The Making of a Cleveland Psychological Program

The Making of a Cleveland Psychological Association Program

By Debbie Ross, Ph.D. , Program Chair

In response to questions and comments on evaluation forms, I want to write about what goes in to putting programs together for CPA.

The easy part is working with the two venues we use most often. Because of the long standing relationship with Embassy Suites in Beachwood, I have a contact person with whom I can reserve dates, choose menus, and depend on to set up the room to address our needs. We have an account with them so that they send us a bill after the event. We do not have to pay a deposit or even settle up right after the event. The wait staff also knows how we like to run our events. They set up the registration desk in the hall outside the banquet room, the table for the projector, set tables according to the number of people we expect, set those centerpieces with the candles and provide pens and pads of paper at each table. They also have excellent food for a reasonable price. They are very quiet and respectful as they go about serving and clearing. You may not even have noticed that they are there, but if you do, thank them!

I have tried to arrange other venues but run in to several obstacles. Higher prices are a problem. Beverages are usually a separate cost. Audio-visual equipment is an added expense at other venues. We did a Saturday program at the Marriott this year and found that the room was long and narrow, making it difficult for the people in the back to hear. We scrambled at the last minute to get a podium and microphone.

We have one program in the spring at Dave and Buster’s on the west side. It is a very good room, good food, very helpful staff and reasonable prices. While we want to give our west side members the opportunity to attend a meeting without having to drive across town, we do not always get a big turn out for that meeting.

The difficult part is arranging speakers. I get many suggestions on topics of interest but not as many recommendations of speakers. While we have had many great speakers, we have also found that not all speakers are created equal. Therefore, I am always looking for good speakers on topics of interest to our members. Once I get a speaker to agree to present on a given date, I contact them for a short bio and summary of the topic they will be presenting. I try to get this information about six weeks in advance so that we can put together a flyer and send email notices weekly to members of an upcoming meeting beginning a month in advance.  

Registrations begin at first to trickle in to Angela, our administrator, and then flow in more frequently toward the end of the week preceding the meeting. I have to call in a count to the venue five days before the event, but registrations continue to come in right up until, and even at the event. We have to pay for the number of people that have registered when I call in the count. The trick for me is to allow for the last minute registrations and yet not pay for more people than will actually attend. We are aware that some people have trouble registering online. One quick call to Angela or a message on her voicemail just letting her know you are coming is sufficient. We always accept payment at the door if you do not pay online.

On the day of the event I arrive about an hour before registration begins. I consult with the wait staff and make adjustments to the set up of the room, as needed. I set up the projector and the laptop so that when the speaker arrives we can get the presentation going smoothly. Some presenters email me their Powerpoints in advance so that I can have their programs up and running.

Angela is an integral part of the whole process. She puts together the flyer and makes sure it goes out weekly to our members. She handles the registrations as they come in and at the door. She is the friendly face of CPA, interacting with members and the Board.

We often receive comments that people want handouts. The Board decided a couple years ago that we would not provide handouts for two reasons: 1) It is not environmentally sound practice to make copies when many of them are left on tables. 2) The cost is not justified. We have been working on getting the Powerpoints up our website so that they can be printed out by those who want them. Our most recent presentation on Adoption by Zoe Breen Wood is available on the website now. Sometimes presenters bring handouts, as Bruce Menapace of Cleveland State University did when he presented on working with LGBTQ clients.

We continue to feel that our meetings are a valuable service of CPA. They are a great venue for networking and interacting with other psychologists. We try to present interesting and useful topics. Attending all of our meetings satisfies continuing education requirements including ethics and diversity. And relative to other providers of CEU’s our meetings are an excellent value. I hope to see you at future meetings!

This academic calendar year we have had the following programs:

September 17, 2018 Angela Kummell, Ph.D. of the VA presented on working with people who have disabilities.

November 5, 2018 Sheryl Kingsberg, Ph.D. of UH presented on Hypoactive sexual desire

December 17, 2018 Our annual meeting included awards for early career and lifetime achievement awards as well as a presentation by Susan Muszynski, Ph.D. of Values in Action

The Making of a Cleveland Psychological Association Program

By Debbie Ross, Ph.D. , Program Chair

In response to questions and comments on evaluation forms, I want to write about what goes in to putting programs together for CPA.

