Blog: Wes’s thoughts, articles, and insights

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My most recent posts

Blog post themes over 20 years…

By Wes Trochlil | August 5, 2026

Blog post themes over 20 years… I’ve been writing blog posts for nearly 20 years now. WordPress tells me I’ve written over 1,200 posts. So I asked AI to analyze my 1,200+ posts and give me my top three themes. Here’s what it came up with: Data management and data quality – these posts emphasize that data management is […]

Lots of feedback is a GOOD thing!

By Wes Trochlil | July 29, 2026

Lots of feedback is a GOOD thing! A client in the middle of their AMS implementation said to me: “I’m getting a LOT of feedback from staff about what the system can and cannot do. Is that good or bad?” My response: “Feedback means they’re actually in the system and using it! That’s a good […]

Doing the reps…

By Wes Trochlil | July 22, 2026

Doing the reps… I’m helping a client with the implementation of a new AMS. During a recent call, their internal project manager said “I’m still not as familiar with the system as I’d like to be. I need to get in there more often and play around.” I responded: “That’s exactly right. I suggest you […]

Add one, remove one

By Wes Trochlil | July 15, 2026

Add one, remove one In the world of home-organizing, there’s the “one in, one out” rule. Simply put, for every new item that enters your home, one similar item must leave, helping to maintain a constant level of possessions and prevent clutter accumulation. This would be a great rule for database managers when considering adding new fields […]

Spring cleaning, all year long

By Wes Trochlil | July 8, 2026

Spring cleaning, all year long I talk frequently about “weeding the garden,” the idea that proactively managing your data, consistently, over time, is a better practice than trying to clean up the data in one big effort once every couple of years. But beyond the data itself, weeding the garden should also include making sure all […]

Older Posts

Don't get hung up on exceptions

July 16, 2014

I was once working with a client during implementation of a new association management system. At one point we got into […]

How a good AMS can help trade associations with membership

July 14, 2014

In my almost-ten-years as an association professional, I worked for three different associations whose membership was based on organizations rather […]

Data conversion made easy

July 10, 2014

One of the biggest challenges associations face during a transition from one AMS to another is data conversion. Deciding what data […]

Use CRM functionality to track calls and promote the value of membership

July 8, 2014

Almost every AMS on the market today has some form of CRM (customer relationship management) functionality that allows staff to […]

When drawing a picture is better than using words

July 7, 2014

My oldest son (age 16) is interested in rebuilding our wooden swing-set, which is over 12 years old and in […]

Sometimes context is required

July 2, 2014

Recently I met my daughter at the bus stop after school and walked her home. As we approached my house, we picked up […]

Perfection kills

June 30, 2014

Some 25 years ago, I published a printed directory for the association I worked for which ultimately won an ASAE […]

Very often, it's the nickels and dimes that matter

June 26, 2014

AMS vendors often point out that, when considering the selection of a new AMS, the association needs to look at […]

"It's like a loaded gun; very powerful and very dangerous."

June 24, 2014

That’s what one of the AMS vendors said to me when describing the flexibility of their system. Sure, it’s hyperbole, […]

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