The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Invest in you. WBT Systems suggests ten ways to invest more time in activities that will help you grow personally and professionally. True to their mission, their first one is “make space for learning,” but some of the others might surprise you.
Reflection questions. Dr. Britt Andreatta shares ten powerful questions to guide your goals and intentions this year. First, she asks you to review 2021 and then think about your life in 2022 and beyond. I started this exercise last weekend and look forward to working on it this weekend.
Employee experience. You won’t be surprised by this prediction from Forrester about emerging employee experience (EX) challenges: one-third of organizations will fail at “work anywhere” because leaders will allow hybrid work but still design meetings, roles, and opportunities around face-to-face interactions.
Chapter coaching. Coaching at work is having its long overdue moment. I keep seeing articles advising managers to coach, not command. Mariner Management explains why you should also adopt a coaching mindset when working with volunteer chapter leaders.
Online education volunteers. How’s the volunteer experience at your association? If you’re looking for more enjoyable and rewarding volunteer opportunities for members, WBT Systems suggests ways they can help with your online education programs, for example, as coaches.
Brainstorming. Stowe Boyd shares excerpts from a Harvard Business Review article about three creativity fallacies, including practical advice for preventing brainstorming sessions from going off the rails.
Email marketing automation software. Rasa.io explains the costs associated with email marketing automation software and the factors affecting those costs. They also provide a brief overview of pricing for some of the most popular email marketing automation software.
Quick hits
- The essential guide to SEO for associations. (Chris Bonney, Yoko Consulting)
- Seven daily habits to make you a more consistent content creator. (Mark Schaefer)
- Should this meeting be an email? (Dylan Sather and Danny Roosevelt)
- A site that lets you access articles behind paywalls. (12ft)
Good eats
Skip down to the list of free webinars if you prefer takeout—this is a long one.
Shrimp cocktail is a Christmas Eve tradition: poach North Carolina shrimp in a shell-based court bouillon, chill them in an ice bath, and serve with a heavy-on-the-horseradish cocktail sauce. Until now, I didn’t realize how much time I spent over the holidays this year with Ina Garten. We enjoyed the shrimp alongside her ham and cheese puff pastry bars. Our main course on the Eve was her baked rigatoni with lamb ragu—talk about comfort food. The previous weekend, I made Ina’s ground lamb pastitsio, yes, we love lamb—a fantastic recipe for a chilly evening.
For Jim’s birthday on New Year’s Day, I made his favorite slow-roasted corned beef topped with lots of spices and a cabbage sauté with bacon, carrots, red bell and poblano pepper, and garlic.
Other tasty dinners during our holiday break:
- Geppetto’s white pizza—the best (and legendary) white pizza—one of them topped with hot banana peppers
- Portobello steaks au poivre—oh my, I can’t believe how good this was.
Some favorite sides from the last few weeks:
- Broccoli salad with cheddar and warm bacon vinaigrette—I used a combo of asiago and sharp cheddar cheese.
- Collards and kale sauté with bacon, red bell, onion, and cranberries
- Kohlrabi sauté with carrots, broccoli stems, red bell, red onion, garlic, and basil pesto
- Roasted broccoli with garlic, lemon zest, and parmesan
Highly recommended for dessert:
- Gramercy Tavern’s gingerbread
I managed to gain six pounds during the last few weeks. Nice, huh? I give some of the credit to my homemade eggnog—a legendary recipe in Arlington VA and Sacramento CA, but the NC crowd aren’t eggnog fans so I made only half a batch for my personal indulgence.
Here are the educational events scheduled for next week. 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 1/7 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 at Eastern Standard Time and online unless otherwise noted.
Fri 1/7 at 4 p.m. – What Are You Serving as a Leader?
As a leader, what are you serving today? Answer this question with brutal honesty and you will arrive at the core of your intention and motivation as a leader. Learn what it means to be a servant leader and explore the critical characteristics essential to being one. Gain a sense of your own development as a servant leader. Applying this knowledge will help you create a better, more caring organizational culture. More info/register (must join before registering).
