Arts-Based Methods for Evaluators: Beginner Course is an exciting 6-week continuing education online course for evaluators practicing in Canada and the USA. With hands-on activities, 12 hours of original content, one-on-one coaching, and access to a supportive learning community, this course offers evaluators a comprehensive glimpse into the world of arts-based methods. Facilitators and arts-based evaluators, Jennica Nichols and Maya Lefkowich from AND implementation, help learners bring creative strategies into their evaluation practice. Learn more & register here: https://www.andimplementation.ca/artscourse.

The Indiana Evaluation Association (IEA) invites the evaluation community in Indiana and beyond to join their fourth biennial (but first virtual) conference! This interactive, multi-day event is designed to equip evaluators with the skills they need to help their organizations and clients succeed in a more equitable, post-crisis world. Attendees will also have opportunities to connect with other evaluators.

The conference will take place on October 1, 8, and 15 from 12-4pm Eastern Time. Early bird pricing available through September 17th! Non-member early bird registration is $40 and $60 after that. Learn more and register here.

The Hawai'i-Pacific Evaluation Association invites you to join The 2021 H-PEA Conference! The Conference schedule is available with over 20 concurrent sessions and more than 15 posters. Beverly Parsons will present the keynote Visionary evaluation for a sustainable, equitable future. She will also offer a free, pre-conference, 3-hour workshop.

Registration is $50 (deadline 8/14). A student scholarship is available (deadline 8/31) for students to attend the conference for free. In addition, there is a financial hardship waiver. 

The Atlanta-area Evaluation Association invites MNEA members to a webinar that covers time management principles for evaluation project managers!

Managing an evaluation is no small task. From engaging stakeholders to keeping up with deadlines, we all do our best to manage time effectively while maintaining our sanity. But what if there was a systematic approach to this madness? A useful framework for managing evaluation projects? There is! For over 20 years the internationally recognized Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) has served as a guide for project management. This webinar will introduce the PMBOK process groups and knowledge areas, with a focus on time management, to efficiently plan for and manage evaluation projects. A case study will be used throughout the presentation.

To receive the free registration code, head to the "For Members" section of the website to get the affiliate discount code and find the registration link.

The purpose of these events is to highlight the unique focuses, approaches and contexts of external evaluators in our region and increase the collective knowledge of the work of these organizations.  The intended audience is individuals who are interested in evaluation practice as part of their professional development and those who are curious for potential contract-related needs. This could be students, evaluation practitioners, evaluation users, evaluation funders, and those simply curious about the world of external  evaluation. 

There will be two events in this series, featuring different sized evaluation firms:

• Larger evaluation firms (5+ staff): October 7, 4-5pm (Central)
• Smaller firms/independent consultants (1-4 staff): October 14, 4-5pm (Central)

(Please confirm that at least one representative from your organization is available at this date and time before signing up)

Event format: 
The events will be virtual and last 1 hour.  5-6 organizations will be featured at each event.  Each organization will have 5 minutes to provide a high level summary of your organization.  Then participants will be able to join breakout rooms for organizations of their choice to ask any follow-up questions.  The event will be recorded and information about your organization will be available on our website for MNEA members.

If you are interested in being featured in these events, please complete the form below.

Sign up to be a featured organization here:

The Indiana Evaluation Association is having a professional development training focused on Return on Investment (ROI) Methodology. The training will be on Friday, July 16th from 9am-11 CDT. Free to attend if you register as an Affiliate Member. See our "For Members" page for the code. 

The Indiana Evaluation Association has opened a call for proposals for their virtual October 2021 conference (half days on October 1, 8, and 15). The theme is Building Evaluation Capacity for a New Age. Proposals are due at 4 pm CT on June 11th. Submit proposals or any questions you have to Tessa Skidmore, IEA Program Committee Chair, at tessaboeing@gmail.com.

See the RFP for additional details and the proposal submission form.

Interested in learning how to create interactive dashboards using Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets? Tom Withee and Shelly Engelman are offering a two-part workshop where attendees will learn how to create professional, interactive dashboards that are aesthetically-pleasing, informative, and drillable.

They have have presented for AEA Summer Workshop Series, EASL (Evaluation Association of St. Louis), H-PEA (Hawaii-Pacific Evaluation Association), Community Solutions (based in Indianapolis) and Six Nations of the Grand River (based in Ontario) and are excited to offer a 6-hour (two day) workshop this May.

Session 1: May 14th, 2-5pm CT

Session 2: May 17th, 2-5pm CT

Cost: $275.25

Learn more and register at: https://gosheneducationcenter.regfox.com/designing-interactive-dashboards-in-excel-and-google-sheets

The Indiana Evaluation Association is holding a training on virtual and in-person facilitation techniques on April 16th from 12-2pm CT.

In-person and virtual facilitation tools for group learning with activities inspired by the internet and video games. You will learn how to power up participant ideas from multiple perspectives, up-vote for shared decision-making, and facilitate a successful Zoom meeting. These activities are not only fun, but help create a more inclusive and beneficial evaluation, promoting the AEA guiding principles of equity and respect for participants.

For the registration code, please login to your MNEA account and visit "Member Discount Codes" in the "For Members" section of the website.

Registration for the event is available here: https://indianaevaluation.org/Events.