I’ve been around a long time at AT, and over the years, I’ve developed and refined a number of solutions that can be reused, repurposed, and recycled. Each solution was born out of a specific need or challenge facing one of our client organizations. After implementing a solution, I would archive it—ready to offer it to a teammate or apply it again when a similar need arose.
Earlier this year, I finished my first audiobook (yes, I’m finally embracing this cutting-edge technology—wink), Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear. The book explores how habits—both good and bad—shape our performance and lives. Nearly every chapter offered at least one nugget of wisdom that I could reflect on and apply to my daily routine. Definitely a good read.
It was the final chapter, “The Downside of Creating Good Habits,” that struck a chord. Clear explains that when habits become automatic, we gain speed and fluency—but we also risk becoming less sensitive to feedback. We stop thinking about how to do things better. I realized I had fallen into that trap. While I’ve built solutions that are reused year after year, I haven’t always stopped to ask: Could this be done better? Is it still working as effectively as I think?
Organizations face the same risk. The danger of long-standing routines is that they may no longer serve their purpose. Some products, services, or events might not make sense today the way they did 10, 15, or 20 years ago. Are we listening to the data? Are we keeping pace with what today’s members want? Are our initiatives aligned with strategic goals? “We’ve always done it this way” isn’t a valid reason to continue down the same path. Reflection and evaluation require time and intentionality—but they are worth the effort.
As I’ve sat with my notes from the book and reflected on both my work and personal habits, I’ve realized that while many of my habits are positive, some need to be broken or reworked. What worked one year might not be the best approach the next. Setting aside pride and stubbornness, this reflection process has helped me grow—and has sparked meaningful conversations with teammates and clients about reimagining solutions for tomorrow. Growth isn’t easy….and it’s not supposed to be. |
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| Huntress SAT - Proactive Security Training For Your Business |
In a digital landscape where threats evolve faster than ever, Huntress SAT (Security Awareness Training) stands out as a critical line of defense for your business. The SAT platform is designed to turn employees—the most frequent targets of cyberattacks—into security assets through engaging and effective training.
What Sets Huntress SAT Apart?
Unlike traditional, checkbox-style security training, Huntress SAT delivers humorous, bite-sized video lessons that are not only educational but also enjoyable to watch. Covering everything from phishing scams and password hygiene to deepfakes and ransomware, the content is tailored for real-world threats your employees face every day.
Key Features:
- Monthly Micro-Training Videos: Short and relatable episodes keep users engaged and informed.
- Phishing Simulations: Test your team with realistic phishing attempts and see how they respond.
- Automated Reporting & LMS Integration: Track compliance and performance with ease.
Why It Matters
According to Huntress, most security breaches start with human error. By making security training accessible and even fun, Huntress SAT empowers teams to spot and stop threats before they do damage—closing one of the most commonly exploited gaps in modern cybersecurity. |
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| Last month, we introduced the concept of ADA compliance in website design and discussed its key areas, including perceivable content, operable navigation, understandable information, and robust content. In this edition, we will discuss why ADA compliance is crucial for your website and business. |
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Legal Requirements:
- Avoiding Legal Issues: Non-compliance can lead to lawsuits, fines, and penalties. Ensuring ADA compliance helps avoid these legal risks. For instance, several high-profile companies have faced legal action due to inaccessible websites.
- Regulatory Standards: Many industries have specific regulations that mandate digital accessibility. Compliance with these standards is essential to avoid penalties and ensure smooth operation.
Inclusivity and Accessibility:
- Equal Access: ADA compliance ensures that individuals with disabilities have equal access to digital content and services. This is not just a legal requirement but a moral obligation to ensure inclusivity.
- Broader Audience: By making your website accessible, you can reach a wider audience, including millions of people with disabilities. This can lead to increased traffic and engagement on your website.
Enhanced User Experience:
- Improved Usability: Accessible design often leads to better overall usability, benefiting all users, not just those with disabilities. Features like clear navigation and readable text improve the experience for everyone.
