Blogoclump

Example of a PowerPoint…

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 23:43:16 +0000

… that would make a deadly Webinar: http://www.slideshare.net/RowanManahan/power-point-20th-anniversary-cinderella?src=embed

Okay, maybe it would be funny for the first few minutes…. but can you imagine sitting through an hour or so of this as a Webinar presentation?!?!?

Thankfully, as far as I know, that wasn’t the intent of this slideshow.

But keep it in mind when you’re creating the PowerPoints for your next Webinar. Or show it to your member volunteers if they’re the ones creating it.

Sometimes an example of what NOT to do is even more effective than a good example.

Larry Sloan’s post on Acronym, “Difficulties in Managing Web-based Seminars” tackles the challenges of Webinars from a little different angle, but when it comes to this elearning modality, best practices are just that.

And bad practices can haunt you for a long, long time.

Um, because we don't have weekend, holiday, evening hours

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 18:04:00 +0000

For the second time in 10 days I've noticed members using social media to solve problems or answer other user questions because our office is closed. One wanted to know if system was down on a holiday (and asked other Facebook users who immediately responded it was up); another didn't know how to get access when device lost (including #$% symbols about it on Twitter) - and got a fast answer from another member .... on a Sunday.

1. If the association/office help-desk isn't open on weekends, holidays and evenings - how do we expect users to get answers on weekends, holidays and evenings? The website may have FAQ section and training videos, but user may be on Blackberry or other device not wanting to fumble with site; or the site may not feature a perceived immediate problem. Such as, is the program having a problem?

2. Asking the crowd is new way for answers on everything from what restaraunt should I go to though what the (expletive) is wrong with my association's program. How much do YOU love going to any site or manual to find an answer to an immediate problem versus seeing if you can find anyone quickly who can just answer it?

3. If users are helping each other, it's a good thing. Well, unless they give the wrong answer ... or unless it stirs up trouble when no real problem. But if I'm not there on the sites (nor any other staff person) when this is happening, at a minimum it's worth thanking those who are trying to eliminate frustrations for others by giving assistance via social media.

4. Those who aren't our members on these sites get to find out about the problems (or perceived problems) too. Love it or hate it, there's no denying that your association and its programs will be discussed on social media - and the sphere is not just other members.

Note to self: You can't control this.

Hard Corps

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 14:39:35 +0000

Associations are obsessed with youth, and rightly so when you consider the median age of association memberships. So, a few years ago, after much hand-wringing and moaning, most associations produced a young leader program of some sort, ranging from patronizing mentoring schemes to authentic opportunities for sharing power.

Now, finally, someone has questioned the brain-drain produced by exiling immediate past leaders once their terms are complete. Not surprising to me is that the question comes from Mark Anderson--former co-conspirator at the launch of the Marketing Section Council at the association of associations--and now exec of the Society for Surgery of the Hand.

"It’s not about extending the reach of those who have been in power," Mark notes, "it’s about finding the right ways to keep those who have given so much engaged and contributing in a new less dramatic and intense way."

Off the top of my head, examples of groups pulling that off are true communities of practice and all define leadership more broadly than positional power.

Leadership isn't limited to committee or board seats. In one case, volunteers abolished such assignments, opting for ad hoc roles solving real problems.

Leadership is earned by those taking the initiative to advance the mission or raise the standard of practice.

Leaders create leaders by modeling behavior, doing essential work. Achievers want stretch assignments.

Meaningful work will not be found on committees or task forces with assignments like Monty Python's Ministry of Silly Walks. Meaningful work taps into the passion we have for our work and advances the mission.

Why not field experienced leaders to tackle really tough assignments? Deploy your hard core leaders as your hard corps leaders, and they will attract others to your cause.

Leaders emerge and morph when they can design their next experience, doing something that's relevant to them. Come to think of it, isn't' that what young leaders want, too?

So, do you know of an organization that "is doing some interesting and innovative...to keep senior folks engaged?" Mark wants to know.

