Association Management articles from June 2003

Association Management archives from June 2003

Technology and you: dispelling the myths about .NET. (Avectra Presents).
June 1, 2003... When technology advancements are introduced to the market, the general response is one of skepticism and guarded curiosity. This is a natural and expected response for consumers who have made significant investments of time and money in...

Court rules on campaign finance law. (Headlines).
June 1, 2003... While oral arguments were heard in December and a decision was originally expected in January, a three-judge panel in federal court handed down a decision last month on the campaign finance case brought by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and others...

Standards of Conduct: post your comments. (Headlines).(American Society of Association Executives)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... ASAE's Ethics Committee recently completed a detailed review and update of the Standards of Conduct for ASAE members. In June, the committee is seeking member input, which will be factored in prior to final ASAE Board of Directors review. Go to...

ASAE's Board of Directors approved a dues increase of $25 for fiscal year 2004 at its spring meeting. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... ASAE's Board of Directors approved a dues increase of $25 for fiscal year 2004 at its spring meeting. All members will continue to have unlimited access to ASAE's entire body of knowledge in 13 special-interest areas for one dues fee. There is...

The Internal Revenue Service. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The Internal Revenue Service released a ruling on April 25 outlining the disclosure requirements for Section 527 organizations. Of note, state and local associations that are not involved in federal campaigns are no longer required to file...

Ann W. Western, CAE, has been selected to serve as the first 501(c)(6). (Briefly).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Ann W. Western, CAE, has been selected to serve as the first 501(c)(6) representative on the Internal Revenue Service's Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt and Government Entities. Western, vice president of finance and administration and CFO at...

Nonprofit direct-mail fundraisers are encouraged to review a proposed U.S. Postal Service. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Nonprofit direct-mail fundraisers are encouraged to review a proposed U.S. Postal Service rule affecting the relationship between nonprofits and professional fundraising agencies. The proposed "cooperative mailing" rule changes appeared in the...

Glenn B. Sanberg, ASAE executive vice president from late 1956 to 1964. (Briefly).(Brief Article)(Obituary)
June 1, 2003... Glenn B. Sanberg, ASAE executive vice president from late 1956 to 1964 passed away in February at the age of 97. A graduate of the University of Minnesota, Sanberg started his association management career in 1949 as the first full-time...

The Travel Business Roundtable (TBR) submitted testimony to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection regarding American travel and tourism. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The Travel Business Roundtable (TBR) submitted testimony to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection regarding American travel and tourism. The testimony outlined the state of the U.S. travel and tourism industry and several...

Charitable Giving legislation introduced in the house. (Headlines).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Rep. Harold Ford (D-TN), with more than 60 cosponsors, introduced the Charitable Giving Act. The legislation, similar to the recently passed Senate CARE Act, would expand charitable resources by...

Supreme Court rules in telemarketing case. (Headlines).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The U.S. Supreme Court handed down a unanimous decision last month in the free-speech telemarketing case Madigan v. Telemarketing Associates. The court's decision centered on its view that the telemarketer made false or misleading statements to...

President Bush signs Postal bill. (Headlines).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... President Bush signed into law the Postal Civil Service Retirement System Funding Reform Act of 2003, which corrects a flawed United States Postal Service retirement funding formula. The legislation changes the system under which USPS makes...

New Graduate program for association executives. (Headlines).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... ASAE and the Graduate School of Political Management at The George Washington University have codeveloped a government relations graduate program that addresses the core competencies defined by ASAE's Government Relations Section Council. The...

CEOs experience slight increase in compensation. (Headlines).(2002-2003 Blue Chip Association Executive Compensation and Benefits Study)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Despite a faltering economy, the more highly paid chief executive officers of America's trade and individual membership associations experienced an increase in total compensation from 2001 to 2002, according to ASAE's 2002-2003 Blue Chip...

Strong support for association health plans voiced at ASAE town hall. (Headlines).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Sen. James Talent (R-MO) reiterated his support for association health plans (AHPs) during his remarks to more than 60 participants at ASAE's recent Association Health Plan Legislative Update and Implementation Workshop. Additionally, Alan...

