GSAE eNewsletter
September 2024
featured stories
GSAE's Abit Massey Lecture Series
Wednesday, September 18
11:30 am–1:30 pm ET
DoubleTree by Hilton Atlanta Windy Hill Ballpark
.75 CAE credit pre-approved
Register by Sept. 13

Our 46th annual Abit Massey Lecturer is Jeff Jowdy, President, Lighthouse Counsel. A veteran of nonprofit leadership and fundraising, Jeff has been the guiding force behind Lighthouse Counsel since founding it in 1999. Learn more. Jeff's topic will focus on leadership lessons gleaned from interviews with a variety of people from Mr. Abit's long and illustrious career.
 
Abit Massey CAE   Based on Mr. Abit's leadership legacy and a series of interviews, Jeff will explore the traits and habits that made Mr. Abit one of our most inspirational and successful association executives. Learn more about the Lecture Series and Mr. Abit's many contributions in the association management community.
 
Schedule 
10:30–11:30 am: New Member Orientation, Hickory
11:30 am–12:00 pm: Networking Reception, prefunction
12:00–1:30 pm: Luncheon with Lecturer, The Grand Ballroom
1:30–2:00 pm: Supplier Council Planning Mtg., Hickory
1:30 pm: Hard Hat Tour of Courtyard by Marriott Atlanta Windy Hill Ballpark
 
Cost
GSAE Member – $49 ($59 after September 13)
Guests – $69 ($79 after September 13)
 
Thank you to our Lecture Sponsor: Visit Savannah
 
Visit Savannah Logo
 
Thank you to our Host Property: DoubleTree by Hilton Atlanta Windy Hill Ballpark
 
DoubleTree by Hilton Atlanta Windy Hill Ballpark
Thank you to our Annual AV Sponsor: OAV (Orchestrated Audiovisual & Production Services)
 
OAV
Visit Athens
Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center
member news
GSAE Member News
Peter Bowden Peter Bowden, CEO, VisitColumbusGA will retire at the end of December.
   
 Charlotte Moody Charlotte Moody is Director of Sales at Visit Macon.
In Memoriam

 
Our sincere condolences to the family and colleagues of Earl V. Rogers, Jr., past President & CEO of the Georgia Hospital Association, who passed away September 1. A celebration of life will be held at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church (3180 Peachtree Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30305) at 11:00 am on Friday, September 13, 2024, immediately followed by a reception. More information.
The Classic Center Announces Arena Name
Akins Ford Arena logo
Akins Ford Arena is set to open this year and will be home to the Athens Rock Lobsters hockey team, geared to play their first game in the arena on Friday, December 6. The opening concert will take place on Saturday, December 14, with a local favorite, The B-52s. Learn more.
Visit Athens GA Hosts Leadership Retreat
The 2024 GSAE Leadership Retreat attendees had a sneak peek of the new Akins Ford Arena arena this week, and it is fabulous. Thank you to The Classic Center, Visit Athens GA, Hotel Indigo Athens, and Levy Catering at The Classic Center for hosting this year's retreat. 
Explore Gwinnett Unveils New Logo
  The new Explore Gwinnett logo represents all 16 Gwinnett County cities, showcasing the county’s vibrant life, connection and culture, while also helping the destination stand out in an evolving tourism landscape. Learn more.
ASAE Annual Meeting & Expo Recognition
  2024 Island Booth Exhibit Winner: 1st Place, Visit Savannah – Booth 2942 
     
  2024 Inline Booth Exhibit Winners: 2nd Place, Myrtle Beach – Booth 1641
     
  2024 Inline Booth Exhibit Winners: 3rd Place, Asheville – Booth 1508
House Bill Honoring Massey
  Reps. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) and Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., (D-GA) introduced a bill to rename the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Poultry Research Center in Athens, Georgia after the late President of the Georgia Poultry Federation, Francis “Abit” Massey. Original co-sponsors include: Reps. Mike Collins (R-GA), Drew Ferguson (R-GA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Nikema Williams (D-GA), Rich McCormick (R-GA), Lucy McBath (D-GA), Austin Scott (R-GA), David Scott (D-GA), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), Rick Allen (R-GA), and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). Learn more
Offer for Associations
 
