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

Free information on Association Learning

January 3, 2014

My friend and collegaue Jeff Cobb of Tagoras Consulting has just released a new white paper entitled “Association Learning and […]

New Article Posted – Enough Answers; Are You Asking the Right Questions

December 20, 2013

I’ve posted a new article on my website. The best consultants don’t just supply answers, they ask the right questions. Here […]

Yet another article in The Washington Post about embezzlement at a non-profit

December 2, 2013

In late October there was an article in The Washington Post about poor financial controls at DC non-profits. Last week […]

Auto-renewing membership

December 2, 2013

I’m often asked by my clients about using credit card auto-renewal for membership dues (or donations or other recurring charges). […]

You won't learn if you don't want to

November 25, 2013

In a meeting with a client recently, we were discussing some of the challenges the association was having with managing […]

Another reason I prefer off-the-shelf software

November 22, 2013

I’ve written several items in the past about why associations are better off with off-the-shelf association management software rather than […]

Attending the Euclid ClearVantage Users Group Conference

November 20, 2013

I got the opportunity to attend the Euclid ClearVantage Users Group Conference earlier this month. One of the reasons I attend […]

In Case You Missed It – Webinar on Business Intelligence

November 19, 2013

On November 5, 2013, I did a 30-minute webinar with Matrix Group International on “Mining Your Association Management Software for […]

New Article Posted – The Difference Between Data Management and Database Management

November 18, 2013

I’ve posted a new article on my website. As the title of this article suggests, there is a difference between data […]

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