December 2016 by Associations North

FOCUS

December 2016

NORTH

LAMBS AND PIGLETS

A LEARNING EXPERIENCE pg5

Why Your Association Culture Matters pg 8

Effective Executive Director Evaluations Advance the Whole Organization pg 12

How the MN Veterinary Medical Association shares its membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; stories at the Minnesota State Fair. Published by

www.associationsnorth.com

Focus North is published 10 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 further advertising information.

Staff

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

CONTENTS December 2016

Mission

FEATURES

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

and Piglets Leaders: 5 Lambs 7 Advancing - a Learning Fuel For Forward-

Vision

Experience

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

Thinking

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.

Advancing Engagement + Recruitment: Moving Membership

19 The North Experience 20 Et Cetera

Bridging the Education to Employment Gap

21 Spotlight

The Art of Tactful SelfPromotion

Effective Executive Director Evaluations Advance the Whole Organization

What song is stuck in your head?

Jenny Prosser (Past -Chair) Vice President of Conferences and Sales LeadingAge Minnesota

Seasons of Love from the Rent soundtrack.

18 Signature Event

Invaluable Insights

Kathy Johnson, CAE (President) President Associations North

Cassie Larson, CAE (Secretary/Treasurer) Executive Director MN Nursery & Landscape Association

16 Brain Power Advancing Meetings + Events: In The Details

Stay Connected

Ann Kvaal, CAE (Chair) Owner AK Communications

Dave Radziej, CAE (Chair-Elect) President Printing Industry Midwest

The Association Life

Advancing 11 Advancing Communications: 12 The Essentials:

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.

Stay Humble by Tim McGraw.

Moving Forward Together

15 Calendar of Events

Why Your Association Culture Matters

For advertising information, call 651.647.6388.

14 Conversations

Thank You Kathy!

How MVMA shares its membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; stories

Diversity & Inclusion

Board of Directors

DEPARTMENTS

Love Me Tender a remix by Elvis Presley and Barbara Streisand. Pure vocals. Amazing!

Carmelo Cinqueonce, MBA Executive Director MN Dental Association

John Francis President The Harrington Company

Tara Owens Member Engagement Director MN Academy of Family Physicians

Red Corvette. #RIPPrince

Cody Nuernberg Executive Director Northwestern Lumber Association

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

Mark Salter, CAE, ABC Executive Director CFA Society Minnesota

Robbie Thompson Executive Director Professional Liability Underwriting Society

Fire Away by Chris Stapleton.

I have 10 songs stuck in my head. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m in mens chorale and they are all running through my head.

Moving Forward Together: Associations North Partners

Featured Sponsor: Visit Mankato Why I partner with Associations Northâ&#x20AC;Ś Being a member in Associations North has provided me the opportunity to meet experienced event professionals that I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ordinarily connect with. The events hosted are invaluable for my professional and personal growth. Because of Associations North, I have a passion in making a difference in travel & tourism!

What is your most memorable moment helping an Associations North member and why is it special to you? My first Associations North event was last year at the Leadership Conference. I had made several close connections and educational nuggets in a such a short amount of time. Associations North makes member engagement very simple, effective and fun!

Danielle Duffey

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The Association Life

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

Insurance Marketing & Communications Association

MN Interactive Marketing Association Our mission is to inspire + connect the digital

IMCA is an international organization of insurance

community of Minnesota, and beyond. The oldest

communications professionals who specialize in

digital marketing association in the U.S., MIMA

marketing, corporate communications, advertising,

leads the way.

sales promotion, content marketing and public relations.

MN Chapter of the American Marketing Association Works to create indispensable opportunities to get involved in our marketing community. They achieve this by supporting the most critical member benefits and add indisputable value to membership by producing must-attend programs, activities and events.

MN Petroleum Marketers Association The Association was formed in 1923 to provide services to the petroleum marketer, to help them at all levels of government, and to support fellow marketers. The Association has four main emphases education, regulatory analysis and programs to help with compliance, legislative and regulatory monitoring, and services for the members.