- Positive Brand Image: Companies known for their commitment to accessibility often enjoy a positive reputation and customer loyalty. Demonstrating social responsibility can enhance your brand image and attract more customers.
Social Responsibility:
- Ethical Practices: Ensuring digital accessibility is part of being a socially responsible organization. It shows that your company values all users and is committed to providing equal access.
- Community Support: Supporting individuals with disabilities fosters a sense of community and belonging. By making your website accessible, you contribute to a more inclusive society.
Next month, we will explore the steps you can take to achieve ADA compliance in your website design. |
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Join in the golfing fun or sponsor the Chicago Golf Outing Benefiting ASAE Research Foundation:
Monday September 22, 2025
Eagle Brook Country Club – 2288 Fargo Blvd, Geneva, IL
Lunch, Golf, Dinner
Various sponsorship levels available
ASAE Research Foundation exists to advance the development and careers of our future talent pipeline via scholarships and grants, and to provide resources that all of us can use. Year after year the Foundation distributes thousands of dollars in scholarships to deserving individuals in our association community. We’re proud of the ways the Foundation is changing lives and helping to mold the futures of ambitious, career-focused association professionals. In 2024, the Foundation launched the Future Leaders Professional Development Scholarship, which supports the career advancement of emerging leaders in our field.
Contact Jim Meyers with questions about participation and/or sponsorship.
Do not miss out on this fall spectacular - we are looking forward to seeing you there! |
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The iMIS Users Summit 2025 was held April 23-25 in New Orleans. iMIS User Group (iUG) staff, volunteers, and sponsors put on a show! Attendees had a full day of training on Wednesday with sessions ranging from Billing & Dues Demystified: Your Setup Guide to Optimizing Your Events & iMIS Communications. Michele Morgan, Executive Director of iUG, kicked off day two of the conference with a great welcome to all and got the party started. Kristina Drosos, Senior Director of Client Succes at ASI took the stage after Michele with a great message on the importance of feedback and surveys. She emphasized a goal for 2025 – Transforming interactions into personalized experiences! Our third opening presenter was Andrea Robertson, Director of Product Management with ASI, who gave us some updates in iMIS: multiple ways to pay with ecommerce functions, code modernization to ensure iMIS is secure and ready for the future, and emphasis on product cohesion – seamless experience when using any/all of the ASI products.
Attendees had a nice networking break with time to visit the sponsors/exhibitors before choices of education sessions to round out the morning. After lunch (and some of the best conference food ever) more volunteer and sponsor-led sessions and panels gave the attendees a ton of info to take back. The highlight of this conference, for me, was iUG’s ‘Speed Networking’ session on Thursday where attendees visited each exhibitor for three minutes to hear their ‘elevator pitch.’ This was really high energy, fun and very valuable for the sponsors and attendees. GREAT idea, iUG! Capping Thursday off was an amazing networking event hosted by the conference sponsors in the Riverview Ballroom on the 41st floor. Incredible views of the French Quarter and Mississippi River from floor to ceiling windows provided an incredible setting to network, eat and drink with everyone.
On Friday I had the opportunity to sit down with Michele Morgan and ask her a few questions:
What are your overall thoughts on the iUG Summit in New Orleans?
I was thrilled to see so many first-time attendees in New Orleans—it’s always refreshing to experience the event through their eyes. Hearing their feedback, both good and constructive, helps us improve. For instance, attendee Grace mentioned the need for more foundational iMIS sessions. Her comment highlighted a gap in our offerings that we weren’t providing enough for beginners, which I’ve addressed by planning Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced tracks for the Nashville conference in October.
This also reinforced the need for fresh perspectives on our Program Committee. If you're a new iMIS user and interested in shaping future events, reach out to me at [email protected].
Overall, the Summit in NOLA was a huge success! From the engaging full-day training sessions to the fun networking opportunities, attendees really connected and expanded their networks. The Speed Networking with Sponsors was a standout - users discovered new products and learned how to optimize tools they already use. I personally loved meeting so many users, exchanging ideas, and simply enjoying the energy of the event. It was truly AMAZING!
