1. How Do Small Staffs Handle the Jack of All Trade Syndrome?
1. Utilize Technology
- Content Management Systems
- SAAS (Software As A Service) and other Hosted Solutions – voice mail, email,
database, etc.
- Cloud Computing
2. Utilize Members
- Members are your experts. Use them for content providers, updating your social
media, blogs, speakers, session leaders, advocates
- Recruiters – hire key members as independent contractors to grow membership.
Some might not even ask for pay and will do it for the recognition or for an all-
expense paid trip to the annual meeting for them and their spouse
3. Utilize the Resources of SCORE or ESC of the Triangle
- These groups offer free or low-cost consulting to assist non-profits and small
businesses (this would include a small association staff, right?)
4. Outsourcing
- Whether it your magazine, HR, web site, communications, etc. In some cases
outsourcing some tasks can save resources (time and money)
- PEO – Using a PEO (Professional Employer Organization) is a great way for an
association to save money on one of its greatest expenses – compensation and
benefits. For example, AENC uses an organization called Outstaffing, Inc. They
handle all the payroll, HR questions, benefit issues and employees can purchase
TRUE group insurance afforded to employers with over 25 employees.
5. AENC
- Not to toot the horn of AENC, but, we do have access to tons of resources that can be
made available to members at for little or no cost. We offer advice, assistance, and in
some cases, counseling, too.
6. Consultants/Vendors
- There are numerous consultants in the association profession who offer free
information about issues related to the profession. For example, Bob Harris, CAE,
offers a ton of valuable, free, information on his website – http://www.rchcae.com/
- There are numerous vendors in AENC than can be of great service to a small staff.
Whether is meeting planners, hotels, CVBs, CPAs, attorneys, etc., there are
numerous vendors who are experts and can help for little or no-cost.
7. Affinity Programs
- Some folks think of affinity programs as the logo credit card that returns about .05%
back to the association and that’s it. Well, affinity programs, if managed well, could not
truly serve a need of your membership and return revenue to the association. There is a
fine line on this. You want to make sure there truly is a need there. Many affinity
providers will promise you the moon and the stars and in the end, not really amount to
anything.