The easy part is working with the two venues we use most often. Because of the long standing relationship with Embassy Suites in Beachwood, I have a contact person with whom I can reserve dates, choose menus, and depend on to set up the room to address our needs. We have an account with them so that they send us a bill after the event. We do not have to pay a deposit or even settle up right after the event. The wait staff also knows how we like to run our events. They set up the registration desk in the hall outside the banquet room, the table for the projector, set tables according to the number of people we expect, set those centerpieces with the candles and provide pens and pads of paper at each table. They also have excellent food for a reasonable price. They are very quiet and respectful as they go about serving and clearing. You may not even have noticed that they are there, but if you do, thank them!

I have tried to arrange other venues but run in to several obstacles. Higher prices are a problem. Beverages are usually a separate cost. Audio-visual equipment is an added expense at other venues. We did a Saturday program at the Marriott this year and found that the room was long and narrow, making it difficult for the people in the back to hear. We scrambled at the last minute to get a podium and microphone.

We have one program in the spring at Dave and Buster’s on the west side. It is a very good room, good food, very helpful staff and reasonable prices. While we want to give our west side members the opportunity to attend a meeting without having to drive across town, we do not always get a big turn out for that meeting.

The difficult part is arranging speakers. I get many suggestions on topics of interest but not as many recommendations of speakers. While we have had many great speakers, we have also found that not all speakers are created equal. Therefore, I am always looking for good speakers on topics of interest to our members. Once I get a speaker to agree to present on a given date, I contact them for a short bio and summary of the topic they will be presenting. I try to get this information about six weeks in advance so that we can put together a flyer and send email notices weekly to members of an upcoming meeting beginning a month in advance.  

Registrations begin at first to trickle in to Angela, our administrator, and then flow in more frequently toward the end of the week preceding the meeting. I have to call in a count to the venue five days before the event, but registrations continue to come in right up until, and even at the event. We have to pay for the number of people that have registered when I call in the count. The trick for me is to allow for the last minute registrations and yet not pay for more people than will actually attend. We are aware that some people have trouble registering online. One quick call to Angela or a message on her voicemail just letting her know you are coming is sufficient. We always accept payment at the door if you do not pay online.

On the day of the event I arrive about an hour before registration begins. I consult with the wait staff and make adjustments to the set up of the room, as needed. I set up the projector and the laptop so that when the speaker arrives we can get the presentation going smoothly. Some presenters email me their Powerpoints in advance so that I can have their programs up and running.

Angela is an integral part of the whole process. She puts together the flyer and makes sure it goes out weekly to our members. She handles the registrations as they come in and at the door. She is the friendly face of CPA, interacting with members and the Board.

We often receive comments that people want handouts. The Board decided a couple years ago that we would not provide handouts for two reasons: 1) It is not environmentally sound practice to make copies when many of them are left on tables. 2) The cost is not justified. We have been working on getting the Powerpoints up our website so that they can be printed out by those who want them. Our most recent presentation on Adoption by Zoe Breen Wood is available on the website now. Sometimes presenters bring handouts, as Bruce Menapace of Cleveland State University did when he presented on working with LGBTQ clients.

We continue to feel that our meetings are a valuable service of CPA. They are a great venue for networking and interacting with other psychologists. We try to present interesting and useful topics. Attending all of our meetings satisfies continuing education requirements including ethics and diversity. And relative to other providers of CEU’s our meetings are an excellent value. I hope to see you at future meetings!

This academic calendar year we have had the following programs:

September 17, 2018 Angela Kummell, Ph.D. of the VA presented on working with people who have disabilities.

November 5, 2018 Sheryl Kingsberg, Ph.D. of UH presented on Hypoactive sexual desire

December 17, 2018 Our annual meeting included awards for early career and lifetime achievement awards as well as a presentation by Susan Muszynski, Ph.D. of Values in Action

January 26, 2019 Bruce Menapace, Ph.D. of CSU presented on working with LGBTQ clients

April 8, 2019 Zoe Breen Wood, MSW, Ph.D. of CWRU presented on issues of adoption

May 6, 2019 Our last presentation before the summer break is Roger Sparhawk, M.D. on Bi-Polar disorder at Dave and Busters.

Your questions, comments, and suggestions are always welcome and appreciated.

January 26, 2019 Bruce Menapace, Ph.D. of CSU presented on working with LGBTQ clients

April 8, 2019 Zoe Breen Wood, MSW, Ph.D. of CWRU presented on issues of adoption

May 6, 2019 Our last presentation before the summer break is Roger Sparhawk, M.D. on Bi-Polar disorder at Dave and Busters.

Your questions, comments, and suggestions are always welcome and appreciated.