Holiday Greetings
Thank you for a great 2019!
As association professionals and others that serve the industry, we do important work, and together we have a huge impact. It is invaluable that we are able to learn from and support each other, through relationships developed.

In the upcoming issue of  VantagePoint magazine, WSAE Chair Kathy Raab encourages all members to do  just one thing to get more involved, to get more out of your membership both personally and professionally. 

With a new year upon us and a new WSAE board in place, it is a great time to reach out and provide feedback and contribute your thoughts and ideas. A sincere thank you to our leaders, volunteers and members who have shaped WSAE into a successful and thriving family of members. WSAE continues to grow, and with each new member, we gain additional view points and perspectives, contributing to an increasingly dynamic association. These are extraordinary times for us as association professionals! Let's welcome and embrace the New Year, with all the challenges and rewards it will certainly bring.
Membership Renewals
Renew your membership for 2020
2020 membership dues renewals are open. We thank you in advance for your prompt attention and processing. If you have not made payment yet, all current memberships* expire on 12/31/2019.  Log in today to make payment under "My Transactions." 

Please keep in mind the organizational membership levels if you have multiple people within your organization interested in WSAE membership. We are happy to discuss the structure and additional benefits for your organization. Contact Suzanna Hogendorn, or call the office at (608) 310-7850, with any questions. 

Here's to a new year of doing great work together! 
Save the Date - WSAE Roadshow
Plan to join us!
WSAE will hold its annual Roadshow programming on these dates:
          • Monday, March 16, in Milwaukee
          • Tuesday, March 17, in Madison
The Roadshow will feature Laura Fredericks , JD. She is the Billion Dollar ASK Maker Powerhouse, who as CEO and Founder of THE ASK© trains and coaches individuals, nonprofits and businesses on How to ASK and GET exactly what you want. More details will be coming soon, but for now, please save the date!
New! Member Resources
WSAE joining new real-time compensation benchmarking opportunity
New program expected to launch the week of Jan. 6
WSAE, in partnership with the Association Societies Alliance (ASA) and Dynamic Benchmarking, LLC, is participating in the ASA Real-Time Compensation Benchmarking program, a new online compensation survey and benchmarking platform for executives of professional, trade and service-centric associations and nonprofits.

The new data gathering and reporting platform, powered by Dynamic Benchmarking, is the next evolution of the biennial Association Executive Compensation & Benefits Survey, which ASA has conducted since 2013.

ASA expects to open the online survey in January 2020 with initial reportable data expected to be available for users to access and download as soon as Q2 in 2020. To encourage participation in and demonstrate the value of the new program, throughout 2020 ASA will provide participating associations with free access to all data reports.

Participation in the survey itself will always be free, and beginning in 2021, 365/24/7 access to the real time data will be available with an annual subscription expected to be priced competitively with the rates most associations have been paying for the previous static biennial Compensation & Benefits Survey.

Questions? Check out our FAQs! And watch our compensation benchmarking webpage for more info as it becomes available.
Make better-informed strategic decisions with discounted resources
WSAE has begun an exciting partnership with 2019 Summit presenter  Association Laboratory , a full-service research and strategy company that serves trade and professional associations, to offer an exclusive 25% discount to WSAE Members on  industry white papers, webinars, and events

Industry topics and resources offered through Association Laboratory include the following:
  • Futures Research - Looking Forward™ environmental scan resources including this free 2019 Executive Summary
  • Strategic Leadership, Governance, & Planning - Creating and Sustaining a Strategic Board and Building a Leadership Pipeline
  • Membership - Membership and Engagement and Engaging Younger Association Professionals
  • Content - Content Strategy 101 and Introduction to Creating and Sustaining and Association Content Strategy
  • Meetings - Planning for the Meetings of Tomorrow
  • Components - The Future of Component Relations
  • Global - Global Engagement Strategy
2020 Partnerships
Annual partner packages available
We welcome an average of ten new members monthly, on top of a steady base that enjoys a 93% retention rate. This means that sponsors and advertisers have the opportunity to continually make new contacts while building on the relationships they have already established.

