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By Nick Koerbin
Have we completed our Annual General Meeting?
Have we inducted our new Board members? So what is next?
Heading into a new financial/year, the Board should now be scheduling some time to review your strategic plan?
As an association leader, you probably have a strategic plan for your organisation. But have you fully articulated why this plan is
important? And have you done all of the necessary work to properly develop one?
A comprehensive strategic plan is key to your association’s ability to thrive and grow in a competitive, complex landscape. A strategic
plan's purpose is to create an association's direction. Without this sense of direction, it is easy for an association to fall into the trap
of simply moving from one “priority” task to the next, without any sense of how this activity is contributing to a greater goal.
There are four key reasons why a strategic plan is vital for an association.
1. Outlines a roadmap towards success. No business can achieve great things without having a plan in place to
reach these outcomes.
2. Adds clarity and focus. It assists in ensuring that you target key actions and priorities, without getting
distracted by other things.
3. Builds awareness of strengths and weaknesses. Taking the time to consider what has worked well before, and
what hasn’t, is important for any organisation.
4. Creates a sense of purpose and unity. It shows everyone – from the President to the volunteers – what you
are striving for and the role that each individual can play.
One of the most common — and often unexpected — challenges faced by association boards and leaders arises when a member develops a grievance against the organisation. In the association sector, this is not unusual. Most grievances begin with a concern or disagreement, but if not handled appropriately, they can escalate into a prolonged and disruptive issue.
Insights from the AES Technology Survey and Special Interest Group Discussion
Artificial Intelligence is now part of daily work for many association professionals.
Association Executive Services (AES) are soon to release its
annual report on technology in Australian Associations and recently facilitated a special interest group discussion on the use of AI in
participants' organisations.
The Challenge of Prorated Membership and Renewal Cycles
Anyone responsible for membership in an association understands this tension:
Do we renew members on the anniversary of their joining date, or operate on a single annual renewal date?
And if we operate on a single renewal date, how and when should prorated membership apply?
Here is a deeper exploration of each model — with practical examples drawn from real-world association operations.
How we help membership based, not-for-profit associations now and into the future.
