Board of Directors
WSAE announces the 2018-2019 Board
Look who is already hard at work planning a meaningful and productive year for WSAE members in 2019 and beyond. Please feel free to contact any of them with your thoughts and ideas!









Chair of the Board









Chair-elect
Metropolitan Builders Association









Secretary/Treasurer
Wisconsin Broadcasters Association









Past Chair of the Board
Wisconsin Realtors Association









Industry Partner 
Director (2018-21)
Stevens Point Area CVB









Director (2016-19)
League of Wisconsin Municipalities









Director (2017-20)
Experimental Aircraft Association









Director (2018-19)
ConferenceDirect









Director (2018-21)

Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association









Director (2018-2021)
Executive Director, Inc









Director (2016-19)
National Fluid Power Association









Young Professional
Director (2018-19)
ACEC WI
Membership
Renew your membership for 2019 
2019 WSAE membership dues renewals will be open soon. We thank you in advance for your prompt attention and processing. Please keep in mind the organizational membership levels - we are happy to discuss the structure and additional benefits for your organization. Contact Christina McCoy or call the office at (608) 310-7850 with any questions.  Here's to a new year of doing great work together! 

Partnership
2019 Partner Package information is available!
WSAE is once again making it easy for you to enjoy more exposure by offering sponsorship packages that include event recognition and advertising-together! You'll notice a variety of sponsorship levels to help fit your needs and goals. Review the 2019 Partnership Prospectus. Plan now and secure your spots for 2019! 

Hurry! 
To fully take advantage of all Partner Package benefits, reserve yours by December 1, 2018!
Upcoming Events
Webinars
As a CAE-Approved Provider, WSAE provides webinars that meet the professional development requirements needed to earn or maintain the Certified Association Executive credential. 

Thursday, November 29, 2018 from 12:30 PM-1:30 PM (CT) 

Wednesday, December 5, 2018 from 12:30 PM-1:30 PM (CT)

Monday, December 10, 2018 from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM (CT) 


WSAE webinars are worth 1 CAE credit each.
Webinar topic ideas?
Do you have a great topic for a WSAE webinar, or know a potential speaker who would be interested in presenting? Contact Michelle Czosek  with your ideas!
2019 Executive Exchange 
2019 Spring Outing
WSAE Summit
We had a great 2018 Summit!
Thanks to everyone who was able to join us October 29-30 at The Overture Center in Madison. View photos on Facebook.
Congratulations again to this year's WSAE Award winners, shown here with WSAE President/CEO Michelle Czosek (center).  From left to right, Brenda Taylor, AIA Wisconsin (Visionary Award), Sherry Budziak, .orgSource (Visionary Award), Michelle, Tara Withington, Executive Director, Inc (Association Leadership Award) and Erica Halmstad, National Fluid Power Association (Young Professional Award).
Join us next year!

CLICK ADS FOR MORE INFO

Member News
Bucky on Parade finale party raises money for local charities
The Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau held their  Bucky on Parade finale party on September 29 at the Kohl Center, bringing to a close the four-month public art phenomenon that captured the imagination of people throughout Dane County and beyond. Hundreds of guests enjoyed a spirited evening of music, food, drink and a live auction of 21 uniquely designed Bucky Badger statues. The live auction raised more than $600,000 for a number of local charities, including Garding Against Cancer. Bucky on Parade, which featured 85 originally designed Bucky Badger statues on display throughout the Greater Madison area, represented a collaboration between the Madison Area Sports Commission, the Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau and the University of Wisconsin.
Set of 13 experiences now available to visitors of greater Madison
From cocktail secrets to mustard mysteries, State Street sights to sassy cows, the Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) has been hard at work addressing the need for tourism offerings that go beyond typical sightseeing. Now, the GMCVB invites visitors to fully immerse themselves in hands-on adventure with Essential Madison Experiences, a collection of brand new, only-in-Madison experiences. 