What do you think makes iUG so valuable to the iMIS User community?
Hmm… honestly, that’s the easiest question anyone could ask me! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it forever: it’s THE PEOPLE. The iMIS users, solution providers, consultants, vendors, and ASI staff make iUG invaluable.
And no, I’m not just saying that! The way everyone is willing to help, share knowledge, and genuinely want others to succeed is truly heartwarming. It’s this collaborative spirit that sets iUG apart and makes it so special.
What can we look forward to at the Annual iUG Meeting in Nashville?
We’ve got some exciting things in store for the Annual iUG Meeting in Nashville! I’m thrilled about the new venue, it’s within walking distance of Broadway, perfect for some downtime fun.
Our Program Committee is working hard to finalize classes and sessions, and the topics they’re planning are fantastic; I wish I could attend them all! Beyond iMIS-focused sessions, we’re incorporating content to address everyday challenges users face, helping them become even more efficient in their roles.
We’re also bringing back the popular Speed Networking with Sponsors from New Orleans, along with some brand-new networking opportunities for users to connect like never before. Plus, I’m planning something special for our main networking event - you won’t want to miss it!
Mark your calendars for October 27–29, 2025 and register now to save your spot. It’s going to be phenomenal!
Michele, what makes your conferences different than the event hosted by ASI, the iMIS developer?
Great question, Jim - thank you for asking! What sets iUG events apart is our focus on showing innovative uses for iMIS, we like to say, “ASI is the science and iUG is the chemistry behind it” or for the chocolate lovers… “ASI is the chocolate shell and iUG is the eeeewy gooey goodness inside!”. Our approach to education is to make sure you know all you can to make the most return on your iMIS investment. Our training classes are the preferred form of iMIS training – users are very vocal to us about how much they get out of our educational sessions compared to anywhere else. Since I started with iUG nearly 21 years ago, we’ve consistently offered half-day or full-day hands-on training sessions, allowing users to learn by doing - a proven way to retain information.
Our presenters aren’t typically ASI staff but a mix of solution providers, consultants, and experienced iMIS users. They bring hundreds of years of collective experience, sharing case studies, innovative techniques, and real-world applications of iMIS – they live what you need to know day in and day out at associations/nonprofits.
We also feature a larger sponsor/vendor presence, with 25 - 35+ vendors showcasing tools to help users extend their iMIS capabilities and increase efficiency for a larger ROI. And our networking opportunities with other users while there are happening nonstop throughout the day.
Lastly, as a nonprofit, our mission is solely to educate and support iMIS users. Your registration fees go directly into covering event costs like food, A/V, and keynote speakers. While we don’t subsidize attendance, our sponsors help keep costs manageable and help us keep things running. Our passion is your success with iMIS, and that’s what drives everything we do.
The day closed out with more sessions and a concluded with ‘It’s a Wrap: Key iMIS Takeaways & Next Steps.
As Michele said during interview, do not miss the iMIS User Group Annual Conference in Nashville, October 27-29! AT will be there – will you?
https://imisusers.org/AnnualConference/AnnualConference/Home.aspx |
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| Competing With AI: Lean Into Member Value |
If artificial intelligence offers instant, conversational answers, how can associations maintain their role as trusted sources of expertise?
Read More |
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| Report: Conference Attendees Seek Connection, Not Flashy Keynotes |
The report from Fuse, JDC Events, and Bear Analytics finds events professionals looking beyond conference mainstays in favor of deeper engagement.
Read More |
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We have an archive of our newsletters and industry related
articles available on our website, click HERE to access them.
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| iUG Webinar: iMIS/RiSE Account Pages |
Location: Virtual
iMIS comes with out of the box account pages, but as many of you already know, they can be copied and modified based on your organizations/staff needs. Join us as we dive into how to modify existing account pages, add content items, buttons, shortcuts and more!
