Happy Friday! Did you have a good week? I did! As always, there was lots of great reading in the association world this week.

1. This is sort of a lengthy article, but I think it’s worth the read. Tapping into the Nonprofit Board’s Talent offers some great advice about how achieve better board relations. The article makes a great case for why your board should be involved in strategic and business operations. New perspectives can be a good thing!

2. Bruce Hammond wrote a great post on how not to fundraise. After an interesting experience with a certain university, Bruce shared some tips for making sure you target the right people in your fundraising efforts. Fundraisers should be trained and data should be carefully studied to prevent awkward situations or potentially losing a donor.

3. Over at ASAE’s Acronym blog, Joe Rominiecki wrote a post about Third Tribe and wondered whether or not it could be considered an association. Is this subscription Web site anything new? Is paying monthly a model associations should consider? How long will Third Tribe last?

Don't have an awkward elevator ride

4. Jeff Hurt had a few great posts this week, but his 20 things to do to make your conference experience more successful was my favorite. From using the Twitter hashtag to practicing your elevator speech, conferences are all about engagement and meeting new people. Jeff’s post captures this perfectly.

5. I’ve written a lot about how important it is to find your members on the social networks they’re already on, and so have Maddie Grant and Lindy Dreyer. Maddie blogged Thursday about a new tool called Flowtown, which can find your members across social media platforms (for a small fee). Just import your e-mail list and voila! Instant social media insight!

From everyone at MemberClicks, have a fantastic weekend! Let’s finish February strong!

I’m sure everyone is tired of hearing about the horrible economy, but the truth is, the unemployment rate isn’t improving and the economy is still shaky. We’re in the midst of a slow recovery, and I’m sure your association hasn’t been immune.

A key part of any nonprofit is fundraising. Has the recession affected your organization’s fundraising efforts? Have you altered your strategy or ramped up your endeavors? Don’t be afraid to ask for donations even during an economic downtown.

In my opinion, the most important thing to remember when asking for donations is to make it personal. Tell a story. I’m much more likely to give my money to an organization that makes an effort to tell me exactly where my money is going and how it will help the organization or its beneficiaries. Even if people don’t have a huge amount to donate, a personal story will always appeal more to them than simply saying, “Your donation is much appreciated.”

How many ways can your donors give to the organization? Do they have to send a check, must it be done over the phone or are online transactions acceptable? The more convenient it is, the more money you’re likely to raise.

Don’t forget to stress that every dollar can make a difference. Whether your donors give $1, $10 or $100, let them know that their contribution means something to the organization.

Do you differentiate between members who have donated before and those who haven’t? If you’re speaking to a potential first-time donor, introduce the organization and its philanthropic efforts – but no matter whom you’re addressing, direct the message to a specific person, not just “Sir” or “Madam.”

And, as a former copy editor and self-proclaimed “grammar geek,” I can’t stress the importance of proofreading your copy. Whether you’re sending a letter in the mail, an e-mail or using another form of communication, be sure there are no typos. It completely detracts from the message and is just unprofessional.

Finally, don’t forget to follow up with a thank you card to those who gave. It’s another small personal touch that will make people take notice and be more likely to continue donating.

Happy fundraising!

Image via Flickr

We’re currently experiencing a cold snap here in Atlanta. It was 6 degrees Fahrenheit Tuesday morning! It’s not too often that I have to wear gloves while driving, and this week, I’ve still been shivering during my commute. Living in the South for almost 16 years has thinned my blood!

Unfortunately, the days after the exciting holiday season winds down can cause a bit of a mood swing for some people: the winter blues (more seriously referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder). Even if you don’t have full-blown SAD, it’s pretty common to experience some of these symptoms during the winter months:

- Increased feelings of lethargy
- Difficulty waking up in the mornings
- Difficulty concentrating and thinking creatively in comparison to the summer months
- Incorrectly blaming oneself for things that go wrong
- Difficulty performing tasks that normally seem to be easy/enjoyable

(Source)

It makes sense that the winter blues can affect your work performance. If you or your fellow association staffers are experiencing a bit of a winter slump, here are some ideas.

