June 2017

FOCUS

June 2017

NORTH

Disney Inspired Conference Experiences pg 10

People Gotta Talk How Today’s Leader Needs to Facilitate More Dialog

A NEW GENERATION OF LEADERS pg 5

Meet Associations North New Co-Directors Sarah Ruzek & Angela Kisskeys.

pg 11

Published by

www.associationsnorth.com

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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 Angela Kisskeys, Co-Director VP of Operations & Communications Sarah Ruzek, Co-Director VP of Finance & Education

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CONTENTS June 2017

Chris Villeneuve Membership & Office Manager

FEATURES

Mission

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

Generation Leaders: 5 AofNew 7 Advancing Leaders Fuel For Forward-

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

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.

Thinking

Meet Associations North New Co-Directors Sarah Ruzek & Angela Kisskeys

Vision

Diversity & Inclusion

DEPARTMENTS 3

Moving Forward Together

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The Association Life

14 Conversations

A Fine Farewell

15 Calendar of Events 16 Brain Power

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Advancing Engagement + Recruitment: Moving Membership

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Advancing Meetings + Events: In The Details Disney Inspired Conference Experiences

What is Direct Payment and How Can it Work for Your Association?

18 Signature Event 19 The North Experience 20 Et Cetera 21 Spotlight

Advancing 11 Advancing Communications: 12 The Essentials: Stay Connected

Invaluable Insights

People Gotta Talk - How Today’s Leader Needs to Facilitate More Dialog

Key Terms in Association Finance

Board of Directors What is one of the things on your bucket list?

Visit Greece Cassie Larson, CAE (Chair) MN Nursery & Landscape Association

Ann Kvaal, CAE (Past-Chair) AK Communications

Scuba diving in Indonesia

Sarah Ruzek Associations North

Justin Bieganek Mercury Creative Group

Rent a house in the Hamptons

REI biking trip in Vietnam

Bora Bora Overwater Bungalow

Amanda Friedrich, CMP Visit Saint Paul

Dave Radziej, CAE Printing Industry Midwest

Skydive

Swim with a great white shark in Australia

Cody Nuernberg Northwestern Lumber Association

Travel. All over. Lots of places

Dave Renner, CAE Minnesota Medical Association

Austraila & New Zealand

Donnie Brown Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORSÂŽ

Mark Salter, CAE, ABC (Chair-Elect) CFA Society Minnesota Tara Owens (Secretary/Treasurer) MN Academy of Family Physicians

Angela Kisskeys Associations North

Attend the Masters, inside the ropes

David Siegel, CAE, IOM Builders Association of the Twin Cities Robbie Thompson Professional Liability Underwriting Society

More travel

Own a coffee shop

Go to Australia

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Moving Forward Together: Associations North Partners

Featured Sponsor:

RiverSouth

Why we are a NEW partner with Associations North…

It’s good to be back as a member -- in a prior role, I was actively involved in MSAE/Associations North. It’s a great way to collaborate and network with associations and industry representatives. And, I’m excited to promote the new RiverSouth brand that features some of Minnesota’s biggest entertainment attractions and venues.

Memorable moment with Associations North...

The recent Associations North Annual Meeting & Expo at US Bank Stadium was memorable and a great success. Looking forward to more great times ahead.

RiverSouth Executive Director Bill Von Bank and his ambassadors Charlie Brown and Snoopy”

PREMIER PARTNERS

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS 3

Global Experience Specialists | Fargo-Moorhead CVB | Visit Duluth | Visit Saint Paul

The Association Life

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

Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association (MLBA) Since 1952, the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association (MLBA) has been helping licensed beverage retailers in the state of Minnesota with information resources, educational programs and government affairs services designed to promote and protect their business. All our member retailers understand that: “With MLBA, You’re not alone!”

Minnesota Beer Wholesalers Association (MBWA) MBWA’s mission is promotion of the general welfare of the independent distribution segment of the malt

MN Municipal Beverage Association (MMBA) In existence since 1934, the Minnesota

beverage industry in the state of minnesota and the interests of the public relative to the industry.

Municipal Beverage Association (MMBA) is a statewide association of municipally owned and operated on-sale and offsale alcohol beverage facilities. MMBA’s primary purpose is to help members operate their facilities more efficiently and economically through education and consultation.

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A New Generation of Leaders Associations North Looks to a Bright Future with new Co-Directors.

After 29 years under the guiding hand of retiring President Kathy Johnson, members of Associations North may have noticed two fresh faces at the head of the organization. Sarah Ruzek and Angela Kisskeys have taken on new roles as Co-Directors, and they offer innovative ideas, and a proven track record to help Associations North stay relevant and offer valuable products and services to its members.

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Pictured (L to R): Angela Kisskeys & Sarah Ruzek

“It is exciting because there are two of us!” Sarah said with a laugh. “We will honor the past and innovate for future growth.” Angela added, “We’re ready to help move association professionals forward. Our goal is to be the go-to resource for our members.”

2017 Annual Meeting & Expo Introduction of Co-Directors.

While both will hold the title of Co-Director, Sarah will also be the Vice President of Finance & Education, and Angela will be the Vice President of Operations & Communications.

The co-director leadership model, while new to Associations North, is not a novel concept. Drawing on the success experienced by other organizations that have adopted the co-director model, Sarah and Angela will work collaboratively on strategic initiatives and partnerships, organizational direction, board and governance and membership outreach. They’ll also maintain their own areas of responsibilities. For Sarah, that means overseeing the financial, legal, and education departments; while Angela will direct operations, human resources, and communications.

Along with the board of directors, Sarah and Angela’s top priority is to build on the current strategic plan to help guide future work. They have big ideas for creating innovative programs and services and engaging members and advancing the industry. Their changes to the organization have already begun with the launch of an engaging new website.

“We are honored to have been selected to lead Associations North as Co-Directors. We are excited for our new roles and to continue advancing the association profession.”

“We’re enthusiastic, passionate, and forward-thinking,” Angela said. “I have a knack for strategy and looking at the big picture, and I’m eager to bring these skills to the co-director role.”

“We’re a new generation of leaders,” Sarah explained. “I enjoy creating opportunities and experiences for members to make connections, advance their associations and grow professionally.”

Sarah and Angela have each been with Associations North for nearly a decade. During that time, they have been responsible for a number of achievements, such

as growing sponsorships, developing partnerships, and efficiently stewarding the organization’s budget. They have also helped implement a total rebranding of the organization’s identity, from the Midwest Society of Association Executives to Associations North.

As they look to the future, Sarah and Angela see a growing role for Associations North in Minnesota’s business environment. They would like to strengthen the awareness of associations and the impact they have throughout the region. They are also looking to create new partnerships with groups, such as colleges and universities, to educate members of the future about why associations are essential and valuable to their careers and future.

“It’s a top priority to keep Associations North relevant to our members by listening to their needs, matching trends, and providing the tools and resources they need to make their own organizations thrive and grow,” Angela said.

“We need to change and adjust our models and behaviors to address our competition,” Sarah added. “We’ll continue to create cutting-edge programs and be engaged in both the local and national scenes to bring back useful ideas we can use.”

For both of the new Co-Directors, the thing they look forward to most is continuing to build on the sense of camaraderie fostered by Associations North, building on strategic initiatives, and leading the organization.

Outside of the office, family is very important to Sarah and Angela. Inbetween chasing young children and indulging in their guilty pleasure - Caribou Coffee, Sarah is a yogi at heart and a regular volunteer for the Twin Cities Marathon. You can catch Angela keeping tabs on football or her fantasy team and she is a devoted volunteer to the Alzheimer’s Association.

If there is one thing that the new Co-Directors would like their members to know, it is not to be shy! They’d love to hear any ideas, comments or questions. Connect with them today by email at angela@associationsnorth.com, sarah@associationsnorth.com, by phone at 651-647-6388, or on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.

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Advancing Leaders: Fuel for Forward-Thinking • Changed from a volunteer run organization to a staff of four.

• Donated over $25,000 to various charities and community partners.

• Transitioned from the Minnesota Society to the Midwest Society to Associations North.

A Fine Farewell Kathy Johnson Reflects on Her 29 Year Career

“How lucky I have been to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard!”

Winnie the Pooh said it well. This good-bye is a learning experience for me. (That’s what associations are all about isn’t it? Life long learning.)

I want to thank the Associations North board members, past and present for having the wisdom to create a succession plan and implement it. My time these past few months has been used updating policies, procedures, accounts and removing my name from various documents. (It’s amazing how immersed we get with our jobs.)

The search committee has been diligent in their work – meeting deadlines, asking tough questions, conducting interviews, and selecting the best option to ensure that Associations North stays on track, grows, and continues to provide members what they want, when they want it. It has been hard work.

When I started 29 years ago I was excited, committed to my new part time opportunity to become MSAE’s (Minnesota Society of Association Executives) first paid staff person.

In those years, I have: • Organized 180 board meetings, 20 board planning sessions, numerous committee and networking group meetings.

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• Attended 26 ASAE annual meetings, 20 ASA meetings, 28 holiday celebrations/silent auctions, 28 golf tournaments, over 360 MSAE/ Associations North professional development programs, 28 fall leadership conferences.

• Worked with the board to update a long range strategic plan 20+ times

• Renewed my CAE 8 times.

• Prepared minutes, agendas and financial reports for countless events.

• Been involved in four different database transitions.

• Located in three different office spaces.

• Celebrated epic 50th and 60th anniversary galas.

• Developed a strong staff focused on commitment to excellence.

• Established policies, took risks, searched for new, different, innovative and unique ways to move professionals forward.

In the near future, I will be exploring, traveling, indulging in my passions.

Associations North will be embarking on a new journey with dedicated leaders who will bring new energy and excitement to their work and to the organization. Join the journey.

• Had the opportunity to work with 1000s of fabulous members, speakers, experts, volunteers.

I know that Sarah Ruzek and Angela Kisskeys, your new Co-directors, will be welcomed by each one of you with the same friendship, willingness to advise, share and commitment to the association management profession that I have enjoyed over the years.

I am proud of all these things – but I am most proud of the community that is Associations North, and the values that define us: integrity, passion, inclusiveness, responsiveness and connectivity.

I have been blessed to have had a 29 year career with MSAE/Associations North. Everyday has become a part of the tapestry that has enriched me and has enriched Associations North. It has been my honor to serve.

Here are a few other highlights over my 29 years I’m proud of:

As I mentioned at the recent annual meeting, I’m taking the advice of Dr. Seuss...”I will not cry because it is ending. I will smile because it happened!” And that is exactly what I will do. Members of Associations North – YOU ARE THE BEST! And Associations do make a better world.

• Grown from an annual budget of $50,000 to $600,000+.

• Grown from 50 individual members to 1,200.

Advancing Engagement + Recruitment: Moving Membership

What is Direct Payment and How Can it Work for Your Association?

Are you tired of running to the bank or credit union to make deposits with all those membership checks? Have you considered offering Direct Payment? Direct Payment is where a member, either consumer or company, authorized the association to directly withdraw a set dues amount out of their account. It is safe, fast, and can be a cost saving to your association. Direct Payment entries run through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network. It is the same network that Direct Deposit uses, which most of us are aware of.

So, what do you need to know about Direct Payment?

First, there are specific rules that you’ll have to follow.

