The pandemic may make it tempting to retool your strategic plan. But if your plan is aligned with your goals, one association learned, you needn’t rush to revise. Every association leader faced a reckoning as COVID-19 took hold in early 2020, whether that meant helping members access government assistance or deciding what to do with the upcoming conference. Automotive Recyclers Association Executive Director Sandy Blalock was no different, but she also had another consideration: What to do with [...]

As the coronavirus pandemic drags on, questions about if, when, and how to bring back in-person events are top of mind for most associations. Here are answers to five key questions about mitigating legal liability when you resume your face-to-face meetings. As associations begin to contemplate the return of in-person meetings and conferences—while they continue to hold and plan virtual ones—there is no shortage of legal considerations to take into account. These five legal questions in particular are [...]

As the months go on, are you still struggling to manage your remote team effectively? Here are four ways to reboot and refocus on results. Try as you might, remote work isn’t getting any easier to manage, even after five months of practice—and the reason for that may be rooted in the office you’ve left behind. Many employers are still trying to adapt their in-person management practices to virtual work. If that’s been your organization’s approach, it’s probably [...]

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT on Peter Sheehan (WVSAE’s newest member) I come from an automotive background, having worked as an appraiser for ten years with my father in beautiful West Virginia. This year I had the opportunity to assume an administrative and creative role with our national trade association, Independent Auto Damage Appraisers Association (IADA), which has allowed me to start working from home and a chance to professionally flex all of the creative multimedia, administrative, speaking and leadership skills that [...]

As the COVID-19 pandemic has forced hotels to begin rethinking the way guests will experience and interact with their property, many lodging options have begun rethinking how to host travelers and staycationers safely—from check-in to check-out. From contactless check-in and rest periods for each room between guests, to more creative solutions like “hiring” robot butlers in place of regular concierge services, here’s how hotels have begun adapting and re-imaging what amenities are still considered luxury by today’s unprecedented [...]

Like it or not, decision-making during a pandemic is complicated, and easy solutions might turn into long-term headaches. Here’s some advice for leaders looking to find a balance. Association leaders always face difficult decisions, but the ones they’re being asked to make now may be the toughest in a long time. They’re deciding how to make big changes quickly to salvage hard-hit revenue streams from meetings, sponsorships, and member dues. At the same time, they’re considering important operational questions, like whether [...]

A new guide from the Events Industry Council includes a code of conduct that outlines how attendees contribute to the health and safety of a meeting. A look at some examples included in the guide and beyond. When face-to-face meetings resume, it will not only be on event organizers and venue staff to provide a safe environment. An equal share of responsibility falls on attendees. That’s a key point made in the Events Industry Council’s newly released Meeting and [...]

With this five-step member-centric communication approach, associations can emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic having strengthened their member relationships. The pandemic has caused a lot change in a very short period of time. After getting over the initial disruption in mid-March of leaving our offices and transitioning to full-time remote work, many association professionals quickly adapted to new ways of connecting with their members—Zoom meetups and virtual conferences. What has remained the same is that associations need to have [...]

Some associations are frustrated at still having to pay for office space while the COVID-19 pandemic keeps employees at home. A commercial real estate expert suggests organizations look at their lease terms, consider their options, and work with the landlord to help mitigate the financial strain. While most states are in some phase of reopening after COVID-19 shutdowns, many associations have yet to return employees to the office. Unfortunately, those same associations have leases that require them to [...]

As you plan your virtual events, don’t forget to protect against cyber risks. Also: Leadership is more than being at the head of a team. Meeting planners have flexed their agility during the COVID-19 pandemic, with last-minute digital pivots going from chaotic to almost rote in a matter of weeks. But cybersecurity is often a casualty of this agility, says Victoria Copans at the Event Manager Blog. “As event planners, we are given extremely personal and valuable information on our [...]