New to association management? So was I as of seven months ago. Stepping into my new role, I found it fascinating to learn how my personal life and related work experiences transferred into the association world. Yet, there was still a period of transition. Even though I felt supported [...]
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 [...]
What is a Reserve Fund? Reserve Funds are liquid assets that associations set aside for anticipated future expenditures, or to serve as a cushion against any unplanned expenses. Five Best Practices for Managing your Restricted (Reserve) Funds Use the Class tracking functionality in your accounting software If your association [...]
As we start getting back to in-person board meetings, volunteer board members are craving a better understanding of their role as directors of an association. Zoom-based board meetings have taken away the personal interactions that happen around board tables and put board members into isolation which makes it harder [...]
To-do lists are a helpful tool for managing your association workload. Sometimes, however, instead of reducing your stress, they add to it. This seems to be a common sentiment in today’s world. Especially for association volunteers, your professional and volunteer to-do lists can get jumbled up. Everyone has too much [...]
I don’t fish as I have never had the patience to sit that long but I recently took part in an online training program that made me think of the following phrase: “Give a Man a Fish, and You Feed Him for a Day. Teach a Man To Fish, and [...]
In addition to a hard-working staff, associations are most often run by a board and committees made up of volunteers. These volunteer leaders are association members, and are no different from the rest of the membership. I am a volunteer radio DJ at a campus radio station, which is [...]
For an association leader, the daily responsibilities tend to fall under a wide jurisdiction. Committee reports and board meetings require preparation and follow up, as well as many other duties-the list goes on. The many needs of an association’s membership can seem daunting, and it is paramount that these [...]
In an everchanging world, it’s important that an association’s board of directors prioritizes adapting to change. Creating an ethically sound process for board rulings, whether minor or major, is vital. I will be breaking down a strategy of using an ethical decision-making framework highlighted in the Directorprep.com article, “Ethics [...]
What does it take to be a good board chair? What skill set do you need and who do you partner with to fulfill the Vision & Mission of your association? The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) provide training sessions [...]
