<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!--Generated by Squarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/) on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 02:59:11 GMT--><rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#" xmlns:rss="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:admin="http://webns.net/mvcb/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:cc="http://web.resource.org/cc/"><rss:channel rdf:about="http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/"><rss:title>a blog &amp; resource centre for NFP organizations</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/</rss:link><rss:description></rss:description><dc:language>en-US</dc:language><dc:date>2012-02-16T02:59:11Z</dc:date><admin:generatorAgent rdf:resource="http://www.squarespace.com/">Squarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/)</admin:generatorAgent><rss:items><rdf:Seq><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2012/1/30/hey-association-execs-in-and-around-ottawa-what-are-you-doin.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2012/1/23/seth-godin-says.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2012/1/16/how-to-find-out-what-your-associations-members-really-need.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2012/1/11/what-is-your-nonprofits-blue-ocean.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2012/1/9/nonprofit-treats-from-last-week-good-stuff-happening-on-the.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2011/12/22/arc-best-of-dont-be-the-boiled-frog-complacency-no-longer-an.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2011/12/21/arc-best-of-listen-up-series-on-member-needs-satisfaction-re.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2011/12/20/arc-best-of-from-routine-to-rockstar-in-association-member-e.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2011/12/16/arc-best-of-what-would-reverse-innovation-look-like-in-your.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2011/12/15/arc-best-of-why-member-feedback-is-the-secret-sauce-of-succe.html"/></rdf:Seq></rss:items></rss:channel><rss:item rdf:about="http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2012/1/30/hey-association-execs-in-and-around-ottawa-what-are-you-doin.html"><rss:title>Hey Association Execs in and Around Ottawa! What are you doing February 9?</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2012/1/30/hey-association-execs-in-and-around-ottawa-what-are-you-doin.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Carol-Anne Moutinho</dc:creator><dc:date>2012-01-30T19:49:50Z</dc:date><dc:subject>ARC Association Resource Centre CSAE association education event networking ottawa ottawa-gatineau tete-a-tete</dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 600px;" src="http://www.resources4associations.com/storage/Tete%20a%20tete%202012.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1327953650317" alt="" /></span></span></p>
<p>CSAE Ottawa-Gatineau is inviting association executives to join them on February 9th at the Ottawa Convention Centre to enjoy a <strong>free</strong> breakfast session with Dan Gardner followed by a day of networking with your industry colleagues and opportunities to meet over 160 organizations offering products and services targeted specifically to the association sector.</p>
<p>...Did I mention it was free?!</p>
<p>Come on by and don't forget to say hello to our Managing Partner, Geoff Thacker on the tradeshow floor!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.csaeteteatete.ca/">Here are the registration details!</a></p>
<p>See you there!</p>]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2012/1/23/seth-godin-says.html"><rss:title>Seth Godin Says...</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2012/1/23/seth-godin-says.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Carol-Anne Moutinho</dc:creator><dc:date>2012-01-23T13:00:00Z</dc:date><dc:subject>ARC Association Resource Centre Innovation NFP Seth Godin association carol-anne moutinho innovation nonprofit not-for-profit recruitment</dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[...That 'average' won't cut it in our post-industrial working world.

This is true at many levels. The idea also makes sense if you look at it from a nonprofit point-of-view: If your organization is just average, it's going to get lost in the shuffle in an environment that is becoming increasingly crowded with other groups offering a lot of what looks like the same thing. That's no secret.

On the other hand, I can't tell you how many trade and industry associations we work with that are in a mad scramble to help their members recruit and retain skilled workers.]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2012/1/16/how-to-find-out-what-your-associations-members-really-need.html"><rss:title>How to Find Out What Your Association's Members REALLY Need</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2012/1/16/how-to-find-out-what-your-associations-members-really-need.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Carol-Anne Moutinho</dc:creator><dc:date>2012-01-16T14:00:00Z</dc:date><dc:subject>Engagement NFP association charity elizabeth weaver engel engagement feedback member needs nonprofit not-for-profit satisfaction</dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[I came across this post over on Elizabeth Weaver Engel's blog (which you should follow, if you don't already). In it, she talked about a recent Twitter discussion on capturing and keeping track of what members really need.  