2003 Society of National Association Publications' Excel Awards competition. (Briefly).(Association Management wins silver award)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... You're reading an award-winning publication. ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT won a Silver Award for Design Excellence and a Bronze Award for General Excellence in the 2003 Society of National Association Publications' Excel Awards competition.

Political action committee contributions (PACs). (Briefly).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... As part of the agency's yearly recommendations, the Federal Election Commission urged Congress, among other things, to index political action committee contributions (PACs) for inflation. The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act applied an inflation...

ASAE has elected to rebid its 2005 annual meeting. (Briefly).(change of venue)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... ASAE has elected to rebid its 2005 annual meeting, which tentatively had been scheduled for Los Angeles. ASAE withdrew its tentative commitment based on several factors, including the budget challenges currently facing Los Angeles; ASAE's own...

Positive feedback. (Preview).
June 1, 2003... A few days before I sat down to write this column, the staff of ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT received some great news. The Society of National Association Publications let us know that we've won a bronze award in overall magazine excellence and a...

Delivering legal information by design. (ASAE Up Front).(American Society of Association Executives Legal Section)
June 1, 2003... I am not an attorney. However, I have learned the value of sound legal education during my four years as the staff liaison to the ASAE Legal Section. From contracts to employment law to intellectual property, legal implications are integral to...

Letters.
June 1, 2003... Conflict Considerations Kudos for running an article on conflict in the April 2003 issue of ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT ("Facing Up to Board Conflict," page 56). While most of what Robert S. Adams suggests can be useful, consider a few...

Certification programs as a reflection of competency. (Legal).
June 1, 2003... Many nonprofit membership associations either sponsor or are affiliated with professional certification boards. In the context of professional certification, the question often arises as to whether certification equates with competence. In...

Certifying the certifiers. (Accreditation).(Accreditation Program for Personnel Certification Bodies)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The wide variety of organizations that certify professionals can now obtain their own accreditation as "personnel certifiers" under a new American National Standards Institute, New York City. ANSI's "Accreditation Program for Personnel...

PIA of Florida achieves solid growth after two decades of decline. (Association Turnaround).(Professional Insurance Agents of Florida, Inc.)
June 1, 2003... After 18 years with no net gain in membership, Professional Insurance Agents of Florida, Inc., Tallahassee, achieved a membership increase of 33 percent and a retention increase of 15 percent in 2002--six years into an association rebuild....

Clarifying proxy voting. (Legal).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Q: Can a nonprofit director vote by proxy? A: No. A nonprofit director may never vote by proxy in a board meeting because of the special fiduciary duty imposed by law. A director is required to act in the best interest of the association by...

DMA promotes antidrug campaign. (Parterships).
June 1, 2003... Direct marketers have signed on to support a White House antidrug initiative. Through a partnership with the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Direct Marketing Association, New York City, will enlist the support of its members in...

Joint marketing agreement creates new membership benefits. (Membership).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The ATM Industry Association (www.atmia.com), Brookings, South Dakota, and Kiosks.org Association (www.kiosks.org), Louisville, Ken- tucky, have agreed on a joint marketing initiative that enables the two associations to work more closely on...

Information: the key to retreats that flourish. (Governance).
June 1, 2003... Board retreats provide a constructive vehicle for creating clear strategy for an association and building commitment. Yet, as one association executive observes, all too often board planning retreats "flounder and fail." What can associations...

Dues increases impact retention. (Eye on the Industry).(membership fees)
June 1, 2003... Nearly every association must eventually consider increasing membership dues. Between 1999 and 2001, about three out of every five associations increased dues, according to data collected from more than 1,000 nonprofit organizations by ASAE in...

Catalyst offers strategies on tackling resistance. (Diversity).(introducing inclusive workplace policies)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... As organizations pursue efforts to create inclusive work environments, staff resistance may be triggered by a lack of understanding about the importance of change. Catalyst, New York City, offers these strategies for managers in addressing...

Evolving communication needs. (Data Dispatch).(printing industry outlook)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The demand for new communication options will continue to grow, predicts the National Association for Printing Leadership, Paramus, New Jersey. An NAPL survey of 145 printing companies found, for example, that digital printing is expected to...

