ASAE & CAE Exam

In preparation for my CAE examination in 2010, the other day I attended a 1-hour audio visual presentation called “Got CAE?” moderated by two representatives from the ASAE CAE Certification Commission. The presentation was to provide exam orientation for those individuals who are making CAE their designation. I must say that it provided quite a number of tips and network resources that candidates can purchase, or attend to, which are to assist and educate them as to what the content of the exam will cover. Candidates can purchase reference handbooks, join listservs, network with other professionals through discussion or focus groups, etc. Any of these means of study will cost roughly $1000-$1500 all together. Since my exam is in 2010, I could probably break this cost and incrementally save money for it. In either way, it is an investment to my professional career which is in a long run going to excel my marketability in the non-profit world.

Oh, so one of the text books mentioned were “Association Law Handbook”, which fortunately my superior has a copy of. It is one big thick 500 or so page book, which talks about every single aspect of association management all in “law perspective”. I actually took it home last night and started to skim through it and there were several areas that I was really interested in, like for example, the call of duties of an executive director, which is essentially the role of a Chief Executive Officer or Chief Staff Executive. My career is not in that level (yet!) – but having their responsibilities conceptualized through this book I’m about to read I will have a broader understanding how essential an ED is to an association and how their responsibilities drive and shape it. Like what my superior said it is way more complex than it looks – but understanding an ED role in various perspectives, but in the “law perspective” it would provide me an overall positive impact to what I already know.

Being associated with the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) for almost 4 years now I will say that it made some tremendous positive elevation to my professional expertise. Networking with others in the same area and soon from other specialties I must say the greatest and most effective way to learn about association management. In mingling with others, there are hundreds – if not thousands – of the younger generation that are now in the non-profit workforce throughout the country. However, very few of them though are in their junior professional management career like myself. Although I had been working and helping operate associations during the last 4 years, my career is yet to be in that senior level. But, when I hit the 10 year mark, I will be qualified for a senior management position.

I would also like to point out that the non-profit workforce are in fact expanding rapidly throughout the country. Although the majority of them are centralized in the Metropolitan Washington DC area. The few associations not headquartered in DC are most likely trade associations and philantrophic organizations. The larger group, on the other hand, is made up with a variety of professional membership and trade associations, such as medical, educational, science, research, training, law, manufacture, agriculture, and community-based associations. All of which involves both earlier and recent generations working within them. My generation is either in the administrative operational positions (or best known entry levels) or junior management positions (like Managers and/or Directors). Whatever position either generation may have it just amazes me with the number of young individuals who start their work-life working for non-profit organizations. That’s where I started and it took me quite a number of years to get to where I am – over 6 years from being a Customer Service Representative to being a Marketing and Conference Program Director. For those who are in their younger age, if you have the interests in pursuing a career in association management, I suggest that you join ASAE and start mingling with other young professionals and gain your knowledge and experience. Start as early as possible and you’ll never know you might surpass my to-date accomplishment. Give it a try!

Well, over the next few months I will be studying the law handbook and continue to network until I’m fully ready to sit for the exam. I hope I will pass so that I can finally move to San Francisco (I hope before then, though!) Fun, fun, fun!

Oh, and by the way, my superior recently passed her CAE exam so she is now a Certified Association Executive – the “Ph.D. of association management”!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

d-Jae