SPRING 15 connectionsThe Official Magazine of the advancing associations leaders, connecting Georgia Society of Association Executives > KEEPING UP with The MILLENNIALS Young Members Respond to Targeted Programs at ASHRAE A CONVERGENCE OF 714252_Georgia.indd 1 CONVENIENCE 400,000 TOTAL SQUARE FEET Q 150,000 SQ. FT. EXHIBIT HALL 40,000 SQUARE FOOT BALLROOM Q 32 MEETING ROOMS 3 EXECUTIVE BOARD ROOMS Q 40,000+ SQ. FT. OF PRE-FUNCTION SPACE 17 COVERED LOADING DOCKS Q 2,000 SURFACE PARKING SPACES www.gicc.com 8,500 HOTEL ROOMS IN VICINITY, WITH 550 NEW ROOMS ON CAMPUS 2-MINUTE RIDE FROM HARTSFIELD-JACKSON ATLANTA INT’L. AIRPORT Atlanta’s coolest convention center connected to the world’s busiest airport by the ATL SkyTrain. Celebrate the end of a busy week with a 30/09/14 4:34 PM weekend full of awesome. When you are ready to come on over, contact your friends at the Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau. MeetInAugusta.com 4 737077_Augusta.indd 1 Spring 15 800.726.0243 20/03/15 1:22 AM connectionsThe Official Magazine of the Georgia Society of Association Executives Volume 13, Issue 2 Spring 2015 > Georgia Society of Association Executives > DEPARTMENTS Connections is Published for: Georgia Society of Association Executives Message from the Chair 6 233 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 751 Atlanta, GA 30303 www.gsae.org GSAE News & Events 7 Chair: Jim Fowler, CAE New Members 9 Chair-Elect: David Ellis, CAE Past Chair: GSAE Events 25 Susan Cheshire, CAE Treasurer: Index of Advertisers 30 Tara Morrison, CAE Board of Directors: Julie Anderson, CAE Advertiser.com 30 Todd Daniel, CAE Sheryl Ehlers Jon Krueger Gale Macke Natalie Nardone, CAE, CMP > FEATURES Joel Peacock Bryan Tolar Michael Walsh, CAE Keeping Up with Mark Sedgely the Millennials 10 President: BY MARY LOU JAY Wendy Kavanagh, CAE [email protected] Manager of Membership & Coaching Investments Communications: Jane Anne Sutphin in the Workforce 14 [email protected] BY CYNTHIA MILLS, FASAE, Published by: CAE, CMC, CPC, CCRC 5950 NW First Place Gainesville, FL 32607 A Conversation with Phone: (800) 369-6220 or (352) 332-1252 Them Young’uns 18 Fax: (352) 331-3525 BY SHELLY ALCORN, CAE www.naylor.com Publisher: Tracy Tompkins The Sandwich Generation: Editor: Juggling Family Elsbeth Russell Project Manager: Responsibilities 20 Brittany Thompson BY ERIK LAWSER Advertising Sales Director: Debbi McClanahan Advertising Sales Representatives: The Internship Experience 22 Amanda Blanchard, Tony Chiccarello, BY SAMANTHA KILGORE & CAMILLE ODOM Mercedes Lucero, Rick McPhee, Beth Palmer, Barb Scott, Jamie Williams Marketing Account Specialist: Destination: Karim Hussain Meet at the Coast 27 Layout & Design: Paramjeet Kaur Cover Photo: Choices: Art to the Science Megan Dempsey of Dempsey Media Photography & Videography or the Science to the Art 29 PUBLISHED MAY 2015/GSA-Q0215/1256 BY JOHN P. HARRISON, CAE connections 5 message from the chair > Back When I Was Your Age… THERE’S A MOVEMENT taking shape, in case you weren’t aware, led by a group that today comprises THE EMERGING PROFESSIONALS roughly one-third of our total population. The AMBASSADOR PROGRAM Keep an eye out at this year’s Annual Meeting for group values family and community, and is focused our emerging professionals and their ambassadors! on a work-life balance. By and large, they are This program connects emerging professionals hard-working, eager to learn, and willing to take on with a seasoned professional to help the newcomer additional responsibility — if they are appreciated navigate sessions, discover new resources and create and challenged. They are results-oriented and take networking opportunities. Being an Ambassador is a short-term commitment care of business utilizing the latest technologies, and requires very little time, yet can make a big without embracing the traditional 9-to-5 workday. difference in the Annual Meeting experience Environment is important, and experiences for the Emerging Professional. Annual Meeting are what it’s all about — being where the action Ambassadors will benefit by expanding their is, entertained and engaged. Yes, the millennial professional contacts while investing in the future of the organization, and will also receive recognition movement is well underway. throughout the Annual Meeting. For you baby boomers out there, like me, all the If you are interested in helping an Emerging attention being given to this group of under 30s is Professional navigate future meetings, check the box tough to digest. After all, we’ve been the favored on the registration form and we will match you with child for so long, growing up hearing how unique a first-time attendee. If you have already registered for the annual meeting and would like to participate, we were, used to receiving the special treatment, please email Wendy at [email protected]. recipients of a better world our parents worked hard to create after surviving the Great Depression and World War II. For decades we ruled and knew question is, “What are our