This excerpt was originally sourced from member Damian Mitsch's blog here. 

Today, I’m musing about what makes some directors operate like supreme court justices that go charging into management territory like a Kardashian at a fame fest. We are mostly all aware that Board can make all the decisions in an organisation if they want to. We also know that doing so is highly ineffective and at times destructive. However, so often directors either individually or collectively will have an issue come up, often through management reporting, and instantly they want to make a ‘decision’. Anyone who’s worked in management for a board will hear the words ‘why did the board get involved’ in their head, because that’s the question they’ll often get from staff. So why did the board get involved?

Let’s take a look at some tips for boards wondering if they’re making the right types of decisions.

1. Is the decision a matter of strategy?

Yes, we understand that EVERYTHING can be argued as a matter of strategy these days, but will the board be looking to amend the strategic plan as a result of a decision? How often does a director argue something is a ‘matter of strategy’ but then can’t articulate what needs to change in the strategic plan. If there’s no change to the strategic plan or its relating measures, chances are the board is getting involved in directing the ‘how’ rather than the ‘what’.

Tip 1. Ask yourself what changes might need to be made to the strategic plan before arguing an issue is a matter of strategy.

2. Is it a matter of board level policy?

What’s ‘board level policy’ you ask? Board level policy should to set parameters for risk and management activity. For example, if you want management to maintain cash flow at a certain level, then set a policy outlining the control measures. If funds need to be invested in certain asset classes with particular ratings, then specify that and let management get on with it. If there’s a reporting policy that’s needed to give the board confidence that governance parameters are being met, then establish one. That’s board level policy. I’m always perplexed when I hear management talking about boards wanting to make decisions about the most mundane things. Eg. which Australian AAA rated bank should our term deposit be invested with. I can’t imagine how a board in most cases adds any value to that decision once a policy is in place to invest surplus cash within set parameters in a secured account in an Australian AAA rated bank. Why is it a board decision then? Usually because the board has determined it to be so! The same organisations rarely find good management wanting to work with them for any length of time.

Tip 2. Ask which board level policy needs amending as a result of a decision. If there’s no board level policy that needs amending, then why is the board involved.

To read the full article please click here. 

This month AuSAE welcomes Linda Noble, Chief Executive, Governance New Zealand as our Member in Focus. Linda recently spoke with AuSAE about her role, changes at Governance New Zealand and advice to future leaders in the not-for-profit sector. 

How did you first become involved with Governance New Zealand?

With over 20 years’ experience in management of membership bodies across a range of industries, the role of Chief Executive with Governance New Zealand was a perfect fit with my skills and background. Initially this role was three days a week but after 12 months, the Board recognised that in order to progress the organisation, the role needed to be full time.

During your time as Chief Executive of Governance New Zealand, the organisation has seen much change. What do you personally feel has been the biggest challenge the organisation has overcome?

Governance New Zealand certainly has gone through significant change. As part of an international organisation, we needed to keep up with global trends in governance and maintain our relevance to current and future members.

In 2014, it became clear there was confusion around our brand in the market and that we needed to better express who we are and what we do. To support our strategies for growth and profitability and to gain competitive advantage in the area of governance, members gave full support to our rebrand from Chartered Secretaries to Governance New Zealand. We completely updated our website to reflect the new direction and progressive outlook.

Growth continued in 2015, as student numbers studying our professional education programme doubled, affiliate membership increased, conference attendance grew, and we acquired Women on Boards.

I heard about the innovative partnership between Women on Boards New Zealand and Governance New Zealand. Can you share how this partnership came about and the benefits it presents to Governance New Zealand members?

A key challenge for many professional membership bodies is recruiting and retaining members. As I mentioned above, in 2015 we incorporated Women on Boards members into Governance New Zealand.

This came about through our Board’s intent to promote diversity on both sides of the board table. Women on Boards aims to develop the next generation of board-ready women by providing empowerment through education and support.

