Welcome to FSAE!

Being the newbie can feel overwhelming, so we want to help make your member journey more comfortable and easier to navigate. You will receive all of this information in a series of emails, but we've collected it all here as a reference and access point to make it easier for you. We're so glad you're here!

Check the calendar for quarterly virtual New Member Orientations to learn more about the organization and meet other newbies!

Have a question? Meet the Staff and contact us at any time - we are here to help.

Here's a quick overview of how to make the most of your membership:

Executive Member First, let's clarify your membership type.

Executive Members work directly for an Association or an Association Management Company (AMC). This means anyone who works for an association or AMC, not just senior staff or "executives."

Associate Members are essentially everyone else - meaning people / companies that want to do business with associations like hoteliers, consultants, third-party meeting planners, tech companies, bankers - you get the idea.

Your member type may determine the events you can attend and pricing for products and services.

Attend an Event

Events are the best way to meet other association professionals while getting education relevant to your job at the same time! Executive Members are able to attend pretty much all events we offer. This includes Conferences, Power Luncheons, Summits, Roundtables and online webinars and virtual meetings. Associate members have some limitations, but you still have lots of opportunities.

Check the calendar for quarterly virtual New Member Orientations to learn more about the organization and meet other newbies!

What do these event types mean?

Conferences are our larger events such as our multi-day Annual Conference in July, our one-day Summits: Women's Summit, new Membership & Marketing Summit, Leadership & Management Summit, and our Education Expo in October. All members are encouraged to attend.
Power Luncheons are luncheons held throughout the state, with several in Tallahassee as well as in Central Florida. All members are welcome to attend.
Roundtables are smaller, more informal lunch meet-ups with a speaker or a facilitated discussion. 2025 Roundtables are limited to Meeting Planners only or CEOs only, as indicated by the event name. You can always ask staff if you're able to come.
Webinars and Virtual Meetings are online educational opportunities, and these are open to everyone as well. Click here to view upcoming and on-demand webinars or committee-sponsored virtual events in our Digital Learning Platform

Access your Peer Network through our Online Community

Have a question for your peers? Ask in our Online Community! You can search through past conversations and shared resources, or start new ones. The Community also includes our online membership directory under Find a Member. This allows you to search by name, company, county or industry type.

Need help navigating? Check out the Help/FAQ page, or contact us.

Strengthen Your Association Management Skills

FSAE has resources to help you obtain your professional certifications like the Certified Association Executive (CAE) and/or Certified Meeting Planner (CMP). We provide hours towards both CAE and CMP and partner with organizations to offer study groups and materials at a member rate. Plus, Grant funding is available to help you cover the costs.

In addition, our Qualified Association Specialist on-demand program is an excellent way to start or refresh your association management education - plus you earn 12 hours towards your CAE. Make sure you ask about our new member discount for this program.

New in 2025: AE-MBA Program - This fully virtual, 10-week opportunity is based on the foundation of MBA fundamentals, created exclusively for Association Executives. Beginning April 15, 2025, leaders will go through 10 engaging eLearning modules, paired with five expert-led live discussions covering people management, organizational leadership, and business finances. Grant funding is available!

Get Involved - Volunteer

Volunteers are vital to the success of FSAE and the FSAE Foundation and help strengthen our professional community. Serving on a Committee or volunteering at Annual Conference is also a great way to enhance your skill-set as well as build relationships with fellow members. Committee service follows our Board terms and is typically September - June, with monthly conference calls. Learn more about Committees and our Board of Directors. Also, check out our ongoing micro-volunteer opportunities to get started now.

If it's mid-Committee term and you'd like to get involved, contact us!

Share Your Expertise

FSAEs Source Magazine highlights best practices in association management and shares member success stories. We're always looking for great content to share with members, so contact us to share your expertise. The magazine is mailed 6 times annually and past issues are always available online. Plus, we help keep members in touch with one another through our Member News.

Find a Job / Recruit Talent

The FSAE Career Center is an excellent resource for open positions in Associations/AMCs in both state and national associations. Post your resume, get job alerts and improve your job-seeking skills with our Career Center Resources.

The Career Center is also a great way to find talent for your organization! Post your jobs with a member discount and search resumes of association professionals. Plus, you support FSAE when you use the service.

Apply for a Professional Development Grant

The FSAE Foundation helps members achieve their professional goals by providing professional development grant funding to attend events like Annual Conference or earn professional certifications like CAE and CMP. Grants are available to all members, including Associate Members and some of our specialized grants are reserved for communication staffers, Young Professionals, Small Staff, Under-Represented Diverse Groups and one specifically for a non-member (tell your friends!).

Grant applications opened Dec 1, 2024 and close February 28, 2025. Learn More

Become an Association Leader

Each year, FSAE recognizes members who stand out for their exemplary service to the organization and the association management community. Our Leadership Awards recognize individuals through our Executive of the Year, Associate of the Year and Rising Stars awards, and organizations through Association of the Year and Supporting Associate Organization of the Year. Awards are presented at our Annual Conference in July. Nominations for awards open in mid-April.

Learn more about FSAE Leadership Awards and view previous winners.