Day 2 Bugaloo

If you are going to take the CAE, you should take the Immersion Course if at all possible. In fact, after attending Day 1 of the course, I can say that taking it is a good idea even if you are not planning to sit for the CAE.

Why? Because ASAE & the Center have put together a meaty program that allows association staffers to learn how to think through scenarios that really do happen in the association world, taking financial and political impact into consideration based on laws and best practices.

I was flattered when several people who read one or all of my blogs approached me throughout the day. Also, several ASAE folks remembered me and talked to me for awhile and that really helped to make me feel special.

Here are some images from the day!

Day 2 Immersion Course

The threat of winter weather couldn’t keep me away from the second day of class.

Day 1 Immersion

I am super excited to be heading off to the CAE Immersion Course today! This is Day 1 of the class and my hopes are high. I’m probably going to try to get some interviews with people in the class so I can share with all of you what it is like to be there. I feel so fortunate that my employer is paying so I can go! Hooray for DelCor!!!

I want to bring every book with me, but I’m not until I see how thing play out today…eek! I’m so nervous!!! And excited!

Here is what I am bringing with me:
1. My Livescribe pen so I can record and take notes to review at the same time.
2. My laptop…because it’s tethered to my soul.
3. My iPhone…see reason in #2 above.
4. Metro card because Metro is the cheapest and easiest way to get to ASAE.
5. My super cool tip about a flashcard iPhone app to help my fellow students study later. (I’ll link to the info when I edit this post later…I’m typing on my iPhone at present.)

Wish me luck!!

Day 1: Planning for Success

01/20/10 What I did today

• Posted blog about my intentions
• Asked for and received tips on studying for CAE via Twitter
• Counted up the missed points for the various domains from the failed quiz
• Reached out on YAP Group to start a CAE Study Group in DC Metro region
• Scheduled a “Domain of the Week” to focus on (not sure this is a good idea yet)
• Already added the day before the exam to my Outlook as a day off for prep
• Un-volunteered myself for a project that would take too much time and wouldn’t advance my career or study

Study Tips from CAEs to CAEs (01/20/10) – sent my via Twitter

@shellyalcorn: @kikilitalien study every day for one hour per day….concentrate less on what you know and more on how to dissect the question

@ljunker: @kikilitalien Be sure to know both the Law Handbook and Professional Practices in Association Mgmt well. #CAE #ASAE
@kikilitalien Also, Ben Martin’s CAE study tips are still very useful, I think: http://bit.ly/7qlirI #CAE #ASAE

@Deirdre Reid: @kikilitalien Schedule yr study time, at least an hour/day. Make up any missed hours on weekends, in addition to the wkend hr/day #CAE #ASAE

Study group w practice quizzes! RT @kikilitalien: Calling all CAEs! What’s yr #1 Top Tip for people studying for the exam?

@christytj: @kikilitalien #1 tip when studing 4 #CAE exam? Think like a CEO/ED of diff types of orgs, not just like ur position 4 your org.

@sgiarde: My CAE Tip: Take domain quiz, read, review quiz & then score it! Keeps you focused. RT @kikilitalien: What’s your #1 tip for CAE exam?

@rebecca_brandt: @kikilitalien If I had to pick one thing – Read the Association Law Handbook!

My Basic Study Plan

1. Study at least  1 hour a day
2. Read Law Book and Professional Practices books (I already have both –incl. the addendum to the Law book!)
3. Work with study buddies
4. Do practice exams along the way, review with study group
5. My personal note: Learn more about trade associations and talk to friends who work in them when I have questions

This is the Beginning

What better day to start than the present?

Today I am going to take 1 hour and create my study plan (including 30 minutes trying to locate or create a local study group). I am going to take an additional 30 minutes to review the latest information on the updated CAE test.

Tomorrow, I think I will start reading and working on Domain 1.  I say “think” because I haven’t created my plan yet and I am not sure what the new updates for the test are  yet.  For now,  I am assuming the Domains are probably mostly the same and I will likely proceed with studying them in order.

What do you think, CAEs? Is this the right direction? Feel free to leave me any advice.

“Every Day is Day One: Do It for 37 Days” – Patti Digh

Patti Digh (@pattidigh), author of Life is a Verb, and all around good egg will be my patron saint for this journey (although she doesn’t know it yet).