The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Vendor member education. WBT Systems explains why and how to help industry partners get the most value out of their membership. They describe educational programs that will help these member develop relationships and generate more leads.
Hybrid workplace worries. Achurch Consulting’s State of the Workplace Pulse Report revealed the hybrid workplace issues keeping C-suite leaders up at night. Some of these might be keeping you up too, but don’t worry, Achurch provides solutions too.
Change management. Impexium recommends five strategies for a change management framework. A few of them might surprise you, but they’re essential for technology project success.
Volunteer leaders. Joanna Pineda spoke with Rick Grimm, CEO of NIGP, on episode 15 of the Matrix Group’s Association Thrive podcast about his association’s Talent Council, which takes a different approach to volunteer recruitment. They don’t find a volunteer to fill a space; they get to know the volunteer and find the right space for them. Here’s another NIGP idea to steal: thought leader positions on the board held by people outside the industry who bring needed expertise to the association—you may recognize a few of their names.
Marketing plan. GrowthZone reviews the often confused elements of an association marketing plan: mission, goals, objectives, strategy, and tactics.
Hero worship. National Holocaust Day was last Friday, which I didn’t know until Gurwinder Bhogal shared a video about Nicholas Winton, who helped 669 Jewish children in Czechoslovakia escape the Nazis just before World War II. It’s a good morning cry.
Good eats
Skip down to the list of free educational events if you prefer takeout.
Southern pan-fried bluefish was back on the menu. Before the fillets hit the pan, dredge them in flour and garlic powder, then buttermilk mixed with lots of hot sauce, and finally cornmeal and panko with ancho chile powder. On the side, potato wedges roasted with olive oil and Bojangles seasoning—crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and roasted broccoli and cauliflower with red onion, garlic powder and salt.
I turned my southwest skillet recipe into a casserole because we were bringing it over our friends’ house for the Eagles game. This time, I added ground chorizo to the turkey and a jalapeño to the pepper mix.
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 2/3 at 10 a.m.* – Association Design Circle
We meet on the first Friday of each month hosted by an association leader who leads a conversation on an association innovation topic. Our topic is the indispensability of technology in associations. More info/register.
Facilitator: Monica Pemberton, Chief Technology Officer at NACUBO, the National Association for College and University Business Officers
*All events are online at Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.
Fri 2/3 at 2 p.m. – Association Leadership in the Age of AI: Critical Conversations about Facts, Fears and the Future
Get an in-depth look at ChatGPT, its issues and opportunities: where it comes from, how it works, what it can do, who it helps, who it hurts, and, most importantly, how you can talk about it with your members. More info/register.
Host: Beth Z, Your Nerdy Best Friend
Fri 2/3 at 4 p.m. – Diversity Discussion Series: Association Leadership Panel
Join us for a moderated panel discussion on association leadership experiences in honor of Black History Month and as the first session in our Diversity Discussion Series. Panelists will share their wins, opportunities and resources they’ve utilized throughout their careers to achieve success. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Speakers:
- Reggie Henry, CAE, Chief Information and Performance Excellence Officer at ASAE
- Tia Perry, Director of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity at Associated Builders and Contractors
- Gary Roebuck, MS, MOA, CAE, Deputy Executive Director at the Association of Research Libraries
- Anikia Brown, CAE, MS (moderator), Senior Marketing Manager at the National Alliance of Mental Illness
Mon 2/6 at 8 a.m. – Elevating Member Engagement (Radio Free 501c)
Radio Free 501c, the podcast of Rogue Tulips Consulting (formerly Nonprofit Conversations) features guests from across the nonprofit community and the business world to share expertise on a variety of topics related to the practice of nonprofit management. Episodes are published Monday mornings in both audio and video format on most podcast services.
Guest: Amanda Kaiser, Member Engagement Strategist, Kaiser Insights
Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips LLC
Mon 2/6 at 1 p.m. – Inflection Points with the New MPI Academy Director
Join us as we welcome Tim Luepke, the new Director of the Academy, as he shares about him, his experience, his vision and his goals for the Academy in 2023. 0.5 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MPI
Tue 2/7 at 8 a.m. – Morning Coffee with BAE
Start your day with a casual coffee chat on Zoom with your favorite people. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Black Association Executives
Tue 2/7 at 11 a.m. – Newsletter Best Practices
Learn the dos and don’ts when it comes to your email communication pieces, how to determine if your data needs to be cleaned and what to look out for in your bounce report, and how to use your email communications to your advantage with personalization, surveys and more. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Alfred McKelvy III, Executive VP of Strategic Partnerships, Multiview
Tue 2/7 at 12 p.m. – Data Ethics (Association Analytics Network)
Join association professionals for peer-led discussions on topics related to data and analytics. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Analytics
Tue 2/7 at 12 p.m. – Preparing for 2023: General Operations Best Practices for Associations
How do you maximize efficiency in your daily operations? During this panel we will unpack how you can get the most out of your resources as an association. More info/register.
Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing
Speakers:
- Mark Bowers, Founder and Executive Director, Professional Development Consortium of Hampton Roads
- Sharon Harrington, Principal and Managing Organizational Communication Consultant, Amediate, LLC
- Mark Prevost, SVP of Growth, Billhighway
Tue 2/7 at 12 p.m. – Mapping Your Future
Have you started mapping your future? Where do you want to be? What areas of skills do you need to hone in on and strengthen? Where are your current strengths you can position yourself as an expert? Join our Academy team as we will help take you through the process, self-reflection and kick off the steps for you to begin mapping your future. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MPI
Tue 2/7 at 1 p.m. – Leadership Lessons from Martial Arts
The martial arts teach discipline, respect and technique. What can they teach us about leadership? Quite a lot. Hear five leadership lessons Joanna’s learned from studying two martial arts, TaeKwonDo and HapKiDo: why it’s useful to think of your staff as students with different degrees of skill levels (belts), how to have a conversation with a staff member who needs to switch jobs or seriously upgrade their skills (change to a new martial art), and how to teach your staff that they can be and should be leaders and followers at the same time. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Joanna Pineda, CEO & Chief Troublemaker of Matrix Group
Tue 2/7 at 2 p.m. – Charge Members For What You’re Worth
Learn how to uncover the value you offer, conduct market research to discover expanded opportunities, attach the right price to the value your organization provides, and communicate it to your audience. More info/register.
Host: Grype
Speaker: Dr. Michael Tatonetti, Founder and CEO, Pricing for Associations
Wed 2/8 at 7 a.m. – Encouraging Colleagues and Members to Be Association Ambassadors
Empower your members and colleagues to become ambassadors for your association. Learn practical tips and strategies on how to align your team on the correct association messages and keep your ambassadors engaged and motivated. More info/register (subscribe first).
Host: Association of Association Executives
Speakers:
- Alison Abbott, Marketing & Communications Director, World LPG Association
- John Martinez, Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Shocklogic
- Paul Walsh EMIAM (moderator), Seminar Programme Manager, Association of Association Executives
Wed 2/8 at 8:30 a.m. – CEO Breakfast with Halmyre: Association Disruption: A View Forward From the C-Suite (Ottawa ON)
Join a facilitated discussion with leaders who will turn disruption on its head. You will get inspiration for your 2023 strategy and a greater perspective on how you can disrupt the association model. Location: Ottawa ON. More info/register.
Host: Christine Saunders, President, Halmyre
Wed 2/8 at 11 a.m. – Association Business Development Meet-Up: Beat the Competition with Compelling Sales Materials
Visualizing an outcome is a key component in the buying process. As buying options continue to increase, organizations that can show their customers a path forward will stand out from the competition. That’s where sales materials come in: utilizing the right ones can help turn customers into partners. Learn about sales materials that work, share ideas and ask questions. 0.5 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Professionals for Association Revenue
Facilitator: Sean Soth, Founder and Leadership Advisory Board Chair of Professionals for Association Revenue
Wed 2/8 at 11 a.m. – Cybersecurity Questions You Should Be Asking
As critical as this topic is for an organization’s future and brand reputation, it is one of the least understood by organization leaders. This webinar cuts through the tech-talk and explains the must-know facts about cybersecurity risks, what leaders need to understand, what questions to ask, and how to ensure your IT team is headed in the right direction at an adequate pace. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Brian Scott, President, CIO, ClearTone Consulting LLC
Wed 2/8 at 11 a.m. – Repurposing Your Event Content to Maximize Views
Learn how to repurpose all of your valuable event content using the 3 R’s of repurposing content: reuse—use the existing content you have in different formats; remix—mix pieces of content to create something new and exciting; and refresh—update older pieces of content so they stay relevant. More info/register.
