September 14, 2006
Sound Advice
Posted by Kevin | Print This Article
Ben wants to start a meme about “association advice” and offers the first thing he learned about conventions — “don’t run.” It’s good advice, I got it too when I first started.
Hmm, building on that, most of the best advice I’ve ever received about working in associations I would probably be loath to write in a public forum.
But of those I’m willing to mention, some good advice I’ve received from very wise people over the years which I’ve learned is sound (sometimes by not following it at first):
– Staff never badmouth other staff to members. (Similarly, staff save all disagreements for the staff room and do not air them in front of members.)
– People want to feel like they are part of a growing organization. This includes employees as well as members. So, grow — somehow, in some way — at least a little each year.
– All members deserve great service. But it’s better to say no when you have to than to give them something half-assed.
– The best associations know which members they want, and which members they don’t, and stick by it.
– It seems like it should be easy to take existing services and programs and find new markets for them. It’s not. Focus your energies on creating new programs and services for the markets you already have.
UPDATE: Oh, and one of the best pieces of advice I ever got: All programs — that means All. Programs. — have a shelf life. Throw them away before they expire.
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