Target Audience:
- IT/Database Admins
- Membership Professionals
- Marketing Communications
- Those who feel they may benefit from a departmentally segmented account page for their staff
Takeaways:
- Provide a better user experience by tailoring content and functionality to specific user needs.
- Streamline administrative tasks for staff and self-service options for members.
- Leverage iMIS features like panels, dynamic content items, and process automation for more efficient operations.
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| JUNE |
| 11 |
| 5:30 PM - 10:00 PM |
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| Association Forum Honors Gala |
Location: Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. DuSable Lakeshore Drive, Chicago, IL 60637
Join us for an unforgettable evening at Association Forum's Honors Gala, where we celebrate excellence, elevate careers, and illuminate the future of our profession. Hosted at the iconic Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, this year's gala embraces the theme "Shine On"-a tribute to our distinguished awardees and a call to all attendees to continue making a lasting impact in their careers and communities. |
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| AMS Fest |
Location: Allegro Royal Sonesta, Chicago, IL
If you’re considering a new AMS, implementing one for the first time or just want to stay up to date on what is out there when it comes to association management software, AMS Fest is the place to be.
The team behind Association TRENDS and CEO Update is excited to bring you face to face with other association executives, consultants, industry partners and AMS vendors that all want to engage in discussions around nothing but association management software.
Join us this June, in Chicago, IL, where we’ll have 24 AMS companies ready to demo their platform, consultants to help guide you during your experience to ensure you’re meeting with companies that best fit your organization’s needs, and industry partners to showcase their newest innovative technologies to integrate within your system. |
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| ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition |
Location: Los Angeles, California
The ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition is where thousands of association professionals and industry partners gather to exchange knowledge, resources, strategies, solutions, and more. Over three days of learning, growing, and finding inspiration, attendees are equipped with a year’s worth of support in their daily responsibilities as leaders in the association industry.
The ASAE Annual Meeting provides a unique opportunity to partake in authentic, engaging, thought-provoking, and positive community-building experiences for attendees that support the power of the association community to shape a better future for the industries we serve and for the world we share. |
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| 2025 Annual iNNOVATIONS Conference |
Location: Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel, 900 South Orme Street, Arlington, Virginia, USA, 22204
Don't miss the 27th annual iNNOVATIONS Conference as we educate and celebrate our growing community of iMIS®, Clowder®, OpenWater, and TopClass LMS users and partners. At this 2-day conference we have educational tracks, product development insights, case studies, and recognition of our clients who are achieving great things using our suite of non-profit solutions. |
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| Golf Outing Benefiting ASAE Research Foundation |
Location: Eagle Brook Country Club – 2288 Fargo Blvd, Geneva, IL
ASAE Research Foundation exists to advance the development and careers of our future talent pipeline via scholarships and grants, and to provide resources that all of us can use. Year after year the Foundation distributes thousands of dollars in scholarships to deserving individuals in our association community. We’re proud of the ways the Foundation is changing lives and helping to mold the futures of ambitious, career-focused association professionals. In 2024, the Foundation launched the Future Leaders Professional Development Scholarship, which supports the career advancement of emerging leaders in our field.
Contact Jim Meyers with questions about participation and/or sponsorship. |
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| iUG Annual iMIS Users Conference 2025 |
Location: Nashville, TN
Learn from seasoned iMIS association professionals, authorized iMIS solution providers, and experienced consultants. These experts bring a wealth of knowledge from the nonprofit sector, offering interactive sessions filled with practical insights, real-world problem-solving, and proven solutions. Comprehensive Sessions: iUG takes pride in delivering sessions that go beyond the basics. Discover how to: Solve challenges with practical "how-to" guidance. Implement best practices for maximizing iMIS functionality. Explore creative, beyond out-of-the-box solutions. Achieve a measurable return on your iMIS investment. Use iMIS in ways you wouldn’t even think of through case studies from other iMIS user organizations. Stay tuned - more information and programming to come! |
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| DECEMBER |
| 3-4 |
| 00:00 AM EST |
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| Association Forum Holiday Showcase |
| Location: McCormick Place, Chicago |
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