This month marks our 24th anniversary and as we embark on our 25th year (wow!) serving the association profession, we’ll share accomplishments, dreams realized (and still to come), and insights to help associations continue to thrive.
We’ll start with a quick snapshot of what we accomplished in 2025.
FOR ASSOCIATION PROFESSIONALS, LEADERS AND MORE … we released the deepest dive into geographic components to date: The 2025 Chapter Performance & Benchmarking Report
- After months of research, chatting with association CEOs, CRPs and staff, component/chapter leaders and volunteers, the component benchmarking and futures report explores what’s working – and what’s next – for member communities. This project was a true collective effort with association pros to explore what has been and can be for member community. Dive into the full report or read a quick scan of what we found.
*Published in collaboration with re:Members.
FOR OUR CLIENTS … we shared our experience and expertise.
- Strategy: We partnered with 13 consulting clients (a baker’s dozen!) through strategic planning, volunteer management, components relations, and more. Each project focused on building sustainable associations and energized member communities.
- Training, Speaking & Workshops: Our team delivered 45 workshops and training sessions around the county and around the globe, equipping volunteers and society staff with practical tools and fresh insights.
- Association Management: Peter Houstle continued his role as executive director for the Maryland Recycling Network providing hands-on leadership in association operations and governance. Beyond the day-to-day, he partners with the Board on Maryland legislative issues impacting the recycling and solid waste industries in Maryland – ensuring MRN remained a strong advocate for its members.
*Learn more about what we do and how we can help you.
FOR ASSOCIATION STAFF … we created a unique training program just for you.
- Volunteer Liaison Training: In January, we facilitated the 2nd Mastering your Volunteer Liaison Role session, a 2-part program* geared exclusively for staff working with volunteers and volunteer groups. Launched in the summer of 2024, the sessions consist of a 75-minute virtual basics exploring strategies for building a relationship with your volunteers, plus a full-day deeper dive workshop where participants work through the practical applications and challenges of managing volunteers.
*Created and facilitated in collaboration with association strategist and expert Kristine Metter, CAE.
FOR ASSOCIATION COMPONENT EXCHANGE PROS … we facilitated a series of in-person and virtual events:
- CEX 2025 (co-hosted with re:Members): The day-long workshop featured sessions on what the future for components may look like, how AI is changing the landscape, and why education may be the most powerful engine for content creation.*CEX returns on April 24, 2026! Join us in-person at the AGU Conference Center in Washington DC or virtually via Matchbox.
- Three FREE CRP Webinars (co-hosted with re:Members): The free webinars series continued with topics covering volunteer and leadership training/support and effective education strategies. Missed a webinar? Check out past webinar recordings here.
- Component Benchmarking Virtual Meet-Up (co-hosted with re:Members): The two-part interactive series featured the insights from the 2025 Benchmarking report. Session one explored the data while session two offered tips on turning these insights into real action.
- Local Component Utopia Webinar: This webinar explored two real-world association management models—one supported by an AMC, the other by HQ staff—with each designed to shift volunteer energy from administration to governance.
FOR OUR ASAE COLLEAGUES … we shared our time and expertise in a number of ways.
- Volunteering: We continued to actively support ASAE by lending our time to foresight drivers projects and helping update the CRP Handbook, scheduled for release in 2026. Additionally, Peggy authored a chapter for the Professional Practices in Association Management, 5th Ed also to be released in 2026. Finally, we took part in five webinars hosted by various associations, sharing our insights on volunteering and member engagement.
- Guest spot: Peggy chatted with Kelly Whelan from Higher Logic’s The Member Engagement Show for how to transform your volunteer program. A key takeaway: volunteering isn’t dead … it’s just undergoing a transition, and it’s time for associations to catch up. This was in advance of keynoting the closing session of Higher Logics HUG conference covering the topic.
*Visit our Reports & Tools page for research, whitepapers, and more.
FOR OUR FOLLOWERS (and fans!) … we kept the ideas flowing.
- Content Creation: We sent out 11 Waypoint—our monthly newsletter—plus 5 additional emails to 542 subscribers and published 36 blog posts on the Mariner blog including guest posts and interviews with other thought leaders (love sharing information!)
p.s. One of our favorite Waypoint responses was an email saying how much they love the Quick Links section! Missed them? Check out some of our top picks here and here!
Stay tuned to see what we’re up to next (the sky’s the limit!)