Host: Fridays@4
Presenter: Dr. Hope Zoeller, Founder and President of HOPE (Helping Other People Excel)
Mon 1/10 at 1 p.m. – Effective Governance: What Works Best (Chatting with Agnes & Cecilia)
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: Megan Motto, CEO, Governance Institute of Australia
Hosts:
- Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC
- Agnes Amos-Coleman, MBA, CMP, education, conference, event, certification consultant, Amos-Coleman
Tue 1/11 at 10:30 a.m. – Tackling the Loneliness of the Long-Distance Association Leader (Association Leaders’ Forum Focus)
Many association leaders are plagued with feelings of loneliness. Leadership by its very nature requires a degree of distance from colleagues, but too much distance makes it difficult to call on others. It’s easy to make the mistake of trying to solve problems alone; after all, you’re the Chief Executive, you should be executing things. But a strong support network is vital to both allow you to do the job, and stave off the loneliness that can impact your work and home life. More info/register.
Host: Institute of Association Leadership
Presenter: association CEO and IAL Almanac author, Simon Forrester
Tue 1/11 at 12 p.m. – Election Year Considerations for Nonprofits: What Your Organization Needs to Know
Hear about key rules and issues nonprofits need to be aware of to be politically active with confidence, including federal and state campaign finance requirements; contributions; independent expenditures; disclosure and disclaimers; House and Senate Ethics rules; and federal tax issues, restrictions, and requirements for 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(6) tax-exempt organizations. More info/register.
Host: Venable LLP
Presenters:
- Ronald M. Jacobs, Partner and Co-Chair, Political Law Practice, Venable LLP
- Lindsay M. Nathan, Partner, Political Law Practice, Venable LLP
- James E. Tyrrell, III, Partner, Political Law Practice, Venable LLP
Tue 1/11 at 12 p.m. – What’s New in 2022? Research & Trend Highlights for the Year
Learn about the top trends coming up that can help you think strategically about everything from event design, to branding and more. 1 CMP credit. More info/register (possible fee for non-members).
Host: MPI
Presenter: Jessie States, CMP, CMM, Vice President, MPI Academy, Meeting Professionals International
Tue 1/11 at 2 p.m. – 2022 Hospitality Predictions
After the massive disruption of 2021, how are hotels adjusting to meet the needs of groups? Hear where the industry is going and what smart meeting professionals are doing to reassure attendees and meet their goals. Learn methods to optimize your relationships with hotels, skills you need to thrive in the coming market, and what is myth vs. reality in today’s meeting environment. More info/register.
Host: Smart Meetings
Presenter: Michael Dominguez, president and CEO of Associated Luxury Hotels International
Wed 1/12 at 2 p.m. – How to Craft User Journeys to Keep Your Members Engaged
Learn how to experience your website and member portal through the eyes of your user; to predict what they are looking for and anticipate what they will find relevant and helpful. This strategic exercise goes beyond intuitive navigation into creating an impressive user experience that is satisfying and brings the user to a higher place of knowledge. More info/register.
Host: Grype
Presenter: Ronja Francoeur, Member Engagement Specialist
Thu 1/13 at 1 p.m. – Virtual Events are Delicious
There are some things about in-person experiences that simply cannot be replicated online. We feel the same way about some things that only virtual experiences can bring! Hear about uncovering new unlocked value that is only possible when your community convenes online. Explore the new opportunity that hybrid events bring: leaning in to what each medium does best for its respective audience, while finding meaningful ways to connect your virtual and in-person attendees so both have an enhanced experience. More info/register.
Host: Matchbox Virtual Media
Presenters:
- Arianna Rehak, Co-Founder & CEO, Matchbox Virtual Media
- Beth Surmont, VP of Event Strategy & Design, 360 Live Media
Thu 1/13 at 2 p.m. – How to Make 2022 Your Most Successful Advocacy Year Yet
There are a myriad of opportunities for you to get momentum on your issues and have your organization’s mission represented by the elected officials who win this year’s midterms. As we prepare for 2022, new workflows for digital advocacy have become the norm as organizations have shifted to a hybrid virtual/in-person environment while continuing to advocate for their members and clients. Hear from advocacy experts about the lessons they learned last year and the best practices and tools they’re bringing into 2022. More info/register.
