No matter what type of association you are managing, keeping accurate financial records is essential. Keeping your accounting records organized is important for many reasons, including a quick and low-cost audit or review engagement and being able to get useable information when it is needed to help manage your [...]
Do your staff know the difference between policies and procedures? Policies are the rules for the association. They state appropriate standards of action and behavior for all employees. Procedures are the instructions for the association. They describe who does the task, what steps must be performed, when those steps [...]
Trends. How do associations stay in touch with them and remain current in the rapid world of change? I recently attended an online session presented by Dan Stevens president of Association TV and Workerbee.TV, who presented five trends that are affecting the association world. It was a fascinating presentation [...]
Getting Comfortable After working as an association coordinator for six months, I am starting to feel comfortable in my role. I have learned how to respond to more complicated requests and to solve unexpected problems. I have become comfortable with the membership management system that we use. And I’m [...]
One key is the relationship between the board chair and chief staff officer The best sign of a healthy association is a strong partnership between the board chair and the chief staff officer (often called Executive Director). Strong partnerships are fostered by maintaining an open stream of communication, by [...]
One in four security breaches are caused by human error, according to IBM’s 2016 Cyber Security Intelligence Index. Could one person’s error can cause a breach which would affect 100% of your association’s members? Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent human error, but you can use these helpful [...]
Have you ever been in a situation where you walked into a room and didn’t know anyone? Not only were you the new kid in town, but no one came to welcome you or help connect you to the group. This type of environment would deter anyone from ever [...]
It can be exciting to find out that a new slate of directors has been nominated to serve on your association’s board of directors. It’s a promise of new ideas, new perspectives and positive change. What if you were approached to join your association’s board? Would you know what [...]
After Introducing Social Media to a Reluctant Association, you need to figure out how best to take advantage of it. When used well, social media can work for your association by building awareness, promoting advancements, and connecting with prospective members. Social media can be overwhelming, but it is manageable. Read [...]
Cash flow is one of the most important aspects of managing an association. One key element of proper cash flow management is appropriate management of accounts receivable. Studies have shown that many businesses struggle to collect payments from clients, especially small businesses. It can be even trickier for associations [...]