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Hello, and welcome to the Blue Sky
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E-Learn audio blog. This is Amanda
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Davis, Chief Experience Officer at Blue
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Sky E-Learn. I'm so happy you've tuned
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in today. In this episode, we'll be
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recounting our experience at the 2023
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ASAE Annual Meeting that took place
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earlier this month. So sit back, relax,
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and let's dive right in
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ASAE's 2023 annual meeting brought
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together a vibrant community of
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association and nonprofit professionals,
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industry leaders, and partners. Over
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the course of several days in Atlanta,
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we celebrated achievements, found
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inspiration, and collaboratively looked
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ahead. This year's event theme, shape
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your purpose, challenged us to take an
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active role in defining the path forward
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for the industry For keynotes, sessions,
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exhibits, and conversations, we
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explored emerging trends, models,
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technologies, and strategies. As we
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grapple with constant change in the
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world around us, the conference
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provided perspective on how associations
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and nonprofits can remain responsive and
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vital. With over 15 years of experience
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working with associations, I attended
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the ASAE annual meeting for the sixth
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time this year while the focus often
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changes. the core goals remain
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consistent, serving members and
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generating non-do's revenue. Here are
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my top takeaways from this year's
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meeting. Even with constant change,
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the heart of the association community
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remains the same. We still care deeply
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about our work and each other. The
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passion in the hallways and rooms is
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like a living spirit throughout this
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event. Everyone is feeling excited
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about seeing people and loving the
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industry they serve. More and more, we
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are learning to lean on our community of
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peers and borrow ideas, crafting the
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best option for our organization. Those
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who work in this industry undoubtedly
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care for what they do and how they do it.
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Nothing but the best for their members
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and constituents rings true in every
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single conversation I had, whether with
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an association leader or an industry
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partner We are all passionate about our
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purpose.
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It's a bright and exciting time in the
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industry. Opportunities are available
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for the taking. Throughout these
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discussions, a clear lesson emerges.
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Change, although uncertain, opens
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doors to new opportunities.
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Associations have shown their ability to
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not just survive disruptions, but
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thrive amidst them.
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The lessons drawn from the COVID-19
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pandemic continue to echo across the
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community, underlining how associations
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swiftly adapted to the evolving
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circumstances. Associations have a
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track record of quickly adjusting their
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strategies to match the changing
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landscape. This highlights the
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importance of embracing change now and
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maintaining that flexibility. With new
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opportunities arising and the market
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evolving, associations are well
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positioned to take the lead The ASAE
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sessions also eliminated the amendment.
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potential of emerging technologies such
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as AI, offering a glimpse into
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associations proactive, stance towards
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adopting and flexibly embracing such
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innovations. In the same vein, the
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discussions underscored the importance
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of recognizing members evolving
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expectations, further emphasizing the
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necessity of remaining attuned to their
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evolving needs. This highlights the
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ongoing challenge of nurturing
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continuous growth and adaptation within
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the association community.
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Those specific strategies and models may
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shift. Associations remain vital by
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delivering value to the professionals,
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companies and stakeholders they serve.
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There are always new needs to meet, new
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connections to facilitate and new
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knowledge to share. With an openness to
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reimagine solutions, Embrace new
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technologies and listen to emerging
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needs. Associations are poised to
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flourish. Opportunity awaits in
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increased global engagement, expanded
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virtual and hybrid offerings,
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data-driven insight, and heightened
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focus on member experience, a topic
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near and dear to my heart. This is a
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time for optimism and proactive
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experimentation. With courage and
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creativity, associations will continue
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to successfully adapt to rising
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challenges and chances. The brightest
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days lie ahead.
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Association executives are finally
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talking about their roles in a sales
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context. Like it or not, you are
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selling your organization's value every
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single day, and it's OK. In the past,
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association executives may have shied
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away from viewing their roles through a
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sales lens However, the landscape has
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shifted. requiring more revenue
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generation, member recruitment, and
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proving ongoing value. As such,
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associations must embrace that sales and
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marketing are integral to their work.
