Kill Dr. Lucky

Life-sized Kill Dr. Lucky game. Think of it as what happens before the game "Clue" begins.

-- Posted from my iPhone

Friday dinner prep

My 13yo daughter is Hospitality co-chair!


-- Posted from my iPhone

Meet the AMC

Here I am at the session. Heather, Cyndi, Ken, & Greg are here, too. Only two non-AMC members are here. We're just chatting and rehashing last weekend. Chicago is not exactly a hot bed of discontent. Plus we're not handing out shots.

-- Posted from my iPhone

I have no idea

Damian and too many shoes. I think it has something to do with an after-scotch-tasting joke.

-- Posted from my iPhone

This is only Thursday!

About 200 enjoying the pig roast.

-- Posted from my iPhone

Registration Opens!

-- Posted from my iPhone

It's good to be queen

Robert Little gives Beth Anne a break.

-- Posted from my iPhone

No tubs of ice for WeeM!

-- Posted from my iPhone

Setting up for WeeM

-- Posted from my iPhone

Wondering about the Job Descriptions

In addition to all the ASIEs, there are a pile of Job Descriptions for AMC members and other National Appointees and committees. Interestingly, some of those appointed positions do not have matching ASIE that established them or that outline what the AMC wants those positions to be doing. They just exist, and someone, somewhere, wrote job descriptions for them.


So now I am wondering:

* Who wrote them?

* How were they approved (and by whom)?

* Are they considered directives of the AMC in the same way committee charges are?

* What is the procedure for reviewing and updating them?

* Does anyone ever stop to ask if we still need those positions?

* Who is responsible for writing new job descriptions?

* To whom do they get turned in?

* What is trump when a job description conflicts with text in a handbook?

WeeM Complication

Turns out kids have important tests in school on Fri, so I'm going to have to shuttle them back and forth from the hotel to school. An hour each way. So much for thinking I might get to do a FriPlay.


-- Posted from my iPhone

An Interesting Graph

(for all those who are worried that Mensa is broke)

Just Testing Mobile Blogging

Let's see if this works.



-- Posted from my iPhone

Today's Sound Bite on Leadership

Sometimes people in positions of responsibility have to choose between what they believe is best for the organization and what is best for the perceptions of the membership. 

Dictators just do the former. Politicians with ambitions lean towards the latter. I think a wise leader should do what is best for the organization and then work to communicate and soothe the perceptions-- bringing the entire community together for the good of the society as a whole. 


This is much easier to write on a blog than it is to actually do.

Thanks!

AMC Meeting Day Two

Executive Session

After the good mornings, we went into closed session to discuss legal and volunteer matters. For those who want to know, Guy opposed going into closed session. On the vote to go to exec session, 6 opposed, 2 abstained. When we came out of exec session & break, a  statement was read. I didn't try to copy it all down in my notes (that's what we have Heather for) so all I can tell you is that it had to do with lawsuit. I expect the statement will be in the mini minutes.

Gifted Children Motions

Then we tackled the set of motions dealing with Gifted Children. The first was the creation of a new position-- originally titled Youth Program Coordinator (in the course of discussion, the words National Events were added). This person will coordinate all the stuff for kids at AGs and potentially at MindGames, Colloquiums, etc. This person is NOT going to do the programs- NOT going to put on puppet shows, NOT going to stay in the basement and babysit other people's kids all weekend. This person is going to work with AG committee to arrange for rooms, with the Foundation to arrange for funding, with the several presenters to arrange whatever they need, with Risk Management to ensure we're not doing anything stupid with kids, and so on.

There was great consternation about this motion when I shared it with the current Gifted Children's Committee. They insisted that we already have a great youth program for AGs-- Kids Trek and Tween Room. I've pointed out over and over that Kids Trek is just one aspect run by one volunteer; that Tweens room was great, but no one is in place (nine months before the next AG) to run it again; and that adding more for young people is a good thing. Frankly, I think the resistance is because any suggestion of change gets received as criticism for how things have been done. Sigh.

