Event Garde <![CDATA[Blog]]> http://local.eventgarde/index.php en-us jenny@eventgarde.com Copyright 2026 2026-08-21T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Who Will Carry the Plan Forward? Building Succession Planning Into Your Strategic Plan]]> 2026-08-21T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Gardian of the Month: Trish Lopucki]]> 2026-08-14T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[How Associations Can Build Education Programs That Drive Engagement and Revenue]]> Education is one of the most valuable benefits an association can offer. But even strong education content can fall short if members do not clearly understand the value.

Many associations are putting more time, effort, and resources into education than ever before, yet still face challenges like low follow-through, difficult-to-explain pricing, disconnected programs, or members who are unsure which offerings are right for them.

The issue is not always the quality of the content. Often, it comes down to how the value is structured, communicated, and delivered.

]]> 2026-08-11T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[When Trust Breaks Down Between Partner Organizations: A Facilitation Path Forward]]> 2026-08-07T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[More Than a Meeting Planner]]> 2026-07-31T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[The Capacity Question: Building Strategic Plans That Match Organizational Reality]]> 2026-07-24T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Gardian of the Month: Karen Williams]]> 2026-07-17T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[From U-Shape to Pods: Why We Rethought the Room]]> 2026-07-10T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Five Fresh Ways Associations Can Energize Their Chapters in 2026]]> 2026-07-03T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[To Be Influenced: Rethinking How We Build Authentic Alignment]]> 2026-06-26T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[When the Hotel Drops the Ball: How Event Managers Can Stay in Control Onsite]]> 2026-06-19T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Gardian of the Month: Jaime Costello]]> 2026-06-12T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Your Committee Structure Has Been Accumulating for Years. It Might Be Time to Take Stock.]]> 2026-06-05T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Building Connection Through Gamification]]> 2026-05-29T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[The Magic Numbers Behind Great Strategic Planning]]> 2026-05-22T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Gardian of the Month: Christopher Urena]]> 2026-05-15T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[From RACI to MOCHA: A Better Framework for Getting Strategic Work Done]]> 2026-05-08T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[You Don’t Need to Be the Expert to Be an Effective Facilitator]]> 2026-05-01T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[It’s Not About Using AI More, It’s About Using It Better]]> 2026-04-24T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Professional Development as a Leadership Signal]]> 2026-04-21T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Emergency Preparedness Isn’t Optional, It’s Leadership]]> 2026-04-17T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Gardian of the Month: Tracy Vecchio]]> 2026-04-10T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[How I Balance Visionaries and Doers in Strategic Planning Facilitation]]> Some people thrive in big-picture visioning, while others want concrete next steps. In strategic planning, keeping both groups engaged is crucial. Here’s how Dilhara designs for both.

]]> 2026-04-03T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[The Emperor’s New Tech: Hype, Utility, and Social Reactions]]> 2026-03-27T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[When the Cobbler’s Kids Have Good Shoes: A Look Inside Our 2026 Strategic Planning Retreat]]> 2026-03-20T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Gardian of the Month: Sarah Martin]]> 2026-03-13T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Communication Is Key in Strategic Planning]]> 2026-03-06T15:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[When “We’ve Always Done It This Way” Is Costing Your Conference More Than You Think]]> 2026-02-27T15:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[The Tools and Resources That Powered Event Garde’s Gardians in 2025]]> 2026-02-20T15:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Gardian of the Month: Erica Leyko]]> 2026-02-13T15:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[What Makes a Good Team Retreat? Lessons from Ours]]> 2026-02-06T15:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Making Facilitation Impact Visible: What the 2026 State of Facilitation Means for Associations]]> 2026-01-30T15:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[The Importance of Engagement in Your Events…and Why You Can’t Afford to Ignore It]]> 2026-01-23T15:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Gardian of the Month: Charlena Frank]]> 2026-01-16T15:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[14 Must-Have Resources to Explore]]> In celebration of our 14th year, we’re pleased to share our 14 most impactful resources from 2025 — a curated countdown of the tools and ideas that shaped our work this year. From practical tools and hands-on guides to thought-provoking perspectives, these resources have helped our community stay informed, inspired, and connected. We hope they spark fresh ideas and inspiration for the year ahead!

]]> 2026-01-13T15:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Introducing Our New Tools Tab: Practical Resources to Support Your Work All Year Long]]> 2026-01-09T15:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[What We Learned from the Top Event, Association, and Marketing Reports of 2025]]> Every year, the industry releases a wave of reports trying to answer the same question: what is actually changing? In 2025, the answer is clearer than ever. Across events, associations, and marketing, one idea keeps surfacing.

]]> 2026-01-02T15:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Celebrating a Year of Milestones]]> 2025 has been our most impactful year yet! We’ve had the opportunity to work across more fields than ever before, partnering with clients who are driving meaningful change, advancing professional development, and strengthening communities nationwide. Here are the wins Event Garde celebrates, both big and small, that shaped an incredible 2025.

]]> 2025-12-30T15:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[How Organizations Change by Revisiting What Matters]]> 2025-12-26T15:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[From “Bigger” to “Better”: How Associations Are Rethinking Conference Scale]]> For decades, success in association conferences was often measured by size: more attendees, more sessions, more square footage, more exhibit booths. Bigger felt safer. Bigger looked impressive in board reports. Bigger suggested growth. But as association plan for 2026 and beyond, many are realizing that bigger is no longer synonymous with better. And, in some cases, it's actively working against their goals.

]]> 2025-12-19T15:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Gardian of the Month: Bob Doyle]]> 2025-12-12T15:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Ethical Facilitation: A Practical Guide to Integrity in Design, Delivery & Debrief]]> 2025-12-05T15:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[How to Lead an Effective End-of-Year Team Reflection]]> 2025-11-28T15:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Pause Without Losing Momentum: A Practical Year-End Reset Guide]]> 2025-11-21T15:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Gardian of the Month: Christina Lewellen]]> 2025-11-14T15:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Future-Proofing the Events Industry: Insights from EIC’s Futures Landscape Study 2025]]> 2025-11-07T15:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Reflecting on a Season of Connection and Growth]]> 2025-10-31T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Maintaining Momentum When Every Project Feels Like a Priority]]> 2025-10-24T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Gardian of the Month: Laura Custy]]> 2025-10-17T14:00:00+00:00 <![CDATA[Communication is Key: How Smart Communication Drives Strategic Planning Success]]> 2025-10-10T14:00:00+00:00