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ESSAE Membership at Work Invest in Yourself. Invest in Your Team. Invest in Your Organization.Summer is a great time to make the most of your ESSAE membership. Invest in your own professional growth, equip your team with curated learning opportunities, support employee well-being, and discover new ways to add value for your members. ESSAE makes it easy to connect individuals and organizations with trusted, association-specific resources, practical solutions, and exclusive member benefits that help everyone thrive. Professional development isn't one-size-fits-all. That's why ESSAE curates high-quality educational opportunities specifically for association professionals. Whether you're preparing for or maintaining your CAE credential, onboarding new employees, expanding your team's expertise, or bringing fresh ideas back to your organization, ESSAE offers flexible learning opportunities designed to support every stage of an association career—and fit every schedule. Prepare for Your CAE: MSAE CAE Prep CoursesThinking about earning your Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential? ESSAE partners with MSAE to offer a comprehensive virtual CAE Prep Course designed to help association professionals prepare with confidence. Click below for the ESSAE discount code. Build Your Foundation in Association Management: Qualified Association Specialist (QAS) 2.0Whether you're new to the association profession, expanding your responsibilities, or cross-training your team, QAS 2.0 provides a comprehensive overview of association management. A discount is available for ESSAE members. This affordable, self-paced certificate program covers governance, membership, finance, meetings, marketing, advocacy, technology, legal issues, human resources, communications, and more. Participants have six months to complete the program and can earn 13 CAE-approved credit hours. Learn Anytime, Anywhere: ESSAE eLearningProfessional development doesn't have to fit into a conference schedule. Browse ESSAE's growing library of webinars and educational programs whenever it's convenient for you. Learn at your own pace while earning valuable continuing education credits. A discount is available for ESSAE members. Explore the ESSAE Knowledge HubLooking for practical resources you can use today? The ESSAE Knowledge Hub is a free online library featuring downloadable white papers, guides, eBooks, research reports, case studies, infographics, and other timely resources covering leadership, membership, technology, meetings, governance, business strategy, and more. New content is added regularly by trusted industry experts and solution providers. No matter where you are in your association career, ESSAE is here to help you continue learning, growing, and leading—all summer long. Your Blog Pour Over With ESSAERead. Learn. Share. Visit the ESSAE Blog for timely insights, practical tips, and fresh perspectives from association professionals and industry experts. Have expertise to share? We welcome member and partner contributions that help strengthen our association community. Exclusive Savings. Member Connections. Added Value.One of the many benefits of ESSAE membership is access to our Member-to-Member Benefits Program—an exclusive collection of discounts, special offers, and services provided by ESSAE members exclusively for fellow ESSAE members. Whether you're looking to save on products and services for your organization or discover trusted partners within our community, the Member-to-Member Benefits Program is a great way to maximize the value of your membership while supporting fellow members. Explore Current Member-to-Member Benefits Have an Exclusive Offer to Share?If your organization offers a special discount, service, or promotion exclusively for ESSAE members, we'd love to feature it. Sharing a benefit is an easy way to increase your visibility, connect with fellow members, and add even more value to the ESSAE community. Submit Your Member-to-Member Benefit Not Yet an ESSAE Member?Membership connects you with a strong network of association professionals while providing access to high-quality professional development, exclusive member resources, networking opportunities, and valuable programs like our Member-to-Member Benefits. Mid-Year Special New 2026 Memberships Are 50% OffJoin now and enjoy ESSAE connections, resources, and professional development for the rest of 2026 at half the annual membership rate. Learn More About MembershipConnect, Contribute, and Grow Our CommunityJoin an ESSAE CommitteeJoining an ESSAE committee is a great way to deepen your involvement, expand your professional network, and help shape the future of our association. Committee participation offers valuable opportunities to collaborate with industry peers, share your expertise, develop leadership skills, and make a meaningful impact on programs and initiatives that benefit our entire community. Invite a Colleague to JoinKnow a colleague who would benefit from meaningful connections, professional development, and valuable industry resources? Invite them to become a member of ESSAE. Referring a colleague is a great way to help grow our community while giving them access to networking opportunities, educational programming, and a strong support system of association and hospitality professionals across New York State. Rita Lashway Scholarship Program: Apply by July 30ESSAE's Rita Lashway Scholarship (RLS) Program is now accepting applications for its next quarterly funding cycle. The application deadline is Thursday, July 30, with scholarship decisions anticipated in mid-September. Earlier this year, the Rita Lashway Scholarship Committee recommended several enhancements to the program, which were subsequently approved by the ESSAE Board of Directors. Updated guidelines and application materials will be available in early July. The RLS Program accepts applications on a rolling quarterly basis and helps association professionals invest in professional development, leadership growth, and career advancement. The program honors the legacy of Rita Lashway, a dedicated association professional and longtime ESSAE leader whose service helped shape both our organization and New York's association community. Through the generosity of ESSAE members and community supporters—and support from ESSAE's Holiday Celebration and Silent Auction—the scholarship continues Rita's commitment to investing in current and future association leaders. We were proud to celebrate Courtney Carroll and Erin Sinisgalli, recipients of the 2025 Rita Lashway Scholarship, as they graduated from ESSAE's Association Leadership Academy (ALA) Masters Program during the Annual Conference and Trade Show. Their success reflects the very purpose of the RLS Program: helping association professionals expand their knowledge, strengthen their leadership skills, and continue growing throughout their careers. Whether you're pursuing a professional credential, attending an educational program, or investing in another eligible professional development opportunity, we encourage you to explore the updated program and consider applying. The Premier Event for Association Leadership Harvest Highlight 2026Thursday, October 29, 2026 Registration rates and dates coming soon. Join top CEOs, C-suite executives, senior leaders, and volunteer board members from across New York State for Harvest Highlight—the premier event for association leadership. This experience delivers expert-led education, targeted networking, and strategic insights designed to help you tackle the evolving challenges of leading an association today. Whether you lead a large organization or a small association, Harvest Highlight is your opportunity to:
Be part of the conversations shaping the future of associations. Share Your Expertise with ESSAEESSAE is seeking thought leaders and subject matter experts—including association professionals, industry partners, consultants, and innovators—to share practical strategies, innovative ideas, and proven practices with New York's association community. We are particularly interested in engaging sessions aligned with the CAE exam content domains, as well as other timely topics that deliver actionable takeaways and address the challenges and opportunities facing today's association leaders and their teams. Presenting at ESSAE is an opportunity to build your professional visibility, expand your network, and connect with association decision-makers from across New York State. Ready to share your expertise?Visit our Call for Speakers page to learn about ESSAE's speaker submission and selection process, explore topics of interest—including CAE domains—and review our annual events before submitting your proposal. Our online submission form ensures your proposal is shared with the Program Committee for review. Proposals sent only by email may not be considered. Learn More and Submit a Proposal ESSAE accepts speaker proposals on a rolling basis. Upcoming opportunities include:
We look forward to hearing your ideas and welcoming new voices to the ESSAE stage in 2026, 2027, and beyond. Member Account, Registrations, and SupportAccess your membership profile, event registrations, receipts, invoices, member resources, and members-only scheduling options: For membership renewals, invoices, registrations, or general and technical support, contact Piper Lyons, Part-Time Member Services Support, at [email protected]. More ESSAE Programs and ResourcesAdditional 2026 EventHoliday Celebration and Silent Auction Payments and Office InformationESSAE accepts ACH and electronic payments through Bill.com. Payment Network ID: 0270223340247497 ESSAE operates virtually from: ESSAE.org is always open, and confirmation emails are automatically sent when registrations or payments are received. Follow @EmpireStateSAE on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for updates and announcements. |