Jean and Dan spent much time before the motion cornering people and talking against this motion. In the actual meeting, they voiced their concerns that it hadn't been discussed with the committee. I pointed out that there had been 116 messages on the GCComm elist over the last 6 weeks and that I had taken the motions to the GCComm before I shared them with the AMC. Dan and Jean moved to postpone indefinitely, saying that it needs work (not offering any actual suggestions for improvement, mind you). I explained that we are less than a year from an AG and there is NOTHING being done for youth programming other than to confirm that Martha is planning on doing her Kids Trek again. No one has arranged for room. No one has asked for funding. No one has stepped up to do something for kids too old for the Kids Trek curriculum.

The motion to postpone failed overwhelmingly. The motion to create the position passed overwhelmingly. I *think* Dan abstained on it, which I find rather amusing.

Then we went on to appoint Lisa Webster of Phoenix as the new NEYPC. Again, Jean and Dan spoke against it, saying that the GCComm members didn't know anything about Lisa. I described to the AMC (as I had to the GCComm members) why Lisa will be fabulous for this position, and the motion was passed overwhelmingly. I do not recall how Jean and Dan voted.

On to the motion to amend the charge to the GC Committee (including changing the name of it to Gifted Youth Committee). A little discussion about why we removed the paragraph about the grants to LG from the Foundation (since it is not appropriate for the AMC to dictate to the Foundation how to give out its money). Most of the changes were updating archaic references and putting all the "things the AMC wants the committee to actually do" in clear bulleted points at the top. The committee is also changed from an action committee to a program committee, so it no longer has to have 3 AMC members on it.

That motion, and the handfull of subsequent housekeeping motions, passed overwhelmingly. Personally, I'm a bit disgusted that what should have been easy motions to improve how Mensa serves young people were turned into political ego battles.

Money

Next we had a long report from  the Treasurer. Some income up, some down. Most non-litigation expenses are down. Then she did lots of explanation of how to read the budget and balance sheet and how to interpret the various views of Mensa's financial situation and status. Long and dry and confusing, but I was only half paying attention as I've already gone through this a few times, since I'm on the Finance Committee and I "get it."

We spent a shitload of money. No one is happy about it. We had enough cash on hand to pay all the bills. We still have many millions of dollars, but until January (when new income starts pouring in), we're tight on cash-on-hand and we have bills that will need to be paid (not more legal-- these are normal bills, like Bulletin printing, LG funding, salaries, etc). To cover these next couple months, the AMC passed a motion to borrow $600,000 from the principal of the Life Dues fund. Marc led an amendment to add in that we'll pay it back by Dec 31, 2010. Motion passed (I did not record who voted for and against, but it was overwhelmingly in favor). Yes, I voted in favor.

How did we manage to pay those $2mil worth of legal bills? Did we really have that much money laying around for that in addition to the normal expenses of running the organization? Yes. First, we used our normal income from our normal sources, dues, liscensing, etc. Then we used most of the multiyear fund to pay operating expenses. Then we tapped the (permitted by ASIE) accumulated interest that was sitting in the life dues fund. And now, we need only $600,000 from the principal (of ~$3,000,000) in the Life fund.

Another motion proposed by the Finance Committee and passed by the AMC is to budget $150K for rebuilding equity reserves over the next 14 years or less (do the math-it makes a pretty total of $2mil). We actually expect to get our net assets line on the balance sheet back in the black in 6 or 7 years.

Hmm.. oh, and we tidied up ASIE 2001-001 so we no longer have to roll interest into principal if we happen to not need it that year.

So to sum up: we did not borrow two million dollars from Life dues. We did not borrow two million from anywhere. We used our accumulated interest, some savings, and are borrowing from other savings that are rich enough to handle it, just a quarter of what the lawsuit cost us over the course of three years. We have a plan in place to replenish all the savings we used. Mensa as an organization still has lots of money.