organizations doing all there was to know. We were on the cutting edge to prepare for this changing demographic, and of technology, easily transitioning from facsimile to to provide these up and coming new members e-mail, and understanding the importance of keeping with the purpose and fulfillment they seek?” our websites fresh. The role suited us well, and we Recognizing the movement, GSAE hosted an thrived playing the part. interactive “Millennial Infusion” luncheon last year, While the party’s not over for us, millennials are showcasing live examples and scenarios of how to grabbing the spotlight. Economists, manufacturers work best in multi-generational associations. We’ve and advertisers are focused on these young adults, a also introduced an Ambassador Program, connecting generation more educated than any other. All kinds emerging young professionals with seasoned of interesting reports are out there to read on the association executives for the purpose of two-way movement, and almost every one carries a common growth and a better understanding of how different theme in that the millennials mean business and are generations can work with one another toward a rapidly advancing in their professional careers. greater result. So what does this mean for the associations Watch for more programming in this area coming we manage, especially when baby boomers soon. Whatever your generation or your role, always likely make up the bulk of your membership? be your best — for the millennials are coming, and Fortunately, a recent poll suggests that young they are making a difference! Americans believe that through involvement in nonprofits, they are contributing to positive societal changes. So as millennials are looking for the right organizations to join, and baby boomers Jim Fowler, CAE are beginning to think of retirement, the real President, Atlanta Apartment Association 6 Spring 15 GSAE news & events Save the Date for GSAE Events in 2015 GSAE’s calendar offers more than 25 hours of CAE-matched programming this year. GSAE has been approved >for Preferred CAE Provider status through the CAE Commission. Our list of events is always available online at www.gsae.org (Learn/Calendar View). Various Shared Interest Group meetings will be added throughout the year. July JULY Nov NOVEMBER 8 GSAE Summer IGNITE Luncheon 11 GSAE Tradeshow & Luncheon featuring economist Jeff Saut Aug AUGUST 8-11 ASAE 2015 Annual Meeting, Detroit Dec DECEMBER 9 Holiday Luncheon, Awards Sep SEPTEMBER Show, Silent Auction & 16 The Abit Massey Lecture Series featuring President Jere Morehead, University of Georgia Annual Business Meeting GSAE Leadership Academy ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition ASAE Annual is THE can’t-miss event of the year. Join Applications Available 5,000+ of your colleagues from across the country for Our outline for the Leadership Academy three full days of powerful networking, thought-provoking includes updated content that GSAE education sessions, and innovative business solutions members identify as most critical and August 8-11, 2015. Visit http://www.asaeannualmeeting.org relevant for association professionals today. today. Editorial note: This also provides an excellent 1. The Association Ecosystem and excuse to check in with our own Greg DeSandy, who is Governance Issues DOS at the very fancy Cobo Center now. 2. Strategy, Change and Decision-Making 3. Creating Member Value/Determining ROI 4. Shaping the Association Experience: Brand, Identity, Touch and Technology 5. Human Capital: Engaging Employee and The Power of A GSAE members Steve Echard, CAE, IOM, Volunteer Talent Tom Delany, Trace Haythorn, Gabriel Eckert, CAE, 6. Leading Groups and Teams/ and Wendy Kavanagh, CAE visited Washington, DC Conflict Management for American Associations Day to advocate for vital 7. Everyday Innovation and Idea association issues. Management Sessions featured briefs 8. Challenges and Choices: Charting Your on timely issues like tax Professional Pathways reform and nonprofit The 2015-16 Leadership Academy will governance as well as begin with a kick off retreat on Thursday a primer on getting and Friday, October 22-23. Apply today the most out of your online at www.gsae.org. congressional meetings. Invitation to IGNITE GSAE GSAE is accepting proposals from our talented members to present a five minute, 15 slide IGNITE session at the July luncheon. We are especially interested in lessons learned, experiences created and other success stories from the association and supplier community. Tell us your story today. Email Wendy at [email protected] with your great idea. connections 7 Live Webinar – Approved for 1 CAE Hour Tuesday, June 23, 2015 - Turning Millennials Into Members - Sarah Sladek Published by Midwest Society of Association Executives and Georgia Society of Association Executives 2–3 p.m. $45 for Members Starting in 2015, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics predict that Generation Y (ages 18 to 31) will replace Baby Boomers as the majority of the workforce.