--- title: "Monday Buzz: Let’s Get Newtonian With Engagement" id: "42217" type: "post" slug: "monday-buzz-lets-get-newtonian-with-engagement" published_at: "2018-04-09T19:59:13+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T16:05:28+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/04/09/monday-buzz-lets-get-newtonian-with-engagement/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/04/09/monday-buzz-lets-get-newtonian-with-engagement.md" excerpt: "One member engagement expert applies three of the most famous scientific laws to everyone’s favorite topic. Also: A few suggestions on how to pass the CAE Exam." taxonomy_category: - "Membership" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Aspiring Leader" - "AssociationsNow" - "Member Engagement" - "Membership" - "Mid-Level Professional" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Director" - "Manager" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Monday Buzz: Let’s Get Newtonian With Engagement Here at *Associations Now*, we’ve highlighted [lots of ways to think about membership](https://associationsnow.com/topics/membership/) . But a Newtonian approach to member engagement—as in Isaac Newton? That’s a new one. Kudos to Rhinocorn Consulting’s Ben Bisbee, writing [at the Wild Apricot Blog (opens in a new tab)](https://www.wildapricot.com/blogs/newsblog/2018/04/05/science-of-member-engagement) , who has a creative take on how Newton’s three laws of motion can be applied to member engagement: 1. **“An individual tends to not engage** unless acted upon by someone engaging them.” 2. **“An individual will continue to engage** or grow their engagement when a nonprofit continues to engage or advances the engagement.” 3. **“When your nonprofit is matching the engagement** of the stakeholder, your organization is met with equal relationship engagement.” “Just as Newton’s laws of motion define the relationship between a body and the forces acting upon it, Newtonian Engagement does the same for the [member] relationship development and design,” Bisbee writes. “Having a need, options, or an opportunity does not automatically create motion, movement, or friction. The same is true with engagement.” He adds that organizations need to “invest strategically in the design of their engagement dynamics.” Whether or not you agree with that analysis, one thing is for sure: It’s a fresh way of thinking about one of the most important issues facing associations. ### Passing the CAE Exam > We interviewed 14 CAE certified professionals on how to prepare for and pass the CAE exam. Check out what they had to say: [#assnchat (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/assnchat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#assnprofs (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/assnprofs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [https://t.co/4luBodDfaG (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/4luBodDfaG) > > — Web Scribble (@webscribble) [April 7, 2018 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/webscribble/status/982671947841572864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **Becoming a Certified Association Executive, or CAE,** is considered a high-water mark for many association professionals. At the Web Scribble blog, [Audra Hopkins asks CAEs (opens in a new tab)](https://www.webscribble.com/blog/cae-exam-tips-from-14-certified-professionals?utm_source=twitter) from a variety of industry groups and professional roles how they prepared for the exam and what they learned in the process. One key lesson shared across the board: The exam takes a lot of prep, so make sure you allow plenty of time to study. ### Other Links of Note **Does GDPR apply to your organization?** The Public Interest Registry’s director of policy and privacy, Beth Bacon, [breaks down some European Union General Data Protection Regulation considerations (opens in a new tab)](http://www.socialfish.org/2018/04/psa-to-nonprofits-gdpr-may-apply-to-you/) at *SocialFish*. **Speaking of GDPR,** Slack says that the recent changes to its platform, which allow employers to look into workers’ messages, are being driven by the new EU rules. [CMS Wire explains (opens in a new tab)](https://www.cmswire.com/digital-workplace/slack-updates-privacy-policy-giving-employers-access-to-direct-messages-more-news/) . **A different take on personas.** At the Content Marketing Institute, Robert Rose [offers a deep dive into persona strategy (opens in a new tab)](http://contentmarketinginstitute.com/2018/04/alternative-content-marketing-personas/) that might differ from what you’re used to. (bilhagolan/iStock/Getty Images Plus) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#Aspiring Leader](https://associationsnow.com/tag/aspiring-leader/) [#Member Engagement](https://associationsnow.com/tag/member-engagement/) [#Membership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/membership/) [#Mid-Level Professional](https://associationsnow.com/tag/mid-level-professional/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoTerin Bates, MBA, CAE, CX-PRO, Shares Her Experience at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 18, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/18/terin-bates-mba-cae-cx-pro-shares-her-experience-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoThe Adaptive Leader: Integrating Values and Strategy to Thrive Under New LeadershipDecember 15, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/12/15/the-adaptive-leader-integrating-values-and-strategy-to-thrive-under-new-leadership/) - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [VideoASAE DELP Reunion 2025 & Introduction of New ClassAugust 18, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/18/asae-delp-reunion-2025-introduction-of-new-class/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2018%2F04%2F09%2Fmonday-buzz-lets-get-newtonian-with-engagement%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !