Issuu

FOCUS NORTH

June 2016

What 21st Century Membership Actually Means pg 8

Your Conference Needs More Joyful Silence pg 10

COMMUNICATIONS IN

CRISISpg5 protecting members during a pandemic Published by

www.associationsnorth.com

Focus North is published 9 times a year by Associations North, 1970 Oakcrest Avenue, Suite 100, Roseville, MN 55113. Phone: 651.647.6388 Fax: 651.647.6416 Website: www.associationsnorth.com Email: info@associationsnorth.com

The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not reflect the opinions of Associations North. The subscription rate for members is $25, which is included in membership dues. Editorial contributors in any area of association management are welcome. Articles accepted for publication are subject to editing by Associations North. Advertising is accepted on a space availability basis. Contact angela@associationsnorth.com for futher advertising information.

Staff

Kathy Johnson, CAE, President Sarah Ruzek, Director of Education Angela Kisskeys, Marketing & Comm. Manager Chris Villeneuve, Member Services Coordinator

Mission

To advance and serve the association management profession in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Vision

Associations North, our members and their associations will thrive and grow.

Diversity & Inclusion

In principle and in practice, Associations North values and seeks diversity and inclusiveness within the association management industry. Associations North advocates for and promotes involvement, innovation, and expanded access to leadership opportunities that maximize engagement across underrepresented groups in the Associations North membership. For advertising information, call 651.647.6388. Advertisements and listings in this publication are provided as a public service to readers. Associations North is not responsible for errors or omissions, and inclusion does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. All information is subject to change.

Board of Directors

Dave Radziej, CAE (Chair-Elect) President Printing Industry Midwest Cassie Larson, CAE (Secretary/Treasurer) Executive Director MN Nursery & Landscape Association

CONTENTS June 2016 FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

Leaders: 5 Communications 7 Advancing In Crisis Fuel For ForwardThinking

Protecting members during a pandemic

Innovation or evolution in your organization?

8 Advancing Engagement +

Recruitment: Moving Membership

10 Advancing Meetings + Events:

What 21st Century Membership Actually Means

In The Details

Your Conference Needs More Joyful Silence

Advancing 11 Advancing Communications: 12 The Essentials: Stay Connected

Invaluable Insights

Fresh, New & True: The Associations North Brand Story

Practical Tips for Preparing Your Association for Changes in the Federal Overtime Regulations

Moving Forward Together

The Association Life

14 Conversations 15 Calendar of Events 16 Brain Power 18 Signature Event 19 The North Experience 20 Et Cetera 21 Spotlight

If you werenâ€™t doing your current job, what would you be doing?

Ann Kvaal, CAE (Chair) Owner AK Communications Jenny Prosser (Past -Chair) Vice President of Conferences and Sales LeadingAge Minnesota

I would be a famous chef.

Doing non-profit work somewhere else â€“ plus a little hobby farm on the side would fit me nicely.

Kathy Johnson, CAE (President) President Associations North

Cody Nuernberg Executive Director Northwestern Lumber Association

Carmelo Cinqueonce, MBA Executive Director MN Dental Association

Dave Renner, CAE Director, State & Federal Legislation Minnesota Medical Association

John Francis President The Harrington Company

Accounting.

Tara Loftus Account Manager Adapta Interactive

Smithsonian historian!

Mark Salter, CAE, ABC Executive Director CFA Society Minnesota

Working in the golf industry.

Playing with my new grandson.

Robbie Thompson Executive Director Professional Liability Underwriters Association

Moving Forward Together: Associations North Partners

Featured Sponsor:

AVEX

Why I partner with Associations North… Associations North sponsorship enables us to meet a wide variety of association members; giving us the opportunity to forge mutually beneficial partnerships, share best practices, and create long term relationships. Plus, it is just plain fun to meet people in businesses different than your own and see their challenges and solutions that have worked for them. The educational opportunities with Associations North speak for themselves.