This is a very exciting merger that benefits all members as we grow and expand our reach and influence in the area of governance, compliance and risk management.

What exciting projects are underway at Governance New Zealand?

We have a growing membership, which is something not all membership bodies can say! We held our second highly successful National Governance Conference last September and this is now firmly on the calendar of many governance professionals.

This year, our focus is on providing tailored, relevant and affordable CPD throughout New Zealand to senior executives, governance professionals and board members, in fact anyone working in a governance role.

What would you say to someone starting out in the not-for-profit sector with a view to become a future leader?

The Not-for-Profit sector is a delight to work in, you are surrounded by people passionate about what they do and who they are doing it for.

However to harness this passion and keep everyone focused on the strategic intent of an organisation, the importance of good governance cannot be underestimated. I recommend a future leader considers study in this area, either through Governance New Zealand or another provider of your choice.

AuSAE thanks member Linda Noble for appearing in the January Edition of AuSAE Insider. AuSAE recognises a current member every month, acknowledging their success and ongoing commitment to advancing the not-for-profit sector. If you would like to share your story with other executives, please contact Kerrie Lucas, Events and Communications Manager AuSAE at kerrie@ausae.org.au. 

AuSAE has welcomed new members from the following organisations this month.

Is your organisation on this list? If your organisation is on this list as an AuSAE organisational member but you are unsure if you are part of the membership bundle, please contact the friendly AuSAE team at info@ausae.org.au.

Not on this list? To join AuSAE today please visit our membership information page here.

AUSAE WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS FROM:

Organisation	Membership Level
Association of Wall & Ceiling Industries AUS & NZ	Association (Organisational - Small)
Leading Age Services Australia	Association (Organisational - Small)
Playgroup New South Wales	Association (Organisational - Small)
Rivers & Ranges Community Leadership Program	Association (Organisational - Small)
Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemists	Association Executive (Individual)
Australian College of Nurse Practitioners	Association Executive (Individual)
Carers QLD	Association Executive (Individual)
Clean Air Society of Australia & New Zealand	Association Executive (Individual)
New Zealand Association of Registered Beauty Therapists	Association Executive (Individual)
Parkinson’s New Zealand	Association Executive (Individual)
Parkinson's Queensland Inc.	Association Executive (Individual)
Surf Life Saving Northern Region	Association Executive (Individual)
Swimming Pool & Spa Association of Victoria	Association Executive (Individual)
Scrap Metal Recycling Association of New Zealand	Board or Committee Participant
Australian Hand Therapy Association	Young Association Professional

Note; To respect the privacy of our members, we only release membership type and organisation details publicly each month. 

Australian attendees at the 2015 AuSAE Leadership Symposium in New Zealand not only benefited from the ‘Building Sustainable Futures’ programme; they put the thinking into practice, building bridges with their New Zealand association counterparts for future cooperation and collaboration.

Tourism New Zealand flew 11 Australian and Australasian association executives to the Symposium in Wellington in October for a busy education and networking programme – with the added incentive of a tailored familiarisation trip.

Helen Bambry, Tourism New Zealand’s Business Events Manager - Australia, says: “We went to the AuSAE database and asked who would like to experience New Zealand as a destination. We had 67 responses for 11 spots. As well as exploring first-hand what New Zealand can offer in terms of events, this opportunity allowed these association organisers to connect with like-minded or sister organisations in New Zealand and start having talks about potential joint conferences.

“Air New Zealand supported us with flights and we worked with the local convention bureaux on tailored itineraries. Six went to Auckland, four stayed in Wellington and one went to Dunedin. Aligning with the AuSAE Leadership Symposium meant it was much easier for people to justify their attendance, having that concrete educational return on their time out of the office.”

One attendee, Marilena Salvo, Senior Executive Officer for the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases Inc, was following up on ASID’s plans to conduct its Annual Scientific Meeting in Dunedin. Her tailored trip took in key hotels and venues as well as a visit to the Dunedin Public Hospital.

