Strauss Articles
Knowledge, Insight, and Experience
Every Thursday, our experts provide insights into industry trends and issues that readers can leverage to improve their associations and signature events.
Readiness – Is Your Board Ready to Think Strategically?
Not many people roll out of bed daily asking: “How can I think strategically today as a volunteer board member”? All [...]
Member Satisfaction is Key for a High-Performance Association – Listening to Your Association Members
One of the biggest traits of a high-performing association is member satisfaction! But how do you quantify and obtain member satisfaction, [...]
The Winning Recipe for Successful Association Events
A successful association event begins with a solid recipe that passed the test of people and time but is tweaked based [...]
Association Reserve Funds
What is a Reserve Fund? Reserve Funds are liquid assets that associations set aside for anticipated future expenditures, or to serve [...]
Creating Organized Communications Content for Associations
To say that communication is essential is an understatement for associations. Two years ago, when the unexpected pandemic hit us, the [...]
Giving Better Feedback as an Association Leader
Picture this. As the board chair of your association, you’ve been noticing that the membership committee chair, Bob, is not fulfilling [...]
The Benefits of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software for Association Management
For any association, your accounting department plays a vital role in your day-to-day operations. Accountants provide insights into the policy and [...]
Your Guide to Networking at In-Person Association Events
Following a shift to virtual spaces over the past couple of years, association members are finally getting back to connecting in-person [...]
Association Members Are Talking – Are You Listening?
In association leadership, we know how important it is to members that they feel heard and seen. With this in mind, [...]
Making the Most of In-Person Association Board Meetings
My last pre pandemic blog article discussed how The Best-Intentioned Association Boards can get Sidetracked. As I reflect on the way [...]
Optimizing Your Call to Action: What Is Your Association Asking For?
Members are an association’s life force. Revenue from membership dues, event attendance, and professional development opportunities keep your association running. So, [...]
10 Ways to Make Your Association Newsletter Stand Out
Earlier this year I attended a presentation that provided tips on elevating the quality of your newsletter. Prior to this presentation, [...]
Connecting with Association Members Using Online Tools – Part II
In a past blog, I shared the following three helpful tools to connect with association members: Doodle to create polls, QuestionPro [...]
Post-COVID: Return to Association Events and Travel
In a matter of only a few weeks, we have seen travel and in-person events start up in the blink of an [...]
The Business Behind Association Events
Now that in-person events are re-emerging, it is time to start planning! Your association members are ready to meet in person [...]
The Crucial Orientation and Training for Association Board Members
As we start getting back to in-person board meetings, volunteer board members are craving a better understanding of their role as [...]
Lessons of Leadership from Ted Lasso for Associations
We often discuss leadership within associations and need not look far for leaders that set a good example. There are many [...]
The Key to Organization for Association Leaders
For association board members it can be difficult to keep your association to-do lists organized, especially when your professional life gets [...]
Accounting for Associations: Not-for-Profit Financial Management
Not-for-profit accounting is a unique process by which not-for-profit organizations plan, record, and report their finances to a committee or Board [...]
Plant Seeds and Cultivate Leadership Within Your Association
Leadership is a quality that can occur in any person. However, not every member of your association has realized the potential [...]