What I did for Mensa January 1 – March 31, 2024

MI News Team

• Put together a proposal for a new digital magazine, with graphic mock-ups.
• Worked on acronym article and asked M to make a graphic for it.
• Queued up posts for most of January.
• Wrote review of Mensa Norway’s magazine.
• Corresponded with former Chair of Mensa Brazil and subsequently edited post from Jan 8.
• Drafted Focus on Mensa Brazil article & asked M to make graphic.
• Worked on Focus on Brazil and Darwin 200 articles.
• Organized posting schedule a bit.
• Prepped article and photo collage of Slovenia Ski Weekend.
• Prepped post about ExComm Nov 25 Minutes.
• Drafted and sent interview questions for Isabella.
• Prepped post about Mensa Greece’s AG and forwarded info to V for MI website.
• Prepped post about a GY link.
• Prepped post about Taiwan Gifted event.
• Created nifty alphabet soup graphic.
• Discussed research ideas with N.
• Zoom with A.
• Zoom with A.
• Prepped a review of Weekend in the Dolmites.
• Polished Focus on Italy article.
• Nudged I about interview questions.
• Pointed V to info about Italy’s national gathering.
• Major editing and polishing of a submitted “postcard” about the Venice Carnival.
• Prepped graphics and content for new series about Mensa videos.
• Sent interview questions to P.
• Wrote instructions for crafting Focus on… articles.
• Wrote review of Montenegro magazine.
• Drafted fodder for a Focus On.. Mensa Austria article.
• Asked Eivind to write something about the translation project.
• Interviewed website team about  the new site.
• Wrote a long article about the IVN session and presentations in Dallas.
• Summarized long research article about bilingualism using ChatGPT.

MI Name & Logo Committee

• Checked in to ask what I should be working on.
• Responded to questions about logo design from VP of Slovenia.
• Responded to committee discussion about Slovenian designs.
• Responded to email thread about SIGs’ needs.
• Began massive creation and organization of many many combos and formats of logos.
• Created very simplistic illustrated ReadMe pdf giving basic instructions for rules.
• Nudged committee to finish reviewing so it can go on the new MI site with all the downloadable logos.
• Made suggested changes to illustrations.

“Kitten Tasks”

• Prepped 2011 motions-to-spreadsheet.
• Prepped March From the ExComm pdf for website.
• Replied to the first few responses to the call for member profiles for the MI website.
• Prepped four member stories and photos for website.
• Prepped three member stories for website.
• Prepped 2010 motions-to-spreadsheet.
• Filled out fresh table of all NMs’ websites and preferred names.
• Put together a list of mineable content for new MI website public blog feed.
• Assembled promo info and images for gatherings in 2024 for use on MI website.
• Assembled list of past news posts that might be appropriate for sharing with the pubic on the new MI website.
• Dug out and sent images from past events for the new website.
• Zoom w A re ending national events to highlight on website.
• Replied to and prepped 4th batch of member stories and photos for website.
• Prepped April From the ExComm pdf.
  
• Asked about MY Solstice event details in the MI Gifted Youth Forum on WP.
  
• Crawled every NM website and FB page to try to fill in  details of events for MI website.
  
• Prepped another 7 member stories and photos.
  
• Prepped another 3 member stories and photos.
  
• Prepped 2 more member stories.
  
• Gathered images and content for event review section of new website.
  
• Prepped more member stories and photos.
• Zoom with A about content needs for new website.
• Several hours crawling websites to create a lengthy list of Mensa-centric video content.
• Drafted elevator speech description of Mensa News benefit for website.
• Found & polished images of NM magazine covers for website.
• Updated map and table of countries for website.
• Created IBD, EMAG, and AMG collages for website.
• Dug around and wrote up consistent format text promoting IBD, AMG, and EMAG for new website.
• Proofed updated Welcome letter and checked all links.
• Prepped May From the ExComm pdf.
• Zoom with A re new website content needs and plans.
• Put in a slew of content links for new website’s blog and news feeds.
• Zoom with A, E, and R regarding preparations for promoting virtual escape rooms events.

