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Yearly Wrap-Up With David Ewald 2023

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In this episode we welcome back David Ewald, CEO of Ewald Consulting, to review association trends of 2023 and discuss what we may see in 2024.

Takeaways:

  1. Hybrid Events are (Still) Here to Stay

Hybrid events, combining in-person and virtual components, have evolved into a significant and lasting trend. The adoption of virtual meetings, particularly during the pandemic, has demonstrated the benefits of extending reach, accessibility, and flexibility. Organizations now see the value of offering hybrid options, providing attendees with the choice to participate in-person or virtually, making events more inclusive and reaching a broader audience.

  1. The Future of Technology in Associations

The discussion emphasizes the need for associations to stay on top of technological advancements beyond just AI. David anticipates continued evolution of mobile technology in the association space, encouraging organizations to embrace and optimize the mobile experience for members. Additionally, the potential integration of virtual reality in conferences and events is highlighted, posing a question about the future possibility of attending virtual meetings using VR technology. The constant evolution of technology is seen as a significant factor that associations must navigate to stay relevant and effectively serve their members.

  1. Ongoing Challenges and Strategies for Associations

David underscores the enduring challenges faced by associations, such as budget constraints, changing demographics, and the need to diversify revenue streams. As associations navigate these challenges, the focus is on maintaining financial stability and operational effectiveness. Strategies discussed include meeting members where they are, understanding and adapting to demographic shifts, and finding innovative ways to generate revenue. Associations are encouraged to proactively address these ongoing challenges to ensure their sustainability and continued impact in the years ahead. Organizations also continue to face changes in workplace dynamics as we continue to determine what work will look like post-lockdown. All these things are important for associations to consider as they set goals for and navigate 2024.

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Associations Next: How Content Can Enhance Your Mission

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In this episode, we welcome back Mike McIntee, Director of Content Development and Management at Ewald Consulting. We review why content is crucial for modern associations, and go over some of the projects the content team has completed in the past year. People are the most important part of what we’re doing as associations—and the right content can bring the enthusiasm and buy-in we need to succeed.  

Takeaways: 

  1. Content is a tool for engaging and connecting with members by making information memorable. Content development includes various mediums, such as video and audio podcasts, to break through the daily email clutter and capture members’ attention using strong storytelling. Surveys tell us that people who watch these videos have a more positive attitude toward the association. 
  2. Virtual content should be better than a Zoom meeting. You can elevate the virtual engagement experience for members, especially in a post-COVID world. High-quality livestreaming experiences feel more like television programs rather than standard Zoom meetings. This approach aims to connect remote viewers with the live event, making it more enjoyable and interactive. 
  3. There so much more to explore. Just some of the ideas discussed include “hype videos” to build anticipation for events, using animation to explain concepts, and using informative videos to attract individuals to careers or industries they might not have considered. 

 

 

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ATT: AI – The Untapped Potential For Associations

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AI: The Untapped Potential for Associations 

 

Ewald Consulting hosted an Associations Trends Talk on July 19, 2023 to discuss how associations can use Artificial Intelligence (AI). Our panelists — Shawn Petersen of Maple Lane Media, Erica Salm Rench of Rasa.io and Emily Youngblood of Mercury Creative Group — are all using various AI platforms to assist with routine tasks. They shared their experiences: 