What is your most memorable moment helping an Associations North member and why is it special to you? My most memorable was more like a series of moments. We have a long-term relationship with an Associations North member and supply AV services for their annual meeting. After last year’s event, the president of this association retired, and the meeting planner took a position with another company. We now had to work with a new senior staff for this year’s meeting. It was rewarding guiding them through the process and ensuring the success of the event.

Larry King

PREMIER PARTNERS

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS T

The owers K A H L E R G R A N D H O T E L

BRONZE SPONSORS Global Experience Specialists | Roseville Visitors Association | Shooting Star Casino | Visit Duluth | Visit Saint Paul

associationsnorth.com/sponsor 3

The Association Life

Featured Industry: Real Estate Whoever you are, whatever you do, there is an association working on your behalf.

Greater Alexandria Area Association of REALTORS®

Greater Lakes Association of REALTORS®

Chartered in 1968, we serve Douglas, Pope & Todd counties.

An association of over 550 REALTORS® and over 60 Affiliate Members serving Central Minnesota.

Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS® Established in 1887 with more than 7,000 members, MAAR serves the Twin Cities 13-county metro area and western Wisconsin.

Minnesota Association of REALTORS® Minnesota Association of REALTORS® serves as the member’s first resource for real estate information and professional services.

MN Commercial Association of Real Estate / REALTORS® MNCAR is the pre-eminent commercial real estate brokerage organization in Minnesota.

North Dakota Association of REALTORS® The North Dakota Association of REALTORS® exists to promote, support and unify its members.

South Dakota Association of REALTORS® Chartered in 1944, we have been one of the leading trade associations within the state of South Dakota for over 60 years.

St. Paul Area Association of REALTORS® Established in 1886, the Saint Paul Area Association of REALTORS® (SPAAR) is dedicated to promoting the dream of homeownership with the highest level of professionalism and integrity.

Communications In Crisis How scientific research helped the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association employ a communications strategy to protect their members during a pandemic of avian influenza.

For 8 weeks last spring, regular work stopped for a small group of Minnesotans. That group was the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association, and they faced the worst animal disease outbreak in United States history. The Minnesota Turkey Growers Association (MTGA) was formed in 1939 with the goal of advocating for and representing the stateâ€™s turkey farmers. These goals take shape through lobbying efforts, media relations, student recruitment, communications efforts and materials, website/social media, and special projects. MTGA also uses research--sponsored by an organization called the Minnesota Turkey Research and Promotion Council (MTRPC)--to inform these efforts.

Research sponsored by MTRPC empowers MTGA to take great strides forward in turkey growing. Steve Olson, MTGA’s Executive Director, says most of their research stems from the question: “How can we solve problems to make raising turkeys better in Minnesota?” From optimizing feed, to selective breeding, to making housing recommendations for the turkeys’ comfort and well-being, their research contributes to the growing healthy turkeys. In fact, thanks to information gained from scientific studies, turkey growers are able to raise larger, healthier turkeys using less feed than ever before, without touching artificial growth hormones (which are illegal in poultry production). Such research not only propels the turkey industry forward, it also provided an arsenal of resources for the MTGA communications team when an unprecedented number of their members’ farms were struck with avian influenza. Media, having worked with MTGA in the past, reached out to Steve Olson and Lara Durben, Communications & Program Director, en masse for information regarding the epidemic. Thanks to their work with MTRPC, the association was prepared with a slew of reputable and relevant research to support their communications messages. One of their major goals was to correct misinformation surrounding the impact of avian influenza. In hundreds of interviews conducted during the crisis, the team continued to stress that the illness was an animal health issue, not a food safety one. This simple matter of public perception could greatly impact the economic health of their members.

“The research that Dr. Halvorson and others have done on avian influenza gave us the ability to deal with the crisis last year a whole lot better than we otherwise would have.”