Host: FiscalNote
Presenters:
- Sherry Whitworth, Managing Director, Public Affairs and Advocacy, FiscalNote
- Kristin St. John, Deputy Director, National Grassroots Advocacy, National Association of Community Health Centers
- Steve Reynolds, Director of Advocacy Mobilization, World Vision
- Angela Lee, Manager of Advocacy Outreach and Engagement, Goodwill Industries International
Fri 1/14 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 1/14 at 4 p.m. – Moving to Mind SPACE!
Based upon the book Where’s the Office? Moving Today’s Leaders from What IS to What CAN BE, author and event industry expert Heather Hansen O’Neill will provide a deeper dive into one of the primary concepts and tools. When association professionals move from an attachment to physical space into the concept and tool of Mind SPACE, you realize that you can expertly lead meetings and events from ANY location- in person, virtual, hybrid- because you know that the ‘office’ resides WITHIN You! More info/register (must join before registering).
Host: Fridays@4
Mon 1/17 at 1 p.m. – Ethics in Times of Change and Crises (Chatting with Agnes & Cecilia)
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: R. Jai Krishna, Secretary-General, News Broadcasters Federation-India
Hosts:
- Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC
- Agnes Amos-Coleman, MBA, CMP, education, conference, event, certification consultant, Amos-Coleman
Wed 1/19 at 11 a.m. – Looking Forward 2022 (Impact): First Look at Trends and Analysis
Lessen your uncertainty heading into 2022 with the latest data in the Looking Forward® Impact survey. The research covers factors affecting the association environment in six domains, including economic, information and technology, workforce, government, global and stakeholder perceptions. Understand the factors impacting association strategy in the coming year and facilitate strategic conversations with your team and volunteer leaders on how your association can respond. In addition, hear from your peers their thoughts on the data and their plans to use it in conversation with their Boards. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: Association Laboratory
Presenters:
- Dean West, FASAE, founder and president, Association Laboratory
- Bob Moore, MA, CAE, executive director, American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
- Wendy Kavanagh, CAE, president, Georgia Society of Association Executives
Wed 1/19 at 12 p.m. – Association Lessons From… A Family’s Global Sabbatical
Alex Mouw and her family took a trip around the world for nearly a year. She shares their experiences and the lessons for associations. In this video chat series, the first 15 minutes or so will be a presentation or interview of the guest. followed by a highly interactive discussion and/or Q&A. Come prepared to be engaged and to look at association challenges through a different lens. More info/register.
Host: Jay Daughtry, Chief Communications Officer/Owner, CQbd
Presenter: Alexandra Mouw, CAE, Principal Digital Strategist, Results Direct | RD Mobile
Thu 1/20 at 2 p.m. – Winter Tapas Talks: A Celebration of Quality
Wish you knew how (or why) to reinvent your membership options? How to get volunteers excited? Transform bits and pieces of content into a functioning knowledge-base? Narrow AMS selections to a manageable batch? In this unique and highly interactive session, meet and speak with leading subject matter experts on these and other trending topics in eight simultaneous 15-minute conversations that start with brief storytelling by the expert then open up for your questions and group discussion on that topic. More info/register.
Host: Qiqochat
Presenters:
- Tony Rossell of MGI
- Adam Hostetter of FUSESearch
- Lowell Aplebaum, FASAE, CAE of Vista Cova
- Nicole Araujo, CAE of Mighty Citizen
- Cheryl Ronk of SoRight LLC
- Teri Carden of ReviewMyAMS
- Suzanne Pine, FASAE, CAE of Bloch & Reed Association Advisors
- Peggy Hoffman, FASAE, CAE of Mariner Management
Thu 1/20 at 2 p.m. – What’s Working Now: Jump-Starting Your Website Redesign
Hear best practices for redesigning your website to provide more value, grow revenue, and better connect your members. These tips will save you countless hours and dollars: getting the team ready for a successful redesign, reimagining the user experience, choosing the right technology and partner, organizing content to create impact, and creating a roadmap to guide continued success. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Results Direct
Presenter: Alexandra Mouw, CAE, Principal Digital Strategist, Results Direct | RD Mobile
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 photo by Theo Eilertsen Photography via Unsplash
Association Brain Food 