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.
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