Member Benefits

CalSAE delivers excellent and diverse learning experiences with a tremendous number of ideas, resources, and trends for the association professional at every level. We also facilitate successful business relationships with industry partners who have shown a commitment to the association market. See for yourself.

Alliance Learning Collective (ALC) - virtual
The ALC brings association professionals from across the US together to cultivate connections with your peers while providing deeper learning experiences. You'll be matched with a cohort of your peers over three highly interactive 90 minute learning sessions. You'll be learning from a national expert and facilitator while tapping into the knowledge of the community and experimenting with a wide variety of models and methods.  Two learning series are produced each year (fall and spring).

AMC Retreat
An annual two-day retreat in August or September for the owners/principals of association management companies to discuss challenges and share ideas.

Association Leadership Academy - virtual
A year-long certificate education program focused on the intersectionality of domains in executive leadership and the measures of remarkable associations. After many years of offering a “CEO BootCamp” Program, we have formed an alliance of faculty members, advisors, and allied organizations to offer you a carefully curated series of contemporary leadership practices. This course will be fully participatory as you engage with faculty members and fellow Academy scholars to build relationships to last throughout your career. Each Academy begins in February and concludes at Seasonal Spectacular.

Associations 360
A stand-alone, 6-hour offering that focuses on an overarching examination of associations, their role in society, and their major functional areas, with an emphasis on developing leadership and management skills. This program is especially helpful for those who are newer to the association profession, those who would like a broader understanding of the profession as a whole, and those who are interested in expanding their career in the association industry. TARGET AUDIENCE = Any level or title Association Professional or Industry Partner with fewer than 3 years of experience in their role and/or the association industry. 

CAE Study Group - virtual
For those pursuing their CAE Certification, the CalSAE study group meets together virtually once a week for two months prior to the exam (spring and fall). More Details >

Couch Chats - virtual
These monthly, facilitator-led discussion groups are complimentary and dedicated to the four primary areas of association management: CEO/executive directors, membership and marketing, events and education, and operations and finance. Couch Chats are designed to allow you to connect with your peers virtually to discuss current challenges and share ideas in a relaxed small group setting.

ELEVATE Annual Conference
ELEVATE is where California's association professionals come together for three days of exploring "how to" and "what if..." thinking. The conference is designed with education topics to appeal to all CalSAE members. Typically offered in April each year.

Insights Executive Summit
This program is designed specifically for advanced-level CEOs. It is a 1.5-day, limited attendance program (28 attendees), with the highest level of content prepared and delivered by a professional facilitator in an intensive and interactive environment

LevelUp Education & Luncheons
Get to the next level in your career using what you've learned. These local programs are in several formats: often lunch with a keynote speaker or a morning education program followed by a networking lunch. The programs are diverse and designed to focus on various elements of association management and leadership - typically most appropriate for managers, directors, and newer C-suite executives.

Membership & Marketing Summit (MMS)
A full-day, multi-track event offered in June devoted to association membership and marketing strategies.

Online Learning - virtual
One-hour virtual sessions are offered one to two times per month (produced as a collaboration of state and local SAEs across the US). On-demand programs are also available on a full range of association management topics. More Details > 

Peer-to-Peer Social Learning
Each region often produces regular informal discussions (virtual or in-person), which provide interaction directly with colleagues. Examples include CEO Lunches, Coffee & Connect, and Idea Exchange Breakfasts. They are listed on the event calendar.

Seasonal Spectacular
Seasonal Spectacular is a premier two-day program held in December which includes the largest annual association industry tradeshow on the West Coast, EXCHANGE Appointment Show, education programs, an industry luncheon, and a half-day tradeshow with networking opportunities all-around.

Career Center
This online service allows members to post and search for available jobs in the association industry.
More Details >

Governance Tools
A set of peer-reviewed association governance tools with customizable slides designed to improve organizational productivity, decision-making, and communication among your Board, committees, and staff. Offered in partnership with DeLizia Consulting Services. More Details >

Industry Studies
CalSAE works with several partners to bring you timely national studies and surveys that are most relevant to the association industry.

• ASA's Real-Time Compensation Benchmarking Survey
  Gain access to the only 24/7/365 online compensation benchmarking tool designed exclusively for executives of professional, trade, and service-centric associations/non-profits. Produced by the Association Societies Alliance, of which CalSAE is a member. More Details>
• Naylor's Association Communications Benchmarking Report
  Produced by partner Naylor Association Solutions, this report is based on a national survey and provides trends, insight, and recommendations on communications and marketing for associations. More Details >
• Association Laboratory's Looking Forward Dashboard (Environmental Scan)
  Produced by partner Association Laboratory, this annual national survey of association executives examines the association environment in five key areas of the association's business environment: economic, information, government, workforce, and global. More Details >
• Marketing General's Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report
  MGI's Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report gives individual and trade association leaders the trends and tools they need to evaluate their own membership marketing strategies and tactics.
  More Details >

MyCalSAE Online Community & Social Media
The CalSAE online community allows members to post questions and receive answers from peers, search for members, share resources in the Library, etc. We also have a presence on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn (@CalSAE).

Online Buyers' Guide
Provides a one-stop shop for finding association vendors and business partners. Partners are CalSAE members and are listed by service categories and easily searchable. It also includes an RFP Automator. More Details >

Publications
CalSAE produces a number of hard copies and electronic publications for members. Those include:

• Membership Directory
  This members-only publication provides a wide variety of information for CalSAE members (benefits, volunteers, program highlights) as well as a listing of all CalSAE members - alphabetically and by company.
• The Executive
  CalSAE’s quarterly magazine with feature articles on a wide variety of association management topics and news. Members can access current and past editions online in the members-only section of the CalSAE website. More Details >
• Update e-newsletter
  CalSAE’s weekly briefing provides members with industry blog posts and articles, tools, and insights related to association management. The update also provides a summary of upcoming CalSAE events as well as available member services or programs. More Details >

Achievement Awards
Each year, CalSAE recognizes three members for their exceptional service to the Society and the association community. More Details >

Elaine Rose Scholarship for Small Staff Associations
Each year, the Elaine Rose Scholarship is awarded to a member employed by a small staff association to attend the ELEVATE Annual Conference. More Details >

Volunteer
Participate in the development of many CalSAE programs, and hone leadership skills by volunteering for a committee and/or task force. Members regularly learn from each other as we share industry practices and develop CalSAE programs. More Details >