Remote Work: Taking the Long View
Hear a lively discussion about remote work and its impact on associations long-term with a focus on the following three questions: What are the four primary forces of turbulence already shaping this decade? How will these forces of turbulence affect the context in which remote work takes place? Why do association decision-makers need to take the long view on the shift to remote work, and how can they do it? 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Achurch Consulting
Presenters:
- Jeff De Cagna FRSA FASAE, executive advisor for Foresight First LLC
- Rebecca Achurch PgMP, PMP, CSM, CAE, CEO, Achurch Consulting
Wed 6/23 at 1 p.m. – 2 Years of Virtual Events, Now What?
Learn creative ways to monetize or use the content you have created in your virtual events, video-based engagement strategies specifically for associations that will help grow membership and member engagement, and what the future of hybrid events looks like for associations and how the hybrid format can be used to drive membership and engagement. More info/register.
Host: Executive Training Technologies
Presenter: Justin Pearson, President of Executive Training Technologies
Wed 6/23 at 1 p.m. – #ExpoChat on Twitter
ExpoChat is a Twitter-based conversation on topics related to the trade show industry. More info.
Wed 6/23 at 2 p.m. – Choosing the Best Convention Destinations for 2021
Find out the best destinations for large-scale events. The rankings are determined by many factors, including available exhibit space, nearby hotel rooms, average hotel cost, travel time from the nearest international airport to the convention center, the number of daily flights, and local risk factors — including the prevalence of Covid-19. Hear about the methodology and findings of the second-annual Convention Cities Index and key role safety plays in the industry’s recovery. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Northstar Meetings Group (NMG)
Presenters:
- NMG’s vice president and content director Loren Edelstein
- NMG’s associate editor Elise Schoening
- GeoSure’s CEO Michael Becker
Wed 6/23 at 3 p.m. – How to Overcome Your Fear of Dirty Data
Data quality is often cited as a reason to delay or avoid analytics and other data initiatives. In reality, a data analytics program is very likely to put your organization on the road to high-quality, trustworthy data. Learn how to debunk common data quality myths, identify data quality issues, prioritize data hygiene based on its value to your association, mitigate or avoid risks related to data, and build trust in imperfect data. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Analytics
Presenters: Bill Conforti, SVP of Strategy & Solutions, and Greg Pollack, Vice President of Sales, Association Analytics
Thu 6/24 at 11 a.m. – Best Practices for Holding a Safe & Successful Face-to-Face Event
Learn how the leaders of a recent event successfully and safely hosted a live-in person event and attracted thousands of buyers and exhibitors. Hear how to best work with the destination and venue when having a meeting in this new normal, the safety protocols they used during the event, and what unexpected issues to consider. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: PCMA
Presenter: Mike Waterman, Chief Sales Officer at Visit Orlando
Thu 6/24 at 1 p.m. – Live Review of FOUR Association Websites
Wondering how your association website measures up to others? Well, find out when Ray and Chris analyze, review and provide feedback on 4 live association websites. Tune in to see what others are doing well and where improvements could be made and how that may apply to your own association’s website. Hear some very tangible takeaways for how you can improve your website. More info/register.
Host: Yoko Consulting
Presenters: Ray van Hilst, Director of Client Results, and Chris Bonney, Director of Client Relationships, Yoko Consulting
Thu 6/24 at 1 p.m. – Rethinking Your Virtual Backstage
[No description available at time of writing.]
Hosts: Brandlive + BizBash
Thu 6/24 at 3 p.m. – Reawakening Online Communities for a Greater Digital Experience
Online community platforms helped many associations thrive despite the devastating impact the pandemic had on non-dues revenue streams. Organizations quickly adapted, analyzed quality data for better decision-making and engaged members in real-time and in new ways. Learn how a global health crisis sparked a renewed interest in online communities and what that means for your association going forward. Find out how to maximize engagement and visibility with your online community and how to fully leverage your platform’s data. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Protech AMS
Presenters:
- Wes Trochlil, owner of Effective Database Management
- Will Slade, Senior Consultant, Protech
Fri 6/25 at 11:30 a.m. – DEI Practitioners Social Hour: Why Is It So Hard to Talk About Race?
Join fellow association colleagues and Mariama Boney, LMSW, CAE as we explore options around introducing a race equity framework to your organization. We will discuss how to identify the best framework for your organization and the challenges and successes that may arise as you implement. More info/register.