Developed in partnership with the GMCVB, nine Dane County businesses created one or more authentic experiences to take meeting and convention groups behind-the-scenes of favorite attractions and showcase the best that the greater Madison area has to offer. Experiences include: 
  • Bitters Boot Camp - Avenue Club & Bubble Up Bar 
  • Build a Wisconsin Cheese Board - The Madison Concourse Hotel & Governor's Club 
  • Paint Madison with Wheelhouse Studios, Paddle to the Point, Winter Walk with Wisconsin Union (three separate experiences) - Wisconsin Union 
  • Mustard Bites: A Tasteful Adventure - National Mustard Museum 
  • Distillery Tour - Death's Door Distillery 
  • Stroll Down State - Capital City Food Tours 
  • Garden to Glass: Totally Tropical - Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Launching Spring 2019: 
  • Meet the Sassy Cows - Sassy Cow Creamery 
  • Gardens to Glass: Iconic Olbrich Botanical Gardens - Olbrich Botanical Gardens 
  • A Betty Lou View of Madison - Betty Lou Cruises
Brag a little bit - Let us help spread your good news!
Did your property recently complete a renovation? Did you launch a new product or service for associations? Perhaps you received a promotion or industry recognition? Let us know! We love to help spread good news related to our industry partner members. Please send your brags to Michelle Czosek .

Professional Development
CAE Prep
WSAE partners with the Michigan Society of Association Executives (MSAE) to offer CAE preparation courses that incorporate study guides, reading comprehension questions, flashcards and practice tests. 

MSAE is offering their Member Rate to WSAE members, which represents a $100 savings. Also, please ensure that you notify MSAE of your WSAE membership - WSAE receives 10%! 

Learn more about earning your CAE or download the course brochure. With different course tracks, there is an option to fit every level of preparedness. 

In addition to CAE prep courses, MSAE also offers a virtual prep course to prepare for the CMP examination
Connected Community

DISCUSSION FORUM

Does your association use MemberClicks?
Our association uses MemberClicks for our database/website. We are wondering if there are other associations in the Madison-area using it, as well. We wonder if there would be interest in occasional user meetings to help our organizations maximize the benefits of this software. 
Finance committee structure
I have a question about association policy as it relates to the organization's Finance Committee. According to my association's bylaws, the Executive Committee is made of the Board President, Vice President, Past President, Treasurer and Secretary. The Policy & Procedure manual defines the Finance Committee as the Board President, Vice President, Past President, Treasurer, Secretary and three (3) association members. As a result, the two primary committees charged with providing financial checks and balances are essentially the same. 

This is the fifth association that I have had the honor of serving. Every association client that I've served and all of the best practice articles that I've read, insist that a firewall between the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee should be created by populating each group with different people. 

Is anyone aware of any official guideline from the IRS or other non-profit governing body that I could use to influence a change?
Motivational speaker
The Tavern League of Wisconsin (TLW) has two conventions a year and a League Leaders Day that we are always looking for speakers for. Jason Kotecki with Escape Adulthood was recently recommended to us and I am looking for referrals or feedback if any of you have experience with his presentations. 

Careers
Career Headquarters highlights

National Funeral Directors Association 
Brookfield 

Sales Manager
Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau
Wisconsin Dells

Committee & Membership Outreach Manager
Executive Director Inc.
Milwaukee
Looking for a career change? Let us help.
Follow us on Twitter ( WSAEtweets ) to receive a notification every time a new career opportunity is posted to the WSAE Career Headquarters.
Legislative
DC hearing targets DOL's AHP rule
The DC Council is considering legislation that would prohibit fully-insured "large group" association health plans (AHPs) from operating in the nation's capital. The bill, titled the "Health Insurance Marketplace Improvement Act of 2018," is largely in response to new rules from the Department of Labor that expand association health plans and short-term health plans as options for small business owners and independent contractors.
House Dems to scrutinize 2017 tax law
After Democrats won the House in this month's elections, House Ways and Means Democrats are preparing for a series of hearings on the 2017 tax law early next year. Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA), likely to be the next chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, wants changes to the GOP's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) focused on a possible increase in the corporate tax rate and greater tax relief for the middle class.
DOL proposes association retirement plans
The Department of Labor announced on October 22 proposed rulemaking to make it easier for small businesses to offer retirement benefits to their employees through association retirement plans (ARPs). Under the proposal, ARPs could be operated by trade associations in a city, county, state or multi-state metropolitan area, or in a particular industry nationwide.
Spate of violence prompts ASAE statement
As authorities continue to investigate a wave of pipe bombs mailed to prominent Democratic political figures and celebrities, ASAE released a statement today from President and CEO John Graham condemning political violence. "Political violence and intimidation have no place in our democracy, which provides equal protections of human rights, civil liberties and political freedom for all people," Graham said.

VantagePoint Magazine
Picture yourself an author!
If you are interested in authoring an article for VantagePoint,w e would love to hear any article ideas that you may have.  Bonus - you can earn CAE credits toward your certification renewal!

Please see WSAE's Call for Authors web page for more information. Contact Kristin McGuine ( kmcguine@wsae.org ) with any questions. 

STAY CONNECTED: