Meetings

Lunchtime Links: Get Another Taste of Atlanta

Ready for ASAE 2013 yet? If not, the latest episode of the "ATL Files" might get you in the mood for this year's event, taking place in Atlanta. Also: Have a outside-in mindset to deliver nuanced materials to your members.

The Georgia World Congress Center knows how to tease its conference attendees—especially when the conference they’re teasing is this year’s 2013 ASAE Annual Meeting and Exposition. They’re bringing their guests right into the action with a series of short films.

More on ASAE 2013 in today’s Lunchtime Links:

It’s your story that draws supporters to your organization, entices them to donate to the cause or volunteer, keeps them coming back, and encourages them to spread the word.

In the Action: It’s getting closer. A few months back, we presented the first in a series of short films by the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau ahead of the 2013 ASAE Annual Meeting and Exposition, taking place in Atlanta August 3-6. The action films showcase the needs of Atlanta’s visitors, following two agents trying to get to all the city has to offer. (This episode’s titled “Walkability,” and fittingly, there’s a lot of walking and talking.) And in case you’re heading to ASAE 2013, there’s plenty of excitement there, too, in the form of general session speakers Susan Cain (the author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking) and Dan Heath (a Senior Fellow at Duke University’s CASE Center). Looking to go? Registration opened just yesterday; learn more here.

Outside-In: There’s one question that’s most likely on your mind 24/7: What do my members want, need, and like from my association? If you work this “outside-in” mindset into your association’s service and development plan, you’ll not only have satisfied members, you’ll have a satisfied community. This mindset will bring nuance to your industry and allow your members to move forward in their professional careers. “If association leaders cannot put their finger on exactly why customers should choose their services over others, they cannot grow and increase their relevance no matter how many cool gadgets and innovative programs they adopt,” Anna Caraveli writes on Socialfish. “They remain stuck on the status course which is a fast track to irrelevance.”

Telling Your Story: What’s your organization’s story? Storytelling is one of the most effective ways for your organization to stand out from others in your industry. They pull in people’s emotions and create a voice for your organization. “It’s your story that draws supporters to your organization, entices them to donate to the cause or volunteer, keeps them coming back, and encourages them to spread the word. Your job is to figure out how to tell that story most effectively,” NTEN advises. How does your organization communicate its story while making sure you don’t blend into the noise?

What interesting reads have you found today? Let us know in your comments below.

Correction: An earlier version of this post referenced the Atlanta Convention Center. The 2013 ASAE Annual Meeting and Exposition will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center. We regret the error.

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Anita Ferrer

By Anita Ferrer

Anita Ferrer is a contributor to Associations Now. MORE

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