As many of us do, I read LinkedIn at least once per day – if not twice. When I was looking at the newsfeed on Wednesday this week, I saw an announcement that an association executive was heading into their third Chief Staff Executive (CSE) position. This person left their second role under something of a cloud but was able to secure another top-staff person position rather quickly.

Association Consultants (consultants) do a lot for their clients, but we also do a lot for our association community. We answer questions in online forums, distribute articles and podcasts to contribute knowledge, present at conferences sharing valuable content, and offer counsel and advice to our colleagues. Most association consultants launch their consulting company after many years working in associations.

Early bird registration discriminates against those who don't register on a certain date, a date which is randomly picked by the organization to drive up registration numbers (yes, you can make the argument it's not random that you are trying to get a headcount or make your contract requirements but it is still artificially set by the association). This serves a variety of purposes and causes repercussions for registrants and potential registrants:

It’s ethics month! It’s an exciting time for all of us here in the nonprofit management profession because the practice of ethics is core to our work – and we get an entire month to talk about. As a member of the ASAE Ethics Committee, I’m pleased to be working with so many dedicated colleagues promoting ethics and their application.

From the Editor: Since I’ve been down with a nasty virus all week, and the future of nonprofits is heavy on my mind, this short article I wrote in 2021 keeps coming to my mind. There is a lot of fear in the nonprofit community, especially among our 501c6 segment because of the rapid pace of change brought on by the new Administration. But what makes us special is the place where we came from – the individual’s right to freely associate. That is what sets us apart and that is why we are important to the fabric of society. Our contributions are valuable and unique; that is why we are needed.

As the current Administration continues channeling Silicon Valley – “Go fast and break things” – there is a great deal of upset in certain segments of our country. However, the segment that is always utmost on my mind is the nonprofit community and the nonprofit management profession.

President Trump has declared his interest in acquiring the country of Greenland for strategic defense purposes. Not a bad idea when it comes to defense but Denmark has expressed its commitment to keep Greenland as part of their territory. The Danish government believes they know what is best for Greenland, and President Trump believes they want to be part of the United States.

This year I celebrate my 10^th anniversary as a Certified Association Executive (CAE). t’s hard to believe an entire decade has passed but as they say, time flies – especially when you are enjoying yourself! If you are a current CAE Candidate, you might be saying “What do you mean ENJOYING YOURSELF?? Getting ready for the exam is really stressful!”.

I'll admit it. I was nervous when I heard that AWTC was adding a keynote speaker to the 2024 Advance conference. They also added an afternoon workshop that also made me a little uncomfortable.

In the nonprofit area, there is always talk about recognition of what members and supporters contribute through their efforts. There are many levels of recognition from certificates and thank you notes to individual awards at annual meetings.

I’m excited to share this excerpt from my first book Association Chapter Systems: From Frustrating to Fruitful, available on November 22, 2024. After years of working in chapter systems of all kinds, I see the need for change in how we network with and support members at the local level.

Associations like to say if you join you will be part of a larger community. You will have options for participation and connection. It's a great way to get involved and contribute to your profession.

Humans have rules for a lot of reasons: to keep public order, to show people how to play a game, to install a governance system, and to keep a family living in something similar to harmony. These are a few of the reasons that come to my mind when considering rules and why we have them.

I'm in a lot of professional networking groups. We talk about different programs that organizations can offer their members, how new offerings could work, and we try to figure out why some organizations don't give the members what they want even after repeated requests.

Recently in ASAE Collaborate, I’ve seen the conversation again about “The Bus Book” scenario. I say again because this is an evergreen topic and we should all be thinking about it on a regular basis. The Bus Book, if you are not familiar with this term, is the book that SHOULD exist that contains all the information others will need if something happens to you like you get hit by a bus. Or you win the lottery. Or you take a new job. Or you retire.

In a previous post titled “Making Peace,” (September 23, 2023), I noted the following:
"After a time, the stubbornness becomes the goal, and we often forget WHY we are being so stubborn. Both parties will not give way in any shape or form. Old grievances are listed again and again as we are determined to prove that we are right and they are so very wrong."

If you subscribe to USAE News, you may have seen my September 3, 2024, guest column “The Unexpected and Accessibility: A Trip to a Cleveland Conference.” This article outlines my experience attending a conference in a wheelchair and using a walker as I recover from a broken leg. Anytime anyone loses mobility or needs accommodations for participation, it is a disability whether short-term or long-term.

Listen to the audio version of the article.

...GIRL. That’s right. Think like a leader, not a girl. Did she just type that? Oh yes, she did. And this time I encourage angry postcards because I want to hear what you are thinking. 

As I continue my recovery from a broken leg, the bone is healed. It’s all the other moving parts that still need to recover and strengthen – the tendons and ligaments that hold the knee joint together as well as the underused muscles that weakened due to 2 months of bedrest.