Radio Free 501c - The Podcast of Rogue Tulips Consulting

This episode: While moving to virtual conferences was all the rage during the pandemic lockdown of 2020-21, not every organization bought a ticket on that boat. However, it did show us that we can have an engaging and valuable experience in real time using online meeting tools which gave us all food for thought. But how do we get to that point of engaging and valuable digital experiences? My guest Gail Kulp, Executive Director of the Sea Tow Foundation, is here to share the experience of her small staff nonprofit organization (there are two people on staff) and how they created their first virtual conference for their volunteers and other stakeholders. From planning the schedule to identifying the right partners to bring the conference to life, Gail and her staff found interesting speakers, supportive sponsors, and enthusiastic participants to make this online event a resounding success! Even if you have held a virtual conference, you can learn a lot from these insights. What challenges you about planning virtual conferences? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting e-newsletter, Rogue Speak.

This week's topic: Fee & Sympathy

This episode: Email is at the heart of any association's communications hub, but it's crucial to marketing our message no matter what type of organization we have. My guest, Amber Worthen IOM, CEO of Email Maven, is an email expert and self-described "Email Nerd." She has deep experience with analytics, messaging, and how to get your members to engage with the organization. One of the things that is a big hurdle is the mantra, "I just don't have time." Well we make the time to discuss why you should! Amber shares strategies and insights, including things you can CHANGE RIGHT NOW to improve your email program. What is your challenge with email messaging? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting e-newsletter, "Rogue Speak."

This week's topic: A Proud Provider of Quality Continuing Education

Episode 235: It's April Fools Day -- what better time to discuss the foolish behavior of some nonprofit leaders? It's a provocative title but the example set by leadership is key to promoting ethical behavior in any type of nonprofit organization. My guest, Mariama Boney, CAE, is the current Chair of the ASAE Ethics Committee. We discuss some real world examples and how we can influence ethical behavior in our profession and community. Mariama outlines the importance of ethics, the tools available for all professionals in our community, and how we can create an ethical mindset. Do you think our profession takes ethics seriously? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting e-newsletter, "Rogue Speak."

This week's topic: Can We End Bias Against Nonprofit Consultants?

This episode: Ethics is important in every aspect of our life whether we are making personal or professional decisions. As nonprofit management professionals, it is our responsibility and duty to behave in an ethical manner that demonstrates the integrity of our profession. I often speak on this topic and I co-lead an ethics webinar monthly so ethics is always top of mind for me. In my work, I do a lot to help people understand ethics and ethical decision making. My guest and friend Cindy Ziegler, Vice Chair of the ASAE Ethics Committee, is here to share her take on the importance of every day ethics, the many resources available through ASAE to help us with building ethical organizations, what the ASAE Ethics Committee is planning for the next year, and exciting things at the 2024 ASAE Annual Meeting. She also talks about the Ethical Advice Column published through the ASAE Ethics Collaborate Community! Don't miss this great conversation with Cindy; she is committed to raising awareness of ethics and that's always a noble cause. What are your questions about ethics? Share a comment!

This episode: Do you think print is dead? Well my guest Al Rickard, CAE of Association Vision is here to share the news that print is very much alive! An expert in association publishing with a focus on magazines, Al shares his take on the state of magazines, how magazines can be paired with current technology to serve as a content hub, and the importance of communication audits. He shares another piece of good news: you can always launch a new magazine. Al tells us how to read the environment to assess the potential success of new communication vehicles like print magazines. We have fun talking about the CAE program and how the exam has evolved, and we learn that Al was once a supermodel! Okay, a model on a magazine cover but it's still a cool story! How does your organization use print to communicate? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting e-newsletter, "Rogue Speak."

