2026 is here, and associations and their association volunteer leaders are setting goals and preparing for progress throughout the year. After years of adapting to technological changes, member needs, and global trends, this year presents an opportunity for clarity and purpose. Take a look at the key areas where [...]
We live in a time where “being connected” is a part of life. As a leader of an Association, it is important to be connected. Connected to the board, to members, to stakeholders, and to the association executive (CEO or Executive Director). The challenge today is how to [...]
One of the greatest challenges for any association is ensuring a continuous, high-quality flow of leaders. When one of the leaders retires, Boards often enter search mode to fill the vacancy as soon as possible. The solution is not reactive recruitment but proactive Board Succession planning specifically, develop a [...]
Volunteers are the backbone of associations, especially in regional associations, where local leadership helps deliver value on the ground. But recruiting committed volunteers and keeping them engaged remains a consistent challenge for many associations. In this blog, we will give you some ideas about how leaders can attract the [...]
In recent weeks, a striking headline in The Wall Street Journal caught my attention: “CEOs Are Furious About Employees Texting in Meetings.” Well-known people in the business world, like Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase, have bluntly called out the behaviour: “If you have an iPad in front of me [...]
In associations, clubs, and nonprofit organizations, governance is supported by a layered system of documents. These typically fall into three categories: ‘constitutions’, ‘bylaws’, and ‘policies’ (sometimes with supporting rules or procedures). Each plays a distinct role in an organization’s legal and operational framework. Yet in practice, the boundaries among [...]
After years of planning association events, I’ve learned that success isn’t about everything going perfectly (spoiler alert: it never does). It’s about being prepared, staying flexible, and keeping people at the heart of it all. Here are a few skills I’ve found most useful for planning and implementing association [...]
Association Volunteer Leaders play an important role in fostering effective leadership among the volunteers and staff who work with them to achieve the association's goals. Leaders must understand their responsibilities and trust their team. This allows volunteers and staff to thrive in their work without feeling limited or constantly [...]
When we think of event planning, we often picture big conferences, bustling trade shows, and detailed logistics. But smaller gatherings like Board meetings, regional workshops, and VIP dinners — are often where the most meaningful connections and progress happen within associations. And while small events may look simple on [...]
Associations are under constant pressure to manage growing workloads, coordinate, and keep information organized for staff, Boards, and volunteers. Without a centralized system, documents get lost, communication splinters, and efficiency suffers. SharePoint, a tool many associations already have through Microsoft 365, but often underutilized, offers a practical solution: a [...]
