Welcome back to The A100 podcast! In this episode, host Colleen Gallagher sits down with Sean Luechtefeld, Ph.D., CAE, Vice President of Membership & Communications at ANCOR (American Network of Community Options and Resources). Sean returns to the podcast to share valuable insights into the unique challenges and strategies in the world of association management, particularly in the areas of membership and communications.

Key Highlights:

Balancing Dual Roles: Sean discusses the complexities of balancing his dual roles in membership and communications, offering practical advice on how to prioritize tasks and manage a broad scope of responsibilities in a small-staff environment. He emphasizes the importance of surrounding yourself with a talented team and being realistic about what can be achieved.

Advocacy and Active Listening: Sean highlights the significance of active listening in advocacy communications. He shares how ANCOR ensures that the voices of their members—organizations serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities—are heard at the federal level. By understanding and acting on member feedback, ANCOR effectively supports its members in their advocacy efforts.

Adapting Communications in a Changing Landscape: In a rapidly evolving media environment, Sean explains how ANCOR tailors its communications strategy to address ongoing challenges such as workforce recruitment and retention. He discusses the importance of seizing opportunities that arise from challenges and aligning messaging with current events and broader societal issues.

Navigating Social Media Channels: Sean dives into the ongoing discussions within ANCOR about the best ways to engage with different social media platforms. He explores the challenges of adapting to changing user behaviors and the importance of focusing on platforms that offer the most value in reaching target audiences, such as members, lawmakers and journalists.

Looking Ahead: Sean shares his thoughts on the future of membership engagement and communications within associations. He emphasizes the need to shift from selling membership benefits to promoting the overall experience of membership, creating tailored experiences that resonate with diverse member needs.

Join us as Sean Luechtefeld offers actionable strategies and deep insights into effectively managing communications and membership in associations, making this episode a must-listen for association professionals.

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