Online registration coming soon!
Sponsorship opportunity available!

The BlackBerry Breakdown: What Went Wrong, What's Next and What Association Leaders Can Learn, Jeff De Cagna, FRSA, FASAE

It was not that long ago when BlackBerry (formerly Research in Motion) was at the apex of its success and influence, not just in the realm of technology, but throughout the world. Today, however, BlackBerry faces a highly uncertain future due largely to the failure of its key decision-makers to understand the marketplace, the competition and even its own customers.

This talk will share the story of how BlackBerry lost its way, and tease out the critical lessons that association leaders must learn to avoid making the same mistakes. Participants will develop a much stronger understanding of the strategic and business model thinking required to help their organizations capitalize on intense and accelerating societal transformation.

Jeff De Cagna, FRSA, FASAE is chief strategist and founder of Principled Innovation LLC and the association community’s leading voice for innovation. After serving as an association executive for more than a decade, Jeff founded Principled Innovation LLC in 2002 to challenge association boards, CEOs and C-Suite executives to build their organizations to thrive in an uncertain future. He is an author, speaker and advisor to associations across North America and around the world. Read more about Jeff here.

Schedule
8:30 - 11:30 am - Passing The Amazon Test: Thinking Differently about New Value Creation ($89 for GSAE members)- 3 CAE hours
10:30-11:30 am - New Member Orientation (open to all new and prospective members)
11:00-12:00 - Participation Fair & Networking Reception
12:00 - 1:30 pm - Luncheon & Keynote featuring Jeff De Cagna, FRSA, FASAE
1:30 - 2:30 pm - Volunteer Orientation

Cost
GSAE Member: $25 Early Bird; $40 Late
GSAE Guest: $35 Early Bird; $50 Late

Workshop: Passing The Amazon Test: Thinking Differently about New Value Creation
Among the world's leading companies, Amazon has set the standard for creating high value customer experiences through on-going innovation, and association stakeholders will measure their association experiences against this standard. To thrive in this challenging context, association decision-makers must identify the next practices that will make it possible for their organizations to pass "The Amazon Test."

This interactive workshop will challenge participants to think differently about creating new value, driving innovation and engaging stakeholders in meaningful collaboration. Participants will emerge with an actionable understanding of what it will take to build their associations to thrive over the next decade and beyond.

Thank you to our host property:
Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Downtown
Jacquelyn Peterson, Senior Sales Manager

Luncheon Sponsorships still available! (Download the sponsorship opportunities brochure. Form is page 8)

GSAE is a CAE Approved Provider.  This program meets the requirements for fulfilling the professional development requirements to earn or maintain the Certified Association Executive credential.  Every program that we offer which qualifies for CAE credit will clearly identify the number of CAE credits granted for full participation, and we will maintain records of your participation in accord with CAE policies.  For more information about the CAE credential or Approved Provider program, please visit www.whatiscae.org.

As a CAE Approved Provider educational program related to the CAE exam content outline, this luncheon program may be applied for 1 credit and the workshop may be applied for 3 credits, for a total of 4 credits toward your CAE application or renewal professional development requirements if you attend both.

Note: This program is not endorsed, accredited, or affiliated with ASAE or the CAE program.  Applicants may use any program that meets eligibility requirements in the specific timeframe towards the exam application or renewal.  There are no specific individual courses required as part of the applications – selection of eligible education is up to the applicant based on his/her needs.

 

• Prices: $295 association executive; $350 corporate supplier member; special pricing for additional staff is $195.
• $169 room rate, run of house at the Francis Marion Hotel. Book your room today!
• 3 pre-conference workshops.
• Keynotes by Shelly Alcorn, CAE, Reggie Henry, CAE, and Sarah Levitt, Executive Coach.
  
• Breakout sessions feature CEO, specialist and senior staff education and a special technology track.
• 3K charity run Friday morning.
• Silent Auction & Sponsor Lounge.
• Ends by noon on Friday.
• Registration coming in January 2015.
  

