The Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) hosted the 2010 Regional Association Council’s 11th annual Leadership Development Workshop (LDW) last month in Grapevine, Texas. And while it was focused on its 175 executive directors and volunteer leaders from all 28 regional associations, it offered lessons – and lots of ideas – for associations which are planning leadership conferences.

I had an inside view and the opportunity to give the keynote Back to the Future for Associations and a break-out session The Secrets to Creating an Exceptional Volunteer Experience.  I took away so many great ideas on logistics, on involving the members and leaders in the planning and the event, on managing volunteers and more. And I relished the opportunity to be at a volunteer and staff event that had an abundance of energy.

“Fake it till you feel it” and “Realize that anything worth doing is worth doing badly” made it on Gretchen Rubin’s list in the October 2008 issue of Real Simple. These can be strategies for volunteer management too!

The list starts off fairly simply with "Know Thy Membership" but ends with a bang on "Don't write-off non-volunteers". The list is Beth Grazley's 10 Commandments for improving your volunteer program shared at the end of her Thought Leader Session on The Decision To Volunteer study undertaken by ASAE & The Center last fall.