Too often, the obvious questions are the ones that are never asked. When planning a new event or starting the planning cycle for an annual one it is important to start by asking some key questions. Some baseline information is needed to provide a framework for making decisions during [...]
One of the most important elements of a signature event is that it tells an organization’s story in a way that is compelling to current and potential donors or stakeholders. The greatest and most commonly missed opportunity of signature events is that they focus only on fundraising and miss [...]
Associations are in the partnership business - they bring people together. No matter the structure or level of formality of the relationship, successful associations facilitate and build strong partnerships for the profession or industry they represent, for their members and for their stakeholders. As well as those partnerships that [...]
The Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (CNCA) which now governs many federally incorporated not-for-profit organizations (associations, charities, etc.) allows for Annual General Meetings of Members (AGMs) and Special Meetings of Members to be held for the first time via teleconference or other electronic means. It is important to note that [...]
Every once in a while we all come in contact with a great find that we just have to share! My latest find is UberConference, a low cost, and high tech teleconference system. As an association management company our staff and clients spend a lot of time on conference [...]
Despite the advances in technology for video conferencing (Skype, etc.) I continue to be a believer in the need for face to face meetings to discuss and work on key strategies. However as an association management company (AMC), managing national (and provincial) associations, I know that face to face [...]
I always enjoy attending large budget, signature events and conferences so that I can look for elements we can apply to our clients with smaller budgets. Just because your budget is missing a zero doesn’t mean you can’t wow your attendees. The Vancouver Convention Centre hosted the famed TED [...]
The February 26, 2014 edition of The Wall Street Journal included an article entitled “Surviving a Conference Call – How to Stop the Rambling, Multitasking and Zoning Out”. Before even reading the article I started to relate to the title and knew that association leaders would all empathize with [...]
A common complaint from chairs of volunteer boards of directors is that they are left to do all the work with little support from other directors. Over the last 15+ years we have come to notice a pattern that suggests some of the reasons why this happens. When chairs [...]
Over my career I have had the opportunity to work with dozens of associations as an association manager, signature event consultant and volunteer. I have observed that association leadership models fall into one of three categories: 1) Volunteer led 2) Staff led 3) A hybrid where leadership is shared [...]