“The trip was very useful as it gave me the opportunity to attend a quality conference targeted at associations managers such as myself. I got a few good ideas out of it and made or renewed valuable connections,” Salvo says. “The famil after the Symposium was extremely useful. This is a turning point for our conferences in New Zealand, as the conference will be held in a new New Zealand destination (Dunedin) and will mark the 40th anniversary of the Society. The support I received from Tourism New Zealand and the Dunedin Convention Bureau allowed me to visit key venues and support the conference convenor in a way that would not have been possible, if I had not been able to visit the city in person. The trip has paved the way to a smoother conference organising and a higher profile promotion of the 2016 event.”

Dr Joanne Ramadge, CEO & Company Secretary of the Australian Diabetes Educators Association, undertook a familiarisation trip to Auckland post-Symposium. A busy programme of site visits also included time with key personnel from Auckland Convention Bureau and the Auckland Diabetes Centre to discuss her association’s plans to hold a joint event with a New Zealand partner in 2017.

“It was more than I expected and had a lot of value, not just meeting a range of people whom I feel I can connect with when planning an event in New Zealand, but also being able to assess the feasibility of organising an event in New Zealand. I had not realised it will be so easy,” she says. “I also met with colleagues in Wellington and Auckland, which reduced our email traffic considerably. You can do so much more face-to-face and we agreed on actions to follow-up to get a joint event organised.

“There is great support for holding an event in New Zealand and I am not sure many people in my position realise that. I have committed to a return trip as this visit just whetted my appetite to see more of New Zealand. It is so close and yet I have not taken the time to visit. This trip made me realise it is very easy to do and well worth it.”

Tourism New Zealand’s Bambry says the initial interest in attending showed an increasing appetite in Australian-based associations to see what collaborative opportunities were available in New Zealand. “We had a very positive response from the participants who attended this event. We will offer more educational activities in future, and would like to hear from any other associations keen to take up the opportunity.”

For further information about Tourism New Zealand please visit www.businessevents.newzealand.com

Happy New Year and welcome to what promises to be an exciting 2016. I’m really looking forward to my first ACE Conference and AGM in Canberra in May. This is the pinnacle event on our calendar, a great opportunity to hear from some outstanding speakers and an ideal chance to network with a wide selection of peers from across our sector. The planning and work that has already gone into ACE 2016 points to something special so if you haven’t registered now I encourage you to very soon.

In addition to our exciting events programme for 2016, AuSAE will be launching a selection of exciting new products and services. These offerings are based on feedback from our members survey that was conducted in November 2015. Some of them will be delivered in partnership with other organisations, and I’m sure there will be something of value for everyone. Watch this space for more information coming soon.

On a sadder note, unfortunately we are losing a key staff member. Kimberley Miller (General Manager Australia) has been with AuSAE for over three years and has been instrumental in the turnaround of the organisation. Kimberley leaves us at the end of January and she will be sorely missed. I sincerely wish her every success in the future and I am certain she will continue to positively influence and champion the sector.

This has provided us with the opportunity to appoint Kerrie Lucas to the role of Events and Communications Manager. Kerrie joined AuSAE in April 2015 and has provided outstanding support in the Events and Communications team and I am extremely confident in her ability to lead this important part of our business. This means there is now a vacancy that AuSAE will be looking to fill. Watch out for the role that will be advertised soon if you are interested in being part of our future journey or know someone else who might be.

At a recent communications planning session we were asked what gets us out of the bed in the morning in relation to AuSAE. In response I stated that my motivation is to contribute to the of building strong and resilient communities. I hope that 2016 leads all of us a step closer to achieving that.

Brendon Ward, CEO, AuSAE 

THE CAP IS COMING…

From the 1st April 2016 the Meal Entertainment and Holiday Accommodation/Venue Hire benefits will have a combined cap of $2,550?

• Make sure you take advantage of this benefit from now until 31st March 2016 to maximise your savings whilst no cap is in place.
  