If we have so much money, why did we raise dues?

Your paycheck is used for paying mortgage and grocery bills. Plus, if you're wise, you tuck some away each month for a rainy day. When the grocery bills go up because of inflation, you need to eat less or find a way to make more income. You don't use your rainy day savings for increased day-to-day expenses. But when it does get soggy, you use that rainy day fund to pay the emergency bills-- that's why you set up that savings fund.

Dues are Mensa's paycheck.

Life and multiyear dues are

Mensa's rainy day funds.

Admensa was Mensa's Katrina.

Electronic Ballots

Dan led a discussion about allowing LGs to send ballots electronically. Good points and concerns were brought up. No decision was reached.

Consent Agenda

Normal stuff and appointments. Guy pulled the bit about record retention, which was explained in more detail as we discussed it. Alas, my eyes were crossing by then, so I can't write much of a summary for you.

Mensa Mexico

Cinthia, pres of Mensa Mexico, gave a presentation about inspiring geniuses and teamwork and about the development of Mensa Mexico. They have a video, too.

Strategic Planning Again

We edited, as a group, as only Mensans can, new versions of the strategic goals. I got fidgety. We added in stuff about helping Local Groups serve members.

Good and Welfare

Warm thoughts to Mel. Thank and dismiss the Charter committee. Albany gets MindGames 2011. Kumbyah.

Dinner (yum- dead animals!), hospitality, and so to bed.

AMC Meeting Day One

Today is day two of the AMC meeting. Yesterday went well. It was long and dull in parts. We broke it up into a bit of formal motion-discussion and voting and then long periods of "planning."

Planning Sessions

Most of the "planning" was listening to explanations of prior efforts and progress, followed by a few small group work. My table worked on aspects of the  membership strategic goal. We identified, using the quarterly reports and our own knowledge, what the organization as a whole has accomplished in that area since July. And then we identified a bunch of pieces of data we wanted to have and track over time to help the AMC and staff stay on top of and react to and assess various aspects of the membership goal. I felt a bit patronized during the process, and my eyes glazed over a few times, but in general, it was useful and I'm feeling a bit more positive about this "strategic planning" stuff. Now if only we could get rid of all the fluffy words so I wouldn't be constantly wanting to shout out "but the emperor is naked!"

Tweeting

I tweeted as best I could during all this. Yes, De, I know you don't like Twitter, but it was much easier to use from my iphone than the AML Online Community ( I didn't have my laptop out during the meeting). If you are interested in the tweets about the whole day, including the things the various small groups came up with, go look at my twitter feed (to the right of this column).

Charter

The motion on the LG Charter passed with little discussion- what was left to say, really? I am soooooo glad to have that off my plate!

Discussion on LG Directories

We had some formal discussions about LG directories-- should they be allowed to email them, should they be allowed to create them at all, etc. Result is that LGs can make local directories but that we'll keep the rule that LGs can't email the electronic versions out of concern for member-privacy issues.

MIL Exchange program

We talked about the MIL program to send a few Americans to the European AG to give some LDWs, and to send some Europeans here to our AG for the same reason. Sounds useful and interesting. The Leadership Committee ( Peggy is chair) will choose candidates and the AMC will approve. (I think that's how it's going to work.)

Replacing RVCs

We talked about the options for replacing RVCs. Narrowed it down to:

* LocSecs choose

* LocSecs and Excomms choose

* Nominate regionally, elect nationally- each member has one vote to cast

* Nominate regionally, elect nationally- each member has ten votes to cast

* Elect and RVC and a spare the first time around

* Hold a full regional election

* Do nothing-- appoint a regional rep if we have to, and a non-voting rep if there are two RVCs who leave in a term.

