Countdown to Minneapolis 2004 — Tour Minneapolis

Tour Desk
Many exciting tours and activities are offered to spouses and guests of ASAE Minneapolis 2004. Be sure to stop by metroConnections, Inc., ASAE's  tour company, located in the Minneapolis Convention Center for information about the city, tours, and to pick up your tickets! Tours can be arranged by calling 800-747-8687 or 612-333-8687. Visit http://programs.regweb.com/metro/asaetours to book online and to find out more information. If you have received the ASAE Guide to the ASAE Annual Meeting and Exposition, please note the correct fax number for your registration form submission is, 612-333-4169.

Pre/Post Conference Tours
The Greater Minneapolis Convention & Visitors Bureau would like to invite you to enjoy the wonderful sites of Minneapolis and the surrounding areas; come early, stay longer in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. To learn more about these pre/post conference vacations, please visit http://www.minneapolismeetings.com/asae/tours.asp, call 1-800-445-7412 x7989, or e-mail asaetours@minneapolis.org.

ASAE Testifies at Senate Finance Hearing on ‘Charity Oversight and Reform’

The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) asserted in testimony submitted for the Senate Finance Committee’s hearing today on “Charity Oversight and Reform” that disclosure and transparency benefit both nonprofit organizations and the communities they serve, but the diverse nature of the tax-exempt sector prohibits the development of a “one size fits all” blueprint for nonprofit governance standards.

Senate Finance has been investigating a number of abuses in charities and foundations for more than a year, and Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) has made clear his hope that the hearing today will serve as a basis for possible legislation addressing governance and best practices in charities. The Committee is also releasing a white paper at the hearing containing recommendations for resolving some tax-related concerns regarding charitable giving.

“ASAE’s argument is merely that a set of rigid ‘best practices’ for nonprofit governance requires some realistic cost-benefit analysis, and careful attention that the essential work of these exempt organizations, and the value they bring to society, continue unabated by unnecessary and burdensome compliance measures,” said ASAE President and CEO John H. Graham IV in testimony.

To view ASAE’s complete testimony, visit: http://info.asaenet.org/pdf/Senate_Testimony_Jun04.pdf.

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Minneapolis Convention Center Donates Meeting Package to the ASAE Foundation Silent Auction

The Greater Minneapolis Convention & Visitors Association (GMCVA) and the Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC) have donated a meeting package at the center valued at $500,000 for the ASAE Foundation Silent Auction to be held in conjunction with ASAE’s 2004 Annual Meeting & Exposition in Minneapolis August 14-17.

The package includes facility rental for an association meeting in 2005 or beyond, subject to availability. The MCC features 480,000 gross square feet of exhibit space, a 28,000 square foot ballroom, 87 meeting room sections, and a state-of-the-art, 3,400-seat auditorium.

The winning bidder on this package will be free to use as much space as needed for their meeting, based on historical use and needs.  Special conditions include a minimum room block of 2,000 rooms on peak night; a signed contract by no later than March 2005; and a maximum payment schedule of four annual installments beginning 2005 and ending no later than 60 days prior to the convention. The package includes facility rental charges only, and the minimum bid is $75,000.

“ASAE and the ASAE Foundation are very fortunate to have such an attractive centerpiece for the 2004 Silent Auction,” said ASAE Foundation Chairman Richard Green, Vice President of Association Sales, Marriott International. “Attendees of the ASAE Annual Meeting will have the opportunity to see firsthand all that the MCC and the city of Minneapolis offer to convention guests before bidding on this world-class package, and someone is going to go home with a very, very good deal on space for a future meeting.”

Proceeds from the ASAE Silent Auction are reinvested in ASAE Foundation research programs to benefit the association management profession. Bids to this year’s auction are accepted via fax to 202-371-2805 or e-mail to auction@asaenet.org, through Friday, August 13, 2004, or in person during the ASAE Annual Meeting in Minneapolis August 14-17.

For more information about the Silent Auction, please contact the ASAE Foundation at 202-626-2874 or toll-free at 888-950-ASAE. For specific questions regarding conditions of the MCC package, please contact Kevin Lewis, Vice President of Convention Sales, GMCVA, at 612-767-8130 or KevinL@minneapolis.org.

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Time is Running Out — Recruit a Member Today!

Attention ASAE recruiters: Earn 5% off your membership renewal for each new member you bring onboard! It's simple ... recruit your colleagues, staff, and solution providers by June 30, 2004, and we'll take 5% off your renewal for each new member you sponsor! They'll experience the rewards of membership and thank you for it. We'll thank you by rewarding you up to 100% off your renewal. Visit www.asaenet.org and select Membership, Recruit a Member for easy details!

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Do-Not-Spam Registry Not Advisable, FTC Tells Congress

In a report to Congress last week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) called the creation of a national Do-Not-Spam registry “doomed to fail” without better enforcement capabilities.

“Without effective authentication of e-mail, any registry is doomed to fail,” the FTC report states. “With authentication, better CAN-SPAM Act enforcement and better filtering by [Internet service providers] may even make a registry unnecessary.”