Quote of the Week: Listening Internally

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 13:30:00 +0000

"To effectively listen to customers, you must first listen internally. When you then ask your team to listen to customers, they will - not only because they know how, but because they realize that if they hear a good idea, it will get implemented."

- Eric Fletty and Jan Bottiglieri, "Step One: Quit Digging" (Culture Change Drives Association's Success - online version), Associations Now. Great article about systems thinking, non-traditional team-building and culture change from the ground up.

--------------------------------------------------------

Forget About Elvis!

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 13:11:39 +0000

Look at me!

What do you do on a beautiful summer afternoon?

We attended the Michigan Elvisfest.
Never gone before.
Was 10 miles from our house.

It was non-stop Elvis songs performed by impersonators on the main stage.

Everywhere we turned we saw more Elvises. (Elvi?)
Did you know you there are 100s of ways to wear Elvis clothes?
And all sorts of Elvis favorite food products too?

It was a fun experience.

We sat on the hill.
Did major people watching.
Some of the performers were pretty good too.

The kid next to us was not having as much fun.

His dad was dressed as Elvis blinged out.
People gushed and asked to take photos with him.
The kid was ignored.

He decided to shift the attention his way.

Grabbed handfulls of grass.
Threw them in his red wagon.
Packed the grass to get it to stick together.

With great triumph, he plastered the grass on his head.

(He looked like a Chia pet of sorts.)
He strutted his stuff.
And true Elvis fans continued to ignore him.

I admired the kid’s creativity.

Makes me think of chapter leaders…Do you notice what your members doing to get your attention?

5,070 (& Growing) Buzzing Association Professionals

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:47:17 +0000

What made the Buzz2009 experience special? Well, all the buzz and ...

Eff it Off Friday Post

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:57:00 +0000

You thought I forgot, didn't you?

Ok, I did...but it's still Friday so here some links for you in lieu of a real post.

More data about how Facebook is officially becoming an oldsters club--over a third of users are 35+ and the 55+ age group is the fastest-growing group.

Great, thorough notes from yesterday's awesome Buzz2009 Association Social Media conferfence by Lynn Morton.

Great example of engagmement on an association Facebook page--ASHA's. This evening I posted a link to a press release on ASHA's website and within an hour 30 people had "liked" it and 16 people had commented. I love it that out members are so passionate about the issues surrounding their professions, and how eager they are to share their thoughts. Would they be hanging around the ASHA website on a Friday night, though? Maybe not...which just proves the addage that associations need to meet their members where they are--even if that means Facebook.

So, you say you want to change things for the better?

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 23:19:15 +0000

Check out this story from Johnnie Moore’s thought-provoking post, Change Management and Mistaking Green for Gold:

A few years back, a well-known consultancy business decided to abandon it’s dress convention of dark suits and white shirts and said folks could dress casual. But quite soon, they decided to make it a bit clearer just what counted as casual and what was unacceptably scruffy. They thought they’d changed, cos people were no longer wearing the boring suits. But just below the surface, they remained a company fixated on telling people how to dress.

When you think about bringing new ideas to your next conference, keep this story in mind. It’s more common than you’d think (because, of course, it’s more comfortable to change the surface than the infrastructure, in so many ways).

