House Passes Bipartisan AHP Legislation

On July 27 the House passed the bipartisan "Small Business Health Fairness Act" (H.R. 525), a bill that allows the formation of association health plans (AHPs) step toward expanding access to health coverage and reducing the number of uninsured Americans.

AHPs allow small businesses to pool together through associations to purchase health care for employees and their families. President Bush has strongly supported the legislation as a way for small businesses to increase their purchasing power and lower their health coverage costs by as much as 30 percent, while giving them flexibility from 50 different state-mandated benefit packages. The House passed the bill by a 263-165 vote, with the support of 36 Democrats. ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership, which is part of a coalition of associations supporting AHP legislation, wishes to especially thank Reps. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) and Albert Wynn (D-MD) for their efforts to make H.R. 525 a bipartisan bill.

AHP legislation has passed the House before, as recently as last year, but has fizzled in the Senate. This year, however, there is more attention being paid to AHPs in the Senate. Earlier this month, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-WY) submitted a statement for the record on the Senate floor calling for compromise on the issue of health insurance reform, and including the concept of AHPs in the foundation principles he believes Congress should pursue. Enzi reiterated this desire in a July 20 article written for The Hill, saying, "It is time we put an end to this impasse."

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/.

Make the Most of Your Experience in Nashville!

ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership 2005 Annual Meeting & Exposition, August 13-16, 2005
Register today!

• Silent auction—Start bidding online now!  The silent auction gives attendees the opportunity to purchase business, leisure and personal items, some of which just aren't available on an everyday basis at any price. Comb the treasures offered and you could find that special vacation or even a needed business service for your organization. Our industry partners have generously donated prizes of every shape, size and price range to this exciting fundraising event. Each item sold is a bargain for you and provides support for ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership's educational programming.
  
• 5K Fun Walk/Run, Sunday, August 14, 6:30–8:00 a.m.—Warm-up to the best annual meeting ever by joining fellow enthusiasts at the inaugural Annual Meeting 5K Fun Walk/Run. This special event will draw runners and walkers to raise money for a Nashville charity.
  
• Club Energy, Monday, August 15, 9:30 p.m.–12:30 a.m.—Let the nighttime fun begin at the world famous Wildhorse Saloon in downtown Nashville. Two events will take place simultaneously at this restored historic warehouse, which is a mecca of entertainment. You can kick it up a notch or two with terrific music and dancing at Club Energy or spend time with friends at the Other Party, featuring a decidedly relaxed atmosphere. The choice is yours. Ticket sales support ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership, so purchase them in advance to save!

And our Xtreme Entertainment...

• Centennial Park Party and Entertainment, Monday, August 15, 6:30–9:30 p.m.—In the shadows of the Parthenon (the world’s only full-scale replica), you’ll be outside on the lawn of the park to fill your plate with unbelievable Nashville fare and of course you can wash it down with your beverage of choice including Jack Daniels, a Tennessee original. Then relax on the grass and listen to some classic rock by famous Nashvillians.  Centennial Park will be the perfect setting for the Classic Rock All-Stars featuring the lead singers of Sugar Loaf ("Green-Eyed Lady"), Iron Butterfly ("In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida"), and Rare Earth ("I Just Want To Celebrate"), plus legendary hitmakers Mark Farner, formerly of Grand Funk Railroad ("We're an American Band"), Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night ("Joy to the World"), Felix Cavaliere of the Rascals ("Good Lovin'") and B. J. Thomas ("Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head").  Disco diva Donna Summer ("Hot Stuff," "This Time I Know It's for Real") will close out the evening's show highlighting the variety of classic music in "Music City USA." 
                                                                                                               
• Reception and Grand Finale, Tuesday, August 16, 6:30–8:30 p.m.—Hot country artists—and Nashville neighbors—LeAnn Rimes and Phil Vassar will give association executives a sneak preview of their forthcoming fall tour when they perform with their bands during the Grand Finale Concert on August 16.  Their high-energy sets will be filled with dozens of Top 10 hits, including Vassar's breakthrough #1 "Just Another Day in Paradise" and Rimes' pop smash "How Do I Live".

And so many networking opportunities including...

• The Connections Network System—A way to connect with your colleagues before arriving in Nashville.   This new software enables you to interact with a community of association professionals online with similar interests before, during and after the event.
  
