In the hallways and around meeting tables, I’ve heard a lot of colleagues admit that Great Ideas is fast becoming their “go to” ASAE conference. Overwhelmed by the size of the Annual Conference or just wanting to have a more intimate and creative meeting, many association professionals are choosing Great Ideas as their exclusive education and networking event. I can appreciate this shift in thinking; Great Ideas has always been one of my favorite conferences, and 2012 was no exception.
This year, I had a chance to present on the very idea of community – in this case, the frequent topic of online community. As Amanda Adolph, former Vice President at the Association of Governing Boards (AGB) and a long-time McKinley client described it, “building a social networking community is easy; creating a community can be challenging.” Amanda and I shared the story of how AGB created an online networking community that grew 20% in one month and talked about the three pivotal events that led to the community’s rapid expansion and success. You can see more by reading through our slides. Or please be in touch if you’d like to talk more about the AGB community.
~ Post by Shelley Sanner, Managing Consultant
In a previous blog post, I wrote about the work that we did with the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) around membership recruitment and retention. The primary audience for our efforts was one that associations can easily overlook: former members. While there likely was a reason why members decided not to renew their membership, there also was a reason that compelled them to join in the first place. Because of that, reaching out to these former members and asking them to return to the organization can have a stronger impact than simply making a pitch to a new list of prospects.
ASA’s recruitment success was featured in a March 2012 story that appeared in FORUM Magazine. To read the story, click here.
~ Post by Mike Norbut, Managing Consultant
In my last post, Make Your Volunteers’ Experience Truly Rewarding, I wrote about common motivators for volunteers and why it’s important to understand why volunteers dedicate their time to the association. The next step in effective volunteer management is recognizing their service and rewarding their commitment in a way that aligns with those unique motivators.
Just as volunteers’ motivations are different, so are the ways they will value being recognized and appreciated for their efforts. Rewards can vary from a certificate of recognition, a gift card, a free webinar or a discount on a publication or conference registration. Here are five ways to create a motivational rewards system for your volunteers:
- Design a points system around the mission or goal of the committee (e.g. new members recruited for a membership committee) and offer rewards for different numbers of points earned. For those who are naturally competitive or seeking a new challenge, points-based structures for rewards provide motivation.
- Longevity-based rewards, which recognize volunteers for various lengths of service to the association (5, 10, 15 years, etc.). Recognizing volunteers for many years of service emphasizes their commitment to the association and is especially valuable to those seeking to give back to the profession.
- Consider public recognition at an association conference or event for those who are seeking opportunities to meet and work with other professionals in the field. Recognizing their achievements will highlight their skills and abilities and give other professionals reason to approach them.
- A short article in your member newsletter describing the special contribution of a volunteer can go a long way. This allows individuals who are pursuing personal interests or seeking to learn new skills through their volunteer work to have their unique contributions recognized.
- And of course, never underestimate the value of a sincere and thoughtful thank you!
Recognizing a volunteer’s commitment to your association with a reward will reinforce your appreciation for his or her service and commitment. It also will increase the likelihood that your volunteers will remain engaged long-term. Whatever the motivation, making sure your volunteers feel valued and appreciated will make the experience more rewarding for them and for your organization.
~ Post by Liz Williamson, Project Consultant
