Thoughts for Associations

About the Book

Mark Frels follows up on his two previous association management books—Just Common Sense and More Common Sense—in this third volume that explores how to navigate topics relevant to association staff and leaders. The evaluation of existing and new association programming, employee motivation, member involvement techniques, membership drives, working with people, and other subjects are all primary topics in this guide. Learn how to: • communicate effectively with staff and stakeholders; • cultivate current and future leaders; • help employees manage workloads; and • provide members with additional value. Frels also addresses critical questions such as how to decide whether to scuttle a program in favor of a new one, how to improve a mentoring program, ways to show and receive appreciation, and how to help employees learn from mistakes. Transform your association, help managers and staff succeed, and meet the needs of your members with the guidance and insights in Thoughts for Associations.

About the Author

Mark E. Frels, CAE (Ret) was born and raised on a multigenerational family grain and livestock farm in Rock Island County, Illinois. He is an honors graduate of Iowa Wesleyan University. Mark participated in many student organizations, including yearbook, newspaper, and varsity baseball. Mark completed two study terms at a young age at the University of Madrid, Madrid Spain through the auspices of Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. He held an internship as a radio announcer during his college years at KILJ Radio in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. During the summers, he was employed by the USDA Soil Conservation Service as a survey technician assistant. Mark began full-time employment with the Illinois Farm Bureau (corporately known as the Illinois Agricultural Association) in 1977 and completed over 35 years of service with that association. The Illinois Farm Bureau is the state’s largest volunteer membership association of farmers and those supporting agriculture with approximately 400,000 members. It is one of the largest state Farm Bureau membership organizations in the country. Mark began his work for Illinois Farm Bureau as a county Farm Bureau manager trainee in 1977 and, in that same year, was hired as the Knox County Farm Bureau manager at Galesburg, Illinois, a position he held for approximately 10 years. Mark then moved to a regional manager position covering the northern one-third of the state working with county Farm Bureau association boards and managers on behalf of the Illinois Farm Bureau. Following several years as a regional manager, he became the Illinois Farm