GSAE eNewsletter

Member News

James Gauntt Retires as RTA Executive Director

As executive director of the Railway Tie Association since 1995, James Gauntt has spent more than 25 years working to ensure the industry remains safe, efficient and, in few words, the best it can be. With a career spanning more than 40 years, he has amassed a remarkable record of success, including publishing RTA’s Crossties magazine, conducting training sessions on tie grading, and hosting the RTA Annual Symposium and Technical Conference. Gauntt is also the published author of numerous articles, papers and publications on the subject of wood tie research and treated wood tie performance, and is a frequent speaker on wood preserving and tie industry subjects.

Lowell Aplebaum, CAE, CPF Named ASAE Fellow

Congratulations to GSAE's own Beer Bros. Lowell (Low El) Aplebaum, CAE, CPF for being named a 2020 ASAE Fellow. The ASAE Fellows program is an honorary recognition bestowed upon less than 1% of ASAE's membership. It is also a call to continued service as authors, mentors, conference facilitators, and leaders within the association community.

Jeff Jowdy Named to Troy University Sorrell College Advisory Counsel

Congratulations to Jeff Jowdy, Lighthouse Counsel, for being named to the Sorrell College of Business Executive Advisory Council. The Advisory Council is composed of select business and civic leaders who strongly support Troy University and the Sorrell College of Business. Learn more.

Julie Anderson, CAE Earns MBA

Congratulations to Julie Anderson, CAE, MBA for completing the Executive MBA program through the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business. Julie is the Director, Administration, Governance & Membership for the American College of Rheumatology.

Erica Powell Grier, CMP Earns MPA

Congratulations to Erica Powell Grier, CMP, MPA for earning her Masters of Public Administration from Clemson University. Erica serves as the Conferences and Events Manager at the Georgia Municipal Association.

Members on the Move

Ashley Goodin, CAE has accepted the role of Executive Director of the Railroad Tie Association, effective May 1. Jim Gauntt, the retiring Executive Director, will work alongside Ashley in a consulting capacity. Ashley most recently served as the Technical Director for the Architectural Woodwork Institute. He began his career in association management with the AWI Quality Certification Program in early 2009 after owning and operating a small construction and millwork company for ten years. Ashley currently serves as Treasurer on the GSAE Board of Directors.

Amy Kane, CAE, MBA has joined Associated Builders & Contractors of Georgia as Vice President of Education, Safety and Operations. Amy joins the team as Pat Dunwoody, CAE retires this month. Amy most recently served as Director, Continuing Medical Education for the American College of Rheumatology. Amy currently serves as co-chair of the GSAE Wine & Webinars SIG.

In addition, Amy has earned her Executive MBA from Emory University's Goizueta Business School. Congratulations!

Thomas Kislat has started a new position as the Director of Membership & Entrepreneurial Development at Rome Floyd Chamber. Thomas was previously Sales Manager at Georgia's Rome.

Chattanooga Online Auction Supports Local Community

The We Love Chattanooga Auction was launched by the Chattanooga Tourism Company and River City Company to assist local businesses that have been impacted by COVID-10 and recent tornadoes. Local companies are auctioning and/or selling goods and services and gift certificates. The auction is open through 6:00 PM EST on May 12, 2020, and anyone can bid or buy an item. Learn more and view items.

Georgia World Congress Center Transforms into Temporary Hospital

The Georgia World Congress Center converted an exhibit hall into a 200-bed alternate care facility to treat moderate illness levels and alleviate pressure on the hospitals and healthcare resources. Learn more.

GSAE News & Events

Free Webinar: Legal Governance Challenges for Associations During a Pandemic

May 13, 2020
2:00-3:00 PM
Sponsored by GSAE and hosted by the Association Societies Alliance (ASA)
Register today

In addition to its effects on association planned in-person meetings and conferences, the COVID-19 pandemic has also greatly impacted association governance.

From canceled membership meetings to virtual board meetings to online elections to an inability to meet governance requirements imposed by law, bylaws or policy, associations are struggling to find answers to a host of pressing governance questions.

