The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Maybe it’s time to get rid of the words “sponsor” and “sponsorship,” and while we’re at it, let’s 86 the old-fashioned mindset that sponsors are members you milk in return for signage and program mentions. Touching a nerve? Good.
Bruce Rosenthal is nicer about all of this. He has a few suggestions on how associations can increase the likelihood of a successful corporate partnership. Now that’s a word I can get behind: “partnership.” Among other things, Bruce runs the Partnership Professionals Network—check out the PPN Ideas Exchange listed below for Wednesday. Bruce said, “Moving from transactional sponsorships to engaging partnerships with companies is a big culture change for some associations … from the CEO on down.” It sure is. And it’s past time for that change.
A few months ago, WBT Systems wrote about partnering with companies whose sponsorship and involvement will add value to your online learning programs. This week, they’re talking about another partnership opportunity: selling online education in bulk to corporate members. On the surface, bulk sales might seem transactional but it’s really about building relationships and meeting each other’s needs.
Get your website ready for GDPR with this checklist from Bean Creative.
Want to experiment with new ideas at your association? In a three-part series, rasa.io explains how to develop, market and roll out a trial program.
Some quick hits before we get to the list of free webinars:
- Good advice: how to make your social media feed more interesting. (For The Interested)
- What to do when personal and professional commitments compete for your time. (Harvard Business Review)
- Check out these photos of bioluminescence giving the California coastline an eerie blue glow. (The Guardian)
- I’ve been transcribing my March 2001 journal from when I traveled via Amtrak Coast Starlight sleeper car from LA to Seattle… Did you know the Coast Starlight and Pacific Surfliner go right along the California coast? I mean right along, nothing between the tracks and the ocean. Need to decompress? That’s what you should do, or the California Zephyr through the Sierra and Rockies. Yes, I had a train phase. (Amtrak)
Off-topic: Check out my Grabbing the Gusto blog for my weekend post about the list of recipes I’ve made this week or plan to make in the coming week.
Now, the main event: free professional development events for the association community. If your organization has a free webinar or event coming up, please send me the link. I’ll be happy to feature it as long as it’s not product-centric.
Mon 5/21 at 9 a.m.* – Europe Today: What Associations Need to Know
The European Union is placing high emphasis on key topics that will influence how global associations work with and in Europe. In this panel discussion, industry experts will dive into global association case studies and provide insight into why a global presence is needed, how management is conducted on a global scale; and how to deal with barriers and challenges. 2 CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
*All times are Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.
Tue 5/22 at 1 p.m. – Get More in the Door: How to Increase Event Attendance
The choices of channels and tactics to market your events grows ever more varied and complex, with new options and techniques appearing all the time. Hear about best practice marketing tactics for before, during, and after events; alternative channels which are now (or will be) the new norm; and how to extend and harness the power of your live events. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Meetings Today
Presenters:
- Myllisa Patterson, Director of Marketing, CrowdCompass by Cvent
- Alyssa Peltier, Customer Marketing Manager, Cvent
Tue 5/22 at 1 p.m. – How to Use Social Media and Event Technology to Grow your Event Community
Explore the best social media channels that resonate with your community. Discover technology tools that can help you manage community growth. Develop guidance for community managers and members to thrive. Learn how to maximize your chances of successful community growth. Define what success looks like and how to measure it. More info/register.
Host: Event Manager Blog
Presenter: Miguel Neves, Head Chef, Social Media Chefs
Tue 5/22 at 2 p.m. – Reporting from Meetings Today Live! in St. Louis (Association Chat)
Host: KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth
Tue 5/22 at 2 p.m. – Managing Food Allergies and Menu Planning with Ease
Uncover the truth about food allergies and accommodating them at your meetings and events. Engage in exercises to support you in the menu planning process. Discover ways to serve your conference attendees in an all-inclusive way. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: PCMA
Presenter: Angela Gaffney
Wed 5/23 at 12 p.m. – DC-Area Partnership Professionals Network Idea Exchange (Washington DC)
Join a discussion on tips for corporate partner contracts and ways to engage your corporate partners’ employees. Location: Washington DC. More info/register.
