This episode: It's the first episode of the New Year and we have an in-depth conversation about the need for Association Meeting Professionals to be included in strategy. While many of us might consider Meeting Professionals to be "the folks that get the coffee to the breaks" they do much more than feed us onsite. Their contributions are key to the success of the organization in fulfilling its mission. What do you think? Are Meeting Professionals tacticians or strategists? Share a comment! And don't forget to subscribe - you don't want to miss an episode!

This episode: Social entrepreneurship is becoming an alternative to "big government" solutions to social issues in our communities. Rather than government handling everything, inspired individuals see people in need in their communities and find a way to help. Our guest, Nyasha Gwatidzo, describes herself as a "serial social-preneur" -- she has created several organizations to help children in her community and is also a mentor to up and coming social-preneurs. Learn more about this method for making our planet a better place to live by listening to this introduction to social entrepreneurship. What do you think of this approach to addressing social challenges? Share a comment!

This episode: How often do you think about the future? Planning is key to being prepared, but how do you prepare to plan? The Preferred Futures Approach takes environmental scanning to the next level.  If you are not familiar with this approach to planning, you will learn a lot in this conversation with Cheryl Ronk, an executive search consultant who uses preferred futures in helping organizations find their future leaders. Whether or not you are a fan of T.H. White's "The Once and Future King," you will enjoy this wide-ranging discussion about helping Boards lead their organizations forward. What is your approach to planning? Share a comment!

This episode: The last two years have been, shall we say, "different" when it comes to conferences and in-person events. Associations found a way to cope and move forward, especially in 2021. As we near the end of the year and look to 2022, we talk with conference expert Paul Miller about conferences in 2021, what we did to adapt and move forward, and what 2022 has in store for us as we apply all the lessons we learned together. What learning is your organization taking forward in 2022? Share a comment! 

This episode: We talk with technology expert Miguel Neves about technology trends and how these are impacting the way we work, interact, and connect. Miguel gives us his expert view on how 2020 changed our lives in 2021, what we learned about ourselves, and what we are taking forward with us into the new year. The most important thing about this conversation? Miguel talked about people, not hardware or software. In your opinion, what was the biggest impact from a life driven by technology last year and this year? What did you learn about yourself and others? Share a comment!

This episode: We talk with guest Leann Shepp of the American Bankers Association about the impact of Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) on Trade Associations and the communities they serve. Not only does it impact the number of members a trade association has, it impacts the daily life of people in their neighborhoods. Why? M&A can create food deserts, pharmacy deserts, and even service deserts (looking for an ATM? You may not find one). Leann shares her insights and gives advice on how associations can respond to industry M&A through collaborations with other organizations with similar interests and how associations can support their member companies in their continued efforts with community involvement. Has M&A impacted your association? Share a comment!

This episode: What Associations Can Learn from Government Relations! Returning guest Kevin Cuff, a former association executive currently working for the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, shares what he has learned from his experiences working in government relations. He discusses associations' impact on policy, public affairs, and how associations continue to have a role in educating the public and decision makers at every level of government. What do you think? Do you agree with Kevin? Share a comment!

This episode: One of the most important jobs a Chief Staff Executive (CSE) does is partner with their Board of Directors. When you are new to the job and the organization, what steps can you take to help your Board move in the right direction? Our guest Sharon Kneebone, CAE, FASAE, Executive Director of the National Society of Histotechnology (NSH) shares her experiences working with a variety of Boards and how she helped the NSH Board move towards their goals and adapt to a changing world. What challenges have you seen working with nonprofit boards? Share a comment!

It's Monday! Time for another episode of "Chatting with Agnes & Cecilia: Nonprofit Conversations." One of our regular guests, Wendy Toyama, shares her experiences and insights on Diversity Programs within the nonprofit world. Wendy is a past member of the ASAE Diversity Committee and continues her work on Diversity programs as an Executive Director. It can't be a "one and done" approach; there needs to be long-term commitment to a dynamic program that is responsive to the world in which we live. This will make some people uncomfortable but if we want to grow we must leave our comfort zones. What is your view of diversity programs in the nonprofit community? Share your comments. https://bit.ly/ChattingDiversityPrograms

This episode: I talk with Moira Edwards, President of Ellipsis Partners, about the scanning, planning, implementing, and evaluating of nonprofit organization technology systems. Are you delighting your members? Can your staff easily accomplish what they need to do to serve members? What is your "tech debt"? Moira walks us through the questions we should ask and boosts our confidence in keeping our technology ecosystem healthy and balanced. Yes you can keep your technology humming along! What do you think? Share a comment.