 

In our latest episode of GSAEtv industry leaders — including our very own Beth Chitnis, CAE, Mike Pennington, CAE, and Russ Lemieux — share their best practices for motivating members and getting them engaged within the association.

 

Mr. Charles "Chuck" Lewis Brandon, age 76, of Acworth, GA, passed away on December 28, 2014. A native of Pontotoc, MS, Mr. Brandon was born on September 17, 1938, the son of the late William Charles and Lorrene Elizabeth Sneed Brandon. He was a 1960 graduate of Mississippi College in Clinton, MS. He was a lifetime Jaycee and a member of the Senator's Crew. He organized the first Special Olympics in Tulsa, OK. Chuck gave many motivational speeches to youth groups and prayer breakfasts with many churches and state conventions. He was a former member & deacon of the Wildwood Baptist Church.  Read the full obituary here.

 

Mrs. Doris Shaw Jefferson, 74, of Roanoke, Alabama passed away December 12, 2014, at West Georgia Medical Center in LaGrange. Mrs. Jefferson was born September 2, 1940 in LaGrange, wife of the late Bob Hoyt Jefferson, and daughter of the late John Andrew Shaw and Lera Voice McDaniel.

Ms. Jefferson provided executive services during her decade long employment with Association Services Group located in LaGrange, from 2001-2011. Along with Keep Troup Beautiful she proudly handled Southeastern Society of American Foresters, Georgia Commercial Flower Growers Association and Georgia Sanitary Suppliers Association. Ms. Jefferson’s final service was as executive director of Keep Troup Beautiful from 2011 until her death.  You may read her full obituary here.

 

The Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia is pleased to announce that Michael T. Walsh, CAE, has accepted the position of Chief Executive Officer of the association.  Mr. Walsh is expected to take the helm on January 19.
 
"IIAG's Board worked together diligently to identify the best candidate to lead us into the future," said Jackson Sherrill, IIAG President.  "After a two-month search and extensive interview process, it became crystal clear to all of us that Mike Walsh was the right leader for our association."
 
Walsh comes to IIAG with over 34 years of association management experience, including 22 years as CEO of two state trade associations and over 12 years with two national fraternity headquarters. Since 2006 he has served as Executive Director of the Georgia Chiropractic Association.  From 1990 to 2003 Mr. Walsh was Executive Director of the Independent Insurance Agents of Kentucky. 

 

Congratulations to Leigh Beakley, Director; Personal Membership Services, Georgia Hospital Association and Katie Brown, Members Services & Communications Manager, Associated Builders & Contractors of Georgia!  Leigh won a $30 gift card to Chipotle and Katie won the iPad Mini!  And, a big thank you to all the executives who completed the Meeting & Purchasing Guide Survey - your input is invaluable to our corporate supplier community.

 

After leaving Coral Hospitality in April 2014, Paula Fronimo has returned as the Regional Sales Manager for the hotel group.  She may be reached at (770) 696-9050 or PFronimo@coralhospitality.com.

 

It's never too early to start thinking of ways to expand your GSAE involvement!  If you'd like to join a Committee(s) or SIG(s) before the February luncheon, simply email GSAE.

GSAE Committees: Engage, Connect, Support
We understand your time is valuable, and we strive to make volunteer service convenient and rewarding. From welcoming new members to helping experienced ones prepare for the CAE exam, planning the educational programming to making recommendations to the Board of Directors, GSAE volunteers truly do the work of the organization.  You may learn more about our Committees here.

GSAE's Shared Interest Groups (SIGs) offer one of the best resources for association executives and professionals.  These self-directed groups of GSAE members focus on a particular area and delve into various topics within that area.  In addition to learning from the "experts" in a particular area of interest, GSAE's SIGs offer members a place to discuss with peers issues of personal relevance.  You may learn more about our Shared Interest Groups here.