This week's topic: Women - Time to Exit the Harem

This episode: As nonprofit management professionals, we are aware of the "3 Duties": Care, Loyalty, and Obedience. These should guide the work and decision making of any Board of Directors, but there is a 4th Duty to consider: The Duty of Foresight. Foresight is the act of looking ahead, anticipating environmental factors, and setting the stage for a future where your successors can thrive and find success. My guest, Jeff De Cagna, FASAE, is an expert on this topic and is celebrating the 10th Anniversary of when he first named it and starting his work in this area. Foresight is a choice, but Jeff makes the argument that it is necessary. We talk about orthodoxy and how established beliefs can get in the way of putting foresight into practice, and why we need it in an age of artificial intelligence. The work of today's board is built on yesterday's accomplishments, and the future board will base its work on today. Listen to this in-depth conversation to learn more about the need for foresight and its long-term implications for nonprofit organizations. Does your organization practice foresight? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting e-newsletter, "Rogue Speak."

This week's topic: Women - Ask for What You Want

This episode: "If my Board would only . . . " "Why won't my Board . . . " "How can I motivate my Board to . . . " These are all good questions and many of us have asked them repeatedly over the years. But did you ever think to ask YOUR BOARD what they think? That's what my guest Hardy Smith did -- he's a nonprofit Consultant and author of the book, "Stop the Nonprofit Board Blame Game." Hardy interviewed hundreds of Board members across the United States and learned from them what they need to succeed. When Hardy says "stop blaming" I think better advice cannot be given considering the importance of the partnership between Board leadership and the staff. Hardy shares what he learned, advice for making improvements, and the key elements to successful board relationships. If you work with a Board you need to hear this conversation. Where would you like to do better with your Board relationships? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting newsletter, "Rogue Speak."

This week's topic: Dr. Manhattan, The Passage of Time, & Associations

This episode: It's a video world! With multiple channels for distributing video files, and devices that all have built in cameras, it seems like an easy choice to record and upload. Just point, shoot, and upload, right? But that's not always the best way to break through to your audiences. I talk with Cameron Gordon, President, Ellipsis Productions, and Cora Hankey, Producer at Ellipsis about "The In-Between is Ineffective" and how associations can tell their story in more powerful ways using video. We start off discussing what they mean by the "in-between" and how self-made is not necessarily bad. Cam and Cora discuss using documentary-style filmmaking to tell association stories, how they helped a client tell their side of the story when wrong information hit the news cycle, and why they love working with associations. We also talk about hippos and private jets. Get the context for that comment -- listen to this episode full of great advice on storytelling! How do you use video to tell your organization's story? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting newsletter, "Rogue Speak."

This week's topic: Sunsetting - It's good to let go with Purpose

This episode: Every year since 2012, Association Laboratory has conducted an environmental scan of the association space. The report is "Looking Forward" and my guest Dean West and I discuss the 2024 edition. Workforce/staffing concerns and artificial intelligence are top issues affecting associations today, and the database takes users into a deep dive of all the factors tested in this annual study. We discuss the experience of newer generations, professions being pushed against each other, and how the data can support governance reformation. This study is so detailed it even makes predictions -- find out which ones were on target! This conversation will peak your interest and make you wonder what's next. What do you see when you look forward? Share a comment!

This episode: Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere whether we like it or not. While it can be a useful research tool or even perform some tasks like an assistant, there are still many unanswered questions regarding how it can be useful to nonprofits, especially membership associations. My guest Johanna Snider, CEO, Blue Cypress, shares her personal experiences using AI and how that provides her with insights to share with organizations. If you or your organization are still considering how to best use AI tools, this episode will answer many questions and provide guidance about integrating this tool into your workflow and maybe even your life. How are you using AI tools? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting newsletter, "Rogue Speak."

This week's topic: I Didn't Like the "Barbie" Movie.

This episode: The digital world is where we live but change is happening faster and faster. How can any organization keep up? Finding the right tools helps but how do you get them when the annual budget is already set? Glad you asked because this week my guest Rob Barnes, CAE, the CEO of Betty Bot has great advice and suggestions on both fronts! He's going to share how to tell the story that supports your pitch to internal stakeholders and he will share some tips on how to find "room for serendipity" when budgets are already set. If you love AI, aren't sure about it, or want to know more about artificial intelligence and associations, don't miss this conversation. What is your biggest challenge when integrating new tools in this digital world? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from "Rogue Speak," the newsletter of Rogue Tulips Consulting.

