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A Guide to Media Outreach and Raising Awareness
With almost two million associations vying for attention, holding an event is generally not newsworthy unless something goes horribly wrong. So, how can you earn press coverage to raise community
Membership Renewal Marketing: Five Things to Know and Do
For many associations, now is the time when it can become more important than ever to ramp up membership renewal marketing. For those that renew memberships annually, the end of
Four Keys to Approaching Member Communications
As associations and association staff frame their marketing and communication strategies, they must plan specifically around two categories: member and non-member communications. Non-member communications oftentimes mean recruitment campaigns, where associations
Virtual Events: 4 Tips for Association Staff
Whether it’s a one-day conference or a full week (or month!) of programming, making the jump to a full-on virtual event can put a lot of strain on association staff.
Creating Value for Attendees in Virtual Events
There is probably nobody that needs to be convinced of the benefits of virtual events more than the attendees themselves. Your members are likely used to attending conferences and events
Setting Your Speakers Up for Virtual Success: 10 Tips
Virtual events aren’t new, but they certainly are getting a lot more attention as many in-person events have been cancelled – a pattern that will likely continue for a while.
Q&A: Strategy and Infrastructure in a Changing World
With COVID-19 giving us a quickly changing world, associations are faced with tough choices on how to innovate through change. RGI President Leslie Murphy, FASAE, CAE, outlines how associations can
4 Elements of Successful Long-Term Planning
One of the essential jobs of the Board of Directors is to prepare its organization and its members for the future. Keeping ahead of industry trends is not an easy
5 Keys to Brainstorming: The First Step in Long-Term Strategy
It is time to start planning new long-term strategic goals and ideas in a post-COVID era. Staying in a reactionary mode does not allow your organization to take advantage of
Advocacy: 5 Key Factors to Develop a Strategy
Laws, regulations, ordinances and many other types of government actions can impact a variety of professions and businesses. When issues arise that affect a certain profession, associations can find themselves
A Board Member’s Guide to Selecting an Association Management Company
Download our free e-book that lays out the process for selecting an AMC, including exactly what you need to do before, during and after the search to ensure your organization
Three Steps to Building an Advocacy Program
So, your organization wants to start an advocacy program. Now what? Advocacy can be a powerful vehicle for strengthening an industry, protecting your members and affecting change. How do you
Q&A: Pivoting to a Virtual World
COVID-19 has forced associations to re-think how they offer educational and networking opportunities. While in-person events have been a traditional fixture for associations, today virtual and hybrid (part in-person, part-virtual)
Creating Member Value Amidst Uncertainty
As associations adapt to COVID-19, it is critical to lead through crisis and ensure that your organization’s member benefits still provide value. Two RGI membership professionals, Melissa Heeke, CAE and
Non-Dues Revenue in a Post-COVID World
As associations grapple with new challenges in a post-COVID world, one of the most pressing issues is the generation of non-dues revenues. With many conferences and events cancelled, and many
Perspective from a Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every person working in associations, from those on staff to board members and volunteers. The last few months have reshaped how we approach our lives,
RGI Clients Utilizing Their Expertise in the Response to COVID-19
COVID-19 is impacting every facet of society. A perfect demonstration of that is the broad range of professional societies and member associations that are not just being affected, but are
8 Things Every Association Must Understand Now
It is difficult to be a leader during a global pandemic. There is a lot of information to process and a new decision to be made every day. Your association
Crisis Communications: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic
Information is changing every day as the COVID-19 crisis continues to unfold. Association members – whether they’re individuals or businesses and organizations – are looking for a trusted source they
Leadership Through Crisis: Guiding Members Through COVID-19
COVID-19 has created a crisis in public health, the economy, social connection and more in a way most Americans haven’t witnessed in their lifetimes. It’s possibly more important now than
7 Effective Strategies to Improve Volunteer Management
Volunteers offer professional societies the equivalent of thousands, if not millions of dollars of skilled labor for free every year. A solid volunteer management strategy can harness this passion for
Set Up for Success: Making the Most of Your Volunteers
Provide opportunities for different skills and engagement levels to take advantage of all your potential volunteers, and make sure all your goals are quality goals. Volunteer forces are the competitive
Recruiting and Motivating Volunteers: Tips for Creating a Successful Volunteer Program
We know we need volunteers to accomplish the goals of the association, but having a productive volunteer program is rarely its own goal. That’s especially dangerous as recruitment must be
Volunteers: Driving Association Success
The number of volunteers you have and how active they are establishes the bounds of what your organization can accomplish. But volunteering isn’t a member obligation – it’s a member
How Accessible is your Association’s Meeting?
Start creating a culture of respect and inclusivity at your meetings and events by asking the right accessibility questions of your venue, staff and participants. The buzzword of the moment
3 Tips to Serve Multiple Member Types
As industries evolve, so do the associations that serve and represent them. As association managers, we must grow alongside them while staying rooted in our primary mission. This can be
Are Your Member Benefits Worth the Price Members Pay?
Want to increase your membership levels? Before you put together your next membership marketing campaign, evaluate your member benefits to make sure you’re offering what your prospects want. When a
Membership is Everyone’s Job!
Everyone from the executive director to the receptionist to the accounting department should be able to easily explain the value of membership in your organization. How often have you heard
Reaching Goals: Separating Fantasy from Reality
The new year brings resolutions for individuals and new goals for organizations. Resolutions take commitment and planning, as do goals. How do you make achievable and realistic goals instead of
‘I’m A New Executive Director: Now What?’
Thinking back on the last two years since I first became an executive director, I can share a few thoughts on where to start when you become the new exec.
