Wild Apricot

JANUARY 15, 2014

'Here are four trends that will impact volunteerism in 2014.

301

301

Spark Consulting

JANUARY 16, 2014

'Thanks to the efforts of Jeff Hurt (among others), those of us who speak frequently in the association world are well aware of the principles of adult learning , particularly those around frequent, active participation, engagement, being solution-oriented, providing content in small chunks with ample opportunity for practical application, etc. And yet I know I’m not the only one who works to incorporate those sorts of things into presentations, even warning people at the beginning of sess

Course 246

Course Conference Innovation Report 246

Association Leaders

JANUARY 28, 2014

'On Friday, January 17 I had the privilege of moderating an esteemed panel of experts in a discussion titled, The Future of Associations at the National Association of Manufacturers Council of Manufacturing Associations Winter Meeting. The audience included more than 100 association executive members of the NAM CMA and more than 200 people joining live via webcast.

Leadership 195

Leadership Association Management Process 195

Aaron Wolowiec

JANUARY 14, 2014

'It was Dec. 21 and we were frosting homemade sugar cookies when our world went black. And it stayed that way – dark and cold – for a week. After seven days, all our fish were dead. House plants – dead. Pipes – frozen and burst. It was a Christmas we’ll never forget, and while it could’ve been so much worse, when the house dropped to 38 degrees and we moved Christmas to my mom’s, it didn’t feel like it.

Michigan 194

Michigan Social Media Communications Case Study 194

Advertisement

Here’s Your Blueprint for Year-Round Member Engagement. Are you ready to transform your association into a thriving, 365-day community? Download GrowthZone’s ebook, How to Create a Community Your Members Can’t Get Enough Of , and learn strategies for leveling out the peaks and valleys of member engagement. This guide provides actionable strategies to create consistent networking opportunities, deliver value-packed content, and foster connections that your members won’t want to miss.

Member Engagement

Virtual

JANUARY 14, 2014

'This week I’m speaking on a panel at the New England Society of Association Executives Annual Meeting. I’ll be honest, I’m not entirely sure what the session title is. But I know it has something to do with “innovations in meetings and programs.”. And while I’m not entirely sure of the topic, I’ve got some thoughts on how meetings are changing. Here’s my “high five.”.

Boston 165

Boston Conference Innovation Association Management 165

Wild Apricot

JANUARY 2, 2014

'We''ve rounded up 28+ free non-profit webinars that are available this January - check them out.

289

289

Spark Consulting

JANUARY 10, 2014

'I had lunch with a dear friend I don’t see often enough earlier this week. She is also a sole practitioner running her own business, although she’s been part time while raising preschool aged kids. “Thing Two” starts kindergarten this fall, she’ll be going full time, and she was asking me what advice I had after my whopping 18 months in business.

Mooc 235

Mooc Project Revenue System 235

Association Leaders

JANUARY 6, 2014

'One of the things all leaders must do is make great presentations. Sometimes that means giving a speech to a large audience; other times it means delivering a presentation to a smaller group; still other times its effectively communicating one on one with an employee. Whatever the case, great leaders are great communicators. I read a blog post today providing eight steps that must be followed to make an effective presentation.

Leadership 183

Leadership Communications Association Management Tools 183

Aaron Wolowiec

JANUARY 28, 2014

'Now that you’ve settled into 2014 (maybe? sort of?), you’re probably planning an exciting lineup of events. Maybe your goal is to attract as many participants, from as many demographics, as possible. After all, hundreds of attendees translate into thousands of dollars, and everyone loves a strong revenue stream. Right? Not necessarily, according to Jeff Hurt , executive vice president, education and engagement, for Velvet Chainsaw Consulting.

Revenue 179

Revenue Education Conference Content 179

Speaker: Jessica Bonney from VICA and Jeff Horne from Wicket

What does delivering an exceptional member experience mean in today's world? With the right insights, tools, and strategies, you can identify what truly matters to your members, drive meaningful engagement at scale, and continue to meet the ever-evolving needs of your members. Join association experts Jessica Bonney from VICA and Jeff Horne from Wicket who will share practical insights on how to build an exceptional member-driven experience by gaining a deeper understanding of your members and d

Member Experience

Jamie Notter

JANUARY 14, 2014

'The other day I came across yet another article/post declaring that “ Culture eats strategy for breakfast ” (or lunch, or dinner, or afternoon tea…). I tweeted it out, copying my friend and colleague, Jeff De Cagna , since he and I have been discussing this topic lately. Jeff (like me) does a lot of work with organizations on strategy.