The topic: CAE and ACNP - A Unified Body of Knowledge and Unified Profession

This episode: Have you ever daydreamed about writing a book? Like many of us, we think we have a great idea for a book, but we don't have any idea of how to get started. More importantly, we have no idea how to finish it. To answer these questions, I invited Carl Weaver of Broken Column Press (and nonprofit management professional) to discuss the writing process, the editing process, and the publication process. We also talk about how publishing a book can support the mission of any nonprofit organization! Along the way we talk about the power of stories, Godzilla, the Way of the Warrior, and why I mocked one of his book titles. Which one? Listen and find out! From ideation to publication, Carl offers encouragement to all of us wannabe book authors. He's a published author so he knows the joy and the agonies of the Way of the Writer. What stops you from writing that book? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting newsletter, "Rogue Speak."

This week's topic: Lies Technology Told Us - The Big Con

This episode: We all have passion projects, those things we do out for love, not money. Those of us in nonprofit work have a passion for making the world a better place -- we choose this work because it is important. It's what drives individuals to commit to the mission of creating an organization that makes a difference, even if all they have is the idea and their own energy. We call them "Passion Projects" and this week's guest, Beth Miller, has a passion for helping communities become dog-friendly. She is the Founder of Wagtown, a nonprofit that works with individuals and organizations to help educate the public, business owners, and decision makers (think legislators and regulators) on the benefits of including pets in our community (not just their owners' lives). Beth's energy and passion for her work is evident and she is even organizing a Summit later this year. In this conversation, she shares her struggles, triumphs, and hopes for the future. Come visit Wagtown and get excited again! What is your passion project? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting newsletter, "Rogue Speak."

This week's topic is: The Value of Women

This episode: Marketing is part of any effective communications plan, but if you are not a professional marketer where do you start? My guest, marketing expert Lisa Claydon, CAE, outlines the 5 steps for a successful marketing plan. It starts with environmental scanning and wraps up with budget. Want to know what happens in between? Listen to this excellent explanation of how to build your marketing plan step by step from someone who has done it successfully throughout her career. What is your biggest challenge with marketing? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting newsletter, "Rogue Speak."

This week's topic is: ALL 501c Organizations are Nonprofit

This episode: We launch Season 6 of Radio Free 501c with a crucial conversation about the role of associations when it comes to solving the Climate Change Crisis. While Climate Change is a constant, the way we do things is contributing to the harmful impact of the current period of warming of the planet. The Earth has gotten hotter before but now human endeavors (aka "the way we live") are making it hotter. It can be a bit overwhelming to think about the future of Planet Earth but don't pull the blanket over your head! Listen to this discussion of the issue, the impact, and the solutions we can find by working together across the association community. Imagine the power of our united resources! My guests Elizabeth Engel, MA, CAE, and Shelly Alcorn are the authors of a white paper on this topic that gives us a sense of purpose, but more importantly, a sense of hope. These are two of the smartest thinkers in our profession and they demonstrate it again with this fantastic work. Does your organization have a policy on climate change? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting newsletter, "Rogue Speak."

This week's topic is: The Reason We Celebrate

This episode: You may wonder who can influence the culture of your Board of Directors. Some say that the Chief Staff Executive (CSE) cannot do that or should not do that. My guest this week says that's not so, and she has the track record to prove it. Cheryl Ronk, CAE, FASAE, Principal, So Right LLC, spent over 30 years as the Chief Staff Executive of the Michigan Society of Association Executives (MSAE) where she learned from experience that not only can the CSE influence Board culture, it's part of their responsibility. Cultural influences come from nurturing and training Boards to have a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities to the organization; the CSE doesn't tell them what to do but they can and should show them HOW to do it. Influencing Board Culture in a positive way is directly related to creating the collaborative partnership between the CSE and the Board that is the mark of any successful nonprofit organization. If your 2024 list of resolutions includes "have a better relationship with my Board of Directors" then don't miss this conversation -- it will get you excited about the possibilities! How do you influence Board culture? Share a comment!