Host: Hopin
Wed 2/8 at 1 p.m. – Leading Your Team Through Major Technology Projects
Learn strategies for successful internal project management for technology projects. Find out how to create a list of expectations for internal project stakeholders/team members and determine whether a vendor’s project management practices align with your association’s approach. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Hosts: Fonteva & Protech
Speakers:
- Jenifer Alonzo, Association Practice Lead, Fíonta
- Erin Lemons, Senior Director of Marketing, Fonteva & Protech
Wed 2/8 at 1:30 p.m. – How Toxic Tech Is Really Affecting Your Association
Learn how detrimental toxic technologies are affecting your association and what to do to rise above the chaos. Examine root causes and risks including: your association’s culture and technical mindset, digital maturity level, business strategy alignment (or misalignment) and more. Hear from our panel of association technology experts and association executives who have tackled their toxic tech cultures head-on and how they’ve shifted to a continuous performance improvement mindset. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Hosts: ASI and ReviewMyAMS
Thu 2/9 at 11 a.m. – Marketing Artificial Intelligence in Action
Learn about low-lift, low-cost AI tools, specific to the marketing, membership, and communications functions, you can begin experimenting with right away at your organization. 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. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Erica Salm Rench, MBA, COO, Rasa.io
Thu 2/9 at 12 p.m. – Beyond Personality Type: How CliftonStrengths Can Accelerate Your Professional Success
There are several tools in the marketplace that evaluate personality, work style, and ambition, including CliftonStrengths, a Gallup product that can help measure indicators where you can excel and develop. Learn about CliftonStrengths and how to best use its results. Hear about other personality evaluations and when a participant may experience them. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Speaker: Rebecca Achurch, Founder and CEO of Achurch Consulting and a certified CliftonStrengths coach
Thu 2/9 at 12 p.m. – Drowning in Data: Focus on These 5 Key Event Data Points That Affect Your Whole Association
Learn what event data points are the most beneficial to associations. Explore how to use event data to make key strategic decisions that can help you achieve enhanced member engagement and experiences that attendees keep coming back to. More info/register.
Host: .orgCommunity
Speaker: Vinnu Deshetty, the Founder and CEO of EVA – Event Tech Hub
Thu 2/9 at 12 p.m. – Talking Tech for Associations
The strategic use of tech empowers associations to increase in productivity and operational efficiency. As technology plays a crucial role in the success of every organization, our industry experts will discuss the trends, initiatives, and must-haves to help your association move forward in a digital era. More info/register.
Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing
Speakers:
- Natale Foley, Sales Director at Joyn
- Neeraj Garg, Chief Operating Officer at Aplusify
- Thomas McClintock, Senior Client Services Manager at Empowered Margins
- Melinda Starkweather, Founder of Starkweather Association Services
Thu 2/9 at 12 p.m. – DES Expert Panel Q&A
This is your opportunity to hear from DES Expert Meg Fasy and our moderator Sourabh Kothari and ask the questions you want answered, whether related directly to the course content, or a challenge you may be facing in your own work in the virtual/hybrid events world. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: PCMA
Thu 2/9 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 2/9 at 1 p.m. – What You are NOT Being Told About Credit Card Processing
Learn about four important payment trends which emerged from the pandemic, two key changes you should make in 2023 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 2023—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 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers: Julie Duncan, Association Practice Leader, and Jenni Glaze, COO, US Transactions Corporation
Thu 2/9 at 2 p.m. – AMS Selection from the Trenches
Hear the real-life stories of two associations who just finished the selection process and how they managed and engaged their SME team and CEO to help with selection. Learn tips on how to handle your upcoming software selection process for an AMS or other key systems (LMS, communities, financial system, MSP) that you may plan to select in 2023. Get your questions about AMS selection answered by those who just went through the process. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: 501 Works
Speakers:
- Joye Blanscett, Executive Director of Operations, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association
- Annie A. Coldstream, Vice President of Member Engagement and HR, Massachusetts Bankers Association
Thu 2/9 at 2 p.m. – Why Meeting-Well Matters
Smart meeting professionals have learned to support physical, dietary, and mental health in the agenda with exercise classes, fun runs, healthy meal choices, and places to catch your breath. Learn why healthy meetings lead to better learning outcomes, creative ways to help people make better choices, and tips for caring for the whole attendee. More info/register.
Host: Smart Meetings
Speakers:
- Romie Mushtaq, wellness officer, Evolution Hospitality
- Rachael Riggs, wellbeing leader, Maritz Global Events
- Dave Stevens, director of field marketing and global events, data.world
Thu 2/9 at 3 p.m. – Beyond Dues: Launching Additional Revenue Streams for Your Associations
There are many ways your association can increase its revenue, such as sponsorships, job boards, and career events. An association’s financial health plays a significant role in determining its goals and activities. Explore alternative revenue streams your association could be leveraging right now. More info/register.