Fri 6/25 at 12 p.m. – The Global Journey: Cultural Tips To Help You Soar
Hear valuable cultural tips on nine countries/regions (USA, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Ghana, Middle East, India, China, Japan), including a brief overview of each culture’s customs and norms to help you understand the similarities and differences between them. 1 CMP credit. More info/register (possible fee for MPI non-members).
Host: MPI
Fri 6/25 at 1 p.m. – Demystifying LMS-AMS Integration Options: For Association Non-Techies
Get an overview of terms and technology concepts having to do with LMS-AMS integrations, discuss the important end-user and association staff benefits—and potential pitfalls—of LMS-AMS integrations, and see live examples of LMS-AMS integrations. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Blue Sky eLearn
Fri 6/25 at 1:30 p.m. – Re-Entry Roundtable: Mastering Hybrid Meetings & Events
As we transition to hybrid environments, hosting effective meetings and events becomes more complicated. Find out what an effective, inclusive meeting looks like for a hybrid team, which all-virtual activities we should maintain post-COVID, which activities should *only* be held in person, and wow to best engage with clients and members going forward. More info/register.
Host: Optimal Networks
Presenters: Joanna Pineda, CEO, Matrix Group
Fri 6/25 at 4 p.m. – Performance Driven: How to Overcome the Paradox of Potential
Learn the reasons why people say they’re missing their potential; how to make the switch from “wishing” to “doing;” how to gain clarity about plans, purpose and people, and how they relate to your success; the biggest limiting beliefs and how to circumvent them; and how to lead your team over the gap between potential and results. More info/register. (Must join Fridays@4 for free first.)
Host: Fridays@4
Presenter: Thom Singer, CSP, executive search consultant and a professional speaker
Tue 6/29 at 2 p.m. – Revenue Success from Scratch: One Association’s Story
Learn how The National Alliance generated non-dues revenue from continuing education and certification, how they continue to innovate and develop new education offerings to their industry, and tips for growing non-dues revenue from education and certification programs, marketing strategies, pricing models, and partnerships with members. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: 100 Reviews/Non-Dues-A-Palooza
Presenters:
- William Hold, President and CEO of The National Alliance of Insurance Education and Research
- Michelle Brien, VP of Marketing and Product Strategy for TopClass LMS by WBT Systems
Wed 6/30 at 11 a.m. – The Most Innovative Campaigns in Digital Advocacy
From doubling advocate databases, conducting hugely successful virtual fly-ins, using social media to mobilize supporters and capture lawmakers attention to change legislation, we’ve seen multiple clients turn what was an existential threat into their most productive year ever. Hear about some of the best campaigns of the last few years and where digital advocacy is headed due to the recent events of the past 16 months. More info/register.
Host: FiscalNote
Wed 6/30 at 12 p.m. – Let’s Reboot Volunteer Training
You have a solid base for recruiting and training chapter volunteers that has worked well in the past. Then came the evidence-based research on volunteers challenging our percepts, followed by the pandemic and increased volunteer burnout. Turns out our training programs need a new approach. Learn how to use volunteer motivations and personas to drive learning and rethink our approach so we can retain volunteers and develop future leaders. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Hosts: Billhighway and Mariner Management
Presenters:
- Peggy Hoffman, FASAE, CAE, Mariner Management
- Kristine Metter, MS, CAE, Crystal Lake Partners
Wed 6/30 at 12 p.m. – Extinguishing Burnout Fires: A Roadmap for Association Professionals
Learn about the ramifications of burnout and hear about resources, examples and tips on what association executives can do to extinguish these burnout fires. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Xchange
Presenters:
- Carmen Elliott, MS, CAE (moderator), Executive Director, American Physical Therapy Fund, and Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the American Physical Therapy Association
- Teshera Hull, Manager, Preceptorship, Coaching and Retooling, American College of Surgeons
- Maureen Markey, MBA, CAE, Director of Membership & Marketing, The Gerontological Society of America
Wed 6/30 at 4 p.m. – Mindful Networking with Edima Elinewinga
Enjoy a small group setting for participatory conversations led by visionary leaders who will share knowledge but not deliver a formal presentation. Edima is Chief Tech Officer at Zero to Three and previously was Exec Dir of Info Tech at the United National Foundation. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
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 before Wednesday evening.
Creative Commons photo of a barred owl by Dennis Buchner via Unsplash
Association Brain Food 