MI Translation Team

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Gifted Youth Committee Liaison

• Did typesetting of English version of Hot Topics sheet #2.
• Did typesetting of English version of Hot Topics sheet #3.

Uncategorized MI

• Wrote to T and L asking AML to please do something about the libel from Yash that is still floating around on the web.

Chicago Area Mensa

• Prepped Feb birthdays and anniversaries for new editor.
  
• Did some initial proofing and assisting with Feb ChiMe.
  
• Prepped files and uploaded for digital and print distribution.
• Helped ChiMe activity editor with acrobat calendar editing problem.
• Helped ChiMe editor with a page formatting problem
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AML But as Plain Ol' Robin

• Provided detailed feedback on proposed job description update for CO.
• Gave feedback to AML marketing people about recent shirt for sale with 4 logo violations.
• Advised an RVC about LGs not publishing newsletters.
• Pointed out another logo violation on a shirt in the Mensa Store.

Strategic Planning Committee

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National Awards Committee

• Replied to Doodle poll about meeting times.
  

Turn Over

Hmmm….. How are we doing at making our volunteers feel valued and supported?

What I did for Mensa Oct 18-Dec 31, 2023 (two and a half months)

 MI News Team

• Hours of work preparing layout and graphics for Mensa Test article.
• Cleaned up an article from Slovenian Rep about the IBD meeting.
• Revised and sent for approval the Testing Cost article.
• Asked A (new ExComm rep from British Mensa) about Darwin 200 and about C stepping down.
• Nudged J about interview questions.
• Asked N for report on Bali gathering.
• Drafted post & poll for News Team IBD presentation video
• Asked S some interview questions to go with a post about Indonesia’s IBD presentation.
• Experimented with creating polls and uploading video to WP.
• Prepped interview questions for GLAM organizers and ran them past A & E.
• Drafted a new Focus on Mensa South Africa article and sent for review.
• Nudged R about Level Up article.
• Prepped a few more posts about mini minutes and treasurer’s update.
• Dug around the web to find photos and more info about Norway’s AG.
• Prepped several more posts and photos to go with them.
• Sent Bali and WeeM articles to K for MWJ.
• Zoom with A.
• Nudged S about Indonesia/AMG interview questions.
• Tons of photo selection and processing for Bali article.
• Messaged with J from Mensa Taiwan about writing articles about NMs’ events/programs.
• Worked to turn Indonesia powerpoint into a simple video for posting.
• Prepared 5 posts about major achievements in nearly all Mensas.
• Checked in with News Team on progress.
• Prepped for call with A.
• Long catch up call with A, then wrote and sent notes & action list.
• Asked M for graphics for Major Achievements in 2023 series.
• Asked B about unpinning top post in Mensa News.
• Organized posts in progress and fodder.
• Reviewed research article about caffeine and prepared post and graphic.
• Prepped complex poll for NT anniversary post.
• Nudged V to update events page with information about AML’s AG, EMAG, AMG, and GLAM.
• Prepped some of the Major Achievements posts.
• Translated and prepped post about Mensa Italia’s digital magazine.
• Read and wrote a post about Australian Mensa’s magazine.
• Began mining the IVN reports from Dallas for fodder- great stuff!
• Sent interview questions to L.
• Queued up a few more posts.
• Discussed NT composition issues with A.
• Drafted solicitation for additional NT members and sent to I.
• Nudged V to update events listings.
• Zoom catch up with Ashley.
• Quickly prepped and posted about an NM's anniversary.
• Sent email to H asking if she wants to continue on NT.
• Gathered events content for website updates.
• Discussed with B about brewing NM issue.
• Asked team to review a click bait article about intelligence for possible posting.
• Prepped and queued up a few more posts.
• Asked NT to look at an article about intelligence  for possible posting.
• Prepped two versions of an ad for additional NT members.
• Sent second email to H about continuing on NT.
• Prepared reprint post about SIGHT from MWJ.
• Prepped a post about EMAG presentation to IBD.
• Cleaned up in-progress and archived content.
• Began writing Acronym article.
• Queued up some more posts.
• Prepped interview with L for posting.
• Organized the next month’s worth of posts.
• Wrote long article explaining Mensa acronyms.

