August 2026

 Two trips across the pond!

• 
  Visited Serbia & Mensa Serbia’s office.
• Attended EMAG.
• Met with President of Montenegro.
• Gave interview for Montenegro national TV.
• Gave speech at Gala dinner (with no advance notice or preparation!)
• Appeared as guest on a 30 min video podcast.
• Moved an urgent motion through ExComm re Ombudsman at IBD.
• Responded to question from LinkedIn.
  
• Copied Awards spreadsheets from EC’s drive :-(
• Zoom w A re catch up, country reporting, priority setting.
• 
  Responded to member asking about awards for being recognized as the highest IQ.
• Responded to DB re presentation at IBD.
• Reviewed draft of employment contract and commented.
• Responded to IBD discussion regarding members’ behavior at SIG events.
• Responded to trademark attorney’s questions regarding several registrations by others and whether we should oppose or not.
• Moved along an email from Korea re advice for IBD 27 planning.
• Zoom w A re prep for staff interviews, IBD issues, Database progress, etc.
• Responded to US NatRep’s novel idea re adaptive test roadblocks.
• Responded to former GYC chair re MWJ submission guidelines.
• Forwarded pertinent social media links to AT.
• Responded to continued IBD bashing of ExComm.
• Contacted key people in BML to ask for an in-person meeting.
• Zoom w A & SG (DPO) re progress on database legalities.
• Prepped and sent Update from the DPO to the IBD.
• Kept up with developments re Pakistan’s website domain issues.
• Wrote long, researched response to Ombudsman asking for information.
• Drafted revision of the licensing income allocation part of Bylaw 15 and sent to JK for input.
• Informed ExComm that we don’t have time before the IBD meeting to deal with a drafted motion to thoroughly revise the Hearings Panel process.
• Directed trademark attorney to do nothing re request for POA from Honk Kong pending Ombudsman investigation.
• Updated Awards spreadsheet and nudged committee.
• Worked on motions re Bylaw 12.1.C.8.f  w DoD.
• Zoom w DoD re trademarks and licensing.
• Zoom w A re referendum timing and other issues.
• Booked travel for meeting w BML’s ExecDir.
• Zoom w A & Ben from Civica.
• Zoom interview with staff candidate.
• Discussed process and timing of Constitutional motions w IBD on Hub.
• Verified ID for MIL attorneys.
• Advised DoO and DoA on how to handle a complaint from a member.
• Requested MF and A to try to find old trademark correspondence for Mensa Korea.
• Zoom w A re prepping for staff interview and contract.
• Zoom interview with staff candidate.
• Worked on revision of Bylaw 15 and nudged N&L Comm for input.
• Responded to chair of Mensa Korea re progress on trademark issues.
• Zoom w JK re licensing issues.
• Wrote to AML’s ExecDir asking for any light she cashed on current licensing deals still in effect.
• Worked on Bylaw 15 revision to incorporate N&L rules approved by N&L Comm.
• Sent list to HP of key volunteers to be interviewed for Strategic Planning.
• Hours and hours working on IBD agenda.
• Zoom w A re staffing progress.
• Nudged ExComm to weigh in on staffing decision.
• Sorted a pile of emails into things I need to handle and things I simply need to stay aware of.
• Posted to AML’s forums a request from Chair of Mensa Macedonia for assistance.
• Reviewed and added a few more motions to the IBD agenda.
• Asked Ombudsman about her sections on the agenda.
• Asked Treasurer about her sections on the agenda.
• Worked on agenda and started plotting out timing.
• Nudged J&E re wording for 15.7.3.
• Responded to PEF re his proposed motions. 
• Worked on agenda.
• Discussed 15.7.3 with J, E, and S.
• Nudged Awards Comm again.
• Worked on income allocation section of revised Bylaw 15.
• Zoom w A re priorities for the next couple weeks.
• Reviewed legal stance regarding trademark registration in the EU.
• Emailed Chair of Netherlands to initiate a discussion about the conflicting overlap.
• Responded to Ombudsman re complaint from Hong Kong.
• Worked on annual report.
• Continued to review volunteer applications.
• Informed IMB that a proposed motion is unconstitutional and requested that the ISP include a statement in her annual report re remote testing.
• Zoom w J re trademark mysteries and other topics.Long Zoom w KR re trademark and other issues.
• Zoom w A re staffing and agenda.
• Finished first draft of annual report.
• Finished first pass at reviewing vol applications.
• Submitted annual report for Awards Comm.
• Long Zoom w A re many topics.
• Wrote 800 word article for anniversary issue of MWJ.
• Discussed licensing info with E.
• Flew to London (on my own dime) to meet in-person with BML’s ExecDir for four hours to discuss several brewing concerns.
•  Zoom w A re planning.
• Nudged Awards Comm to finalize decisions.
• Worked on agenda to fit in last-minute motions.
• Zoom w A re planning and ExComm concerns.
• Corresponded with several motion-proposers about compromised and priorities.
• Zoom w E re staffing.
• Sent stern message to ExComm re several topics.
• Sent zoom link for ExComm’s meeting re appointments.
• Sent draft of response to a disgruntled ex-member to several involved parties for input.
• Reviewed additional licensing information provided by DoD.
• Finished and added motion to replace Bylaw 15.
• Nudged J re annual raises.
• Zoom ExComm meeting for appointments.
• Drafted minutes and sent to DOO.
• Responded to a member on LinkedIn.
• Responded to attorney re trademark in Benelux.
• Nudged Ombudsman re agenda items.
• Reviewed three motions from former IBD member and confirmed that they will be handled after the October meeting.
• Requested additional information from the ISC regarding their presentation to the IBD.
• Reviewed a motion and explained to movers why I am declining to add it to the agenda.
• Worked on annual report.
• Worked on report of ExComm’s Activites.
• Gathered text of all ExComm motions passed since April Async.
• Semi-finalized decisions of the Awards Comm.
• Shared draft of agenda for AGM of MIL w Treasurer.
• Responded to IBD member’s question about not understanding what’s wrong with his motion.
• Responded to trademark attorney re China.
• Responded to Awards Comm question.
• Sent text of Sept MWJ column about what MIL actually does to BML’s ExecDir.
• Zoom w A re staffing and agenda formatting.
• Worked on formatting of agenda.
• Put my foot down re switching NatReps mid-meeting.
• Argued w AJ about why I’m not including his motion.
• Added motions that will be considered during the next year to the agenda appendix.
• Discussed IBD meeting arrangements with JK.
• Zoom w DoD re ExComm meeting agenda.

It's My Blog, so It's Ok to Brag

This year, I was honored with a National Certificate of Appreciation (for my work on the Volunteerism Task Force and the LG Communications Guide).

This makes me the only person who has been given every National Award (except the "Lifetime Membership," which is rarely given because most super-volunteers are already Life Members, as am I).

National Chairman’s Award 2005, 2009, 2022

National Service Award 2006

Distinguished Service Award 2014

Margot Award 2019

National Certificate of Appreciation 2023

I’ll never be a Sturgeon, Salny, or Remine, but I guess I’ve done some stuff.

Blushing

I'm touched and honored and pleased to know that despite how it feels sometimes, my hard work has not gone unnoticed.

Belated Self-Congratulations

I've been keeping this blog up fairly reliably for over four years! Even I am a little amazed that I have that much to say about Mensa. To my knowledge, this is one of only two such topical blogs, so I'm rather proud and hope that I've been able to contribute to the general open discussion so many members claim to want. I have several thoughts percolating into essays now... I'm just waiting until this horrid cold lets go of me so I can breathe for ten minutes at a time.

Finally!

The new AML Web site is up and running, with fancy fabulous navigation and a search engine that works. If you can't find what you're looking for... you must be thinking very differently than the hundreds of other Mensans who gave their input on the organization and navigation.

Congrats to the AML Web Services team- you ROCK!

Year-end Countdown

I know most of you have seen this, and I'm totally taking the wimpy way of making it look like I'm tending to my blog after being gone for a couple weeks because of spring vacation travels, but... it's still good reading.

AML Today 's Year-end Countdown

Exciting things are happening in American Mensa! To put things in perspective, here's a brief — and incomplete — look at the past year. 33,013,587      Total page views on www.us.mensa.org 8,729,713   Total emails received at the National Office, including spam 8,451,513   Spam emails received at the National Office 4,555,132   Total new and recurring visitors to www.us.mensa.org 1,075,712   Games played in AML's online Games Room 882,565   Dollars funded to Local Groups 170,000   Mensa calendars (Brain Puzzler and Crossword) sold in the United States 142,053   Total new and recurring visitors to www.mensaforkids.org 104,961   Posts to AML's online Community 65,500   Dollars given in Mensa Foundation scholarships 57,947   Active members at year-end 43,689   Members with email addresses on file 20,757   Members on multi-year plans 19,214   Requests for local testing contacts 18,024   Brochures and bookmarks distributed to Local Groups 17,576   Online joins, renewals and reinstatements 12,662   Average logins per month on the AML Web site 10,769   ePublications members who can receive local newsletters electronically if available 10,001   Mensa pencils distributed to Local Groups 5,953   Life members 5,185   Reinstating members 4,766   Offers of Membership extended 4,503   Posts made by one individual (Bill Hopkins) to AML's online Community 4,326   New members 4,084   Subscribers to CultureQuest®-ion of the Day 3,981   Mensa Home Tests sold 3,301   Supervised tests scored 3,059   New discussions started in AML's online Community 3,054   American Mensa fans on Facebook 2,659   Members under the age of 18 2,495   Members in largest Local Group (Greater New York Mensa) 2,345   Room nights booked through Choice Hotels' Mensa discount program 2,001   Member resumes on American Mensa's CareerLink 1,968   American Mensa followers on Twitter 1,906   National and local officers and appointees 1,814   Member bios/photos on the AML Web site 1,813   Attendees at the 2009 AG in Pittsburgh 1,349   Posts to a single thread in AML's online Community (topic: Question Game) 1,254   Mensa Research Journal subscribers 1,041   Articles printed about Mensa in the media 988   Proctored test sessions 937   Mensa Foundation fans on Facebook 916   Individuals tested on Mensa Testing Day 872   Individuals donating to the Mensa Foundation 849   Members signed up for our online Meet-a-Member service 721   Items purchased through Smart Buys, where American Mensa and Amazon connect 687   Posts in the online Community to a thread about nothing 659   Online Mensa Home Tests sold since rollout on 2/1/2010 500   Mensans participating in Idea Aid, the world's first online brainstorming benefit 454   Test sites added to the online testing calendar 365   CultureQuest-ion of the Day emails sent 283   Sites nominated for AML's Top 50 Web sites 235   Local officers receiving electronic monthly distribution 230   Attendees at Mind Games® 2009 in Cincinnati 160   Donors for the Mensa Foundation's "50 for 50" anniversary promotion (SO FAR) 157   Special Interest Groups, nationally 135   Local Groups 121   Local Groups Web hosting with AML 107   Years of age — the oldest member in AML 106   CultureQuest® XX (2009) teams 104   Vacations booked through Mensa Travel 51   Young-Mensan-written blog entries for Max the Fox at www.mensaforkids.org 43   Games entered in Mind Games® 2009 24   Mensa columns in American Way magazine 23   New entries on AML's "Mensa on the Web" community listing 21   Voting AMC members 16   Young Mensans first to ride Nickelodeon Universe's Brainsurge attraction 12   Foundation volunteers earning the President's Volunteer Service Award 6   American Mensa ads in mental_floss magazine 6   Columns in Scientific American Mind magazine 3   New Conversations with Mensa 2   Years of age — the youngest member in AML 1   New American Mensa Hall of Fame member named 1   Mensa Bulletin redesign

TPTB

The Powers That Be...

or

The People To Blame ?

Thanks to Howard Rothstein
(as in the "Rothstein effect")
for making me laugh!




And yes, this mug and other versions are available at my CafePress store. 

Thanks!

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."

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.

My Kid Will Like This

Mensa video games!

Woo-Hoo!

Got my official proctor kit in the mail. Just in time for Mensa Testing Day.

Twitter

Because I need another online outlet...
Follow me!

Kill Doctor Lucky

Today's HalloweeM chore: painting the lines on half of the canvas for a re-usable Life-Size Kill Doctor Lucky board. Why lines on just half? Because this thing is so big only half can be unrolled at a time in my garage— and it's a two and a half car space!

Closing in on GNYM

As of the end of September, Chicago Area Mensa is only 75 members behind Greater New York Mensa!

Thanks, David!

I live in a suburb of Chicago. My parents live in northwestern South Carolina, 750 miles away. I got a call from my mom late afternoon on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend; she said that my dad was in the hospital awaiting bypass surgery on Wed. And he was grumpy and bored and stuck there with nothing to do (he had a TV in the room, but no TiVo—poor guy). I thought I'd send a portable DVD player to help him pass the time, but even with the super expensive 1 day postage, it still wouldn’t have arrived there until Tuesday because of the holiday.

So I called the LocSec (Bob Cox) in that town, and he gave me the name and number of someone who lived near the hospital. I called, and that fellow (David Bennett) was thrilled to be able to help. David went to Best Buy in the morning, fronted the money to purchase a decent little machine, and then hand delivered the player to my dad in the hospital Sunday afternoon!

Now this is what Mensa is all about!

Thank you, David! Your generosity and kindness to a stranger makes me proud to be a member of your club.