I have lots and lots of MemberClicks news to share today!

First things first: If you’re in D.C., we want to meet you!

Although we love our home in Atlanta, it’s true that many associations and association management companies are based in the D.C. metro area. That’s why we make it a point to get up there as often as possible! We’ll be in the Beltway from April 4-8, and we’d love to stop by your offices for just a few minutes (we know you’re all hard at work) and introduce ourselves. (Psst … we’ll also drop off a box of some tasty treats!) Shoot us an e-mail at sales@memberclicks.com if that piques your interest and we’ll be in touch to schedule a date and time.

And if there’s no time to spare during the day, don’t worry! We’re hosting a mixer at Busboys and Poets on Thursday, April 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. It’ll be the perfect way to wind down your workweek.

Second: Are you an AMC who wants to save your clients time and money? (And let’s be honest – who doesn’t?)

We’re hosting webinars today, March 16 and March 23 to show how MemberClicks can help AMCs. (Today’s is at 3 p.m. ET so hurry!) We’re really excited about this series because we’ve been serving small staff associations for so long but we have a whole host of services just for AMCs!

Third: Meet MemberClicks.

Think you know us? Think again. If you follow the blog and are vaguely familiar with our services, that’s awesome. But we want to take the time to tell you even more.

Our Meet MemberClicks Webinars are a great way to learn more. This is a group webinar so you can sit back and relax as a MemberClicks representative tells you and the other attendees a little bit about us. You’re free to ask questions but your participation isn’t required. Click here to view the dates and times, and for registration links.

It’s not too late to sign up forASAE’s free webinar, Managing an Association’s Social Media Risks and Coverage Exposures. If you have some free time at 2 p.m. ET today, dial in to learn from your peers about how to respond to social media crises within your organization or industry. (For one example, check out what happened to the American Red Cross’ Twitter account last week.)

Here’s what ASAE has to say about the program:

U.S. courts have expanded the definition of commercial speech, and the litigation over copyrights and trademarks is exploding. Most non-media organizations like associations rely on their general liability insurance policies for advertising coverage.

But, these general liability policies are shrinking. Do you know if your association is being left exposed?

This webinar will provide a dialogue of:

• An association’s overall strategy in executing their social media usage
• Methods of associations applying social media to their websites
• Benefits, risks, and risk prevention in an association’s engagement with social media
• Implementing an organizational social media policy before risk arises

If that sounds like something your small staff association could benefit from, be sure to sign up now!

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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!

Just a reminder that I’m hosting a few webinars on social media for small-staff associations today (Tuesday, May 25) and tomorrow. So many organizations are strapped for time and other resources, and social media is a fairly easy (and cost-effective!) way to engage your members. Although it does require some upkeep and maintenance (just like everything else), I think it will be crucial for associations to take advantage of these tools going forward.

So, what am I going to discuss?

- A few basics: Why social media is important and how you can listen to conversations taking place online.
- How to discover which social media platforms your members already use
- Why it’s OK to give up “control” of your online message
- The importance of staying up-to-date with social media trends

…And of course, any questions that attendees may have!

So head on over here to sign up for today‘s and here to sign up for Wednesday’s! Each one will take place at 3 p.m. ET, and they’ll cover the same topics, so there’s no need to sign up for both! (And did I mention each one is free?)

A few months ago, I had the pleasure of serving on a panel for one of ASAE’s Component Relations webinars: “Using Social Media for Chapter Events.” It was such a fantastic learning opportunity for me that I wanted to give back even more to the association community.

So, later this month, on Tuesday, May 25 and Wednesday, May 26, I’ll be hosting two webinars on incorporating social media into your organization’s communications strategy. (Click the date to sign up!) I’ve learned so much since I started blogging with MemberClicks and I truly believe that no matter how small your organization, it’s possible to successfully utilize social media tools.

I’ll be talking about a few specific things, such as how to find the social media “superstars” already within your organization, the time commitment necessary for social media (it’s not as much as you think!) and a few tips for using social media for events.

If your organization is lacking staff members and short on time, I promise this webinar will be worth your while. (Both sessions will cover the same topics, so there’s no need to sign up for both.)

I’m looking forward to the discussion, and hope you’ll join us!

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