GSAE’s Annual AV sponsor, Orchestrated Audiovisual & Production Services (OAV), has a special offer for our Association Executives! Please reach out to Randall Dunn by email randall "at" oavatlanta.com or by phone (404) 951-2321 to discuss your AV needs.
  • 20% discount off all AV equipment
  • Half day equipment rentals after the first day rental
  • Offer runs through September 30, 2024
Economic Impact Study Released
  
By the numbers: ASAE partnered with Oxford Economics, the world's foremost independent economic advisory firm, in a study of 20,000 associations to capture the economic impact of the sector. The study shows associations are a vital component of America’s job market, directly supporting 1.1 million jobs and providing $71.4 billion in wages throughout all 50 states.
 
Learn more about our associations' economic impact in Georgia.
2024 Fall Foundation Grant Applications Open
GSAE Foundation Logo
 
The next round of grant applications is due September 15, 2024. Any 501(c) organization that employs at least one GSAE member may apply. The applications will be judged on the quality of the internship experience described in the application. Funds will be available for use anytime during 2025. Recipients will be announced during the GSAE Holiday Luncheon on December 11. Apply today!
2024 Association Benchmarking Report is Out
benchmarking survey logo
This year, we discovered that associations are facing evolving challenges, including the pursuit of generating non-dues revenue, the need for customized communications, engaging young professionals, and a multitude of association and member needs that require more attention. Download report.
GSAE 2025 Budget Numbers
We’ll add additional opportunities for connecting and learning throughout the year, but this is a great start! 
  • Shared Interest Group meetings are included in your membership.
  • Association Executive dues are $325; additional association staff members are $150 a la carte.
  • We are launching an organizational pilot later this month. Watch your email for details.
  • Corporate Supplier dues are $350; additional staff from the same company are $250.
  • Quarterly luncheons on February 19, April 16, July 16, and September 17, 2025 are $49 for GSAE members.
  • Exclusive event sponsorship available for April is $2,000.
  • Exclusive event sponsorship available for July is $1,500.
  • The Holiday Luncheon, Awards Show & Silent Auction on December 10, 2025 is $59 for GSAE members.
  • Two sponsorships are available for $2,000 each.
  • The 2025 GSAE Annual Meeting is in Savannah, GA, May 28-May 30. Registration fee for the first association executive attendee – $429; corporate supplier exhibitor and sponsor packages range from $729-$3,599; additional attendees from the same organization – $389 each.
GSAE Upcoming Events
Scammers, Spammers & Phishing - Bleh
Scam logo
GSAE will never, ever ask you to buy gift cards or transfer money among our Board members, volunteers, or staff. We do not use third parties to sell our hotel room blocks or offer membership lists. Call us at (404) 577-7850 if you have a question about an email. 
 
We also urge you to train your staff to do the same – call and confirm authenticity if you are not expecting a proposal from a property or other service provider. Every employee should also have two-factor authenticatin on every single log-in. We regularly receive the "was this you?" message. Nine times of ten, it wasn't!
Have GSAE News to Share?
Please send job changes, member news, and press releases to Corrin at corrin "at" gsae.org by the second Monday of the month.
gsae brief
Four seats for individual association member directors and one seat for a corporate supplier (services) director will be available for two-year terms, beginning January 1, 2025. Nominations will also be accepted for the one-year Treasurer position for both the Society and the Foundation Board of Trustees.
 
If you or someone you know would like to be considered, please complete the online application (self-nomination or nominate someone else). All candidates must be GSAE members in good standing. Deadline for nominations is September 30, 2024.
 
 
GSAE recognizes excellence by presenting a variety of awards to members, including our highest honor, the Clifford M. Clarke Award. To nominate a member for an award, simply contact Wendy Kavanagh, CAE, President, at wendy "at" gsae.org. 
 
The deadline for nominations is Monday, September 30, 2024. 
 