Host/Organizer: Bruce Rosenthal, founder, Bruce Rosenthal Associates, LLC, and Partnership Professionals Network
Wed 5/23 at 12 p.m. – Small Staff Association Brown Bag Lunch (Farragut/Dupont, Washington DC)
This casual lunch group of association colleagues is specifically for those who work at small staff associations. Attendees share ideas and ask questions about other associations’ best practices. Location: Washington, DC. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Small Staff Association Professionals
Wed 5/23 at 12 p.m. – Not-for-Profit Survey Highlights: Cybersecurity, Risk Management & More
Hear about the key findings from CohnReznick’s Not-for-Profit Survey, including a deep dive into two areas that are of increasing concern for exempt organizations: cybersecurity and risk management. More info/register.
Host: CohnReznick
Wed 5/23 at 1 p.m. – How to Scale Online Learning: B2B Market Strategies for Associations
Learn how to sell online learning content in bulk through your corporate customers/members. Find out how to build a viable business model for bulk sales; develop effective pricing and marketing strategies; compare tradeoffs of selling through sales reps versus online channels; delegate content administration, reporting and user provisioning; integrate core learning systems with CRM platforms and other operational applications; and achieve internal buy-in, drive project momentum and maintain organizational alignment. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Talented Learning
Presenters:
- William Hold, Chief Development Officer, The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research
- Linda Bowers, CTO, WBT Systems
Wed 5/23 at 1 p.m. – Are You Getting the Most out of Your Data?
You’ve probably heard the near constant drumbeat in recent years that you should be collecting more data about your membership. But while many associations have heard the call, their approach to collecting and analyzing this data has been unbalanced. They tend to focus on “vanity” metrics, highlighting numbers that tell a compelling story without giving any meaningful insights into member/customer behavior. Learn how you can set your organization apart by digging deeper into the data, enabling you to surface meaningful insights and, most importantly, take action. More info/register.
Host: ReviewMyAMS
Presenters:
- Teri Carden, CEO, ReviewMyAMS
- Chris Capistran, President, Cobalt
Thu 5/24 at 11 a.m. – How to Create an Amazon Echo Flash Briefing for Your Association (Association Chat)
[DR note: Now this is cool!] Join/listen/watch the chat.
Host: KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth
Thu 5/24 at 1 p.m. – Personalization for Associations: Creating a Seamless Digital Experience for Your Members
Learn how personalization can increase engagement online for membership associations and nonprofits. Get an overview on how to begin exploring personalization. No prior background on the subject is required to attend. More info/register.
Host: Unleashed Technologies
Presenters:
- Michael Spinosa, CEO, Unleashed Technologies
- Jason Currier, Director NGO Mid-Atlantic, Acquia
Thu 5/24 at 2 p.m. – Best Practices, Tools, and Resources to Stop Room Block Poaching
Gain powerful insight into the industry-wide effects of poaching on our industry, who is affected and how. Identify the various ways poachers can adversely affect your workload, reputation, and budgets, through pilfering of hotel rooms and other revenue opportunities from your event. Learn and share best practices for dealing with the effects of poaching and dealing with the perpetrators. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: PCMA
Presenter: Michael Owen, founder, EventGenuity, LLC
Wed 5/30 at 2 p.m. – Reach Your Audience: Your Guide to Micro-Influencers
Host: KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth
Thu 5/31 at 1 p.m. – From Policy to Performance: Ensuring Successful Teleworking
In an environment where virtual employees are becoming the norm, it’s essential that your association is intentional around creating the right policy, framework and engagement for your teleworking team. During this webinar, we’ll discuss best practices for creating a telework policy that reflects and helps thrive your culture; while also highlighting successes and lessons learned from other organizations along this journey. More info/register.
Host: ASAE FBO Section Council
Presenter: Heather de la Riva, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, sHRBP, Director of Virtual Outsourcing, Nonprofit HR
Thu 5/31 at 2 p.m. – New European Union Data Privacy Laws Could Cost Your Company Money (rebroadcast)
If you have data on even one member or customer in the EU, you need to understand the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) or face fines when it becomes enforceable. This could mean changes to the way you currently collect and disperse data and adjustments to the data you currently store. This session, originally presented at Convening Leaders in January of 2018, will arm you with critical information to aid in ensuring your organization’s full compliance with the regulations in effect on May 25. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: PCMA
That’s it for now. If you can’t attend a live webinar, go ahead and register if the topic interests you. Most webinar hosts send registrants a link to the recording.
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.
Creative Commons licensed photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash.
Association Brain Food 