Kris Williams from the International News Media Association (INMA) Discusses Creating Community Across the Globe
Associations Creating Community
Kris Williams is Membership Director for the International News Media Association (INMA), which has over 11,000 individual members from 123 corporate members, from nearly 70 countries. The Board has very broad international representation, with also regional boards to represent different regions of the world and help create community. The members are on the business side of the news operation, rather than on the journalism/content side. INMA also live and recorded webinars internationally, in addition to in-person meetings, to also help build community. The Association also connects news...
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Building Community Through Relationships
Associations Creating Community
Kat Shamapande is the Director of Professional Development for the National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP), which has members from many countries and also has its own international podcast with information about the surety industry. A podcast is a great way to benefit the members, says Kat, but also those who need to learn about the surety industry, and ultimately to build an international community. One important focus of NASBP is helping members build relationships and trust, because it is a rather niche industry and relationships are very important to the businesses.
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The Virtual Conference Experience
Associations Creating Community
Arianna Rehak, CEO of Matchbox Virtual Media, which produces virtual events and conferences for associations. Virtual events began as stand-alone events, but the covid pandemic thrust Matchbox Virtual Media into the fray with so many meeting cancellations. Arianna says that Matchbox primarily helps associations have virtual conversations, which are not just webinars but live virtual events with attendee interaction and chats in real time. People can connect in meaningful ways to create community even if on a virtual basis.
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Cultivating International Collaboration for Live Performing Arts Professionals, with Wan-Jung Wei, Executive Director, International Organisation of Scenographers Theatre Architects and Technicians (OISTAT)
Associations Creating Community
Wan-Jung Wei is the Executive Director of the International Organisation of Scenographers Theatre Architects and Technicians (OISTAT). Established in 1948, OISTAT serves those who facilitate and create design for live performance. OISTAT's Executive Committee and Governing Board members are from more than 10 different countries. The essential activities of OISTAT are undertaken by different commissions, including education, architecture, performance design, technology, research, and publication & communication. One example of OISTAT's international collaboration efforts can be demonstrated...
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Where In The World Is Jefferson Glassie?
Associations Creating Community
Jefferson Glassie, FASAE, with the Whiteford Nonprofit Law Group, traveled to Delhi, India to participate in a a meeting of PangeaNet, a global network of law firms. It is a referral network for international law firms, but is also an association that is trying to build community and strengthen relationships. Associations come in all shapes and sizes, and PangeaNet provides a benefit to those firms that join be broadening their reach and helping clients by having strong legal connections in other countries. In addition, Jeff stayed in India and then traveled to Nepal to do a video interview of...
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Providing International Content, Standards, Science, and Membership Engagement, with Mary Ward-Callan of IEEE
Associations Creating Community
Mary Ward-Callan with IEEE talks about how to manage and provide content and networking opportunities for an association whose 420,000 members span over 160 countries. IEEE was initially a US based association, but now only 40% is from the US. Mary talked about creating community through global, but also local engagement through 1500 chapters world-wide. IEEE councils offer technical specialization communities on both global and local levels. One challenge is to coordinate literally a thousand educational and membership opportunities and meetings in different time zones across the planet....
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Conducting Certification Programs Globally, With John Ganoe Of Community Association Managers International Certification Board
Associations Creating Community
John Ganoe talks about how to administer a world-wide certification program for common interest community managers. CAMICB certificants are in about 15 countries. This necessitated an international examination form to test for the body of knowledge developed by a global group of subject matter experts that had to be applicable across the board and be appropriate in many countries. Success in community building for CAMICB is tied directly to having individuals on the ground in different countries who are supportive and promoting the program. CAMICB benefits from the global education reach of...
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Global Professional Academic And Research Associations, With Eileen McCarthy, Of The Strategic Management Society
Associations Creating Community
Eileen McCarthy is with the Strategic Management Society, which consists of over 3,000 members representing a kaleidoscope of backgrounds and perspectives from more than 80 different countries. Membership is composed of academics, business practitioners, and consultants, focused on the development and dissemination of insights and research on the strategic management profession, as well as on fostering contacts and interchange around the world. The Society focuses on young scholars from different cultures and bringing them into the field. The SMS Board is quite diverse culturally and...
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How To Have Amazing Exhibitions And Events Around The World, With David DuBois, CMP, CAE, FASAE, CTA, and CEO of IAEE
Associations Creating Community
We sat down with David Dubois (virtually) with the International Association of Exhibitions and Events, which has members in 52 countries representing 1300 member organizations. IAEE has over 250 different communities/subgroups in different areas. David spoke about how IAEE organizes and manages these various culturally diverse groups around the world, with significant attention to being culturally sensitive. It is also very important to have local partners and experts in areas where the association has activities.
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Who Saves People's Lives in Dangerous Locations? THE ASSOCIATION OF AIR MEDICAL SERVICES
Associations Creating Community
Most of the world has aircraft based rescue, and most of us just assume it's safe. Cameron Curtis, CMM, CAE, the chief executive officer of the Association of Air Medical Services, leads the association whose members go in to conduct rescue operations by aircraft anywhere in the world. AAMS is a global association of medivac companies, holding an international meeting with helicopters on the trade show floor. The AAMS has an international Board, and is working on outreach to ensure geographic representation. There is a very strong community in the association, because they have to work closely...
info_outlineLowell Aplebaum is principal of Vista Cova, which provides facilitation advice and services to associations. Lowell says it is essential for association members to feel like they belong and have the space to talk with one another in micro-communities. Many association leaders forget what it was like to be a new member and feel the need to identify association volunteers to emulate. When volunteers spend time working on problems together, that can be a powerful force toward building community. Lowell says members also need to develop a competency in listening to be able to be productive together. He says a critical distinction is whether your organization is creating things for your members or with your members. Lowell says he also has learned how important it is to have the right volunteer leaders who can create community, especially through diversity and inclusion. Another important point is to recognize that community is not just about bringing in new members, but also recognizing the members who have been loyal to the association for decades, and to mix new and long-time members. Lowell says the bottom line is that people join associations to meet and connect with other people to help solve problems.