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1.
Interview with CEOs from various associations about the qualities they look for in promoting employees coupled with interviews of a few recently promoted managers about how they prepared themselves for advancement and tips they would offer to those looking to climb the ladder or lattice in their association.
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2.
Last month, the Chicago Tribune ran a feature article on how microbreweries were enjoying brisk sales while bigger labels such as Bud and Miller saw sluggish sales during the current recession. The author pointed out that microbrews had "fans" while the other brands had "customers." As a result, fans were less price sensitive and more loyal even during tough times.
Are your members customers or fans? This article will highlight some of the best practices by associations who were able to build a fan base amongst their members. It will also provide tips on how to create your own fan base within your industry.
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3.
What are the pros and cons of an Association running it's own (c)(3) Foundation? What are the conflicts of interest and is there any way they can be avoided?
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4.
How the smaller associations and/or their affiliates made the most of the recession and what they've learned to help them prepare for any future downturns. Suggest that practical ideas and solutions be an important part of the discussion. This might make a good article for commentaries to be included.
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5.
Chapters and components are already blazing their own paths and sometimes to the surprise or even detriment to national/international association. This article explores ways to collaborate and could build on a real case study started at ASAE Annual Meeting. The goal is to show how associations can work in partnership and give examples.
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6.
Marketing is not a one-size fits all proposition. What works for one group may not work for another. This article will go through the 10 ways to ensure you use the right marketing tactics to successfully increase membership (or meeting attendance)
Additional description as requested: Increasing the return on your marketing investment is an important yet often elusive step in creating a successful marketing campaign. The old mantra used to be "test, test and test again" if you wanted to find out what works. However, when budgets are tight and there is an increasing demand for results (more members) you need to know the following:
1. How do members/prospects interact online and offline?
2. How much do they trust the information they read or hear - and what sources have the highest levels of trust (members, friends, colleagues, experts, etc)
3. What are the right words needed to really connect on both an emotional level and a logical level?This article will help organizations understand how to create a marketing strategy based on understanding the 10 key elements.
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7.
Given all the current experimentation with social media tools and communication, how might we make sure we don't leave a subset of members behind? How do we bridge the digital divide? How do we get some members to give up their hard copy directories, how do we get them used to collaborating online, how do we show them the value of social networking? Do associations have that responsibility at all?
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8.
Critics, the silent majority, and you: How do you really know when a critic represents more than just a single opinion? How do you know when and how to respond and act on public criticism of your program, service, or association as a whole? Practical advice on listening to, learning from, and responding to vocal critics
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9.
Associations often use some sort of Request for Information or Request for Proposal in an effort to exercise due deliguence in selecting vendors. However, the process has many inherent problems and often results in wasted time and money and ultimately a poor decision. This article would look at new methods such as speed-sourcing that may work better in some cases. This article could utilize work to be done in an interactive session with both association professionals and vendors at the 2010 Association Technology Conference.
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10.
Nothing's more depressing than watching a new initiative go down in flames because you just can't get members on board. How to cut through the communications clutter, connect with members with information about new projects, and keep them involved throughout the process.
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11.
"The paperless office" is more a punchline than a reality, but because we now receive the overwhelming majority of our information digitally, it's worth studying what we want on paper. What do members value in print and what don't they? How should this inform associations' print and digital strategies?
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12.
What are some of the guiding association management principles you once took as universal truth, but now are no longer so sure about? Example: the board should be visionary. How did you come to accept this belief initially and what has caused you to changed your thinking?
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13.
Big changes to processes or organizations are most successful when a methodical, and incremental approach is used. Keys to doing this will be made using real life examples from the Society for Neuroscience, potentially including items such as moving SfN from a North American to Global organization; eliminating print conference programs; implementing new pricing models for journal-relating pricing, etc.
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14.
Social media strategy around meetings: How do you do it? Also, how to cater to and provide engagement opportunities to virtual attendees.
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15.
Particularly in the trade association community, our memberships and boards are made up of diverse groups. What satisfies one group may not be as favorably viewed by another. How does the CEO navigate the often politically charged waters of pushing ideas that may only benefit a few? And, what if the interests of that group are NOT represented on the board?
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16.
A look back at the recession: What has really changed in associations? Which old habits will return, and which have been changed for good?
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17.
The down economy has only increased on-the-job stresses--and sometimes it means that someone burnt out at work doesn't always have the option of looking for a new job. What are the best strategies and methods for dealing w/ burnout when walking away is not even a last resort?
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18.Keeping morale up after layoffs (books.google.com)
"Healing the Wounds" author David Noer on post-layoff revival
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19.
Sometimes associations are reactive in their government relations efforts, responding to a bill or regulation already in play. Other times, associations work to promote new ideas to legislators and regulators. When should your organization be proactive, when should you be reactive, and why?
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20.
Jim Kane spoke at 2009 Annual Meeting & Expo about building and maintaining loyal relationships. Article would be interview w/ Kane about loyalty and how it applies to associations, membership, etc.
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21.
The 7 measures suggests remarkable associations are data-driven, but what data and from what sources? How do/should associations make some of the most difficult decisions? When do you turn to member input and how do you best assess it? How do you filter in consultant advice or peer benchmarking? What is the role of instinct and data interpretation vs. simply relying on the numbers?
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22.
Examining the unique qualities and challenges at associations that are largely driven by their local and regional chapters -- such as Red Cross, Junior League, and others -- not by their national HQs.
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23.
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24.
AMS systems have been rapidly advancing over the past few years. What used to be primarily known as high-cost enterprise based, customized mission critical systems have become out-of-the-box solutions available for a flat monthly fee with much of the same functionality. Smaller associations that were keeping lists in excel are now able to step up to a fully loaded system and larger associations are seeing cost-savings by using SaaS systems or implementing fewer customizations.
On top of that, the AMS now needs to intgegrate with a number of other member facing systems including social media, voting, e-commerce, the website, abstract submission and more. How has technology grown and enabled these systems to do that and what are the options out there for asociaitons to be aware of.
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25.
Interviews with and stories from association CEOs who have been hired during the economic recession. What are the unique challenges of taking the helm of an organization when the economy is in the tank? (One possible source: CEO of AARP, hired recently)
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