As WSAE and Associations West continue exploring a potential merger, we’re introducing the 2026 GEM Sponsorship Program to help industry partners maintain and expand their visibility during this transition period. The six-month program (January–June 2026) offers a range of sponsorship levels with benefits across workshops, newsletters, and online platforms in both Washington and the broader Associations West network.

Does your association have a strategic plan that looks great on paper-but struggles to come to life in the day-to-day? What most organizations need isn't another plan-it's a clear, shared playbook for how staff and volunteers lead, collaborate, and move priorities forward. In this interactive session, leadership expert Melissa O'Hara introduces the Organizational Health framework based on Patrick Lencioni's research, with a focus on the Six Critical Questions every team must answer. Participants will see how these questions can serve as a practical playbook to keep staff, boards, and volunteers aligned-even as leadership and committees change. This session will provide a guided worksheet-giving participants tools they can start using right away to create alignment and build healthier, more effective organizations.

Generative AI promises game-changing member experiences, yet many associations feel stuck in pilot purgatory—tripped up by data worries, workflow confusion, and a skeptical staff. This energizing session flips frustration into momentum, handing you field-tested playbooks, case wins, and insider tactics your peers already use to unleash AI at scale. You will walk away ready to thrill members, protect data integrity, and unlock fresh revenue streams—without ballooning headcount or burning out teams.

Business communication continues to evolve at an unbelievable rate. In just 25 years, we've seen the evolution from landlines to pager codes to cell phones to smart phones to the cloud. Where are we headed next? How does the next generation prefer to communicate? What are the implications for associations in 2025 and beyond? In this session, the presenter will walk attendees through the communication changes and cultural shifts that drive them in the past, present, and future. Attendees will learn how to more effectively communicate with members, employees, and other stakeholders to improve every key business metric and utilize better communication to thrive.

The long, dark days of winter are the perfect time to curl up with a good book. Join us for a special Shop Talk led by Bracken Killpack, Executive Director of the Washington State Dental Association, as we share reading recommendations for the holiday season and beyond.

This session isn’t about professional development (no CAE credit here!)—it’s about fun. Whether you’re into novels, nonfiction, or the latest business bestsellers, bring your favorite titles and discover new ones from your peers. Think of it as a cozy book chat with colleagues to help brighten the Big Dark.