Society for Marketing Professional Services - Twin Cities Chapter The Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) is a national association directed toward marketing in the architecture, engineering and construction industry.

Lambs and Piglets A Learning Experience How the MN Veterinary Medical Association shares its membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; stories at the Minnesota State Fair.

Perhaps you have counted cows on a long road trip, or you have spent a week visiting a family farm. But, have you ever noticed just how important agriculture is to Minnesotaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population and economy?

Enter the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA). MVMA’s primary mission is “Promoting professional excellence in veterinary medicine, advancing animal well-being, and protecting public health.” Accomplishing this mission requires the MVMA develop and educate the industry’s leaders and professionals. Beyond these methods, the MVMA takes to education to accomplish its mission. On one hand, MVMA provides copious continuing education to its members through webinars, lunch and learns, events, and an annual meeting. The association also educates members and legislators by fostering a strong relationship between the two. Visits coordinated by lobbyists provide legislators the opportunity to visit veterinarians and better understand the important work that veterinarians do as a local business in the community and the valuable care they provide to animals. Often legislators will contact their local veterinarian constituents when they are faced with legislation involving animals and animal care issues because they view veterinarians as experts concerning these issues. On the other hand, MVMA aims to educate everybody who is not a member - the general public of Minnesota. Why bother teaching you and me about veterinary medicine? Dan Tjornehoj, Executive Director, explains, “There is a greater and greater disconnect between the public and farm life.” Compared to Minnesota 50 years ago, agriculture and farm animal health are not high on general public awareness. Despite decreasing awareness, agriculture continues to play an important role in the lives of Minnesotans, which is why MVMA wants to teach us about their members.

The Miracle of Birth Center educates the public on the vital role that animal agriculture and veterinary medicine plays in the state of Minnesota.” Perhaps the most well-known awareness marketing campaign hosted by MVMA is the CHS Miracle Of Birth Center at the Minnesota State Fair. MVMA helps to organize and staff the event, which is no small task. Because the veterinarians cannot control or predict when an animal will give birth, the birth center must be staffed at all times, even in the hours after the public goes home. The exhibit is staffed by volunteer veterinarians from the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association, veterinary

students from the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the University of Minnesota, and members of the National FFA organization. Rated one of the top exhibits at the fair each year, the Miracle Of Birth Center attracts folks young and old, all craning their necks for a peek at tiny piglets or downy chicks. Tjornehoj says of the successful exhibit, “This display...educates the public on the vital role that animal agriculture and veterinary medicine plays in the state of Minnesota. With live births and newborn farm animals, including cows, pigs, chicks, sheep and ducks, the display highlights the importance of animals to our economy, health, and quality of life.” In addition to the Miracle Of Birth Center, MVMA also hosts the Pet Center, where fairgoers can watch live spay and neuter operations in the Surgery Suite. 2016 marked the 25th anniversary of the Surgery Suite at the State Fair. Tjornehoj says of the exhibits, “Our vets feel it’s important to tell the story of how farm animals continue to be important to our economy and to life in Minnesota, as well as to talk about the process of animal birth and the role of veterinarians in maintaining good animal health throughout that process. It really is a neat animal story.” While the Miracle Of Birth Center and Pet Center impact everyday Minnesotans, the exhibits also have an impact on the veterinarians who volunteer there. Answering questions from curious fairgoers and spending time sharing the work they care so much about both offer a unique experience. And, it is easy to say, spending your day with tiny calves and piglets can put anybody in a good mood. Have a story to tell? Help Associations North inspire others. Associations make the difference everyday! Email angela@associationsnorth.com.

Advancing Leaders: Fuel For Forward-Thinking Please feel free to contact the Associations North Executive Committee with any questions:

Thank You Kathy!

Ann Kvaal, CAE Owner, AK Communications Associations North, Chair Cassie Larson, CAE Executive Director, MNLA Associations North, Sec/Treas

After 28 + years serving as the President and CEO of MSAE/ Associations North, Kathy Johnson, CAE has announced that she will be retiring in mid 2017.

Kathy’s announcement was made at the Leadership Conference, and an email was sent to all members following the conclusion of the conference.

The time is right. MSAE, now Associations North, is in good shape:

The Associations North board has met with Kathy and is working to implement the succession planning process.

• Strong, committed staff • Stable membership • Excellent board members • Strong financially Associations North will continue to provide resources, services and professional development that help associations thrive. The new name and rebrand have been an important step in our organization and will continue to bring progress and ultimately, help advance our members.

For the next 6 – 9 months the search committee will be working to keep membership informed with regular updates. Kathy and the board remain committed to the long-term success of the organization and will do all they can to make sure that there is an efficient and effective transition, as outlined in our succession planning documents.

Kathy and the board remain committed to the long-term success of the organization.

We want to assure the members, our partners, and of course our own organizations that the Associations North Search Committee and Board will be diligent in our work to ensure leadership stability, provide leadership for the future and plan for the ongoing success and relevance of Associations North.

Associations North has a vision for the future and a commitment to explore new thinking and innovations that will help us to move professionals forward.

Our mission remains the same: To advance and serve the association management profession in Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota. And we will continue to dedicate the organization to moving professionals forward.

Associations North has gone from 80 members in 1988 and one part-time staff person to over 1,200 members and a staff of four in 2016.

Dave Radziej, CAE President, Printing Industry Midwest Associations North, Chair Elect Jenny Prosser VP of Conferences & Sales, LeadingAge MN Associations North, Past Chair Additional Search Committee Members: Donnie Brown, Membership Director Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS® Anna Tanski President/CEO Visit Duluth

Associations North has a vision for the future to advance and move professionals forward. Kathy stated, “It has truly been an honor to be able to spend the majority of my career working for an organization that is dedicated to helping other associations, enriching lives, keeping us competitive, making an impact in our futures and fueling the economy.” Thank you to all Associations North members for the support, enthusiasm, friendships, advice, leadership and all the memories. I will be forever grateful.

Advancing Engagement + Recruitment: Moving Membership

Why Your Association Culture Matters In 1996, two students at Stanford University conducted a research project that would eventually grow into a business earning $50 billion in revenues and attracting one million job applicants each year. From its inception, Google became renowned for having a workplace culture that was truly revolutionary. The free cafes, funky offices, and games are among Google’s trademarks, but according to the Senior Vice President of People Operations, the perks aren’t the reason for Google’s success.

fully appreciate and understand your association is in the service business and that the culture they create for your members plays a critical role in your association’s ability to succeed.

Without culture, your association is just another group of people paying admission to get together.

Rather, it’s the fact that Google was built on the knowledge that people want meaningful work, knowledge of what’s happening in their environment, and the opportunity to shape that environment. In other words, Google understood what motivated employees, and created a company to deliver those experiences.

• Focus - If your team is consciously and unconsciously focusing on decline, you’ll probably just get more decline. Instead, focus on what you want to change. Start by writing down what wont’s, don’t s, and cant’s are holding you back. Next, write down what you want to achieve.

Does your association know what members want -and is it dedicated entirely to creating it? Associations tend to make decisions based on membership trend reports, surveys that ask members what time of day they prefer to attend events, and historical perceptions of how the association should be performing. All of this is creating incomplete, flawed assumptions about what’s really driving membership, which is the membership experience itself.

• Start at the Top - Millennials (1981-1995) are the most protected and supervised generation in history. Helicopter Parenting forged a unique relationship between parents and their children, which has influenced this generation’s views of leaders and relationships in the workplace. As a result, creating an exceptional membership for Millennials begins with exceptional leadership. Not the hierarchical kind, but the ‘I want to know you better and create something really inspirational together’ kind.