 
We understand your time is valuable, and we strive to make volunteer service convenient and rewarding. GSAE volunteers truly do the work of the organization.

Please send an email to Wendy at wendy "at" gsae.org if you are interested in learning more about 2024 committee and SIG leadership opportunities.


 
GSAE is seeking members interested in sharing effective practices, compelling case studies, and pilot programs. Or, are you interested in writing a guest column? Contact Wendy at wendy "at" gsae.org.
  • Fall 2024 – Content Curation (Develop Once. Publish Everywhere.) Content due October 4.
  • Guest Columnists – Variety of topics. If you've done it successfully, members can learn from your experience!
 
Explore GSAE's entirely FREE library of downloadable content, including white papers, guides, infographics, case studies, industry analysis, and so much more! Consider this your one-stop shop when looking for current topics you need to learn about that are influencing our entire industry. 
 
 
Did you know our Career Headquarters links to ASAE's national site? **And** if you buy a posting through us, GSAE gets a royalty payment to support the Society's programming. Check out the Careers section at the bottom of this e-newsletter for the latest Georgia postings.
 
  
Information for all MSAE CAE courses is available on MSAE’s CAE site.
  • Concentrated Course begins September 16.
  • Virtual CRAM 1-Week Course Begins November 8 & November 25.
  • GSAE members have a code in the Member Offers tab of their profile.
  • CRAM course fees are based on current/previous attendance, so no discount code is needed.
 
Visit Columbus
industry news
Associations and other nonprofits face the biggest legislative threat in more than 50 years.
Sweeping tax breaks established in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will expire in 2025. Influential legislators and policy think tanks have called for taxing ALL tax-exempt organizations across the board, applying the 21-percent corporate tax rate to ALL non-donation net revenue. Membership dues, sponsorships, investment income, and educational program revenue are only a few examples of what is at risk.
 
Help our community identify the strategies association leaders consider most essential to the future success of their organizations, given the changing environment that members face.
 
Every participant receives free access to a customizable online dashboard of the results. Provided by the Association Laboratory Research Alliance’s data analytics solution, Nucleus, you will see how your response compares to your peers, and can compare the results to past years' data to spot changes and potential trends.
 
Insights from Fisher Phillips
 
Are you or your member organizations reclassifying employees to non-exempt status to comply with the Department of Labor’s new overtime ruling? Fisher Phillips recommends considering a “Percentage Bonus” to avoid costly overtime pay mistakes. Contact Terri Stewart at FPatlanta "at" fisherphillips.com for a complimentary 30-minute consultation.
Our next Lunch and Learn is coming up on September 18! Join us for a deep dive into the Contact Center and discover tips and tricks for optimizing your email communications and boosting engagement with your contacts.
 
Webinars, Podcasts, & Blogs from Around the Web
GSAE compiles a compendium of podcasts, blogs, and resources from association land that we think will help you be better at your job.
 
Highlights this month include new issues from Association Brain Food (free education!), podcasts from our SAE colleagues, and a new Rogue Tulip's Radio Free 501c episode. Follow, listen, and learn!
Visit Macon
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort
gsaetv

  • Recordings of meetings are available on our GSAE1917 YouTube Channel through GSAEtv, including ASAE's 2024 Award winners, Eckert & Aplebaum, plus the latest wine + webinars SIG meeting.

  • GSAE's Shared Interest Groups (SIGs) are complimentary, self-directed groups of GSAE members that focus on a particular area of interest. Join through your member profile or send an email to GSAE.

  • More upcoming meetings will be announced throughout the year. 

 
Alabama Gulf Coast CVB
careers
Visit GSAE Career Headquarters for all career listings.
 
Association Management/Executive Director - APTA Georgia | American Physical Therapy Association Georgia | Georgia
 
Executive Director | Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association | Hartwell, Georgia
 
Sr. Director, Impact | American College of Rheumatology | Remote
 
Specialist, External and Corporate Relations | American College of Rheumatology | Remote
 
Sr. Director, Registry | American College of Rheumatology | Remote
 
Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa
Providence Warwick CVB