Steve Olson explains that the avian influenza had more than a business and financial impact, Minnesota farmers felt the negative effects emotionally, too. MTGA alleviated some of the pressure on farmers by handling all media requests surrounding the topic. Olson reflects, “The research that Dr. Halvorson and others have done on avian influenza gave us the ability to deal with the crisis last year a whole lot better than we otherwise would have.” MTGA also supported farmers throughout the outbreak

Additional Resources you can find on associationsnorth.com: • Disaster Plans • Crisis PR • Communication Plans At Associations North we are all about collaboration. Have a crisis resource that would help others? Email it to angela@associationsnorth.com.

by sharing a plethora of information on their membersonly website, arranging for farmers to receive low-interest loans to help them recover, and working alongside government agencies to eradicate negative effects. Additionally, MTGA protected their farmers’ future business by communicating reliable facts and information to consumers about the reality of avian influenza-specifically that their food would not be affected. Due to the impact of avian influenza, turkeys were removed from 4H shows and other large events, including the State Fair. The communications team at MTGA, rather than hosting a bare booth, created a Day In The Life Of A Turkey Farmer video to display in place of the birds. “Most consumers are pretty far removed from farms these days, and they aren’t necessarily aware of how their food is raised,” explains Lara Durben. Because of health and safety regulations, farmers oftentimes cannot conduct live tours of their facilities, which means most consumers may not know how their turkey is raised. Durben explains the goal of their video campaign is to show the real people growing your food, and to dispel the myths and misconceptions surrounding raising turkeys. When a devastating pandemic of avian influenza struck turkey farms across Minnesota, it was easy to assume the industry would suffer a deep blow. Farmers relied on MTGA to support them with experienced communication and coordination, including scientific research, compelling videos, accessible facts, and media coverage. “We are a conduit for correct information; we communicate with farmers, consumers, and even government agencies,” comments Durben. Thanks to their ongoing media and communications campaign, MTGA not only controlled the avian influenza crisis and improved public perception of their members, they set the country up to better deal with future outbreaks. Have a story to tell? We want to hear it. Contact Angela Kisskeys at angela@associationsnorth.com or 651-647.6388.

Advancing Leaders: Fuel For Forward-Thinking Creating a process to vet new products will not only increase the odds of success but also ensures that precious resources are focused appropriately.

Innovation or evolution in your organization? How important is innovation versus evolution? Do nonprofit organizations today innovate or evolve? Successful organizations recognize that both innovation and evolution play a similar role and define it as “deliberate evolution.” Adam Legge, president and CEO of the Calgary Chamber, introduced me to the notion of deliberate evolution as it applies to his organization. “In my view, innovation is evolution,” Legge said. “They are in many ways the same thing. Evolution is adaptation and change based on our needs, environment and other forces. Innovation is perhaps a more deliberate evolution, as innovation is simply the taking of something already done or in existence and making it better.” As we look at our own organizations, can we deliberately evolve them to take something already done or in existence and make it better rather than falling into the trap of always creating something new in the name of innovation? Consider the following: Products: In order to truly be focused on our customer, the member, we should be focused on the best of our products and eliminate anything that does not contribute to member value. By deliberately evolving a core set of products, are we creating value and meeting the changing needs of our members?

Product utilization: Do we know how many members use our products? Suppose only 1 percent of the membership is using a certain product, but it provides a high level of satisfaction. If that product requires 20 percent of staff time to maintain, can those resources be dedicated somewhere else? Product decay: If your organization is creating a new product to get out of a financial rut, member decline or other issue, it is not only the wrong reason but also siphons away resources

One of Google’s philosophies is that “it’s best to do one thing really, really well.”

from good products. Organizations that deliberately evolve do it from an offensive posture and not a defensive one. Anything that distracts from the core business and could cause decay should be seriously evaluated through a product development process. Product development: In the book by Dr. Robin Karol and Beebe Nelson, “New Product Development for Dummies,” there is a staggering statistic that showed in 2006, 150,000 new products were brought to market. Fewer than 5 percent of those products became a hit, and only 15 percent had a life span of more than five years.

Product philosophy: One of Google’s philosophies is that “it’s best to do one thing really, really well.” Google also goes on to say, “through continued iteration on difficult problems, we’ve been able to solve complex issues and provide continuous improvements.”

