Association Brain Food: 8.4.23

The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…

“One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon—instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows today.” —Dale Carnegie

Non-dues revenue. It’s not so easy to remember to practice the presence and gratitude it takes to enjoy those roses, but I will give it my best shot at ASAE Annual this weekend—as much as my adrenalined mind will allow. I hope to greet and meet many of you there and also at Non-Dues-a-Palooza (NDAP) in Denver in early September. There’s a better chance we’ll have time to sit and smell the roses together at NDAP. Seriously consider attending if non-dues revenue is a concern for your association.

Introverts. Here’s a post by Aaron Wolowiec of Event Garde to share with your introvert friends. I didn’t know I was an introvert until I heard Susan Cain do a keynote at an ASAE Annual long ago. I thought introversion was related to shyness, not a problem for social me. But when I read her book, Quiet, my entire striving life up to that point made sense. I wanted to push it into the hands of every parent. Aaron shares advice to help introverts manage their energy and mind at a hectic event like Annual. He’s my hero of the week!

Mobile apps. Results Direct and .orgCommunity invite your participation in the State of Mobile in Associations 2023 Benchmark Survey, the first and most comprehensive survey of its kind for the association community. Your input will help associations benchmark the use of event, member, and other mobile apps in associations.

Membership pricing. Your association’s recruitment and retention success depend on your membership model pricing. But that’s not all—mission success and financial sustainability ride on it too. Impexium dives deep into membership pricing models to explain when to make a change, how to do the requisite research, what type of models are commonly used, and how to figure out pricing.

Member engagement. TopClass LMS explains how online education programs can help increase member engagement. They describe the essential elements of education programs that resonate with members.

Non-dues revenue partners. Navigate CES describes how your association can improve the customer journey for sponsors, exhibitors and advertisers. They share tactics for the six stages of the business development journey and offer advice for dealing with revenue partner churn and expansion.

AI tools. At the Wall Street Journal <gift link>, Isabelle Bousquette says companies are drowning in too much AI. Employees are confused and overwhelmed by the options, while IT and executives worry about privacy, plagiarism, value and other issues. I imagine associations are going through the same thing right now.

Inspiring purpose. Futurist Peter Diamandis is a proponent for individuals and organizations crafting a Massive Transformative Purpose (MTP). WBT Systems explains how an MTP helps you build a community and create a movement by connecting what your association does to a greater sense of meaning and purpose. Diamandis says an MTP can do wonders for individuals too.

Mission statements. If you’re not ready to grapple with an MTP but need to write a traditional mission statement, GrowthZone has you covered. Their tip sheet goes through the steps of defining your purpose, identifying your target audience, getting input and developing the copy.

Online experiences. The Endocrine Society and Matchbox Virtual Media announced a joint venture to design and deliver online experiences that will drive innovation in the medical, healthcare and scientific industries. I’m interested in seeing what this creative partnership comes up with. They’re starting with a research study to learn what’s working (or not) for associations hosting online experiences. Stop by Matchbox’s booth at ASAE Annual if you want to learn more.

Quick hits

Five things to do to heat up your content marketing game during the summer lull. (Ann Gynn, Content Marketing Institute)

No, you don’t need to learn golf to advance in your career. Per a new study, women leaders can successfully network off the course. (Courtney Connley, Chief)

Good eats

Skip down to the list of free educational events if you prefer takeout.

Oh my, I do love these smoked Gouda- and chorizo-stuffed jalapeño peppers from Sunny Anderson at the Food Network and everyone else does too. Expect the plate to be cleared.

My Portuguese fish skillet was adapted from these UK and US recipes. I make mine with linguiça, kale, poblano peppers plus all the other ingredients, including catfish, this time. Very robust!

When at the beach, I always have to buy local shrimp and make my shrimp beach pasta with onion, red bell pepper, garlic, diced tomatoes, white wine, shrimp broth (save the shells!), basil and lots of butter. For dessert, key lime pie bought at the seafood market and made by a local baker, yum.

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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.

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Fri 8/4 at 10 a.m.* – Association Learning Strategy | Coffee with Innovators: Association Design Circle

Every month, an association leader leads a conversation on an association innovation topic. Our topic this month is designing a high-impact learning strategy for associations and nonprofits. How can we design an executable learning strategy? How can we use learning to engage or reengage our constituents?  More info/register.

Host: Product Design Community

Facilitator: Nancy Bacon, founder, Nancy Bacon Consulting

*All events are online at Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.

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Fri 8/4 at 4 p.m. – Career Management Toolkit: How to Maximize Your Conference Attendance Investment

Join a practical, how-to conversation designed to help you make the most of your ASAE Annual Meeting and other professional conference experiences. Learn what to do in advance of a meeting; what to do while onsite, and what to do once you’re back home to make your learning and connections stick. Whether you’re heading to Atlanta for this year’s ASAE Annual Meeting and need last-minute help navigating your way, or not, you’ll walk away with valuable tips, tactics, and ideas for using meeting attendance to advance your career. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Facilitator: Jennifer Baker, MSW, CAE

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Sat 8/5 at 4 p.m. – AWTC Happy Hour at ASAE Annual (Atlanta GA)

Connect with old and new friends before heading to the ASAE Opening Reception, a short walk away. Location: Atlanta GA. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

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Mon 8/7 at 8 a.m. – Your AMS Is Not the Center of the Universe (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 Getter, 501evolved

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Mon 8/7 at 5:30 p.m. – CRVM Happy Hour @ Annual Meeting (Atlanta GA)

Past council chairs, current council leadership and members, CRPs & VMers and all our association colleagues are welcome. Happy Hour is self-sponsored. Location: Atlanta GA. More info/register.