Strategy 153

Strategy eBook Discount Course 153

KiKi L'Italien's Acronym Soup

JANUARY 23, 2014

'As many articles tout the Pomodoro Technique and GTD , my own habits for increasing productivity and breaking through procrastination are downright crude. I have come to recognize that in the world of productivity tools, my ideas might seem dysfunctional, but at least they are all mine. I present to you: KiKi''s System for Getting Sh*t Done. Part 1: The Ramen Noodle Method Ramen noodles are embarrassingly good.

System 143

System Tools Products Project 143

Wild Apricot

JANUARY 17, 2014

'Here are highlights from the "Volunteering and Civic Life in America" research report.

America 285

America Report 285

Spark Consulting

JANUARY 14, 2014

'DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, is known for innovation. Aside from being the people who invented the Internet (thanks, in part, to legislation sponsored and funding secured by Al Gore when he was a Senator), they also invented GPS, stealth technology, and drone technology, among other things. Yet they’re a relatively small budget ($3 billion) agency.

Innovation 223

Innovation Review Project Team 223

Advertisement

Customer education has become a key driver for growth, retention, and product adoption. Our latest 2024 State of Customer Education Report uncovers critical data and insights from a survey of over 200 industry leaders, offering a look at the evolving role of education in driving business success. Inside, you'll find data on key trends and strategies, including: Strategies for Scaling & Customization: Find out which investments in learning technology deliver the biggest ROI and scalability.

Education

Association Leaders

JANUARY 14, 2014

'One of the most important responsibilities of leaders is to have a vision for the future of their organization and to be able to communicate that vision in such a way that all stakeholders (employees, customers, members, investors, etc) share the vision. All stakeholders need to be able to see the same vision. This week, I will be moderating a panel discussion titled, “Association of the Future” at the National Association of Manufacturers Council of Manufacturing Associations (NAM

Organization 163

Organization Leadership Innovation Association Management 163

Aaron Wolowiec

JANUARY 21, 2014

'This week’s guest blog post is by Alexa Stanard , editor of Michigan Meetings + Events magazine. I asked her to speculate on what 2014 might bring for the meetings and events industry. Here’s what she had to say. Alexa Stanard, editor of Michigan Meetings + Events magazine. In the magazine business, we generally have to think many months ahead. This is tricky; it’s a psychological leap to imagine a June wedding or a fall association meeting when it’s 14 degrees outside.

Michigan 173

Michigan Detroit Innovation Technology 173

Jamie Notter

JANUARY 6, 2014

'In fact, they haven’t in a long, long time. This may come as a shock to many, and some of you may forward me links to cool infographics or other blog posts that dispute my claim, so let me explain. I’m talking about sheer numbers of the total U.S. workforce. My workforce data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and my generational definitions come from Strauss and Howe’s book, Generations (and Howe’s book, Millennials in the Workplace ).

millennials 142

millennials Project 142

Eric Lanke

JANUARY 27, 2014

'image source Eight weeks ago, in You Are Not Innovative , I had a bit of an argument with myself--chastising myself for not doing all that I could to set a truly innovative example for my association. In the post, I leveled three essential charges against myself, including: You talk about the need to learn more about the environment your members operate in, but you don''t do it.

Innovation 133

Innovation Resources Process Examples 133

Advertisement

Sales often gets a bad rep. Yet, if securing sponsors, advertisers, and exhibitors is part of your role, it’s essential. But what if it didn’t have to feel time-consuming, uncomfortable, or worse—icky? Join us for the 3-part virtual Sales Accelerator Labs , where customer experience and sales expert Carrie McIntyre will show you strategies to make sales easier, more effective, and dare we say, enjoyable!

Revenue

Wild Apricot

JANUARY 20, 2014

'Has your organization considered recruiting younger volunteers? Here are some tips and resources that might help.

Recruiting 267

Recruiting Recruitment Tips Resources 267

Spark Consulting

JANUARY 7, 2014

'Same great format (10 tips in 20 minutes), but lots of new content and speakers! This Friday, we’ll be kicking off the 2014 Associations 101 #10in20 webinar series with a presentation by Rob Barnes on organizational culture. Fitness Australia worked for seven years on their internal culture, using some of the principles contained in Humanize , and it yielded amazing personal and organizational results, as detailed in their recent Associations Now profile.

Recruitment 195

Recruitment Recruiting Tips Innovation 195

Association Subculture

JANUARY 29, 2014

'Sloe gin, sloe gin Tryin'' the wash away the pain inside Well I''m sick and I''m all done in I''m standing in the rain And I feel like I''m gonna die. I''m so damn lonely, ain''t even high. I''m so damn lonely, think I''m gonna die.Joe Bonamassa, Sloe Gin (2007) The thing that nobody tells you about this profession is sometimes it breaks your heart.

Association Management 130

Association Management Strategy Organization 130

Aaron Wolowiec

JANUARY 7, 2014

'First, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2014. Both Kristen and I, together with the Event Garde team, appreciate you following our blog, sharing your comments and post ideas and paying forward those posts that resonate with you most. This week the combination of snowfall and bitterly cold temperatures delayed back-to-school and back-to-work activities for many in the Northeast.

Communications 153

Communications Michigan Products Marketing 153

Speaker: Radhika Samant and Todd Wuestenberg

Employee recognition has often been deemed a "feel-good" initiative, tied closely to rewards. While we understand its importance, we tend to associate recognition with intangible outcomes like engagement and sentiment, rather than direct impacts on retention and high performance. In today’s workplace, the true ROI of recognition lies in its ability to regenerate tangible, business-driven results.

Certificate

Jamie Notter

JANUARY 30, 2014

'Transparency is one of the 12 human principles that Maddie and I wrote about in Humanize , and it’s one I come back to frequently. Along with decentralization, collaboration, and experimentation, I’d put transparency in my “core four” principles on which organizations should focus if they want to make a shift towards being more human.

System 137

System Examples Leadership Strategy 137

Association Adviser

JANUARY 20, 2014

'Are you among the many who say “ Oh no! Not another social network! Why should I care about Google+? ” You may have heard people saying it’s a ghost town, or that it’s only for techies. The people who write these things are, quite simply, wrong. The truth is that your association can’t ignore Google+ for another minute. If you’re not putting yourself in the game, you should be.

New York City 126

New York City Social Media Content Video 126

Wild Apricot

JANUARY 23, 2014

'Here are two new resources to help you develop a process for welcoming and orienting new volunteers.

Resources 266

Resources Process 266

Spark Consulting

JANUARY 8, 2014

'It’s trends time. Associations Now looks at what’s in and out for associations in 2014. An association-centric take on the most common – and commonly broken – New Year’s resolutions. Jamie Notter encourages us to forget about “values” and think about what is “ valued.” Should you focus on systems rather than goals ?

Social Media 190

Social Media Case Study Innovation Leadership 190

Advertisement

Managing HR tasks like payroll, compliance, and employee data can overwhelm small businesses. That’s where a Human Capital Management (HCM) solution comes in. Our eBook, Why Every Small Business Needs an HCM Solution: A Comprehensive Guide , shows how an HCM system automates tedious processes, ensuring your business stays compliant and efficient. You’ll learn how to simplify payroll, eliminate costly errors, and empower your employees with self-service tools.

Cost

Eric Lanke

JANUARY 20, 2014

'image source Two weeks ago, in In the Eye of the Beholder , I continued writing about the process I used to create my association''s values statement, despite some misgivings about the value of values statements I''ve previously shared and still hold. Our values statement was now finished, with four core values, and each with a list of observable behaviors that we intended to use as benchmarks to determine if individuals were demonstrating the values in their day-to-day activities.

Process 122

Process Examples Report Organization 122

Mariner

JANUARY 30, 2014

'Joe Romenieckis’ January 29 article in Associations Now - Looking Beyond the Membership Numbers – highlights a common issue on the world of associations – Membership Count Myopia. Because we tend to manage what we measure, and. associations always measure membership count, we all too often get stuck on the count and forget the mission.

116

116

Jamie Notter

JANUARY 7, 2014

'Roger Martin has a great article in the current Harvard Business Review about how strategic planning is a lie. I think it’s great, of course, because I’ve hated strategic planning for years now, but I think Martin does one of the best jobs so far in concisely pinpointing both the problem inherent in strategic planning AND our never-ending devotion to it.

Strategy 136

Strategy Cost Review Revenue 136