“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” – John F. Kennedy As an association volunteer leader, you face challenges and decisions every day. Along the path to progress, gratitude is an important [...]
As a volunteer association leader, being present is not just about being seen, and physically showing up to wave the flag at your association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), or Conference, it’s about being fully engaged in the moment. What Does it Mean to Be Present? Being present refers to [...]
You are a female association volunteer leader who has just taken charge of reviewing and updating the association’s Policies and Procedures. It’s a big job. In fact, it’s the most sizeable project you’ve ever taken on in this role. You start to question whether you can do this, and [...]
Your association board has been approached to make a statement about Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI/DEI). In feeling the pressure to do something, members of the board create a statement and post it on the association’s website. A group sees this post and starts posting negative comments on social [...]
Picture this. As the board chair of your association, you’ve been noticing that the membership committee chair, Bob, is not fulfilling his responsibility as a volunteer leader. Bob has been absent for meetings, is not engaging the rest of the committee, and is not sticking to agreed-upon timelines. The [...]
Despite the constant struggle with COVID-19, restrictions, and exhaustion that we have been facing over the past two years, the association world has shown that it can pivot and continue to grow in the face of adversity. It takes a great deal of courage from many people to achieve [...]
Between your “day job”, and your volunteer commitments to your association’s board and/or committees, you are pulled in many different directions throughout your day. While it may seem like you have no time, making the time to listen to members can further develop your leadership role significantly. Moreover, you [...]
I recently had the opportunity to connect with Olivia Reed, licensed insurance broker, and Director at BMS Canada Risk Services Ltd. (BMS). BMS is a specialist insurance brokerage that has a national team dedicated to working with associations and association members across Canada. Olivia shared information that is particularly [...]
Going about our regular routine during COVID-19 is challenging since the only constant right now is change. As an association leader, you are likely a volunteer who may be working outside of regular work hours. Therefore, it can be hard for the association leader to stay organized. Currently, there [...]
As we continue to live and work through the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever for association leaders to actively listen to members’ needs. During this difficult time, associations must keep an open line of communication with members to gauge the overall morale of the association. Members [...]