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Mon 8/7 at 6 p.m. – Fridays@4 Meet and Greet at ASAE (Atlanta GA)

This will be a “Dutch-treat” dinner at a restaurant within walking distance of the conference center. Location: Atlanta GA. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

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Tue 8/8 at 12 p.m. – LGBTQIA2+ Community Call

Join association professionals (of all career levels) on the second Tuesday of every month to share lunch time and discuss topics that are relevant and timely. Come prepared to join this judgment-free group with questions and issues that are top of mind for you in the LGBTQIA2+ association community. More info/register.

Host: ASAE LGBTQ Association Executives and Supporters

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Wed 8/9 at 9 a.m. – Creating Year-Round Opportunities from Your Association Event

Event attendees are looking for new ways to learn, connect and experience what your association has to offer. But the event itself is just the beginning! Successfully engaging the event attendees you had and the event attendees you want takes a year-round approach. Join this PAR Member Meet-Up to share how your association creates opportunities before, during and after your annual event. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register (PAR members only).

Host: Professionals for Association Revenue

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Wed 8/9 at 12 p.m. – What’s Changed (and What Hasn’t) About In-Person Gatherings

Hear about the state of in-person events today based on responses from more than 4,000 organizers and attendees who participated in Bizzabo’s in-person B2B conference survey in June 2023. Learn about conference trends, organizer challenges, attendee priorities, why in-person events are the most valuable marketing channel and networking ecosystem today, and tips on how to overcome and solve current challenges. More info/register.

Host: Bizzabo

Speakers:

• Carina Bauer, CEO, IMEX
• Kathryn Frankson, Global Director of Marketing, Money 20/20
• Huong Nguyen, Head of Client Services, Shiloh Events
• Oren Berkovich, Head of Experience Lab, Bizzabo

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Thu 8/10 at 9:30 a.m. – Small Staff Percolator

A new interactive online coffee break format designed for you to discover more peers in our dispersed community, bring up a topic that’s brewing in the daily grind, and have a casual chat with others who know your lingo. More info/register.

Host: Qiqo

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Thu 8/10 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

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Thu 8/10 at 2 p.m. – Evolving Event Apps: Customization, Engagement, and Marketing

Hear about the landscape of event apps and their importance for enhancing meeting experiences, specific event app features that drive creativity and customization, and best practices for ensuring successful technology integration and adoption in event planning and execution. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MeetingsNet

Speaker: Justin Maddox, Director of Digital Strategy, LEO Events

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Fri 8/11 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: Sarah Lewis, Senior WordPress Developer at Yoko Co.

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Tue 8/15 at 11 a.m. – How to Get Useable Results from AI: An Introduction to Prompt Engineering for Association Professionals

Much like you would provide an employee or team member with guidance on a specific project, generative AI needs prompting and feedback before it can be expected to give you the product you’re asking for. Learn about the background of AI, what it’s capable of, and how it works (on an introductory level); how to identify use cases for generative AI; and the fundamentals of prompt engineering, specifically for association applications, including prompt chaining, role prompting, think-reason-plan-act prompts and more. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Sidecar

Speakers: Thomas Altman and Dray Thomas, Co-Founders, Tasio

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Tue 8/15 at 12 p.m. – CRVM August Crunch and Munch

Crunch and Munch is a chance to come together once a month with peers for a casual conversation on hot topics relevant to the component relations and volunteer management community. Come prepared to share your successes, challenges and ideas. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Council

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Wed 8/16 at 2 p.m. – Design Think Your Way to More Engaged Stakeholders

Hear about a strategic methodology—with real world examples and practical tools—that can guide your association to think differently about your meeting stakeholders. Learn how to analyze your event stakeholders and discuss the value of applying empathy in design, articulate the unique purpose and value of your event for each stakeholder, and understand the scalability of the Event Design Process and how to apply the methodology to your own events. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Professionals for Association Revenue

Speakers:

• Emilie Perkins, CMP, CAE, CMM, PMP, CED, Director Client & Conference Services, Raybourn Group International
• Katie Riggs, CMP, CAE, CMM, HMCC, CED, Chief Event Strategist, Riggs & Co

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Wed 8/16 at 3 p.m. – Next-Level Governance™: Leading with Strategic Agility

Hear the latest data-driven insights on how to get the strategic agility your association governance needs to meet the challenges of the moment. Learn about board success factors, key risks and disruptors boards face in 2023, and characteristics needed to build a board with strategic agility. More info/register.

Host: McKinley Advisors

Speakers: Patrick Glaser, Jon Hockman, Tim Hopkins, CAE, and Suzanna Kelley, FAIA, McKinley Advisors

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Thu 8/17 at 2 p.m. – Mission Possible: Mapping Your Path to More Effective Marketing

Your organization’s marketing ecosystem lives on a maturity spectrum—the more mature, the more impactful, the less mature, the less effective. Hear the results from the 2023 Marketing Benchmarks for Mission-Driven Organizations report and learn how to leverage data and insights to better understand how you stack up to your peers. Take away tools to develop more impactful strategies that lead to higher marketing effectiveness. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Mighty Citizen

Speakers: Jarrett Way, Content and Digital Marketing Manager, and Brianna Martin, Director of Brand Marketing, Mighty Citizen

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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.

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Creative Commons licensed photo by Chantal Garnier via Unsplash

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