I became a parent in 2019 before remote work became more available. Honestly, with my children now 4 and 6 years old, I don’t know how I would be able to work and parent if cloud computing was not here. Working in the cloud has been extremely beneficial and has provided a fantastic work life balance. Missing the morning commutes a few days a week and being able to work from my son’s swim practice or from the car (passengers side😀) has elevated this summer to Cloud 9.
Most customers we work with are in their office less and less each week. Some groups no longer have a regular office space either! Colleagues of mine at Association Technologies permanently reside in other states, and we’re able to work together with ease using Microsoft Teams and SharePoint. According to Global Workspace Analytics your organization will potentially save $11,000 a year for each half-time remote worker. It’s wild to think that I was in our office or at a client’s location 5 days a week just a few years ago but now we’re able to achieve so much remotely without skipping a beat.
With cloud computing everything is great, right? ..Right!? Well, sort of. You need to have it protected. According to our security partner, Sentinel One, 83% of companies have experienced a cloud security breach in the last 18 months. And yes, this can happen to your organization.
We’ve seen associations lose tens of thousands in these attacks. They require dedicated time from the impacted staff member and leadership to resolve. Members, partners, or the board must be notified of the attack as well. In short, these incidents are costly, disruptive, and potentially embarrassing.
To protect your organization, we strongly encourage you to use passwordless authentication. Going passwordless allows you to sign into your device and the cloud with biometrics, a security key, or a mobile device. Text message authentication should be disabled, as well as your password, because these methods are more easily compromised.
We made the switch to passwordless a couple years ago; I personally love not having a password. Facial and fingerprint recognition make signing in seamless and protected. You’re likely doing this already with your personal tech too! When you look at your iPhone does it not just unlock? Corporate assets need to get this level of protection; we’ve embraced working on Cloud 9 now let’s secure it. |
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Did you know that iMIS allows you to schedule IQA queries to run automatically and deliver results straight to your email? Instead of logging in and pulling the same report over and over, you can set up a query once and let iMIS handle the delivery on a schedule that works best for your team. Reports can be sent daily, weekly, or monthly, which makes it easy to keep a steady rhythm of information flowing through your organization.
This feature is especially helpful when different stakeholders need to stay informed but do not have an iMIS license or do not log in regularly. For example, board members can receive a monthly update on new member activity, the events team can get a weekly snapshot of registrations, and the finance team can receive a list of unpaid invoices at the start of each month. Everyone gets the information they need without having to ask staff to generate it manually.
Automating reports also has another benefit. It ensures that data is shared consistently and on time, which can reduce the risk of missed deadlines or forgotten tasks. Staff who used to spend hours running and formatting reports can now focus on more strategic work, while leadership gains confidence knowing that the numbers they rely on are always current. This simple feature can transform how your organization communicates and makes decisions, all while saving time and reducing stress for your staff.
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It’s time to register for this great event! Ben Muscolino – AMS Geek/Breezio/Vortacity, Jake Toohey – Adage Technologies, Jim Meyers – AT, Mark Granquist – AT, and Michelle Wroblewski – Wipfli all love golf and the association community so we are hosting, with many other key sponsors, a golf outing to support the ASAE Research Foundation.
Use the QR code below or follow this link to register for this event: https://www.associationgolf.org/ |
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| In our last newsletter, we introduced the concept of user personas and why they’re essential for user-centered design. Now that you understand their value, let’s dive into how to actually create them. This article will walk you through a practical, step-by-step process for building personas that are both insightful and actionable. |
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Creating a user persona isn’t about filling in a template—it’s about uncovering what truly drives your users. The process starts with research and ends with a character that your team can rally around.
Here’s a simple process to follow:
- Start with research: Conduct interviews, send out surveys, and dig into analytics. Look for patterns in goals, behaviors, and frustrations. Talk to customer support teams or sales reps—they often have valuable insights.
- Group your findings: Segment users based on shared traits or needs. These clusters will form the basis of your personas.
- Build the profile: Include key elements like:
- Name, age, and background
- Goals and motivations
- Pain points and challenges
- Preferred tools or platforms
- A quote that captures their mindset
- Add personality: Use a photo, a short narrative, and even a “day in the life” to bring the persona to life. The more vivid the persona, the more likely your team will remember and use it.
You can use tools like Miro, Figma, or UXPressia to visualize your personas. Templates are helpful, but don’t let them limit your creativity. The goal is to create something that feels real and useful—not just pretty. And remember: one persona can’t represent everyone. It’s better to have a few focused personas than one vague one that tries to cover too much ground.
