RVC Job Description

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:

RVC Duties and Responsibilities

(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.