Spring is here and I'm excitedly preparing to give a number of presentations in May. One such presentation is for the Society of National Association Publications. At this point, I feel the need to confess that I originally thought I was agreeing to speak to another group that goes by the acronym, SNAP...the Social Networking for Association Professionals group. In fact, I was kind of surprised to hear from someone I wasn't familiar with from the networking group since I am somewhat active with them. Now I know.
This experience reminds me to check facts often...even the facts I think I know. At any rate, if you are interested in attending one of the presentations I'll be giving, I'll be posting them to this blog and you can read about the Society of National Association Publications event below.
Cheers!
Friday, May 8, 2009
Come On, Get Social
American Bankers Association
1120 Connecticut Avenue, NW
7th Floor Board Room
Washington, DC
Lunch will be provided.
Register Today
If you could wave a magic wand and make your monthly (or weekly) publication into something your readers interacted with every day, why wouldn't you?
Well, you don't need magic--you just need to tap into the power of social media. With blogs, social networks, Twitter, and other technologies, you can connect with your readers more powerfully and more often. Our panelists will share the stories of how their magazines started using social media, what it takes in terms of resources, how their members have responded, and how you can do it too.
Content Leaders:
Christina Gordon, Director of Communications, National School Boards Association
KiKi L'Italien, Association Chapter-relations Manager, Optical Society of America
Moderator:
Kathleen Rakestraw, Director of Communications, American School Counselor Association
A Special Thank You to Our Sponsors for this DC Lunch & Learn
The YGS Group provides a comprehensive line of editorial and graphics communication services to associations, societies & publishers. Services including creative, advertising sales, printing & finishing, fulfillment and reprint management help provide a complete solution for our customers. Association publishers throughout the country have chosen The YGS Group because of its commitment to quality, innovation and the value of original creative content.
Quebecor World is a leading printer for associations and related organizations that use magazines, journals, directories, books and direct mail to communicate with and serve members. Quebecor World has more resources, in more places, printing and distributing a wider variety of printed association products, than any other printer. And, with its new investments in press, bindery and distribution technologies, the Quebecor World association printing service platform is now stronger than ever.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Big Bang Machine To Be Even More "Big Bangable"
While the magnets at the real-life Large Hadron Collider may not reach extraterrestrials, scientists hope they will help lead to encounters with never-before-seen phenomena and answers to fundamental questions about the universe.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Monday, April 27, 2009
May CRP Virtual Lunch: Help! I have a Problem!
Our next CRP (Chapter Relations Professional) Virtual Lunch will take place Wednesday, May 27th. We are looking to you to identify some challenges you may be experiencing and would like to bring to the virtual lunch for discussion.
Topics for discussion may include:
* Chapter/national relations
* Leadership training
* Leader conflict resolution
* Communications
* Chapter policies, procedures and operations
Now's the time to discuss your most challenging issues with the people who can help bring resolutions to the table, your fellow CRP professionals.
Please take a moment to think on some items you'd like to discuss and email either Kim, KiKi or Sharon. Ideally we will have about 4-5 discussion to send out in advance of the call.
Sharon Kneebone: sharonkneebone@apta.org
KiKi L'Italien: klital@osa.org
Kim Grimm: kgrimm@nacenet.org
To register: http://tinyurl.com/c5gkwm
Note: You can follow Virtual Lunch discussions at #CRPLunch or you can follow Sharon and KiKi on Twitter - @skneebone and @kikilitalien.
Topics for discussion may include:
* Chapter/national relations
* Leadership training
* Leader conflict resolution
* Communications
* Chapter policies, procedures and operations
Now's the time to discuss your most challenging issues with the people who can help bring resolutions to the table, your fellow CRP professionals.
Please take a moment to think on some items you'd like to discuss and email either Kim, KiKi or Sharon. Ideally we will have about 4-5 discussion to send out in advance of the call.
Sharon Kneebone: sharonkneebone@apta.org
KiKi L'Italien: klital@osa.org
Kim Grimm: kgrimm@nacenet.org
To register: http://tinyurl.com/c5gkwm
Note: You can follow Virtual Lunch discussions at #CRPLunch or you can follow Sharon and KiKi on Twitter - @skneebone and @kikilitalien.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Chapters & National: Collaborate or Compete
I will be facilitating a call on Wednesday with a great group of people, including my Virtual Lunch partner in crime, Sharon Kneebone. Please join in on Wednesday, if you think you can make it! Here's the description:
Chapters & National: Collaborate or Compete
With resources tightening and no end in sight, we thought it would be good to look at collaboration versus competition between parent organizations and their components. Our email thread on parent-organization sponsored webinars might tie into this. I would also be looking for one or two other guests so we can talk about membership retention and recruitment, marketing and the elusive non-dues revenue.
Guest Panalists:
Scott Oser
President
Scott Oser Associates, Inc.
