How to Overcome the Top Three Common Marcom Pain Points for Associations

By |2024-03-21T14:18:29-05:00March 21st, 2024|

Marketing Communication (marcom) pain points within an association can be common. But they can also be frustrating for the association’s Board, staff and members leading to mixed messages, negative member experiences, and halted decision-making, which can potentially stunt the association’s overall growth plans.   Examples of pain points include [...]

The Importance of Fostering Relationships Between an Association’s Board & Staff

By |2023-04-13T10:52:08-05:00April 13th, 2023|

“The unique and multifaceted relationship between the board and its executive is perhaps the most important relationship leading to organizational success or failure. Like the two partners in a skating competition, each side can either bring out the best in the other or prevent the other from skating well.” [...]

Balancing Different Volunteer Preferences on Association Boards of Directors

By |2023-03-03T11:36:40-06:00March 3rd, 2023|

Coming out of the pandemic, I have noticed a divergence amongst Board members as to when they’re available to volunteer. Some opt to do all their volunteer work during office hours to preserve their personal time, while others don’t have flexibility in their schedule to volunteer during traditional work [...]

Association Membership Recruitment

By |2022-08-11T11:36:16-05:00August 11th, 2022|

Association members usually fall into two categories: mandatory and voluntary membership. While mandatory associations typically support regulated professions, voluntary associations can be a community of like-minded industry professionals, general enthusiasts, or businesses whose combined dedication allows the organization to exist. Membership recruitment comes into play for voluntary associations since [...]

Ensuring a Smooth Transition of Association Staff

By |2021-07-29T13:31:24-05:00July 29th, 2021|

In the association world, executive directors/Chief Staff Officers come and go. Sometimes it does not make sense to continue a relationship with an Executive Director for a variety of reasons and other times an association realizes the potential for excellence by making a change. In this article I’ll be [...]

Association Staff Turnover: Surviving the Transition

By |2021-05-06T09:44:52-05:00May 6th, 2021|

For associations, staff turnover happens. Whether it’s a reassignment of duties best suited for the staff’s skill set, a promotion to a new position within the association, or leaving the association for other ventures. Associations need to be ready to adapt to staff change while showing no delay in [...]

Bilingualism in National Associations: How to Meet Member’s Expectations

By |2020-10-29T10:35:44-05:00March 19th, 2020|

Canadian associations are often bilingual, meaning they offer membership programs and services in both official languages: French and English. In this context, members, potential members and industry partners are expecting bilingual service. It is the role of the association and its board to set policies and expectations for French [...]

Association Role Transition Strategies: Making Sure Nothing Falls Through the Cracks

By |2020-10-29T11:29:22-05:00March 5th, 2020|

The ink is still drying on your employment agreement, but the daily tasks of the association must go on. Transitioning smoothly into a new role with a new association is crucial to gaining an association board’s trust and to establishing a strong working relationship with association members. This blog [...]

Taking over an Association Term Position

By |2020-10-14T16:17:09-05:00January 2nd, 2020|

Being hired for any new position with an association management firm can be nerve-racking. But, temporarily replacing someone who will be returning from a leave of absence only adds to the anxiety. Association term positions are like trying to jump onto a moving train and then jumping right off [...]

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