Heavy hand of health insurance. (Data Dispatch).(top concern of small business )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The high cost of health insurance is the biggest problem faced by small businesses, according to a survey by SMC Business Councils. The Pittsburgh-based trade association representing small business employers in central and western Pennsylvania...

Chicago Survey uncovers strategic membership data. (Allied News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... A comprehensive membership survey conducted by the Association Forum of Chicago-land will be used by the ASAE partner allied society to improve member products and services. Data uncovered by the email survey, conducted by Chicago-based...

Helping seattle's homeless. (Service Salute).(Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, Washington)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, Bellevue, Washington, takes full advantage of members' specialized skills in finding ways to give back to the community. Through its Master Builders Care Foundation, MBA--the...

Daily convention spending. (Data Dispatch).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... DATA DISPATCH Daily Convention Spending International, Overall national, State and average regional events local...

Brave new board: reinvigorating governance to reach unprecedented goals.
June 1, 2003... BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF AMERICA (BBBSA), PHILADELPHIA, IS ON A ROLL, which may be a bit surprising to many observers in the not-for-profit world. Just a few years later, the national board of BBBSA is talking about serving I million...

Incubating a new model of service delivery: A local agency pilots the national board's agenda.(Interview)
June 1, 2003... A five-year strategic plan launched in 2000 by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA), Philadelphia, called for a dramatically expanded mission for the organization: By 2010, male a million mentoring matches between adults and the children...

Online's complementary fit: the electronic medium finds its places in publishing.(association publications)
June 1, 2003... WHEN RADIO ARRIVED, SOME DOOMSAYERS PREDICTED THE EXTINCTION OF books. Didn't happen. Years later, some critics of a new technology known as television foresaw the death of radio. Didn't happen. And more recently, online publishing seemed to...

Process and results: human performance improvement identifies causes--and solutions.
June 1, 2003... WITH BUDGETS TIGHTER THAN EVER, associations are under greater pressure to be accountable for results and deliver value to members. Thus, the ability to generate solutions has never been more important than it is now. One particular...

An effective advocate: here's how the Consumer Electronics Association tackles--and often wins--public policy challenges.
June 1, 2003... REMEMBER THE SONY BETAMAX, THE FIRST VIDEO-cassette recorder? Back in 1981, a ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court in San Francisco made it illegal for consumers to purchase and use such VCRs. That's when the Consumer Electronics Association...

Mind your merger: when consolidating forces, effective communication is key.
June 1, 2003... "If a window of opportunity appears, don't pull down the shade." -- TOM PETERS THE INSATIABLE DRIVE FOR EFFICIENCY AND INNOVATION AS well as the increasing acceleration of changing member demographics, deregulation, global trade, and...

Collaboration, competition, or cannibalism? A personal perspective: with 150,000 associations nationwide, we all can't be that different, special, and unrelated. Would more mergers bring greater value?
June 1, 2003... WITH THEIR NUMBERS IN THE VICINITY of 150,000, it seems that associations have sliced and diced the nation's trades, professions, and causes into every niche imaginable. With up to 1,000 new associations joining the ranks each year, one has to...

Outsourcing the small stuff. (Operations).
June 1, 2003... It is common knowledge that many small-staff association outsource such integral business components as legal services, pension administration, and Web site design and development. Nevertheless, staffs often work on projects that turn out to be...

Free content for the small-staff executive. (Resources).(association administration newsletters online)(Brief Article)(Directory)
June 1, 2003... For the executive in need of content but who doesn't have the funds to purchase the latest newsletters, there are plenty of resources out there that don't cost a penny. Following are just a few places to go for free newsletters and other...

The ins and outs of Association Law. (ASAE Resource).(legal guidebook Associations and the Law)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... As wearers of many hats, small-staff executives need to be aware of the law as it applies to associations. Many such executives look forward to the "Legal" column in ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT each and every month. That's why ASAE has produced...

Setting up a legislative day. (Government Relations).
June 1, 2003... One of the best ways to get members connected to the legislative process and their legislators is to plan a day at the capitol. A legislative day is a great lobbying tool; having a group of members arrive at the capital en masse can make an...

