Episode 283: Radio Free 501c kicks off AANHPI month early with the first of three episodes celebrating and recognizing Asian American, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. We continue our trend of first-time guests with two people who are advocates for the Hmong Community: Nou Vang and KaYing Yang. They are part of the group that worked with the Smithsonian Institution to organize a one-day film festival, "50 Years of Southeast Asian American Journeys." The Vietnam War had a wide-ranging impact that also reached into Laos and Cambodia. Many of the people fled for their lives and became refugees, forced to flee their homes due to forces they could not control. After spending years in refugee camps, Southeast Asians migrated to countries around the world including Australia, the United States, and parts of Europe. Nou and KaYing speak honestly about their experiences as Hmong refugees who were part of families that came to the United States to make a different life. We all need to know this story and understand the journeys of Southeast Asians in America and the contributions they make to our society. Do you have questions about the Hmong people and their community? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting e-newsletter, Rogue Speak.

This week's topic: Does being a member qualify you to work at the association?

Episode 282: USAE News supports our podcast every month so we are pleased to welcome Todd McElwee, Associate Publisher at USAE, as our guest! Giving new meaning to the phrase "a word from our sponsor," he tells great stories and shares wonderful advice about communicating association activities. A reporter who covers a variety of events, Todd shares his tips for building relationships over time and why he encourages you to talk to the reporters from USAE. How many skeletons does he expose in this conversation? And did Cecilia really dance with a hooker? There's only one way to find out . . . Do you have a fond memory of USAE News? Share a comment!

The author reads her message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting e-newsletter, "Rogue Speak.

This week's topic: Are Serial CSEs Part of the Problem?

Off the cuff commentary from Cecilia Sepp

Episode 281: We rely on Chief Staff Executives (CSEs) to lead the organization in partnership with the Board of Directors. As exciting, challenging, and fulfilling this job can be, it is also a stressful and lonely job too. Working in isolation can lead to depression, additional stress, sleep disruption, and even thoughts of self harm. In this episode, two CSEs, Adam Levy, CAE, of the American Cleft-Palate Association, and Silvia Quevedo, CAE, of Lamaze International, share the results of a study done among CSEs about sustaining their health on all levels. This important conversation needs to continue and with the leadership of the study authors: Adam, Silvia, Lindsay Currey, CAE, and Tara Puckey, CAE, our community can look forward to increasing support for all CSEs. If you want to be a CSE or you already have or had the job, you'll find this honest conversation will get you thinking. How do you stay healthy as a staff leader? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting e-newsletter "Rogue Speak."

This week's topic: Consultants Need Professional Development Too

Episode 280: If you work in associations, you know that things need to change. There's too much "that's the way it is" and not enough "what if?" Continuing our trend of first-time guests, I'm pleased to share this episode featuring Juan Sanchez, CIO, Inteleos, and our conversation about Associations & Collaborative Abundance. He is a big thinker and pushes the boundaries on what we do and why we do it. We talk about free radical participation, value fluid monetization, co-creation infrastructure, and of course, dynamic governance models, because how can you talk about associations without talking about governance? Expand your mind with these not crazy ideas! Do you think your association creates scarcity? Share a comment!

The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting e-newsletter, "Rogue Speak."

This week's topic: And Then There Were 6.

Episode 279: We close out Ethics Awareness Month with our second episode featuring a fellow member of the ASAE Ethics Committee. Richard Shermanski, Esq. is an expert in ethics law and programs and he writes extensively on this topic. In this episode, we discuss Association Ethical Complaint Procedures and the many considerations that go into creating, managing, and implementing these programs. Richard talks about "the ripeness of complaints," external and internal issues related to ethics complaints, and why we need to be transparent about how the programs are handled. There is so much in this episode a summary cannot do it justice -- it's worth your time to listen or watch. What is on your mind about ethical complaint procedures? Share a comment!