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.
Associations: Setting Expectations For 2026
2026 is here, and associations and their association volunteer leaders are setting goals and preparing for progress throughout the year. After [...]
How Association Volunteer Leaders Keep Boards and Committees Aligned
Association volunteer leaders are the backbone of associations. They lead Boards, chair committees, and drive initiatives that shape the organization's direction. [...]
Get Out and Network: How Association Leaders Benefit by being SEEN
We live in a time where “being connected” is a part of life. As a leader of an Association, it is [...]
Connection Is a Real Superpower for Association Volunteer Leaders
Association volunteer leaders play a powerful role in helping members feel informed, engaged, and connected. But as we move into 2026, [...]
How to Create a Sustainable Volunteer Pipeline for Board Succession
One of the greatest challenges for any association is ensuring a continuous, high-quality flow of leaders. When one of the leaders [...]
The Power of Productive Volunteers: Why Great Events Need Great Volunteer Supervisors
Every great association event succeeds because of one thing: its people. Each smooth registration desk, seamless session transition, and warmly welcomed [...]
How to Attract and Retain Engaged Volunteers in Your Association
Volunteers are the backbone of associations, especially in regional associations, where local leadership helps deliver value on the ground. But recruiting [...]
Meeting Matters: Finding the Right Frequency for Association Boards
Let’s face it, the most common thing is that everyone’s calendars are already jam-packed, and finding the time to meet with your Board can be difficult. Add in coming to [...]
When Board Members Reach for Their Phones, Your Meeting Loses More Than Time
In recent weeks, a striking headline in The Wall Street Journal caught my attention: “CEOs Are Furious About Employees Texting in [...]
Constitutions, Bylaws, and Policies: The Governance “Toolbox” for Associations
In associations, clubs, and nonprofit organizations, governance is supported by a layered system of documents. These typically fall into three categories: [...]
Key Skills for a Powerful Partnership Between Association Volunteer Leaders and Event Managers
After years of planning association events, I’ve learned that success isn’t about everything going perfectly (spoiler alert: it never does). It’s [...]
The Art of Delegation: How to Empower Association Volunteers & Staff Without Micromanagement
Association Volunteer Leaders play an important role in fostering effective leadership among the volunteers and staff who work with them to [...]
How Association Staff Can Elevate Smaller Events: What Volunteer Leaders Should Know
When we think of event planning, we often picture big conferences, bustling trade shows, and detailed logistics. But smaller gatherings like [...]
Streamline Your Association’s Workflows: How SharePoint Can Boost Collaboration
Associations are under constant pressure to manage growing workloads, coordinate, and keep information organized for staff, Boards, and volunteers. Without a [...]
The Three Important Tools to Lengthen CEO (Executive Director) Tenure in Canadian Associations
Recently, I was inspired by the insights shared in Littleford & Associates’ blog, " The Three Important Tools to Lengthen Head [...]
Expanded Guide on Financial Planning for Associations
Financial Planning for Associations is a critical cornerstone of success. This expanded guide is ideal for association leaders, board members, and [...]
Mastering the Juggle: 7 Smart Tips to Organize Your Workload as an Association Leader
Leading an association is a rewarding but often demanding role. Between managing member relations, overseeing strategic goals, coordinating events, and ensuring [...]
Association Accounting vs. Business Accounting – What’s the Difference?
Association accounting can be confusing if you’re used to standard for-profit business accounting. While not-for-profit associations share many similarities with businesses [...]
From Stress to Success: The Value of Hiring an Event Manager for Association Conferences
Associations rely heavily on their conferences to bring together members, provide professional development opportunities, and to generate revenue for the valuable [...]
The Importance of Standard Operating Procedures & How They Benefit Your Association
Clear, well-documented Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are the backbone of any successful association. More than just step-by-step instructions, an SOP defines [...]