Major Initiative to Ease Health Care Workforce Crisis Receives Overwhelming Support

The American Society of Association Executives & The Center for Association Leadership, and the American Hospital Association (AHA), today announced that leading health care associations have joined in support of the National Healthcare Career Network (NHCN). ASAE & The Center and AHA are founding partners of the NHCN, an initiative prompting health care associations to expand their role in the health care recruitment process.
 
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care job vacancies are reaching crisis levels – now indicating critical shortages of specialized health care workers including physicians, nurses, operating room and allied health personnel.
  
“The American Hospital Association is committed to raising the awareness of health care’s worker shortage and deriving solutions to this pervasive problem,” said Rich Umbdenstock, AHA president and CEO. “Finding specialized staff to fill critical vacancies through their professional societies is key.  We welcome and encourage all health care associations to join this initiative.”

Professionals gravitate to associations to take advantage of a vast array of training and certification programs, networking opportunities and career development.  According to The William E. Smith Institute Report, “Associations Attract Winners,” success in one’s profession increases the likelihood of joining an association. Further research indicates health care professionals who are involved with their associations hold more certifications, are current on issues and involved in career self-management.

Read more in our newsroom.

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News

Raising Money When You’re Not a Cause

Many trade and professional associations run fundraising campaigns. Some raise money for scholarships, others for a building fund, and still others to support research on behalf of an industry or profession. But how do you make your fundraising pitch appeal to the hearts and minds of your donors when you’re not really a “cause” organization?

In her article “Putting the Funds Back Into Fundraising,” fundraising expert Carolyn Raffa Fazio has some suggestions:

  • Contributor involvement can fuel enthusiasm and donations.
  • Don’t forget the critical smaller donors in your pursuit of the larger ones.
  • Donor recognition is a major key to success.

For more advice, as well as stories from associations that have succeeded (and failed) at their fundraising efforts, read “Putting the Funds Back Into Fundraising,” from the May 2008 issue of Associations Now.

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The Continuum of Board Engagement—Are You Where You Need to Be?

In a blog post from ASAE & The Center’s Exceptional Boards program in San Francisco, Acronym blogger Scott Briscoe shared some thoughts on board engagement, inspired by presenters Nancy Axelrod and Paul Greeley:

“A little later in the presentation, Axelrod described the work of David Nadler as written in the Harvard Business Review in May 2004. He described board engagement on a continuum. On one side is the ‘Passive Board’—the rubber stamp board that doesn't really deliberate at all. Next on the continuum is the ‘Certifying Board’—one where the extent of board activity is fiduciary and other executive functions. In the middle is what most people think is board nirvana—the ‘Strategic Board,’ which is engaged in strategy development, then steps back and lets others do the tactical things.

“As Axelrod pointed out, while there is a lot of talk about having a strategic board, it's important to think about what you mean by that. In practice, different situations call for different levels of board engagement, and one is not necessarily inherently bad. Greeley later added that, in fact, most boards are probably operating at all different engagement levels even at a single board meeting.”

Where is your board’s level of engagement, and is that level aligned with what your association needs right now? For more, or to share your thoughts on board engagement, visit Acronym, the blog of ASAE & The Center. 

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Connect

Ah, the Sweet Taste of Learning…

Nothing complements the sweet taste of learning like some ice cream! Now, when you refer a colleague to the 2008 Annual Meeting & Exposition you’ll receive a FREE $5 gift certificate for ice cream during your stay in San Diego!

With our Colleague Connections program, when you send us the name and contact information for a colleague(s) who you believe has never attended an ASAE & The Center Annual Meeting & Exposition, you'll be automatically sent a free $5 gift certificate to a San Diego ice cream parlor. But hurry, this offer ends May 31, 2008. Refer a colleague today!

Haven’t registered for the 2008 Annual Meeting & Exposition? Register by May 30 for a chance to win an all inclusive Stay & Play package!

San Diego pre/post stay vacation package information is now available online at www.connectinsandiego.com including Golf, Spa & Resort packages, Sailing packages, Nightlife packages and more. Come for the convention, stay for the vacation! Register today!

