Comments on: It’s All About Merrill! (No…Not THAT Merrill…THIS Merrill!)

By: Merrill Dubrow

Merrill Dubrow — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 14:35:57 +0000

In case anyone missed Merrill Shugoll's last column in MRA Alert I thought I would post it: The Dream Catcher It’s hard to believe a year has passed since being sworn in as your President. As the saying goes, “time flies when you are having fun.” Every President has dreams for the MRA. I’m fortunate that many of my dreams came true. When their year of service is over, each President is ready to pass the gavel on to the President-Elect. I have mixed feelings about my term ending, however, because one dream I had for MRA has yet to become a reality. Thankfully, I’ll have a year as your Past President to try and make this dream come to pass. Before highlighting my dreams come true for the Association, I’d like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as your President. It has been a privilege working along- side a talented and committed group of volunteer leaders at both the national and chapter levels, as well as our extremely dedicated and supportive headquarters staff. I step down knowing that the MRA will be in excellent hands with Colleen Moore Mezler at the helm. Hopefully, the President’s column has entertained you, allowed me to share some of my dreams for MRA, and provided you with some useful information and my perspective on a wide variety of industry topics including:

•	Blog research
•	Travel research
•	Arts research
•	Online research
•	Political research
•	Qualitative research
•	General management tips
•	Respondent cooperation
•	Technology products

I also revealed something personal about myself each month so that members who I haven’t met could get to know me. Some of the things you learned about me are that I’m:

•	Devoted to my family
•	Passionate about marketing research, particularly qualitative
•	Committed to giving to the arts
•	Dedicated to giving back to the marketing research industry that has been so good to me
•	Concerned about the industry’s problems (e.g., respondent cooperation, data quality and researchers and respondents who do not act with integrity), and seriously looking to collaborate with colleagues to find solutions
•	Earnest about applying the Golden Rules of management in both my professional and personal life
•	Thrilled about celebrating MRA’s 50th Anniversary year with you in San Francisco

Thanks to the significant efforts of many volunteers and staff, my realized dreams for MRA include:

•	Launching our new value-added membership structure
•	Launching on-demand education to make learning more convenient
•	Launching the Exchange Evaluation Program so that members can learn more about the business practices of clients and suppliers before working together
•	Strengthening the Certification program and reaching 1000 certificants, which significantly exceeds the growth rate of new certification programs in the first 5 years
•	Nurturing our mutually beneficial relationships with CMOR and IMRO and supporting their delivery of services
•	Adding two Board members to help with new initiatives
•	Funding and recruiting volunteers for the Technology Consortium so that the industry can drive technology and so MRA can help members adapt to the impact of technology on their businesses
•	Funding an Endowment Fund to motivate the best and the brightest to enter the profession • Increasing technology capabilities to enhance our services to members
•	Forming an Accreditation exploration group as a first step in MRA’s commitment to address the data quality issue
•	Enhancing end user services
•	Strengthening communication between National and Chapter leadership by personally reaching out to each chapter President on a quarterly basis
•	Having every National leader adopt a project to insure they get more involved in the leadership of the Association
•	Restructuring Board meetings to allow for more strategic discussions
•	Launching some affinity programs to benefit members
•	Bringing the public relations function in-house to achieve greater cost efficiencies and effectiveness
•	Planning activities to celebrate our 50 years of accomplishments

My one unrealized dream is that despite the good intentions of all association leaders, we did not make much headway working together, side-by side to find a solution to some of our industry’s greatest problems. You can call me a dreamer, but I have recently purchased a dream catcher to hang above my bed. This American Indian hoop frame surrounds string tied together to look like a spider web. According to a Lakota legend, “good dreams will pass through the center hole to a sleeping person. The bad dreams will get trapped in the web, where they will perish at the light of dawn.” With the dream catcher above my bed, I hope to spend this next year as MRA’s Past President working with AAPOR, AMA, ARF, CASRO, CMOR, ESOMAR, IMRO, MRIA, MRII, QRCA, PMRG and others to make my heretofore-unrealized dream of a better tomorrow for the marketing research industry come true. Warmest regards and adieu, Merrill S. Shugoll

By: Jane Rosen

Jane Rosen — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 22:25:28 +0000

Thanks for your comments, Merrill D. Even more, thanks for giving us the opportunity to share our feelings about the other Merrill. Your generosity of time in keeping this blog going is certainly recognized because we all know that with family, work, friends, etc., time is is probably your most valuable resource. I am sure there are many of us who read your blog on a regular basis, even if we don’t post responses very often. I hope you realize how worthwhile and appreciated it is.

By: Merrill Dubrow

Merrill Dubrow — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 21:49:01 +0000

Merrill,

I must say the outpouring of love for you and who you are has been incredible! I am not sure if it is possible to read Jane Rosen’s comments without getting all choked up.

Jane they are beautifully put! Every single word is perfect!

Merrill Dubrow

By: Jane Rosen

Jane Rosen — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 20:53:24 +0000

Merrill is one of those people for whom you would like to break the rules of limiting ‘length of leadership’. I had the priviledge of serving on the MRA Board with her right when she was first elected. She was awesome then and she has just continued to get better and better. Besides her contributions and committment to MRA and the profession, she is one of those people who can make everyone around her feel like they are a special friend and colleague. I truly admire that she has allowed us to know her personnally as well as professionally. It is no wonder that her daughters are wonderful and talented women, with a role model like Merrill as their mother. She is warm and open, and on top of that, she looks marvelous in a boa and tiara.

By: Merrill Shugoll

Merrill Shugoll — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 18:27:10 +0000

Wow! I just got back from a whirlwind trip moderating groups after conference and checked in on Merrill D’s blog to see his tribute to me. To Merrill D. and those who replied, thank you for your kind words. I am so grateful to the Board, staff, chapter leaders, volunteers, and members at large for helping to make my volunteer experience with MRA so very rewarding. Many people make the MRA a special organization and I was proud to serve along side each and every one of them.

By: Carl Iseman

Carl Iseman — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 18:25:44 +0000

One of the toughest jobs in the profession, mastered by one of the most personable and professional people I know….Congratulations on a very successful year as MRA President!!

By: Todd Biederman

Todd Biederman — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:53:36 +0000

All the best to Merrill Shugoll for a great year of President of MRA, I must say one of the best years for The MRA. As well Merrill D you are a class act!!

By: Peggy Moore

Peggy Moore — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 02:18:29 +0000

Thank you Merrill for writing this blog about Merrill Shugoll. I have heard many good things about her, but your story, and all the comments gave me a better understanding about her and her family. From all the comments I conclude she truly is a “special lady” that everyone loves.
I enjoyed this blog very much. I also enjoyed meeting you Merrill Dubrow in San Francisco, you too are a “special person”

By: Connie Ruben

Connie Ruben — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 03:41:12 +0000

the fact that you, Merrill D would write this about Merrill S confirms you are truly special too. Merrill Shugoll is a treasure to this industry. I am grateful she is only leaving the Presidency of the MRA and not leaving the industry. Thank you for all you do and all you are!

By: Joan Burns

Joan Burns — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:38:37 +0000

My voice isn’t very loud, so you probably couldn’t hear the “YES!, YES!” that came from the depths of my lungs and my heart upon reading this blog and prior responses. Merill - thank you for being you.