So I addressed the AMC about governance last week, and led them through coming up with a couple things to work on. I emphasized that they don't need to solve anything yet-- just gather information on the topics of concern (They chose specialized positions such as a Leadership Officer and the continued need or lack of need for past chairs on the AMC). They claimed to have come up with an acceptable RVC replacement proposition.
And so, on that topic, I thought I'd do a bog post about what I believe to be the full job description for an RVC as currently done:
(from interviews with current and former RVCs and
LocSecs and various governing documents)
According to Article IV (6) “The duties of the Regional Vice-Chairmen
shall be to act as liaison between local groups in their respective Regions and
the American Mensa Committee, and to carry out in their respective Regions the
policies and programs formulated by the American Mensa Committee.”
According to Appendix 4: Principals of Conduct of AMC Officers, RVCs are
“the chief operating officers in their respective regions, and they are
responsible for serving the needs of the groups in their regions and are
responsible for executive supervision of those groups.”
Manage
·
Supervise LocSecs to make sure they're doing what
they need to do. Encourage and pressure them to cooperate and participate and
follow rules.
· Help
Local Groups meet legal requirements. List and remind the leaders of duties and
deadlines.
· Facilitate
material requests.
· Approve
group formation, dissolution, and gatherings.
· Reassign
Local Group boundaries.
· Appoint
acting LocSecs.
· Facilitate
leadership development workshops and efforts.
· Certify
that a candidate in a local election is a bonafide candidate so that he or she
may receive membership information for the purpose of campaigning.
·
Appoint regional scholarship chairs, Ombudsman, and
others as needed.
Liaison
·
Keep Local Groups informed about national
things that matter.
· Write column
so membership hears about what is going on regionally and nationally.
· Be the
connective glue between groups in a region, and between groups and the national
board.
·
Know what is happening in the groups... Bring that
insight to the board.
Solve
Problems
·
Mediate and soothe conflict.
· Resolve
local and more often personal issues when asked.
· Convene
and facilitate regional hearings.
Support
Local Efforts
·
Advise local leaders as requested.
· Act as a
cheerleader for groups and local volunteers and leaders.
· Create
parties and socialize with members.
· Act as a
conduit to resources and experts who might know how to do something.
· Give out
regional service awards.
· Promote
participation in national programs such as CultureQuest®, Gifted Children,
SIGHT, scholarships, etc.
·
Promote bids for Annual Gatherings (AG), Colloquia,
Mind Games®, and other national events within the region.
Represent
·
Make self accessible so people can give opinions—
so it seems to locals that someone high up is interested and listening.
· Carry local
concerns up to AMC level.
·
Gather input from locals to help form voting
choice.
Act as
BoD member
·
Serve on committees.
·
Conduct an election by the region’s LocSecs for
National NomCom representatives.
There is no indication that RVCs do or should poll their
constituents and vote accordingly—there is no indication that RVCs are direct
carriers of a region’s members’ votes. In fact, I recall Alan, when he was RVC3, polling his members regarding the extra night's stay at the WG. He said that although the majority of his members thought the AMC should be compensated for the extra night, Alan himself disagreed and voted against that motion.
Members who are in Region 00, Isolated M, have no RVC, and
no AMC member directly assigned to represent their concerns or wishes.
