Community Spark:
Community Management Intensive
for Associations
Community Spark:
Community Management Intensive for Associations
Gain insights from community management leaders who know what it takes to build vibrant and safe member communities. Learn proven tools and techniques that support community health and growth within associations.
From Membership to Community: Build Connections That Last
Membership Marketing School is thrilled to team up with Australian Community Managers (ACM) for the Community Management Intensive for Associations. Led by experts Olena Lima CAE and Venessa Paech, Co-Founder and Director of Australian Community Managers, this bootcamp will equip you with the essential tools, techniques, and insights to create vibrant, thriving member communities for your association.
Traditionally, associations have always been at the heart of communities, the idea of “association” is built on bringing people together around shared goals and values. Yet, over recent decades, corporations have tapped into the power of communities, investing in them to foster deep relationships with their customers. With larger marketing budgets, corporate community management practices have surged ahead, with associations missing some of the latest strategies to engage and support members fully. Community Managers within associations still isn’t a widespread role, which means fewer resources and best practices to lean on.
Why Join?
In this four-week intensive, you’ll dive into leading strategies and real-world examples from top community experts and learn from real-life case studies. Gain the skills, confidence, and insights to ignite and strengthen your association's community. Whether you’re building from scratch or enhancing an existing community, this program equips you to engage members meaningfully, foster lasting connections, and turn your community into a valuable strategic asset.
Strengthen Your Community Management Strategy
This intensive goes beyond the basics, helping you build a comprehensive strategy for community success. Walk away with tools that help you position your community for long-term success and impact and set a clear roadmap that aligns with your association’s mission.
Measurement
Learn which metrics matter most in community management. We’ll cover how to benchmark your community's performance, measure impact, and communicate Return on Investment (ROI) to key stakeholders, including members and leadership. You'll gain insights into tracking your progress and showcasing the value of your community.
Learn How to Ignite Your Community
Spark genuine engagement and connection within your community. Through expert-led sessions, you’ll learn strategies to bring members together, inspire loyalty, and create a dynamic space where members feel valued, heard, and motivated to participate.
Optimise Community Moderation and Safety
A successful community requires careful moderation. This program provides best practices for fostering an inclusive and safe environment without stifling engagement. You'll learn how to balance open dialogue with respect, ensuring a positive experience for all members.
What's Included?
Throughout this four-week program, you’ll get access to:
- Expert-Led Webinar and Workshop: Learn from industry experts as they guide you through the essentials of community management tailored for associations. Gain practical insights and actionable strategies to ignite and strengthen your community.
- Real Case Studies: Hear real-life success stories from association peers who have transformed their communities. Learn from their challenges, innovations, and achievements to apply these insights to your own community-building efforts.
- Templates: Receive professionally designed templates to streamline your community management processes. From engagement plans to moderation guidelines, these resources will help you implement best practices with ease.
- Engaged Community Forum: Join a private forum to share your experiences, ask questions, and collaborate with other association professionals on similar community-building journeys.
Program Outline
This intensive four-week program focuses on practical, actionable tools to help you get the most out of your member outreach:
Week 1: Community Management 101 - FREE
45-minute webinar – Free for everyone
Start with the foundations of effective community management tailored specifically for associations. This FREE session will introduce you to the core concepts and outline what successful community management looks like in today’s landscape.
- Wednesday, 5 March, 12:00 pm AEDT
Week 3: Industry Case Studies – Inspiration from the Field
1-hour webinar with industry speakers
Hear directly from associations that are leading the way in community engagement. Learn from their successes, challenges, and innovations as they share firsthand insights in this panel discussion.
- Thursday, 20 March, 11:00 am AEDT
Week 2: Workshop & Templates – Building the Basics
1.5 hours interactive workshop and access to tools & templates
Dive deep into hands-on strategies for managing a community, complete with ready-to-use templates that make the process efficient and impactful. This practical workshop will equip you with everything you need to get started.
- Tuesday, 11 March 12:00 pm AEDT
Week 4: Q&A Session
An open forum where participants can exchange insights, ask questions, and gain guidance from both instructors and peers. This collaborative session lets you address any lingering questions and learn from others’ experiences.
- Tuesday, 25 March, Time: 12pm AEDT
Program Outline
This intensive four-week program focuses on practical, actionable tools to help you get the most out of your member outreach:
Week 1: Community Management 101
45 minutes – Free for everyone
Start with the foundations of effective community management tailored specifically for associations. This session will introduce you to the core concepts and outline what successful community management looks like in today’s landscape.
