On December 17 - we will be at booth # 319 exhibiting the wonderful Holiday Showcase conference produced by the Association Forum at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago. This conference is a one-day trade show for Chicago’s huge association market that holds more than 1,400 attendees. These professional attendees come from all areas of association management.
Our memberplanet team is looking forward to present our powerful AMS that lets admins track activity, view reporting, and gain high-level organizational visibility - all in one place!
If you’re headed to Chicago - here are the top 5 things to check out while you’re there this holiday season:
Christkindlemarket - Daley Plaza, Loop This charming little outdoor Christmas market features international and local vendors with unique holiday gifts and delicious food and beverages. Don’t forget to check out their imported wine! Lincoln Park Zoo A 35-acre zoo founded in 1868 is the oldest zoo in North America and one of a few free admission zoos in the U.S. Enjoy a holiday experience at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Visit the City of Chicago Christmas Tree - Millennium Park Head over to gaze at this famous tree adorned with twinkling lights - and not too far from the Christkindlemarket. Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria It’s Chicago - must have pizza! Enjoy a slice of this famous deep-dish pizza that has locals naming it one of the best in town. Giordano’s Another delicious and famous deep-dish pizza that everyone must try is Giordano’s. A creation that began in Italy - this slice of heaven has been making news headlines for years.
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We are very proud to exhibit at the 2019 ASAE Technology Exploration Conference (TEC) in Washington, D.C. December 3-4. This two-day event will be tailored to reach the critical needs of a growing technology-driven community. ASAE TEC seeks to help technology professionals, and other professionals with roles or interest in digital and mobile solutions find the education, solutions, and connections they’re looking for.
As a pioneer in cloud-based membership management software, the memberplanet team is looking forward to demonstrate our robust AMS, reporting capabilities, and comprehensive solutions. Our flexible platform allows associations to connect to their existing database, technology partners, and custom workflows via powerful API integrations - resulting in a seamless and engaging user experience.
If you are attending #ASAETEC, please stop by booth #227 to learn more about our innovative solutions!
memberplanet is thrilled to be attending the 2019 Associations Component Exchange (CEX) forum organized by Billhighway on Friday, October 18th, in Washington, D.C. CEX is the only conference designed for component relations professionals. This event is a one-day forum for association professionals who manage, nurture, and work with components or chapters to share successes, struggles, and strategies. Cassie Braun and Chris O’ Meara from our team will be there to participate in educational sessions and collaborate around chapters. #LeverageChapters!
About memberplanet memberplanet helps components stay connected with association leaders - The platform is designed for a multi-level association with components. The AMS provides visibility over all chapters with consolidated, customizable reporting. Everything – from public-facing features to chapter website templates – adopts a nation level’s look and feel to maintain brand consistency. Build your online presence - Provide streamlined chapter websites with a member login and personalized member dashboard. Chapter-based associations can maintain branding consistency and control messaging with content management system (CMS) features for all their chapter sites, while empowering chapters to produce their own engaging content.
Alumni chapters and associations help maintain a vital connection between graduates, undergraduate members, and the university. It’s how those lifelong relationships are tended to and grown; they’re where opportunities can come from. However, if your daily tasks as an alumni chapter leader involve chasing down individuals for payments, searching through spreadsheets to check off who’s paid in a seemingly endless circle, it’s time for a dues program.
The world itself is nearly automated, and your alumni chapter should be the same. Committing to and selecting the right dues program should be easy – features are built in and turnkey, allowing alumni leaders to get started on Day 1. No longer having to do everything manually does more than save time and frustration, it allows you to focus on more vital goals of your alumni chapter, such as leadership and philanthropy. Check out these key benefits.
Integrated payments technology
A comprehensive dues program is much more than just money collection because it utilizes an integrated payments solution that ties together your online payment processing, your membership data, and administrative tasks – to get them working autonomously and in sync. This creates a more enhanced membership experience including a frictionless join and renewal process, which are critical to the year-over-year success of your alumni association. A major benefit is flexible collection periods. Alumni chapter leaders can select how often they collect dues online based on what works best for their chapter. Your chapter may prefer an annual collection, or your alumni association might require you to collect dues monthly; either way, you have the option to choose the frequency that best suits your chapter. Members benefit from the convenience of paying dues based on their join date. You no longer have rigid limitations of enrolling new members on a specific date, and a dues program can automatically send email reminders and bill everyone on schedule. Staying organized is a given. Administrative users can easily see which of their members have paid, check payment schedules, and identify those who are past due. Since membership data is synced and admin tasks can be automated, members who have missed the grace period for making a dues payment can be automatically made inactive or unable to receive member benefits. A modern and frictionless membership experience A dues program that really works will aid in the success of your alumni chapter. At every turn it provides options to help you grow, help you automate dues collection, and help you save time. Setting up multiple tiers of membership and varying prices is a standard feature. For example, leaders can offer a discounted rate for new graduates, as well as different prices for membership levels. Robust functionality makes it easier for you to manage membership, and in turn, allows you to offer flexibility and more options to attract new members. We have all grown accustomed to the convenience of subscription services in our everyday lives. Almost everything we pay for (Amazon, Netflix, cell phone, etc.) has an auto-pay option. Your alumni chapter should be one of them! The success of your alumni chapter increases greatly when the membership renewal experience is frictionless. A dues program allows you to offer auto-pay solutions, such as recurring payments and online payment options. Administrators can also expect to customize automated payment reminders with messaging and branding. As with any professional subscription service, a comprehensive dues program puts members in control of their own accounts with self-service tools. Members can set and forget payments with a credit card or choose to securely make payments directly from their bank account. They can also view their payment history, see scheduled payments, manage payment methods, or pay early. One of the less discussed but equally vital benefits of a dues management program is a credit card account updater service. This automatically prevents payment interruptions and minimizes declines, because the service updates your members’ card information on file. This helps maintain continuity of payments by staying on top of credit card changes due to card expirations and other occurrences.
