By Bob Harris, CAE and Dot Miller, CAE We are hopeful there will be no second wave of the coronavirus, or that mitigation will reduce its impact. Health officials have predicted a return in the fall and through the winter. Associations must prepare. Are we taking advantage of what we have learned in the…
By Bob Harris, CAE An association relies on its board to govern. It sets the vision and advances the mission to best position the organization and serve its members. Through the pandemic, some directors may have reasons they can no longer volunteer. Concerns about jobs, business survival, health and family come first. It is…
By Bob Harris, CAE The pandemic has brought new challenges for boards of directors. Some have become paralyzed, wondering how to respond. The best have rallied the leadership team, made a plan, and increased member engagement and value. This special guide focuses on governance principles and pandemic recovery. (OK to save, copy, adapt and circulate;…
By Bob Harris, CAE and Arturo Mariani, Author There are hundreds of stories about organizational and personal improvement during the pandemic. People are sharing ways they are adapting. Organizational Improvement Many of the changes have positive, long term impact. The adaptations are necessary or organic to survive, sustain, and thrive. For example, what used to…
“If my association went for a health checkup today, there would be some serious health issues”, said a president of a large healthcare association. As the economy moves to recovery, consider taking the association’s vital signs, just like a doctor takes body temperature, respiratory rate, and blood pressure. In this case, taking the vitals of…
By Bob Harris, CAE For more than a month, executives have been in crisis mode. They respond to urgent calls from members, media and government while trying to manage and govern an association. One executive said it feels like our house has been on fire. Now it’s time to put out the fire. Spring and…
“In the long-run, members will judge their organization for how it responded.” -Bob Harris, CAE, May 2020 I asked an elected president of a large association how she felt about serving during the pandemic. She answered, “This is a great opportunity. It takes real leadership by our team to get through this and make…
Written by Bob Harris, CAE and William Pawlucy, CAE Click Here to View or Download the Full PDF After a devastating weather event neighbors emerge in shock, asking “are you okay?” Recovery starts fast. You hear the chainsaws clearing driveways and streets. Piles of rubble begin to line sidewalks. A weather event…
Written by Bill Pawlucy, CAE and Bob Harris, CAE These are the words of association executives panicked by the pandemic’s financial havoc. “Our conference is canceled, accounting for a 50 percent loss of revenue; what do we do now?” “We may lose 25 percent of our members and that will put our finances…
What are the things all nonprofits should be doing right now during this crisis? One of the first things is to stay calm. Your members trust and need you! With panic, a freeze sets in. Focus on solutions rather than things your association can’t control. Download the infographic below via the link for the other…
