Blog: Wes’s thoughts, articles, and insights

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My most recent posts

Data management is improvisation

By Wes Trochlil | September 16, 2026

Data management is improvisation I was listening to a podcast recently featuring TV writer Rob Long. During the podcast he said (I’m paraphrasing) that, in order to be successful, one needs to learn to improvise, because nothing in life ever goes as planned. One of my favorite sayings is, “If you want to make God […]

Who own the AMS company is like the weather…

By Wes Trochlil | September 9, 2026

Who own the AMS company is like the weather… When I work with clients to find a new AMS, one of the most common questions I get is: “Is the software company owned by private equity or is it privately owned?” While I think this is a legitimate question to ask and have answered, it […]

“As good or better than me.”

By Wes Trochlil | September 2, 2026

“As good or better than me.” I was recently speaking with a software developer working on AI and we were discussing using natural language querying in an AMS. I told him, “The biggest challenge you face is that the first time the AI is wrong, staff will never use it again.” He agreed but then added: “The […]

Documentation is insurance

By Wes Trochlil | August 26, 2026

Documentation is insurance In a conversation with a client about their data management needs, the client pointed out that if they lost one or two key staff members, so much institutional knowledge would go with them that the association would have real difficulty managing their AMS. I recommended that they should document all of their key processes so […]

It all comes down to fundamentals

By Wes Trochlil | August 12, 2026

It all comes down to fundamentals I’m preparing for a webinar that I’m presenting in a couple of weeks, on using data to improve marketing and communications. This is a presentation (in one form or another) that I’ve made for nearly 20 years, and it includes an excellent case study of one association that dramatically improved their […]

Older Posts

Some rest from blogging

July 2, 2007

I’ll be taking a rest from blogging during the week of July 4th. My typically brilliant posts on data management […]

Do as I Say, Not as I Do

June 29, 2007

There’s an old saying: “There are those that back up, and those that will.” And as I mention here, it’s […]

.net vs. PHP and Technology Architecture

June 28, 2007

There was a thread on the ASAE technology listserver a few weeks back about whether an association should choose an […]

Data Entry, Then and Now

June 27, 2007

It was 20 years ago this June that I took a summer job at my college alumni association. I had […]

Bleg

June 27, 2007

Update: Many thanks to Lisa Junker at ASAE for sending me her copy of this post.  I published a post […]

Even the BIG Guys Get It Wrong

June 25, 2007

I’ve ranted in the past about getting your mass emails right. Well it seems that even the big guys have […]

Managing Multiple Systems

June 22, 2007

On Wednesday of this week I spoke at ASAE's Marketing & Membership Conference. Another sold-out show for the MMC, which […]

Online Registration

June 18, 2007

On Nick Senzee's blog, he writes about his experience with ASAE's Annual Meeting registration process. Nick raises some good points […]

Tell Me What To Do!

June 15, 2007

You may recall an episode of Seinfeld where Jerry is having his kitchen re-done. Whenever Jerry asks his carpenter what […]

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