The pilot session will be January 24, 8:30 to 4, at the ASAE complex at the Ronald Reagan Bldg in DC.
The session (and the game) is aimed at non-finance people: "Through the fun and ease of a traditional board game, you will be lead through the amusements of budget building and interpretation, as well as financial reporting. Working in small groups playing as teams, explore the financial implications of your actions (or inaction). Leave with a more tangible understanding of the terms and concepts that are key to nonprofit management."
Now, I am fairly competitive, but not particularly into board games (at meetings, anyway). The extent of my financial knowledge is doing budgets (which is not a bad skill in itself, mind) and asking the accountant for what I need, but I thought the way this game worked was insanely cool and I learned a lot from it. We played in teams (not competing against each other individually), rolled dice, moved money around and had to make decisions in response to various scenarios arrived at by picking cards. It allowed us to see how a financial decision could have short term effects but much more long term consequences, in a very compelling way. I think this could be a really fun and memorable tool for any association to use for their staff and their Boards - and I think it shows very clearly how interconnected all departments in an association are, which could be very useful, particularly in thinking about how to move towards a more agile model of association.
I encourage any ASAE member to attend the session (and if it fills up fast, I am sure they will put on more). To register email Libby at lbingham at asaecenter.org.
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