The experience – also known as culture – makes a significant difference in how effective an association is at recruiting and retaining members and generating revenue. Culture is evident in every interaction with your members. It’s how members feel when they talk to your staff on the phone, visit your website, attend an event, and meet your board of directors. The association could be doing amazing projects or providing unique services, but if members don’t feel good about the membership experience, they won’t engage.

Associations were built on the premise of community and belonging, yet in recent years many have lost sight of that purpose. Culture is what we need to hold fast to because it matters to everyone. After all, without culture Google would just be another technology company. And without culture, your association is just another group of people paying admission to get together. Without culture, there’s no value, no competitive advantage, and certainly no reason to show up.

What can an association do to improve culture? • Inspire Excellence - Ask yourself whether your team exemplifies the association’s purpose of putting members first. The people who interact with your members must

Sarah Sladek, CEO, XZY University and member of Associations North. XYZ University provides keynotes and workshops, strategic planning, books, and events to educate and equip association leaders with the tools needed to grow membership and engagement among Generations X, Y, and Z. Sarah Sladek is represented by Elan Speakers Agency. For more information contact devie@elanspeakersagency.com.

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Advancing Meetings + Events: In The Details

Bridging the Education to Employment Gap A crisis is brewing in the global education-to-employment system. Higher education is experiencing massive disruption. Americans currently hold over $1.23 trillion dollars (and growing) in student debt, nearly the same amount as total mortgage debt just prior to the housing market crash of 20072008. Public funding for education is decreasing at both the K-12 and post-secondary levels. Students and educators disagree about what a college education is supposed to accomplish, the value of a four-year degree, and whether or not college is properly preparing young people for the workforce. At the same time, one-third of employers report struggling to find qualified workers. The Georgetown University Center for Education and the Workforce estimates that, by 2020, over 20 million jobs in the US will be unfilled because Americans lack the necessary preparation. Employers report a substantial skills gap, particularly among new hires, whether they are recent graduates or workers who are retraining for new careers.

Americans currently hold over $1.23 trillion dollars (and growing) in student debt.

While there is nearly universal agreement on what those vital skills are - critical thinking, problem solving, oral and written communications, teamwork, ethical conduct, decisionmaking, the ability to apply knowledge – employers and recent graduates disagree sharply on how well-prepared new hires are to exercise those skills in real workplace situations. In short, there is a significant and growing gap between education and employment. In our recently released whitepaper, The Association Role in the New Education Paradigm, Shelly Alcorn (Alcorn Associates Management Consulting) and I reviewed the substantial body of research on the changes occurring in both education and employment and argue that associations are uniquely suited to bridging that growing education-toemployment gap. There is a symbiotic relationship between education (acquisition of knowledge and skills), employment (meaningful, productive, economicallyrewarded activity) and living a “good life” (conducting an ethical, spiritually rewarding existence as both an individual and as a member of a larger community). Our research demonstrates that, while the current educational system may have been sufficient to prepare people for life in the 19th and 20th centuries, it is not adequate to provide the 21st century skills, like those mentioned above, that are necessary to be

an educated citizen employed in meaningful work and engaged in the life of one’s community. We believe that associations hold many of the keys to unlocking both workforce skills and human potential, such as: • Direct connection to and relationship with employers in our relative sectors • Experience with certification and credentialing • Speed and flexibility, at least in comparison to hidebound higher education • Experience with non-traditional students and educational settings

By 2020, over 20 million jobs in the US will be unfilled because Americans lack the necessary preparation. The whitepaper features sidebars by Tracy Petrillo on competency-based education and Polly Siobahn Karpowicz on recent ASAE Foundation-funded, ASAE Research Committee-sponsored initiatives in this area, and case studies of four associations doing innovative work preparing their stakeholders for the future of employment. Download your free copy of The Association Role in the New Education Paradigm at bit.ly/29CIquL. This article is the first in a series of three and will be followed by a deeper look at the disruptive forces impacting both education and employment and a review of the role we believe associations can play addressing this major global socioeconomic problem. By Elizabeth Weaver Engel, MA, CAE, CEO & Chief Strategist, Spark Consulting

