Helpful in Rome: Jennifer Landini and Kate McElwee Artwork

The Joy of Membership Podcast

Most membership organizations -want- to be using best practices for membership growth and member care... but best practices are often easier said than done.There are practical realities that get in the way… too little time, not enough staff, a board that doesn't "get it", or even chapter leaders that go rogue.There’s no shortage of advice out there on best practices in membership. What WE need to talk about is how to actually make those things possible in the real world… how to be absolutely sure that growth practices are going to stick… how to make those things easier, more consistent, and even done automatically in many cases.So that’s what we talk about here, not just WHAT to do to grow membership, but HOW to actually make it all possible.If that sounds of interest, stick around. I'll be here most Tuesday mornings and welcome you to join me.

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The Joy of Membership Podcast

Helpful in Rome: Jennifer Landini and Kate McElwee

November 19, 2020 • Season 1 • Episode 16

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, I thought of this episode’s featured organization often. Not only are they headquartered in Italy where the virus hit hard, but they also serve American women who live and work in Rome - women who were likely concerned for the situation in Italy, concerned for the situation back in the US, subject to travel restrictions, and trying to make sense of all of this, just as the entire rest of the world grappled with the changes, as well.

I’m speaking, of course, about the American Women’s Association of Rome The good news is that AWAR had just gone through the process of upgrading their website and converting many of their outdated systems to be handled by the new site. That really worked out to be fortunate timing for them.

In this conversation, I talk with AWAR’s president, Jennifer Landini, and their First Vice President Kate McElwee, about how AWAR has been serving members and creating value in such unusual circumstances.

Connect with Jennifer and Kate:

Website: awar.org

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ABOUT YOUR HOST

Yes, there is a “real” Joy in The Joy of Membership.

Founder & CEO Joy Duling has been working with leaders of associations, trade groups and nonprofits since 2005.

She has also walked the same journey, serving for nearly 10 years as the Executive Director of a membership-based nonprofit which she helped launch from scratch and led to annual revenues of more than $1M exclusively from membership contributions.

Joy has been widely recognized as a speaker, an online educator and a trusted advisor, twice winning the “Unsung Hero Award” from the National Association of Women Business Owners' Central Illinois Chapter. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a Master's Degree in Social Work with Specialization in Policy, Planning and Administration. She has extensive experience in strategic planning, team facilitation, change management, and association operations.

But beyond industry experience and education…

Joy Duling is the calm voice you want to have in the room when you, your team, or your board is overwhelmed by ideas and options.

She's a trusted resource at the other end of an email or phone call who knows the answer, or can find the answer, when it's not clear what to do next in your approach.

She's a planner of systems and driver of progress that helps your organization achieve stretch goals.

She's a gifted facilitator of conversation, collaboration and constructive growth.

And she's approachable and results-oriented, which makes it easy to shake loose of the old and start fresh on the new.