President's Message

Carolyn Kildare, Chapter President

This is the time of year when the MRIA Boards at a national and local level evolve and change. At the MRIA national AGM in Toronto at the end of March, former Alberta Chapter president Anastasia Arabia was officially welcomed into her new role as National President-Elect. The Alberta Chapter is proud of Anastasia’s accomplishments during her time as Alberta Chapter President and we are confident that she will bring the same dynamism to a broader National leadership role.

In Alberta, three of our long-standing Alberta Board Members have decided it’s time to leave the Chapter Board. Sandra Johnston, Tracy Thomson and Sheila Weaver have all played a significant role in growing the Alberta chapter over the years. Tracy has been involved with the MRIA since the inception of the Alberta Chapter, and her tireless dedication and organizational skills have made our Calgary events run without a hitch. Sandra has held a variety of roles on the MRIA Alberta Board, most recently as Edmonton Events Co-Chair, and we’ll miss her enthusiasm and great ideas. The Education portfolio has evolved over the years that Sheila Weaver has been Education Chair, and many Alberta members can thank Sheila for her efforts in planning and executing a diverse and skill-building curriculum. I would like to thank Tracy, Sandra and Sheila for the contributions they’ve made. We’ll miss you.

Now is the time for the Alberta Chapter board to evolve too, with our Annual General Meeting planned for May 11 in Calgary. This is the year for you to get involved! Volunteer for the Board, attend the AGM, be part of our vision for the future. Let’s do it together.

Carolyn Kildare
President, MRIA Alberta
Email: Carolyn.Kildare@mercer.com

MRIA Alberta ChapterCall for Nominations 

The MRIA will be issuing a call for nominations to the Alberta Chapter Board shortly. 

This is your opportunity to make your voice heard and take a leading role in supporting the research industry in Alberta.  We encourage you to put up your hand and get involved with the MRIA Board. Your ideas, opinions and enthusiasm are just what we need!

If you have any questions about what being an MRIA Board member is like, please call Carolyn Kildare at (403) 476-3341.

Annual General Meeting

Friday, May 11, 2012, 10 am
Calgary
Open to all members in good standing 

Come network with your fellow researchers and help plan the coming year. It is free to attend. Refreshments will be served.

Those who cannot attend in person will be able to participate by teleconference (conference bridge details to be announced later).  

To register:  Contact Maureeta Percy at MPercy@atb.com or 403-731-3501.

RSVP by Tuesday, May 8.

Sample the Edge in St. John's, NL
MRIA National Conference

May 30-June 1, 2012
Register by May 25
Last chance for early bird pricing is April 25!

The 2012 MRIA National Conference is being held from May 30-June 1 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, with the theme, “sample the edge.” For more details visit the MRIA National website: http://www.mria-arim.ca/Conference2012/NEWS/index.php

Events of Interest

The following events are offered to MRIA members at special discounted rates. For more information on all of these events, visit the MRIA Alberta Events Page.

Association of Canadian Advertisers
Special Rates for MRIA Members
Learn about advertising, building brands, and developing marketing plans.  The instructor is Sharon Bell, with 20+ years as a marketing leader, in companies that include Procter & Gamble and ATB Financial. Details of the upcoming courses are provided on the MRIA Alberta Events Page (http://www.mria-arim.ca/ALBERTA/Events.asp), including special discounted rates for MRIA members. For additional information, contact Davina Wong at 1-800-565-0109 ext. 1007 or dwong@acaweb.ca.

Fundamentals of Advertising
Edmonton: Tuesday May 15 and Wednesday May 16
City Centre Campus, Grant MacEwan University

Calgary: Tuesday June 12 and Wednesday June 13, 2012
Headspace, 1817 – 10th Avenue SW Calgary
More details and online registration at:
http://www.acaweb.ca/en/courses/fundamentals-of-advertising-edmonton/

Brand Leadership
Thursday June 7, 2012
City Centre Campus, Grant MacEwan University 
More details and online registration at:
http://www.acaweb.ca/en/courses/brand-leadership-edmonton/

Building a Marketing Plan
Thursday May 31, 2012
City Centre Campus, Grant MacEwan University 
More details and online registration at:
http://www.acaweb.ca/en/courses/building-a-marketing-plan-edmonton/

Member News

Are you an MRIA Alberta Member with news to share? Forward your submission to alberta@mria-arim.ca.

MRIA Alberta Speakers Bureau

For information or to book a speaker, contact
Webb Dussome at webb.dussome@business.ualberta.ca

Click here for contact names and numbers.

Questions? Ideas? Feedback?

If you have any questions, ideas, or feedback for the Alberta Chapter, please contact the specific portfolio. Contact information is available on the MRIA Alberta website. Click here.