Author
Ernie Smith
Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now.
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AdvocacyArticleOver 5 years old
The Definition Matters: App Helps Craft Beer Fans Avoid “Crafty” Beers
A new app is drawing fresh attention to what—and who—makes a real craft beer, using the Brewers Association's…
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Back-Channel Complaining: The Problem With Office Gossip
Why back-channel complaining about co-workers is toxic—and why fixing it rests on not only your culture, but the…
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AdvocacyArticleOver 5 years old
Tesla’s Troubles With Auto Dealer Associations Continue
Tesla Motors, which sells its electric vehicles directly to consumers despite laws against it some states, says that…
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AdvocacyArticleOver 5 years old
School Lunches Become a Lobbying Battleground for Associations
With the 2010 law setting school nutrition standards set to come up for renewal, school groups find themselves…
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Study: How Much Airport Security is Too Much, Anyway?
A provocative new academic paper takes a cost-benefit analysis of whether airport safety needs to be nearly as…
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AdvocacyArticleOver 5 years old
Bakers: FDA’s Trans Fats Ban Could Have “Unintended Consequences”
The American Bakers Association argues that the FDA’s plan to reclassify partially hydrogenated oils could have a significant…
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OperationsArticleOver 5 years old
The Banking Industry’s Big Windows XP Headache
With just a couple of weeks before Microsoft will no longer support its popular but ancient operating system…
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Meetings / EventsArticleOver 5 years old
Social Media: Maybe You Should Be Too Proud to Beg
Why begging for attention on social media might get you the wrong kind of attention. Also: What’s holding…
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LearningArticleOver 5 years old
Beyond Microsoft Office: Reconsidering Words and Slide Decks
If your office were to ditch Microsoft Office tomorrow for a bunch of forward-thinking apps, what options would…
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MembershipArticleOver 5 years old
Bring the Volunteer Opportunities to Your Members
The concept of "accessible volunteering" could help ensure your members are involved even if they don't have much…
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AdvocacyArticleOver 5 years old
Convenience Stores Draws Line: No E-Cigarette Sales to Minors
Anticipating FDA action on the issue, the National Association of Convenience Stores offered new guidelines to its members…
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Marketing / CommunicationsArticleOver 5 years old
Monday Buzz: Ride-Sharing Isn’t Always Better
Sorry, guys: That ride-sharing app isn’t necessarily cheaper or faster than your average taxi. Also: Why you should…
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Business DevelopmentArticleOver 5 years old
Google Tries Starting a Cloud Storage Price War
With Google severely cutting the price of its Drive service, the next question for cloud users is: Will…
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AdvocacyArticleOver 5 years old
Why These California Groups Shifted on Medical Marijuana
With a shift in public opinion at its back, two major California groups recently chose to push for…
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Meetings / EventsArticleOver 5 years old
Studies: B2B Tradeshows Drive Massive Attendee, Exhibitor Spending
According to two new reports by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research, attendees and exhibitors are each spending…
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Meetings / EventsArticleOver 5 years old
What Event Planners Do Before the Event
A new survey suggests that long hours are the norm for event planners prior to an event. Also:…
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Meetings / EventsArticleOver 5 years old
How the Boston Athletic Association Plans to Keep the Marathon Safe
A year after the deadly bombings at the Boston Marathon shook the city to its core, the Boston…
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AdvocacyArticleOver 5 years old
Obama Overtime Policy Change Draws Sharp Reaction
The Obama administration's plan to mandate a new minimum threshold for overtime pay came as a surprise to…
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GovernanceArticleOver 5 years old
Skydiving Association Tightens Rules After High-Profile Accidents
The U.S. Parachute Association announced that it now will restrict skydiving by those under 18. The move comes…
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AdvocacyArticleOver 5 years old
Dairy Producers Say Cheese’s Origin Shouldn’t Matter
With the European Union pushing for stricter standards on the names of common foods—especially cheeses—dairy groups are encouraging…
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OperationsArticleOver 5 years old
Office in a Pod: Workbox Concept Could Give Road Warriors Some Privacy
The international workspace-rental firm Regus wants to make it easier for businesspeople to get work done on the…
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Marketing / CommunicationsArticleOver 5 years old
Some Especially Great Ideas From Great Ideas 2014
Sometimes, the best lessons come from seeing how other organizations do things. From thinking differently about spaces to…
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LearningArticleOver 5 years old
Khan Academy: Learning in the Era of Online Connectivity
With Khan Academy’s “flipped learning” educational model drawing some high-profile attention in the form of an exclusive deal…
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MembershipArticleOver 5 years old
Membership At Scale: Lessons From Costco and Amazon Prime
Two of the best private-sector examples of membership programs have impressive reach, but that doesn't mean their models…