Advancing Communications: Stay Connected

The Art of Tactful Self-Promotion Richard Dodson & Nancy Burke

Imagine you’re walking down the hall at work and you run into your boss (or an association member), who asks, ”How’s it going?” This is a moment of opportunity for practicing the art of tactful self-promotion. Yet most of us unwittingly pass it up, and it can affect our careers in negative ways. Here’s a true story that happened to Richard, one of the authors of Power Your Career: The Art of Tactful SelfPromotion at Work. Some years ago, he and a colleague, Laura, were designing a career program. When they ran into their boss, Tim, in the hall and he asked how it was going, Laura responded with enthusiasm, “I’m doing great! I just finished the design for the new Interview Skills seminar that I’ll pilot on Friday—it’s pretty fun and I think it’s going to help our clients get jobs faster!” Tim replied, “Sounds great—let me know how it goes!” Tim then turned to Richard, asking “and how are you?” to which Richard replied, ”Fine.” As Richard shares this story, Laura later jabbed him in the ribs and said, “What are you thinking! You’re doing all this great work – how do you expect him to know it if you don’t tell him?”

If we don’t promote ourselves, no one else will. And that’s the dilemma most employees and associations face. They’re doing great work, but don’t know how to make sure their value gets seen by decision-makers. In the example above, Laura was tactful; and after that conversation, her boss knew what she was doing and what value she was adding. And what does he know of Richard? That he’s just fine: Richard missed an opportunity to enhance his value.

The idea of self-promotion strikes many people negatively -however, if we don’t promote ourselves, no one else will. As we’ve analyzed how to help people increase their visibility, and we believe there are three major strategies that are necessary: Positioning Yourself. After ensuring you’re doing a great job, you need to know how you want to be seen and then develop a value proposition (a “brand,”) that is easy to share, one that others will remember and be able to pass on. You need to become comfortable sharing what you’re working on and what difference you’re making to your association. Cultivating Strategic Relationships. No matter how brilliant you are, or how good a job you do, or how compelling your value proposition, your career will not take off if other people don’t know it. Cultivating authentic, lasting relationships is key to career success. It’s at the heart of tactful self-promotion and it starts with the right strategy – who are the people who should be in your network? Successful people develop and maintain a “triple-A” network: acquaintances, allies and advocates. There are specific approaches to create new acquaintances and others to move acquaintances into the ally camp, and then, to build and nurture your all-important asset, your advocates. Increasing Constructive Visibility. In today’s world, your reputation must move beyond those you personally know or meet on a regular basis – you need to broadcast your brand more broadly. In addition to leveraging meetings and conferences, and “working a room,” it’s essential to build your brand online, exposing you to a much larger professional community. Adopting the mindset and habits of a tactful self-promoter, is really very simple – it will increase our visibility, unlock opportunities, and ultimately lead to recognition and rewards for the hard work you do. Richard Dodson and Nancy Burke are career consultants who live and work in the Twin Cities. You can learn more by visiting their website, www.TactfulSelfPromotion.com. This is a three part article series. Watch for specific actions to take and how to develop tactful self-promotion when you’re the leader.

Advancing The Essentials: Invaluable Insights

Effective Executive Director Evaluations Advance the Whole Organization While board members understand the importance of Executive Director performance in achieving their organizations’ mission – and want to support that performance, many boards do not have the capacity needed to conduct a comprehensive Executive Director (ED)evaluation. In our experience serving on, and working with, many boards of directors we’ve encountered a lot of frustration about the multiple factors that can hinder or even derail conducting a productive performance evaluation; these include unfamiliarity with the day-to-day tasks and execution of the organization’s director, lack of performance evaluation experience or training, or difficult relationships between the parties involved. Here are the top 5 reasons to use a comprehensive ED evaluation: 1. Often those conducting the Executive Evaluation have little training or prior experience with the process. Many have limited time or limited exposure to the Director which can bias the review or create an awkward process. 2. A step by step evaluation approach will clearly define roles for the process and help in planning and timing. 3. Creating a comprehensive evaluation can be a safeguard for future board member changes or bringing new ED’s on board. Having clear systems allow for smoother, more informed succession practices.

