Association members usually fall into two categories: mandatory and voluntary membership. While mandatory associations typically support regulated professions, voluntary associations can be a community of like-minded industry professionals, general enthusiasts, or businesses whose combined dedication allows the organization to exist. Membership recruitment comes into play for voluntary associations since [...]
Ever find yourself over-booked because you promised to help more than one person forcing you to be in multiple places at once? I know I have, and it can be a very stressful situation. Ever find yourself in the same situation working on association tasks where you have multiple [...]
Not many people roll out of bed daily asking: “How can I think strategically today as a volunteer board member”? All volunteer board members come to the board table with a skill set and a level of knowledge that benefits the association/profession with which they are involved. They are [...]
One of the biggest traits of a high-performing association is member satisfaction! But how do you quantify and obtain member satisfaction, ensuring all are satisfied with their investment in the association and that their opinions are of value? (See one of my past articles highlighting the characteristics of a [...]
A successful association event begins with a solid recipe that passed the test of people and time but is tweaked based on innovation, creativity, and past learning. Planning an event involves layers upon layers of details. There is a lot to keep track of, from planning to onsite management. Creating a solid plan [...]
What is a Reserve Fund? Reserve Funds are liquid assets that associations set aside for anticipated future expenditures, or to serve as a cushion against any unplanned expenses. Five Best Practices for Managing your Restricted (Reserve) Funds Use the Class tracking functionality in your accounting software If your association [...]
To say that communication is essential is an understatement for associations. Two years ago, when the unexpected pandemic hit us, the world as we knew it went digital overnight. This meant that all the brainstorming meetings and detailed explanations to designers or writers were now being conducted over long [...]
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 [...]
Following a shift to virtual spaces over the past couple of years, association members are finally getting back to connecting in-person again. For some, this comeback will be like riding a bike, whereas for others, it could feel daunting and awkward. It’s not a one-size-fits-all members formula. However, there [...]
In association leadership, we know how important it is to members that they feel heard and seen. With this in mind, we survey members, request feedback, and provide ample opportunity for them to communicate their needs and priorities. This process is extremely important, but if we aren’t actively listening [...]