We are once again making it easy for you to maximize your exposure through sponsorship packages that include event recognition and advertising bundled together! We offer a variety of sponsorship levels to help fit your needs and goals. Review the 2020 Partnership Prospectus. Plan now and secure your spots for 2020!

Hurry -  To fully take advantage of all Partner Package benefits, reserve yours today!
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. 
Wednesday, January 8, 2020 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM (CT) 

Wednesday, February 5, 2020 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM (CT) 

Wednesday,  February 19, 2020 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 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!
CLICK ADS FOR MORE INFO
Professional Development
Scholarships for Institute for Organization Management available
WSAE is again proud to partner with Institute for Organization Management, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's professional development program for non-profit executives, and offer four $500 partial tuition scholarships to one of Institute's 2020 sites. The four scholarships, available to our members, will be awarded to students attending Institute for the first time to assist with enrollment fees and cannot be combined with any other Institute scholarships. Please note, this can be combined with the Premier Investor Discount (PID) and/or Group Rate.  

For almost 100 years, Institute has educated association, chamber, and other nonprofit leaders across the country through its national program, highly rated curriculum and high-caliber instructors. Thousands of executives have attended Institute sites across the country to strengthen their management skills, learn industry best practices and gain a broad national perspective from peers. Institute has helped them build stronger organizations, become stronger business advocates and better serve their members. In addition, you will earn points towards your CCE or CAE as Institute's curriculum is directly tied to the bodies of knowledge of both industry certifications.  

Upon completion of the Institute program, graduates receive the IOM recognition which allows them to use the letters "IOM" in public mention and professional correspondence. The IOM recognition signifies the completion of 96 hours of course instruction in nonprofit management and commitment to the industry. 

If you are interested in this scholarship opportunity, contact Michelle Czosek (mczosek@wsae.org) by March 27, 2020, for Midwest Institute (offered June 7-11 in Madison, WI). For more information about Institute's curriculum, sites, and dates, visit the Institute web site and Prospective Student Toolkit to help gain insight into the program.
CAE and CMP exam 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.  
 
Learn more about earning your CAE or download the course schedule. 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

Call for VantagePoint authors
As experienced association professionals, what knowledge are you able to share with your WSAE colleagues? What trends are you seeing in the industry? What education can you, as industry partners, provide? Consider authoring an article for VantagePoint, WSAE's quarterly magazine publication! We would love to hear any article ideas that you may have. Plus, you can earn CAE credits toward your certification renewal.

Please see WSAE's Call for Authors page for more information. We also have open spots on the Editorial Council if you are interested in joining us! 
Contact Kristin McGuine with any questions.

Review the current issue of VantagePoint at www.wsae.org > Resources > VantagePoint Archive.
Anyone can post to WSAE's Featured Articles blog!
If you are posting content in your organization's own blog, consider posting it to WSAE's blog as well! Simply go to www.wsae.org, scroll down until you see "Featured Articles" and click "More" at the button of the column. When the new page loads, click on the green "Create a New Blog Post" button.
Member News
Welcome new members 
  • Noonie Aguilar, DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau 
  • Erik Burns, EDD, MA, MBAAmerican Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists 
  • Michael Doers, Town Bank 
  • Katie Neubauer, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry 
  • Janine Osborne, The Ridge
  • Jaime Voss, Town Bank 
  • Jim West, Town Bank
Association Acumen achieves fourth AMCI accreditation
Association Acumen, a full-service association management company based in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, was recently re-accredited by the Association Management Company Institute (AMCI). Among 500-plus Association Management Companies (AMCs) worldwide, only 81 have achieved AMCI accreditation (16%), demonstrating the commitment and the ability to deliver the highest level of professional management services to association clients. AMCI is the global trade association for the association management industry. AMC Institute Accreditation is recognized and supported by the American Society for Association Executives and is based on the American National Standards Institute Standard of Good Practices for the AMC Industry. 