Alex Aderton
Director of Marketing
Associated Buiders and Contractors
Register here: http://tinyurl.com/d6un6f
Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Time: Noon to 1pm Eastern
Cost: Simply your ideas to share and questions to ask -- plus the cost of a call to Minnesota.
Dial in number: 218-936-7979
Passcode: 189780
You can earn 1 CAE point by registering and participating in this event.
Chapters & National: Collaborate or Compete
With resources tightening and no end in sight, we thought it would be good to look at collaboration versus competition between parent organizations and their components. Our email thread on parent-organization sponsored webinars might tie into this. I would also be looking for one or two other guests so we can talk about membership retention and recruitment, marketing and the elusive non-dues revenue.
Guest Panalists:
Scott Oser
President
Scott Oser Associates, Inc.
Alex Aderton
Director of Marketing
Associated Buiders and Contractors
Register here: http://tinyurl.com/d6un6f
Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Time: Noon to 1pm Eastern
Cost: Simply your ideas to share and questions to ask -- plus the cost of a call to Minnesota.
Dial in number: 218-936-7979
Passcode: 189780
You can earn 1 CAE point by registering and participating in this event.
You can also follow participants on Twitter:
@scottoser, @skneebone, @kikilitalien
Friday, April 10, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Using HARO to Your Advantage as a Non-Profit
You gotta love someone who plays matchmaker...especially for the media.
I receive daily emails from Peter Shankman. You may not know of him yet, but he is the mastermind behind "Help a Reporter Out" (HARO), which matches reporters with potential contacts to interview for their stories.
Receiving the HARO emails is a good thing to do if you are looking for opportunities to become an expert or idea leader in a specific area. That said, I often fail to open the emails (they come several times a day) and so everyday I am passing by at least one good opportunity to match myself or someone else with a chance to promote a business/service/expertise to the public. However, today I opened up the daily (morning) email from Peter and voila! an opportunity for non-profits in Massachusetts! Why haven't I shared this with the rest of the association world?
Please add this to your "to do" list: Sign up for HARO reports.
Also, be sure to follow Peter on Twitter @skydiver.
Cheers!
KiKi
I receive daily emails from Peter Shankman. You may not know of him yet, but he is the mastermind behind "Help a Reporter Out" (HARO), which matches reporters with potential contacts to interview for their stories.
Receiving the HARO emails is a good thing to do if you are looking for opportunities to become an expert or idea leader in a specific area. That said, I often fail to open the emails (they come several times a day) and so everyday I am passing by at least one good opportunity to match myself or someone else with a chance to promote a business/service/expertise to the public. However, today I opened up the daily (morning) email from Peter and voila! an opportunity for non-profits in Massachusetts! Why haven't I shared this with the rest of the association world?
Please add this to your "to do" list: Sign up for HARO reports.
Also, be sure to follow Peter on Twitter @skydiver.
Cheers!
KiKi
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Mirror to the Mothership
Sometimes the chapters operating as extensions of an organization can seem very alien to it. The more independent the chapter, oftentimes the more strained the relationship can be with the parent organization.
Lisa Junker's recent article on Acronym ("Chapter websites and donors: Food for thought") provided some data backing up the importance of having a consistent and well-supported brand across all components of a Society. The fact that poor or even mismatched websites at the chapter-level can have a negative impact on donations to the parent organization shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. However, it is easy to look around and see how prevalent this problem is today.
After reading the Acronym article, I ask myself:
Lisa Junker's recent article on Acronym ("Chapter websites and donors: Food for thought") provided some data backing up the importance of having a consistent and well-supported brand across all components of a Society. The fact that poor or even mismatched websites at the chapter-level can have a negative impact on donations to the parent organization shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. However, it is easy to look around and see how prevalent this problem is today.
After reading the Acronym article, I ask myself:
- What would it take to bring consistency to our chapter websites?
- What is the cost?
- Whom should I talk to first?
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Coming Soon to a Planet Near You
You may not have realized it, but the American Astronomical Society is celebrating the International Year of Astronomy this year, which includes the 400th anniversary of the use of Galileo’s telescope. Their website even includes a really cool little interactive map showing the different events going on around the world to celebrate this feat.
As part of this celebration, their website states that “there is a 100-hour, round-the-clock, round-the-globe event that includes live webcasts from research observatories, public observing events and other activities around the world.”
This massive event takes place from April 2-5 when “the Moon goes from first quarter to gibbous good phases for early evening observing. Saturn will be the other highlight of early evening observing events.”
What a great reason to have a party! Everyone can drink special martinis until their vision represents the unclear view of the celestial bodies we had BEFORE Galileo's telescope. Good enough reason for me!
DC events
BMore events
SoMD events
As part of this celebration, their website states that “there is a 100-hour, round-the-clock, round-the-globe event that includes live webcasts from research observatories, public observing events and other activities around the world.”
This massive event takes place from April 2-5 when “the Moon goes from first quarter to gibbous good phases for early evening observing. Saturn will be the other highlight of early evening observing events.”