Raybourn Group International Welcomes Four New Full-Service Association Management Clients
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 20, 2020 Contact: Craig Banister, Senior Communication and Marketing Coordinator800-362-2546cbanister@raybourn.com Raybourn Group International Welcomes Four New Full-Service Association Management Clients Indianapolis – Raybourn Group International (RGI),
6 Time Management Improvements to Make in 2020
You’re back from holiday break and gearing up for a new year with your organization, possibly with new focus or a new phase in your strategic plan. Here are a
Top 10 Association Blogs of 2019
We have compiled our top blogs from 2019 into one collection. These cover topics from association finances, member communication, utilizing technology at events, and more. 1. Free E-Book: Avoiding Non-Profit
RGI’s Success Stories From 2019
As 2019 comes to an end, we want to take a moment to look back and celebrate some of this year’s top successes. Here are just a few highlights from
RGI Celebrates Wins at the 2019 ISAE Star Awards
The RGI team gathered at the Indiana Society of Association Executives’ annual Star Awards gala last night to celebrate the best and brightest in association management. Our team took home
3 Things That Will Derail Your Organization’s 2020 Goals
As we wind down 2019, your organization has probably given some thought to what you want to accomplish in 2020. Perhaps you are working through a longer strategic plan or
5 Blogs to Prepare Your Association for 2020
Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, 2020 is right around the corner. Now is the time to start thinking about what changes you and your association want to
Chapter Self Assessment: Is Your Chapter Healthy?
If you are serving on a chapter board, you likely have a long list of duties and responsibilities to tackle to keep the organization on the right track. But how do you know how your chapter is truly stacking up? Do you know your chapter’s strengths and opportunities? This tool can find out just that.
Which Comes First: The Budget or the Plan?
It’s an old adage: Which came first, the chicken or the egg? I admit to not knowing that answer, but in this blog, I will answer which comes first regarding
RGI Pep Talks: The Annual Conference Series
This past summer we sat down with a few of our partners to cover important annual conference topics, such as event site selection, event AV and staging, and event marketing.
Five Annual Conference Nightmares
In the spirit of the Halloween season, we want to take a look at conference nightmares. What can we learn from past scenarios and how can we prevent them from
Utilizing Technology to Improve User Experience at Events
When you think about your annual conference or local networking events, things like sponsorships, programming, and logistics come to mind. All these things are important, but how much thought do
5 Ways Partnerships With Vendors Will Improve Your Events
It takes a village to create an event that is more than just a meeting. Participants expect a curated and customized experience, but unfortunately budgets don’t always reflect that level
5 Tips to Create a Successful Conference Schedule
Creating a conference schedule can feel like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. By implementing some simple Project Management Processes you can set your conference and your
RGI Pep Talks: Event Marketing with Daniel Herndon
Welcome to the third episode of RGI Pep Talks! RGI Pep Talks is a video series by Raybourn Group International, made possible by the support of our friends at Markey’s
Free E-Book – Chapter Self Assessment: Is Your Chapter Healthy?
Is your chapter healthy? Do you know your chapter’s strengths and opportunities? This tool can find out just that. It’s important to take a chapter assessment because it dives into
Key Documents for Your Chapter
For a chapter to run smoothly, it is essential all important documents are accounted for and easily accessible. This graphic will go through the types of documents your chapter should
Sacred or Strategic: Critically Reviewing What Your Organization Offers
How do you approach an event, program or service that your organization has always done and may no longer need? Every organization has programs/services that have outlived their purpose or
RGI Pep Talks: Event AV and Staging with Brad Ehrlich
Welcome to the second installment of RGI Pep Talks! RGI Pep Talks is a new video series by Raybourn Group International, made possible by the support of our friends at
Turning Your Strategic Plan Into Strategic Action
“The sneakiest obstacle to meeting your goals is not laziness, but perfectionism. We’re our own worst critics, and if it looks like we’re not going to do something right, we
Ask These Six Questions Before Partnering with Another Organization
On one hand, partnering with another organization is one of the most powerful ways to put collective energy and resources behind a project or cause. What better way than to
RGI Pep Talks: Event Site Selection with Chris Gahl
Welcome to RGI Pep Talks! This is a new video series by Raybourn Group International, made possible by the support of our friends at Markey’s Rental & Staging, based on
5 Tips for Volunteer Recruitment
The time has come to fill a vacant volunteer role (or roles). Where do you start to find a quality volunteer? This post will give you a starting point to
Free E-Book: Avoiding Non-Profit Financial Pitfalls
If non-profits aren’t prepared to avoid financial pitfalls, they can find themselves facing a financial crisis. As a stakeholder of a non-profit organization, that’s not a phrase you want to
Cyber Security for Your Chapter
Data security is in the news more and more every day. Most of the time, it’s for the wrong reasons. Data breaches are happening to some of the largest companies
RGI Celebrates a Win at the ISAE Star Awards
Last week the RGI team gathered at the Indiana Society of Association Executives’ annual Star Awards gala to celebrate the best and brightest in association management. RGI client Corporate Housing
Three Reasons We Are Thankful for Volunteers
In this Thanksgiving season , we are thankful for all of our volunteers. It is no secret volunteers are essential for associations to run smoothly. This past year we have
Why You Need to Create a Succession Plan for Key Chapter Volunteers
What happens if a key volunteer, especially one with long-tenure, wins the lottery tomorrow? What is at risk for your association when a person with an integral role leaves or
Top Marketing Blogs for Associations
We have compiled some of our top marketing blogs into one collection. These cover topics from event marketing, social media analytics, email marketing, and more. Click on the title of
4 Ways to Maximize the Effectiveness of Events
Events require a lot of time and resources to do well. Starting from the very first planning phase, make sure you are doing everything you can to make the event