- Wednesday, 5 March, 12:00 pm AEDT
Week 2: Workshop & Templates – Building the Basics
1.5 hours interactive workshop and access to tools & templates
Dive deep into hands-on strategies for managing a community, complete with ready-to-use templates that make the process efficient and impactful. This practical workshop will equip you with everything you need to get started.
- Tuesday, 11 March 12:00 pm AEDT
Week 3: Industry Case Studies – Inspiration from the Field
1-hour webinar with industry speakers
Hear directly from associations that are leading the way in community engagement. Learn from their successes, challenges, and innovations as they share firsthand insights in this panel discussion.
- Thursday, 20 March, 11:00 am AEDT
Week 4: Q&A Session
An open forum where participants can exchange insights, ask questions, and gain guidance from both instructors and peers. This collaborative session lets you address any lingering questions and learn from others’ experiences.
- Tuesday, 25 March, Time: TBA
Who Should Join?
This program is perfect for:
- Membership Managers: Professionals looking to strengthen community engagement and improve retention rates through effective community management strategies.
- Association Executives: Leaders seeking to elevate their organisation’s member engagement, foster deeper connections, and leverage community as a strategic asset.
- Marketing Teams: Teams responsible for member outreach who want to enhance their effectiveness, boost interaction quality, and create lasting, meaningful member connections.
Cost
general admission (INCL. GST)
$199
- Introductory Webinar
- Workshops & Templates
- Industry Case Studies Webinar
- Q&A Session
VIP Ticket (INCL. GST)
$385
- Everything in General Admission, plus
- VIP 1-on-1 on-hour session with Venessa Paech to answer all your burning questions
Note, we’re offering two complimentary tickets for every Membership Marketing School workshop for staff members of small associations and association emerging leaders. Click here for more information.
Take the first step to a thriving community—sign up now!
Meet Your Instructors
Olena Lima
Founder & Principal Consultant, MemberBoat
Olena Lima CAE is the driving force behind the digital marketing agency MemberBoat and the online educational platform Membership Marketing School, both dedicated to help professional associations, industry bodies, and other membership organisations embrace emerging digital marketing tools.
Olena holds a master’s degree in marketing from UNSW and the CAE (Certified Association Executive) credential – a mark of excellence in the association management profession.
With a background in strategic marketing, passion for innovation and technology, and a deep commitment to raising industry standards, Olena shares her knowledge with associations professionals through workshops, speaking at conferences and industry events.
Venessa Paech
Co-Founder and Director of Australian Community Managers (ACM)
Venessa Paech (BFA, MA) is an internationally regarded online communities expert and educator. She has led community for Lonely Planet, REA Group, Envato and Australia Post.
Through her private consultancy, Venessa helps organisations design, build and maintain thriving communities that meet strategic objectives, offering strategic development, coaching, training, and capacity building. Her clients have included: ABC, Teach for Australia, QUT, University of Sydney, Australian Conservation Foundation, SANE, Bunnings and Woolworths.
In 2009 Venessa founded the Australian Community Manager Roundtable which in 2011 became Swarm, Australia’s premiere conference for community practitioners. Venessa programmed and led Swarm for 11 years, gathering hundreds of community professionals across Australia and beyond.
Venessa is Co-Founder and Director of Australian Community Managers (ACM), the national centre of excellence for online community management training and resources. ACM hosts a 6000+ online community, produces research into community management, facilitates the national Code of Ethics for community professionals and offers certified training for anyone working with online groups or communities (professional or volunteer).
What's included?
Each week, you'll receive a detailed list of tasks to guide you through the clean-up process. These tasks are designed to be manageable and impactful, helping you make significant progress without feeling overwhelmed.
WEEK 1: TAKE CONTROL
Your own platforms
During the first week we'll review the platforms and content you own and can control. We'll be checking all your assets, including your website, automated emails, and other software elements that are easy to miss.
week 2: social check-in
Check your social media presence
During the second week of the Challenge, we'll review your social media platforms and unveil how you can easily optimise your digital presence and improve your social media marketing.
WEEK 3: Don't hide, seek attention!
Make sure you're easy to find
Our presence is not limited by the media we own – we often send information to our partners to expand our presence. During this week, we'll check your partner links, learn about how third-party tools (e.g. Google My Business) can broaden your presence, and share tips on improving your search results.
WEEK 4: What's out of your control
The voice of your audience
Your digital presence is also defined by things totally out of your control – like reviews or comments on social media. This week we'll learn about the tools and techniques for improving how you listen and respond to what people say about your association.
But wait! There's more!
✔ Run a website health check
✔ Optimise your social marketing