All have merit. None are perfect. We had a series of straw polls to determine preferences so we could then direct the Bylaws Committee  to craft the proposals. First round of straw votes showed a clear preference for the LocSec option, and fairly even splits for the other options.  I voted for the Nom regionally, elect nationally with each member casting one vote option. In discussion, Burg explained why the LocSec option was legal. I pointed out that our membership had already told us that they don't think it's legal enough. Then he chewed me a new one.

The downside of the concern about the full regional election is the cost and the time it would take. The upside is that members in a region would really, no bones about it, get to vote for their representative. I then pointed to RVCs Lori, Marc, Betsy, and Ken (in my line of sight) and asked them how many members voted for them in the last election. The answer: none. My point is that if we held a regular style full regional replacement election, at least 60% of the time it would go fast and cost little, simple because there would be only one volunteer willing to do the job. And that all this howling about members should get to choose their representatives' replacements  is kinda lame, since plenty of times, they have no choice the first time around.

Anyway, second straw poll had most "votes" (most in this case being about 8) supporting the LocSec option again, so the Bylaws Committee was instructed to go work on that. Guy asked for a poll to confirm that there would be at least 11 AMC members who would support that option, as otherwise it's useless for the bylaws Comm to spend time on it. We did yet another poll, and yes, it looks like more than 11 AMC members would support that method. I voted against it. So did Guy. I did not take notes and cannot recall who else voted against it. But this was a straw poll- not a formal vote. I doubt it will be in the official minutes.

Day is Done

We broke up, some went to a Site Selection meeting ( not me, so I have no idea what they discussed). We had dinner. I went to the Finance Committee meeting ( two hours!). We reviewed our motions we're making today, answered questions of committee members, looked at budget projections and balance sheets, gnashed our teeth, and pounded our chests. The thing that is clear to me, at least, is that we only have to borrow (from life dues principal) the amount listed in the motion before the AMC today. The rest of the ~$2 million spent on the lawsuit we had in reserve. The other finance motion is not about replaying that $2mil (we didn't borrow it, so who would we repay it to?), but about building our reserves back up until the net assets are positive on the balance sheet. I suggested an LDW presentation at the AG about how to find and read AMLs financial documents. Others scoffed that no members would attend such a presentation.

And then, a glass or two of wine in hospitality, and off to bed around 11pm.

Ready for AMC meeting

Clothes?  check.
Dog boarding reservations?  check.
Kid boarding reservations?  check.
Copy of ASIE?  check.
Feedback on Bulletin design?  check.
Archive stuff from CAM to the Nat office?  check.
Hotel & shuttle instructions?  check.
Charged laptop?  check.
Home email caught up?  as if that will ever happen....

Looking at Prior research

As part of our work on the Local Group Service & Funding committee, we had to read and analyze some of the prior research. There was a lot to chew on, but our job was to focus on teasing out conclusions regarding

What members expect and require at the local level

Here are my conclusions.

Renewal Survey 2003 (lapsed members):

* Most lapsed member did not participate in anything.

* 31% did some Local Group things.

* Most joined to meet other smart people.

* Greatest reason (34%) for lapse was inability to participate in things.

* Other reasons for lapsing included low value to dues ratio, meetings not interesting, locations not convenient, LG not friendly , too expensive to participate, obnoxious members, wishing for more service opportunities.

Marketing Survey (aka Mensans 24-44 of Gen X Survey) 2005:

* People join to prove their intelligence and to find intellectual stimulation.

* They want others to plan convenient brainy activities for little money.

Forum Survey 2006:

* Online interaction is a good thing.

Mensa Bulletin Readership Survey 2006:

* Members like to read about science, social problems & solutions, and humor. (Presumably they also like to talk and listen about these topics.)

* Members want intellectual stimulation.

Local Group Funding Report 2006:

* Volunteers, more so than money, are the key to a LG being able to provide good service to its members (although adequate funding is still essential).

* Money does not buy talented and enthusiastic volunteers.

