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.
Ten Tips: How to be a Good, Efficient Board Member
As I sit here at my kitchen table writing this article, I have my children running around in the background, wanting [...]
Understanding Your Contracts and Memorandums of Understanding During COVID-19
The world has been turned on its ear over the last several weeks. COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world on so [...]
How Associations and its Members can Continue to Work Efficiently in Quarantine
I recently spoke with an association member that was trapped on a cruise ship during the current COVID-19 pandemic. She shared [...]
Is your Association’s AGM in Jeopardy? Solutions to Cope with the Pandemic.
Annual General Meeting (AGM) season is underway for associations with a fiscal year end of December 31. The purpose of these [...]
Bilingualism in National Associations: How to Meet Member’s Expectations
Canadian associations are often bilingual, meaning they offer membership programs and services in both official languages: French and English. In this [...]
Association Task Forces
An association’s reputation comes from the work of the association board of directors and its various committees. These groups are mostly [...]
Association Role Transition Strategies: Making Sure Nothing Falls Through the Cracks
The ink is still drying on your employment agreement, but the daily tasks of the association must go on. Transitioning smoothly [...]
Association Board Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics: Why are they so Important?
A board of directors' Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics are valuable tools in board related issues. Recent events spurred [...]
The Best-Intentioned Association Boards Can Get Sidetracked
A lot of thought and energy goes into preparing the agenda for an association’s board of directors meeting. However, without proper [...]
Where Should You Host Your Next Association Conference?
Every national association has different wants and needs from its conference host city. This blog is not meant to convince you [...]
Effective Delegation for Association Leaders
Delegating tasks to both association volunteers and staff is a primary role of association leaders. Considering that delegation is integral in [...]
How to Make an Effective Association Budget
It’s no secret that budgeting is a vital part of running a successful association. Often it can seem like an overwhelming [...]
Choosing Software for Associations
The proper software for your association can make work efficient and simple, however the wrong software can quickly ruin your day. [...]
Sponsorship for Association Events
Finding sponsors for your association’s events is a major component of increasing non-dues revenue and generating a surplus. This article explores [...]
The Association Board Binder
For all associations that our company manages, a board binder is created. The board binder stores several important documents and information [...]
Taking over an Association Term Position
Being hired for any new position with an association management firm can be nerve-racking. But, temporarily replacing someone who will be [...]
The Need for Innovation within Associations
We live in a fast-paced world where things change at a rate that our brains struggle to keep up with. Technology [...]
Introducing New Association Member Benefits
Do you have a rewards card in your wallet? How about a mileage plus credit card for your favorite airline? A [...]
Managing Tough Board Conversations
Whether you are the Chair of an association board of directors, or the chief staff officer (Executive Director), facilitating tough conversations [...]
Capturing Millennials Using your Association’s Social Media
In today’s day and age, having a strong presence on social media for your organization is crucial to staying relevant in [...]