Blog

Effective communication is vital in any relationship. That’s especially true when it comes to associations and their members. The way in which associations convey benefits, opportunities, and business matters, like renewal, sets a precedent for member interaction.

Addressing mental health care in the workplace isn’t a new concept. Employee assistance programs (EAPs), a catalog of employer-sponsored resources that include counseling and specialist referrals, have been around for quite some time. EAPs address everything from child care to financial health, but lean heavily into mental health care, and are associated with decreased absenteeism and better employee relations.

Earlier in 2021, AH integrated DEI into the culture of the organization by adding a DEI-focused core value to its existing core values. The Unified Diversity core value serves as the backbone of AH’s DEI Action Plan.

After a year marked by change—whether it be workforce, conference, or society as a whole—event sponsorship spending is undergoing one of the more significant changes in the association industry. Sponsors are proving to be more responsive to diversified approaches to marketing spending that provide broader exposure beyond a single investment in sponsoring association events.

While the past year has presented many challenges for associations, it has also created opportunities for innovation, particularly to office space and the employees who occupy it. One such innovation involved a shift to remote work, where employees log in from their own workspaces.

September 15 kicks off the month-long celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, recognizing the influence and many contributions of the Latinx and Hispanic communities to American society. People of Latin descent helped build the foundation of many US institutions, created the overarching culture of several major US cities, and established influential organizations advancing humanitarian, commercial, and artistic causes.

Associations are looking to the future and considering where they fit in with their relevance largely determined by how well they serve their members and the value they provide. As association leaders reconsider everything from programs to membership models, diversity and inclusion programs, and more, one key topic up for discussion is often membership dues.

Art has the unique ability to connect individuals across time and great distances. It’s no wonder, then, that as people have found more creative ways to connect and find togetherness over the past 18 months, design trends have responded with themes that convey the same togetherness and connectivity audiences are craving.

AH is pleased to announce its partnership with two new Client Partners, the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the US Composting Council.

As society starts to breathe life into the events industry once again, association meetings and event planners are faced with sometimes reluctant audiences that want to be sure events are taking precautions that will ensure their safety and provide options for those who may decide that in-person isn’t on their horizon.

After a year of playing it safe, navigating disruptions to everything from event revenues and membership dues to education delivery and technology changes, associations are ready to move on to better days. Two AH leaders both shared their unique leadership perspectives and key successes in this special issue of Associations Now magazine.

The days of lump sum membership dues payments are going the way of dial-up internet—they're being rapidly replaced by more innovative methods that prioritize convenience and ease of payment. How can the system be updated to appeal to new, younger members?