“Our 100th anniversary gives us an opportunity to recognize all the work the association community has accomplished and what associations have contributed to society in a century of incredible technological change, social progress, and cultural achievement,” says Interim CEO Susan Robertson, CAE. “But we will also look ahead to the work we’re facing in the next 100 years.”

The celebration officially kicked off in August at the ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition. It will continue through the coming year, culminating at the 2020 Annual Meeting in Las Vegas.

The yearlong event will include reflections on the major historical markers of the past century—from women’s suffrage and industrialization to the civil rights movement and the birth of the digital age—and will spotlight notable contributions associations made to those milestones.

Meanwhile, a major ASAE Foundation research initiative is underway to frame the role of the association community in addressing the significant global challenges that lie ahead in the next 100 years. The full report will be available in August 2020.

Throughout the year, attendees at ASAE’s signature conferences will be invited to share their own reflections and aspirations through an interactive exhibit, which will debut at the Technology Exploration Conference (TEC), in Washington, DC, December 3-4. By responding to questions about their experience in the association community and its future, members will create a living display that evolves and grows richer with each event.

The centennial year will formally come to a close at the 2020 Summit Awards Dinner next October, where a new Diversity + Inclusion Award for Organizations will be presented for the first time.

Reports from the foundation research initiative will be released at intervals over the course of the year. Watch for coverage of the findings—along with updates on centennial events, perspectives from members, and opportunities to add your voice to the celebration—all year long in Associations Now and other ASAE communications.

(Olivier Le Moal/iStock/Getty Images Plus)