Client Spotlight: South Metropolitan Business Association

One of our oldest clients is the South Metropolitan Business Association (SMBA). This organization is located in Madison, Wisconsin along with our office. SMBA’s purpose is to promote and improve the business environment in the Cities of Madison and Fitchburg and the Town of Madison by encouraging well planned, high quality and balanced commercial and residential development and economic growth. SMBA provides its members with a variety of benefits that make their membership well worth it.

The association offers members networking opportunities, information on the city and business related topics, as well as community involvement. Each month, SMBA, gathers members for a luncheon. This is an opportunity for the members and guests to network among each other and hear from a speaker on that month’s topic.

This close knit group is a unique one and one that we are proud to support. Kristen is the Executive Administrator for SMBA. She helps to organize and run luncheons, prepare for board meetings, produce newsletters and more!

Learn more about SMBA.

Rebuilding a Committee

Losing committee members right and left? This is a pretty common problem found in associations. Volunteers burn out, run into new time commitments, or get frustrated with the position leaving your committee with empty seats. If you find yourself with a lacking committee, it is important to quickly fill those empty seats in order to keep everything on schedule.  

• Identify tasks. Understand what the committee was originally established for, their current tasks, and any future objectives. Make sure these issues and goals are clearly established before bringing on new committee members. 

• Determine a leader. If your committee leader has also left you high and dry, it is time to pick someone new to step into his or her shoes. Feel out the current committee members and see if anyone is willing to volunteer. If nobody is willing to take on this role, it is up to you to handle this in the meantime. This will also motivate you to continue the search for new committee members. 

• Fill the other positions. Make sure members are aware of the opportunity to join the committee. Include it in newsletters, emails, social media, and anywhere else you are communicating with your members. If this does not entice enough members, have the current committee members make a list of members they feel would be a good fit. Once the list is created, the recruiting can begin. 

• Check in. Once the new committee is established, be sure to check in regularly. Make sure the group is happy and understands their role in the organization.  

Moving forward, make sure to consistently remind members of committee opportunities. Remind them that they can get more involved by joining committees. This will keep it in the forefront of their minds and might lead to more people joining before it is crucial that they join. This will lead to easier turnover and a more positive experience. 

CNAP Certified

 Madison, Wisconsin (May 13th, 2019) — Impact Association Management— Ingrid Beamsley has successfully completed the requirements for the CNAP certification.  The Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional (CNAP) is designed to set a standard of accounting excellence in the not-for-profit sector through comprehensive qualification, training and examination.

Developed by the Nonprofit CPAs Alliance and sponsored by Wegner CPAs, this certification program is designed specifically for any professional charged with the financial management of a not-for-profit organization, including non-CPAs. The curriculum of this intensive program includes basic and intermediate accounting, as well as in-depth training on more advanced topics such as internal controls, current tax issues, IRS audits, lobbying, technology, and budgeting.

Say Hello to the All American Association of Home Inspectors!

Impact Association Management welcomes the All American Association of Home Inspectors 

May 9, 2019, Madison, Wisconsin –Impact Association Management (Impact) is pleased and proud to announce the signing of the All American Association of Home Inspectors (AAAHI) as their newest client.        

“We were thrilled to hear that the All American Association of Home Inspectors chose us to be their AMC. Amy has experience in the Association Management world and understands all of the ways we can make a difference. I know they will be a fun group to work with and can’t wait to get the ball rolling.”, adds Jodi Fisher, CEO, Impact Association Management 

About the All American Association of Home Inspectors 

The All American Association of Home Inspectors is a nationwide association exclusively for Home Inspectors. Members of AAAHI receive continuing education, business development, industry insight, and political advocacy. The organization is dedicated to providing high quality education to home inspectors around the United States. 

Contact: 

Amy Newcomer 

877.220.6424 

http://www.aaahi.org/  

About Impact Association Management  

Impact Association Management was founded in 2006 by Jodi Fisher, and since then they have successfully supported many Associations in growing and increasing profits and memberships. Now expanded into a robust team, Impact consists of Social Media experts, Non-Profit Administrators and Executive Administrative Assistants with impressive backgrounds in Association support, small business operations and international corporations.  Their mission is to provide customized, efficient, and forward-thinking association management services to small and medium sized Associations with a highly skilled, dedicated team of Executive Administrators.  

Contact:  

Impact Association Management 

608.210.3120  

info@ImpactAMC.com  

www.ImpactAMC.com  

The AMC Checklist

Things can get a bit hectic for a volunteer in an association. When this overwhelming feeling gets to be too much, it is time to begin your search for an association management company. Beginning this search might lead to even more of a headache for the Board of Directors, but we have made it easy! Here is a checklist of what to look for in an AMC. 

• Size fit. If you are on the board of an extremely large association, make sure that the AMC you choose has the capacity to take you on. This applies to smaller associations as well. You want to make sure that you are at equal priority to the AMC’s other clients. This ensures that things do not slip through the cracks and the work is done. 

• Passion. Look for a group of Executive Administrators that has a true passion for what they do. Find an AMC that becomes a partner and cares about your goals and milestones. This will guarantee that they are just as dedicated as you are to the organization. 

• Culture Fit. You are going to be working with the Executive Administrator closely. It is important that you and that person get along, communicate well, and have a strong understanding of one another. If you prefer working with someone more laid back than intense, keep that in mind when conducting your AMC interviews. This relationship will be something you are maintaining for the length of the contract and should be a positive one. 

• Transparency. Find an AMC that holds themselves to high standards when it comes to ethical business practice. You are handing your AMC highly important information and access when you work with them. Make sure that the AMC you choose has an open and honest policy about how they are spending your time, what they do for you on a regular basis, and any information they might hold during their time with you. It is important to know that your money is being used properly and that if the partnership were to end, your information is readily available. 

• More than one dedicated Administrator. It is a smart move to look for an AMC that will provide you with at least two dedicated Executive Administrators. Two Executive Administrators allows you easier communication, more collaboration, and a back up plan. If you are working with one Executive Administrator and they have to take a day off or leave the company, you have someone who has already been working with your association to train a new staff member. This keeps things running smoothly and prevents a chaotic transition if your primary administrator is unavailable.  

• Experience. If you are lacking in marketing, financial support, or member communication, find an AMC that has that experience. Question them during the interview and look for examples that line up with what your organization is looking for. This guarantees a good administrative fit. 

  The hunt for the perfect AMC might be a stressful one, but once you find the right fit, the stress will quickly fade. The AMC will allow you to redirect your focus to the mission of your association and leave the administrative tasks to your new partner.