Well, I didn't keep up with this blog as well as I thought I would.  A lot has happened since I last wrote -- specifically since I attended the CAE Immersion Course offered by ASAE & The Center which kick started my studies with an study group that meets twice a week in Old Town Alexandria and another study session with a "study buddy" who just happens to live in the same town I live in (we meet for two hours each Saturday).

So I'll use the excuse that I'm studying so much that I haven't had time to blog, but I now realize I don't have to be as "long-winded" in my blogging making it more manageable to blog AND study!

At any rate, the immersion course was great -- a must for almost any candidate.  The content covered was useful, but even more than that was the breakdown on "testable" items and the feedback from CAEs who recently passed the same test that I plan on taking in December.  Some presenters were better than others which is typical with content such as this, but all-in-all, ASAE & The Center did a good job.

I feel like I know what to study now and how to go about it.  One of the most important things I learned was that what you need to know about this test isn't about the depth of each topic, but more about the breath or basics of it.  And no, what I'm studying now won't make me an expert in knowledge management or some finance guru, but I can say, that I've come to realize how important each and every facet revolving around the preparation of this test gives us.  I also know what areas I want to get "deeper" in to even after I've got that CAE designation.  

Just gotta love this profession!

The last time I "blogged" I mentioned that I had submitted my CAE application (which was received and is being processed as I type -- I hope to get some sort of official confirmation next week), but this week I actually signed up for the immersion course.  From what I can see, this course is offered twice a year...in February and then again in September (I guess that gives you plenty of time to digest what's presented before you sit for the exam in December or May).

On the course description it mentions that you should become familiar with or "review" the three reference books which are like the Holy Grails for the exam, but when I received the confirmation for the course it said that you should actually read the books prior to the first day of the course.  Well, for a mom of three "reviews" is a lot different than "reads."  OMG!

So I'm lighting a fire under myself trying to get through the Professional Practices in Association Management (PPAM) book and I'm really trying to figure out how I'm going to even begin Mr. Jacobs book (Association Law Handbook), but I'm up to the task.

One interesting "pearl" from PPAM has to do with Sustainability and I was intrigued, in particular, about the new approach of focusing on the customers' customer

Last week I attended the ASAE Conference -- this opportunity is always beneficial, obviously for the professional development, but this time I was able to do a fair share of networking (especially as I traveled back and forth on the shuttle to pick-up and drop-off my infant son at the Kiddie daycare!)

My first session was presented by Jamie DeSimone, a colleague with an expertise in Component Relations (formerly known as chapter relations).  I've worked with Jamie before -- she still serves on the ASAE Component Relations Council, which I also served on a couple of years ago.  We also worked together on the development of the Principles of Component Relations on-line course -- a course for beginning/intermediate level professionals.

Hello!  I plan to use this blog as an opportunity to alleviate my reluctance as I navigate through the CAE designation process.  By day, I am an association executive in a health care association in Northern Virginia.  I've been in the non-profit industry for seven years now and I really enjoy it and find it rewarding.  So much so, that I've decided to commit to the profession by becoming a Certified Association Executive.  This involves continuing educaton and a pretty extensive test (four hours long), but I think I can do it.

All of my other time (outside of work) is spent caring for three kids (7, 3, and 7 months) and a husband -- all of whom I love dearly...so I'm really starting to wonder if this will work.

I will also use this blog as to offer tips I come across about the exam; info on the most useful materials and courses, and reflect on the association industry in general.

Wish me luck!!!