MRA’s Southwest Chapter, incorporated in 1982, is the largest chapter geographically and includes:

Arizona
Colorado
Southern Nevada
New Mexico
Oklahoma
Texas
Utah

Membership is not limited to those in the seven states above! We have members and officers from all over the United States. Marketing research professionals in the Southwest, as well as those outside of our chapter’s geographic boundaries, join our chapter for the additional benefits the Southwest Chapter offers its members.

Why become a member of the Southwest Chapter?
We are among the most active chapters in the MRA network! Communication, networking opportunities, education and financial rewards are among the many benefits we offer to our Chapter’s members:


Cactus Call

The Southwest Chapter publishes the “Cactus Call” newsletter for all members on a quarterly basis. The newsletter is packed with chapter happenings, valuable market research info, and fun! Because of the geographic layout of the chapter, the newsletter is the number one method of reaching all members, keeping them involved with the chapter and up-to-date on industry topics.

Click here to read the current Cactus Call edition.


Conferences

The Southwest Chapter has teamed up with other chapters in the past, including Northern California/Pacific Northwest and Southern California to conduct a joint Annual Chapter Conference in Las Vegas, NV. This annual event started over 20 years ago and has become bigger and better each year due to joint efforts from other chapters and increased attendance from across the US. The Annual Las Vegas Conference is held in March of each year. Look for additional information on this milestone event here on the web site, in future issues of the Cactus Call, and the MRA National Alert! magazine.

In addition to the Annual Conference, the Southwest Chapter holds an Educational Forum each summer. After two days of in-depth planning The Forum kicks off with a welcome reception the evening before the conference, and is followed by a day chockfull of good sessions, good food, and good conversation! The July 2006 Educational Forum was held in Denver, CO and the 2007 Forum is to be held in Austin, TX, in August.

Click here to see what’s coming up next!

Professional Development Program

The Southwest Chapter offers a professional development program which provides financial assistance for marketing researchers perusing continuing education and professional skills development. As part of the MRA, we strive to promote learning and growth within our industry. What better way to give back to our members than to offer financial compensation to those seeking to acquire new skills or refine existing ones? Click here for additional information on the Professional Development Program.


Financial Rewards

In our continuing effort to promote education, this year, the Southwest Chapter will be offering 2 webinars. Each member of the Southwest Chapter will receive a $10.00 off coupon to participate in an MRA educational web conference! This coupon may be applied to any web conference sponsored by the MRA throughout 2007. Go to MRA National for more information on their web conferences.

All the benefits listed above would not be possible without the dedication and support of our members and the Chapter’s Board of Directors. The Southwest Chapter has a very active Past Presidents Advisory Council with members that sit on the board in an advisory role and meet in-person for Strategic Planning Events two times per year, and hold monthly Board teleconferences throughout the year. The two in-person meetings are held immediately preceding the Annual Chapter Conference in Las Vegas, NV, in March and again immediately before the Education Forum in the summer. Learn more about the 2007-2008 Southwest Chapter’s Board members.

The main goals of the Southwest Chapter, as described by our Mission
Statement, is to provide the best resources to its members, while building and retaining our membership base. Currently, the chapter has over 300 active memberships. Because we are geographically dispersed across the US, but concentrated in our 7 state regional boundaries, the ongoing chapter activities are geared toward education, reaching new members and generating volunteerism which includes participation in the Annual Chapter Conference in Las Vegas and a strong presence at the MRA’s Annual and Fall Conferences.

Want to learn more about this chapter? Want to be a more involved member? Are you able to donate your time or facility for meetings or activities? Have an idea for a chapter event? Have a speaker or topic in mind for the Annual Las Vegas Conference? If you want to contribute more to our chapter, click here for contact information and make a difference!


Click to view the Southwest Chapter Bylaws