  • Help with boring work: Various AI platforms can help your staff handle some tedious, time-consuming tasks. Examples provided by our panelists include creating images with DALL-E and/or Photoshop, using Fathom to make transcripts of webinars or meetings, using ChatGPT to draft a presentation outline or to create descriptions of silent auction items, and using BettyBot to respond to routine questions on a website. These and other AI platforms can free up your staff to work on providing the human touch to members.
  • Continual evolution: The large language models that AI platforms are based on continue to learn and evolve. You and your team need to carefully review any information that a platform like ChatGPT provides. Better yet, use ChatGPT to create an outline and then rely on your internal subject matter experts to provide the “meat and potatoes,” as Emily called it. Erica recommended that when exploring new platforms, associations should ask the tech companies to share the benefits and ROI of the platform, and to share how association data will be used. 
  • Be aware of legal issues: Copyright law around AI is evolving. Be careful about images produced by DALL-E that might use copyrighted work as the basis for a new design. Shawn recommends that if you’re streaming a live event, be aware that any music used could get you into trouble with YouTube or other video platforms.  
  • Work as a team: Emily stated that associations need to remain true to their brand and to their ideal members; maintain your brand standards when considering new technology. Create standard operating procedures for AI — and revisit them every 3–6 months as the situation warrants. Shawn suggested thinking about a project from inception through completion to consider all the people and resources needed; then, ask volunteers where they would like to be involved.  
  • Keep learning: Erica recommended reading one book a month on a topic that will help you stay abreast of continuing change. Use other resources to keep your knowledge updated. Shawn encouraged us to try new things, without being afraid of failure. 

 

It is likely that new AI platforms will come along, and existing platforms will evolve. What won’t change is the need for real people to ensure that the member experience remains true to an association’s mission and that members continue to engage in meaningful ways. 

Watch the webinar here!

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ATT: Growing Your Association with AI

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On May 17, we were joined by Meredith Ellison, Executive Director of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), and Thomas Altman, co-founder of Tasio, for a conversation about how AI can and will help associations.

Takeaways:

  1. Conversations about what AI can do are important: Discussing and understanding the capabilities and potential of artificial intelligence (AI) are crucial as new capabilities develop. AI has the power to grow associations and make them more efficient. Engaging in conversations about AI helps raise awareness, promote understanding, and explore its possibilities and limitations. These discussions foster informed decision-making, guide policy development, and enable society to harness the benefits of AI while addressing any associated challenges. 
  2. Be thoughtful about how you prompt AI: When interacting with AI systems, you must be deliberate in the way prompts are formulated. The input provided to AI models directly influences the output they produce. Crafting clear and specific prompts helps ensure accurate and relevant responses. Ambiguous or biased prompts can lead to unintended or undesirable outcomes.  
  3. We’re used to AI. Think chat functions on shopping websites: AI has become increasingly integrated into our daily lives, and we often encounter it without even realizing it. Those shopping site chat functions, for example, utilize AI-powered chatbots to engage with customers, answer queries, and assist in the purchase process. Don’t let it intimidate you. You’ve been using it for years! 
  4. We have to think about how to make it work for everybody: Ensuring that AI systems are inclusive and accessible to everyone is crucial. It is important to consider factors such as diversity, equity, and inclusion during the development and deployment of AI technologies. AI systems should be designed to accommodate diverse user needs, including those with disabilities, language barriers, or limited technological literacy. This requires considering accessibility standards, providing multiple modes of interaction, and incorporating user feedback to improve usability and ensure equal access to AI-powered services for all individuals. 
Watch the webinar here!
 

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Associations Next: Tech Talk and TikTok

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In this episode, we are joined by Kayte Hamilton, founder of The Social Question, and an active QRCA volunteer. She sits down with us to discuss new technology and social media and how it applies to associations.

Takeaways:

  1. Younger generations use tools differently. Beyond just social media, there is a discrepancy in how generations approach tools like project management software and data storage platforms. This impacts associations as younger generations enter volunteer positions and more. Leaders will need to ensure that there are trainings and resources available to bridge the gap between generations — don’t assume that your younger members and staff will find various platforms intuitive.
  2. Remember your members are people too, and most people are on social media nowadays. The line between work and pleasure is blurred and associations should take advantage of the large base of users on social media by bringing a more human aspect to potential members.
  3. Don’t get bogged down by policies and procedures. Kayte explained that it often makes social media presence look much less organic when posts have to go through rounds of review and approval. Try experimenting with timely posts and be more interactive.
Virtual Meeting

Should You Still Hold Board Meetings Virtually?

