Laser Relations
Today there are four channels of communication with Congress: mail, e-mail, fax, and phone. And, all of those channels are clogged much of the time. Often, when a message must be delivered, you have to resort to hand-carrying it. So, what’s a good government relations person in an association to do? How do you get a message to Congress these days? 

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So You Want to Get Ahead?
Those who want to get ahead in their careers would be wise to take note that a recent survey showed that a challenging and satisfying work environment — or the lack thereof — was the primary reason why a someone joined or left an employer.

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Plexus/GWSAE Innovation & Excellence Project
Here it is — a sneak preview of one of the most highly anticipated content engines that will be available through The Center for Association Leadership when it launches in November — the Innovation and Excellence project. This project identifies and showcases creative and effective programs to serve as models for developing the associations — and the communities — of the future. When GWSAE first engaged Plexus Consulting Group to develop the content for The Center for Association Leadership Innovation and Excellence Project, we never imagined the potential for this database of leading-edge case studies to revolutionize thought leadership beyond the association profession.

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Case Study: Industry Standards
In grappling with the challenges of representing the high-tech industry before Congress, it became clear to the American Electronics Association (AeA) that there was no uniform, reliable source of data on the new economy and its impact on jobs, salaries, and economic trends nationwide. AeA launched an initiative to address this challenge and has proven beyond doubt, according to CEO Bill Archey, that "good data, which is well-presented, has enormous power in this town."

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Case Study: Art of Healing
Faced with the challenge of educating consumers about the orthopedic surgery profession and demonstrating how orthopedic surgeons care for their patients and communities, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) developed an innovative and successful solution. The organization would tell the story of orthopedics in an innovative way and show that doctors are caring, compassionate people by developing a traveling art exhibit.

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Case Study: e-learning
Identifying — and then executing — opportunities to lead the market is tough to do, particularly online. That’s exactly what the National School Boards Association (NSBA), a national federation of 53 state and regional associations that serve local public school board members, managed to do with a distance learning program.

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Mixed Signals on Globalization
Are you confused or uncertain over the instructions your board of directors has given you about globalization? Don’t feel bad. When it comes to globalization, most association executives appear to have a perplexing situation on their hands.

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Thinking the Unthinkable
Fire. Floods. Storms. Such disasters can stop an association cold - or not. The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association shares both its mistakes and successes when it was forced to rebuild after burning to the ground.

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