• Brewed Awakening Conversation Cafes—A comfortable setting which allows you to continue discussions about one of the education sessions, have ad hoc meetings or just get caught up with friends and other association professionals.

Also, If you want to get a little flavor of what the Annual Meeting & Exposition is all about, check out the Annual Meeting Blog which is a diary on the Web that gives you the latest news about the meeting before!

Register now!

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Upcoming Hotel Operations Programs

Go beyond “behind the scenes” when you attend this hands-on hotel operations training. During this three-day program, you’ll explore every facet of the business including check-in, BEO management, housekeeping, billing and more!  Made possible by the generosity of our hotel partners, this program is a MUST ATTEND for meeting planners.

EVERY program covers...

• How your RFP is evaluated;
• Revenue projections;
• The reservation process;
• Contract negotiations, attrition and other hot-button clauses;
• Menu planning, liquor liability and purchasing;
• Security, housekeeping and union policies;
• Telecommunications and audiovisual; and
• Financial management.
  

Limited space is available—register now for these upcoming dates to secure your seat!

August 4–6, 2005, Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center, Kissimmee, FL
October 27–29, 2005, Hilton Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN 
December 8–10, 2005, Loews Philadelphia Hotel, Philadelphia, PA
December 15–17, 2005, Hyatt Regency Albuquerque, Albuquerque, NM
January 11–14, 2006, Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA

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Register for the Advanced Symposium for Chief Staff and Chief Elected Officers

Advanced Symposium for Chief Staff and Chief Elected Officers
September 19-20, 2005
Loews Philadelphia Hotel
ASAE members $595, Volunteers $595, Nonmembers $795 (Nonmember price includes a one-year ASAE & The Center membership)
Register today!

An exceptional learning experience for association chief staff and chief elected officers. 

The Advanced Symposium is designed for those organizations with successful association governance systems, whose strategic planning process is outcome-focused and effective and whose partnership between top staff and elected leaders is based on common understandings.  The Symposium will explore emerging best practices with leading experts and provide an outstanding opportunity to:

Content leaders include:

• Glenn Tecker, president and CEO, Tecker Consultants, LLC
• Jean Frankel, principal partner, Tecker Consultants, LLC
• Marybeth Fidler of Marybeth Fidler Consulting
• Robin Wedewer, president, The Wedewer Group and DataZone Research & Consulting, Inc.
• Richard Finstein, director of consulting services, CommPartners

Enrollment is limited in order to ensure a comfortable learning community.

To register, visit www.asaenet.org or call 888-950-ASAE (2723) or (202-371-0940 in Washington, DC).

 

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Attend the 2005 Annual Association Law Symposium

2005 Annual Association Law Symposium
September 23, 2005, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
The Center for Association Leadership's Marriott Learning Complex, Washington, DC 
ASAE members $295, Nonmembers $495 (Nonmember price includes a one-year ASAE & The Center membership)
Register today!

Join us for the 2005 Annual Association Law Symposium and hear about the latest legislative and regulatory activities, learn about the recent trends in association law, gain practical knowledge you need to stay at the top of your profession and network with your peers!

Session topics include...

• The Association Law Year-in-Review;
• Antitrust Antenna: Don't Leave Home—or Work—Without It!;
• Employment Law: Time Off Issues for Association Staff;
• Essential Updates on Crucial Tax Basics and Introduction to New Issues;
• Avoiding and Preparing for Claims & Litigation;
• Do the Right Thing—Key Ethics Considerations for Association Lawyers and Executives;
• Current Employee Benefits Developments;
• Nonprofit Governance in the Spotlight;
• Top 20 Items to Improve Your Association's Governance; and
• Negotiating Complex Contracts.

Click here to view the complete program.

To register, visit www.asaenet.org or call 888-950-ASAE (2723) or (202-371-0940 in Washington, DC). 

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Question of the Week–Volunteer Recognition Programs

A department director of an international association in Illinois submitted this week's question.

Do you have information on volunteer recognition programs? 