Successful organizations recognize that both innovation and evolution play a similar role and define it as “deliberate evolution.”

Your organization’s mission, its reason for existence, is the “thing” that it should do really, really well. Keeping the number of products narrow and focused on the mission of the organization allows for continuous improvement. What is your product philosophy? Deliberate evolution helps organizations stay true to their core without a ballooning set of products, but ones that are true to its mission. Satisfaction with a nonprofit organization’s products is the key to long-term loyalty and revenue growth. Research conducted by Telefaction Data Research showed that “customers who rate you a 5 on a scale from 1 to 5 are six times more likely to buy from you again, compared to “only” giving you a score of 4.8.” Can we afford to be less than a 5 to our members? How is your organization going to deliberately evolve today?

William Pawlucy, CAE, MPA, serves as founder and CEO of Association Options, a global management consulting firm that helps nonprofit associations in strategic planning, board training, leadership alignment, management assessments and searches and special long-term projects. Bill has almost two decades of experience working with nonprofits as a chief staff executive and a consultant. Learn more at: associationoptions.com.

Advancing Engagement + Recruitment: Moving Membership

What 21st Century Membership Actually Means Given time to reflect, I am continually amazed at how important our relationships are and how often we take them for granted. The idea of “membership” was sufficient for a 20th century mindset, but the concept of “community” is really where the future is. Membership comes with so many connotations like exclusivity and boundaries. Community comes with a different sense of inclusiveness and camaraderie. We know great change is upon us. Societally speaking, we are in an age of transformation more akin to the discovery of fire or the invention of the printing press than simply an extension of “change” as our forebears understood it. We are privileged to stand at the birth of a new world. That being said, changes at this magnitude are painful. According to a study from Oxford, ‘The Future of Employment: How Susceptible Are Jobs to Computerisation,” researchers estimate 47% of the United States workforce is going to be significantly impacted by or outright replaced by automation in 10 years or less. The swath that automation cut through blue collar jobs was painful in terms of displacement, but technology at that point was earlier on the exponential curve. The destruction that will move through white collar jobs will occur at a much faster rate while at the same time we are dealing with explosive population growth, threats to our environment and rising rates of income inequality. All of our legacy institutions, built over an incredibly short period of historical time, are going to be put under tremendous strain. Associations are no different. This is not to say that associations have no value, or are in danger of being thrown on the scrap heap of history. In fact, I would argue associations have been building muscles in terms of learning and social connection that are going to become even more important. We have some heavy lifting to do over the next 20 years, and I have faith that we will rise to the occasion. However, it does require that we rethink what “membership” is supposed to mean. We have to start

asking important questions. If you are working for an association whose membership may be decimated over the next decade, you need to make a decision. Are you going to abandon those members in their time of need simply because they “no longer qualify?” Or are you going to get out in front of them, and ensure they have the education, tools and social support to help them transition to the next phase of their careers before you move to other, newer associations that will emerge as new jobs and specialties emerge?

Researchers estimate:

47%

of the United States workforce is going to be significantly impacted by or outright replaced by automation in

10 years or less.

We have to ask ourselves, what lengths will we go to ensure our members are going to survive and thrive? Future focused, ethical strategic shifts are mandatory and it starts by embracing each individual, letting them express their fears, helping them transition and making sure they feel supported. 21st century membership calls for courage, for empathy and for facing reality with clear eyes. More and more we will be called to allow ourselves to grieve with our members and to celebrate our collective wins. Are we up to the challenge? We better be. The entire planet is depending on us to get this right. Shelly Alcorn, CAE, Principal, Alcorn Associates Management Consulting. Shelly brings her own unique flair to facilitating, training and speaking for her non-profit trade and professional association clients. She focuses on critical trends and issues faced by the association community and society at large. Shelly can be contacted at (209) 304-2891 or shelly@alcornassociates.com.