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Every interaction association
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professionals have is an opportunity to
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showcase their organization's worth.
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Rather than avoiding sales-focused
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language and strategies, smart
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associations are now proactively
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building these competencies
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Forward-thinking groups are training
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staff on consultative sales approaches
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to authentically convey value.
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Associations have services, events,
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education, and community to sell
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year-round. Doing so with integrity and
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transparency is not only acceptable,
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but mandatory for continued prosperity.
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As long as the mission remains central,
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sales enable broader impact.
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AI is here to stay. Now how can we test
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the waters? The rise of artificial
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intelligence is undeniable and its
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presence across industries will only
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grow. For associations, the question
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is not whether to adopt AI but how to
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reasonably test and integrate these
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technologies to enhance programs,
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services, experience, and strategy
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With a learn as you go mindset,
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associations can pilot AI tools for
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specific challenges. The key is
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starting small rather than overhauling
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systems. For instance, chatbots and
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virtual assistants can improve event,
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website, and community interactions.
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Testing effectiveness and sentiment
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allows associations to build internal AI
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fluency. Moreover, forming
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partnerships with platforms that
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seamlessly integrate AI into their
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toolkit can provide an added advantage.
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If you had a chance to stop by our booth
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during ASAE, we spotlighted a range of
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AI functionalities, including enhanced
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learning creation optimization,
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underscoring the tangible benefits of
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this technology for associations.
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Rather than reacting defensively to AI,
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curious and prudent experimentation will
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serve associations best. The impacts of
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AI will become more apparent over time,
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with proactive learning and piloting,
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associations can keep pace with AI's
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evolution in a manner true to their
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values. The waters may feel murky, but
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by waiting in gradually, future
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directions will emerge. If you've been
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hesitant to dive in, check out our
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recent blog written for association
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executives on best practices for using
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AI to develop content.
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Be sure to check out the online article
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to see an image of our team that
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attended ASAE 23. The dedication of the
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professionals that attend ASAE is
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inspirational. This community's
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commitment to excellent persists. The
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passion, work ethic, and dedication
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demonstrated by the professionals in the
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association community is truly
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inspirational. Despite the rapid
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evolution and challenges facing the
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industry, the commitment to excellence
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among its members persists. Association
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professionals pour incredible energy
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into serving their organizations,
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missions, and members. Their drive to
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keep learning, innovating, and
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advancing the industry forward in the
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face of obstacles is motivating. At
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conferences like ASAE, you witness
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their care and spirit of service
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firsthand through every session,
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discussion, and conversation. There is
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a palpable camaraderie that comes from a
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shared purpose and devotion to making a
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positive impact. Strangers quickly
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become colleagues as knowledge and ideas
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are exchanged. The
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opening keynote, Damon John said it
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best, We don't invest in companies, we
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invest in people. And the association
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industry is no exception to this rule.
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Whether you are referring to our members,
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learners, or staff within the
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association, we are a people-loving
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community who thrives on meaningful
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interactions. The community comes
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together
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to collaboratively envision and build
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the future. This spirit has defined the
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association's face for generations and
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continues as new leaders carry the torch.
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Seeing professionals at all stages of
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their careers maintain this commitment.
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It serves as a reminder that no matter
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how much the tools, models, and
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strategies evolve, the dedication at
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the heart of this work persists.
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Associations remain vital for sustained
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excellence from professionals who
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believe deeply in the value of their
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contributions. This community's resolve
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powers it through challenges and sets
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excellence as the standard. Our
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industry requires fresh approaches to
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drive better outcomes. We must
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challenge the status quo. The
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association industry today faces
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disruptions that necessitate new
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perspectives and willingness to depart
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from status quo strategies. Complacency
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and reliance on traditional models may
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undermine an association's continued
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prosperity and impact. Chad Foster's
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keynote presentation, Blind Ambition,
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offered inspiring lessons through the
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story of his life after losing his sight.
