Jauary luncheon
DFWAE
When you want to reach members are you still sending out blast emails which are not even opened by more than half of your list? Or have you mastered the basics of individually-addressable communications? Is your message for the individual? Are you listening to the individual? Are you capturing everything they tell you and making sure your association picks up the conversation where the last staff member, the last committee chairman, the last person from your association left off? Or are you irritating them by making them repeat and re-educate you as to their needs and next moves?

That's what the "i" means in iPhone, iPad, iPod — individual — and business communications textbooks are rapidly changing to explain how all successful communications today are about a relationship between the "i" — the individual and the organization that can rapidly customize every message, every exchange to talk to and with the individual. And do it in an affordable and successful way that we can measure.

The January luncheon is a conversation about this topic. It's about every individual who comes and participates in the conversation that will have facilitation and communications leadership provided by Dana Abbott-Glazier, CAE, director of research and knowledge management at International Association of Venue Managers and Georgia Patrick, president at The Communicators.

Location to be confirmed.More

DFWAE Inaugural Groundhog Day Networking Reception, Feb. 2, 2012
DFWAE
Has every day of the new year felt like Groundhog Day? Same thing, different day? If you're still mistakenly using 2011 for the date, all of your resolutions have been broken, and the energy felt during the holidays is all used up, turn to your colleagues and peers for some association-based discussion and ideas to create a new day. Someone may have some insight to share that will help you manage the issues facing you and your company in the new year. You'll find us on the Porch at the Ranch located on the north east side of the MacArthur and 114 intersection.

Location: Ranch at Las Colinas.More

February luncheon
DFWAE
Join us Feb. 15, 2012, as Arlene Johnson presents "How to Map Change to Achieve Career and Business Goals." Stay tuned - details and location to be confirmed!More

Association Day 2012 — Are you ready?
DFWAE
Association Day will be held April 2, 2012, at the Irving Convention Center. This full day event is a great way to network with experienced colleagues and mentor new colleagues in your field to Learn, Lead and Share.

You will have the opportunity to attend education sessions, enjoy a networking lunch and participate in a round table discussion of the latest topics to prepare you to excel, no matter what your role in association management. In the afternoon attend the trade show to meet the suppliers and learn how they can assist you in your field.

Mark your calendars now for this fun and informative event!More

3 ways to use Facebook timeline for event promotion
Eventish
From Oct. 26, 2011: Facebook Timeline brought to life a new concept that enables small and big businesses to brighten their appearance in social media, make it more interesting and attractive. It has some great features that can be used for event promotion as well. Learn how to take advantage of this new feature.More

A look at PowerPoint alternatives for your next presentation
Entrepreneur
From Sept. 28, 2011: PowerPoint, Microsoft's presentation tool, was once ubiquitous as the business standard for organizing, distilling and demonstrating business ideas. Now, PowerPoint has far more competition. The Web has sparked a brisk market in alternatives for presenting your next big idea.More

5 things to do if your speaker cancels
Trade Show News Network
From Sept. 14, 2011: Meeting professionals share a common nightmare: they spend months organizing the perfect event for their company or association, with an eagle's eye for every detail. They have selected the perfect venue, organized a killer agenda, created amazing menus and scheduled spectacular parties. Then, at the last minute, their keynote speaker backs out. Programs are printed, people are arriving and there is nobody to take the stage.More

Why fair bosses fall behind
Harvard Business Review
From July 20, 2011: In management, fairness is a virtue. Numerous academic studies have shown that the most effective leaders are generally those who give employees a voice, treat them with dignity and consistency, and base decisions on accurate and complete information. But there's a hidden cost to this behavior.More

10 resources for event marketing inspiration
Event Manager Blog
From Oct. 12, 2011: It happens to all of us. All of a sudden you are blank with no ideas for your event website, invites, concept, Twitter account, Facebook page, etc. Where can you look for event marketing ideas when you are desperate for inspiration?More

Leadership caffeine: Assessing the view on you
Management Excellence
From July 20, 2011: Just about all of us have had that experience where we've heard our voice on an audio recording or viewed ourselves on a video recording. "Aack, who is that?" or, "Do I really look/sound like that?" are frequent reactions. Yes, you do. And by the way, the perception of you by others, as a professional, as a leader or manager and as a team member are likely different from the cape and tight wearing superhero image you carry around of yourself.More

Social media for associations: The 3 most important concepts
Socious
From Jun 22, 2011: Are you tired of hearing about social media? Cut through the fire hose of information and find out the three most important things that association executives need to know about social media.More

Leading with your strengths
Elephants at Work
From Nov. 9, 2011: Deep down you know what your special strength is. The strength may even be something you take for granted because it just works. People around you take notice when you accomplish a goal or see an act of kindness and often see how or why you did it as one of your strengths.More

Mobile meeting apps are a must
MeetingNet
From Sept. 28, 2011: What do qualifiers find most engaging at your incentive conferences? Half the time you might think it's their own smartphones. Go with it. Give them reasons to pull out those iPhones, Droids and BlackBerries and engage with the meeting, the company and each other, by creating a mobile meeting app.More

10 mistakes every leader should make, learn from before they die
Great Leadership
From April 27, 2011: It's been proven over and over again leadership development is all about experience. We learn from job changes, stretch assignments, other people and other more formal ways: courses, books, blogs, etc. It's those experiences that are the hardest — those "developmental challenges" — that we can learn the most from.More