It's a good question and is one I know many association professionals face, so I have pulled from this post a few examples of how some of our clients have used processes that actively incorporate member feedback into the decision-making process - this is by no means a comprehensive list but hopefully gets the juices flowing.]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2012/1/11/what-is-your-nonprofits-blue-ocean.html"><rss:title>What is Your Nonprofit's Blue Ocean?</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2012/1/11/what-is-your-nonprofits-blue-ocean.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Carol-Anne Moutinho</dc:creator><dc:date>2012-01-11T16:00:00Z</dc:date><dc:subject>Association Resource Centre Innovation NFP association blue ocean bos charity creativity innovation nonprofit not-for-profit strategy strategy the ARC Blog</dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[Blue Ocean Strategy is a framework that focuses on market differentiation and innovation - two things we don't see enough of in nonprofit circles. Here's the gist of it...]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2012/1/9/nonprofit-treats-from-last-week-good-stuff-happening-on-the.html"><rss:title>Nonprofit Treats (From Last Week): Good Stuff Happening On the Web</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2012/1/9/nonprofit-treats-from-last-week-good-stuff-happening-on-the.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Carol-Anne Moutinho</dc:creator><dc:date>2012-01-09T15:01:05Z</dc:date><dc:subject>ARC Association Resource Centre NFP Other Resources articles association innovation inspiration nonprofit not-for-profit opportunity resources volunteerism</dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[Well, It's a new year and most of us are back to the grind.  Despite the long and dark winter days many of us are enduring (daylight lasts from 8am - 4:30 where I am right now), I am seeing a lot of inspiration on the web these days. Here are a few goodies from last week. I hope you enjoy!]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2011/12/22/arc-best-of-dont-be-the-boiled-frog-complacency-no-longer-an.html"><rss:title>ARC Best OF: Don’t be the Boiled Frog: Complacency No Longer an Option for NFP’s</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2011/12/22/arc-best-of-dont-be-the-boiled-frog-complacency-no-longer-an.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Carol-Anne Moutinho</dc:creator><dc:date>2011-12-22T13:00:22Z</dc:date><dc:subject>ARC Association Resource Centre Best of association best of blog canada carol-anne moutinho nonprofit not-for-profit research resources strategy</dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[Did you know that if you throw a frog into a pot of boiling water, it will try to jump out? But if you put that same frog into a pot of water at room-temperature and heat it up gradually, the frog will let itself be boiled to death?

We all know the world is changing.  Change is everywhere we look, from our physical environment, to the way we relate and communicate to one another.  Many of these changes are paradigm-shifting.]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2011/12/21/arc-best-of-listen-up-series-on-member-needs-satisfaction-re.html"><rss:title>ARC Best Of: Listen Up! Series on Member Needs &amp; Satisfaction - Representing Member Needs A Challenge for Associations?</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2011/12/21/arc-best-of-listen-up-series-on-member-needs-satisfaction-re.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Carol-Anne Moutinho</dc:creator><dc:date>2011-12-21T13:00:46Z</dc:date><dc:subject>ARC Association Resource Centre Best of association best of blog canada carol-anne moutinho nonprofit not-for-profit research resources strategy</dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[If you were to guess which area association members tend to be least satisfied with, what would it be? Programs and services?  Nope. Influence and engagement?  Close but not quite...Based on 47 member needs studies conducted over the past several years, representation of member needs to different stakeholder groups has consistently been at the bottom of the list in terms of member satisfaction.]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2011/12/20/arc-best-of-from-routine-to-rockstar-in-association-member-e.html"><rss:title>ARC Best Of: From Routine to Rockstar in Association Member Engagement</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2011/12/20/arc-best-of-from-routine-to-rockstar-in-association-member-e.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Carol-Anne Moutinho</dc:creator><dc:date>2011-12-20T13:00:22Z</dc:date><dc:subject>ARC Association Resource Centre Best of association best of blog canada carol-anne moutinho nonprofit not-for-profit research resources strategy</dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[We all talk a lot about engagement in the association world.

The term ‘member-driven’ is something that comes up a lot: I know a lot of association folk spend time talking about it in their board and staff meetings. Goodness knows we beat people over the head with it here on our blog...We know it can mean the difference between an association that is doing Okay and one that’s truly hitting it out of the park...but it’s an elusive beast.

..Or is it?]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2011/12/16/arc-best-of-what-would-reverse-innovation-look-like-in-your.html"><rss:title>ARC Best Of: What Would Reverse Innovation Look Like in Your Not-for-Profit?</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2011/12/16/arc-best-of-what-would-reverse-innovation-look-like-in-your.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Carol-Anne Moutinho</dc:creator><dc:date>2011-12-16T13:00:09Z</dc:date><dc:subject>ARC Association Resource Centre Best of association best of blog canada carol-anne moutinho nonprofit not-for-profit research resources strategy</dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[Essentially, reverse innovation takes something as it is now, strips out all of the ‘bells and whistles’ that may be nice but are not essential to have, and turns it into something that fits the local market and delivers the same result or output.]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2011/12/15/arc-best-of-why-member-feedback-is-the-secret-sauce-of-succe.html"><rss:title>ARC Best Of: Why Member Feedback is the Secret Sauce of Successful Associations</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.resources4associations.com/the-arc-blog/2011/12/15/arc-best-of-why-member-feedback-is-the-secret-sauce-of-succe.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Carol-Anne Moutinho</dc:creator><dc:date>2011-12-15T13:01:01Z</dc:date><dc:subject>ARC Association Resource Centre Best of association best of blog canada carol-anne moutinho nonprofit not-for-profit research resources strategy</dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[When members think about your association, which word do you think is more likely to pop into their heads:

Meh?

Or Marvellous?  

Your association might have all of the key ingredients: leadership, resources, organization, focus...but does it have the secret sauce that spells the difference between a good association and a great one?

I’m talking about member feedback.]]></content:encoded></rss:item></rdf:RDF>