You must have an authorization from your consumer to take the funds from their account. The authorization will include information about the account they would like to withdraw the funds from. You need to provide the consumer a copy of their authorization and if the authorization is for more than one payment, you need to provide them a method to cancel their authorization. So yes, you can have a member authorize you to withdraw their membership dues for multiple years.

Second, you must have a relationship with either a bank or credit union that offers “ACH Origination” services or a third-party. ACH Origination is the banking term for Direct Payment system. You should begin by talking to your current bank or credit union. Not all of them offer this service, so if they don’t, ask them if they have a partner that they work with. All the large banks do offer the service. Since this is a service, you may have to qualify for it and generally, there are fees.

Once approved, you and the bank or credit union will decide how and in what format you’ll provide them the information that they need to submit the Direct Payment entries into the ACH Network. Your database management software may allow you to create an ACH formatted file. Your bank or credit union generally will ask you to use their online banking solution to submit the files to them.

So, what happens if your bank or credit union does not offer ACH Origination?

There are third-parties that offer the service. Again, you’d have to qualify to use their system, which is online. They will also charge fees for the service and they may be higher than at your bank or credit union, since the third-party must send their Direct Payment entries through a bank or credit union as well.

Direct payment is where a member, either consumer or company, authorizes an association to directly withdraw a set dues amount out of their account.

This isn’t something that will happen overnight, but it may be financially advantageous. Checks are not going away anytime soon, and as the number of checks written decrease, the cost of processing them increases. If you take credit card payments, you know that the pricing for those can be high and confusing. You can find an ACH solution that is reasonably priced. Generally, there is a fee for the file and per entry. As a non-profit, your bank or credit union, may have special pricing for you.

For more information on Direct Payment and Direct Deposit, please visit www.electronicpayments.org. Your bank or credit union should also have information to share with you.

By: Kate Cole, CAE, AAP, Financial & Retailers Protection Association. Kate can be reached at kate@frpafraudviewer.org.

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Advancing Meetings + Events: In The Details Following are just a few of their ideas:

Disney Inspired Conference Experiences Have you ever wondered what attracts nearly 17 million guests a year to “The Happiest Place on Earth”?

Surprisingly, it’s not magic.

As our members, exhibitors, sponsors and attendees struggle to allocate limited resources, including time and money, they’re making tough decisions about whether or not to participate in our events. Regardless of attendance, revenue and other key performance indicators, there’s always room for improvement.

As association professionals and industry partners, we can easily apply Disney’s secret sauce of innovation, quality, community, storytelling, optimism and decency to our own conference experiences to foster loyalty, to grow repeat attendance and to generate buzz.

“Ultimately, the secret is to create member centric experiences rather than to do what’s expected or easy.”

According to Disney’s culture statement, following are the core values of Disney’s approach to guest experiences:

• Innovation – We are committed to a tradition of innovation and technology.

• Quality – We strive to set a high standard of excellence. We maintain high-quality standards across all product categories.

• Community – We create positive and inclusive ideas about families. We provide entertainment experiences for all generations to share.

• Storytelling – Timeless and engaging stories delight and inspire.

• Optimism – At The Walt Disney Company, entertainment is about hope, aspiration and positive outcomes.

• Decency – We honor and respect the trust people place in us. Our fun is about laughing at our experiences and ourselves.

If we dive a bit more deeply into this aspirational culture statement it’s easy to see how the values that make The Walt Disney Company an extraordinary place to work are the same values that are capable of transforming association events into member-centric conference experiences – ones in which members truly represent the center of our universe.

At a recent conference session on this topic attendees were asked to brainstorm a list of membercentric conference experiences that illuminate each core value.

Innovation • Mixed seating setups • Varied conference formats • Innovative technology partnerships Quality • Define and measure stakeholder goals • Proactively communicate with guests • Plan detailed experiences Community Successfully engage: • New/emerging professionals • Mid-career professionals • Senior professionals Storytelling • Leverage video where possible • Deliver aspirational keynotes • Share organization history/lifetime achievements Optimism Help guests see: • Industry/ organization successes • Learning takeaways • New/renewed connections • Event value Decency • Create a safe and comfortable environment • Embrace white space for fun and reflection • Demonstrate stakeholder appreciation Ultimately, the secret is to create member-centric experiences rather than to do what’s expected or easy.