HOME OF THE

2016 S A I N T PAU L W I N T E R C A R N I VA L

KING BOREAS

JIM FLAHERTY

Follow me on my yearrealonsgLXXX! adventure as King Boenting Saint It is an honor repres ...well heck across Paul across Minnesota North America! le because of my My adventure is madewiposll sib working hard to be fabulous staff. They and signage needs. fulfill all your printing Jim Flaherty - Boreas Rex

LXXX

r e as

on faceb ook at 2016 eck out the roy al family

D O W N T O W N

S A I N T

Friends of Allegra Downtown Saint Paul Minnesota, 55101

s... as Dalwoinayg it Right!

Follow Jim Flaherty and the rest of the Royal Family!

X Re x L

Wi nt er Carn ival Royal

P A U L

651-222-8004 allegrastp.com image360stp.com

Member engagement the way it should be: simple and effective. Nearly 5,000 organizations worldwide entrust YourMembership to increase their member satisfaction, grow their revenue and improve their performance. And we don’t disappoint. How do we do it? We keep it simple. Our integrated technology captures the data-driven interactions that enable you to forecast and deliver the instant value and personalization that your members expect. Start engaging and grow your association today through:

+ Careers

eLearning

Media

AMS Email Marketing Mobile Event App

Job Board Software + Sales + Marketing Career Fairs

LMS Survey + Testing Engine Course Development

Industry NewsFlash Buyer’s Guides Advertising Sales

yourmembership

yourmembership.com

Membership

Let’s take your association to the next level! connectwithus@yourmembership.com

+1.727.827.0046

Fami ly

FACEBOOK: 2016 Winter Carnival Royal Family

Advancing Meetings + Events: In The Details use as springboard for reflection and thinking. Ask attendees to commit to walking the labyrinth once a day.

Your Conference Needs More Joyful Silence Most conferences emphasize the spoken word. Usually, the aim of a conference is to provide stimulating speakers, fun entertainment, engaging networking, new business leads, great music and healthy food. The conference experience is typically geared to an extrovert, Type-A Personality. But how often do we use the power of silence and solitude in a conference experience? How frequently do we encourage contemplative thought? How common is it for the conference to provide opportunities for reflection, meditation and deeper thinking without all the background noise? Shaken And Stirred Most conference experiences try to cram as many speakers, sessions and receptions as possible into a short time frame. They start early in the morning and go into the wee hours of the night. We provide short breaks between 15 and five minutes leaving time for more important things. Sometimes we remove breaks all together. Without offering our attendees opportunities for adult white space– more time for thinking, reflection and contemplation–we overwhelm our attendees with too much. We create experiences that feel like jars of river water all shaken and stirred by the conference’s events. We need to give our attendees time to sit still long enough to allow the conference sediment to settle. So that their perspectives can become clearer.

The Power Of Silence And Solitude We need to move beyond our addiction to noise, words, people, activity, productions and performances. Silence deepens our experience in solitude. During silence, we withdraw from our reliance on words, noise and activity so that we can sit and reflect. We can actually experience joy in silence as we reflect. Solitude is a time when we can pull ourselves away from the company of others. Then we can give our full and undivided attention to the messages we’ve heard and how they may impact us. Reflection takes us beyond the words to a place of rest, openness and receptivity. It can also provide opportunity for unexpected insight. With silence, solitude and contemplation, we can rest from all the human striving and touch a deeper truth that runs underneath everything else. Then we can reengage with the conference experience in a unique way. Three Ways To Encourage Silence, Solitude And Contemplation Here are several ways you can contribute to conference contemplation:

2. Create Solitude Spaces Use some intimate and intentional spaces for silence and solitude. Most conference organizers are really good at creating spaces for extroverts and activity. Every extroverted public space should also have areas where people can retreat for silent reflection and contemplation.

Most conference experiences try to cram as many speakers, sessions and receptions as possible into a short time frame 3. Encourage The Habit Of Reflection Reflection is a necessary step in the learning process. It involves several cognitive processes including retrieving knowledge, connecting these to new experiences and visualizing or mentally rehearsing what you might do differently. Ask all speakers to build into their sessions time for audiences to engage in reflective thinking or writing. Jeff Hurt, EVP, Education & Engagement, Velvet Chainsaw Consulting. Jeff encourages meetings and events to adopt Evidence Based Education (EBE) methods based on neuroscience, cognitive psychology and biology. He has experience working with organizations to 21st century governance models. Contact Jeff at (214) 941-4330 or jhurt@velvetchainsaw.com.