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We all shifted our ways of conducting meetings overnight, and it seems to have stuck. Now that restrictions are lifting, we are once again able to meet in person. But with the ease of virtual meetings, do we even want to go back?

Arzu Alimohd, one of Ewald’s Account Executives explains “When reviewing whether to have an in-person or virtual board meeting, there are many factors to think about. First, you must see the comfort level of the board. Are all board members able and comfortable with meeting in-person? Second, you must see the interactions of each board member on a virtual board meeting. Is each member engaged and participating? Reviewing board members body language and eye contact during a virtual board meeting is essential to ensure all are participating and not working on other items.”

In this post, we will review some pros and cons of virtual meetings.

Pros:

  • Easier to schedule: According to Top Nonprofits, without the travel time, board members only need to block out the time the meeting takes. This may allow members to devote more time to pre-work.
  • Budget: Smart Meetings emphasizes the budget savings in their article. Nobody has to travel for meetings anymore. No one even needs to stop by Starbucks on the way into the meeting. Not only is this better for your association if you are not paying for catering or travel costs, but it is better for the board members themselves.
  • More diversity: Virtual meetings mean virtually (no pun intended) no borders on your board. Your members can come from anywhere if you commit to virtual meetings. Top Nonprofits explains that this can open doors to more expertise and diverse perspectives.

 

Cons:

  • Engagement is reduced: We’ve all seen it and probably even done it. It is so much easier to get away with multitasking in a virtual meeting. We all know this makes us less productive in the meeting, but we are all busy and sometimes, it is just too tempting. According to Top Nonprofits, for board members who aren’t as used to being online, the virtual format may inhibit their willingness to speak up.
  • Less interaction: No more handshakes and side conversations before and after meetings. Now, we hop in right on the hour and leave as soon as it is over. Smart Meetings explains that this can cost the board the casual conversation often seen with in-person meetings that may improve understanding or give board members the opportunity to ask questions.
  • Less formal: There is something to be said about the ceremoniousness of an in-person meeting. When we put on something other than pajama shorts and take the time to travel somewhere, we know there is a purpose in what we are doing. Team Building created a list of virtual meeting etiquette tips — including basic things like dressing well and cleaning up your background space. It seems that for some, virtual meetings may be too

 

Tips:

  • Consider a flex format: Who says you need to pick one? Consider a flex format such as having virtual monthly meetings and an annual in-person meeting. By figuring out what works best for your board, you may be able to have the best of both worlds.
  • Place emphasis on pre-meeting reading: Lean into the efficiency of virtual meetings. Assign pre-work so that you can hop right into business during your meetings. Harvard Business Review explains that because board members don’t need to travel, spending extra time preparing can make board meetings more efficient.
  • Take good minutes: This is true for any meeting, but particularly in these times of Zoom-overload, taking detailed minutes can be the only way to recall what happened in your meetings. Top Non-Profits explains that one should think of minutes as though you are writing to readers in the future. Be thoughtful and take the time to record meeting details correctly.

Analysis: Every board is different and therefore, has different needs. For some, the virtual format may be energizing and effective — while for others, it may be exhausting and fruitless. There is no formula to determine the best options, but by weighing these pros and cons, you may be on your way to figuring it out.

Hybrid

Associations Next: Tips For Your Hybrid Event

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In this episode, we talk to Vicki Thein, Ewald Consulting’s Director of Events, Vicki Thein. In the episode, she tells us all about how to pull of an engaging an exciting virtual event. 

Takeaways:

  1. Find the platform that works best for you. Vicki explains that when you are looking for a platform to support your virtual guests, think about what you need from your platform. Do you want breakout rooms? The ability to answer virtual guests’ questions? Look out for what you and your organization want in a platform.
  2. Have different offerings for your different audiences. While it is important to make the virtual guests feel part of the event, Vicki explains that you should have an incentive for guests to be in person. That way, it will be worth it for the in-person attendees to take the time to be there. You can do this through special lunches, site tours and more.
  3. Hybrid events offer tremendous opportunity. Even after the pandemic, hybrid events offer the ability to attend events from anywhere in the world. The newfound flexibility that comes with the events may be here to stay.