This episode: When discussing a topic as broad and important as Thought Leadership, you need to hear from people who actually THINK. I invited Jeff De Cagna, FASAE, Executive Advisor, Foresight First, and Dean West, FASAE, President, Association Laboratory to join me for this conversation because they are considered two of the leading thinkers when it comes to what's next for Associations specifically and nonprofit management broadly. We discuss major themes in this concept of thought leadership, what does it mean, how it applies to the future of association management, and we even get in a disagreement (briefly)! It's one of the longest episodes we've done so far, and it's the first time someone used an expletive (just the f-word once). What is the Maturity Arc of the True Thinker? That is one of the questions we explore along with the value of the future. Always fun, thought provoking, and uncomfortable in a good way talking with my long-time colleagues and friends. What does the future hold for thought leadership? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting newsletter, "Rogue Speak."

This week's topic: AWTC - Doing It Right

This episode: Creativity is an energy that drives us to bring our imagination into reality. My guest Shirley Storms, a Multi-Media Artist, shares her insights, inspiration, and advice on how to tap into our own creativity. She shares her story of how she became an artist and encourages us all to take the time to play. Shirley uses many items in her art and we see that all things can have multiple chapters in their lives -- just like us! If you usually listen to the podcast I encourage you to watch this one as we feature her works (several of them are favorites of mine). Take this opportunity to hear directly from an artist who pursues her passion! How do you explore creativity? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting newsletter, "Rogue Speak."

This week's topic: Is ASAE Becoming Like Cable TV?

This episode: Solopreneurs offer so much to their clients that sometimes it's hard to hone the message. Enter my long-time friend and colleague, Barbara Armentrout, CAE, of BJA Solutions to share her journey to her refreshed brand and how much fun she had doing it! She tells her "back story" of how she chose nonprofit management as a career path and how her experiences shaped who she is today. Known as a Consummate Networker and Connector, we talk about her commitment to bringing people together and how it helps elevate our profession. Get two consultants together and of course we talk shop -- we spill a few "consultant secrets" along the way too. We do a lot of name dropping in this conversation -- listen and see if your name is one of them! What are your thoughts on rebranding? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting newsletter, "Rogue Speak."

This week's topic is "The Social Contract."

This episode: Online communities have been static for decades. We've tried to make them more interactive and interesting but couldn't quite hit the mark -- until now! The founders and leaders of Qiqo Chat, Sandra Nam and Lucas Cioffi, share their vision for a future where online relationships and activities are vital, valuable, and meaningful. If you have seen what their Zoom interface does, wait until you hear about what else they have learned when it comes to building online communities! Sandra and Lucas organized a fantastic virtual event for December 2023, People Powering Tech, that includes tech partners and nonprofit management thought leaders. Of course we talk about that too and how it demonstrates "what's next" in online experiences. What will this dynamic duo do next? Whatever it is I know it will be exciting. What are your questions about online interactions and communities? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting newsletter, "Rogue Speak."

This week's topic is: Chapter Structures Continue to Frustrate Associations - So Let Them Go

This episode: We all generate content -- social media posts, blogs, articles, presentations . . . the list goes on! But how can we make our content work for us? My guest Cynthia Lockrey of Lockrey Communications is back sharing her wisdom on creating content and sending it out to the world! We discuss communication tools, identifying audiences for our unique content, and tips on repurposing content into e-books, infographics and more. If you have ever wondered how to be more strategic with your content, this is the episode for you. How do you get the most out of your content? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting newsletter, "Rogue Speak."

