Public Policy Updates

IRS officials told the Bureau of National Affairs (BNA) last week that the agency expects to issue guidance on the new Section 409A requirements for deferred compensation plans this summer.

These new rules were enacted as part of the "American Jobs Creation Act" signed into law in October 2004. Deferred compensation plans allow employees to save regularly with before-tax dollars while deferring federal, state and local income taxes. Both pre-tax contributions and their respective earnings remain tax deferred until withdrawn through benefit payments.

The 409A rules address the termination and amendment of certain nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements and aim to reduce abusive company practices regarding compensation, such as beneficiaries' ability to defer specific amounts of compensation and make elections to change the timing and form of distributions, BNA reported.

Registration is now open for ASAE's Government Relations (GR) School and Legislative Symposium, two key programs for government relations professionals.

The GR School will explore the "basics" of an association GR program, such as successful lobbying strategies, PAC management, grassroots recruiting and preparing & delivering effective testimony.

The Legislative Symposium is the premier event for seasoned government relations professionals, and explores the latest trends and most pressing, high-level issues that confront association government relations programs. Featured speakers, among others, include Albert Eisele, editor of The Hill; Francis Creighton of the Mortgage Bankers Association; Kathy Goldschmidt of the Congressional Management Foundation; Gregg Knopp of the National Association of Realtors; Chad Mitchell of the US Chamber of Commerce; and Neal Denton of the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers.

Both events are sponsored by Capitol Advantage. 

Register today.

For more information on public policy issues, visit the public policy section of the ASAE Web site at http://www.asaenet.org/.

If you would like to subscribe to InRoads, the weekly public policy newsletter, or manage your InRoads account, please visit http://capwiz.com/asaeinroads/mlm/signup/.

Springtime is Next Week!

Springtime 2005
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC 
Choose from full day registration, education sessions only or trade show only. 
Fees range from $30 to $90! 
Register today!

Springtime is where association professionals spring into action. It is Greater Washington's premier meetings and association industry expo.  Join us to learn other tricks of the trade from seasoned professionals in membership retention, outsourcing, marketing, technology, legal issues, sponsorships and much more.  Here's a sample of the education sessions we have planned for you...

• Quality Service, Disney Style: Learn about delivering quality customer service Disney style! Examine qualitative and quantitative techniques for studying customer psychographics and learn about a tool for understanding the needs, wants and emotions of your members. Find out how Walt Disney World communicates a service theme and standards to all cast members and the strategies and tactics implemented for maximizing all delivery systems during each service moment. You'll develop a Quality Service Plan that adapts Walt Disney World methods to your own organization. Identify participant take-aways and action opportunities for making "magic" in your world.
  
• 60 Microsoft Tips and Tricks In 75 Minutes: Feeling technologically challenged…like you should know more about Microsoft Word, Excel or PowerPoint? You are not alone! Studies show that most people use 10 percent or less of their software's capabilities. This concentrated session covers 2 ½ hours of material in 75 minutes. If you are a busy person who can’t spend all day in a dull computer class, this session is for you! A handy tip sheet will help you focus on the material and not on taking notes. 

For a full list of Springtime education sessions, visit www.springtimeexpo.com. Register today!

Are your Marketing and Membership Magnetic?

2005 Marketing & Membership Symposium
June 27-28, 2005
Marriott North Bethesda Hotel & Conference Center, Bethesda, MD
ASAE members $495, Nonmembers $695
(The nonmember rate includes a complimentary
one-year membership in ASAE, mention code E025k)
Register today!

Marketing and membership professionals…listen up!  If you are looking to win over your audience with powerful, magnetic ideas OR if you aren't completely satisfied with how you attract and retain members, then you should register for the only symposium designed just for you.

You’ll learn actionable ideas and innovative strategies that will help you succeed both personally and professionally. With two general sessions and 11 breakout sessions in marketing, membership and sales, you can customize your learning experience.  You’ll also network with your peers and hear from others who are facing similar marketing and membership challenges.  Plus…earn valuable CAE hours toward your designation. 

