It’s time to get ready for the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Annual Meeting & Exposition in Cleveland, Ohio, because August 10-13, 2024 will be here before we know it!
The ASAE annual meeting is full of energy, fresh ideas, and interesting people. It’s a great place to make new connections and perhaps find answers to the questions that keep you up at night.
It’s tempting to take a running start and dive into everything the meeting has to offer, but your energy may fade before the closing event if you try to experience everything. Although it’s fun, total immersion may not be your best option.
We recommend you devise a personal strategy to manage the various events, panels, workshops, and networking opportunities available during the meeting.
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Planning for the ASAE Annual Meeting
By planning and prioritizing, you can attend the most important (or interesting) sessions on the schedule, make sure that you’re available to participate in key activities, or arrange to meet someone you’d like to get to know.
Additionally, a plan lets you manage your time more effectively and reduce the stress of last-minute decisions. It also can help you navigate a large venue. After all, everyone wants to know the quickest route to the next coffee break.
With so much to offer, we have found that arriving at the meeting with a plan helps us focus on what’s most important, and we thought you might benefit from a tool that we’ve found helpful.
The American Society of Association Executives has developed the Attendee ROI Toolkit to help you plan and prioritize activities during the meeting. It can even help you develop a proposal to convince your boss that attending is a great idea.
The entire toolkit is helpful, but we’d like to comment on three questions whose answers we think will bring the most value:
- What problem or problems are you trying to solve?
- Whom would you like to meet?
- What was your “lightbulb” moment and key takeaway?
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What Problem or Problems Are You Trying to Solve?
Are you looking for a new AMS? Hoping to meet someone who can help you manage your data? Curious about new communications platforms and design options?
Whatever you need to accomplish, by the time you’re ready to look for a solution, you may have already defined the problem. So make sure the definition is specific, measurable, and actionable.
Chances are good that you’ve also conducted a root cause analysis using the 5 Whys or a SWOT analysis to understand the underlying causes of the problem. You’re probably not working alone, and you’ve engaged others to brainstorm solutions. Your time at the meeting may be to explore options with vendors or to narrow your choices by asking specific questions.
Your ultimate success will be based on the work you’ve done before the meeting, as well as finding the right partners to solve your problem. It all starts with being able to state the problem.
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Whom Would You Like to Meet?
When you know which exhibitors, speakers, or professionals will be at the meeting, you will be able to prepare questions, research their backgrounds, and set up meetings in advance.
We know people who only see each other at an annual meeting (not just the one for the American society of association executives), so they plan purely social dinners or coffees with small groups. Of course, after catching up, the conversation generally returns to association chatter.
Looking to hire a new CEO or fill a critical role? You’ll be able to query many association professionals about the process or interview pre-selected candidates. You also have a chance to interact during sessions, social time, or activities.
Speakers are usually on tight schedules, but sessions provide the perfect settings to ask questions.
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What Was Your “Lightbulb” Moment and Key Takeaway?
If the meeting targets your needs, you may have five or six great ideas or “lightbulb” moments – when you suddenly see your association or your career in a new light. But after the energy of the meeting fades, it’s often difficult to implement all the new ideas you have.
It’s easier to act on one key takeaway or lightbulb moment.
We like the discipline of narrowing our choices to one takeaway. Often the takeaway is a small concept that makes a huge difference, but sometimes it’s the key piece of the puzzle that changes everything. Whatever your takeaway is, you’ll have a better chance of realizing it if you can focus on just one idea.
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Here Are Our Suggestions for Great ASAE Events
With your plan in hand, you’re ready to think about the specifics of the convention. Here is our list of suggestions:
- Select the sessions that are the most interesting to you and arrive early. Sessions can “sell out” and with limited seating, you may miss out if you’re running late.
- Wear comfortable shoes and dress in layers.
- Enjoy meals with friends and stay hydrated.
- Plan a little downtime during the day to catch your breath.
- If this is your first ASAE annual meeting, be sure to pick up your “new-bee” badge. Veterans will be on the lookout for you. Take advantage of events designed to help you get to know other association pros.
- Be sure to visit the Exposition, even if you’re not actively looking for new vendors. You never know when great ideas might appear. Seeing the latest technology and solutions may answer a question you didn’t know you had.
- Ask questions.
- Be open to meeting new people.
- Use the meeting and exposition as learning experiences. Something you see here may spur you to change or add something at your own event.
- Come visit Dennison & Associates at Booth #241 in the Expo Hall. We’d love to see you!
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At Dennison & Associates, we want to help you determine what your technology needs are and how best to meet them. Contact us if you’d like to find out how.