This week's topic is: Too MANY Files - Why We Need Knowledge Management

This episode: I love a good book and fortunately I have friends who write them! In this week's episode I welcome back Daniel Elacqua, MBA, PMP, of Strategico Consultants, and Gwen Garrison, PhD, of High Sierra Insights and Claremont Graduate University to discuss their new book, "Unleashing the Power of Business Intelligence (BI)." First and foremost, we must be conscientious Data Stewards, and to do this well, we need to create a culture supporting it. When it comes to data, we need to look at variety, volume, and velocity to design the best system for each organization. We cover the big themes of BI including Big Data, Data Ecology and Ecosphere, Data Governance, and creating that all important Data Culture. If you love talking data as much as I do you will get a lot out of this episode. What are your questions about data and data management? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting newsletter, Rogue Speak.

This week's topic: Empty Files - Why we need Knowledge Management

This episode: Recognizing performance of our team members is vital to keeping up morale and inspiring our teams to create, innovate, and find success. However, we've all worked at places that reward longevity over productivity, or even rewarding "busyness" over results. In this week's conversation with my guest Rick Burt, CAE, we discuss the positive effects of encouraging everyone on the team to contribute, do their best, and support each other to reach individual milestones and team goals. We share many options for recognition from certificates to team meeting "kudos" sessions to public acknowledgement. But we also note that we need to be aware of what our team members feel comfortable with as we don't want to make anyone uncomfortable. What do you think about recognizing performance? Share a comment!

This episode: It's awards season! From the Nobel Prizes to the MacArthur Genius Grants, there is a lot to be excited about as we recognize outstanding work. My guest, Jill Treby, CAE and AWTC Board member, loves awards season because it is a time when our members and stakeholders are praised and recognized, and awards help elevate professions and industries by raising awareness with the public. We talk about the many reasons to have awards programs, things you should do (and shouldn't!), and we discuss the concept of self-nomination. This is a fun and useful conversation about recognition and why we should point out all the good that people do. How do you recognize contributions to a profession or industry? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting newsletter, "Rogue Speak."

This week's topic is: "The Danger of Outdated Thinking - Part 2."

This episode: We all are Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) but many of us don't think about ourselves that way. We question our role as an expert whether it's a lack of confidence or a lack of self-awareness or maybe we think someone else has to recognize our expertise first. How can we identify our areas of strength and knowledge and leverage them to support our organization's mission, our own professional development, and help build the confidence of our members to advocate on behalf of their profession or industry? I talk about all these questions with my guest Mike Bober, CAE, President & CEO of the Pet Advocacy Network. He's back to share another 4 Step process -- Claim your Expertise with the 4 Es! He walks us through the 4 Es and how it helps individuals find their inner expert, and how these same steps can be used to support our members in identifying and owning their own expertise. Do you recognize yourself as an expert? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting newsletter, "Rogue Speak."

This week's topic is "Muted Voices."

This episode: Three heretics walk into a podcast . . . it's not the opening line of a joke -- it's this week's topic! I'm joined by two governance experts, Michael Butera and Michael Wyland, to talk about why we need to eliminate the Executive Committee. It's an ancient mechanism that is no longer necessary. Whoa! Did we actually say that? Yes we did and we make a great argument that you will want to hear. We share heretical positions in other areas of nonprofit management too so listen in to this rousing discussion of things we don't usually say out loud -- but should! What do you think needs to change about governance? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting newsletter, "Rogue Speak."

This week's topic is Showing Appreciation.

This episode: For the professional society and trade association model, membership is why we exist. Without a strong member experience, there cannot be successful outcomes. My guest John Lingerfelt, CAE, a membership expert, shares his insights on why membership is central to the organization and how a member-focused approach increases the value proposition for every segment of your member community. We discuss why personas are crucial to understanding member needs, how we can get the Board of Directors involved, and why C-Suite leaders need to send the message that membership is EVERYONE's job. Most importantly, we clarify what membership is NOT. How do you create a valuable member experience? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting newsletter, "Rogue Speak."

This week's topic is Making Peace.