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ASAE & The Center on LinkedIn and Facebook

Did you know that ASAE & The Center now has groups on both LinkedIn and Facebook social networking sites? If you are already a part these sites we encourage you to connect with your colleagues and ASAE & The Center today!

ASAE & The Center LinkedIn Group

ASAE & The Center Facebook Group

ASAE & The Center Young Professional Facebook Group

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New Resource for Young Professionals!

ASAE & The Center is excited to introduce a brand new Young Professional community page. Now it is easy to find all of the amazing resources developed for and by young professionals and emerging leaders in the association community. This is a “one-stop-shop” to learn what the next virtual Lunchtime Learning program will be or the new entries posted on Associapedia by young professionals at ASAE & The Center.  Visit www.asaecenter.org/youngprofessionals today!

Do you have a rising star in your organization that would benefit from the networking, resources, and leadership opportunities offered by ASAE & The Center? Don’t forget, it is only $100 for Association Professionals under 30 to join. Join now www.asaecenter.org/youngprofessionals.

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Make Essential Connections While You Learn

Equally important as the advanced learning you will do at the 2008 Finance and Business Operations Symposium, are the professional connections and opportunities for you to meet one-on-one with your peers.  At FBOS, networking and professional development go hand in hand. 
 
In addition to being paperless, FBOS is wireless! Bring your laptop, plug in your one-gigabyte jump drive (supplied to you courtesy of ASAE-Endorsed Partners) and take everything in.  Also, we will be recording many of the sessions this year, so you will have the opportunity to purchase those recordings onsite at the conference.
 
For more information, visit www.asaecenter.org/FBOS or call 888-950-2723 (202-371-0940 in Washington, DC).

Two heads are better than one! When one person from your organization registers, all subsequent colleagues from the same organization may register for $495 ($695* for nonmembers)—a $200 savings! (Call or fax to receive this rate.)
 
Register today!

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Seek Inspiration for Leadership & Management

Join us for the fifth annual Invitational Forum on Leadership & Management, June 5-6 in Vancouver for an exclusive learning event for senior-level executives. This stellar two-day program brings you and your peers one-on-one with some of today’s visionaries, business leaders and authors such as: Rohit Talwar, Franck Schuurmans, Ph.D., and Donna Wilson. This sell-out event is ideal for those who seek inspiration and peer-to-peer discussion on how to become more effective leaders.

Register and learn more online at www.asaecenter.org/invitationalforum.

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Win More Than $2,000—and the Prize Keeps Growing!

Bring more players to the game, and make it a Triple Win, our new-member recruiter’s challenge and:

• Receive accolades and honors on ASAE & The Center’s website and in Associations Now;
• Enjoy recognition and praise at our upcoming Annual Meeting & Expo in San Diego, CA, August 16-19; and
• Enter to win cool cash (currently more than $2,000) and a complimentary one-year ASAE & The Center membership!

For each new member you recruit, you will strengthen ASAE & The Center by broadening our base while expanding your own network of professional support. Give back to the association community by sharing the secret to success with a colleague and receive national recognition on the ASAE & The Center’s website, Associations Now magazine and at our upcoming Annual Meeting & Expo.  And of course, you could win cash!

Your name will be entered into the drawing every time you recruit a new member. So, the more qualifying members you recruit, the better your chances to win. For each new eligible member you recruit, the prize drawing will increase by $25.  You could also win a one year ASAE & The Center membership which will be awarded to you and the member you recruited on the application drawn  Your colleague should use the attached membership application to join and write your name on the “Sponsor's Name/Who introduced you to ASAE & The Center” field.   Download membership applications and get more info at www.asaecenter.org/triplewin.

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CenterU Education

CenterU Programs

This decade has seen a resurgence of activism on the part of those charged with regulating the nonprofit community, such as the IRS, attorneys general and other government agencies. Attend the 2008 Annual Association Law Symposium, Friday September 19, Washington, DC and hear the perspectives of individuals charged with regulation.  What are their thoughts on trends in their areas of responsibility? What do they need to look at to satisfy their public responsibilities as regulators? Walk away with an understanding of how to be better prepared to help your organization avoid regulatory conflict. Register now!

Are your fundraising efforts stuck in the slow lane?  Wondering how, if or why to incorporate social networking techniques into your GR program? Looking to get some hands-on tips to manage your PAC more efficiently, raise more money and create a culture of giving?

