Microsoft has introduced new methods to logon to both your computer and Office 365, making computer security simpler. Now you can access both systems without a password by using a simple fingerprint scan or a USB security key. This login process is faster than entering a complex password and negates the need to constantly create new, secure passwords. The new system is called Windows Hello.
The timing couldn’t be better. Cyber attackers now have methods to bypass traditional Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), consequently traditional MFA is not always effective at preventing unauthorized access. Windows Hello protects against these attacks since your thumb or USB key would need to be stolen to gain unauthorized access. Since the vast majority of the attacks originate from a link in an email, there is no opportunity to steal your USB key.
Windows Hello is a WIN-WIN for your association. It’s exceptionally rare to simplify access while improving security, so don’t miss this opportunity. There are also minimal costs involved to deploy Windows Hello, since all of the necessary licensing is included with Windows and Office 365. The only costs are minimal setup time and some inexpensive USB security keys. Let us know when we can assist your staff to deploy Windows Hello to protect your organization. |
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I finally made the leap! I was quite nervous but it was inevitable. The time had finally come.
I’ve switched from Evernote to Microsoft’s OneNote.
Many of you know I’ve been an evangelist of Evernote for years. I had Evernote socks, tee shirts and other tchotchkes. However it just made sense to make the switch. So how do you move 10+ years worth of notes from one to the other? First I found a tool (Evernote2Onenote) that allows you to take an export from Evernote and import it into OneNote. The tool worked great but there were a few challenges:
- I had to break up larger notebooks into smaller chunks (1000 notes at a time)
- The actual process is fairly slow
- Not all notes came in cleanly but for the most part they looked good
I’ve been using OneNote (as a permanent replacement for Evernote) for about two months. Here are some general observations.
- Evernote and OneNote have very different layouts/navigation – I’m still getting used to opening notebooks and having tabs. Although I do like the color-coded tabs.
- The Email integration (sending an email to a notebook) is much better in OneNote. The recent notebook makes it much easier to drop emails in notebooks I frequently use.
- Capturing browser pages is much better in Evernote
- I’m still getting used to the ability to drop a text box in anywhere on the page/note
- OneNote notebooks are actual files and they are sync’d using OneDrive which can cause a few issues – Evernote wins the syncing battle
The switch has been far from painless but I’m sticking with OneNote – words I never thought I would say! |
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The title probably says it all! Steve Krug, a well-known usability engineer once said, “Get rid of half the words on each page, then get rid of half of what’s left”.
If you are looking for a website refresh, I highly recommend this practice. In the graphics realm, we reduce the amount of distractions to make images clearer. In the world of music, we reduce the amount of dissonant chords to make music beautiful. Why not the same for text?
Text should be simple and to the point. Don’t write text to fill in space. Horrible idea. It takes time to write, and it takes brain-power to read it all. In fact, all those words make it seem like you have to read it all. Nobody wants to do that.
Don’t make your users study for a final exam. Instead, just keep your users happy. I promise they will come back wanting more! |
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There’s a phrase we hear a lot working with associations: association professionals “wear a lot of hats.” For association staff juggling competing priorities, AI and automation represent huge time-saving opportunities. They also make it possible to create deeply personalized member experiences – leading to better member engagement.
Here are just a few of the ways AI and automation can help you:
Quicker, Better Marketing
By now, marketing automation should be part of every association’s toolset. It enables you to scale your outreach by creating coordinated campaigns and, more importantly, you can use member data to send the right messages at the right time. Communication with your members is more engaging when it’s personalized to their needs.
AI makes it even easier and faster to write emails tailored to specific member segments, improve subject lines, and run A/B tests. Tools like Higher Logic’s Smart Newsletter even use AI to automatically personalize your member newsletter for each subscriber based on their actions.
Automatic Content Categorization
The content generation use-cases for AI are probably the most well-known, but it’s also incredibly helpful for categorization. If you’re trying to add large amounts of content to the resource library in your online community, uploading and tagging each resource individually feels like it takes practically forever. With AI tools like Higher Logic’s “Bulk Upload” and “Suggested Tags”, it’s now possible to effortlessly upload, tag, and organize that content in a snap!
Supercharged Professional Development
Supporting members’ careers is a cornerstone for many associations. Whether you offer educational programs, some form of credential, or a job board, AI and automation can help here too. Optimize your certification program and increase participation with personalized learning pathways, automated email reminders, and auto-issued badges. Use AI to create learning materials more efficiently, analyze learning patterns, and personalize learning experiences. You could also automate email outreach to non-members who sign up for your job board. The possibilities are almost endless!
To learn more about how to use AI and automation to streamline your work and improve member engagement, check out Higher Logic’s AI resources and new AI tools! |
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ASAE MMC+Tech Conference was held May 30-31 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC. With over 1,300 attendees and 80 exhibiting sponsors, this conference was a huge success.
Day 1 was kicked off with a very powerful keynote speaker, Wiliam Arruda on “Building Brand Loyalty in Bits and Bytes”. This was a great presentation on social branding and described how to create a roadmap for building a powerful online presence by taking advantage of all the social media tools available. We learned more about how critical social networking is today and how you can build your organization’s brand. A few great takeaways were:
- You must follow the 3 C’s – Clarity, Consistency, and Constancy.
- Organizations must turn members into advocates – advocates have a fervor that makes them more than a loyalist.
- Importance of video – a 1 minute video is = 1.8 million words!
The opening session concluded with the 2024 Gold Circle Awards Program, recognizing associations demonstrating the highest degree of creativity, innovation, and campaign success. The awards highlight how marketing, membership, and communications play a vital role in associations. Sixteen associations were presented with awards for their remarkable efforts.
