Dear Board.Observations From a New Volunteer
Wild Apricot
MAY 17, 2013
'Here is a letter to the board from a new volunteer offering some insight and advice Dr. Seuss-style.
May, 2013
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The One Thing You Need to do to Attract Millennials
YourMembership
MAY 22, 2013
'Categories: Member Engagement + Retention Tags: millennials TIME Magazine published a recent article entitled The Me Me Me Generation. The subhead read “Millennials are lazy, entitled narcissists who still live with their parents.” The secondary subhead read “Why they’ll save us all.” Before the rage of the Millennial reader befalls me, I want to throw out the two statistics this article touts.
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Association Summer Jam: All Aboard!
Spark Consulting
MAY 23, 2013
'A couple of months ago, Shelly Alcorn proposed conducting an association jam this summer. What is a “jam”? Also known as a “hack” or “hackathon,” jams aim to bring smart people together to “ explore an interesting challenge ” and come up with some potential solutions to it. Shelly put the call out to association execs to offer to host local jam sessions, which is what I’ll be doing in DC on Saturday, June 29, from 4 – 7 (ish) pm ET.
Good News For Association Education Courtesy of Generation X
Association Subculture
MAY 15, 2013
'No his mind is not for rent. To any god or government. Always hopeful yet discontent. He knows changes aren''t permanent. But change is. Rush, Tom Sawyer. Here is the link to the video for those who can''t see the embed. It seems fitting to feature Rush again here on the Association Subculture in light of their recent (OVERDUE IMHO) induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
A New Look At Running Grants & Programs: Why Use A System When You Have Excel?
Speaker: Gareth Webb & Phil Selley, Founding Partners at Intouch Business
For many nonprofit organizations and NGOs, managing grants and monitoring projects with spreadsheets and manual processes feels familiar—but is it holding your organization back? As funding requirements become more complex and stakeholder expectations for transparency grow, relying on outdated methods can lead to inefficiencies, missed opportunities, and compliance risks.
Is Civility a Leadership Trait?
Association Leaders
MAY 30, 2013
'Most of these posts address leadership characteristics and leadership issues in general. One leadership trait I haven’t previously considered is civility. I recently read an article online about the decline in civility in our society and the responsibility we can all take to be civil in our actions – both personal and professional. You can read the article here.
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24+ Free Non-profit Webinars for June 2013
Wild Apricot
MAY 22, 2013
'Here''s our round-up of free non-profit webinars that will be available in June.
Member Engagement: you’re already aces
YourMembership
MAY 10, 2013
'Categories: Member Engagement + Retention Tags: member engagement , member retention Engage has become quite the buzzword. You can’t go to a conference or read an article about membership or member organizations without someone telling you about the importance of engagement. We even do it here. A lot. But engaging your members has become one of those phrases that has lost its meaning to many and [.] ( Read more. ) The post Member Engagement: you’re already aces appeared first on You
The Consultant and the Association Exec Should Be Friends
Spark Consulting
MAY 9, 2013
'Eons ago (actual time: four years), I wrote two blog posts on the topic of consulting and RFPs. They’re still among my most popular posts ever. I got thinking about this topic again recently for a few reasons: I just got my shiny new ASAE Buyers’ Guide, which includes an article on the RFP process. There’s been some chatter lately on some of the Collaborate communities about the RFP process.
Every Member Needs a Champion
Association Subculture
MAY 13, 2013
'"I am somebody. I was somebody when I came in, I''ll be a better somebody when I leave. I am powerful and I am strong. I deserve the education I get here. I have things to do, people to impress and places to go.". ".because -18 sucks the life right out of you, but +2 says I''m not all bad." Rita Pierson. Here is the link to the talk if you can''t see the embed.
Find New Non-Dues Revenue Streams for Your Organization with This Free Guide
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Struggling to generate revenue beyond membership dues? You're not alone. Our free guide, The Ultimate Guide to Non-Dues Revenue for Associations , offers practical strategies to help your organization boost financial health. Inside, you'll explore creative ways to generate income, including: Educational offerings tailored to your audience Event-based revenue opportunities Job boards that drive engagement and income Corporate sponsorship ideas A checklist to evaluate and strengthen your current a
Are Corporate Leaders Afraid to Innovate?