4. Executive Director performance is directly connected to organizational performance. Richer data for planning purposes will come from a more robust process. 5. Time is money and sometimes stress. The more developed the process that more efficiently it will be executed. The following brief case study represents the results from implementing a comprehensive Executive Director evaluation. The Situation: The Board of a community co-op was looking for help to conduct their leadership performance evaluation. The Board served as the General Manager’s (GM’s) boss but, given the makeup of the board, they collectively held little knowledge of conducting executive performance reviews. There was no prior, comprehensive process in place and limited understanding of the GM’s role and responsibilities. On the flip side, the GM felt that the evaluation was conducted in an arbitrary manner and her pay was determined without true consideration of her context and value. The participatory EDPE process we provided involved conducting a 360 review with board members, direct reports, and other representatives. Insights were gathered via a survey and interviews with stakeholders. The report detailed findings with regard to the GM’s achievement of goals, leadership, and adherence to job description duties.

Having a guided process with impartial and unbiased parties gave the young board support to hold an effective performance conversation with the GM and instilled a thoughtful process that can be used for future performance evaluation. The GM appreciated the opportunity to have her strengths “heard.” Additionally, to allow for continued growth as a unified organization, recommendations for strengthening the Board and its connection to the GM were part of the final reporting process.

Many boards do not have the capacity needed to conduct a comprehensive evaluation. Any organization contemplating an executive performance evaluation needs to avoid the pitfalls of an arbitrary and piecemeal process. It is of highest importance to keep the focus on being data-driven and respectful. The entire organization will win when the process and results are tied to productive dialogues in which those who have a stake in leadership’s performance also have a voice. By Karen DeYoung and Lisa Negstad, DeYoung

Consulting Services and Negstad Consulting. To learn more, visit: www.deyoungconsultingservices.com or www.negstadconsulting.com/

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Conversations: In Focus

Different view points. Different solutions.

What is One Characteristic That You Believe Every Leader Should Possess?

I believe the characteristic every leader should possess is trust. Work with great people, prepare them to succeed, and trust them to do great work. Josh Dye Marketing & Outreach Coordinator HousingLink & Convene, LLC

Amanda Friedrich, CMP National Account Executive Visit Saint Paul

Matt Anfang

Commitment. I believe if you expect your team to work hard and produce quality work, you have to lead by example. Commitment to the organization/mission, commitment to your job and commitment to your staff is so important. There is no greater motivator than seeing your boss or leader down in the trenches working alongside you. To your staff, this shows you are not afraid to do the hard work regardless of your title. When a leader shows their commitment to the staff, the mission and/or even a project- I believe you not only earn the respect of the team, but will also drive that same hardworking energy to the staff. Being committed to your staff is just as equally important as the organization/mission. Leaders have to keep their word and promises. Being committed to your people drives them to not only work hard but want to stay under your leadership. It shows you care about them and what they produce for your organization.

I believe one leadership quality a leader should possess is compassion. We ask a lot of our members and employees and for the most part they deliver without fail. There are times though that we must set aside the high demands we have of each other to keep priorities in perspective.

Executive Director MN Commercial Association of Real Estate

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

Calendar Of Events: Mark It + Make It

Tuesday

DECEMBER

Featured Webinar: Building Bridges: Forging Productive Professional Relationships Interpersonal dynamics, and communication are key in achieving long-term career success and satisfaction. In fact, these so-called â&#x20AC;&#x153;soft skillsâ&#x20AC;? are often an even bigger career factor than technical ability and experience.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY

Strategies to Improve Member Recruitment & Retention Location TBD 8:00 am - 3:00 pm Learn how to effectively communicate the value of membership, new approaches to developing tiered membership models, and how to develop a retention plan that gets results.

