Make Life Easier

MSAE's Young Professionals Group met on Feburary 10th to discuss the top resources each one of us use in our careers (and personal life too). We came up with quite the list. Here are the highlights...

Websites

1. www.msae.com
2. www.asaecenter.com
3. www.pinterest.com
4. www.gigaalerts.com
5. www.gentlemint.com
6. www.rosettathurman.com
7. www.googlealerts.com
   

Blogs

1. Wild Apricot
2. Life Hacker
3. Jeff Hurt

Books/Magazines

1. MSAE Library
2. MSAE Membership Directory (printed or online)
3. Association Focus Newsletter
4. Industry Magazines
5. Local Newspapers

Apps - Professional (top 10...there were many more!)

1. Expensify
   
2. Evernote
3. Dragon Dictation
4. Red Lazer
5. Twitter
6. LinkedIn
7. Facebook
8. Pinterest
9. Bump!
10. Time Clock

Apps - Personal (top 10...there were many more!)

1. Endomondo
2. Winter Survival Kit
3. BeFunky Fx
4. Skitch
5. Sit or Squat
6. Appzilla
7. Whatsapp
8. Instagram
9. Pinterest
10. itriage

Other Resources

1. Software - Photoshop Elements (cheaper than buying full version of Photoshop)
   
2. Software - Premier Elements (for video)
3. join.me - webinar services
   
4. MSAE Staff
5. MSAE Members

What website, blog or magazine do you read? Which apps help make your personal or professional life easier? Let us know. Post a comment here or on MSAE's Facebook page.

Form 990 & Internal Control

MSAE's Financial & Accounting Networking Group met today to discuss Form 990 and learn from each other's experiences. Below are the top takeaways from the meeting:

1. Changes to Form 990 for 2011
   
2. Visit GuideStar online to view Form 990's - it's all online and easily accessible.
   
3. If board member recommends friend/family member for service, probably in best interest to avoid due to conflict of interest policy.
4. "It's okay to be on the leading edge, not the bleeding edge"

The group will meet again on May 10 at The Harrington Company to discuss budgeting and UBIT, visit MSAE's Calendar of Events to register.

Improve Your LinkedIn Profile

The MSAE Communications Networking Group was lucky to have Tara Loftus from adapta INTERACTIVE share her expertise and wisdom about all things online....

20 Ways to Use LinkedIn Productivity
http://bit.ly/AhF8DD

Board Orientation Best Practices

MSAE's Financial & Accounting Networking Group recently met to discuss board orientation best practices, from a fiduciary perspective. Here are the top takeaways from the meeting:

1. Include a confidentiality section as part of your board orientation and policies.
2. Post minutes, board packets and policies online - it will save you time and money!
   
3. You must have D&O insurance and make sure check what it covers - limits, etc.

The group will be meeting again in 2012 - stay tuned for meeting dates.

Happy New Year - 2012

The Holidays fell on the weekend this year, so it seemed to stretch the season for an eternity. We are back at it now - ready to gear up for a new year of imagining, planning, visioning, adapting, serving. Working in an association requires skills in many areas. MSAE will be working to help association professionals learn about these many attributes and will provide numerous opportunities to connect with peers and colleagues. As you head into the new year remember, life's possibilities are endless.