• Any balances will need to be reimbursed before 31st March 2016.
  
• Restaurants
  
• Professionally catered functions
  
• Self-catered functions
  
• Holiday accommodation in a hotel, motel, caravan, cabin or serviced apartment
  
• Cruise ships
  
• Holiday package deals where total costs are inclusive
  

Furthermore, these amounts will also become reportable on payment summaries and could impact certain government income tests such as child support, medicare levy surcharge and HECS/HELP obligations.

Novated Leasing could benefit you and provide MORE tax savings for LESS work!

• No GST on the purchase price of a motor vehicle (up to the luxury car threshold)
  
• Fleet discounts on purchase price of new vehicles
  
• Pay a portion of finance and running costs from pre-tax salary
  
• Fleet discounts on running costs
  
• Your choice of fuel card
  
• 24 hour emergency hotline
  
• Vehicle maintenance & servicing booking hotline
  

For those working in the charity sector this will be a significant change. If you would like further information, please contact 1300 408 046 or email info@salarypackagingplus.com.au

It seems parents have no sooner paid for school books, uniforms and shoes—and for many Australian families, a decent amount for school fees—and the invoices begin arriving for the winter sports season.

For families with multiple children wanting to play AFL, hockey, rugby, soccer, netball, Oztag and more, the burden on the budget can be overwhelming and can even factor some children out altogether.

So how can sporting clubs and associations ease the financial pressure on families while retaining cash flow and boosting membership numbers?

Direct debit billing is an ideal solution.

The pinch point for many families is having to pay the membership fees or the fees for the season up front on sign-on day or shortly after the season begins. These bills can total in the thousands of dollars for families, and for the sporting clubs, this can result in a large influx of money to manage in one hit and becomes a major administrative task.

However, direct debit subscription payments made either on a weekly or monthly basis, allow families to ‘pay off’ their fees over time—whether it’s over the season or throughout the year.

Making sport more accessible for all Australian families

If you’re managing a sporting club or association and want to help make your services more accessible and affordable, a direct debit service like PaySmart is ideal. Fees are paid automatically, so families don’t need to physically pay an invoice each month or worry about late fees, and your staff won’t have to chase up late payments. Plus, PaySmart offers free support from our Australian-based Customer Service Centre experts should you or your members ever need it.

“PaySmart provided an ideal solution for us because we aim to be accessible to everyone in the community, and for many people and families, paying a lump sum for their membership is impossible. With PaySmart, members are able to pay their fees over time so it’s great for them, plus it means we’re not spending all of our time chasing payments—it’s a win-win.”

— Brendon Boss, President Toowong Football Club

Sporting clubs that use a direct debit billing system like PaySmart can also transform their cash flow management with a secure and ongoing line of cash coming into the club. It can also encourage membership retention with an easy system in place to pay fees for subsequent years.

It’s not too late to talk to PaySmart today about getting a direct debit payment system in place for your sporting club in 2016.

Talk to a local PaySmart Business Development Manager to get started with PaySmart, or if you’re a parent who is keen to recommend PaySmart to your club, get in touch and we can provide you with all the information you’ll need to share with management. We’ll even come out to your club and show you how easy PaySmart is to use for parents and staff.

This article was supplied by PaySmart and written by Colin Walker. 

AuSAE Networking Lunches offer a great chance to get out of the office and meet new connections in the sector. Each lunch also features an insightful presentation on various topics of importance. Attending a lunch is a great chance to see what AuSAE really offers which is a place like-minded professionals can gather and share workplace challenges and achievements over a delicious two-course luncheon at a great venue. Check out the upcoming lunches below. We would love to see you there!

