Has the performance of your association been thoroughly evaluated? How do you know if it is time to begin the process of progressing your association into a high-performance association? High-performance associations possess the following key characteristics: The vision and mission of the association are owned and shared by all [...]
Associations are tempting targets for hackers. The two most valuable assets that make associations tempting targets for hackers are lists of members that often include date of birth and credit card numbers. Your association, if it collects more detailed personal information, may be an especially tempting target for hackers [...]
Everyone has room to grow when it comes to learning more about their workplace and environment. While some people may choose to get by with minimal knowledge of their surroundings, it is my belief that one should not simply be aware and attempt to get by, but instead, truly [...]
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 [...]