2017 IS GOING TO BE

GREAT!

Watch for details on upcoming webinars, conferences, symposiums and special events.

Upcoming Events December

January

Webinar: Making Your Message Memorable: Video

Storytelling as a Strategy

Meeting Management Networking Group

Financial & Accounting Networking Group

Strategies to Improve Member Recruitment & Retention

Communications Networking Group

Allied Networking Group

Webinar: Building Bridges: Forging Productive Professional

Relationships

February

Young Professionals Networking Group

Associations North Board Meeting

CEO Networking Group

Membership Networking Group

Webinar: First Year Member Retention

Allied Networking Group

Legal & Financial Hot Topics

Marketing & Sales Symposium

March

Brain Power

Protect Your Organization from Cyber Threats Tyler Olson, SMCpros & Elan Speakers Agency Fortunately (and unfortunately), we live in a time period with an incredible acceleration of the complexity and power of technology. As we all know, technology can be wonderful and make our lives more enjoyable, convenient, and connected. It also provides new threats that are important to be aware of and protect against. Cyber threats are real and criminals are winning today’s cyber war. Some of America’s largest organizations have been hacked (Target, Sony, Home Depot, and many others including our own NSA), and many organizations have been hacked and don’t even know it. Fortunately, the vast majority of cyber threats can be prevented by good online behavior. Investing a little bit of time, training your co-workers, family, and friends can go a long ways. Explaining the real threat of clicking on links in e-mails, texts,

messaging, and advertisements reduces your chances of being exposed greatly. Additionally, using tools such as LastPass to more easily have complex and unique passwords on every single online account you have can reduce your chances of having your entire online identity or organization exposed. Keeping your antivirus software up-to-date and consistently doing windows and mobile security updates are key. People who do these 3 simple human behavior modifications reduce their risk of cyber attack immensely. If you believe you may have been hacked, it’s critical that you take a few steps immediately. First, it’s important to talk to your IT person to cut your losses and and close your security holes. Second, you’ll want to talk with your lawyer because most of the time, a breach of data legally requires an announcement to those affected. Third, you’ll want to talk to your PR team to figure out the best way to communicate to your stakeholders, members, employees, and the public about what happened, what you did to stop it, and what you’re doing to prevent it from happening in the future. Being hacked can be an emotional and scary experience, so don’t forget that there are plenty of people out there who can help you manage the issue and correct it.

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

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

Interested in organizing effective meetings?

Arranging Meetings 101: Tips, Tricks, and Tactics for Planning a Successful Meeting

Free U of M Forum December 16, 8:30−11 a.m.

Enhance Your Knowledge of Coordinating Meetings

Coordinating the moving pieces of arranging a meeting is more than just getting people around the conference table for a cup of coffee! It requires project management skills and a hospitality attitude. Your reputation and the successful outcomes of a meeting are dependent on the logistical skills of arranging a meeting at the right place, with the correct setup, for the right environment for learning and communicating.

Cynthia Vannucci

PhD, CMP, CHME, and CHSP

You’ll learn to: • Recognize proper meeting room set ups for the best type of communication exchange • Identify various types of programs and meetings so that you speak the language of a planner • Conduct successful site visits • Learn negotiating tactics to plan your event

Continuing Education and Conference Center

The North Experience: Leadership Conference

Over 100 members, thought leaders and industry experts met at Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center for this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Leadership Conference. Highlights included keynote speaker Mary Byers, belly laughs from Tommy Ryman, Outstanding Volunteer Award Winners and Minute to Win It Games!

SAVE THE DATE

Leadership Conference | October 8 - 10, 2017 D u lu t h , M N

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