Tools to Access Current Education Topics

MSAE's Meeting Management Networking Group met to discuss Tools to Access Current Education Programs.  Here are the top takeaways and tools:

• Education Evaluation Matrix - concept from Mary Byers from Race for Relevance, utilized by Aging Services of Minnesota. Download matrix. Customize each column with measurements important to your organization (use your own!) and rows with current education programs to be evaluated. When evaluating, assign the same number of 1's, 2's, 3's, 4's, 5's - mark 5's first, then 1's, 4's, 2's and 3's. Have your staff, board, members or whomever you'd like to complete the evaluation, then compile total rating. This process is great for evaluating current programs, forces you to rank programs and highlights high and low items. Then discuss how you can make 1's into 5's or decide if you keep. How can you make the 5's even better? The group really liked this evaluation but noted that it does not help to generate new education programs. Sample matrix completed. Aging Services of MN Recap with more helpful ideas to get you started.
• Net Promoter Score - another helpful tool, great for evaluating speakers or meetings. Idea is that members/customers are either promoters (9-10), passives(7-8) or detractors(1-6). NPS = % of Promoters - % of Detractors. Article to get you started.
• Thoughtfulness in evaluating education process - will increase response rate!
• Ask forward thinking questions - such as, tell us what you want in the future, rank topics, etc.

Good luck with the process, let us know how it goes!

Budgeting & UBIT

MSAE's Financial & Accounting Networking Group met recently to discuss budgeting for associations and UBIT (unrelated business income tax), as it relates to the financial side of business.  Below are the top takeaways from the meeting:

• Rolling Forecast - seeing more nonprofits use this type of budgeting, there is no set budget but the organization is constantly looking at numbers (for example, 12 months ahead at all times, vs. one calendar year).
• UBIT - the group talked about the difference between sponsorships (no qualitative statement about product or service), endorsements (hands on activity or call to action for preferred vendor) and royalties (excluded from UBIT).  
• Always remember that profit is good and if UBIT is required, it's still profit

The group will meet next on Tuesday, October 2 to discuss Health Insurance & Benefits. To register, visit www.msae.com/calendar.

TED, Trends and Non-Members

Top takeaways from the Feb. 23 Senior Staff Networking Group meeting:

• TED.com - Ideas Worth Spreading - Share your association's videos and best practices on Ted, it's great for you and your members!
• 11 Trends for 2011 - Video and social media are a must, if you aren't doing it - someone else is. Check out the other trends to watch this year (from the MSAE Speakers Showcase on 2.17.11).
• Send a blank newsletter to non-members (or past members) who should be members - will show them what they're missing.