Committees		Shared Interest Groups
CAE Study Group		Technology
Meet & Greet		Atlanta-area YourMembership.com Users Group
Membership		Communications
New Member Welcome & Orientation		Education/Certification
Peer Connections		Emerging Professionals
Professional Development		Government Relations
Silent Auction		Meetings
Supplier Council		Small Association Staff
Table Hosts
Web Warriors

 

Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Webinar - The Art of Leadership: Unleashing Your Inner Superhero
Published by Texas Society of Association Executives and Georgia Society of Association Executives
Time: 2 – 3 pm EST
$45 for Members

Summary
The greatest difference between leadership and management is that while management is denoted by title, leadership is an art and may be demonstrated at any level in the organization. In fact, over 90% of leadership occurs from the middle, not the top of the organization. This fun, interactive, and practical session will provide an opportunity for participants to learn how to motivate, engage and inspire others, leverage individual and team strengths, create a culture of accountability, and influence others to action. Read More.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015
GSAE Board of Directors Meeting
Time: 9:30-11:30 am
 
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
T.E.A. (Tax Exempt Association) Group Luncheon - "The Fraud-Resistant Organization: Tools, Traits and Techniques to Deter and Detect Financial Reporting Fraud" - $25
11:15-1:00 p.m.
Maggiano's - 3368 Peachtree Road
RSVP by January 22 to mca@joneskolb.com or (404) 262-7920

Thursday, April 02, 2015
GSAE Board of Directors Meeting
Time: 9:30-11:30 am

 

To help you plan your professional development year, GSAE’s current calendar of events is available below.  We will offer more than 25 hours of CAE-matched programming this year.  GSAE is a Preferred CAE Provider through the CAE Commission.  Our list of events is always available online at www.gsae.org (Learn/Calendar View).   Various Shared Interest Group meetings and webinars will be added throughout the year.  We look forward to seeing you in 2015!

• April 15 - GSAE Quarterly Luncheon at Sonesta Gwinnett Place - sponsorship opportunity available
  
• May 27-29 - GSAE Annual Meeting in Charleston, South Carolina - Book your room today!  Sponsorship opportunities available
• July 8 - GSAE Summer Luncheon at Sheraton Suites Galleria - sponsorship opportunity available
• Sep. 16 - GSAE Quarterly Luncheon, The Abit Massey Lecture Series - hosting opportunity available
• Nov. 11 - GSAE Tradeshow & Quarterly Luncheon - hosting & sponsorship opportunities available
• Dec. 9 - GSAE Holiday Luncheon, Awards Show & Silent Auction - hosting & sponsorship opportunities available
  

 

GSAE's connections magazine themes have been set for 2015 and we'd love to hear from you if your organization has a story to share!  Themes for the upcoming editions are: Winter – The Data-Driven Association; Spring – Embracing the Generational Shift (Bonus Distribution Annual Meeting Issue!); Summer – Volunteers; Fall – Leadership.  If you'd like to be featured for your organization's work in these areas, please contact Wendy.

 

GSAE is committed to building a sense of community within the association management profession and among our corporate supplier members. We strive to provide you with the relevant information, professional development opportunities, and access to resources you need to be better at your job.

(Editorial note:  One of our newest tools is a fancy new website and AMS system. This is both a yikes and a yay moment for GSAE staff. It’s got a lot of bells and whistles to help us build community and provide resources, but we are still learning the ins and outs - and the tips and tricks and work arounds- to manage it most effectively.  We promise we won’t panic if you won’t when we tell you . . . it’s time to renew your GSAE dues.)

STEPS to Renew Online for the Curious and Adventurous
1.  Click the following link to login to your profile: http://www.gsae.org/login.aspx.  (Or cut and paste it into your preferred browser).

Your login credentials:
Your username remains unchanged (if you can't remember, email us)
Default Password – gsae123 (unless you have logged in and changed it since November 25, 2014)

2.  The profile screen will offer options to update your record and to verify your profile settings and contact info (Click on profile at the top of the page)

• Take a moment to upload your current headshot (the online community will launch in January!).

