by Nancy Carfrae, UIA Singapore. For over 100 years the UIA has been working to promote and facilitate the work of international associations. Since 2007 the UIA Associations Round Tables have given associations an opportunity to learn through networking and through practice. This year again international associations – professional societies, service organizations, interest groups, charities, and all other types, active in all fields of human endeavour – are invited to send representatives to the UIA Round Tables to meet other international associations, to share experience and knowledge, and to gain practical skills and tools. For the first time the Round Table comes to Asia, on 23 and 24 October 2013 in Singapore at the Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre and as a partner event to TravelRave 2013. The programme begins after lunch on 23 October with a keynote presentation on “The role of international associations in the world: past, present and future” by Cyril Ritchie, Vice-President of UIA and President of CoNGO (Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations). Then Greta Kotler, Chief Global Development Officer of ASAE’s Center for Association Leadership, introduces and leads a discussion on “Ensuring value for your members”, looking at how associations can meet their members’ needs and ensure value for them. The afternoon finishes with a different look at membership challenges, with Rob Davidson, Senior Lecturer in Events Management at the University of Greenwich, exploring the topic “What does Generation Y want from your association?” The future of associations clearly depends upon achieving a sound understanding of this generational cohort and what they want from association membership and events. The Round Table dinner which closes the first day gives delegates the opportunity to continue the discussions started in the afternoon sessions. The second day, 24 October, begins with a keynote presentation by Dorjee Sun, Director and Founder of the Carbon Conservation Group, entitled “Innovation and Creativity: unlocking the thunderbolt”, with examples of creative and innovative strategies associations can use for member recruitment and fundraising. This is followed by a discussion on the relevance of corporate social responsibility strategies for associations, “Making a sincere commitment to bettering society”, led by Patrizia Semprebene Buongiorno of the International Foundation of Doctors for Central Africa. Finally, a panel of association executives and management professionals considers the question “Making the switch: manage your association and your events yourself, or work with a professional?” The Round Table closes with a lunch for all the delegates. The UIA Associations Round Table – Asia 2013 is possible thanks to the support of the Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau, MP International, Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre, TravelRave 2013, and other partners. UIA also thanks AIM International for its ongoing assistance. And there is more! The UIA Associations Round Table in Europe will be held in Brussels on 12 November at the Pullman Hotel at Brussels Midi. For more information about both UIA Associations Round Tables, please visit roundtable.uia.org | ||||||