Good morning and happy Friday! What’s one thing you’re looking forward to this weekend? I’m looking forward to a 5-mile race and a friend’s birthday party. It should be a good one!

Of course, it would hardly feel like a Friday if I didn’t share a few of my favorite association blog posts from this past week. Ready? Set … Go!

1. I shared this post on Twitter this morning already, but I really liked Kerry Stackpole’s recent contribution to ASAE’s Acronym blog: How do you make sure failure only happens once? To me, it’s OK to fail or make a mistake – as long as you learn from it and don’t repeat the same mistake.

2. Do you recognize past leaders in your association at meetings? David M. Patt shares an example of one association who didn’t, and to him, it was a big mistake. Recognizing past leaders keeps them connected to the organization, which was probably a big part of their lives for quite awhile.

3. Becky Rasmussen at the Drake & Company blog shared five great lessons learned at last week’s Drake Invitational Forum for Association Leaders. My personal favorite? Don’t do something just because everyone else is. Just like bandwagon fans in sports, bandwagon associations are also making a mistake.

4. In a guest post at AE on the Verge, Marcia Bartol asks association professionals if working from home is right for them. She points out one big advantage, which is that there are no overheard costs associated with working in an office. That can be a huge plus for small staff associations, many of which share office space with other organizations.

5. How do you measure success? Wes Trochlil shares how not to measure it – by effort. Can you measure effort? Does mere effort accomplish goals? Or do you measure success by other, more cut-and-dry metrics?

It’s Monday, and you know what that means – I’ve got a few great slideshows and presentations to share with our readers! There are always so many awesome lessons to learn from peers, so I love rounding up these slideshows each week to share with you all!

Have you seen or heard a great presentation recently?

(If you live in America, that is!)

Happy Friday! For those of you in the United States, enjoy your long weekends! Whether you’re headed to the beach, the lake, the mountains, the pool or your backyard, enjoy the outdoors with your friends and family!

So, in case you need some reading material for your weekend (beyond the summer reading list I posted yesterday), here are some of the posts that stuck out to me from the association blogging community this week:

1. Newsflash: You are not a loser if you hate to blog (or tweet, or Facebook). I think this is a message that often isn’t repeated enough in the online community. Yes, social media is great, but it’s not the be-all, end-all solution to your organization’s communications. If you don’t like social media, there’s no reason for you to participate. It’s certainly not for everyone. Great reminder from Debra Helwig.

2. However, if social media is your cup of tea, take a look at the Socialfish’s top 10 tips for marketing your social media. I like anything that can be condensed into a good list, and one great reminder that’s included here is to comment on other blogs if you’re starting one for your organization. That’s how you spread the word about your blog.

3. Elizabeth Weaver Engel wrote a fantastic post about innovation and why it’s important (yet difficult) for associations to ask tough questions about the future of membership. Gen-X’ers and Millennials have different expectations of value than Boomers, and with Boomers still leading many associations, it’s difficult for organizations to alter their dynamics and membership models. What do you all think?

4. Jamie Notter wrote a great post that asked some tough questions about associations’ revenues … What if your revenue stream dropped by 75 percent in the next 24 months? How could your organization shift to create new revenue streams? What if dues went away? Great questions that all association professionals should think about.

5. Over at Acronym, Kristin Clarke discussed governance and why it’s silly for organizations to keep quiet about CEO succession. Do your organization and board of directors regularly discuss who will replace your CEO? Just because CEOs don’t plan to leave doesn’t mean an active discussion shouldn’t take place.

However you’re celebrating the Fourth of July (or even if you’re not!), from everyone at MemberClicks, have a fantastic weekend!

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Happy Friday! Who’s psyched about the World Cup? It should be an exciting month for the world’s sports enthusiasts as everyone’s eyes turn toward soccer (or football, or futbol, or whatever you prefer to call it). Of course, in between games, there are tons of awesome blogs in the association community to keep you occupied. Here are five that stood out to me this week:

1. Erik Schonher provided a link to the 2010 Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report and re-published Tony Rossell’s top 10 lessons from this year’s report. A key point? Although Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are the most commonly used social media tools, they’re not necessarily the most effective for reaching membership goals. Something to keep in mind…

2. One social media tool that is definitely effective for sharing information? Slideshare. Beth Kanter shared nine ways nonprofits can use Slideshare this week, and I think her list succinctly explains how nonprofits (and associations, too!) can take advantage of Slideshare’s cool features. Most thought leaders and speakers post their presentations, so we all have access to them whenever we want!

3. Deirdre Reid wrote a great post about what upward-facing organizations could look like, now and going forward. She used the for-profit company Lululemon as an example, and from her list, I think flexibility is one of the most important points — let staffers take the time to recharge by exercising, going to yoga, whatever … it makes us all happier and healthier, which can lead to increased productivity.

4. This post at Mashable about cloud computing isn’t specific to organizations, but it definitely applies to them. Experts predict that by 2020, Internet users will use the cloud for the majority of their file and data storage. One big issue, however, is how secure the “cloud” (or Internet storage) is, as well as information privacy. A huge advantage is that data stored in the cloud is accessible from any computer, anywhere. What’s your take?

5. As an introduction to Buzz 2010, Maddie Grant posted the introduction to Charlene Li’s new book, “Open Leadership.” Charlene Li will be speaking at Buzz’s first session, which takes place next week, on June 16. After reading just the introduction, I can already tell that this book will be so beneficial to nonprofits and associations, and can’t wait to get my hands on a copy. Definitely take a look at this, and if you’re going to be in Washington, D.C. next week, sign up for Buzz 2010!

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend, and have fun! GO USA!

When it comes to renewal, technology can really help you out. Take advantage of your database. Ideally, members’ histories are catalogued, so you’ll know whether or not they’ve bought literature, volunteered or participated in programs. The more customized and personal a renewal letter is, the greater chance there is of an on-the-fence member renewing.

I know, for small-staff organizations especially, taking the time to personalize renewal letters can be extremely time-consuming. And I’m not saying you have to go crazy and devote 100 percent of your time to combing the database for information on your members, but you can have a few different “form” letters.

For those who have volunteered consistently and been quite active, thank them for their service and remind them continued benefits the organization offers to their professional growth and development.

For members who haven’t been as active, consider letting them know about the opportunities available and, if possible, include a few testimonials from active members.

When it comes down to it, everyone wants to know what’s in it for him or her. Career development, staying up to date in the industry and networking opportunities are all reasons members renew. Rather than listing the tangible things your organization offers, demonstrate the value to members in those offerings.

According to the Membership Marketing Benchmarking Survey, the more frequently you send out renewal notices, the better. There’s also an ideal balance between snail mail and e-mail notices, which was discussed in detail here last October.

There are lots of great resources out there for staffers involved with membership marketing and renewal. Specifically, I highly recommend two blogs: Erik’s Experts in Membership Marketing and the Membership Marketing Blog. Both offer great, tangible advice and tips for marketing and renewal.

How does your organization personalize its renewal process? What suggestions and tips do you have for small-staff organizations?