3.  Click on the Renew Your Membership Now link in the center of your screen.
4.  The 2015 dues amount will appear at the top of the next screen. The billing address info will auto fill with your work address if you click the button above billing information.
5.  Scroll down to the radio button next to Payment Type and select either credit card to pay now or the bill me option to send a check.
6.  Success! Print your receipt or invoice screen as needed.

STEPS if You Just Want to Pay Your Dues Online Right Now
1.  Pay amount based on your membership type:

• Association Exec 1 - $195; Association Exec 2-3 - $150; Association Exec 4 plus - $125
• Corporate 1 - $300; Corporate 2 plus - $250
• Affiliate - $83
• Retired - $32.50
  

2.    Link to pay the appropriate amount: https://payments.affinipay.com/bpl/cyd0530103

If you’d like one invoice to renew multiple members from your office or if you’d like to add additional staff for 2015, please email Wendy. 

 

Since their foundational report was released seven years ago, McKinley’s EIA study has become a widely-used tool and resource in understanding how associations adjust to ever-changing economic conditions and compare to peer organizations. As in the past, all participants in the project will receive an executive summary of the survey results, implications, and longitudinal trends.
 
This short survey focuses on association performance and decision-making in 2014 as well as the outlook for 2015. In this year’s survey, McKinley will also explore effective practices related to research, strategy, and governance. Here is the link to the confidential questionnaire, which should take under 15 minutes to complete: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/1950268/McKinleyAdvisors-2015EIAStudy

 

The event is open to any association executive, staff member, or leadership volunteer that is passionate about association issues and wants to make a difference, as well as meet and network with fellow advocates from across the country.

There is no registration fee for this event. Additionally, a scholarship is available for attendees who make Hill visits that are from outside the DC-metro area. To RSVP for this year’s fly-in contact Rob Magleby, ASAE public policy manager at (202) 626-2719 or rmagleby@asaecenter.org.

To book a hotel in the ASAE room block at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, click here. The deadline for the ASAE room block is Friday, February 13.

 

The Internal Revenue Service issued the optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.  Beginning on Jan. 1, 2015, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

    57.5 cents per mile for business miles driven
    23 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes
    14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations

The standard mileage rate for business is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile, including depreciation, insurance, repairs, tires, maintenance, gas and oil. The rate for medical and moving purposes is based on the variable costs, such as gas and oil. The charitable rate is set by law. For more information, visit the IRS website.

 

Monday, January 26 is Community Manager Appreciation Day, and to celebrate, The Community Roundtable and Higher Logic are sponsoring gatherings in six cities, including Atlanta. Please join us for this complimentary event at Vino Venue,Georgetown Shopping Center, 4478 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody from 5:30 to 7:30 pm to network, share ideas,and pick up some #CMAD related surprises.

The Community Roundtable and Higher Logic will also give people a sneak preview of the Community Manager Handbook, their newest publication, which features profiles and input from 20 experienced "community manager superheroes."Similar events are planned in Boston, New York, Washington DC, San Francisco and Milwaukee.Register now at http://bit.ly/cmad2015. For more information, contact Laura Brook of Engaging Communities Consulting, laura@engagingcommunities.net.

 

Eventeract returns on May 12 - 13, 2015 at Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMart.

Coming in 2015!

• Streamlined education sessions, followed by dedicated exhibit floor hours featuring one-on-one appointments
• Streamlined exhibit pricing and enhanced appointment software
• Hands-on, interactive workshops for continuing education, including master classes with industry leading experts

 

Naylor Association Solutions is excited to announce that it has acquired Timberlake Membership Software, a leading provider of association management software (AMS) solutions to associations and non-profit organizations.

Naylor has a strong focus and expertise in delivering and monetizing print and digital content, managing events, delivering career center solutions and providing turnkey services for all three. In a complementary fashion, Timberlake’s AMS solution provides associations with a set of tools to manage their member and industry data to help them fulfill their mission.

The combined companies serve 1,800+ associations, with more than 20 distinct product offerings. For more information about the Timberlake AMS please contact Charles Popper, Vice President, Association Relations at 407-258-8862 or via email at cpopper@naylor.com.