Virtual meetings, events, and conferences are the new reality for the foreseeable future, and organizations are wise to focus on maximizing these experiences for all involved. With no clear end date for the pandemic, the quicker the decision is made to move to a virtual format, the more capacity the organization has to build out a thriving event. Scaling up an online meeting is not as expensive as scaling up in person, which opens up plenty of opportunity.
Many associations are facing the issue of watching their association gray out. They have recognized the need to grow their young professional market but are left questioning how to do that. It is not an easy task to grow any segment of your association but this is especially true for young professionals. Younger generations are not seeing the need as much to join associations and/or don’t have the money to put towards an organization membership. If you are ready to put in the work to grow your younger members, here are a few resources they might be looking for out of your organization.
Email newsletters are a great way to keep members up to date on what is happening within the organization. They also provide a set schedule for member communications ensuring that you are reaching them consistently. The tricky part, however, is ensuring that your members actually open, read, and enjoy the newsletter. Here are a few tips on how to make your newsletter a hit.
Every organization (or at least we hope) has conversations regarding what’s next. What’s next for membership? What will the next conference look like? What can we post on social media next month? These are all important “nexts” but not as important as what is next for leadership. Without succession planning, the other plans may not happen or they may not be what members need. Associations often fail to develop leadership while they still have strong leaders.
Search for the leaders. As a board or committee chair, you know what other members are regularly volunteering and showing interest in the organization. Keep an eye on those members and get a pulse for how involved they would like to become. Having a roster of potential leaders will make the process much easier.
Warm up the new leaders. Find ways for potential or next in line leaders to get a feel for their future role. Whether it is serving on a co-chair of a committee or president-elect, practice makes perfect. This is a time for the current leader to train the volunteer for their role. It allows for questions to be asked before the transition occurs.
Weed out the “bad.” Not to say that someone who is volunteering their time can be bad, but there are most certainly volunteers who are not as passionate or dedicated as they once were. Be able to recognize this when it happens and take action. It is okay to have an honest conversation with the volunteer while recognizing the commitment they have had in the past.
Make it protocol. To make those conversations easier or unnecessary, set term limits. Ensure that your bylaws clearly state how long members should serve on a board or committee. This will allow new talent to continuously flow through the association and eliminate the inevitable burnout.
Succession planning allows for new ideas and new perspectives to be brought to the table. It creates conversations that might have otherwise never been had. You might enjoy your role as a leader, but you can’t do it forever. If you have a passion for the organization, make sure it will have a successful future.
[Madison,WI]: Impact Association Management announced a new partnership with MPI WestField. This partnership will allow MPI Westfield to achieve their goals and grow their organization.
“In a time of uncertainty, it is great to see that associations still understand the need for an AMC. After being a part of our local MPI chapter and managing MPI Connecticut River Valley, we have learned so much about this association. We look forward to applying that knowledge along with our expertise on managing all associations to help move MPI WestField forward,” says Jodi Fisher, CEO at Impact Association Management.
“The MPI WestField Chapter is delighted to partner with Impact Association Management on our Administrative Support. While searching for a new support organization we received glowing compliments and praise from a nearby MPI chapter. We were impressed to the professionalism and commitment to high standards and instantly felt comfortable working with Jodi Fisher and the team at Impact,” says Mark Speranza, President of MPI WestField.
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 in both Madison, WI and Nashville, TN, 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
About MPI WestField: Meeting Professionals International (MPI) is the largest meeting and event industry association worldwide. Chartered in 1989, MPI WestField provides education, networking opportunities and a forum for individual success for meeting professionals located in Westchester County, New York and Fairfield County, Connecticut. When members join MPI WestField, they become part of an organization dedicated to personal and career success. Members will be connected with innovative learning, passionate people and big ideas that will empower them to become an agent of change and reinvent the world.
Contact:
MPI Westfield
Mark Speranza and Lisa Swartz
speranzanyc@gmail.com, msos@optonline.net
www.mpi.org/chapters/westfield
