AMCI Charges into Q2: Celebrating Our Members,

Growing Our Community, and Advancing the Industry

Tina Wehmeir, CMP-Fellow, CAE, President & CEO, AMC Institute

As we move into Q2 of 2026, the energy across the AMC Institute is unmistakable. April brought new members, new educational milestones, exciting event momentum, and perhaps most meaningfully, a new initiative to formally recognize the remarkable firms that make AMCI what it is. The 50 by 50 Strategic Plan continues to gather strength, and every step forward is a testament to the dedication of this community.

Join us on Tuesday, May 19 at 2:00 PM (Eastern) for an upcoming EduSeries designed to help Association Management Companies move beyond experimentation and into real, strategic AI adoption. In this session, we'll explore how to turn curiosity into capability and create meaningful value for both your AMC and your clients.

Many AMCs remain stuck between basic experimentation and limited implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Now is the time to define a clear, strategic path to AI-driven value.

Architects of What’s Next: Why You Should Be at Engaged 2026 in Milwaukee

Kay Whalen, MBA, CAE, President, Executive Director, Inc. and AMCI Board Director

From July 27-29, the AMC community will gather in Milwaukee for one of the most anticipated events of the year—AMCI’s Engaged Meeting. More than a conference, Engaged has become the place where ideas are tested, relationships are strengthened, and the future of the association management industry takes shape.

40 Years Strong: IMI Association Executives Expands Impact in a Changing Nonprofit Landscape

Celebrating four decades of continuous leadership, nonprofit partnership, and a future focused on growth and expanded client impact

We're thrilled to announce that Rachel Druckenmiller will open AMCs Engaged 2026 as our keynote speaker.

From Deliverables to Direction: What’s Next for AMCs

Sarah Timm, CAE, CMP-HC, President & CEO, Parthenon Management Group, AMCI Board Chair 

Community Engagement and Development: Building AMCI as Your Professional Home 

Mike Dwyer, CAE Chief Client Officer & Partner, Association Headquarters, AMCI Board Director

We’re excited to welcome Rachel Druckenmiller as our AMCs Engaged keynote speaker. Rachel is a TEDx speaker and Certified Speaking Professional with nearly 20 years of experience helping leaders think clearly, speak confidently, and show up with stronger presence—skills that directly support the AMC business model.

Her keynote, REFLECT. REFRAME. RECALIBRATE: How to Lead Through What’s Next, is designed for the realities AMC professionals face every day.

Grow Your AMC with a Smarter Marketing Toolkit

There are just two weeks left until our upcoming webinar, Grow Your AMC with a Smarter Marketing Toolkit—a practical, hands-on session designed to help association management companies strengthen their marketing, communicate their value more clearly, and attract new clients with confidence.

Veritas Association Management Welcomes Society for the Advancement of Patient Blood Management

Healthcare association selects Veritas to strengthen governance, operational infrastructure and member engagement

As we complete the first quarter of 2026, the momentum across AMC Institute reflects a strong, engaged community committed to advancing the association management industry. From new member growth to expanded professional development and global engagement, AMCI continues to make meaningful progress toward its ambitious 50 by 50 Strategic Plan.

Growing Our Community
AMCI is proud to welcome eight new member firms in the first quarter of 2026. They are:

Grow Your AMC with a Smarter Marketing Toolkit

Join this practical webinar designed to help association management companies market themselves more effectively, communicate their value clearly, and attract new clients with confidence.

April is National Volunteer Month, and we are proud to recognize and celebrate the exceptional volunteers who make AMCI’s work possible. The AMC industry thrives because of the dedication, expertise, and generosity of individuals who give their time and energy to strengthen our community and advance the AMC model.

Across AMCI, volunteers contribute in countless ways — shaping education, elevating industry standards, supporting partners, and building the next generation of AMC leaders. We are grateful for the passionate professionals who serve on:

Menomonee Falls, WI – Karen A. Hurley, MA, CAE, has been named the Executive Director of the Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association (AFLA). AFLA is managed by Association Acumen, an award-winning accredited association management firm based in Menomonee Falls, WI.

Pack your passport and your curiosity—because IMEX Frankfurt is calling, and AMCI wants you in our hosted buyer group!

Take your AMC meeting expertise global! AMCI is once again leading a hosted buyer group to IMEX Frankfurt, the premier international event for meetings and event professionals, May 19–21, 2026.

Welcome to this month’s AMCI Strategic Plan update, which focuses on the strategic domain of Quality Assurance. This domain envisions that “the majority of associations managed by AMCs validate that our model (the AMC model) is the gold standard” for how associations are managed.

Quality Assurance directly supports our Market Development efforts and the 50/50 initiative by helping ensure that as we successfully introduce new associations to the AMC model, they find AMCs committed to providing top-notch service and meeting both the minimum membership requirements and the more advanced expectations of the AMCI Accreditation standard.

We’re just four months away from coming together in Milwaukee for AMC’s Engaged 2026, taking place July 27–29 at The Pfister Hotel. We’re excited to welcome association management professionals, industry leaders, and peers for meaningful conversations around the strategies, solutions, and ideas shaping the future of our industry.

Celebrating 10 Years of AMCI Canada - https://amcicanada.ca/10-Year-Anniversary

Group Federal Tax Exemptions

After 5 ½ years, the IRS has announced that it will once again accept applications for group tax exemptions (Revenue Procedure 2026-8). A group exemption is a way for local units (State chapters, e.g.) of a larger parent or “central” association to achieve 501(c) status without having to go through the normal application process. The IRS also set forth the requirements for group exemptions, including existing group exemptions. These requirements largely mirror those already in place, but there are some deviations, and AMCs with clients that have group exemptions should nevertheless ensure that those exemptions comply. If they do not, there is a grace period until January 2027. A key requirement is that the parent association have “general supervision or control” over the local units. Under the new procedure, an affiliation agreement or charter may be sufficient to satisfy that requirement. Each local unit must have its own EIN. One noteworthy new requirement is that a parent association will now be limited to only one group exemption.