Improved marketing
The technology of a dues program has positive effects on marketing – something alumni chapter leaders should take advantage of. Alumni chapters can place a link for members to sign in and complete payment on their website, social media, or anywhere else. More advanced programs simplify dues collection with multi-channel communication and feature-rich marketing tools. Alumni leaders can get the word out on multiple channels using email campaigns and group text messages; targeted distribution lists allow you to reach everyone on a particular membership level with one mass email that can be personalized for each member. The fact that the tools are integrated with membership allows admins to further segment and target members based on platform data. Integrated marketing tools should help leaders appeal to prospects as well in effectively communicating the value of joining the alumni association. A dues program’s broader benefits include bolstering engagement opportunities and philanthropic support for the university. Our solution Simplifying dues and membership is memberplanet’s specialty. While alumni chapter leaders have many dues programs to choose from, our integrated payments technology offers a more customized, automated, and seamless experience for every level of your fraternal organization. Our technology works behind the scenes, so all communications and even the member portal can be tailored to adopt your organization’s branding. Members see your message and brand front and center – not a third-party payment processor, which may come across as unprofessional. For more information on memberplanet’s dues program, please schedule a demo with the team. About Matt ArnoldAs our Vice President of Business Development, Matt is dedicated to serving member-based organizations and small to mid-sized associations. With over 10 years of experience wearing various leadership hats as an Alpha Tau Omega alumnus, Matt specializes in all fraternal organization matters. Whether a group is challenged with growing membership or struggling to engage members, he's got a solution. We understand how critical staff and officer transitions are. You, or whomever is showing incoming officers the ropes, have a short window of time to get them up to speed with the applications, reports, and standard operating procedures to manage your organization. We’ve further optimized the process to get new administrators access to the memberplanet admin portal, so they can jump into the platform, stat! Our most recent enhancements are below. Easily assign and activate administrative users in your organization
A full-access administrative user can assign any number of admins and activate their accounts utilizing a more simplified process. After assigning a member of your group to an admin role, the new admin must activate the account. The admin who is assigning the role can send the activation email with a click of a button. The new admin simply needs to access the email and click the Claim Account button to be given access to the admin portal. Learn more about creating and assigning admin roles. Bank verification enhancements The bank verification process to collect funds on the platform has been updated to allow for less user errors and secure document upload. The admin user who is adding a new bank account will need to enter routing and account numbers twice to confirm the entry. A copy of a valid government-issued ID is required to complete banking verification. The document can be uploaded to the platform as a PNG, JPG, or PDF format. View documentation of the full process: How to Add and Verify Your Bank Account.
memberplanet will be exhibiting its membership management software and fundraising solutions at the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) Annual Meeting of Members and Foundation for Fraternal Excellence's (FFE) Seminar, Aug. 11-14, 2019, in Indianapolis, IN.
Why Fraternal Foundations and Organizations Choose memberplanet:
We solve challenges for the fraternal community and empower them to manage members, engage supporters, and grow membership. Our 30+ national partnerships help us provide dynamic solutions for fraternal foundations and organizations: The Hub – provide a home for your members with easy-to-maintain, memberplanet-powered websites. The Hub maintains brand integrity across chapter templates, and members can log in to access self-service tools. Funds Multiplier – reach more people and raise more funds for any type of campaign. Fundraising and event microsite templates are easy to customize and promote with feature-rich marketing tools. Alumni Access – the platform provides both chapter and alumni leaders with the tools they need to grow membership. Promote networking, fundraising and events, and simplify dues collection to keep members active even after graduation. Fraternal leaders at headquarters can conveniently manage chapters, maintain brand consistency, gain financial transparency, and empower chapter and alumni leaders for success, all from the same platform. Visit the memberplanet booth or schedule a call with our team to learn how the platform can help your organization succeed.
memberplanet is exhibiting our association management software (AMS) at the 2019 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition August 10 - 13 in Columbus, Ohio!
Why associations choose memberplanet: Manage, engage, and grow your association with memberplanet’s powerful AMS. Track activity, view reporting, gain high-level organizational visibility – all in one spot – so your staff can spend less time on admin tasks and more time growing your association and driving value.
