Planning a meeting menu used to be simple: A meal revolving around a central dish with an alternate vegetarian option, just in case. But with the influx of food allergies and other dietary restrictions, as well as the boom in foodie culture, planners can no longer get away with limited food options.

Here are four new food rules planners should follow to keep attendees happy and full, according to BizBash:

Offer varied food choices. It’s no longer just a courtesy: A variation of food offerings is now an attendee expectation.

Emphasize sustainability. “In addition to making menu planning more economical, touting a commitment to cutting back on food waste has the added bonus of pleasing event organizers who want to know that their vendors are mindful about sustainability,” says Martha C. White in the post.

Make dishes Instagram-ready. Food not only has to taste good, but it also has to look good, be it in the way a dish looks or is plated.

Set a bigger food budget. Offering more food with locally sourced ingredients doesn’t come cheap. Allocating more money to the budget from the start can help planners effectively plan dishes both clients and guests will be satisfied with.

Encouraging the Return of Lapsed Members

https://twitter.com/callie_walker/status/1056901634490548224

Your association relies on membership renewals to promote new growth, so don’t let lapsed members ghost you. Callie Walker from the MemberClicks blog suggests creating a win-back campaign through email, which studies show generates the most reinstated lapsed members, and offering a discount to promote rejoining your organization.

And don’t forget about personalization: “If you allow people to customize their membership—even just somewhat—would that entice more people to join?” Walker says. “Maybe they don’t want to pay for all the benefits you offer; maybe they only want to pay for a select four or five. Is there some kind of lower-level membership they can apply for? If not, that may be something worth considering.”

Other Links of Note

Going international is a great way to grow your organization, but it requires special consideration. To be successful, global marketing starts with trust, says CMSWire.

So, you want to switch your AMS. The Higher Logic blog outlines five questions to ask before you do.

Good leadership starts with a mentally resilient brain. Inc. outlines four skills every leader should have, according to neuroscience.

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