The Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (CNCA) which now governs many federally incorporated not-for-profit organizations (associations, charities, etc.) allows for Annual General Meetings of Members (AGMs) and Special Meetings of Members to be held for the first time via teleconference or other electronic means. It is important to note that [...]
Every once in a while we all come in contact with a great find that we just have to share! My latest find is UberConference, a low cost, and high tech teleconference system. As an association management company our staff and clients spend a lot of time on conference [...]
Despite the advances in technology for video conferencing (Skype, etc.) I continue to be a believer in the need for face to face meetings to discuss and work on key strategies. However as an association management company (AMC), managing national (and provincial) associations, I know that face to face [...]
I always enjoy attending large budget, signature events and conferences so that I can look for elements we can apply to our clients with smaller budgets. Just because your budget is missing a zero doesn’t mean you can’t wow your attendees. The Vancouver Convention Centre hosted the famed TED [...]
The February 26, 2014 edition of The Wall Street Journal included an article entitled “Surviving a Conference Call – How to Stop the Rambling, Multitasking and Zoning Out”. Before even reading the article I started to relate to the title and knew that association leaders would all empathize with [...]
A common complaint from chairs of volunteer boards of directors is that they are left to do all the work with little support from other directors. Over the last 15+ years we have come to notice a pattern that suggests some of the reasons why this happens. When chairs [...]
Over my career I have had the opportunity to work with dozens of associations as an association manager, signature event consultant and volunteer. I have observed that association leadership models fall into one of three categories: 1) Volunteer led 2) Staff led 3) A hybrid where leadership is shared [...]
Some convention hotels (and even convention centres) use the offer of “free” Internet access as a way to attract conferences and signature events, but this is not the norm. As a result we make it a standard practice to ask for guest room rates that include in-room Internet access. [...]
It goes without saying that you always want the best value when you negotiate a hotel contract for your signature event or conference - but too often the guest room rate and meeting space rental cost are the only items evaluated. When hotels are competing for our business, and [...]
In our 24/7 connected world we all struggle with too much to do and not enough time to do it. Those busy people who step forward to be volunteer leaders of their professional or trade association are adding to their already busy schedules and taking on work in an [...]