General Sessions:

Deliver Premium Value By Creating An Aspiring Brand Attend this interactive presentation to learn innovative branding ideas and to gain insight on how to drive success in today's ever-changing competitive business landscape.  You will walk away with easy to implement ideas that will help you achieve new plateaus of success and a fresh way of looking at your association's brand. Larry Gulko, marketing coach, Gulko Brand Marketing

The Seven Irrefutable Rules Of Association Growth Like most private companies, associations want to grow.  In this timely and informative session, our speaker will guide you through a personalized exploration of growth opportunities for the 21st century.  By combining a thorough understanding of proven initiatives from America's most successful growth opportunities, with specific knowledge of association trends, you will leave this exciting General Session with your own concrete and actionable list of "go-dos."  Steven S. Little, senior consultant, Inc. Magazine and former president of three fast-growth companies

For the full agenda, click here Marketing & Membership Symposium.

Thank you to our sponsor, Hays Affinity Solutions.

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Policies and Procedures Study

As an active ASAE member, continue your investment in the association profession by participating in the 2005 Policies & Procedures benchmarking study.  Take this opportunity to connect with other association executives and informally compare your organization to others on a broad array of association issues.

This survey allows different people from your organization to address their specific functional areas.  It is intended to be an organization-wide effort and nonmembers are also encouraged to participate.   

Please complete your survey online at www.iisecure.com/test/welcome.htm.  You will need your company ID to proceed.  Call the Member Service Center at 888-950-2723 or 202-371-0940 in Washington, DC.

Thank you for your commitment to ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership and for helping us become a better resource for the association industry.

There's Still Time to Register for Next Week's Financial Management Symposium

2005 Financial Management Symposium
May 23–24, 2005
NEW LOCATION! Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, Bethesda, MD
ASAE members $495, Nonmembers $595
Earn up to 15 CPE credits by attending this program.
FEW SEATS REMAINING–Register today!

Attend the most popular event for senior-level association financial management professionals! With content specifically geared towards CEOs, CFOs, CPAs, comptrollers, senior-level managers, financial accounting managers and attorneys who represent associations, this program will explore the latest trends in finance, legal and management and how they impact you.

 General Session topics include…

• The State of Governance and Oversight for Nonprofit Organizations;
• What’s Happening at the Internal Revenue Service; and 
• Understanding Today’s Investment Marketplace.

View the complete program for more information.  Questions? Contact Libby Bingham at 202-326-9507.

Sponsored by Bank of America.

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Join us in Montreal this June

Invitational Forum on Leadership and Management
Montreal Marriott Chateau Champlain
June 9–10, 2005
Montreal, Canada
 ASAE members $795, Nonmembers $945
Register today

If you're like most time-strapped executives, you rarely get the opportunity to think outside the box, let alone consider alternative solutions.  That will change on June 9-10, 2005 in Montreal, Canada. In two days you will learn how to put the most compelling, unique and proven leadership and management theories into practice...simply by attending the Invitational Forum on Leadership and Management.

This high level program will bring together four thought experts on leadership and management to create a one-of-a-kind, rich learning experience specifically for CEOs and senior executives from the association and business communities. 

You will...

• Engage in provocative discussions, test the limits of your management knowledge and gain new insight on how to succeed;
• Unearth countless ideas on how to excel as a leader and manager;
• Interact with leading authors and a talented facilitator who will push your thinking beyond its normal boundaries;
• Network with association executives from organizations throughout the country; and
• Learn how to put tried-and-true leadership and management theories into practice.

It's two days you can't afford to miss.  Register now!

Program presented by Canadian Tourism Commission; Toronto Convention & Visitors Association; Tourisme Montreal; Tourism Vancouver—The Greater Vancouver Convention and Visitors Bureau; and Destination Halifax.

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Question of the Week–Guidelines for Creating a Strategic Plan

The executive director of a trade association in Arizona submitted this week's question.

Do you have any guidelines for creating a strategic plan?

ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership Online Resources
A plan of attack
Component Relations, Oct. 2004
http://www.asaenet.org/asae/cda/content_lvl2/1,1584,PID22182,00.html

Association Models & Samples: Strategic Plans
http://www.centeronline.org/knowledge/assocmodel.cfm?ID=1622&ContentProfileID=127087&Action=searching

Creating the future while managing the present
Association Management, August 2003
http://www.asaenet.org/asae/cda/ammag/1,3146,PID19451,00.html

Innovation & Excellence Project
Strategic Planning Leads to Organizational Restructuring for AAMR
http://www.centeronline.org/knowledge/casestudy.cfm?ID=126&ContentProfileID=122064&Action=searching

Let’s be clear about your goals
Association Management, Oct. 2004
http://www.asaenet.org/asae/cda/ammag/1,3146,PID22028,00.html

Repositioning your board for strategy making
Association Management, August 2003
http://www.asaenet.org/asae/cda/ammag/1,3146,PID19456,00.html