What a great reason to have a party! Everyone can drink special martinis until their vision represents the unclear view of the celestial bodies we had BEFORE Galileo's telescope. Good enough reason for me!
DC events
BMore events
SoMD events
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Attracting and Retaining Young Professionals Members
Every month ASAE's Component Relations Council produces a Virtual Lunch teleconference about a topic of interest for Component Relations professionals (a.k.a. people who work with membership groups). I just came from this month's call and once again I feel flush with ideas and inspiration from all of the participants sharing helpful ideas.
This month's call focused on "Attracting and Retaining Young Professionals Members."
Samantha Whitehorne, who just published an article for the GW Network Now titled "Young Professionals Unite," was a panelist on the call and shared the Top 6 Benefits Young Professionals are looking for from their associations:
Unique opportunities. Meaning that he mixes the fun with the educational. Hold a leadership event that is also a cooking class or host a networking reception in a cool venue that they do not usually have access to.
Networking. It’s important for Young Professionals to have older mentors, but it’s also important for them to network in their own age group, since they will work their way up in the organizations at the same time. It gives them the ability to foster relationships now.
Sounding board. They can discuss the problems they face in the workplace with their peers, but also talk about career issues like pay or advancement.
Leadership. Some YPs may think they don’t get to display enough of their leadership skill in the office. But by joining these groups, they have the opportunity to do so, which will translate back into their days jobs.
Make it personal. Make them feel invited. Keep communicating with them.
Keep YPs top of mind. For example, the economy. Most have never dealt with a recession. Hold a career or financial management seminar.
For more information on future Virtual Lunch seminars (they are free!), visit the ASAE calendar of events.
This month's call focused on "Attracting and Retaining Young Professionals Members."
Samantha Whitehorne, who just published an article for the GW Network Now titled "Young Professionals Unite," was a panelist on the call and shared the Top 6 Benefits Young Professionals are looking for from their associations:
Unique opportunities. Meaning that he mixes the fun with the educational. Hold a leadership event that is also a cooking class or host a networking reception in a cool venue that they do not usually have access to.
Networking. It’s important for Young Professionals to have older mentors, but it’s also important for them to network in their own age group, since they will work their way up in the organizations at the same time. It gives them the ability to foster relationships now.
Sounding board. They can discuss the problems they face in the workplace with their peers, but also talk about career issues like pay or advancement.
Leadership. Some YPs may think they don’t get to display enough of their leadership skill in the office. But by joining these groups, they have the opportunity to do so, which will translate back into their days jobs.
Make it personal. Make them feel invited. Keep communicating with them.
Keep YPs top of mind. For example, the economy. Most have never dealt with a recession. Hold a career or financial management seminar.
For more information on future Virtual Lunch seminars (they are free!), visit the ASAE calendar of events.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Tagged! Volunteer Jobs for Minimal Commitment/Time
I've been tagged by the effervescent and hugely popular Maddie Grant (part of the "A-List Bloggers Network") to comment on one of Peggy Hoffman's meme challenges!
Peggy asks:
"To get the conversation going, I’m tagging the following bloggers to help answer a nagging question – how can we create volunteer jobs that don’t require being on a committee, a long-term commitment or gobs of time? So, share five short-term, ad-hoc volunteer jobs you’d love to have and then tag five more bloggers".
Hmmm...interesting! I like to be involved, but I must admit to being a person who tends to wait for someone to ask me (according to the Decision to Volunteer study, I am not alone!). My answers below are the kind of thing I would respond to:
1. Guest blogger
2. Regular blog commenter
3. Author an article
4. Provide regular and thorough feedback on programs
5. Attending a council meeting as an invited participant (not a regular member)
While I am definitely active and look for opportunities to get involved in volunteer activities, I tend to wait sometimes for people to approach me. The idea that the community wants me appeals to me, although I have had the most success with taking matters into my own hands.
Here are my tags!
Sandra Giarde
Dave Sabol
Beth Ziesenis
Sarah Grace McCandless
Lynn Morton
Peggy asks:
"To get the conversation going, I’m tagging the following bloggers to help answer a nagging question – how can we create volunteer jobs that don’t require being on a committee, a long-term commitment or gobs of time? So, share five short-term, ad-hoc volunteer jobs you’d love to have and then tag five more bloggers".
Hmmm...interesting! I like to be involved, but I must admit to being a person who tends to wait for someone to ask me (according to the Decision to Volunteer study, I am not alone!). My answers below are the kind of thing I would respond to:
1. Guest blogger
2. Regular blog commenter
3. Author an article
4. Provide regular and thorough feedback on programs
5. Attending a council meeting as an invited participant (not a regular member)
While I am definitely active and look for opportunities to get involved in volunteer activities, I tend to wait sometimes for people to approach me. The idea that the community wants me appeals to me, although I have had the most success with taking matters into my own hands.
Here are my tags!
Sandra Giarde
Dave Sabol
Beth Ziesenis
Sarah Grace McCandless
Lynn Morton
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