In order to become re-accredited, Association Acumen had to undergo a stringent evaluation by an independent auditor, who reviewed its operating policies and procedures onsite. Originally accredited in 2008 and then re-accredited in 2011 and 2015, Association Acumen continues to demonstrate proficiency in areas like client contracts, financial controls, insurance requirements, employee selection, evaluation and training, subcontracting and record keeping. Keeping quality high is mandatory, since AMCs must earn re-accreditation every four years.
AMPED adds the American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants to client portfolio
AMPED Association Management, an accredited full-service association management company with offices in Middleton, WI; Metro Washington, DC; and Glenwood Springs, CO, has been selected by the American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAAA®) to manage their operations. 

AAAA, the national organization dedicated to the ethical advancement of the Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant (CAA) profession, provides advocacy and promotion of the Anesthesia Care Team in order to achieve the highest level of excellence in patient care. As its partner, AMPED will bring extensive association experience and provide full management services, including leadership, strategic planning, governance, advocacy, membership development, meeting planning, financial management, and communications. AMPED's Michael Battaglia will serve as AAAA's Executive Director, based in Washington, D.C. "We are thrilled to work with AAAA to better serve the profession and help tell a more compelling story about why anesthesiologist assistants are important members of the Anesthesia Care Team," Battaglia said. "AMPED's culture, technology and operational efficiency are strengths that we see as the perfect complement to this growing association. We look forward to working closely with AAAA members and volunteers to help CAAs realize their full professional potential."
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. Please note that there is no additional cost to this promotion - It is included as a benefit of your WSAE membership.
Connected Community
Tax exemption for 501(c) 6
Have any of you successfully applied for tax exempt status in Florida or Colorado for your conferences? What process did you follow? Did it have ramifications for sales tax nexus? Join the conversation.
On-site name badges
What printing device is your org using for on-site name tag printing these days? We've got a printer that's ready for the trash and would like to know what cost-effective solutions are being used by other event organizers. Join the conversation.
Legislative News
2020 American Associations Day on the Hill
Join ASAE in Washington, D.C., on March 19-20, 2020, to participate in American Associations Day, the only legislative fly-in for association professionals. From tax reform to defending association meetings, there is no shortage of issues that threaten the association community. There has never been a more important time to showcase our value to society.  It is critical that we share with Congress The Power of A message: associations make the world smarter, safer, and better every day. Because if they don't know, how will they stand up for us? 

Join us to learn about association policy issues and to get valuable face time with colleagues from your home state, association CEOs, the ASAE Board of Directors, and other leaders in the association community. Together we can show Congress the power of associations. You don't need to have a background in government relations to join! 

There is no registration fee for this event. Additionally, a scholarship is available for attendees from outside the DC-metro area. This event also includes 3.5 CAE credit hours. 
Congress passes repeal of nonprofit employee benefits tax
After a two-year advocacy and grassroots campaign by ASAE and the UBIT Coalition, Congress repealed a section of the 2017 tax law that required associations and other tax-exempt organizations to pay UBIT on employee benefits such as parking and transportation.
Six important legal developments of 2019
Several legislative and regulatory developments that emerged in 2019 reshaped the legal landscape for associations. Here's a brief overview of six important changes.
How California's gig economy law could reshape your freelancer pool
While intended to target services such as Uber and Lyft, the added restrictions of California Assembly Bill 5 could create challenges for associations that rely on freelance help.
ASAE Urges Government to Halt Sale of .ORG Registry
ASAE has asked the federal government to intercede and stop the pending sale of the .ORG domain registry to the private equity firm Ethos Capital LLC. In late November, Public Interest Registry said it reached an agreement to be acquired by Ethos for an undisclosed price.
Don't ignore the debate on this landmark Internet law
In an age of misinformation and conflict, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a key rule of the Internet era, is at the center of a major political debate. But any changes could create liability headaches for site operators.

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