Find answers to these questions and more at Government Relations School, June 18-19, the premier event for government relation specialists.  Whether you are a seasoned professional or just starting out in your career, you'll address your association's GR needs and still have the opportunity to network with others in the industry. Ready to take it to the next level?  Register today!


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CenterU Online

Experience our latest CenterU Online Virtual Seminars! Register yourself and have your entire department tune in from your workspace or conference room.

Turning the Daily Grind into Daily Fulfillment—May 20
Is it possible to create widespread job satisfaction in a world full of workplace misery?  Indeed it is. Join us to learn how career happiness (or misery) is the direct result of the manager-employee relationship. You will learn how to take control of your career happiness as Patrick Lencioni shatters some myths about workplace satisfaction and offers some real advice on how to turn that daily grind into daily fulfillment. Register now.

Speak Like a Leader—May 21
Today's marketplace demands that to advance personally or professionally, you must use communication skills more effectively. Discover how the continued success of your organization is tied to your ability to persuade and inspire others to action. Learn how you can deal with your "natural" fear of speaking and avoid the biggest mistakes most executives make when they speak. Register now. 

Managing Critical Staff Relationships—June 18
There's a new "sandwich generation" in the workplace; mid- to senior-level executives who manage staff and also report to an organization executive. If you're a relatively new supervisor in your association, it may seem like you have the whole organization on your shoulders. Your position in the association's staff hierarchy can actually be a boon to your growth as an emerging association leader. Discover the importance of information flow, crystal-clear mutual expectations, and compatible working relationships in creating a more effective work environment and organization. Register now.

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Question of the Week

Question of the Week – Branding

"We want to develop a strong brand for our association.  Do you have any resources we can use?"

ASAE & THE CENTER RESOURCES

Articles
 
“Simple branding solution,” by Bruce Turkel, Associations Now, December 2007 
If you want to create ongoing loyalty from your members, stop viewing your association as a service group and start thinking of it as a brand, which is a promise of the relationship you build with customers when they agree to do business with you.

“Intelligence:  Keep your brand relevant,” by David Harrison, Associations Now, September 2006
All associations must constantly reevaluate their brands, but global organizations with audiences in regions around the world have the more complex task of creating a brand that speaks across cultural platforms yet delivers a consistent message.

“Creating a winning brand,” by Larry Gulko, Marketing Insights, May 2005
A marketing guru talks about what it takes to build your No. 1 asset (branding),  focus your brand, and drive brand preference.

“Marketing trends: branding is everything,” by Sheri Jacobs, CAE, Membership Developments, March 2005
In today's world, your association's branding efforts must include more than just the creative idea behind your organization's products and services. To ensure that people receive and remember your tagline or message, branding must be everything-the total image your members and prospects have in their heads.

“Leader at large: what's your brand?,” by Oren Harari, Association Management, February 2005.
Best-selling author and management consultant Oren Harari shares seven strategic paths that association leaders can follow in building a great brand.

“Online’s complementary fit,” by Carl Levesque, Association Management, June 2003
As electronic publishing enables organizations to bring time-sensitive materials and searchable archives to readers faster, association executives are learning to tailor the medium to their message and audience.

Models and Samples

Branding Guidelines and Standards

Case Studies

AFP Implements Wholesale Branding Initiative Including Name Change

ULI Branding Initiative Leads to Organizational Change
 
From the Store

Branding: Image and Emotion for Your Market (Digital Media), by Susanne Connors Bowman and Wayne Haefer 
Branding applies to more than just products; it also applies to associations. Learn the broad meaning of branding and how it applies to organizations and well as issues surrounding branding integration

Brand This! Branding Beyond Your Logo (Digital Media), by Diane Beecher, Charlie Jones, Cindy Kuhn, and Susan Robertson
Branding—everyone's doing it, some better than others. But what is it? If you think it's just about updating your logo, think again.

Once you have used these resources, please rate and review them at the bottom of each respective page. 

If you have a question or pressing issue that you would like to see addressed in InTouch, contact the Association Knowledge Center at 202-326-9559 or KnowledgeCenter@asaecenter.org.



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