- Once every few hours, drop everything and do some push-ups. Exercise has been proven to reduce stress and improve your mood. (If you’re pressed for time and can’t get a 30-minute aerobic workout in, at least do some push-ups or crunches!)
- Eat an apple. An apple a day really can keep the doctor away! It’s natural to crave more carbohydrates during the winter months, and fruit is a good source of natural carbohydrates.
- If I’m having lots of difficulty focusing on what I need to get done, I like to use Online Stopwatch to make sure I work diligently for a set amount of time. I also turn off Tweetdeck notifications and hide my BlackBerry.
- Get your DIY on. Clean the closet that’s exploding with never-used linens. Re-paint your guest bedroom. Working on a project at home can give you a great sense of accomplishment.
- Read a novel. It’ll get your mind off the blah weather.

It’s crucial to take care of yourself during the winter months. No one wants to end up bedridden with the flu! It should go without saying, but the better your health, the more productive you’ll be at work and the happier you – and your colleagues and members – will be.

(Image source: Flickr)

By Nicole Hanks

Associations always have had to do more with less. During these difficult times, associations have even less when it comes to finances, but still need to produce the same — or better — results. How do you accomplish that?

1. Do business locally. Small business is the backbone of America. These companies have the ability to negotiate, have better credit terms, and willing to go above and beyond for your business. Additionally, supporting your local businesses is crucial to their long-term economic successes.
2. Ask for a better rate. Call your service providers and ask if you have their best pricing plan or re-evaluate your current plan. If they say “Yes”, ask them if that’s the best they can do. The worst thing that they can say is “No”!
3. Go Green. The buzzword may sound cliche, but it truly can save you cash. You may have thought of changing your lightbulbs at home, but making the switch at the office can save you some green, as well. Unplugging items in the office, turning up the temperature when staff isn’t there and having your computer in hibernate mode will save you more than $500 per year!

Taking little steps here and there can all contribute to saving you money in the long run. I’m sure everyone’s tired of hearing about the “rough economy” and “the recession,” but the reality is that things will turn around eventually. Make cutbacks now and when the upswing (finally) happens, you’ll reap the benefits.

Choosing an AMS for your organization can be difficult — there’s a lot of technology jargon involved and quite a few options for you to choose from. To make sure you find the AMS that best fits your organization, we’ve compiled a handy step-by-step guide.

1. Who’s involved? Which staff members will be using the product regularly? These people should be involved in the decision.

2. How long will it take? Define a timeline for evaluating, implementing and launching the new system. Be sure to take any upcoming events, membership drives or renewal periods.

3. What do you need? What, specifically, should the AMS address? Message boards, event registration, dues payment and renewal — consult with the organization’s adminsitrators to determine what your must-have and wish-list items are.

4. What can you afford? The right AMS can save you money in the long-term, and be sure to take into account the new revenue streams — such as sponsorship or job board revenue — a new AMS can provide.

5. Who’s out there? Learn about the different vendors and the products each one offers. Consult with ASAE for a vendor list or buyer’s guide, or just run an online search. Some keywords are “membership management software” or “association management software.”

6. Talk to the vendors. Reach out via phone or e-mail to different providers to discuss your needs and options.

7. See it in action. Most providers provide online demos so you can see the product for yourself. Be sure to include the people in your organization who will be using the software directly.

8. Ask the right questions. Some sample questions for each vendor:
- What is included in the setup?
- What does the implementation process entail, and how long does it take?
- Are product updates included or must you upgrade the software to receive updated features?
- How often is the product updated?
- What technical support and training is included and what are those charges?
- How secure and reliable is the software?
- What additional hardware or software is needed for installation?
- How many admin licenses are included?
- Who hosts the software?
- Who owns the data and website, the client or the vendor?
- What are the vendor’s terms of cancellation?
- If you’re looking at web design as part of the AMS solution, does the vendor use stock templates or is the website custom-designed?
- How does the vendor handle payment processing?

Regardless of whether MemberClicks is the right solution for your organization, we hope you take the time to ask each of these important questions and get the best possible service.