MI Name & Logo Committee

• Advised chair of Canada AG on logo questions.
• Hours of work creating illustrations for Rule F.
• Started drafting my version of complete rule revision.
• Hours trying to figure out and illustrate Rule H.
• Hours and hours refining all the rules and  preparing a single PDF of all of them.
• Shared my thoughts on how to revise/expand logo rules with the committee.
• Alerted comm to MensAmuse event misuse of name.
• Responded to discussion about trademark marks and word font restrictions.
• Alerted committee to logo misuse on a WP group page.
• Drafted simplified explanations of name-use rules.
• Alerted comm to Crypta Mensons group on FB.
• Created illustrations about how members may use the name and logo.
• Asked committee about vagueness of EM use of name and logo.
• Asked committee about the list of legitimate social media groups MI is supposed to be keeping per IBD motion 2023-15.
• Weighed in on steps to take for the daunting task of cataloging social media groups and approvals/violations.
• Weighed in on discussions about EM and DIM use ofN&L and approval process and record keeping.
• Weighed in on request for approval of Mensa Germany’s passport-looking stamp book.
• Drafted illustrations covering SIGs’ use of name and logo.
• Drafted illustrations covering commercial use.
• Started drafting a side-by-side document of bylaws and simplified explanations.
• Hours more work on a draft of Name, Logo, and Licensing Policy book.

“Kitten Tasks”

• Prepared spreadsheet to analyze membership fees and average incomes (for Eivind).
• Finished 2017 minutes-to-spreadsheet.
• Finished 2016 minutes-to-spreadsheet.
• Finished 2015 motions-to-spreadsheet.
• Researched and prepped listing and description with link of upcoming events for Newsletter.
• Prepped PDF of Jan "From the ExComm" for website.
• Prepped Dec "From the ExComm" for the website.
• Finished 2014 minutes-to-spreadsheet.
• Organized and consolidated tags for motions.
• Tons of work/discussion about  polishing minutes and gaps.
• Went through 2022-2014 minutes spreadsheet to make category tagging consistent.
• Prepped most of 2023 minutes-to-spreadsheet.
• Prepped Feb  “From the ExCom” for website.
• Drafted 2013 motions-to-spreadsheet.
• Drafted 2012 minutes-to-spreadsheet (long!)

MI Translation Team

• Forwarded two Chinese translations from Sylvia Lee to Eivind.
• Forwarded Slovenian translation to Eivind.
• Sent catch up message to Eivind and Ashley about which languages have translated so far (only 6).

Gifted Youth Committee Liaison

• Prepped Hot Topics sheet #2 (Italian version).

Uncategorized MI

• Corresponded with Melanie Jäger about Volunteerism Report and common issues.
  
• Began drafting content for election application.

Chicago Area Mensa

• Put together December ChiMe & distributed.
• Zoom with new editor and Comm team re transition.
• Hours of work creating updated job description and details.
• Cleaned up InDesign file/template for next editor.
• Downloaded and formatted birthdays and anniversaries for January.
• Began actual work on Jan ChiMe since Marco is sick and time’s a wasting.
• Finished Jan ChiMe and sent it off for printing and distribution.

AML But as Plain Ol' Robin

• Gave opinion on content-timing question to Bulletin Ed.
• Alerted N&L chairs of AML and MIL about nasty Mensa Rebellion group on FB.

Strategic Planning Committee

• No Activity.

National Awards Committee

• Gave feedback on Tony’s draft of an article for the Bulletin.
• Gave more feedback—sharing how I personally delineate the three award levels.