* Local volunteers should receive training and encouragement to use funds to expand existing or initiate new methods of member interaction.

Local Group Study (aka LocSec Survey) 2008:

* LocSecs’ greatest concern is lack of interest on the part of members.

* Their second greatest concern is lack of volunteers.

* The main reason people don’t volunteer is lack of time.

* To improve the group, LocSecs want more members, volunteers, and participation.

Governance Survey 2008:

* The core purpose of Mensa is social. The overriding thing we need to do to improve Mensa is get more members. And then, teach them how to interact and be social.

What do members want from LG newsletters?

Do we know --I mean empirically-- what members what from a Local newsletter? Has anyone done any research to determine if they want thick, juicy newsletters with locally-written articles, puzzles, photos, etc, or if they just want to know when and where the next get-together is? Do your readers want to read about upcoming AMC motions, or do they just want light-hearted reviews of local events? Are we creating bigger, more expensive newsletters than our members need or wish for? What are your customers' priorities?

(and no, I don't have the answer to my questions-- I'm just wondering outloud here.)

It seems to me that we should start by determining what the members really want and need from a local newsletter before we try to determine how to deliver and pay for what we think they want and need.

This is actually a piece of what the Local Group Service & Funding committee is trying to figure out.

Crisis Solved!

People often wonder why there are so few "young" members in leadership positions (and oh, I do love that in Mensa, at least, mid-40s is still considered "young!").

I think that much of the reason is just age and stage of life. Members in their 30s and 40s are working and raising families, and simply can't give the big, consistent chunks of time and freedom to travel required for some of these positions-- like being on the AMC, for example.

The next AMC meeting is this weekend, As it happens, my husband has to travel for work this same weekend. And of course, the school arranged to have a teacher institute on Friday, making the childcare problem even more difficult. So we forked out a few hundred to fly my mother up from South Carolina to stay with the kids while I go to Dallas. We're not thrilled about the extra expense, but Mensa is my hobby, and all hobbies cost money. This is not a complaint.

But...

20 minutes ago, my mom called to say she's injured and not likely to be able to come this weekend to watch the kids. My plane ticket, and Matt's are already bought. We have no other family in the area who can watch the kids. I was going to start pricing two tickets so I can drag the kids along with me to Texas, but my $#^&! Internet is still being really wonky and I can't get through to Orbitz.

And then I called Beth Anne. With great enthusiasm, she jumped at the chance to drive to my place Friday, pick up the kids, and keep them all weekend long. Wow! So all is well, and I just have to board the dog for the weekend. Hooray! Thanks, Beth Anne! I totally owe you a few shots at Pretentious Drinking.

So back to Mensa.. as I see it, if we want "younger" members more involved, we need to embrace the attitude of "it takes a village."

Why a Local Group Charter?

     Lawyers: You need a charter.
     AMC: The lawyers said we need a charter-- Robin, go make one!
     Robin to AMC: Here ya go, how's this?
     Robin to LocSecs: Here's what the AMC will be voting on--
                                     would you like to give a bit of feedback first?
     LocSecs and AMC: Um... why do we need a charter?

(To see a copy of the proposed Charter template, download the pdf from my public folder.)

Everyone is asking why is this necessary. Three times the AMC as a whole decided Mensa needs this, so I am doing it. Why did they decide they needed it? Why is it up to me, the implementor of the AMC's wish, to be the one to now defend the rationale for doing it?

Here's what I know:

1) I have in my hands a copy of a memo from Clif McCann to the AMC dated March 19, 2005. It is marked confidential, but I suppose it is safe to tell you that in this memo he stresses the need for formal, written clarification of the relationships between AML and its Local Groups.