Translating foresight into strategy
Association Management, August 2003
http://www.asaenet.org/asae/cda/ammag/1,3146,MEN1_PID19452,00.html

Virtual Resource List: Management & Planning
http://www.asaenet.org/asae/cda/content_lvl2/1,,ETI19738,00.html
scroll down to Strategic Planning

Resource Links: Strategic Planning
http://www.centeronline.org/knowledge/resourcelinks.cfm?ID=237&ContentProfileID=122115&Action=searching

Strategic Planning and the Small Association: The Show Must Go On?
Forum, January 2002
http://www.centeronline.org/knowledge/article.cfm?ID=2178&ContentProfileID=130665&Action=searching

Strategic Planning Made Sexy
Executive Update, October 1999
http://www.centeronline.org/knowledge/article.cfm?ID=1026&ContentProfileID=122792&Action=searching

ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership Books
Strategic Planning for Association Executives
http://webmw.asaenet.org/ebusiness/product.asp?ID=48360

Complete Guide to Nonprofit Management
Chapter 1: Establishing the Organization's Direction
http://webmw.asaenet.org/ebusiness/product.asp?ID=52184

From Scan to Plan: Integrating Trends into the Strategy Making Process
http://webmw.asaenet.org/ebusiness/product.asp?ID=101014

From Scan to Plan: Managing Change in Associations
http://webmw.asaenet.org/ebusiness/product.asp?ID=101248

Principles of Association Management
Chapter 16: Strategic Planning
http://webmw.asaenet.org/ebusiness/product.asp?ID=47737
 
Professional Practices in Association Management
Chapter 4: Strategic Planning
http://webmw.asaenet.org/ebusiness/product.asp?ID=48330

Strategic Planning for Association Executives
http://webmw.asaenet.org/ebusiness/product.asp?ID=48360

OUTSIDE RESOURCES
How to prepare a Strategic Plan
http://www.mapnp.org/library/plan_dec/str_plan/str_plan.htm#anchor970692
Strategic Planning: A Streamlined Approach for Associations
http://www.gincomm.com/html/streamlined_planning_1.html
SAMPLE STRATEGIC PLANS
American Industrial Hygiene Association http://www.aiha.org/Committees/html/envirosigstrategicplan.htm
Florida Library Association
http://www.flalib.org/strategicplan.pdf

If you have a question or pressing issue that you would like to see addressed in the Weekly Bulletin, contact Knowledge Center/Information Central at 202-326-9559 or infocentral@asaenet.org.

To order ASAE’s publications, call the Member Service Center at 888-950-2723 or visit www.asaenet.org/bookstore.

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The Latest Association Jobs are at Career Headquarters

Realize your professional potential in association management through www.careerhq.org—the best source of association jobs and resumes. Advertise your resume free of charge to hundreds of association employers and search CareerHQ.org’s targeted job database for the position that’s right for you. CareerHQ.org offers career development services, including job coaching, resume writing and a career knowledge database. Numerous services are free, including resume review, interviewing guidelines and a behavioral style analysis. You’ll also find helpful tips and resources to assist in your job hunt.

Production Manager
ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership–Washington, DC

Project Associate, School Health Programs
National School Boards Association–Alexandria, VA

President, Educational Institute
Educational Institute of American Hotel & Lodging–Orlando, FL

Marketing Manager
ARMA International–Kansas City, MO

Director of MIS
ASHRAE, Inc.–Atlanta, GA

Career Headquarters is powered by Boxwood Technology.

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Attend Upcoming Programs and Events

2005 Financial Management Symposium
May 23–24, 2005
Bethesda, MD

Springtime 2005
May 26, 2005
Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC

The 2005 Springtime DC Invitational Golf Tournament
May 27, 2005
Woodbridge, VA

Book Club on Leadership
June 8, 2005
Washington, DC

Invitational Forum on Leadership and Management
June 9–10, 2005
Montreal Marriott Chateau Champlain, Quebec, Canada

2005 Marketing & Membership Symposium
June 27–28, 2005
Marriott North Bethesda Hotel & Conference Center, Bethesda, MD

Government Relations School
June 27–28, 2005
Washington, DC

Legislative Symposium
June 29, 2005
Washington, DC

Hotel Operations Program
July 28, 2005
Hilton New York, NY

Does your organization engage in e-marketing?
Find out how MagnetMail, the ASAE Sponsored e-Marketing Program that powers ASAE and The Center for Association Leadership's Weekly Bulletin, 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.