1. Provide A Conference Labyrinth In an open space, create a large labyrinth for attendees to use for contemplative, silent walks. Provide a series of questions that they can

Advancing Communications: Stay Connected

Fresh, New & True: The Associations North Brand Story Nicole Prelgo, Mercury Creative Group As you may know, Midwest Society of Association Executives (MSAE) is celebrating 60 years of serving the association industry. This notable occasion served as an impetus for the organization to hit the pause button and explore the possibility of a brand refresh. The association wanted to ensure that the organization was poised for 60 more years of helping to advance associations and association professionals. To get started, the board sent a Request for Proposal (RFP) to five creative firms. Mercury Creative Group was selected to partner on this paramount endeavor. The branding experts at Mercury were joined by a task force comprised of three board members, three staff members and three general members. Additionally, MSAE President Kathy Johnson was committed and engaged throughout the process. Involvement from leadership at the highest level is vital to the success of any rebrand effort. Simply put, a rebrand is a sharpening of the focus on what your brand stands for, and for whom. Numerous strategic sessions provided the opportunity for the task force to dig deeper into the organization and explore value and relevance with questions like: Where can we grow? How can we better serve our members? What is our message? What should our brand look like? Who do we serve? A name change was never part of the rebrand plan. It was during these thought-provoking sessions that additional questions were raised regarding the name, MSAE: Does this name speak to prospective members? Do people know what we do by our name? How can we be clear, concise and meaningful?

The decision to rename was made. After much discussion and evaluation, the name Associations North was chosen. The decision was based upon the desire to have a brand that reflects who the organization is and the direction they are headed as an organization. Associations North is simple, meaningful, and adds a measure of aspiration. North is not a geographical reference, it’s about the journey forward. The name and icon together express forward motion and advancement in a clear and compelling manner. The new tagline, Moving Professionals Forward, helps further explain the overall essential value and brand story.

Those of you in attendance at the Takin’ It to the Streets Annual Meeting + Luncheon on May 18th were able to experience firsthand the unveiling of the new brand. The new brand identity was revealed during a presentation by Kathy Johnson, CAE, President, Associations North and Justin Bieganek, Creative Director at Mercury Creative Group. If the applause at the conclusion of their presentation is any indication, this brand refresh will be embraced by the forward-thinking members of Associations North.

Kathy Johnson, CAE, President of Associations North commented, “The positive response to the announcements of the new name, brand and logo is a clear indicator that members are ready and willing to innovate, change and adapt to new circumstances. It’s an exciting time for us!”

Advancing The Essentials: Invaluable Insights

It’s Not Too Early to Get Ready: New Overtime Regulations Come Into Effect December 1, 2016

Nicole Prelgo, Mercury Creative Group By Veena Iyer, Shareholder, Nilan Johnson Lewis PA In May, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) finalized significant changes to the federal overtime regulations. Currently, employers are required to pay most exempt employees a salary of at least $23,660 per year ($100,000 in compensation for “highlycompensated employees”). Under the new regulations, the salary threshold will more than double to $47,476 per year ($134,004 in compensation for “highly-compensated employees”) and will increase automatically every three years. The new rule is effective December 1, 2016. Federal Minimum Wage and Overtime Basics The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires covered employers to pay the minimum wage and overtime to employees unless they are exempt from these requirements. The new regulations affect white-collar

Initially, it’s important to assess whether the new regulations will even affect your organization. exemptions. These exemptions are applicable only to employees who are paid the minimum applicable salary and who perform the duties that qualify for the exemption. While the new regulations change the salary threshold, the duties tests

remain unchanged. Assessing the Effect of the New Regulations on Your Organization Initially, it’s important to assess whether the new regulations will even affect your organization. You should start by confirming that the FLSA applies to your organization and/ or individual employees. If it does, conduct the following analysis

1. Identify employees who are classified as exempt and are affected by the new rule, i.e. those fall under the new salary threshold. 2. Identify the subset of

employees whose salary is less than the threshhold for the applicable exemption. 3. Consider options for complying with the new rule, including: • Raising salaries to maintain the exemption. • Continuing to pay current salaries but paying overtime after 40 hours. •

Adjusting the amount of an employee’s earnings to reallocate it between regular wages and overtime.