2) In July, 2005, the explanation given when forming the first incarnation of a charter committee (Marghretta as chair) was: EXPLANATION: It has been recommended by legal counsel that the AMC address the clarification of the relationships between AML and its local groups. Nowhere are American Mensa's groups formally listed: not on our 990 tax return, not in our Bylaws, Constitution or even our ASIEs. Reference is made to them, but they are not delineated. and DISCUSSION: MCBEAN said this was brought up by our outgoing interpretive counsel. This has a lot of legal implications we should address. Most organizations that are umbrella organizations such as ours that have groups list the names of the groups; ours does not. CRAWFORD said there are tax changes coming for some of the larger local groups and we need to help them deal with that.

3) In September, 2007, the committee was formed again, with Leah as chair. That time, EXPLANATION: There was an ad hoc Local Group Charter Review Committee last term. The AMC did not adopt the Committee's recommendations. The Committee is being re-established to continue this important project. DISCUSSION: none-- it was on the consent agenda.

4) In 2008, I attended a legal seminar about the new 990 reporting requirements for non-profits. Most of it went over my head, of course, but what struck me is that we must now include many pages of descriptions about he structure, nature, purpose, and processes of our organization. Digging up my notes, I see that I wrote: "Local Groups will need to follow the purposes of the organization and AML needs to be able to document that they are, or we'll get in trouble with the IRS." This backs up the requests from our accountants to please get something formal, in writing, that defines what a Local Group is and how it relates to AML.

5) In July, 2008, this third incarnation of a charter task force, which I am chairing, was formed by the AMC. The charge to me was: "The charge of this committee shall be to codify the relationship between AML and its Local Groups." It was on the consent agenda, and no explanation or discussion was included.

6) I have seen the letters from the auditors in which they remind us, every year, that we really should have a clearly defined relationship with the groups. It was on yellow paper. I have not been able to find that memo on my desk.

7) Do we have all the rules and expectations already written down somewhere? Yes, sure,- but it's a mishmash of bylaws and ASIEs and appendices and handbooks. Two pages are much easier to read; much easier to staple to a 990 form.

8) LocSecs obviously don't get trained about how their group fits with the greater organization. This document makes it clear. A good thing, when we have long-time, involved members screaming that they never knew that the AMC could make and enforce rules for them.

9) Even we use the term "Local Group" without really sharing a meaning. When you write in your campaign statement "Local Groups are the life blood of Mensa," do you meant the four or five volunteers of the Excomms or do you meant the members in general? When you say(in reaction to an earlier draft of the charter) "Local Groups have 30 days to comply" (not the words of the draft, btw-- that was fear-mongering propaganda) do you mean the specific volunteer who has to get his act together and start producing a newsletter more often or do you mean that Mille Member has to.. um... something?

10) Lori Norris (RVC1, on the Charter Task Force, and a lawyer in real life) wrote: Why a Charter? A charter: 1) grants legal authority to use the name and logo of Mensa (pursuant to guidelines, of course); 2) grants legal authorization for the group to use AML's not-for-profit status (The IRS will recognize a group of organizations if they are affiliated with a central organization which prevents each group from applying for 501(c)(4) status. Current regulations require an applying organization to provide a uniform governing instrument such as a charter. Knowing the IRS someday they will look backwards.); 3) codifies the relationship between AML and the Local Group; and 4) many times I have heard that the AMC should be proactive and not just reactive – so we're being proactive and dealing with an issue before it becomes a problem (and look at all the flak Robin gets for spearheading it). And why not a charter? The charter does not create any new obligations on the Local Group, merely sets forth in a simple document the existing obligations.

Old News: CBS Sunday Morning

Not sure why I never posted these links to the 2009 CBS Sunday Morning segments one and two (on YouTube).

Asking Max

Oh how fun! I just discovered that there is a way for readers to pose questions to Max the Fox. Max is the blogger on the Mensa for Kids Web site.

Connecting Mensans on the Web

Today we unveiled a pet project of mine- something I've been pushing for for a couple years: Mensa on the Web.

