A Practical Guide to Globalization for Associations

Reflecting their ample collective experience in trade and individual-membership organizations, authors Donna Hasslinger and Dick Blatt have delivered a deliberate, effective approach to global strategy and considerations from which any membership organization can benefit.
A Practical Guide to Globalization for Associations focuses on tracing a global path to opportunities outside of North America--and doing so in a way that is scalable to organizations of all sizes, scopes, and budget sizes. Use the book to

• Get an overview of the global changes that are affecting associations and other nonprofit organizations.
• Reach an informed decision about beginning or extending a global effort.
• Learn how to plan and develop a global strategy.
• Gain guidance for an implementation plan that includes phases, metrics, and financial goals.
• Ensure sustainability and take advantage of the new global footprint.

This book brings to the leadership and management of membership organizations a methodical and comprehensive framework for considering, planning, executing, and evaluating global activities. Turn discussion into action.

Donna Hasslinger has over 40 years of operations experience in global, mission-driven, nonprofit, member organizations. She spent 30 years with the National Geographic Society in Washington, DC, serving for 10 years as the vice president of worldwide member services with responsibilities for offices in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa; strategic planning; projects in re-engineering, corporate culture change, assessment of third-party providers, outsourcing implementation, and disaster recovery planning; 600 employees; and a $120 million budget. Donna also served as the vice president of member and volunteer services for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education in Washington, DC, where she focused on membership and customer service; outsourcing conference registration services; disaster recovery planning; benchmarking software development; establishment of an industry advisory council; and support for offices in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. As the worldwide director of volunteer and member services for the Drug Information Association in Philadelphia, PA, she had responsibility for the volunteer program, membership, and customer service; assessment of association management companies and implementation of an outsourced solution for the association's new office in China; and supporting offices in North America, Europe, Japan, and India. She staffed association boards, advisory committees, and task forces and presented findings to the U.S. Government Council of Excellence, the Association for Work Process Improvement, and the Institute of International Research. Donna holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from the University of Maryland.

Dick Blatt is President of Planar World Consulting LLC, a consulting firm specializing in helping associations deciding to go global, developing and visioning practical and affordable globalization plans, implementing those plans, and enhancing and sustaining global efforts. Dick offers a wealth of hands-on experience for going global based on 17 years as chief executive at POPAI--The Global Association for Marketing at Retail. He had primary responsibility for establishing organizations in 20 countries across Western and Eastern Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, South America, and Africa, with over 900 corporate affiliates headquartered outside of North America. He is an author and frequent speaker on globalization. Dick serves on the American Society of Association Executives International Section Council where he has served as Content Planning Chair for ASAE's 2012 International Conference. He also served for 10 years on the prestigious U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100, a group of leading association executives. He was selected to provide the Center for Association Leadership with two case studies of project excellence for going global and reinventing the association. He has also been featured in association publications, including ASAE's Association's Now Leadership Issue, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Association Agenda, and GWSAE's Executive Update. Before entering nonprofit management with the American Advertising Federation, Dick worked for President Jimmy Carter as deputy director of voter contact. His corporate background includes marketing and operations work in telecommunications with MCI and GTE Sprint. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Dickinson College and his Master of Business Administration from New York University.