Making the call on international chapters. (Globalization).
June 1, 2003... Before you start developing international chapters, what questions should you be asking? Many associations that failed to establish criteria in advance have experienced frustration in trying to meet the needs of global members, Some...

The state of the trade show. (Trends).(Inside the Storm: Facing the Challenges to Trade Show Attendance)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... A report on trade show attendance released in December 2002 by Frost Miller Group, Bethesda, Maryland, and Jacobs, Jenner Kent, Baltimore, proved to be so thought-provoking that the two organizations are gleaning more information from the...

Where do you look for sources of inspiration to improve your organization? (CEO to CEO).
June 1, 2003... Q: Where do you look for sources of inspiration to improve your organization? As a prolific reader, I find inspiration in everything I read. Because I am a keen observer of people and pay close attention to what they say and do, you also...

How do you address the issue of raises for longtime employees who have reached the top salary for their positions? (CEO to CEO).
June 1, 2003... Q: How do you address the issue of raises for longtime employees who have reached the top salary for their positions? We have just reached a point where we are considering establishing upper salary ranges or limits To keep and reward our...

AMC Accreditation Program. (Programs).
June 1, 2003... The AMC Accreditation Program identifies and assesses quality association management companies and improves the quality of services provided to the association community. For more information, e-mail amc-accred@asaenet.org.

Associations advance America Awards. (Programs).
June 1, 2003... A broad awareness campaign designed to impress upon people the value of associations, both to their individual and corporate members and to the larger society. E-mail aaa@asaenet.org; or visit www.asaenet.org/AAA/AAAawards.

CAE program. (Programs).
June 1, 2003... The CAE program is designed to elevate professional standards, enhance individual performance, and designate those who demonstrate knowledge essential to the practice of association management. For more information, call 202-626-2770; e-mail...

Global advocacy. (Programs).
June 1, 2003... Associations Make A Better World is a global awareness campaign to help associations promote the value of our industry worldwide. To learn more, check out www.asaenet.org/betterworld, where you can download a free brochure and logo. Questions?...

Audiotapes. (Products).
June 1, 2003... Audiotapes of the recorded ASAE Knowledge Network sessions and select annual meeting and Management and Technology Conferences and Exposition sessions can be purchased through ASAE's Member Service Center by phone: 202-371-0240 or 888-950-ASAE;...

ASAE's bookstore. (Books).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... ASAE's bookstore provides association executives with a comprehensive collection of practical, up-to-date, and innovative management and leadership resources. All members receive a free ASAE publications catalog. For extra copies, please...

Allied societies directory. (Services).
June 1, 2003... A state-by-state listing of ASAE-affiliated societies. Go to www.asaenet.org/Gateway/AlliedDir.

ASAE-assist. (Services).
June 1, 2003... An online tool for answering members' research requests. ASAE's bibliographic database contains abstracts for articles, books, surveys, and much more. Visit www.asaenet.org/research.

ASAE foundation. (Services).
June 1, 2003... The foundation is the leading resource to help association industry leaders become catalysts for change and innovation. To get more information, visit www.asaefoundation.org.

AskASAE. (Services).
June 1, 2003... AskASAE is an online repository of answers to frequently asked questions about association management issues. Go to www.asaenet.org and click on "Ask ASAE" in the left navigational column. You must be a registered member of the ASAE Web site to...

Association peer review. (Services).
June 1, 2003... ASAE's association peer review is a two-and-a-half day comprehensive analysis that measures the organization's overall performance and impact and identifies opportunities for growth, improved market share, and elevated member service. For more...

Industry research. (Services).
June 1, 2003... Studies of current practices and norms in association management and the association industry provide relevant benchmarking data on topics such as compensation, benefits, technology, meetings, education, governance, publishing, AMCs, and more....

Knowledge networks. (Services).
June 1, 2003... Most sections of ASAE sponsor knowledge networks. All sessions are held at the ASAE Conference Center, Washington, D.C., unless otherwise noted; many are audioconferenced. Nonsection members are welcome to attend. For the current Knowledge...