Quick clicks: Looking ahead

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:26:37 +0000

<![CDATA[Good afternoon! Here's your weekly roundup of great reads: - I've come across a couple of new association blogs in recent days. Mark Bledsoe is writing the <a href=" http://associationokie.wordpress.com/">AssociationOkie blog</a>, and Eric Casey has launched the <a href="http://caseymarketing.wordpress.com/ ">Association Unbound blog</a>. Be sure to check out a cool feature of Association Unbound: "Bring Out Your Dead," intended to be a place to share and learn from failure. Mark and Eric, welcome to the association blogging world! - Steve Drake at the Association Voices blog has <a href="http://www.associationvoices.org/2009/07/reinventing-associations-part-i.html">two</a> <a href="http://www.associationvoices.org/2009/07/reinventing-associations-part-ii.html">posts</a> on his thoughts about reinventing associations. - If you've found yourself saying recently, "I love that idea, but we just don't have the resources right now," Holly Ross at NTEN has four reasons why <a href="http://nten.org/blog/2009/07/08/four-reasons-innovation-matters-now-more-ever">innovation matters now more than ever</a>. - Michele Martin has some very interesting <a href="http://michelemartin.typepad.com/thebambooprojectblog/2009/07/are-knowledge-workers-the-new-blue-collar-workers.html">thoughts on knowledge work</a>, based on the new book Shop Class as Soulcraft. She raises some questions with definite implications for associations, such as "When we talk about 'knowledge workers' who do we really mean? Is this as large a group as we think or are many of the people we think of as knowledge workers actually working as glorified clerks?" - How can recent recommendations from Forrester Research on <a href="http://www.mizzinformation.com/2009/07/does-forresters-hub-and-spoke-model.html">how organizations should be structured in the age of social media</a> work in the association world? Maggie McGary at the Mizz Information blog has some tough questions. - A lot of bloggers are thinking about membership lately; Cecilia Sepp at the Association Puzzle blog reports about her experience with <a href="http://associationpuzzle.typepad.com/association_puzzle_see_ho/2009/07/grace-periods-for-membership-renewal-how-long-is-too-long.html">reducing the grace period</a> for lapsed members. Cynthia D'Amour wants you to think about <a href=" http://cynthiadamour.com/2009/07/09/why-do-you-recruit-new-members/">what motivates your members to take action</a>. And the Vanguard Technology blog wants you to <a href="http://vanguardtechnology.wordpress.com/2009/07/01/blow-up-your-members-only-area-immediately/">blow up your website's members-only area</a> immediately. - Sue Pelletier at <a href="http://blog.meetingsnet.com/face2face/2009/07/09/if-your-current-event-model-isnt-working-for-you/">face2face</a> points to a really interesting article offering <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/psychology-of-events/10-alternative-business-models">10 alternative business models for events</a>.]]>

Never give up on Membership Renewals

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:28:00 +0000

Winston Churchill said, “Never, never, never give up.” And it would appear that as it relates to membership renewals, he may be correct.

In our Membership Marketing Benchmarking Survey, we asked “when does your organization finish renewal efforts” by months from expiration. We then cross tabulated this against their reported membership renewal rates.

The data appears to indicate that organizations that stop their renewal process earlier are more likely to have membership renewal rates under 80 percent. However, those that continue in their efforts to renew members are more likely to have membership renewal rates over 80 percent.

In fact, those who say that they “don’t stop contact” are 83% more likely to be in this higher renewal grouping than those who stop contact earlier.

But wait there is more.

Using the same cross tabulation, this trend also appears to be true when we asked in the survey how long a member is “graced” with the continuance of membership benefits after expiration. Organizations with longer grace periods tended to report renewal rates of over 80 percent. In fact, groups that grace member benefits three or more months are nearly three times more likely to have renewal rates over 80% (9% compared to 26.5%).

Client research that I have read independent of this study often suggests that one of the most common reasons for a member to lapse is that he forgot or did not get around to renewing. So it does not surprise me that those who keep working at restoring the relationship with a member end up keeping more members. Members tend to leave an organization for reasons of omission not commission.

So if you have members in your database who have not renewed, keep a perspective that they have not renewed “yet” and try to reconnect with them. Never give up.

Honoring the Freak Flag

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:46:32 +0000

My friend Joe Gerstandt is a proud purveyor of the freak flag. I've been reading Joe's stuff for a while now (and it's awesome, by the way), and I will admit that the first few times he made reference to the freak flag, I was a bit confused. I figured it was something the cool kids knew about, and eventually it would make sense to me.

So I was grateful that he posted a clear description of what the Freak Flag really means to him. Go read it, because it will help you understand this post too.