For ages, since the days of rec.org.mensa, Mensans have been forming their own online communities, e-groups, blogs, etc. But the only way to find these "unofficial" gatherings was by word of mouth. The main thing members seem to want from Mensa is connection with other members, so AML is now expanding its formal Web site to include links to the beyond-our-oversight ways for Mensans to gather in cyberspace.

It's an idea that will make some people cringe, and I'd be lying if I didn't have a a little trepidation myself, but overall, I think it is a good thing for members to find each other in more ways and in more places.

And if you're reading this because you found this blog listed on the new Mensa on the Web page, please note two things:

1) My ego isn't that huge, really. My blog is listed because someone had to seed the listing! Please, submit your own online gathering and conversation URLs.

2) I update this a few times a month, as the spirit moves me-- nothing regular, but if you give me ideas for essay fodder, I will likely write more often.

Volunteer pins

I picked up the volunteer pins for this year's HalloweeM. Wow-- they turned out very classy, if I say so myself! Will you be earning one this year? To learn more, to, register, to make karaoke requests, etc, go to the WeeM Web site.

Uncontested RVC Replacements

In the great debate about replacing RVCs mid-term...

It occurs to me that no one has brought up the sad fact that very often there is only one candidate for an office, and that person is declared elected without the members of that region actually casting any votes. I wonder how often this would occur with a full-regional special replacement election?

I don't remember the break down of why a regional special election will cost ~$5k, but if each region has about 5,000 people in it, to print, mail, and pay the counting house to count that many ballots would, very likely, cost around $1 a piece. But if you figure that the chances of those elections being uncontested as 60% (as was the case in the last election)... well, maybe that's not so bad, looking at the longer term financial picture.

What I did for AML between July and October, 2009

The new report forms for the AMC don’t really provide a place for us to record what all we actually did between meetings. I like to keep track, if for no other reason than to make myself feel like I am getting things done and not just spinning my wheels. Plus, whoever comes after me will have a better picture of what the job entails.

So… since late June, here’s what I’ve done:

As Communications Officer:

• Read many Local Group newsletters each month.

• Read members' postings on various public and AML-sponsored elists.

• Participated on Newseditors’ and Webmasters’ elists and handled some administrative duties for those lists.

• Actively participated in discussions on the AMC elist.

• Attended July’s AMC meeting, the ABM, and a slew of workshops and informal meetings during the AG.

• Reviewed InterLoc content for August, September, October, and Nov/December.

• Reviewed in great detail August, September, October, and Nov/Dec Bulletin content

• Reviewed and discussed Web site content and other Internet Services.

• Represented communications’ concerns by actively participating on many committees

• Actively participated in the day-to-day administration and moderation of the Online Community, including dealing with disgruntled participants.

• Discussed Bulletin redesign—looks and content—with Dir of Marketing & Communication, the Bulletin editor, and the Bulletin designer.

• Approved (or cheered when others approved) 280 new Facebook group members-for a total 2,247as of October 6.

• Appointed new Facebook Group admins: Lynn MacDonald, Kevin Mullen, Linda Richardson, Nevin Liber, Michelle Bracken, Sheila Austin.

• Cheered when staff finalized the technical necessities for presenting non-AML-controlled Mensa-centric online communities to the membership via the AML Web site.

• Forwarded a few address changes, death notices, and requests to unsubscribe from the Bulletin to the appropriate Nat Office staff.

• Cheered when the dynamic Bulletin online archives debuted.

• Intervened when a member began riling up the Newsleditors elist.

• Responded to a member who was unhappy with how the moderating of an online SIG was handled.

• Advised how to handle a member’s concerns about an unapproved printing and editing of his letter to the InterLoc editor and stayed informed as the conflict escalated.

• Spent many hours discussing and writing explanations during the great storm on the AML forums in August.

• Resolved the over-budget issue for InterLoc editor’s travel (I used my discretionary budget for his extra nights).

