Making a Case for Middle Managers
Can more middle managers make your association more effective? According to University of Sussex Business School Assistant Professor Zahira Jaser, "They are the engine of the business, the cogs that make things work, the glue that keeps companies together." She adds, "Especially as remote and hybrid work takes over — and the distance between employees increases — middle managers are more important than ever." Read more in this Harvard Business Review article.

8 "Don'ts" to Consider When You Draft Your DEI Policy
When you (and your members) look at revising your DEI policies, there are several pitfalls you can easily avoid, according to Fast Company contributor Stephanie Vozza. "Putting policies on paper" and not in action is one of them. Read more here.

Steal This Idea: Host a COVID-inspired Creative
Writing Contest
The Illinois State Bar Association is seeking creative writing submissions from its members. Members are invited to send in poems, short stories, essays, and other forms of written expression "capturing the essence of lawyering during the COVID-19 pandemic." The winner will receive a gift card, and their submission will be featured in an issue of the Illinois Bar Journal. Learn more here.

Not-To-Be Missed NABE Events

• NABE Classroom: Creating a Diversity Action Plan - June 15
  This event will take you "beyond the toolkit" and give you the information you need to implement your own Diversity Action Plan, featuring Patricia M. Jarzobski, Esq., past president of the Colorado Bar Association and member of the ABA Standing Committee on Bar Activities and Services.
   
• NABE Classroom/NCBP Webinar: Is It Live or Is It Zoom?
  Yes! How to Hybrid - June 29
  After a year of virtual events and Zoom networking sessions, the return of live events is just around the corner, and in-person events for your members may never look the same. So join us for this joint webinar in which we explore the possibilities of hybrid events and "how to hybrid" your next event. Our panelists (both bar association staff and officers) will share their experiences on how they went hybrid, while offering their thoughts on the pros and cons of this trending event format.
   
• NABE Classroom: Big to Small Ideas for Member
  Engagement - July 20
  If one of your goals is greater member engagement, you won't want to miss this special program.
   
• GR Section Workshop - November 17-19
  Save the Date! The GR Section Workshop will once again take place in person! The event is scheduled for November 17-19 in Washington, DC. Learn more and register here.

About NABE

• The Wait Is Over, the NABE 2.1 Series Starts in July
  Introducing the NABE 2.1 Series! For the past few weeks, we’ve been telling you about the “deconstructed” annual meeting, and we’re excited to share the details with you now. NABE 2.1 Series is comprised of inspiring plenary sessions and engaging networking opportunities, taking place throughout July, August and September. The series will include three inspirational educational sessions on leadership, wellness and diversity, equity and inclusion and three networking/social opportunities for you to connect with your bar colleagues across the country. Registration will be open soon, so look for announcements here and on NABE’s social media channels.
   
• New Program Titles – Same Great Content!
  We’re re-labeling our educational programs. Now all webinar programs will be a part of the “NABE Classroom,” all “Town Halls” will be labeled as “NABE Roundtables” and our online networking events will be labeled “NABE Social.” We look forward to seeing you in the NABE Classroom, at one of our NABE Roundtables, or at a NABE Social sometime soon! P.S. Did you know that all of our NABE Classroom webinar programs are free-of-charge for NABE members?
   
• There's No Place Like NABE: Time to Refer & Renew!
  We know that NABE is a special place to find community, support, resources, and insight that make our jobs easier and more fulfilling. To continue receiving the benefits of your NABE membership, be sure to renew your membership today at www.nabenet.org. Is there someone else in your association who would benefit from being a NABE member? If so, please share their name, title, and email address with Emma Buell, and we'll make sure they get information about our trial membership offer.

Share with Your Members

• Remote Working as a Recruitment & Retention Tool
  The Association of Legal Administrators recently published a white paper —"Remote Working as an Effective Recruitment and Retention Tool for Law Firms Post-COVID-19"— to "demonstrate how telecommuting and remote work can become a powerful recruitment and retention tool for law firms surfacing in the post-pandemic world." Access the white paper here.
   
• Thought Leadership via LinkedIn
  "Thought leadership" is a basic public relations principle. Law firm marketer Jay Harrington says, "Your thought leadership content acts as your agent — a public signal of your expertise amid all the noise online." He discusses the benefits of using LinkedIn as part of your thought leadership efforts here.