I get it. So here's my story of getting in touch with the Freak Flag.

I like to think. I shared some of my blog posts around the office the other day, and after reading the posts, one of my coworkers said "You like to think...a lot...don't you." It's true. It seems to be my nature to ponder things, turn things around in my head. It's fun for me and when I share what I've come up with, people seem to like it. It ends up being an important part of my work.

And while thinking is easy for me, speaking up is not. Now, I'm a blogger and a professional speaker, so it's not like I'm quiet all the time. I don't have any kind of dispositional resistance to expressing myself. I do it a lot.

I'm talking about the times where in order to really be authentic I need to say something...and I don't. There are too many of these times, and in those moments I often take refuge in my thinking and choose not to express. When a friend makes a racist comment, but I don't want to ruffle the relationship so I just change the subject. When a client dismisses a challenge I think they need to face, but my ego says it's better when the people who pay you are happy with you, so I tread lightly instead of speaking the truth. When someone I love hurts me and I'm afraid if I say something I'll just make it worse, so I bottle it up inside (and, of course, make it worse. This is an aside, but isn't it interesting that many things we fear we also secretly desire?).

The Freak Flag gently reminds me to stop that foolishness. It is forgiving, of course, and won't judge me when I remain silent. But the Freak Flag, for me, is ultimately about VOICE. To continue Joe's descriptions:

It is the celebration of voice and expression and truth.

It shouts "Silent No More"

It is the celebration of listening and welcoming all voices

It is the celebration of showing up and building and creating and unfolding

On Fridays (at the very least) I fly my Freak Flag and I remember my voice. Silent no more.

Difficulties in Managing Web-based Seminars

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:14:29 +0000

<![CDATA[With the weakened economy, and its dampening effect on member travel, we are all looking for alternative sources of non-dues revenue. Web-based seminars (webinars) have become a ubiquitous presence on the educational front. However, the challenges of hosting value-added programming that actually make money are real. First, you need to research compelling topics.So you survey the membership and find a few ideas. Then you need to find the speaker. You approach one of the better-known experts in your field and, happily, she agrees. With your webinar provider already in place, you spend time training the speaker on how to administer her presentation during the actual webinar. You set a price point (deciding on per-site pricing instead of per-person, to encourage broader participation and add value). And as with live events, you spend time managing registrations (even with online credit card purchases, there are always questions) and even more time promoting, promoting, and promoting. Two days out, you only have two people registered to attend. What went wrong? What could be done to help ensure a win-win webinar experience for associations and their members and customers? ]]>

Welcome Larry Sloan!

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:45:50 +0000

<![CDATA[Good morning! I'd like to welcome our newest Acronym blogger, Larry Sloan. Larry will be joining us for the month of July to share his perspectives on some of the challenges facing association CEOs today. Larry is president of the Adhesives and Sealants Council Inc., in Bethesda, Maryland, and a CAE. He originally joined the Council in 2001 as director of member services, and was promoted to senior director in 2004 before becoming president in January 2005. He started his career as a chemical engineer, entering the nonprofit sector in 2000 as director of membership for the Consumer Specialty Products Association. Please welcome Larry to Acronym. I'm looking forward to reading his posts!]]>

Friday Top 5

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:24:00 +0000

Top 5 Great Ideas from Buzz 2009 and WOM Slam 3:

Blow up your business-as-usual business model.
If you're not pissing anyone off in social media, you're playing it too safe.
Would anybody want to tell a friend about this? If it's not worth talking about, it's not worth doing.
Identify your fans and then JUST ASK for their help. (Don't ask - can't get!)
Be where your people are, NOT everywhere.

More on the WOM Slam:

Video of the Champs:

Video of the Runners Up:

And mark your calendar for WOM Slam 4, at and benefiting the truly amazing DC Central Kitchen, on Tuesday, August 11.

Buzz 2009 Hive Waggle Dance For Meeting Planners: The Living Conference

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:12:17 +0000

Why Do You Recruit New Members?

