Professional Practices

Achieving Diversity In Associations

Association Strategic Governance

Association-Subsidiary Foundation Relationships

Bylaws

Developing a Business Continuity Plan

Developing a Technology Plan

Employment Agreement for the Chief Executive Officer

Ethical Behavior of Association Leaders

Evaluating the Performance of the Association Chief Executive Officer

Facilitation of Effective Board Decision Making

Fiduciary and Management Duties for the Association Executive and Governing Body

Financial Management by Association Executives

Leadership Development

Lifelong Learning and the Association Executive

Mission and Goals

Recruitment and Retention of Quality Staff

Role and Function of an Audit Committee

Role of the Chief Executive Officer in the Nomination Process

Strategic Alliances

Volunteer Leader and Staff Relationship

Professional Practice Statements

In the more than 80 years since the field of association management was formally organized, no organization has ever attempted to document professional practices for association management — until now. In 1996 the Association Forum Board of Directors approved what is believed to be the first professional practice statements ever adopted by a professional society of association professionals.

While product and safety standards and practices are fairly common in many trade associations, professional practice setting in professional associations representing a service field exists but is less common. The Association Forum Board of Directors decided it was time to fill this vacuum and issue professional practice statements on various issues of importance to the individuals comprising the field.

"By issuing professional practice statements, Association Forum will provide association executives with a management tool they can use as examples of industry practice when working with boards and volunteers or their own staffs," said Association Forum Past Chairman John J. Prast, CAE, executive vice president of the Million Dollar Round Table. "These statements are precedent-setting and add a new chapter in the 'professionalization' of association management."