Library. (Services).
June 1, 2003... If you're in Washington, D.C., make an appointment to visit ASAE's library, housed in the Information Central department and open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Here you'll find books, monographs, samples, and resource...

Networking listservers. (Services).
June 1, 2003... ASAE listservers (e-mail lists) offer members a convenient means of exchanging ideas and information with their colleagues. Each ASAE professional interest section hosts at least one listserver and, as a member, you can subscribe to any or all...

Virtual seminars. (Services).
June 1, 2003... Presented in conjunction with KRM Information Services, these highly interactive and moderated telephone conferences give you the opportunity to participate without leaving the comfort of your office. Handouts can be delivered to your desk or...

Special rates for ASAE members. (Services).
June 1, 2003... ASAE members can benefit from a variety of affinity programs and services. To learn more, call the numbers below or go to www.asaenet.org/services. * Airborne Express program. Save on domestic and international shipping with Airborne...

Association convention cancellation. (Insurance Services).
June 1, 2003... Gulf Insurance and Aon Association Services can protect your association against loss of revenue resulting from the cancellation of a convention or meeting. Call 800-453-5191.

Association directors and officers liability. (Insurance Services).
June 1, 2003... Protect the assets of your association and its board members with coverage from The Hartford and Aon Association Services. Call 800-453-5191.

Association insurance consulting services. (Insurance Services).
June 1, 2003... Evaluate and improve insurance coverages, and identify and implement association-sponsored insurance programs for your members. Call Ed Armstrong at 202-626-2869.

Association management company professional liability. (Insurance Services).
June 1, 2003... With this policy, protect your exposure and that of the associations you manage. Call Aon Association Services at 800-453-5191.

Association office package. (Insurance Services).
June 1, 2003... Competitive rates offered from The Hartford and Aon Association Services for protection of property, general liability, business interruption, computer systems, automobile liability, crime/employee dishonesty, and workers' compensation. Call...

Specialized professional liability. (Insurance Services).
June 1, 2003... MIMS International's professional liability errors and omissions coverage is profession specific and can create a nondues revenue source. Call 800-899-1399.

Standard setting errors and omissions liability. (Insurance Services).
June 1, 2003... Protection against claims for financial loss, contingent bodily injury and property damage, unintentional discrimination, copyright infringement, misappropriation of ideas, and more. Call Medial Professional Insurance at 816-471-6118.

Voluntary employee benefits. (Insurance Services).
June 1, 2003... Earn nondues revenue while offering employee-paid insurance benefits. Call Aon Worksite Solutions at 800-704-0195.

Technology continues transforming associations.
June 1, 2003... With war, economic woes, and worldwide turmoil, association executives have their share of hot-button issues to contend with. Technology issues may not be exactly top-of-mind. But at the same time, it's technology that is quietly making steady...

Launching a lively listserver: selling the concept, setting it up, and securing participants.
June 1, 2003... YOUR BOARD IS SEEKING AN ONGOING MEANS TO CONNECT MEMBERS with members--to encourage members to participate in an ongoing exchange of questions, solutions, lessons learned, industry information, and more. You are confident that a listserver is...

.NET: what's the buzz about?
June 1, 2003... Chances are you've head of .NET event if you can't put your finger on exactly what it is. Don't feel alone. Most executives, even the technical types, struggle with a definitive description of .NET. Jeff Iones, developer evangelist....

Technology archive.
June 1, 2003... Need a technology tutorial on an application or function that you are considering for your association? ASAE's publications cover everything from technology basics to the latest industry buzz. Articles and columns published in ASSOCIATION...

Company listings. (Directory).
June 1, 2003... All listings in this directory are paid listings, with information provided by each company. * A+ Conferencing 8401 Westheimer Rd., #100 Houston, TX 77063 Michael Burns, President 888-239-3969 fax: 713-780-5931 ...

Rowing to win. (Keeping Your Edge).
June 1, 2003... WHO? Evelyn F. Ireland, CAE WHAT? Executive Director WHERE? National Association of Dental Plans, Dallas WHEN? Since 1992 Q: How did you become interested in rowing? A: At the gym in Austin where I did weight training, I...