As the year draws to a close and the winter season embraces us, I want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible CSAE community. 2024 has been a year filled with collaboration, learning, and growth. From our vibrant events to the resources and programs based on your input and trends, it has been inspiring to see our members come together to share ideas, build networks, and advance the work of associations.

I am pleased to introduce the Board of Directors, elected at the Annual General Meeting in October, who are committed to representing your interests:

• Jean-Francois (JF) Champagne, CAE – President, Automobile Industries Association of Canada – Chair  
• Jamie Ryan, CAE – CEO, New Brunswick Real Estate Association – Vice-Chair 
• Bryan Woo – Director, Partnership & Programs, BC Non-Profit Housing Association – Treasurer 
• Shannon Bott, CAE – Executive Director, Operations, Digital Health Canada – Past Chair 
• France Daviault, CAE – Executive Director, Canadian Apprenticeship Forum  
• Tracy Douglas-Blowers, CAE – President & CEO, Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association 
• Rebecca Harris, CAE – President, Ontario Produce Marketing Association 
• Lindsay Murray, CAE – Interim CEO, Startup Zone 
• Joel Neuheimer – CEO, Canadian Veterinary Medical Association 
• Deepy Sur – CEO, Ontario Association of Social Workers  
• Heather Terrence, CAE – President, Pinpoint Governance Group 
• Stephen Williamson, CPA, CAE – Chief Financial Officer, Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation

These leaders are dedicated to amplifying the benefits of membership and ensuring our initiatives align with your needs. We also extend heartfelt thanks to John Buck, CAE; Dan Garcia, CAE; and Marc Lapointe for their years of service and dedication to our shared mission.

As we step into the holiday break, I encourage you to take time to rest, recharge, and cherish moments with loved ones. Whether you’re gathering with family, reconnecting with friends, or simply enjoying some quiet reflection, this is a season to appreciate the things that matter most.

Looking ahead to 2025, we are excited to continue building opportunities that bring value to you as members and strengthen our community. Your engagement and feedback fuel our vision for the future, and we can’t wait to share what’s on the horizon. Every resource, event, and initiative we offer is designed to help you and your association thrive—and your continued involvement makes it all possible. I look forward to connecting with you in the year ahead.

Thank you for being such an integral part of CSAE. On behalf of our Board of Directors and the entire team, we wish you a joyous holiday season and a happy new year. Here’s to another year of growth, collaboration, and shared success.

Don’t miss these curated perspectives on a variety of association-focused issues. Recent posts include:

How to Make DEI Training at Your Association Successful
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How to Build and Benefit From Always-On Member Research
Committing to two-way communications with members will enable association leaders to future-proof their organizations and better serve their communities.

Shifting to Members-First: Meeting Your Member’s Needs
Implementing a member-centric strategy provides the means to evolve a value proposition that will always be in alignment with what members most value.

Explore more content on the key competencies of governance, organizational direction, leading people, operations and value to membership:

Employers...
Leverage CSAE’s relationship with over 15,000 association executives to fill your next position. Post your job to AssociationJobs.ca now! CSAE members save 40%.

Job Seekers...
Interested in finding the latest career opportunities in the association sector? Click here to find the most recent postings, such as:

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
Organization: Canadian Paint and Coatings Association
Location: Ottawa, ON
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Title: Executive Director, People & Culture
Organization: THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY (TRU)
Location: Kamloops, BC
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Title: Manager, Professional Development
Organization: Ontario Association of Social Workers
Location: Toronto (hybrid)
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CSAE Insurance Services has meeting availability to review your General Insurance portfolio; it’s a great time to get the conversation started – make risk management a part of your strategic plan for 2025!

We invite you to book a meeting with one of our Non-Profit insurance experts at IPMGA:

Let’s talk. Book a meeting in my calendar.

Webinar: Turning Insights into Impact: How Associations Use Data to Drive Revenue
January 22, 2025
2:00 PM ET

In this webinar, Naylor Association Solutions and guest speakers from National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) and MPI Research will share practical strategies for using data to identify opportunities, address challenges, and drive growth. Discover actionable steps for turning your data into methods that drive revenue, engagement, and long-term success for your association.

Brought to you by:

Canada Attracts Global Conferences with a Convention Fund
The multimillion-dollar International Convention Attraction Fund (ICAF), administered by Destination Canada, has supported 21 successful bids made by Canadian destination marketing organizations. The 21 international conferences were booked between March and November 2024.
Skift Meetings

Podcast: Unlocking the Power of Value Propositions for Associations
With members increasingly discerning about where they invest their resources, associations must clearly demonstrate the value they provide. David Murillo, President and CEO of Compass Management Solutions, shares his insights on crafting compelling value propositions that resonate with diverse audiences.
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Report: Business Travel Recovering From Inflation
A report released last month by SAP Concur, a travel management software firm, highlighted trends for meeting planners and travel managers to consider in 2025. Easing inflation should lead to increased business travel, while organizations will engage more with generative AI to streamline administrative tasks on the business side of travel management.
Associations Now

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