It’s hard to believe ASAE’s Annual Meeting and Expo is just about over! There have been some amazing sessions and learning opportunities, and I’m glad to have the chance to hit up some sessions.

One really thought-provoking session was this morning — we discussed ethics and how different generations handle different situations. Some of the dilemmas presented were tricky, and I think there’s a lot of gray area regarding ethics and conflicts of interest.

Here’s the scenario that we discussed for awhile: What do you do if you have a side business that serves your members? How do you handle it with your supervisors? What would you do?

There didn’t seem to be one clear consensus, but lots of different scenarios. However, I think one thing to keep in mind when dealing with an ethical dilemma is to always be open, honest and transparent. Your decisions may not always be popular, but hopefully your integrity will never be questioned.

Take a look at some of these awesome events that will take place this summer! Some are geared specifically toward small staff association professionals, but I think all of them are worth considering, no matter how small your organization. Social media isn’t the only hot topic this summer — these events and sessions are fantastic resources for any association professionals who aspire to be lifelong learners.

Young Professional Lunchtime Learning: Got Ethics?, Thursday, June 3: A free!, virtual program geared toward young professionals and asking tough ethical questions and discuss how to come to a clear decision when given an ethically gray situation. ASAE’s Young Professionals and Ethics committees will come together to decide upon the best actions to take when confronted with an ethics dilemma.

Association New Media Summit, Tuesday, June 8: In just a few weeks, the folks at Peach New Media will host a daylong event and you can attend in-person in Arlington, Va. or watch the live webcast. Take a look at some of the questions that will be addressed!

- What’s hot now in online learning and what are the upcoming trends?
- What are the hurdles and resolutions for associations getting into social media?
- How does new media change our role from “educator” to “curator”?
- What revenue generating opportunities are available via online learning programs?

Buzz 2010: Social Media for Associations, June 16 / July 20 / August 18: Brought to us by the lovely SocialFish and Smartbrief, this year’s event will be a three-part breakfast series featuring amazing speakers Charlene Li, Mark Storey, Wendy Harman, Alexandra Levit and Olivier Blanchard. The series is geared toward association professionals who steer their organization’s social media strategy and policies. Last year’s event was a great success, so try and attend one (or all three) of the 2010 events!

Small Staff Idea Swap – Principles of Good Governance, Wednesday, June 30: A free, in-person event in Washington, D.C. geared toward small staff association professionals! Advancing good governance is crucial for all associations, but can be especially challenging for smaller organizations. Take a look at these great talking points:

- Determining the governance needs of the association, i.e. What does the association and its staff need from the governing body.
- Addressing the “principles of good governance” – what are they and where are the models.
- Getting your Board’s attention and engaging them in improving governance.
- What is the best process and sequence of steps in getting to effective governance policies, process and structure.
- How does the maturation stage and size of the association affect the role and function of governance?

Creating the 24/7 Small Staff Association: An Online Conference, Tuesday, July 13: In our world of constant communication, it can be difficult for organizations (especially those with fewer staff members) to actively engage and connect with members. This three-day audio/web event will cover free and low-cost online tools, how to write copy for the Web, mobile technology essentials and more – all geared toward small staff associations. This one isn’t free, but after looking at the awesome full schedule here (PDF), I definitely think it’s worth attending.

This definitely isn’t a complete list of events, just a few noteworthy ones. If you know of any others, especially for small staff association professionals, feel free to share them with us!

I was catching up on some video posts last weekend and this morning, and thought I’d compile them in one post here for our readers.

January was Governance Month at ASAE and The Center, as well as its Acronym blog, and they posted a few video interviews with association CEOs about having those “crucial conversations” with your board.

Mike Grubb, CEO of the Southern Gas Association, talks about building a stronger relationship with his board.

John Saunders, executive director of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators, chats with ASAE about confronting a board member about an ethical issue — a topic we all know can be tricky!

Finally, Tonya Howe Johnson discusses how best to introduce a difficult concept to your board. Key takeaway here: Make sure to position it as a professional idea, not one you have a personal interest in.

Communication is such a crucial factor in your relations with the board — don’t underestimate the power of an honest conversation.

All videos courtesy of ASAE and The Center’s YouTube channel; I’m just sharing the love! Feel free to share any videos (association-related or not) in the comments!