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:45:17 +0000

Do you know?

Today I got another email from an association I belong to.

Generic in nature.
Asking me to help.
They want me to recruit members for them.

They give me three reasons why I should do it.

To give back to the community
Gain visibility.
Get recognition.

Give back to community is biggest push.

It’s kissing cousin to “Do the right thing.”
Which honestly makes me rebel.
Feels very parental - I’m good if I do and bad if I don’t.

Visibility and recognition - please.

My name on a laundry list on a website and magazine.
Will anyone read the list to get to my name?
Does anyone really care if I’m there or not?

So what’s my motivation to take action based on this email?

None.
They didn’t speak my language.
Maybe I’m not old enough to get the appeal?

And yet I’m a power recruiter when I feel like it.

What gets me going?
Inspires me to action?
And even better to inviting someone to join the association?

Here are three reasons I might recruit a new member:

My friends need what the association offers.
Six months later my friends will think I’m brilliant for making the suggestion.
I’m having a lot of fun somewhere in the process.

What makes you suggest someone join an association you belong to?

Did the association’s email have it right?
And I’m just an outlier?
Or do you have other reasons for recruiting new members? (Please share.)

Makes me think of chapter leaders…how well do you understand what motivates your members to action? How do you know?

Grace Periods for Membership Renewal: How Long is Too Long?

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:16:06 +0000

Today on an ASAE listserv thread, there was discussion about the length of grace periods, and whether or not members who pay after the grace period are reinstated or considered "new."

I used my experience as a Board member of American Independent Writers (AIW) in my response:

"Formerly, we had a 90 days grace period. Last year, we changed it to 15 days. After that, all communication and information is suspended (along with member rates).

We found that having a 90 days grace period seriously skewed our membership report numbers, making it look like we had twice as many members as we actually did because those in the "grace period" were counted as members in good standing. This negatively impacted retention rates, and further eroded our membership base because we had bad information.

Since switching to 15 days, we have had no real complaints, and it encourages our members to renew more promptly. When you look at it from a fiscal perspective, a 90 days grace period gives people an extra quarter of membership for no additional dues, without rewarding those who are paying on time.

The perception of AIW's membership value was severely eroded because of detrimental policies like these. We are now working double time to rebuild value perception for membership. I support up to 30 days to renew, but beyond that causes problems financially and erodes data quality."

I was surprised to see how many organizations have a 90 day grace period, and now I'm starting to wonder if this is having a stronger detrimental impact now that the economy is in such bad shape.

What it comes down to for me is that members who pay on time should rewarded, and those who do not pay should be strongly encouraged to pay promptly. An entire quarter of membership becomes an incentive to not pay your dues, and if the organization doesn't think their membership has value then why should a member?

Let's continue the discussion here; share your comments and thoughts on grace periods and the impact on the bottom line and member value.

Emerging Market Strategy Seminars - Chicago and DC in August

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:36:39 +0000

For the first time in history more than half the world is middle-class-thanks to rapid growth in emerging countries.

The Economist, February 14, 2009

Sometime last year, the world we inhabit went from Civilization 2.0 to 3.0. And if you are an association with an eye to serving a wider, more diverse audience beyond the shores of the United States, then this news is very compelling. Every product or membership manager needs a customer, and for those of us who are in the business of finding new markets and customers for our products, the emerging market countries are building a powerful new customer base.

Get ready for “hundreds of millions” more who will add their collective effort to improve themselves, their local communities and contribute to the great globalization of supply and demand that drives economic consumption around the world.

If you seek access to the emerging markets of China and the Middle East or want ideas to develop a sustainable business model for your existing activities, then don’t miss MCI’s Emerging Markets Strategy Workshop to be held August 13th in Chicago and August 20th in Washington DC.

MCI thanks APICS and SHRM for providing meeting rooms at their headquarters in the Chicago and Washington metro areas for these sessions.