Host: NXUnite by Nexus Marketing
Speakers:
- Jordana Davis, Co-Founder and CEO, webcastcloud
- Michael Hoffman, Co-Founder and CEO, Gather Voices
- Felicia Michie, Senior Vice President of Partnerships, We Know Training
- Joanne Ray, Principal, Consultants in Association Philanthropy
Fri 2/10 at 12 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: Moira Edwards, MS, CAE, owner and president of Ellipsis Partners LLC
Mon 2/13 at 12 p.m. – Membership Mondays: Renewals and Lapsed Member Win-Back
Join us as we hear from two guest speakers that they have been successful in renewal and lapsed member win-back campaigns. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Speakers:
- Amanda Lea Kaiser, Member Engagement Strategist, and Keynote Speaker
- Elizabeth Smith, CAE, Senior Membership Manager, American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
Tue 2/14 at 11 a.m. – Overcoming Hotel Contract Challenges in a “Seller’s” Market
Learn what hoteliers are saying about contracting in the current climate, how to effectively navigate the negotiation process of a hotel contract, different tips and contract strategies to apply when planning an event, and helpful strategies to effectively develop, negotiate and manage contracts and contracting relationships. More info/register.
Host: Sidecar
Speaker: Therese Jardine, Founder and CEO of Strategic Event Procurement
Tue 2/14 at 12 p.m. – Learning to Love (or at least like) Web3
Web3 is here and it’s important for association technology champions to understand what it is, how it can be leveraged, and how it will impact associations. Hear an explanation of Web3 (e.g., blockchain, crypto, NFT’s, metaverse, etc.) and its applications for associations. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Speaker: Alice Locatelli, executive driver for digital strategy, Society of Actuaries
Tue 2/14 at 12 p.m. – LGBTQIA2+ Community Call
We will continue our conversation about ways to promote inclusiveness. Log on in February as we discuss, among other things: how to share ideas for volunteer actions (timeline of idea generation) for annual and beyond with ASAE leadership, and LGBTQ chamber of commerce in Atlanta—could/should we look into for Atlanta or is 2024 a better target. More info/register.
Host: ASAE LGBTQ Association Executives and Supporters
Tue 2/14 at 1 p.m. – AMS + LMS + CMS = True Love
Like the dating industry, an association technology ecosystem offers a wide range of options and diverse personalities. One major challenge faced by both is inadequate communication. Establishing compatibility is crucial. This webinar will delve into the steps necessary to achieve harmony among various association technology systems and provide value to members that will foster long-lasting love. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Molly Lee, Strategy and Design Practice Lead, Adage Technologies
- Ben Muscolino, Founder & CEO, AMS Geek
- Jake Toohey, Director, Association Practice, Adage Technologies
Wed 2/15 at 11 a.m. – 2023 Economic Headwinds: A Guide for Associations
In the midst of volatility, inflation, rising interest rates, and many other economic factors, the economy looks to be heading south quickly. At least that’s what we’re hearing – but what does the data say? Hear real economic data that will help give a clearer picture of what to expect in the economy and strategies to overcome these coming obstacles. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Matt Haggerty, Nonprofit Industry Eminence, RSM
Wed 2/15 at 12 p.m. – The 5 Most Important Metrics for your Components
Are you ready to make your components more successful this year? Learn how to help your chapters build better habits and measure 5 essential metrics. Hear how to use data to make informed decisions, leverage technology to automate tasks, and how to properly onboard and train your volunteers. Plus, we’ll discuss the most important metrics you should be monitoring in order to stay ahead of the game in 2023. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Hosts: Billhighway and Mariner Management
Speaker: Peggy Hoffman, president and executive director, Mariner Management
Wed 2/15 at 1 p.m. – Show Your Members the L.O.V.E.!
You might not have thought about membership like this before: you’re in a relationship with each of your members! After you have DTR’d (Defined the Relationship, a.k.a. they join), that’s when the effort begins. Learn about techniques for Listening to members throughout the member lifecycle, how to shift your association’s approach to be more Open-minded when it comes to member input and feedback, opportunities to demonstrate Value at unique communication touch points during the year, and how making it about your partner (the member), and not you (the association), results in long-term Engagement and dedication to your organization. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Brianne Wheeler, Director of Marketing at PropFuel
Wed 2/15 at 2 p.m. – Enhance Your Executive Presence Online and In Person
Explore the six elements of professional presence in online, in person, and hybrid situations with photo and video examples. Assess your personal strengths and areas for improvement with regard to body language, vocal quality, facial expressions, filler words, eye contact, and physical setup. Learn how to develop a speaking toolkit so you can make purposeful decisions about how to show up and add value in workplace speaking contexts. More info/register.