Association Leaders
MAY 22, 2013
'I recently saw an article in Bloomberg’s BusinessWeek that caught my eye. The title of the article is, “ CEOs say Investing in Innovation is not Paying off “ The bottom line is a study was recently done of companies in the US and Europe. The companies were asked questions about their willingness to invest in innovative activities (products and services).
Pride
Association Navigator
MAY 10, 2013
'I’m extremely proud of my grandfather, Lt. Col. Emmett M. Cox, Jr. (Ret.) and my father the Honorable Emmett R. Cox. Both men visited Washington, D.C. for the day on Wednesday. Lt. Col. Emmett M. Cox, Jr. and Hon. Emmett R. “Rip” Cox. “Granddaddy” and “Dad” visited Washington as part of an “Honor Flight” from Mobile, Alabama.
New Infographics Resource From Idealware
Wild Apricot
MAY 15, 2013
'Here''s an overview of a new resource from Idealware that can help you understand when and how to use infographics.
Using an Editorial Calendar to Build an Audience
YourMembership
MAY 29, 2013
'Categories: Social Media and Business Trends Tags: content , content marketing , yourmembership.com Getting someone to become a member — whether it’s an elementary school secret society or an industry association – is simple. Exclusivity. Give them something they can’t get elsewhere, that they can’t live without. That’s the secret sauce plan of membership.
Forecasting Failures Are Costly: Heres How To Fix Them
Speaker: Dave Sackett
Traditional budgeting and forecasting methods can no longer keep pace with today’s rapidly evolving business environment. Static budgets, rigid annual forecasts, and outdated financial models limit an organization’s ability to adapt to market shifts and economic uncertainty. To stay ahead, finance leaders must leverage a future-forward approach—one that leverages real-time data, predictive analytics, and continuous planning to drive smarter financial decisions.
Do You SAVE?
Spark Consulting
MAY 30, 2013
'First, marketing had the 4 Ps: Product, aka what you’re selling. Price, aka what it costs. Placement, aka how do you get your product to your customers. Promotion, aka how are you selling your product. Then, marketing moved to the 4 Cs: Consumer, aka who is your audience and what do they want. Cost, aka what it costs (that one didn’t change).
What to Do When the Leaders Don’t “Get It”
Jamie Notter
MAY 8, 2013
'I delivered a webinar with Brad Palmer of Jostle yesterday titled “Transforming Your Workplace Culture from Toxic to Humanized.” It was a great event, with 140 people viewing and listening online, many of whom had GREAT questions. It’s the first webinar I’ve been a part of where we ran out of time to answer the audience questions.
Are Effective Leaders MultiTaskers?
Association Leaders
MAY 7, 2013
'A common belief is that efficient and effective workers are great “multi-taskers” – able to juggle multiple tasks at the same time. Many people believe that the most effective leaders are the greatest of multi-taskers. If you think about it, everyone must multi-task in order to accomplish anything in these times. If nothing else, technology has made multi-tasking a requirement.
Association Members Need to Learn About Learning
Association Subculture
MAY 28, 2013
'"The Eagle Hill School is Harvard, MA believes that every student can learn, that learning differently requires teaching differently, and that we must educate our students to learn about learning in order to form new beliefs in the search for intellectual autonomy." Stephen Tonti. What a wonderful TEDTalk. Even more important, is what associations can take away from it.
The Everyday Donor: Unlocking Prospecting Segments Through Behavior Analysis
Speaker: Tim Sarrantonio, Director of Corporate Brand
Do you really know your donors? Not just what they give, but who they are? 👥 In this interactive session, we’ll break down how nonprofits can use behavioral indicators (affinity, recency, frequency, and monetary value) to build prospecting segments that go beyond wealth screening and actually align with donor identity. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to move beyond basic demographics and cultivate supporters based on how they already engage with you!
Do You Have a Membership Content Strategy?
Wild Apricot
MAY 13, 2013
'What is a content strategy and how does it apply to small membership organizations?
Want a Successful Online Community? Think about People
YourMembership
MAY 15, 2013
'Categories: Member Engagement + Retention Tags: online communities While it may seem weird that a technology vendor (with online communities, might I add) would share this post, we want our clients, and those entertaining the idea of becoming our clients, to be successful. This means giving them advice on how to make the most of our products and features.
