“The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers accountants.” These words were not spoken by the butcher in Shakespeare’s Henry The Sixth Part 2, rather they are from the mouth of a new treasurer of a not-for-profit association or registered charity who mistakenly thought that taxes and [...]
Lately I have been having casual conversations with friends and contacts about situations we have all gone through when we’ve changed positions within our workplaces. I’ve heard stories of absolute chaos, confusion and many triumphs. The purpose of this article is to help prepare you for a smooth transition. [...]
Communication, communication and communication, is the key to creating strong ties with the stakeholders of your association. It may sound obvious but knowing who your stakeholders are, and then opening up a solid flow of information between them, is crucial to the success of any association. As an association [...]
Association board meetings can happen virtually or in-person, they can be monthly, quarterly or annually, and they can have a specific focus or touch on several different topics. In such a flexible board meeting structure, one thing that remains certain is that board meetings generally result in a lot [...]
By-laws are a very important component of a not-for-profit association. All boards operate based on the member-approved by-laws of the organization. By-laws define how the organization is structured and run, and as mentioned in a previous blog, associations can also develop a series of policy statements, which add further [...]
Imagine if you had the resources at your fingertips to help you organize and connect with all of your members at once. Look no further because the Internet has provided us with a plethora of virtual sidekick in the form of online tools. There are three tools in particular [...]
The power of social media is undeniable. When used properly, social media is a great tool to increase awareness, promote membership, advertise and facilitate upcoming events, and connect members with similar associations or groups. Although the benefits may seem obvious, not all associations are keen to jump on the [...]
My last blog article entitled Diversity in the Association Boardroom focused on ways to assist an association in building an appropriately diverse board. This article will continue along a similar theme and is focused on the psychological phenomenon known as Groupthink. Groupthink, a term defined by social psychologist Irving [...]
“Hi, you owe us money.” No one likes making membership renewal calls, in fact many people dread it, but here are a few simple tips that will make your membership renewal calls simple and stress free. Telephone Manner When you pick up the phone to make a membership renewal [...]
Does the voice of a national association make your provincial association stronger? If so, what are the benefits of being a provincial association that has a national association representing your industry or profession? Provincial associations are made up of local members and stakeholders that have a need or common [...]
