Associations Trends Talk Blog – Avoiding Legal Pitfalls For Associations

Ewald welcomed nonprofit attorney Heidi Christianson and Senior Financial Analyst Sarah Ruzek, from Nilan Johnston Lewis, in a conversation about legal trends and pitfalls to avoid as associations plan for 2023. The conversation covered the return of in-person events and expanded methods of creating and delivering member value.

Here are a few key takeaways:

• 2022 is the year of the “current employee,” meaning that employers have faced unprecedented challenges in employee recruitment & retention. If you’re an association leader, and you haven’t updated your employee handbook in the last few years, prioritize a refresh. Organizations have added newer items like home office budgets, which are legally required in some states. Talk to your employees and work with them to determine what is necessary.

• Although collaboration between associations was common prior to the pandemic, the trend toward mergers, joint ventures, and affiliations is increasing. Be sure to review any contracts around these collaborative efforts carefully. Heidi and Sarah emphasized that many small details can be looked over, so put the extra review effort in upfront.

• Mental health and addiction issues have worsened for many during the pandemic. This can create challenging scenarios for associations whose priority is to care for their members while actioning their strategic plan. Events can be particularly difficult to navigate for associations that want to create an inclusive environment where people can safely connect. A”Sherpa” can be a helpful addition to an event team, to plan for and address any potentially challenging issues

Our next Associations Trends Talk will feature Suzanne Berry of Block & Reed Association Advisors and David Tabak Tabak of Nonprofit Strategies on the topic: Avoiding Conflicts with Your Board; What to Do When You Can’t Panel, streaming live on January 18. Be on the lookout for more information!

If you missed it, or want to relive the action, the webinar is available here for free.