Its the end of June and summer is in full swing. For me, almost every weekend is booked. Whether it be time at the family cabin, summer BBQs, or vacations, the summer is a busy season. During this time, you may find that your association work has slowed down too. Members are on vacation, working summer hours and are focused on family. Engaging the community can be challenging this time of year.
Instead of fearing this lull in engagement, use this time to focus on administrative tasks that take a back seat during the busy work season. Get organized and prepped for the busy year ahead. We all know once September arrives, there’s an uptick in activity in all areas of your life. Check out some of our ideas below.
1. Clean Up Your Database
While this task isn’t the most glamorous, it’s definitely important. Look through your database and determine what needs to be cleaned up. Are there duplicate records? Are there expired members you know won’t renew? Does every paid member have an email address? Determine high priority to-dos and assign due dates for each task. If this is the first time you’re doing a serious database clean up, establish a team and designate responsibilities for each staff member.
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Data Migration Checklist
2. Review Past Events
Before you plan your next event, review the past year’s events. What went well? What didn’t? What event drew the most attendees and why? By analyzing the successes (and failures) of past events, you can better plan and prepare your next event.
3. Catch Up on Association News
I try to establish time each week to read about trends in the industry and the summer months are a great time to catch up. See what your competitors are up to. Check in on your affiliates. Did they have a successful year? How were they different? What did they offer to their members? Review their strategies and see if it makes sense to incorporate their ideas into your plan.
4. Review Finances
Check in on expenses. Did you exceed your set budget? How much money did you make on events, the online store and other sources of non-dues revenue? Use these numbers to determine next year’s budget – what you’re willing to spend and how much you want to bring in. Set clear goals and ways to achieve those goals.
Summer is a great time to unwind and reset – both in your personal life and work life. Use this downtime to your advantage by completing tasks that get pushed off during the busy season.