•

Adopting lesser known payment arrangements like the fluctuating workweek method or the Belo contract.

• Reorganizing workloads, adjusting schedules, or spreading work hours. Identifying the Option that Works Best for Your Organization It can be difficult to determine which method for complying with the new regulations is best for your organization. The following analysis may be useful: 1. Assess the strength of the argument that the position meets the duties test(s) for exemption.

2. Assess the effect of various options on the budget and ripple effects on organization financially and operationally. 3. Assess the frequency of, predictability of, and ability to control overtime hours. 4. Consider the effect of reclassification on employee morale For more information regarding the changes in the overtime regulations, visit https://www.dol.gov/whd/ overtime/final2016/. Veena A. Iyer is a shareholder at Nilan Johnson Lewis PA practicing labor and employment law. She can be reached at viyer@nilanjohnson.com. This article does not constitute legal advice. Please consult with an attorney to obtain advice regarding your association’s situation. 4824-2484-1776, v. 1

St. Cloud Knows how to

MEET & EAT

Just steps from Riverâ€™s Edge Convention Center are more eateries and drinkeries than you can shake a stick at. So after that stellar meeting, leave your keys in the hotel room and take it easy in St. Cloud 800.264.2940 VISITSTCLOUD.COM

Take It Easy.

Event Production Equipment Rental Content Creation On-Site Support

A Partner I Can Trust!

Audio Visual Services 952.929.2839 www.GoAVEX.com 13

Conversations: In Focus

How will the access economy effect associations? (I.e. The UBER models of the world)

Toni J. Nuernberg CAE, CBF, CGA, President & COO Forius NACM North Central

Christopher Galler

Associations have to develop models that allow them to be accessible to their constituents immediately, 24/7 and with pricing models that make sense. Just like “UBER”, people are willing to pay a fee for the convenience and the quality of the experience. They pay “per transaction,” not for a year or some determined length of time. Unless the association in question has something that is truly non-existent elsewhere, I believe the idea that members will continue to embrace the traditional ‘dues’ model is not sustainable. Associations will continue to change and faster than ever before. We have to or we will become obsolete.

It’s a major business disrupter. Many trade associations serve the interests of small license protected business sectors. These are the industries most impacted by the access economy vendors. Technology will make numerous unimagined business models possible - threatening the livelihood of business models who frequently populate trade associations.

CEO Minnesota Association of REALTORS®

Cassie Larson CAE, Executive Director Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association

While the access economy has taken cues from traditional association offerings like networking and third-party oversight, I don’t believe it’s a replacement or a threat to the core of what we offer. Associations have the benefit of a long-term, two-way relationship that is mutually beneficial and will outlive the short term transaction/ interaction of say Uber or Airbnb. Like every major change, Associations can choose to embrace a new model or ignore it. I believe Associations should be looking for ways to embrace this new model. How can we offer, or help our members offer, the same type of quick and easy access through our associations? By embracing new models and applying them to the long-term trusted relationships already in place, it will make Associations stronger and more relevant in the future.

For more details and to register, visit: www.associationsnorth.com/calendar

Calendar Of Events: Mark It + Make It

Tuesday JULY

Developing Strategic Boards DoubleTree by Hilton Bloomington - Minneapolis South 8:00 am - 1:30 pm Organizational excellence is a commitment to be the best – a model among associations. During this interactive workshop, Bob Harris, CAE will share the smart practices that can help your association achieve excellence. You are encouraged to bring your staff and volunteer leader(s).