Save time and resources, increase productivity, and maintain brand integrity. Gain visibility over you entire organization with an integrated, cloud-based AMS!
Come to Booth #1550 to learn more!
Autumn is a great time; the leaves are changing, the days are growing shorter, and for many PTA leaders, that means fundraising events. From PTA-only events to community-wide fundraisers, you want them all to be as successful as possible. Managing and promoting your event online is the surest way to boost your turnout. It allows you to track RSVPs, collect funds, and follow up; you can also share an event page on social media to increase its visibility, and have your members do the same on their social media. It’s time to stop using Excel spreadsheets to track RSVPs, emailing maps and directions to attendees, and hoping that your flyers are seen. Follow these instructions for setting up your next fundraising event online, including personalizing it to your needs, adding RSVPs, and sharing it via social media. Create an event on memberplanet
3. Click Save & Customize Personalize your event page: Adding a personal touch to your upcoming fundraising event is a great way to boost excitement, and better establish a connection to your group. The more engaged members are in an event, the more successful it will be. 4. On the Event Page features list, select Customize With Videos, Images, & Other Content From here you can customize the following:
5. To edit each section, simply click on the section and make desired changes 6. When finished, hit Save & Close 7. To publish your event site, click the Publish Now button
Here’s how to create a clickable button to your event site, which you can share on an external site:
A shaded box will contain the HTML code for your button. 3. Copy the entire segment, and paste it into your website Send thank-you messages - they’re the cherry on top The thank-you message, regardless of its iteration, will always have a more powerful reach than fathomed. Volunteer leaders can create a personalized thank-you message that they set and forget, and it will automatically send when members RSVP to events. It’s worth spending a few minutes on this because it will consistently resonate with members and deepen their connection with the group.
This is where admins can craft a custom thank-you message. 4. Select the Save & Close button These event site features are designed for PTA leaders to make the most of their next PTA event as well as their time. Create larger turnouts, take advantage of simpler event management, and then reap the rewards, which will be passed directly to those who need them most: the students. PTA Simplified is a series of tips for PTA and PTO leaders to get the most out of a powerful association management system – to manage, engage, and grow their membership all year long.
Updated since original publication on 10/20/17.
Organizing a successful event is never without its challenges. Lucky for you, part of being a group leader means pulling it off without breaking a sweat. Whether you’re creating more membership value, recruiting new members, or hosting a meeting to communicate your agenda, use an event as a time to showcase your organization at its best. Event planning doesn’t have to be stressful. Following a few key steps (and taking a few deep breaths) can make the whole process more enjoyable.
1. Commit to a committee
Planning an event is much easier if you have a team to support you. If your group doesn’t already have an event committee, consider asking at least one or two people to volunteer. It will allow you to delegate tasks and benefit from the input and expertise of others. Establish a committee in the early stages of planning your event. This way, everyone can be on the same page from day one.
2. Plan ahead
Depending on the type of event you’re hosting, start planning at least four to six months in advance. If you already know you’ll be doing an annual event, put it on your event committee’s calendar. This will give you time to lock down a venue, a caterer, a keynote speaker, or any details that are critical for your event. Give yourself an adequate buffer between planning and execution. Don’t be afraid to multitask, but anticipate event overlap, so separate committees can work in tandem.
4. Make a checklist
Once you know why you’re hosting an event, you can start planning everything else. Organization is crucial to making sure the event runs smoothly, so create a checklist before carrying out your plan, and make sure you stick with it. A discussion board can be a valuable tool because it will keep your event committee on track and informed of how plans are progressing. Here are some basic items to help you start your list:
Creating an event page allows you to post updates and pictures as well as answer questions that guests may have. Increasing communication and member interaction is a great way to build anticipation and boost attendance.
6. Stay organized
This is the most important thing you can do to avoid mistakes and limit the stress of event planning. Keeping track of RSVPs, their plus-ones, meal selections, food allergies, and add-ons like raffle tickets and more can be a daunting task. Member management software streamlines this by allowing guests to RSVP and purchase tickets online. Event organizers benefit by having all of the necessary information in one location that they can access from virtually anywhere. A month before your event, plan a weekly check-in with your event committee. Increase it to daily check-ins the week before the event to ensure that everyone is on the same page.
7. Have fun!
You’ve worked hard to create the perfect event, and now it’s time to profit from a job well done. Remember to make a plan, set a goal, and stay organized. Most importantly, have fun! The hallmark of a successful event is being able to enjoy yourself alongside your guests. Our event functionality, donation and email campaign features, discussion boards, and online payment forms make it easy to plan for your entire year. Ready to get going?
Updated since original publication on 5/05/2017.
We’re proud to exhibit our association management software at the 2019 ASAE: Marketing, Membership, & Communications Conference (MMCC) June 6 - 7 in Washington, D.C.! Why associations choose memberplanet: All tools on the platform are fully integrated to give association leaders high-level organizational visibility, greater financial transparency, and a seamless user experience with technology partners via API integration.
Come to Booth #710 to learn more! See you in D.C.!
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