---
title: "Membership Hack: Virtual Expos"
id: "46103"
type: "post"
slug: "membership-hack-virtual-expos"
published_at: "2019-03-29T21:24:24+00:00"
modified_at: "2019-03-29T21:24:24+00:00"
url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/03/29/membership-hack-virtual-expos/"
markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/03/29/membership-hack-virtual-expos.md"
excerpt: "Not all of your members will be able to attend the annual meeting. For those who miss it, a virtual expo can be a great way to remotely engage people in professional development."
taxonomy_category:
  - "Learning"
taxonomy_post_tag:
  - "AssociationsNow"
  - "Membership"
  - "online learning"
  - "Professional Development"
  - "virtual expo"
taxonomy_content_format:
  - "Article"
taxonomy_role:
  - "Association CEO / Executive Director"
  - "Director"
taxonomy_persona:
  - "Association Professionals"
---

[Home](https://associationsnow.com/)
 » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/)
 » Membership Hack: Virtual Expos

**How to hack it?** Every year, the School Nutrition Association hosts about 3,500 attendees at its Annual National Conference. But for SNA members who can’t be at ANC in person, there’s also a virtual expo, which is held earlier in the year. It’s a time for vendors to demonstrate new equipment and technologies—and for members to engage in online learning.

“Those who can’t get to ANC for their own professional development can go online to the learning center and view sessions and earn continuing-education units,” says Sherry A. Carrigan, CAE, vice president of business development and meetings.

This year’s expo [ran for six weeks in February and March (opens in a new tab)](https://schoolnutrition.org/meetings/virtual-expo/2019/)
, and all members received complimentary access.

**Why does it work?**The virtual expo coincides with a busy bidding and procurement period for school leaders, and many members feel incentivized to visit the online expo. “We encourage them to visit all of the booths to win small gift cards for their [school] programs,” Carrigan says. “We also encourage engagement within the booths by awarding small gift cards for the most booth downloads.”

**What’s the bonus?**The virtual expo also hosts several live chats, including two networking ones for members to ask career-focused questions. There’s also “live hour” chats with industry partners who talk about new and emerging issues.

(Craft24/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

[Tim Ebner](https://associationsnow.com/author/tim-ebner/)

Tim Ebner is communications director and press secretary at the American Forest & Paper Association in Washington, DC. He is a member of ASAE’s Communication Professionals Advisory Council and a former Associations Now senior editor.

[More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/tim-ebner/)

Tags: [#Membership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/membership/)
 [#online learning](https://associationsnow.com/tag/online-learning/)
 [#Professional Development](https://associationsnow.com/tag/professional-development/)
 [#virtual expo](https://associationsnow.com/tag/virtual-expo/)

**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

- [VideoWelcome to ASAE AcademyMarch 19, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/03/19/welcome-to-asae-academy/)
- [VideoAmerican College of Emergency Physicians: ACEP Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation ProgramSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/american-college-of-emergency-physicians-acep-geriatric-emergency-department-accreditation-program/)
- [VideoDJ Johnson Shares His Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/12/dj-johnson-shares-his-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/)
- [VideoLakisha Woods, CAE Shares Her Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/12/lakisha-woods-cae-shares-her-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/)

## 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%2F2019%2F03%2F29%2Fmembership-hack-virtual-expos%2F%23comments)
 to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/)
!