As you brainstorm and implement initiatives representing each of these six core areas within your own organization, prepare to roll out the red carpet, shine a spotlight on your members and leave them wanting more.

By: Aaron D. Wolowiec, MSA, CAE, CMP, CTA, Event Garde. Aaron is a learning strategist and meetings coach forassociations across the United States. Contact Aaron at 616.710.1891 10 or aaron@eventgarde.com

Advancing Communications: Stay Connected

People Gotta Talk... How Today’s Leader Needs to Facilitate More Dialog By: Kordell Norton

The internet was originally an electronic brochure. With the rise of Facebook, blogs, and various “testimonials websites” (Angie’s List, Rotten Tomatoes) this society EXPECTS, in fact demands to be involved in dialog.

Organizations, especially associations, are struggling with the issue of getting the Millennials to join, or get involved.

Yet they also struggle with getting and understanding feedback and dialog.

People gotta talk!

The old “show-up-and-throw-up” sales pitches in the past are going the way of pet rocks. Today the imperative is the trusted advisor who listens TO THE CUSTOMER. (What a novel idea). Prescription without diagnoses equals malpractice.

Today your value is as much determined by the questions you know to ask, as it is by the information you know. In fact, many organizations are struggling with the value of their sales people. In the past the sales person was the keeper of information. With information free to anyone with a smart phone, the sales person needs to become a facilitator.

People gotta talk.

Strategic Planning, once the bastion of expensive consulting firms, whose MBA pools cranked out plans that sat on shelves, is now giving way to Graphic Facilitators and group sessions that move at the speed of light. The Who’s Who of corporate America are moving to highly interactive sessions that gather information and buy in from the collective wisdom of executive groups. Planning in the past that took weeks and months now happens in hours. The old adage of the power of an idea whose time has come, applies. The additional energy of a group of champions who had input into a plan does not get by the savvy executive as they plan for the future.

Suggestions on how to get people to talk.

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Today your value is as much determined by the questions you know to ask, as it is by the information you know.

1. Ask questions and then LISTEN. If you ask a question and there is profound silence, do not give into the temptation to fill the void with the sound of your own voice. Just wait.

Eventually someone will offer a thought.

2. Stop over preparing. The person who knows all the answers, moves past the joy of the impromptu creativity that comes with dialog.

3. To see the trees move away from the forest. It is said that an expert is someone who is 50 miles from home. They come with new insights. They question the status quo. The lawyer who has himself as a client is a fool. There are times when your beliefs blind you to the new.

Ask your customer (either personally, email, or text) “What three words would you use to describe our value?” When you do this with 20 customers, you will find the common values of why clients actually do business with you. Unless your marketing and messages speak to these value words, you are flushing your budget down the drain.

Ask the ultimate question of your members and clients.

“On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely are you to recommend our _________________ (meeting, value, and offering) to your friends and/or family?” Unless your clients are giving you “9’s” and “10’s” then you have some serious homework.

Your offering is not qualifying as a memorable and valued experience. Consider some creativity sessions with stakeholders.

People will talk but are you really listening?

Advancing The Essentials: Invaluable Insights

Key Terms in Association Finance Associations like yours often recruit and hire professionals whose experience, while rich, has been exclusively with for-profit entities.

Members of your governing board as well, may only be familiar with for-profit financials. When they start learning the ropes at your association, they scratch their heads over esoteric terms like “restricted net assets” or “unrelated business income tax.” When everyone fully understands these terms, they can more meaningfully participate in the financial management of your association.

