In order to keep it a “must-attend event,” the American Society of Association Executives is planning some changes to its annual meeting, to be held August 6–9 in St. Louis, Mo. The modifications were recommended by participants at a leadership retreat last fall in New Orleans and approved by the board of directors.

“Based on the rich feedback from attendees, as well as input from our volunteer leaders at the leadership retreat, we’ve approved a series of improvements that will make ASAE’s annual convention an even more enriching experience,” said ASAE Chairman-Elect and Chairman of the ASAE Foundation Peter O'Neil, CAE, executive director of the American Industrial Hygiene Association, Fairfax, Va.

Among the changes are two general sessions instead of three, one to open the convention and one to close it. A new Awards & Recognition Breakfast will replace the second-day general session. New Certified Association Executives, Diversity Executive Leadership Program scholars, fellows, leadership academy members, and Gold Circle Award winners will be honored at the breakfast.

Also new will be three Game Changers’ sessions, featuring renowned business leaders and practitioners with cutting-edge ideas to share with attendees.

Finally, the association will launch the First-Time Attendee Experience, a program designed to help new attendees effectively navigate the event and maximize the learning and networking potential of the convention. Read more about ASAE’s Annual Meeting and Exposition.

In other ASAE news, nearly 500 association professionals participated in the Power of A Week program, March 28–April 1, designed to show lawmakers the impact associations have on the economy and society.

As part of the program, ASAE invited association leaders from 30 states to Washington, D.C., for meetings with elected leaders and government officials to convey the message of the importance of associations to the economy and society. Among the data presented was the Convention Industry Council’s Economic Significance of Meetings report, which shows meetings generate $263 billion in spending and create 1.7 million jobs.