Effective personas are built on real insights and crafted with care. They’re not just documents—they’re tools for empathy and alignment. In the final article of this series, we’ll explore how to put your personas to work and integrate them into your design process. |
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ASAE Annual 2025 took place August 9th through 12th in Los Angeles, California, drawing more than 5,000 attendees, including association professionals, exhibitors, and industry partners. The event embraced the theme “Imagine the Possibilities,” encouraging participants to innovate and turn ideas into impactful solutions. Over four jam packed days, the ASAE Annual offered tons of educational sessions, networking opportunities that were almost “too good” (IYKYK), a vibrant expo hall featuring more than 430 exhibitors, and entertainment that captured the energy and spirit of Los Angeles.
Saturday began with immersive experiences around Los Angeles, including guided tours and preconference workshops that offered attendees a chance to connect and explore. The day culminated in a high-energy Opening Reception at the iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, featuring a live performance by American Idol alum Adam Lambert, and the USC Marching Band setting an electrifying tone for the days ahead.
The opening keynote featured NBA legend and entrepreneur Earvin “Magic” Johnson, who delivered a powerful and inspiring address centered on leadership and community impact. Among the many memorable moments, one quote stood out:
"As leaders, it doesn't matter how we grew up. It doesn't matter about our circumstance. It doesn't matter what kind of rules they put in to try to stop us from trying to do good and great things. Leaders just make adjustments. Leaders still find a way to win. That's what leaders do. They don't make excuses"
His words set a motivating tone for the conference, encouraging attendees to lead with purpose and drive meaningful change.
The Expo Hall buzzed with activity from 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM, as attendees engaged with exhibitors across Technology & Business Services and Hospitality & Meeting Services. The energy carried into Sunday night, with celebrations happening throughout Los Angeles. The "Success Crew" party hosted by 25 leading technology solution providers including Association Technolgies, Inc. (AT) was the highlight for all of us, but the action did not stop there.
Monday's keynote featured Susan Cain, author of QUIET, in an interview style conducted by Holly Ransom, CEO of Emergent Global. Her session focused on leadership, introversion, and the emotional complexity of human potential, offering insights into how quiet strength can transform organization culture.
The Expo Hall reopened from 12:00 PM to 4:30 PM, offering attendees another chance to explore exhibits they may have missed. At the same time, a diverse lineup of concurrent sessions, labs, and workshops provided fresh opportunities to gain insights and tools to empower associations.
After a full day of learning and engagement, attendees gathered at the iconic Grammy Museum for the ASAE Research Foundation’s ‘Classic’—an evening filled with music, energy, and celebration that truly hit all the right notes.
The closing keynote speaker, Andrew Yang, is no stranger to the stage as most recognize him as a candidate in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primary. Yang continued his campaign to inform and educate Americans on several of his key beliefs such as ranked voting and monthly universal basic income. Yang challenged the norms of our two-party political system while including humor in his delivery.
The ASAE Annual Conference is truly an unforgettable experience. If you missed it this year, be sure to mark your calendars for August 15–18, 2026, in Indianapolis, IN. AT will be there—and we hope to see you too!
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| Actions Speak Louder Than Surveys: A Smarter Approach to Member Feedback and Combatting Survey Fatigue |
Survey overload isn’t just annoying. It’s a barrier to member engagement.
Read More |
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| Three Takeaways From #ASAE25 |
AI was very much on the agenda in Los Angeles. But so were bedrock matters of good governance and resilient leadership.
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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| 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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| 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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| SEPTEMBER |
| 30 |
| 12:00 PM CDT |
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iUG Webinar: Ask Capture Act: The Feedback Loop in Member Engagement
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| Ever sent a “renew now” email and realized it was the first thing your member heard from you all year? Oof. We’ve all been there. The truth is, engagement isn’t just about flashy campaigns. It’s about staying connected through every stage of the member journey. In this session, we’ll dig into what it really means to meet members where they are (hint: it’s not more emails, it’s better-timed ones). We’ll show you real-life examples of how associations are using lifecycle-based campaigns powered by tools that play nice with your AMS to create meaningful, member-first touchpoints from day one to renewal and beyond. |
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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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| Digital Now |
Location: The Loews Hotel, Chicago, IL
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| AMS Fest |
Location: Washington DC
If you’re considering a new AMS, implementing one for the first time, or just want to stay up to date on 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 who all want to engage in discussions around nothing but association management software.
Join us this November, in Washington, D.C., where we’ll have 30 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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| Association Forum Holiday Showcase |
| Location: McCormick Place, Chicago |
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