ONLINE ARTICLES
Beyond the Rainbow
Soutar, Sammi
Association Management, April 2004
http://www.asaenet.org/asae/cda/ammag/1,3146,MEN1_PID21042,00.html

Ideas That Inspire
Association Management
http://www.asaenet.org/asae/cda/ammag/1,3146,PID15777,00.html

Powerful Possibilities
Jeffrey B. Cufaude
Executive Update, July 2001
http://www.centeronline.org/knowledge/article.cfm?ID=554&ContentProfileID=122317&action=searching

Spotlight on ASAE Section Award Programs
http://www.asaenet.org/asae/cda/index/1,1584,DOR3_PID1474,00.html

Ten Cool Tips to Engage Volunteers
http://www.centeronline.org/knowledge/tencool.cfm?ID=1468&ContentProfileID=122772&Action=searching

The Inner Game of Volunteer Motivation
http://www.asaenet.org/asae/cda/index/1,1584,PID14745,00.html

The Short List of Staff Motivators
http://www.asaenet.org/asae/cda/index/1,1584,PID14466,00.html

The Three R's of Volunteer Management
http://www.asaenet.org/asae/cda/content_lvl2/1,1584,PID22382,00.html

Volunteer Leaders: How to Find Them, Nurture Them, and Keep Them
http://www.asaenet.org/asae/cda/index/1,1584,PID14334,00.html

Why Awards Programs Benefit Members
http://www.asaenet.org/asae/cda/index/1,1584,PID14543,00.html

ASSOCIATION MODELS & SAMPLES
Awards Nominations and Applications http://www.centeronline.org/knowledge/assocmodel.cfm?ID=1899&ContentProfileID=129030&Action=searching
Staff Awards and Recognition Ideas http://www.centeronline.org/knowledge/assocmodel.cfm?ID=2015&ContentProfileID=129433&Action=searching

ASAE & THE CENTER PUBLICATIONS
The Volunteer Management Handbook (part of the CAE Authoritative Literature)
A complete guide to establishing and maintaining an active and effective volunteer program. Offers practical guidance on topics such as: motivating people to volunteer time and services; preparing your organization for volunteers; recruitment, orientation, training and retention; recognition and reward systems; the role of volunteers in fundraising; volunteers and the law. A valuable reference for managers and volunteer leaders. (1999, approx. 407 pages, softcover)
 
Volunteers—How to Get Them, How to Keep Them
You rely on volunteers to carry out projects, head up task forces, coordinate events, and eventually become the leaders of your organization. This valuable resource outlines 12 basic needs of volunteers and clearly spells out how to meet those needs. Rich with examples and useful tools, this book is a quick read that you will reference again and again. Find out how to compete for volunteers, recruit the best person for the job, ensure projects are completed on time, keep your best volunteers coming back . . . and more! (1999, 117 pages, softcover, ISBN 1-928892-01-9)

OUTSIDE RESOURCES
Volunteer Recognition
http://www.energizeinc.com/ideas.html

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

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Find the Best Association Jobs 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.

Director of Publishing
The American Society of Hematology—Washington, D.C.

External Communications Director
National Community Pharmacists Association—Alexandria, VA

Membership Marketing Manager
Financial Services Institute, Inc. (FSI)—Atlanta, GA

Education & Program Coordinator 
SmithBucklin Corporation—Chicago, IL

Executive Director
Seattle-King County Dental Society—Seattle, WA

Career Headquarters is powered by Boxwood Technology.

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Take Advantage of Your ASAE & The Center Membership by Attending Upcoming Events!


Hotel Operations Program
August 4–6, 2005
Kissimmee, FL

ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership 2005 Annual Meeting & Exposition
August 13–16, 2005
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Nashville, TN

2005-2006 CAE Study Course: A Three-Day Immersion Program
September 8–10, 2005
Washington, DC

Advanced Symposium for Chief Staff and Chief Elected Officers
September 19–20, 2005
Philadelphia, PA

2005 Annual Association Law Symposium
September 23, 2005
Washington, DC

6th Annual Summit Awards Dinner
September 27, 2005
Washington, DC

CEO Symposium for the Philanthropic Sector
October 17–18, 2005
Baltimore, MD

Hotel Operations Program
October 27–29, 2005
Minneapolis, MN

For a full listing of upcoming programs click here.

Concerned about delivery rates of your e-marketing campaigns? Are you losing touch with members?

Delivery is job one with MagnetMail, the ASAE Sponsored e-Marketing Program that powers ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership. Find out how you can increase your throughput rates and connect more effectively with your organization. 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.