After a full day of education sessions, panels, and visiting the exhibitors at their kiosks, attendees were treated to an excellent networking reception.
The main stage keynote on day 2 tackled the challenging topic, "Harness Generative AI Like ChatGPT for Enhanced Performance". Her commonsense approach reminded the audience that we have all been using various types of AI for years. Did you know that the term AI was coined back in the 1950s? She also squelched the notion of AI running the world in our lifetime due to sheer power/logistics.
Once the fear factor of AI was put to rest, we embraced the driving need for AI in our Association workplace. Associations operate in this fast-paced world driven by a mantra of "do more with less". The keynote drove home that Associations need to make AI practical by allowing AI to replace repetitive jobs and look to AI as an opportunity to be more efficient. Between a labor shortage and the sheer volume of data Associations have at their disposal, AI is the perfect Association partner to garner success. She reminded us that AI can "hallucinate", and it requires watchful oversight to ensure the results are accurate.
Checkout how ASAE leveraged AI with the MMC+Tech Conference chat bot, and an ebook compendium of the event made available to registrants after the meeting as a recap.
The two full days of powerful keynotes, incredible and engaging educational sessions, and exhibitors sharing their solutions for associations proved why ASAE is such a great resource for association management!
Mark your calendars and come visit AT at ASAE Annual in Cleveland, August 10-13. See you there! |
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| How to Lead on AI |
The technology’s growth has exacerbated fears among staff that we’ve engineered them out of their jobs. Clear goals and straight talk can help.
Read More |
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| Report: Leaders Want More, Better In-Person Staff Meetings |
The report from Cvent finds that team leaders are committed to hybrid workforces, but looking at ways to increase 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: Insights Unleashed: Ask the Experts |
Location: Online
Dive into our Exclusive Ask the Experts Webinar! Join our esteemed panel of seasoned iMIS Solution Providers and Consultants as they unravel the mysteries of the iMIS Suite of products. From optimizing workflows to harnessing advanced functionalities, no question is too complex. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned user, this interactive session promises to equip you with invaluable insights and practical tips to maximize the potential of iMIS for your organization. Don't miss out on this opportunity to delve deep into the world of iMIS and elevate your expertise to new heights! |
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| HighRoad Solutions Webinar: Can Content Strategy Be Led By AI? |
Location: Online
AI is the doer - the magical assistant “robot” we’ve all been dreaming for decades (maybe centuries). With it though, comes a lofty set of questions around copyright, intellectual property, ideation and originality. For content marketers, there’s a fine line to balance between the value of accelerated productivity, at the expense of control and ownership. How do you decide when it’s time to turn to AI? Is there even room for AI to build your overall content strategy? Join us as we discuss the potential application of AI for associations from a brand and content programming perspective. |
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| AAMSE Annual Conference |
Location: The Westin Savannah Harbor, Savannah, GA
The AAMSE Annual Conference provides the perfect platform to connect with medical society professionals and learn how to advance your society. From attending sessions and networking, to enjoying the historic city of Savannah, attendees will leave the event inspired with a renewed sense of purpose to address the challenges in organized medicine. Presented by leading experts and industry professionals, the hand-selected educational sessions will help grow membership, build loyalty, sharpen marketing skills, adapt to changing technology, and keep your association relevant. |
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| Association Analytics: Data Analytics Network |
Location: Online
Attend the Data Analytics Network meeting scheduled for the first Tuesday of each month. This opportunity is for association professionals to engage in peer-led discussions on topics related to data and analytics.
Upcoming 2024 sessions:
- August 6 - Large Language Models for Associations
- September 3 - TBD
- October 1 - IRL Data Science Fair
- December 3 - Year in Review
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| AUGUST |
| 8 |
| 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM CDT |
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| Association Forum: Association 101 |
Location: Association Forum office, 10 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 800, Chicago
Associations are known for having unique cultures, environments, and dynamics that can seem unfamiliar and intimidating for new professionals transitioning from school or another industry.
Association 101 is designed to provide foundational knowledge for navigating these dynamics and achieving success which, in turn, increases the likelihood of career success, the feeling of belonging, and overall job satisfaction. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to meet other association professionals new to the industry and begin building your industry network. |
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| ASAE Annual Meeting |
Location: Huntington Convention Center, Cleveland, Ohio
2024 Annual Meeting & Expo: Where Purpose Unites Us All
When we bring our individual purpose, ideas, and triumphs together, there’s nothing we can’t achieve. Join your fellow association leaders as we navigate ever-evolving workplaces, missions, and members. With a shared vision of excellence, we will transform our toughest challenges into our greatest opportunities. In Unity, We Thrive. |
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| iUG 2024 Annual iMIS Users Conference |
Location: Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Richmond Hwy, Arlington, VA
The 2024 Annual iMIS Users Conference is your chance to jump start your career with the tools, strategies, training, and connections you need to advance both your career and your organization. |
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| ASI's 2024 iNNOVATIONS USA |
Location: Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Richmond Hwy, Arlington, VA
Don't miss the 2024 iNNOVATIONS USA Conference as ASI educates and celebrates their growing community of iMIS, Clowder, OpenWater, and TopClass LMS users and partners. At this 2-day conference they have educational tracks, product development insights, case studies, and recognition of clients who are achieving great things using their suite of non-profit solutions. |
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| 2024 Predict - Acumen User Conference |
Location: The Westin Arlington, Arlington, Virginia
Join us for insightful sessions from our data-loving staff and association thought leaders focused on helping every level of your association leverage Acumen and data analytics more successfully. |
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