What I’m Reading
Spark Consulting
MAY 29, 2013
'Shelly Alcorn gives us associations in five seconds (in other words, K.I.S.S.). The 2013 Social Media Marketing Report is out. Among the top 10 findings? People still think Facebook is the most important social media marketing platform, even though the overwhelming majority have no idea if it’s working. Huh. Social steganography (using coded language and images), teens and Facebook advertising, or your ads might not be reaching the people you mean them to reach (I wonder if that has any b
The Folly of Suppressing Overhead
Eric Lanke
MAY 27, 2013
'image source "This notion of suppressing overhead to give taxpayers more bang for their buck is the opposite of how it works. Suppressing overhead suffocates organizations and leads to higher turnover, poorer leadership, and worse service." I read this in a recent Dan Pallotta post on the HBR blog. I like reading Pallotta because I regularly come across insights like this.
2025 Association Survey Results Report
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GrowthZone’s 11th annual survey highlights trends, challenges, and strategies shaping the membership industry through insights from U.S. and Canadian association professionals. Get your copy of the 2025 Association Survey Results Report to see how your organization measures up: The biggest challenges associations are facing Membership retention trends and non-renewal insights Strategies for automatic renewals and reinstatements Shifts in member engagement tactics Why members are joining (and sta
Is Focusing on Hours a Generational Thing?
Jamie Notter
MAY 23, 2013
'This is not a rhetorical question–I am openly wondering about this topic these days. I’m reading Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It , by Cali Ressler and Jody Thompson, advocates for the “Results Only Work Environment.” They talk a lot about how deeply ingrained our thoughts are regarding time in the workplace. It all stems from the industrial era–putting in your time at your machine.
Is Your Association Thinking About Its Membership Model?
Portage Group
MAY 7, 2013
'If so, you''re not alone! We operate in an association environment where the game is changing rapidly when it comes to delivering member value to an increasingly diverse membership base who now have more options then ever when it comes to what associations they belong to, where they access information and how they connect with their peers. If you have ever wondered how other associations are grappling with these issues and how, if at all, they are evolving their membership models in order to co
3 Ideas for Inspiring Member Loyalty and Demonstrating Value
Wild Apricot
MAY 21, 2013
'Here are some ideas on ways associations can inspire mutual loyalty and demonstrate member value.
We finished the structure phase… How do we get the word out? Creating an effective launch for maximum visibility
Virtual
MAY 15, 2013
'You only have one chance to make a first impression. That’s why an effective launch strategy is so critical for an organization. Here are a few rules of thumb for an effective launch. 1) Don’t launch until you are ready. I’ve seen countless organizations launch before they’re ready to handle inbound web inquiries, still having [.].
Navigating Payroll Compliance: Future-Proofing Payroll in an Evolving Regulatory Landscape
Speaker: Jennifer Hill
Payroll compliance is a cornerstone of business success, yet for small and midsize businesses, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of federal, state, and local regulations. Mistakes can lead to costly penalties and operational disruptions, making it essential to adopt advanced solutions that ensure accuracy and efficiency.
What I’m Reading
Spark Consulting
MAY 8, 2013
'Big data, the quantified self, predictive apps, personal analytics and privacy (yes, they’re all related ). The innovation matrix , and is post-Jobs Apple in trouble (also related)? What can we learn from successful educators to make us better staff people, better bosses, better friends, and ultimately better people? Steve Drake asks: are you a doer or a thinker ?
Who Owns Your Association?
Eric Lanke
MAY 20, 2013
'image source "You need to run the association as if it were YOUR business, knowing that it is NOT." I read this on Tom Morrison''s blog the other day and thought it was one of the best answers I''d ever heard to one of the most debated questions among association staffers. Who''s association is it? Yours or the members? Personally, I''ve always thought it was kind of a false dichotomy.
Definition of Organizational Culture
Jamie Notter
MAY 20, 2013
'I had the great pleasure of doing a webinar recently with Brad Palmer, the CEO of Jostle. We were talking about shifting your organizational culture from toxic to Humanized. For that webinar, I wrote up a definition of organizational culture, which is something I hadn’t done before. Well, that’s not entirely true. We define culture in Humanize (the human elements we talk about show up simultaneously at three levels: culture, process, and behavior), but we don’t provide a singl
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