21/22

Thursday & Friday JULY

Headshots Day Twin Cities & Fargo-Moorhead 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Attention Members! Sign up for July’s Member Appreciation Event to get a complimentary headshot that will make your portfolio shine! Two options: Twin Cities on 7.21 or FargoMoorhead on 7.22. Register online, space is limited.

Thursday AUGUST

60th Celebration Aria Minneapolis 6:30 pm – 11:30 pm Let’s celebration Associations North members (past and present) and toast to community, conversation and camaraderie. Register by June 30 for a chance to win two Delta airline tickets!

Upcoming Events June

July

Webinar: Grow Your Association Like a

Billion Dollar Brand

Communications Networking Group

Meeting Management Networking Group

Developing Strategic Boards

Webinar: So You Want to Be A CEO

21/22 Member Appreciation Event: Headshots Day

Webinar: Change Management for the 21st Century

Financial & Accounting Networking Group

August

September

60th Celebration

Meeting Management Networking Group

Membership Networking Group

Allied Networking Group

CEO Networking Group

Member Appreciation Event: Education Day

Young Professionals Networking Group

Lobbying & Government Relations

Brain Power

Take your Meetings & Events LIVE! Josh Dye, Convene, LLC & HousingLink Are you tired of members bailing on boring committee meetings and task force gatherings? Would you like to show the excitement of your conferences and premier events? If so, it is time to go live! Multiple apps have recently come on the scene that makes live video streaming of meetings and events easier, and more affordable, than ever. Let’s take a quick look at three of them.

Facebook Live

Zuckerberg and company are changing the game again. Grab your phone and go to Facebook. Now click on the area where you post a status update. There is now the option to “Go Live.” Start recording from your mobile phone and your followers can see the action in real time! The videos are saved to your timeline. Try this at your next event and make people jealous they aren’t there in person!

Periscope

Periscope, owned by Twitter, is a smart phone app that makes live streaming a breeze. You can make your video available to the public, or host a private event that is invite only. Save your members the mileage, and give Periscope a try for your next committee meeting.

Livestream

Of the three streaming services in this article, Livestream has the most features. There is a free version and paid options. The paid options are for those who want higher quality production. If you have some money in the budget, take a look at Livestream. Get on board with live streaming your events. It will entice members to attend, or give them more options for participating than ever before.

Lakeshore Room

Cabin 690 Reunion House • Refurbished Meeting Rooms

Paul Bunyan Room

Lodge Room

new carpeting, drapes and linens

• Oaks Reunion House & Cabin 690 remodeled to accommodate smaller retreats & team meetings

resort on gull lake • brainerd, mn

1-800-272-4867 craguns.com

• Lodge Rooms

refurbished with new paint, carpet, mattresses, linens and baths

Call 1-800-272-4867 today for your personal tour of our upgrades! 16

IT’S

CONNECT TIME Sometimes business has to be taken care of, and sometimes it has to be in person. With 50,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, state-of-the-art a/v equipment, 500 hotel rooms and award winning catering, Treasure Island is the perfect place to stay connected with your clients, partners and vendors. Let’s get down to business together.

TIcasino.com | 1-80 0 -2 2 2-707 7

Signature Event

June 21 31st Annual Golf Classic Tuesday, June 21, 2016 Prestwick Golf Club 8:30 am Shotgun Start It’s not about being a great golfer, it’s about playing a great course and making great connections!

1. Prestwick Golf Club, Woodbury. 2. Mingle with your peers and call it work. 3. More fun than a NASCAR event! 4. Catch up on latest fashion trends! 5. A flying Viking… only at an Associations North golf tournament.

The North Experience: Annual Meeting and Expo

Fresh, New & True! The 60th Annual Meeting and Expo brought together more than 400 attendees and exhibitors to connect, share best practices, learn from seasoned pros and find experiences around every corner. Conference goers got a big surprise at lunch â€“ MSAE is now Associations North!

To see more photos, visit the Associations North Flickr pa ge: www.flickr.c om/photos/ associations live