A standardized file folder naming system, for both electronic and hard copy/paper documents, has many benefits that go beyond making it easier to find things, such as efficiency in training new staff, and reduced misfiling. Below is an overview of the system used by Strauss for association record keeping [...]
Generating revenue and controlling expenses are the keys to ensuring the overall health of your association. For national associations that meet throughout the year, controlling travel and meeting expenses can be a significant part of successfully maintaining your annual budget. As an association executive (chief staff officer) I rely [...]
As an association management company, we advise boards of directors on many issues, including managing conflicts of interest. In an earlier article, Are You in a Conflict of Interest?, Geoff Powell addresses the broad elements of conflict of interest and how to manage them (he also includes references to [...]
Unfortunately, the amount of sales tax to charge on conferences and events is far from straightforward. It is important to collect the correct amount of sales tax, because if the amount collected is too low, the event organizer is responsible for the difference—plus, “regular” interest and “penalty” interest. Another [...]
Part of being an association manager or event planner is looking at ways to connect members of the association with suppliers and other stakeholders within the industry. Golf is a great mechanism to achieve this connection. The benefits of hosting a golf tournament for your association include: Accessibility - [...]
Evaluation of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/Executive Director (ED) is as important as evaluating your own board members and their performance as directors. The CEO/ED performance is key to achieving the goals of your association. As a board it is important to regularly evaluate your CEO/ED in a constructive [...]
Membership growth is top of mind for board members to ensure sustainability of an association. Is it always in the best interest of the association to grow? Does your board understand the reasons for growth, the implications of that growth and the resources necessary to sustain that growth? All [...]
“Try it, you’ll like it”[1] is reportedly the earliest reported word of mouth campaign slogan. Word of mouth (WOM) is an effective and the least expensive way to market association memberships and conference registrations and something your association should consider as part of your next membership planning session Traditional [...]
Talking at your members is a one-way communication—pushing a message. Technology makes talking at the members of your association easy, all it takes is a few clicks of your mouse. You can find literally dozens of association communications software solutions at http://www.capterra.com/association-management-software/. As well, MailChimp allows you to send [...]
Are you ready for your board meeting? Have you read the agenda and the supporting documents? Are there items that you want to discuss that don’t appear on the agenda? If not, then how do you get them on the agenda? All of the above are very good, and [...]