Host: Professionals for Association Revenue
Speaker: Christine Clapp, founder, Spoken with Authority
Wed 2/15 at 3 p.m. – A Lightweight Framework for Building Your Association’s Data Strategy
Lack of a documented data strategy is a leading reason data initiatives struggle or even fail, primarily because it seems difficult, expensive, and overwhelming to create. Learn about a lightweight process for mapping out and documenting a data strategy, and how to assess your current state, build a future state vision, and identify gaps and solutions in four focus areas: organization and culture, strategic alignment, technology, and data. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Analytics
Speakers: Bill Conforti, SVP of Strategy & Solutions, and Greg Pollack, VP of Sales, Association Analytics
Thu 2/16 at 11 a.m. – My Boss Says We Need More Video. Now What?
Using video best practices and real-world examples from associations who are already putting these ideas into action, find out about the process of building an accessible, inclusive and scalable member-driven video strategy. Learn how to plan, execute, and optimize member-generated video campaigns to achieve revenue-based outcomes, assess the organization’s current campaigns to identify areas of opportunity to include more diverse voices and perspectives, and design an actionable strategic plan for creating and distributing member-driven video content. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Michael Hoffman, Co-Founder and CEO, Gather Voices
Tue 2/16 at 11:30 a.m. – LMS Marketplace
This inaugural sneak peek of the LMS Marketplace focuses on learning management systems. Participants meet f2f (Zoom) with subject matter experts, download materials, watch videos, and choose which LMS reps to invite for longer presentations. More info/register.
Host: Qiqo
Wed 2/16 at 12 p.m. –Looking Forward 2023 Impact: A Look at Trends and Analysis
Hear about the findings from Looking Forward 2022 Impact, the most current and comprehensive examination of 75 critical factors affecting association members and the potential impacts on association strategy. The research covers factors affecting the association environment in six domains, including economic, information and technology, workforce, government, global as well as stakeholder perceptions. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Laboratory
Speakers: Dean West, founder and President, Nikki Haton Shanks, MBA, CAE, Strategist, and Nikki Golden, CAE, Strategist, Association Laboratory
Wed 2/16 at 1 p.m. – Will Your AMS Be Fully Automated in 2023?
Discover how to streamline repetitive tasks, eliminate manual entry, and boost efficiency with automation. Learn about the benefits of workflow automation, mundane processes to automate right now, and ideas for taking automation to the next level. More info/register.
Host: Impexium
Wed 2/16 at 3 p.m. – The Importance of the CEO/CIO Relationship
As associations increasingly rely on technology and technological innovation in all aspects of the enterprise, the relationship between the CEO and the CIO (or highest-ranking technology staff person) has become critical to the association’s success. CEOs are beginning to realize that the CIO needs to be involved in strategy, and CIOs need to understand the business. Hear what the panelists expect of their CIOs, and the role of technology in their associations. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Technology Advisory Council
Speakers:
- Lakisha Barclay, CAE, Executive Director & CEO, Rubber Division, American Chemical Society
- Preet Bassi, , Chief Executive Officer, Center for Public Safety Excellence Inc
- David Cade, Executive Vice President/CEO, American Health Law Association
- Peter O’Neil, FASAE, CAE, Chief Executive Officer, ASIS International
- Tori Liu, CAE (moderator), President & CEO, Association for Intelligent Information Management
Wed 2/16 at 4 p.m. – How Associations Can Stay Relevant in a World of Decreasing Attention Span
Modern economics is driven by how well companies capture and retain the attention of the market. Known as the Attention Economy, consumers are trading their attention as if it were a commodity. Learn how to grab the attention of your members in a world of decreasing attention span, how media companies engage and how it can benefit your association, and how to change your mindset to always think boldly and evolve with your industry, including members and vendors. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Reston-Loudoun Idea Swap
Speaker: Bill Sheehan, vice president, strategic partnerships, Multiview
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 the week before it’s scheduled.
Creative Commons licensed photo by Paxson Woelber via Unsplash
Association Brain Food 