• Participated in the initial effort of a small-group discussion on one of the AMC’s identified “Mega Issues.”

• Participated in survey to determine improved Website navigation organization.

• Did some explaining and general AMC representation to members on the AML Online Community regarding concerns about legal fees and what we got for our money.

• Appointed two new members for Com3 (Brad Christman and Zee Evelsizer).

• Facilitated discussion among concerned parties regarding publication of a controversial InterLoc article.

• Began developing a long survey for editors.

• Advised a Local Group regarding members’ complaints about a controversial newsletter cover.

• Repeatedly bugged the AMC to allow me to share confidential posting regarding where the money came from to pay the legal bills (permission to repost was never given).

With the Communications Committee:

• Met in person at AG and discussed goals, roles, and reporting structure for Bulletin, InterLoc, and Online Community.

• Began work on developing a process so all the necessary eyeballs see all the electronic newsletters every month by identifying who needs what information from Local Group newsletters, by investigating which newsletters RVCs are and are not receiving, and by developing a survey for editors to help determine where all the variants of electronic newsletters are located.

• Supported the moderators of the Online Community in their efforts to rein in some of the chaos on the forums.

• Suspended one member for 30 days and another member for an indefinite time from the Online Community.

• Reviewed and began revision of Terms of Service for the Online Community.

• Prepared background and facts for an AMC discussion regarding the rule that directories may not be sent as pdf attachments to emails but rather kept on a secure site and "available for download."

With or acting as Chair of Name & Logo Committee:

• Met in person in Pittsburg and reviewed goals for the year.

• Addressed internal logo violations by Oregon, Central Penn, Isolated M, and NewYork.

• Discussed ClubMed SIG’s request to use the logo on shirts.

• Developed a template for email to editor regarding misuse of logo.

• Discussed and found that “Mensan(s)” has been in common use for decades and so formally authorized the use of the term Mensan(s) in reference to member(s) of Mensa both in the past and in the future.

• On September 3, 2009, The committee reviewed and voted to approve Piedmont Area Mensa's non-commercial use of M-E-N-S-A as the title and structure for their RG's version of the game Bingo.

• Updated the Name & Logo Workbook.

• Authorized action against a Yahoo group misusing the name “AmericanMensaLtd.”

• Reviewed and made judgment on acceptability of many designs for the 50^th Anniversary.

• Reviewed and advised on design of logo for official Mensa products and vendors.

• Reviewed and advised on design of logo for a new Member pin.

• Addressed a member’s concerns regarding the Ironman logo and its similarity to Mensa’s.

• Advised Boston LocSec regarding an unsanctioned Facebook group using the name Boston Mensa.

With or as Chair of Local Group Charter Development Task Force:

• Edited the Charter a few times and presented a new draft to the AMC and to the members of the LocSec elist.

• Received feedback, answered questions and concerns, and edited the draft to remove any reference to Local Groups agreeing to anything.

• Presented a Charter template and motion to approve it to the AMC.

With or acting as Chair of Local Group Service & Funding Committee:

• Added Jean Danielson and Beth Anne Demeter to the committee.

• Nudged and confirmed that all members had all necessary materials.

• Each committee member solicited input from at least ten members regarding what services, activities, and opportunities they expected to find in Mensa in preparation for developing a survey.

• Solicited input from LocSecs regarding which, if any, local services regularly provided to their members are being cut, and why and what are their priorities for which services to keep and what to cut.

• Began rough development of a survey.

As Liaison to the Gifted Children’s Committee:

• Participated in Conference call regarding Gifted Children.

• Suggested goals to Chair of Gifted Children Committee.

• Crafted, vetted, listened, edited, and defended motions for updating and clarifying the charge to the Gifted Children’s Committee and the creation of a new appointed position: a Youth Program Coordinator.

• Requested an organization chart showing the relationship of the Gifted Children’s Committee to other governing components of AML and the Mensa Foundation.