Listen to the episode: Tips for Your Hybrid Event

2021

Associations Next: New Year, New Approach to Events

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In our first episode of 2021, Jill Tichy, Amanda Maw, and Sarah Ewald from our events department come on the podcast to give us a look at what events might look like this year as vaccines emerge for the continuing pandemic.

Takeaways:

  1. Events may still be virtual. Even though vaccines are being distributed worldwide, associations found that virtual/hybrid conferences allow for greater accessibility than exclusively in-person conferences.
  2. Associations will need to be flexible. We are going into the year only knowing that we will not know what to expect. But after a year of constant change, we are much better positioned to take on this year.
  3. Consider spreading your content out throughout the year via webinars and summer sessions rather than having it all in one conference. The widespread use of virtual platforms now allows for easier distribution of content, so do not be afraid to take advantage.

Listen to the episode: New Year, New Approach to Events

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The Best Virtual Professional Development Platforms

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You have likely settled into a new “normal.” Whether that be working from home or getting used to meeting clients on Zoom rather than in person, it seems that these changes are around for the long haul.

With increased time online, many have taken advantage of the boundless resources available online. Employees have been able to use their time to learn more about their professions and industries.

With so many options available online, it can seem daunting to narrow down these platforms. Read on for a rundown of some of the most popular online professional development platforms:

LinkedIn Learning
Powered by the professional social platform, LinkedIn Learning offers a wide variety of short and long courses such as tutorials on Excel and filmmaking.

This platform is a great resource for employees. For example, if an employee needs to edit a video but does not have experience in editing, LinkedIn Learning offers a 3-hour course on how to use iMovie.

Individuals can subscribe to LinkedIn Learning for $30 a month or $300 a year. There are also plans for teams and companies available at an undisclosed price.

Coursera
Coursera offers longer courses where you can earn certificates in things like applied project management, according to a blog post on Zapier. These courses are offered by various universities or organizations, meaning you can earn certificates from Yale or many other highly respected organizations.

While many courses are offered for a fee, quite a few can be audited for free.

edX
Zapier explains that edX can fly under the radar because it lacks the technological flash that many of its competitors have. However, it makes up in content as many of the instructors are revered professors from Harvard or higher-ups at major companies like Microsoft.

Alison
Alison also utilizes the knowledge of experts to teach its users. The company believes in the open use of information, meaning most of its courses are completely free with a small price tag to get a certificate if you choose to obtain one.

Udacity
Udacity partners with companies like Google to provide new and relevant topics. Some of the courses are free, but many need to be purchased.

The “nanodegree” program provides users very specific coursework. Udacity then can connect graduates with industry partners who tend to hire these graduates.

These are just a few of many learning platforms available online. If you are interested in learning more, Adam Enfroy’s blog has a comprehensive list of these platforms and what they do.

To learn more, check out our podcast, Associations Next on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Technological Coding

2020 Technology Trends

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As we wrap up 2019 and begin planning for 2020, here are some technology trends for 2020, according to Gartner analyst and VP Rita Sallam:

  1. Augmented analytics – enables more people to gain insights from data;
  2. Augmented data management – by 2022, data management manual tasks will be reduced 45% with machine learning and automated-service-level management;
  3. NLP (natural language processing)/conversational analytics – by 2020, 50% of analytical queries will be automatically generated by search, NLP or voice;
  4. Graph – the application of graph processing and graph databases will grow 100% annually through 2022, enabling more complex and adaptive data science;
  5. Commercial AI/ML will dominate – there will be more commercial platforms rather than open source to manage artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques;
  6. Data storytelling and visualization – creating meaning from numbers to take action, by understanding the story that data are telling us.

For more insights and trends from Gartner: https://www.informationweek.com/big-data/ai-machine-learning/10-data-and-analytics-trends-for-2020/d/d-id/1336310

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