Strauss Articles
Knowledge, Insight, and Experience
Every Thursday, our experts provide insights into industry trends and issues that readers can leverage to improve their associations and signature events.
Why Email Marketing Still Wins the Member Engagement Game
Social media gets most of the attention these days, and AI tools are quietly changing how marketers work behind the scenes. [...]
Closing the “Value Gap”: How to Make Your Association a Career Catalyst for Young Professionals
Volunteer leaders in Canadian associations are currently navigating a crossroads. The expectations around Board service are changing, creating an opportunity for [...]
Good Governance Begins with Shared Information
One of the greatest strengths of any Board is the collective knowledge, experience, and perspective of its members. Yet that strength [...]
Why The Board Should Prioritize Internal Audit: A Strategic Tool for Association Governance
Internal audit is an independent and objective assurance and consulting function designed to add value and improve an association's operations. As [...]
Common Budgeting Mistakes Associations Make and How to Avoid Them
Serving on an association's Board is a rewarding way to give back to your profession or community. Whether you're helping shape [...]
Meeting Matters: In a Conference Room or Over Zoom?
There’s no shortage of opinions when it comes to how Board meetings should be held. Some board members swear by the [...]
The Power of Collaboration: How Volunteer Moderators and Speakers Create Engaging Virtual Learning Experiences
In associations, virtual education doesn't happen; it is intentional. While strong content, reliable technology, and great audience engagement are important, the [...]
Annual General Meeting, Board Chair Turnover. Effective Transition for Volunteer & Staff Leaders.
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is typically the crescendo of the year for most Boards, a high-stakes moment where members depart, [...]
Leading with Purpose: How Association Volunteer Leaders Can Drive Lasting Impact
Sustainability and social impact are no longer topics reserved for large corporations or government agencies. Increasingly, association members are looking to [...]
The Volunteer’s Playbook for Member Engagement: Before, During, and After Events
Association volunteer leaders often focus on the event itself, those intense days of registration desks, session monitoring, and wayfinding. But the [...]
Get Your Association Seen: How to use paid ads for Better Online Visibility
Let's be honest. If your association isn't showing up online in 2026, you might as well be handing out flyers in [...]
The Art of Reading the Room: Tailoring Follow-Up and Communication in Associations
Effective follow-up in associations is more than sending another email or checking in after a meeting. It’s about understanding people. Reading [...]
How to Prep for Zoom Webinars for Associations Like a Pro
Zoom webinars always look simple until you’re the one running them. Suddenly it’s slides, speakers, timing, chat messages, and the quiet [...]
Updating By-laws to Enable Virtual Board and Members’ Meetings
Many organizations, particularly those with long histories, operate under By-laws that were drafted using templates and best practices from probably, years [...]
Time Management Tips for Busy Association Management Accounting Professionals
In association management, particularly in the accounting department, busy seasons, tight deadlines, and constant attention to detail make time management one [...]
Why Critical Paths Matter: Delivering Stronger Association Events with Precision
Major association events rarely fall short because of vision. They falter when planning lacks structure and alignment. As association volunteer leaders [...]
From Chair to Past Chair: A Practical Guide for Canadian Association Board Transitions
In most associations, the transition from Board chair to past chair happens at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). On paper, it’s [...]
The Secret to Attracting the Next Generation? Meet Them Where They Already Are
When associations talk about recruiting new members at Board meetings, someone asks, "How do we get to young people?" Then follows [...]
Understanding Financial Internal Controls for Associations
Associations face great expectations around transparency, governance, and financial accountability. Advances in technology, constant changes in regulatory requirements, and scrutiny from [...]
Financial Literacy: Setting the Board Members of Associations for Long-Term Success
Financial literacy forms the basis for making wise decisions about money. When associations understand how money works, they are better prepared [...]