Deferred Revenue This area is unique in the non-profit world especially as it relates to associations that collect membership dues, hold annual meetings and receive sponsorships. Deferred revenue is recognized as a liability even if cash has been received and the payment is non-refundable. The revenue is not recognized until the benefits are received or services are performed in the future. This often results in cash being collected and recognized on the balance sheet but no revenue recorded until a future period such as when the meeting occurs.

“Understanding these terms results in more meaningful participation.”

In-Kind Contribution Associations occasionally receive contributions that are both tangible and intangible. Some examples are donated space, sporting events tickets and professional services. These contributions should be recorded within the financial statements as both revenues and expenses. These contributions should be recorded at fair value in the financials, since if they were not donated they would need to be purchased.

Net Assets Net assets are similar to equity in for-profit accounting. But in the association world, the majority of an organization’s revenue stream come from members and donations which often come with restrictions attached.

Those restrictions are what sort net assets into three distinct categories: • Unrestricted net assets — Resources of an association that have no restrictions by the board or donors and can be used for general operations.

They are often referred to as operating reserves.

• Unrestricted – board designated — Occasionally the board will designate additional funds to be set aside for a particular purpose such as a lobbying initiative, or technology upgrade.

These fund are restricted by the board and might be held in a separate account until used. However, just as the board can restrict the funds they can also decide to use the funds for the intended purpose or any other purpose by board action.

Photo Credit: Prakasit Khuansuwan

• Donor restricted net assets (Temporary or Permanent) — Donor restricted funds are net assets that the association has that can only to be spent on certain purposes or in which only the interest can be used as the initial donation must remain intact. These restrictions can only be specified by the donors and can’t be changed by the association.

Unrelated business income tax Some associations are required to pay taxes on unrelated activities that they carry on within their association. This stumps a lot of individuals due the thinking that tax-exempt means no profit and therefore no taxes. However, the IRS requires that associations track any income that is unrelated business revenue so that any taxes that need to be accounted for are done appropriately. According to the IRS an unrelated business activity is defined as, “any trade or business, the conduct of which is not substantially related… to the exercise or performance…of its [exempt] purpose.” Any unrelated business income after taking into account related expenses will be considered unrelated business income and is taxable.

Knowing the above terms and concepts will not cover all the unique situations you will encounter in the association finance world, but it will give you the building blocks for better understanding the industry.

Daniel Persaud is a Manager with CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, a professional services firm providing services to associations. Contact Daniel at: Daniel.persaud@CLAconnect.com.

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WE FOUND YOUR

NEW MEMBERS It was pretty easy, too. We just used search engine optimization and digital marketing the same way we handle your printing and direct mail — effectively and affordably.

We’ve been helping other associations with their marketing for years, and we can help yours, too.

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Conversations: In Focus

Different view points. Different solutions.

How do you welcome or orient new members to your association?

Rather than hold a new member orientation we “interview” new members.

We ask questions that let them focus on the needs of their business. We can then key in on benefits which help them the most. This is a concept we learned about in an Associations North session.

Sam Adams Membership Marketing Specialist Hospitality Minnesota

Robyn Barziza Chargo Director of Membership Services Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS®

Christi Kokaisel, CAE Director, Membership American Academy of Neurology

Our new members are required to attend a 3 hour orientation class here at our office. We do about 2 orientations per month and usually have about 50-60 in attendance. It’s an opportunity for them to fully understand the value of membership, meet association staff and learn about their benefits and resources. It also gives them a chance to meet other new members and understand the importance of networking. We provide refreshments in the morning and a full lunch as well. We try to make the day interesting and fun!

A couple of days after orientation, I send them a welcome to membership email reiterating some of the things we talked about in orientation and encouraging them to participate in the events and classes we offer to help them build their business.

