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What's Hot: Generations

I don't mean to focus only on Claire Raines as a speaker (I bought some of the books you listed, Mickie), but the generations issue has become very hot in the association world. The Association Forum in Chicago recently used Arthur Brooks, author of the Smith Institute report on Generations, as a keynote speaker at their annual meeting, and half of one day at ASAE & The Center's sold-out Membership and Marketing symposium covered the generations topic.

Interesting point from Brooks' presentation: Generation X and Millennials tend to blur the distinction between "life" and "work," so they are demanding workplaces where they get along well with others and are happy. If they don't get that, they go find another job (and turnover is expensive).

And from the Membership and Marketing sessions: first, there is a tendency in these discussions to make fun of generations younger than you. While we get some funny lines from that, I don't think it's productive. Second, let the younger generations create their own structures for involvement and activity in your organization (instead of you trying to figure it all out for them).