How membership organizations engage their members with events and courses

One of the best ways to do it? Events, courses, and inspiring guest lectures.

But how do you get members to engage and show up? And how do you simplify the work behind the scenes? CSR Västsverige, one of Sweden's largest sustainability networks with over 300 member organizations, has the answer.

💬 "Events are one of our most important methods for strengthening the network and creating meeting places that matter to our members," says John Harfouche, head of communications at CSR Västsverige.

Here he shares his best advice — and talks about Gothenburg Sustainability Summit 2025, where Al Gore was one of the headline speakers.

1. Create events that engage your members

If you want members to take part, you have to understand what they actually want.

CSR Västsverige works closely with its members to identify the issues and themes that matter — and builds its events around them.

💬 "We see that our most popular events are the ones where we connect theory to practical action. Where participants get both inspiration and concrete tools," says John.

One example is their Gothenburg Sustainability Summit, where participants meet world-leading experts and discuss concrete solutions for a more sustainable future.

💡 Here's how:

✅ Ask your audience what they want — surveys or direct questions both work well

✅ Build events around topics that are live right now

✅ Vary the format — lectures, workshops, and discussions appeal to different groups

2. Build networks through meeting places and guest lectures

Belonging to a membership organization is about community and connections. That's why meeting places, both physical and digital, play such a decisive role.

CSR Västsverige runs events like the Gothenburg Sustainability Summit, where experts and members come together to share knowledge and start collaborations.

💬 "Our networking meetups are incredibly appreciated. Participants get a chance to meet like-minded people and gain insight from experts. Being able to bounce ideas off someone in a different industry is enormously valuable," John says.

One of their most popular formats is the networking lunch, where members meet over a meal, discuss sustainability issues, and hear a short, substantive talk.

💬 "At our networking lunches we bring together members from different industries and let them share experiences. We usually add a 15–20 minute presentation on a current sustainability theme," John explains.

💡 How to make it work:

✅ Host guest lectures with speakers who inspire

✅ Create forums where members can exchange experiences

✅ Build time for mingling and discussion into the program

3. Simplify the planning — do it all in ONE platform

Behind every successful event is a smooth system for handling registrations, participant lists, and communication.

CSR Västsverige uses Confetti to keep everything in one place — from course sign-ups to guest lists and follow-ups.

💬 "I'm in Confetti morning, noon, and night. It's one of my most important tools — both for creating events and for keeping track of the dialogue with our members," says John.

He adds that Gothenburg Sustainability Summit 2025 was their first large paid event, where they're using Confetti to handle everything from member discounts to payments via Swish, credit card, and invoice.

💬 "We've experimented a lot with different ticket types and payment methods. Confetti makes it easy to manage it all — and we can follow up smoothly afterward."

💡 Make your job easier:

✅ Use an event platform to handle registrations and tickets

✅ Have a clear communication plan — remind participants well in advance

✅ Keep all the information in one place so the team stays on top of it

4. Follow up and make your next event even better

When the event is over, the next important part begins: the follow-up.

CSR Västsverige always sends out an evaluation after its events — both to improve future ones and to keep engagement alive.

💬 "We use Confetti to send out evaluations easily and get valuable feedback. It helps us keep developing," says John.

💡 Follow-up checklist:

✅ Send participants a thank-you email

✅ Ask for feedback — what did they think of the event?

✅ Use the answers to build even better events next time

CSR Västsverige's best tips for engaging events

✅ Listen to your audience — create events they actually want to attend

✅ Build strong networks — give participants a chance to meet and learn from each other

✅ Keep it simple — use an event platform that takes work off your plate

✅ Follow up and improve — put the feedback to use

Want to simplify your work and engage more members?

With Confetti you can manage everything around your events and courses in one place — leaving you more time to create value for the people you serve.

👉 Get started today, book a demo!