The new member experience is critical to the future retention of our members. Directly upon joining the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), each member is mailed a welcome kit that includes a printed guide showcasing the AAN’s robust member benefits, a new member certificate, membership card, and welcome letter from our president. New members are then placed into a dedicated email onboarding campaign where they receive monthly tips and valuable information highlighting how the AAN can support the member throughout their career in neurology. The messaging is customized to better fit the needs of the individual member. We encourage our new members to get engaged with their colleagues through our live meetings, online communities, and many other opportunities throughout the year.

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Calendar Of Events: Mark It + Make It

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TUESDAY JUNE

Kathy Johnson’s Retirement Celebration Lucky’s 13 Pub, Roseville 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

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Join us in celebrating Kathy Johnson’s retirement at an open house to celebrate her dedication to the association industry the last 28 years and wish her well on her retirement journey. Appetizers provided, good-bye toast held at 4:30 pm.

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

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TUESDAY JUNE

THURSDAY JUNE

Golf Classic The Wilds Golf Club, Prior Lake 8:30am Shotgun Start

Write Like a Rock Star At Your Desk!

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm Association communicators often dis-proportionately try to “sell” the association and its strengths, rather than helping the member realize What’s In it For Them? If members aren’t reading what you send, your messages may be the problem.

Get out your golf clubs and get ready to have fun – it’s the Associations North annual Golf Classic! As always, it’s not about being a great golfer, it’s about playing a great course and making connections!

Upcoming Events June

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July

1

Webinar: Getting the Most Out of LinkedIn

11

Associations North Board Meeting

13

Kathy Johnson’s Retirement Celebration

13

VIP & Volunteer Appreciation Reception

20

Webinar: Write Like a Rock Star

13

Webinar: 5 Trends Associations Can’t Ignore

22

Golf Classic

25

Webinar: Getting It All Done

25

Financial Networking Group

26

Meeting Management Networking Group

28

Headshots Day

August

September

9

Webinar: Talent Generation

12

CEO Strategies - Tentative

17

Communications Networking Group

12

Webinar: Inside Out Marketing for Your Association

22

Membership Networking Group

30

Webinar: The Easiest Way to Let Go, Say No

and Have it All!

Brain Power

Podcasting for Your Business

By Amy Thompson, Association Development Services We are living in the golden age of podcasting. Compelling narrative combined with weekly updates from top radio producers make the medium easy and digestible. Not only are podcasts free and accessible but advertisers are flocking to podcasts, the content is winning awards, and the talent base is growing.

Personally, I believe podcasts are highly entertaining and addicting (goodbye phone storage!), but there are plenty of benefits to podcasting from a business stand point.

Next time you’re thinking about adding a new marketing tool to your line-up, you should give them a try! Podcasts work well for non-profits or associations because they’re low-cost and relatively low-effort. A volunteer or staff member can easily record themselves on their phone at an event or conduct an interview.

You might be thinking, “that’s a great idea, where do I start or how would I even do this?” To start, download a voice recording app on your phone. Easily enough, all Apple iPhones come with the app Voice Memos already installed. Open that app and start recording! Once you have your recorded material (shorter is better; maybe 15 minutes to start), create a free SoundCloud account.

Upload the podcast to your SoundCloud account and it will automatically appear in Apple iTunes within a few days. From there you can share your newly created podcast or subscribe to your podcast in iTunes!

Bonus: here’s a list of tried and true podcasts to spark your creativity or accompany you on a long drive.

• Serial - a true-crime drama. Fun fact: Serial is the fastest podcast ever to reach more than 5 million downloads.

• Radio Lab - science and social science investigative storytelling.

• TED Radio Hour – condensed version of Ted Talks about fascinating ideas and discoveries.

• The Black Tapes – fiction docudrama following a journalist and her subject’s “black tape files”.

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MOVE FORWARD WITH CONFIDENCE Give your management and board a clear vision and no surprises with a team of experienced advisors.

