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Productivity

An Association Mission Statement: What it is (﹠isn’t)

Writing an association mission statement isn’t difficult; the key is to make sure you have a clear understanding of what it is (and isn’t). Keep yours simple, make it compelling, and ensure it’s measurable and remains relevant. Mission statements for associations are essential to planning and can be as short as one sentence, or a brief paragraph. EXAMPLES: PayPal: “To build the Web’s most convenient, secure, cost-effective payment solution.” Trip Advisor: “To help people around the world plan and have […]

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The Vision Statement: A Roadmap for Association Success

One of our most popular blog posts, An Association Mission Statement, What it is (and isn’t), touches on the difference between a mission statement and a vision statement. While at first glance, the differences may seem small, the fact is that the two serve very different purposes. The mission statement is about the present, and the vision statement is about the future. The mission statement is “every day,” and the vision statement is the “someday.” A few examples to illustrate […]

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Association Software vs Excel Spreadsheets: An Unequal Battle

Spreadsheets aren’t enough. Here are 8 ways association management software will improve your workday. Most associations use association management software to manage their data, process joins and renewals, track finances, cultivate member engagement, and streamline tedious tasks. However, some do not. According to research, 30% of associations still use Excel spreadsheets or do not use an AMS system.* At a glance, Excel has its advantages. It’s known by employees and easy to use, and most associations already have it. However, […]

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NEW and Updated CAE Requirements Take Effect Next Year

Associations Now recently published an article focused on updates to the ASAE Certified Association Executive credential requirements. According to ASAE, The Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential is the marker of a committed association professional who has demonstrated a wide range of knowledge essential to manage an association in today’s challenging environment. CAE exam content is analyzed and updated every five years by the CAE Commission. In response to an increase of ethics scandals in for-profit and non-profit organizations, an ethics […]

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19 Last-Minute Ideas for Employee Appreciation Day

Yikes! It’s important. And you meant to do something, but somehow Employee Appreciation Day (March 1, 2019) snuck up on you. No worries. We have 19 excellent ideas for meaningful employee appreciation that can be put together quickly. Serve breakfast Video game day Gift cards Ice cream sundaes Healthy lunch at the office Thoughtful, handwritten thank you note VR playground Extended lunch break Dessert buffet Get 44 low-cost (or free) techniques for retaining top talent in the Staffing Solutions Playbook […]

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Employee Termination – A How-To for Associations

When it is time for employee termination, protect your association against data theft with these tips. No one likes to be part of an involuntary separation, but sometimes, when there’s a bad egg, it’s the best thing for your organization. It’s crucial to be prepared when it happens because security will likely not be top of mind during this emotionally-charged time. Tip #1: Vetted Procedures Putting in place – and enforcing – employee offboarding policies and procedures is a must. […]

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6 Tips for Effective Association Board Self-Evaluations

Make sure your association board is on track to run as smoothly as possible. Even the best organizations need check-ups to examine how well they are running. To ensure your board is “healthy”, start with a board self-assessment. Taking a self-assessment may not be on the top of anyone’s to-do list, but it is pivotal to the ongoing success of the organization. Use these tips to get started on your association board self-assessment as soon as possible. Start by asking […]

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An Inside Look: 2019 Association Survey Results

Every year, the Association Survey Results report is our most downloaded document. With up-to-date statistics and broad feedback from association professionals, this year’s report is our most comprehensive ever. Download the free 2019 Association Survey Results report now » In an easy-to-read format, the 2019 report addresses everything from board performance to referral programs. IT ALSO INCORPORATES: Dozens of predictions from association pros about what’s on the horizon for the association industry. A side-by-side comparison of strategies used by growing associations vs. associations with stagnant or decreasing membership. […]

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How to Organize Your Desk in Less Than 10 Minutes

Kick off the new year right with these tips for quickly organizing your workspace. Remove distractions. Ask yourself what actually needs to be on your desk. Ditch the knick-knacks (when was the last time you actually used the stress-ball you got free from a trade show 3 years ago?). Your colleagues don’t care about your pictures. Chances are you’ve got hundreds of photos on your phone that are way more current than anything sitting in a frame. Show those to […]

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How to Get Board Support to Attend a Conference

This article has been updated since its original publication in 2017. Enjoy! Associations everywhere are about to enter their program and conference planning seasons. This type of planning should always include a step for driving even more registrations. The key to success is to make it as easy as possible for potential attendees to get approval to attend. Get the Guide: Successful Association Event Planning » A critical component to marketing your organization’s program should be a letter/proposal template that can be used […]

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Amanda Kaiser Webinar: Fueling New-Member Experiences

It’s a fact that a member’s decision to renew is profoundly influenced by their experience when they first join – is your association fueling exceptional new-member experiences? Join us on Thursday, October 11th, when membership expert and guest presenter, Amanda Kaiser, will explain how associations can focus on new members in order to successfully engage all members. In her presentation, “Fueling Exceptional New Member Experiences,” Amanda will help attendees: • Learn how to turn the renewal process entirely upside-down for […]

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How to Build an Association Board of Directors

Membership pro, Frank Kenny, explains how to build a board of directors that is representative of your members (and why it’s important you do so). When you scan the faces of your board members, what do you see? How many are men? How old are they? Are they mostly of the same race? When I am prepping for facilitating a strategic planning retreat or board orientation I always ask the CEO, “How well does your association’s board reflect your members […]

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