ASAE

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, observed each year from September 15 through October 15, we're highlighting the vital contributions and voices of the Hispanic and Latino communities within associations and beyond. On the way to an Association Latinos Regional Roundtable event in Arlington, Virginia, last year, I took a Lyft to the airport and had an experience that made me think about the bigger picture.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, observed each year from September 15 through October 15, we're highlighting the vital contributions and voices of the Hispanic and Latino communities within associations and beyond. In many Latino communities, the answer to “How do I figure this out?” starts with another question: “¿Quién me puede ayudar?” (“Who can help me?”). A family member asks for a job recommendation; a tía or tío helps a new arrival navigate an unfamiliar system.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, observed each year from September 15 through October 15, we're highlighting the vital contributions and voices of the Hispanic and Latino communities within associations and beyond. Building a positive organizational culture takes time and thoughtful dedication. Similar to putting a puzzle together, every piece contributes to a larger picture—an environment where employees feel valued and engaged.

Membership growth is one of the first metrics community leaders celebrate and understandably so. New members represent new opportunities, new perspectives, and the potential for a stronger network. But growth can also create a false sense of security. I’ve worked with communities at every stage of maturity, from organizations building their first structured engagement program to established networks with tens of thousands of members.

According to ASAE’s recent The State of Associations report, 38.5 percent of CEOs reported a slight or significant decline in the financial outlook for their organization. With significant headwinds facing many organizations, investing in staff professional development can help leaders and teams thrive in a professional landscape shaped by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA). Despite concerns, the association profession is likely to grow.

Shrinking enrollments, rising costs, and rapid technological change are converging, forcing colleges and universities to rethink their purpose and business models. The looming “enrollment cliff,” driven by a structural decline in the number of high school graduates, will only accelerate academic consolidation and competition. As institutions fight for survival, many are developing new educational and business models that might compete with associations. At the center of this shift is credentialing.

My team recently conducted growth strategy benchmarking research with North American professional and trade associations, and the findings got us talking. An astounding 61 percent reported never conducting research with nonmembers or conducting it less frequently than every five years. This number stands in stark contrast to their research with members: 77 percent of associations reported surveying current members at least every five years.

WASHINGTON— In the second phase of research in the Association Global Management Series, the ASAE Foundation takes a deep dive look at how associations plan, execute, and refine their global efforts. In Global Growth Strategies, the report provides important steps associations should consider as they decide to establish operations in international markets and for associations who want to take the next step.

Whether or not your association has a policy on AI notetaking, it is undoubtably happening in your board and committee meetings. AI notetakers are notorious for inviting themselves to meetings even when their “owner” is absent. How can you guarantee your association’s confidentiality is upheld while benefiting from the efficiencies AI provides? It’s important to create guardrails by setting and enforcing policies around using AI in meetings.

A calf cramp should not become a leadership lesson. Yet that is exactly what happened when persistent pain in my leg turned into a medical emergency, and a personal gen AI health agent helped me recognize the danger before the situation became far worse. I developed persistent calf pain, swelling, and tenderness that kept getting worse over several days, all recognized signs of a possible blood clot. At first, I assumed it was a muscle problem and went to my chiropractor.