Two Senate Committees To Mark Up Lobbying Reform This Week

Two Senate committees with jurisdiction over various lobbying reform proposals have scheduled bill mark ups for this week. The Senate Rules Committee was scheduled to mark up a bill on February 28, and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will do one March 2.

ASAE will closely monitor these hearings to gauge the potential impact on associations, particularly as it relates to a provision to ban or severely curtail privately funded congressional travel to events such as an association conference or annual meeting. In discussions with Senate Rules Chairman Trent Lott’s (R-MS) office, ASAE believes he will push for detailed disclosure and a pre-approval process for travel, as opposed to a total travel ban.

Both committees are likely to consider a wide range of proposals, including limiting earmarking; tightening rules on gifts, including meals and entertainment; increasing the frequency of lobbying disclosure reports; doubling the “cooling off” period for former members of Congress or Hill staffers working as a registered lobbyist; and the aforementioned travel ban, among others. It is assumed that, following the mark ups, the Senate leadership would study the bills and any potential amendments and come up with one consensus package to take to the Senate floor.

The House is also looking at lobbying reform, but House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) and House Rules Chairman David Dreier (R-CA) are still working to put together a package that will attempt to win bipartisan support.

For more information on public policy issues, visit the public policy section of the ASAE website 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/.

Business of Meetings: Meetings and Expositions Operations

Join us in Chicago this March 28–29 at the Mid-America Club to learn how to create a cutting-edge meeting or event. Since the meetings and expositions industry is forever evolving, it’s crucial to understand your members' needs in order to create successful and innovative programming.

Join us for this session where you’ll learn how to…

• Integrate your customers’ and stakeholders’ interests and goals into your operations;
• Learn to effectively use technology in your programs;
• Create procedures and processes for effective supplier and vendor management; and
• Identify plans and financial considerations for international destinations.

You’ll also discover real world solutions to issues you face as you learn from experts in the field and from your peers. This course is part of the Business of Meetings Certificate course, though everyone is welcome to attend.

Are you working toward your CAE or CMP designation or recertification? Earn valuable hours at this program!

Register now!

Other Business of Meetings sessions also held at the Mid-America Club in Chicago are:
Strategy and Marketing (March 28–29, 2006)
Core Business Management: Financial, Legal and Human Resources (March 30–31, 2006)
Leadership and Communication (March 30–31, 2006)

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Two Upcoming Virtual Learning Opportunities

What's at the Heart of Your eLearning Strategy
March 15, 2006, 2:00–3:30 p.m. EST
Members $179, Nonmembers $279
OnlineU Virtual Seminar

Register for one site and include your entire staff!

Do you have any idea what it takes to develop an eLearning initiative for your association? Where do you begin? What issues should you consider and how do you create a practical plan that can meet your association’s specific education model? 

Attend this session and learn the important questions to ask and the central issues to consider in four critical areas of eLearning strategy development: getting the right people involved, assessing content, choosing technology and the key internal issues that can affect your outcome.  Hear effective practices as well as some of the lessons learned from two association executives who have survived the eLearning strategy process. You will receive a strategy document template and a tip sheet for selecting technology that you can use in your own association!

After participating in this virtual seminar, you will be able to…

• Articulate the steps required to design an eLearning strategy;
• Begin to develop an eLearning strategy for your association; and
• Describe and avoid potential pitfalls related to financial models, staffing and the level at which your eLearning project begins.

Learn what can happen when you carefully craft a strategy that is reasonable and manageable for your organization.

Register now!

Content Leader: Amy Smith, president & chief learning officer, Amy Smith Consulting, LLC

The Seven-Touch Prospecting System
April 20, 2006, 2:00–3:30 p.m. EST
Members $179, Nonmembers $279
OnlineU Audio and Web sessions

Register for one site and include your entire staff!

If you want to succeed in the competitive sales arena, you need to be well prepared. Could you use a powerful and dynamic prospecting system to generate more appointments? If you want more sales, then improve your prospecting skills by attending this 90-minute OnlineU virtual seminar.

Join us and learn how to...

• Write crisp value propositions to grab your prospect's attention;
• Determine if you really want to do business with a prospect;
• Learn to research the prospective company;
• Understand the stages to successful prospecting;
• Define, deliver and leverage your unique business divers; and
• Implement the Seven-Touch Prospecting System.

Content Leader: Jim Kidd, CEO, Jim Kidd Sales Coach

Register now!

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Executive Foresight Discussion Group-Complimentary

Executive Foresight Discussion Group
March 21, 2006, 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Audioconference by dialing 913-312-9372, pass code 927646
Complimentary
Register today!

Join ASAE & The Center's Executive Foresights discussion group, part of the Executive Management section. Over the next few months, we will examine books, articles and websites as springboards for discussion on the eight super-trends identified in the ASAE & The Center's scan report Mapping the Future of Your Association: Eight Super-Trends.

Watch the Book Club and Executive Management section listservers for the list of readings for each topic. To become a member of either of these lists, click here.

Be a part of what is always lively and thought-proving conversation!

Upcoming Sessions
March 21, 2006
Topic: Cybermobbing
Facilitator: Diane James, CAE, executive director, Jacobs Institute of Women's Health

April 18, 2006
Topic: Scrimping
Facilitator: Charles "Chip" Deale, CAE, Head-Society Services, CFA Institute

May 16, 2006
Topic: Scrutiny
Facilitator: Hannes Combest

June 20, 2006
Topic: Eight Trends Wrap Up
Facilitator: TBD

Register today!

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Join us for the Invitational Forum

Invitational Forum for Leadership & Management
June 15–16, 2006
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Members $895, Nonmembers $1,095
(nonmember pricing includes a one-year ASAE & The Center membership)
Register now!

Join CEOs, presidents, executive directors and SVPs for this exclusive interactive forum tailored especially to high-level executives. Set in vibrant Halifax, Nova Scotia, Strat Sherman, one of the world's outstanding moderators, will lead you through sessions that will challenge your way of thinking, encourage you to examine new business perspectives and foster stimulating discussions and debates among your peers.

Meet some of the outstanding session leaders who are joining us...

• Discuss A New Standard of Leadership with Peter Georgescu, author of the book The Source of Success: Five Enduring Principles at the Heart of Real Leadership, as he shares his insight on what's truly important for success;
• Carol Bellamy, former 10 year executive director of UNICEF, will lead the Developing Leaders session from her unique vantage point as a champion for the world's children.
• Frances Hesselbein, chairman of the board of governors of the Leader to Leader Institute and 1998 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, reveals her thoughts on the importance of being a "How to Be" Leader; and
• Marshall Goldsmith, who the American Management Association named one of the "50 great thinkers and leaders who have influenced the field of management over the past 80 years" is joining us to help you become a more successful leader during his session, Helping Successful People Get Even Better.

These well-known session leaders make the Invitational Forum ideal for executives who are looking for inspiration and discussion on how to become a more passionate leader and a more effective manager. Come explore your role as a leader, a visionary, a manager and a strategist.

Register now!

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Attend The Heart & Soul Gala—2006 Partnership Dinner

The Heart & Soul Gala—2006 Partnership Dinner
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, DC
6:30 p.m. Reception, 7:30 p.m. Dinner Program and Gala
Attire: Red dress/Red tie suggested

Join us for this exceptional "red tie" event dedicated to honoring four associations for their contributions to advance heart disease awareness. Through ASAE & The Center's Heart and Soul Luncheons and with The Heart Truth, an NIH & National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute awareness campaign, our honorees have raised an understanding of heart disease as the leading health issue.

Our honorees include:
American College of Cardiology
American Heart Association
American Hospital Association
The Heart Rhythm Society and Foundation

RSVP: Download the RSVP form and fax it to 703.739.4481. For more information, call Precision Meetings and Events at 703-739-4480.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. Reservations may be made by calling 800-445-8667 or 202-483-3000.

Click here for dinner packages and prices.

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Experience the Hotel Operations Program

The next Hotel Operations Program is just around the corner, but there’s still plenty of time to register. Join us March 8–11, 2006 in San Francisco for this intensive program for meeting planners that goes behind the scenes to give you an up close and personal look at the business of hotel operations.

Other upcoming dates are:

April 26–29, 2006, Uncasville, CT 
May 17–20, 2006, Houston, TX

And, be sure to check out our revised programming agenda!

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Spring Into Action by Attending Springtime!

Winter Recruit-A-Member Campaign Results
 
Congratulations to 203 members who encouraged 230 new members to join ASAE & The Center during our special winter recruitment campaign!  Each member that sponsored a new member between November 1, 2005–January 31, 2006 was entered into a drawing to win a $300 prepaid gift card!  A special recognition goes to the lucky winner:  Robert A. Kobek,  president & CEO, Mobius Vendor Partners, Indianapolis, IN!  Please visit www.asaenet.org/recruit for the complete list of winter recruiters and easy ways to sponsor new members.  You, too, can also gain recognition for your recruitment efforts, expand your network of association industry professionals and be eligible to win fabulous prizes!   
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Question of the Week–Publishing E-Newsletters

Do you have information regarding associations publishing e-newsletters?

ASAE & THE CENTER RESOURCES
Our new Policies & Procedures (survey) has several tables that show publishing practices of associations. Volume six focuses on marketing, public relations & communications, publications and research. A description of this book is available in our online bookstore, http://webmw.asaenet.org/ebusiness/product.asp?ID=101715.

Association models: newsletters
http://www.centeronline.org/knowledge/assocmodel.cfm?ID=1865

http://www.asaenet.org/GeneralDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=9067

“Editing for results,” Communication News, August 2005
http://www.asaenet.org/Publications/EnewsletterArticleDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=11934     

“Making the switch to HTML newsletters,” Communication News, March 2002
http://www.asaenet.org/Publications/EnewsletterArticleDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=5546  

“Why are some e-mail newsletters so bad?” Marketing Insights, Sept. 2004
http://www.asaenet.org/Publications/EnewsletterArticleDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=6479 

“Paper or pixels,” Association Management, Feb. 2005
http://www.asaenet.org/Publications/AMMagArticleDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=9295

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.

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Featured Association Job Opportunities

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.

Coordinator, Member Relations
ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership–Washington, DC

Associate Director of Student Affairs
National Community Pharmacists Association–Alexandria, VA

Executive Director
Greater NY Chapter of ACC–New York, NY

Communications Manager
PCMA–Chicago, IL

Vice President of Member Services
Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.–Orlando, FL

Career Headquarters is powered by Boxwood Technology.

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Register for Upcoming Events Offered by CenterU–Your Gateway to Excellence in Association Learning
 
Mapping Out Your International Strategy
March 7, 2006
Washington, DC

Hotel Operations: Hyatt Regency San Francisco
March 8–11, 2006
San Francisco, CA

Women's Learning Journey to South Africa
March 11–23, 2006
South Africa

Executive Foresight Discussion Group
March 21, 2006
OnlineU audio seminar

The Convention Center Operations Program
March 22–24, 2006
Boston, MA

2006 March CAE Study Course: A Three-Day Immersion Program
March 23–25, 2006
Washington, DC

Business of Meetings: Strategy and Marketing Course
March 28–29, 2006
Chicago, IL

Business of Meetings: Meetings and Expositions Operations Course
March 28–29, 2006
Chicago, IL

Business of Meetings: Core Business Management–Financial, Legal, Human Resources
March 30–31, 2006
Chicago, IL

Business of Meetings: Leadership and Communication Course
March 30–31, 2006
Chicago, IL

Leadership Skills for Senior Staff
April 3–4, 2006
Chantilly, VA

2006 Chicago Association Law Symposium
April 6, 2006
Chicago, IL

Advanced Financial Management
April 14, 2006
Washington, DC

For a full listing of upcoming programs click here.