The FTC was required to investigate the feasibility of a national Do-Not-Spam list after Congress passed the CAN-SPAM Act in December 2003. The FTC considered three types of possible registries: one containing individual e-mail addresses; one containing the names of domains that did not wish to receive spam; and a registry of individual names that require spam to be sent via an independent third party. In its report, the FTC concluded that all three possible models could not be enforced effectively, and that security and privacy risks could result in registered addresses receiving even more spam.

To help focus anti-spam efforts on creating an e-mail authentication system that prevents spammers from evading anti-spam filters and law enforcement, the FTC also announced it would sponsor a Fall 2004 Authentication Summit to encourage a thorough analysis of possible next steps. Readers can access the full FTC report at http://www.ftc.gov/reports/dneregistry/report.pdf.

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Latest Job Postings — ASAE Career Headquarters

Discover the tool that hundreds of professionals have used to land their new association management job. Career Headquarters will grant you access to targeted job listings and internships across the country along with career-related books and articles. Reach your professional potential and take that next step in a successful career with this vital career tool.

Here is a preview of recent job openings listed on ASAE's NEW Career Headquarters, www.careerhq.org. 

Editorial Assistant
Association of Fundraising Professionals–Alexandria, VA

Human Resources Director
American Law Institute–Philadelphia, PA

Marketing Manager
Advanstar Communications–New York, NY

Communications Manager
Consumer Electronics Association–Northern, VA

Writer - Marketing
American Planning Association–Chicago, IL

Director, Airport Support Network
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association–Frederick, MD

Visit www.careerhq.org for a full listing of job-openings. 

A Call for New Great Ideas!

The Center for Association Leadership and the American Society of Association Executives are excited to bring you the NEW Great Ideas Conference http://education.centeronline.org/licensedcontent/harvardmanagementor/GreatIdeas/
CallForGreatIdeas.htm! 

Mark your calendars for December 5-7, 2004 in Orlando, FL and February 2005 in the Western US (dates and location TBD). Drawing on the best of ASAE’s M&T Conference and the Center’s Great Ideas Conference, this NEW conference will be THE spark to rejuvenate your creative juices and to make an incredible difference in your organization!  

The conference will feature general sessions that tackle broad issues and 90-minute IDEAlabs that dig deeper into specific topics. THIS IS WHERE WE NEED YOUR HELP!  We’re looking for session topic submissions in all areas of association management!  This conference is a real sharing of ideas!  Please take a moment to review the Call for Great Ideas http://education.centeronline.org/licensedcontent/harvardmanagementor/GreatIdeas/
CallForGreatIdeas.htm!  Everyone, especially association professionals, are encouraged to submit a topic.  The deadline is fast approaching … July 7th!! 

Questions about the event?  Please contact Christin Berry (202-326-9514, cberry@centeronline.org) or Jamie Sadler (202-626-2719, jsadler@asaenet.org) for more information.

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Question of the Week — Should We Consider a Merger?

Anatomy of a Merger
http://www.asaenet.org/asae/cda/ammag/1,3146,PID16704,00.html

Association Mergers: Special Concerns and Possible Alternatives
http://www.asaenet.org/asae/cda/index/1,1584,PID15625,00.html

Mapping Mergers
http://www.asaenet.org/asae/cda/index/1,1584,PID12114,00.html

Reasons and Steps to Consider for Mergers
http://www.asaenet.org/asae/cda/index/1,1584,PID15628,00.html

Association Mergers: Special Concerns and Possible Alternatives
http://www.asaenet.org/asae/cda/index/1,1584,PID15625,00.html

From the Listserver: Association Mergers
http://www.asaenet.org/asae/cda/index/1,1584,PID16403,00.html

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ASAE's Summer Event's Calendar — Advance Your Knowledge

Overcoming Barriers to Team Performance
Knowledge Network
June 29, 2004

Deliver Premium Value By Creating An Aspiring Brand
Virtual Seminar
July 14, 2004

Successful Presentation Skills
Knowledge Network
July 15, 2004

Hotel Operations Seminar
Waldorf=Astoria Hotel—New York, NY
July 15-17, 2004

For a full listing of ASAE events, visit www.asaenet.org.

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Association Quick Fact — Test Your Knowledge!

As association executives, it is important to be educated on the association industry as a whole.  To help you achieve that goal, ASAE will offer a weekly “Association Quick Fact” in the ASAE Weekly Bulletin.  Pass these facts along to your peers, staff, and members–so that they too can be empowered with knowledge about the exciting world of the association industry.

DID YOU KNOW...
America's trade, professional, and philanthropic associations are allocating one of every four dollars they spend to member education and training and public information activities - about three times the amount they spend on direct government lobbying!
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Does your organization engage in e-marketing?
Find out how MagnetMail, the ASAE-sponsored e-Marketing Program that powers the ASAE Weekly, can help you achieve record-breaking results. Call MagnetMail at 877-488-2666, or visit us on the Web at www.realmagnet.com/commpartners. To request additional information complete our online form.