These complimentary half-day workshops for association executives will provide proven strategies and practices to help better navigate these regional markets. And registrants will be invited to share questions in advance to help our presenters customize remarks to your needs.

Here are some highlights:

Engaging China
Your board and members are talking about it. You know you need to be in China. But how and when do you engage in China? What resources and capacity do you need to ensure a good start?

Learn how other associations have established themselves in China and the strategies and practices used to enter China successfully, build win-win partnerships, and deliver compelling and competitive services in this local markets.

Presented by Ms. Vivian Friess, MCI China Business Analyst, participants with take away:

What does a successful China entry strategy look like?
How do you build win-win partnerships with Chinese organizations?
Delivery of competitive products and services locally

Each topic will be supported with one to two relevant case studies.

Engaging the Middle East

The crossroad of the world’s developed and emerging markets is once again the Middle East with massive global logistics hubs for multinational supply chains and ambitious plans and wealth to evolve from oil-based economies to 21st century knowledge-based economies.

More than ever, companies and associations are entering the market through their meetings/conferences and education product portfolios with the aim of expanding their brand awareness among an array of stakeholders. Fast growing business capitals like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Riyadh are creating new business opportunities as a result of massive infrastructure development as they vie for your attention.

Included in this session, we will share research from a 2008 study looking at the challenges, opportunities and infrastructure needs expressed by US and EU based associations who want to gain access to this region. We shall also offer do’s and don’t of business communication as well as dispel common misconceptions.

Whether you are already engaging with the Middle East or considering it in the near future, listen why the Middle East should be on your radar and how you can develop a plan to have a successful event, build membership or disseminate your products and services locally.

Practical case studies will be shared to enhance your knowledge of the overall environment of association development in the region.

Presented by Mr. Ajay Bhojwani, MCI Middle East Business Analyst, participants with take away:

What do US and EU associations with regional aspirations find to be their biggest challenges/opportunities in the next 12 months?
How does one navigate the region’s unique business culture?
What common strategies are associations using to develop a sustainable business?

To Register or For More Information

Contact Peter Turner +1.571.275.1516 or Vivian Friess +1.202.412.6605.

Workshop Locations

In Chicago - August 13th 9am-12noon

APICS Headquarters

8430 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 1000
Chicago, IL 60631
Phone: (800) 444-2742 or (773) 867-1777

http://www.apics.org/About/Contact/directions_Ill.htm

…………………

In Washington DC (Alexandria) - August 20th, 9am -12noon

SHRM Headquarters

1800 Duke St
Alexandria, VA 22314
United States
Phone: (800) 283-SHRM
To reach these emerging markets, one must build business relationships in these regions to demonstrate local presence and a willingness to contribute “locally relevant” products and services. In his new book “The Second World Empires & Influence in the New Global Order,” Parag Khanna urges organizations that to succeed you must have good local relationships, a team who can execute sound local tactics, and a strategy that conveys value that can drive local needs be they personal professional or at an enterprise level.

Come to the MCI Emerging Market Strategy Workshop and refine your strategy from local business analysts in the field.

Steve Anderson on effectively managing change

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:28:21 +0000

<![CDATA[Steve Anderson, a long-time association veteran currently leading the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, says the current economic environment is as tough as any he has seen. Associations across the spectrum are having to lead change in a crush of financial hardship and uncertainty. As we launch into the first of several posts this month on change management, watch this short video and listen for his simple (but incredibly hard -- especially for associations) solution: at any time -- and especially tough economic times -- associations need to simplify and focus. <div align=center><object width="298" height="241"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/I9t7XwO3TjM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/I9t7XwO3TjM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="298" height="241"></embed></object></div>]]>

If your current event model isn’t working for you

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:55:49 +0000

Try one of the models Julius Solaris outlines in this brilliant post on the EventManagerBlog: 10 Alternative Business Models for Events. They may not all work for your purposes, but I’d bet they all get you thinking about what else you can do, given your market, attendees, and other environmental factors.