Promoting the Professional Management of Associations

At Kellen Europe, we believe it is vital to take a leadership role in developing understanding of the role and functioning of associations and the benefits they provide.

This is important not "merely" towards the member companies or associations, but also towards other audiences, be they public bodies, government officials or the public generally.

Kellen Europe is active in many projects aimed at developing the leadership and professional management of associations and enhancing the image of the profession as a whole.

Leadership in Professional Development for Association Managers
We take a leadership role in organisations dedicated to the furthering of association managers' professional development. Alfons Westgeest, partner of Kellen Europe is an active member of the International Section of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). He was chairman of the ASAE International Section in 1997-1998 and was elected to the Board of Directors for the term 1999-2002. Alfons was the first international member of the ASAE to serve on the Board. Alfons and other Kellen Europe staff members are active in the ASAE as well as in the European counterpart network, the European Society of Association Executives (ESAE), and are regular speakers at their educational programmes.

Over the past years, the ESAE developed a professional qualification for European association managers - the European Certificate in Association Management (ECAM). The Open University, a distance-learning educational organisation based in the UK, begun a pilot programme offering this qualification in mainland Europe. Kellen Europe has actively supported this development: two staff members have been following the pilot programme and gained the Certificate in the Management of Non-Profit and Voluntary Organisations in May 2000. The Open University becomes the fifth University to offer the educational part of the ECAM, which is also offered by the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam; Fribourg University; Helsinki University and the University of Leicester

Sponsorship of Research - Knowledge vs. Information
We support and sponsor research into the professional management of associations, aimed af the further professional development of those involved in the field, but also aimed at raising the profile of the profession. It is for this reason that Kellen Europe is involved in major research initiatives. EuroConference 2004

In addition, our contributions to seminars, conferences and other educational programmes, where our staff members can share the benefits of their expertise and insights with other professionals in the field, means that Kellen Europe is constantly seeking ways to promote and enhance the professional management of associations.