As membership and board governance issues are so critical to the healthy functioning of an association – and as this is a very complex, nuanced area of the law, and one that varies from state to state – this is an important webinar that promises to offer real-time, practical advice and guidance, best practices, and suggestions for avoiding pitfalls. Speaker: Jeff Tenenbaum, Esq.

Free Webinar: Growing Non-Dues Revenue in Times of Crisis & Beyond

May 13, 2020
2:00-3:00 PM
Hosted by Naylor Association Solutions and presented by Laura Taylor & John Bacon, MBA
Register today

It's no secret that the COVID-19 crisis is impacting all industries and professions. Join us for this one-hour, CAE-eligible webinar as we walk through revenue generators that you can start using today to get back on track, and why your advertisers and sponsors are looking to you for opportunities to reach their audience.

We'll cover how to grow your non-dues revenue through:

Expanding your digital communications strategy,
Exploring new tools and channels,
Opening more targeted opportunities for advertisers and sponsors,
And helping your advertisers and sponsors temporarily shift their messaging.

Non-dues revenue is a driving force for your association. Let us help discover what seeds you can plant now to help grow your NDR now and in the future.

Can't make it to the live event? Don't worry! Register and we'll send you the recording.

Virtual SIG Meetings

Mark your calendars for our upcoming virtual SIG meetings:

May 14, 4:30 PM - Suppler Council Happy Hour
May 20, 2:00 PM - Meetings SIG - Retaining Sponsors and Adding Value
May 20, 5:00 PM - Pajama Brigade Virtual Happy Hour
May 21, 4:00 PM - Virtual Member Orientation
May 28, 5:00 PM - Wine & Webinar SIG

These events are free and open to our community. Check out the GSAE calendar for all upcoming events.

Annual Meeting Moves to August 26-28, 2020

August 26-28 at the Hyatt Regency Savannah
Up to 11 CAE hours with a pre-con workshop (9 without)
Use this downloadable form to register multiple people from the same organization.
Register today for new registrations (If you previously registered, your registration has been automatically transferred to the August dates.)
Reserve your room at the Hyatt Regency Savannah (be sure to adjust your check-in and out dates accordingly)
Sponsor & Exhibitor Rock Star Map, provided by Map Dynamics

Registration Pricing:

Registration for GSAE association executive member or other state, local or regional SAE member - $399
Registration for GSAE corporate supplier member - $659-$909
Registration for additional attendee from same organization - $299

Webinars: $45 per Credit Hour

Live webinars are worth 1 CAE hour. Did you know? More than 94 CAE-qualifying recorded webinars are available 24/7 on our GSAE website.

News Briefs

2020 CAE Renewal Adjustments

In light of COVID-19, the CAE Commission has made a few adjustments for those renewing their CAE in 2020:

The renewal deadline has been extended from December 31, 2020, to March 31, 2021.
The cap on self-study has been lifted. All 40 credits needed for renewal may be taken through any amount of live and/or approved self-study courses.
The early-renewal discount will be extended to completed renewals submitted through March 31, 2021. The discounted renewal fee is $275 for ASAE members and $425 for nonmembers.

These additional options apply only to the renewal cycle for those originally due to renew by December 2020. Learn more.

2020 Association Communications Benchmarking Study

The 2020 Association Communications Benchmarking Study is now open, and we would like to invite our members to participate in this important study. In an effort to help associations understand how others in their community are navigating communications in the COVID-19 climate, specific questions about the impact of the coronavirus have been added.

We also know people are hungry for information and, now more than ever, are in need of recommendations on strategies and tactics for their member communications, so we’ll be releasing the 2020 comprehensive report in June, two months earlier than usual.

We hope that you will give us your input to help shape the report into an insightful and relevant study for the entire association community.

The survey will remain open through May 29. To get started, simply log in to your account, or if you’re new to the platform, please take a moment to sign up.

This year, for every respondent that takes at least 50% of the survey, Naylor will donate $10 to the World Central Kitchen’s #ChefsForAmerica COVID-19 program. For more information visit https://wck.org/chefsforamerica.

We greatly appreciate your time and participation. Please reach out to the Naylor team with any questions.

Georgia Society of Association Executives