Melbourne | 'Solving the Strategic Planning Puzzle' Lunch on Wednesday 24 February 

Craig Richards (CEO at Bicycle Network) will reveal the mysteries behind preparing and implementing a great strategy using the Bicycle Network experience [more] 

Perth | 'Answers to the Age Old Question: Why Should I be a Member?' on Wednesday 2 March

Simon Glossop (CEO at Caravan Industry Association WA) will share his knowledge and experience on how to engage, retain and increase membership [more] 

Brisbane | 'Solving the Strategic Planning Puzzle' Lunch on Thursday 3 March

Craig Richards (CEO at Bicycle Network) will reveal the mysteries behind preparing and implementing a great strategy using the Bicycle Network experience [more] 

Adelaide | 'Innovation and Risk Taking in 2016' Lunch on Wednesday 9 March 

Vera Visevic (Partner at Mills Oakley Lawyers) will discuss how associations can take advantage of key innovative approaches that will help not-for-profits grow and thrive in 2016 [more]

Canberra | 'Reinventing your Organisation for a Sustainable Future' Lunch on Thursday 10 March 

Shahana McKenzie (CEO at AILA) will discuss how the AILA has doubled its membership, increased sponsorship from $20,000 to over $500,000 and changed the way the organisation communicates with members all in just 24 months [more] 

Sydney | 'How to Prepare your Organisation for the Future' Lunch on Wednesday 16 March 

Adrian Cosenza (CEO at AOA) will share contemporary global practice in leadership and strategy applicable for all not-for-profit organisations [more] 

Association software provider Abila predicts associations will start mixing up their membership and partnership models to meet their 2016 resolutions.

With the turn of the new year, associations will start seeing some new trends. According to predictions from Abila, which provides software and services to associations, key changes will include a transition to hybrid membership models and increased for-profit partnerships.

These projections come as the percentage of associations reporting year-over-year membership growth is down 6 percent, according to Abila’s Senior Product Marketing Manager Amanda Myers.

“Both the hybrid model and both the partnerships, be it for-profit or nonprofit, are really about helping overcome some of those challenges,” Myers said. “It’s very solutions-based, and that’s really exciting seeing some of these associations get creative and start thinking outside of the box in terms of what they can bring to the table to help overcome their challenges and really set themselves up for a great 2016.”

Associations will start turning to a hybrid membership model versus the traditional model, which Myers described as a one-size-fits-all strategy. Instead of having one set of benefits and dues, a hybrid model creates tiers by career stage, level of engagement, and the like.

Tiers based on involvement offer several sets of benefits with corresponding dues. This structure allows people who can’t afford full dues, such as students or recent graduates, to still be part of the association’s network and community, but for less money and with lower output.

To read the full article please click here. 

This article was originally sourced from Associations Now here and was written by Alex Beall. 

Two associations in the plastics industry have partnered to grant free memberships to students, with an eye toward the long-term benefit to both associations and their industry as a whole.

Staring at a membership report, it can be easy to look at the numbers and just wish they were a little bigger—especially in young-professional and student categories, where the numbers always seem stubbornly unmovable.

The numbers, of course, represent actual people. And student members, in particular, are a constantly changing group of people who speed through that membership category in just a few short years. Their place in the industry your association serves is fluid but important.

That viewpoint—that student members are more than just positive numbers on the membership dashboard—played a role in sparking a partnership between two associations in the plastics industry that has more students than ever before participating in the two organisations.

I visited one of those associations, the Society of Plastics Engineers, last month and met Managing Director Russell Broome and fellow staff. Broome is a little more than a year into his tenure as the leader of SPE’s U.S. office, after more than 20 years as a member and volunteer with the organization, dating back to his own student days at North Carolina State University. He told me SPE had been spinning its wheels in recruiting student members for all the presumable reasons.

“Students are very busy with coursework, internships, sports, and other activities. They don’t often feel the need to join a society—most times they feel that there is no value—especially since the time demands are already stressful,” he says. “Showing them why an SPE membership is valuable to them as a student as well as to their future career is important.”

To read the full article please click here. 

This article was originally sourced from Associations Now here and was written by Joe Rominiecki.