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The Midwest’s Largest Entertainment Provider • Annual Banquets • Conventions • Awards Programs • Receptions • Holiday Parties • Special Events

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ADVISORY OUTSOURCING AUDIT AND TAX

John J. Tauer 612-397-3068 | CLAconnect.com

The North Experience: Annual Meeting & Expo

The Association community went BIG at this year’s Annual Meeting and Expo! Besides getting insider access to U.S. Bank Stadium, highlights included a farewell to Kathy Johnson, introduction of new Co-Directors, innovative educational sessions, puppy cuddling, virtual reality, Golfzilla, meet and greet with Chuck Foreman and more!

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

SPONSORS

Brede Exposition Services | CRS Computer Rental Systems | Minneapolis Northwest CVB The Hotel Minneapolis, Autograph Collection | Trade Show Leads

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Golf Classic | June 22

THURSDAY, JUNE 22

THE WILDS GOLF CLUB | PRIOR LAKE associationsnorth.com/golf 19 19

Et Cetera: Association Extras

NEW MEMBERS Kara Austrum

Industrial Fabrics Assn Int’l

Kim Bailey

Ewald Consulting

Ashley Chambliss

Mpls Area Assn of REALTORS®

Heather Chermak

Mpls Area Assn of REALTORS®

Melissa Compton

Clyde Iron Works, Restaurant, Catering & Event Center

Katie Emerick

Mintahoe Catering & Events

Lebron Fix

The Harrington Company

Karina Gronberg

Hilton Minneapolis

Dave Haworth

Industrial Fabrics Association International

Lee Helgen

Ewald Consulting

Jessica Holcomb

Jackpot Junction Casino & Hotel

Omari Hoover

Industrial Fabrics Association International

Lisa Joly

Management HQ

Tisha Kehn

ASOPRS

Karen Kelly

AAA of Minnesota/Iowa

Amanda Macrina

ASOPRS

Eric Meyers

Minneapolis Area Assn of REALTORS®

Susan Milteer

Event Lab

Whitney Murray

Ewald Consulting

Sandy Nelson

Holiday Inn® Riverside & Convention Center

Roxanne Pengelly

Minneapolis Area Assn of REALTORS®

Rachel Price

Synergos AMC

Samantha Sahr

Industrial Fabrics Association International

Kelly Twaddle

Minneapolis Area Assn of REALTORS®

Rhonda Whittaker

UMACHA

ASSOCIATION MEETUP GROUPS Networking Groups are now Meetup Groups! Everything else is the same, just a fresh, new name! New to Associations North’s Meetups? Meetup groups are small, informal meetings comprised of Associations North members who have shared interests. Meetup Groups discuss issues, ideas and trends on many areas of association and non-profit management like: allied, ceo, communications, financial, meeting management & education, membership and young professionals. Visit associationsnorth.com/meetups to get signed up.

MEMORIAM Associations North recently lost two longtime members and friends. We will always remember their dedication to the industry and difference each one of them made. Our thoughts go out to both families and friends of Amy and Tiffany. We are inspired by their hard-fought and couragous battles against cancer.

AMY ENGLUND WOOD

TIFFANY RODNING

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Spotlight: Member In Motion

Get to know industry movers and shakers.

Christina Zeise Executive Director MN Social Services Association

One office amenity I’d like to add...

What’s your favorite type of cuisine?

A Keurig with never ending k-cups right next to my computer monitor

Asian.

My personality in one word: My dream car is a...

Determined.

Cadillac Escalade.

I recharge by...

Putting thousands of miles on my bicycle.

Windows or MAC? As a kid, I was...

Mac, because I can use it without having geek squad take residence in my home.

Cautious.

My favorite joke is...

Why can’t you let Elsa hold a balloon? Because she’ll “let it go, let it go” (I have small kids).

Live by the ocean, mountains or in the woods?

Ocean… I love the peace of it.

My motto is...

You are in charge of your own happiness.

One store I’d like to max out my crecit card Banana Republic.

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Technology that connects.

Learn more at YourMembership.com

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