“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” – John F. Kennedy As an association volunteer leader, you face challenges and decisions every day. Along the path to progress, gratitude is an important [...]
In the association industry, it is not uncommon to experience inconsistent workloads. Sometimes, you find yourself overloaded with tasks, while at other times, the workload seems surprisingly light. This inconsistency can be challenging to handle, leading to stress, inefficiencies, and a lack of work-life balance. From a management perspective [...]
Clarity is a cornerstone to working with associations. It is hard to function well without it. Being an Association Manager and working for an Association Management Company (AMC), I find myself using the word “clarity” constantly when working with Boards. During a recent Board meeting, we referred to clarity [...]
"Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they have the heart." – Elizabeth Andrew. Recently I saw a post on an association's member forum with a negative comment about the Board of Directors and the perks they receive. It shocked me that association members may not see or understand [...]
Technology today is essential to everybody and, more so, small associations that must operate efficiently. The boom of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly increased this year, transforming the way we use technology. It is a great way to understand, create and analyze various metrics or tasks for an association's [...]
Working professionally in the events industry since 2016, my greatest learning has been how essential effective communications is for a successful association event. Effective communications, and a strong team go hand in hand. It can lead to a more resilient, prepared, and trusting team. When a team is working [...]
Half the battle in organizing a successful association event such as an awards ceremony, trade show, conference, or symposium is choosing the right venue. The right venue can ensure a positive and meaningful experience for an association’s members. The perfect venue should capture the essence of the association and [...]
“The unique and multifaceted relationship between the board and its executive is perhaps the most important relationship leading to organizational success or failure. Like the two partners in a skating competition, each side can either bring out the best in the other or prevent the other from skating well.” [...]
As an association leader, understanding your volunteer role on a not-for-profit Board is being aware of your job description. Not only will this clarify your unique role and responsibilities, but it will also allow you to better support other members of the team and their tasks. Boards are designed [...]
Key messages are often viewed by associations as the ‘break glass in case of emergency’ go-to tactic when in crisis communications mode or prepping for an unsavoury announcement. Not true! Key messages are the essential building blocks for all communications including annual strategic marketing communications (marcom) plans, campaign-specific plans, [...]