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Foster persevered in pursuing success,
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even though the path was difficult. He
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encountered setbacks and struggles, but
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remained committed to his goal of
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overcoming adversity. Though unsure of
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the way forward at times, he continued
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striving. Foster's perseverance through
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hardship exemplifies the power of
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steadfast determination in achieving
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one's desires, despite the obstacles.
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His experience shows that with ambition
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and resolve, we can overcome life's
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challenges and accomplish our dreams.
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To thrive into the future, Association
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leaders must have the courage to
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critically exam existing practices to
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determine the needed shifts. In some
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cases, long-standing processes require
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not just tweaks, but transformational
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change to meet member and stakeholder
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needs. This could involve anything for
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me. reimagining antiquated technology
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systems to diversifying leadership, to
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incorporating emerging delivery methods.
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Creating an organizational culture that
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embraces evolution rather than resisting
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it is key. This requires regularly
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evaluating if current approaches still
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produce optimal outcomes or if bold new
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directions are called for By combining
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openness to change with a commitment to
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purpose, associations can responsibly
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challenge conventions. The goal is not
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change solely for change's sake, but
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change to expand an association's
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ability to serve its members. The
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future will present obstacles, but
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facing them with creativity and resolve
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leads to positive outcomes. Our
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community's dedication empowers us to
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shape better futures.
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The relationships within this community
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are invaluable. The connections formed
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within the association community create
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invaluable support systems that members
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rely on throughout their careers. The
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friendships, mentorships, and
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professional relationships forms through
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conferences, chapter events, and
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collaborations become essential networks.
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Having peers that you trust
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intrinsically provides benefits beyond
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business partnerships They become
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trusted advisors to turn to when
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challenges inevitably arise. You know
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they genuinely want to see you and the
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industry thrive. Being able to speak
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candidly, ask questions and brainstorm
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ideas without judgment facilitates
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growth. The relationships offer
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reassurance that others understand your
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reality The connections forged empower
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us individually and collectively to
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shape the future. After that, they are
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invaluable.
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The association industry is constantly
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evolving. New technologies, models,
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challenges, and innovations arise every
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year that force associations to adapt
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and keep pace. However, even amidst
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this steady change, the core of this
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community persists. No matter the
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shifts happening around us, the passion
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that drives this profession remains At
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the heart of every association
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professional, you meet is a fundamental
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care for the mission, members, and
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stakeholders we serve, a drive to
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expand knowledge, resources,
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connections, and advocacy in our
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respective fields pushes us forward.
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Conferences like ASAE 2023 Annual
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Meeting powerfully capture the spirit in
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every session, conversation, and
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handshake. you feel the shared
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commitment to making a difference.
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Laughter and ideas fill the hallways as
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we learn together. Strangers become
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colleagues and colleagues become friends.
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It's this camaraderie, passion and
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dedication that I'm reminded of year
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after year. We face new obstacles but
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are still bound by common purpose.
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Informal chats at receptions turn to
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excited brainstorming on future
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collaborations Innovators share their
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knowledge freely, wanting to advance
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the industry. While so much changes on
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the surface, these roots run deep. As
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long as we nurture the spirit of service
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and community, the future is bright.
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Though the tools, challenges and
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strategies evolve, the care for our
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work and each other endures. It's what
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brings us back year after year to
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reignite the passions. This collective
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heart empowers us to take on whatever
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lies ahead. About the author, Amanda
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Davis, CMP, chief experience officer.
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Amanda has over 15 years of experience
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in the association world strategically
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focused on learning products. With
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multiple association roles as director
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of learning and development and online
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learning manager, Amanda has a deep
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understanding of the adult learning
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landscape and what keeps association
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executives up at night. As chief
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experience officer, Amanda now oversees
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the end-to-end experience for our
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growing mix of association clients. She
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is dedicated to fostering positive,
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productive relationships and ensuring
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associations have an excellent
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experience partnering with our
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organization. Amanda draws on her
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background in learning strategy and
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Association Management. to advise
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clients and shape an experience that
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enables their success. I want to thank
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you for tuning into this episode of the
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Blue Sky E-Learn Audio Blog. We look
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forward to serving you. and be bold.