The Belgian Society of Association Executives (BSAE) was started to empower association managers and enhance the professionalism and sustainability of associations. The BSAE aims to recognize association management as a profession and provide networking and educational opportunities to association executives to help them lead their associations effectively. There are approximately 700 trade and professional associations in Belgium employing around 3,000 full-time workers, demonstrating the economic and social importance of associations.

1. Promoting the
Belgian Society of
Association Executives
Marc Mestdagh
Coordinator BSAE
(V4.0 – 1/12/2013)
http://www.bsae.be

2. Associations are
“Associations are the hidden glue of our society
and economy. Like the mortar that holds the
bricks of a building in place, associations go
largely unnoticed, yet they do much to hold
the entire structure together. As such,
associations cannot settle for being only good,
they must work toward greatness.”
(7 Measures of Success, What do Remarkable Associations do that others don’t,
ASEA, 2006)
http://www.bsae.be

3. In Belgium
Association management is largely unknown
Association professional is not really a job
Association management services (e.g. provided
by AMC’s) are scarcely available
Association’s staff are in general small (except
for the big multisectoral organizations)
Associations are not recognized to be that
important as such…
http://www.bsae.be

4. Nevertheless
There are approx. 700 Belgian trade and
professional associations
Providing jobs to approx. 3000 FTE
[Note: in Brussels –the EU-capital there are
approx. 2000 EU/INT associations/delegations
with 10.000 FTE active, along with 15.000
lobbyists]
http://www.bsae.be

5. But…
We live in challenging times, and associations
can play an important role, despite of:
• The overall complexity of our society
• The information overload and the huge
impact of the internet (e.g. social media)
• The increasing number of stakeholders
(including competition, self-organization, light
groups)
http://www.bsae.be

6. Associations have to adapt
Old school thinking leads to protectionism,
immobility and vulnerability
“Professionals see the World through a lens created by
other members of their profession” (C.Shirky)
Associations have to OPEN up, embracing the
new socio-economic dynamics, working
towards a sustainable, humanized society !
http://www.bsae.be

7. We need
Professional associations led and staffed by
remarkable association managers
• Well-educated, always learning (CPD)
• Flexible, creative, hyperconnected
• Skilled coordinator, transparant
communicator, capable thought leader
http://www.bsae.be

8. We therefore started
The Belgian Society of Association Executives,
with a simple mission statement:
Empowering
association executives
http://www.bsae.be

9. Our main objectives are to
• Empower association managers to turn them
into respected ‘captains of associations’
through networking, knowledge-sharing and
education
• Enhance the professionalism and
sustainability of the associations they work in
• Emphasize the economic and social
importance of professional societies and trade
organizations for society as a whole
http://www.bsae.be

10. By means of (amongst others)
• BSAE meet-ups with members (knowledge
sharing events, with high-level speakers)
• Annual BSAE-congress
• Outreach to other societies (ASAE, ESAE,
VPN,…)
• Sectorlink Magazine: print/electronic
newsletter for the BSAE-members
http://www.bsae.be

11. Contact me
Marc Mestdagh, Coordinator
+32 (9) 233 48 66
marc@bsae.be
BSAE vzw
Kortrijksesteenweg 1007
B-9000 GENT (BELGIUM)
http://www.bsae.be

12. Associations embracing a
long term sustainable and
social future need awesome
association managers
http://www.bsae.be