So as a result of
review and cogitation following the huge outcry by a small number of members
over the use of the Mensa name and logo on shirts and banner carried by some
Chicago Area Mensa members in this year’s Gay Pride Parade, the N&L
Committee has some motions on the agenda for the September 2015 AMC meeting.
Here are my
thoughts.
MOTION 1
Moved Name and Logo
Committee: Amend ASIEs, Section 17, B, Use of the Mensa Name and Logo, by
adding the following paragraphs:
6. Members, having purchased any official Mensa garments or accessories, are entitled to wear such garments without restriction.
I agree with this,
though I don’t think it is necessary to carve into stone, since it’s kind of a no-brainer
and it’s not like anyone anywhere is going to be reviewing each and every
instance of a member wearing a Mensa Tshirt at a Jenny McCarthy For President
rally, drinking water at a religious revival from a Mensa water bottle or
driving in a anti-immigration rally while still having a Mensa license plate
visible on the car. This is just
formally giving me permission to do something you can’t stop me from doing in
the first place.
But it’s harmless
and if it makes people feel better, fine with me.
7. Groups of Members including Local Groups, SIGs, or subsets of Local Groups and SIGs, are encouraged to promote Mensa’s visibility through associating their non-Mensa specific activities with Mensa by wearing or using “Member of” or “Members of” logo or name attire, accessories, or banners.
This I am not
comfortable with as written. I do support the intent, however.
As written, it’s
pointless. “Members are ENCOURAGED.” Yeah, so. Members are also ENCOURAGED to
buy life memberships, contribute to the Mensa Foundation, throw away their
garbage at gathering, bathe, and not touch others inappropriately without
permission. Either make a good rule that someone will enforce, or don’t.
If this wording is
meant to convey that members MUST include the words “member of” on things, then
this amendment would negate the permission you just granted in number 6. So
basically, it’s saying that I cannot drink from that cool Mensa logo water
bottle at the religious revival because it only has the logo on it, not the
additional words “Member of.” Think of all the Mensa gear the Mensa Store sells
currently—most of it could not be worn at any non-Mensa specific activity. No
more wearing my shirt while jogging alone. No more writing with my logo pen at
work. No more wearing my gold logo signet ring when being photographed shaking
hands with a political candidate.
Additionally, this
amendment will require the Mensa Store to toss most of its merchandise and
restock with gear that says “Member of Mensa” on it instead of just the simple
aesthetically pleasing symbol. Otherwise, who will buy it if it can only be
worn at Mensa-specific events?
Robin’s personal
opinion on this two-pronged amendment: Vote NO.
(I’ll address the
banners issue further on)
MOTION 2
Moved Name and Logo Committee: Amend ASIE Appendix 8, Section
I, by adding new Subsection K as follows:
K. In addition to the technical requirements of A - J, a final review of any logo or name use should include an analysis as to whether there is the potential for the image to be interpreted as a political, social, or religious statement being made by Mensa in violation of the Mensa Constitution. Such perceived implications will be discussed with the member(s) requesting name and/or logo use. All reasonable efforts will be made to collaborate with the requesting member(s) to reach a solution which adheres to the Mensa constitution and gives maximum liberty to the member(s).
I agree with the intent of this, but the wording is not neat and tight.
Imagine MidState Mensa simply making up their own plain solid blue shirts using
the logo—which they are allowed to download and use—and the words “MidState
Mensa.” Don’t forget, the LG Charter
grants them that permission: A royalty free, nonexclusive, and non-sublicensable license
to MIDSTATE MENSA for the use of AML’s trade marks, service marks, trade names,
and logos, including, but not limited to, the mark “MENSA” and the Mensa stylized
logo. And off they go, to
march in their local Gay Pride Parade. They never even contacted the N&L
committee to review the design, since there was no need; they didn’t do
anything to the logo design they are already allowed to use nor were they printing
and selling the shirts for profit (which runs into the marketing agreements
with Fox Imaging). Local Groups use the
name and logo all the time without asking for review by the national N&L
folks.
But as I said, I do
support the intent of this motion. But it’s not quite right.
Robin’s Opinion:
Vote NO.
(And yes, I have a
substitute idea I’ll describe further below.)
MOTION 3
Moved Name and Logo Committee: Amend ASIE Appendix
8, by adding new section III, (and then renumber the remaining sections):
III. Special “Member(s) of Mensa” Logo and Name designs exist (for banners, electronic tags, and apparel) so that Members can promote Mensa when engaged in non-Mensa specific activities. They are to be used:
A. By a Mensa member or group for activities that are not Mensa specific, but allow for groups of members to come together in an activity within a larger community. (Festivals, parades, volunteer situations, etc...)
B. If there is a concern that the activity to be participated in may promote a political, social, or religious opinion. Members may have such opinions, but the organization may not.
This seems fine to
me.
Robin’s Opinion:
Vote YES.
Now on to my
suggestions…
The issue seems to
be two-fold. First, the rainbow stripes behind the Mensa logo as was used on
the Chicago shirts evokes to some viewers a too-close combining of two symbols.
That’s probably not a good idea, and although it didn't exactly cross the
current N&L lines, it probably should have been turned down. Much involves
interpretation—for a greater explanation and examples of how human judgment
comes into play regarding N&L, see the Name & Logo Workbook sections
titled An ‘M’ with a Globe on Top and Exercises in Interpretation… .
But here’s the rub
with trying to make a hard and fast rule that will last through the ages: Any
patterned background may or may not at some point in time become symbolic of
something else. Something that was symbolic may become generic and no
longer carry any other meaning beyond the pretty pattern. Consider the case of
tie dye patterns. At one point in our history, that was strongly associated
with hippies and anti-war agendas. Now, not so much. Rainbows were once just
pretty spectrums evoking happy thoughts, but now they have come to symbolize LGBT
issues. What to some is simply a very pleasing shade of green is now often
associated with the Green Party. Who is to say that a nice chevron pattern—very
popular in design these days, won’t become the pattern of choice for Jenny
McCarthy’s presidential campaign?
How to solve this?
Educate your RVCs
and Groups. Over and over and over again. Get the word out that using the name
and logo on a patterned background of a shirt or poster COULD be interpreted as
an implication of an affiliation of the organization with a
social/political/ideological cause and should not be done. Teach RVCs and
Groups to ask the N&L Committee if they have any hint of a doubt.
And then just let
the Committee judge and advice, much like the intent of Motion 2 (the addition of a Section K to the
current N&L Rules).
The second issue I
see is the fine line between what is marketing and what is support or promotion
of a social/political/ideological cause. Marketing is good. LGs doing marketing
and getting the Mensa name out in front of people is a good thing. Everyone
agrees.
Giving the
impression to anyone anywhere that MENSA as an organizational entity supports
anything is a bad thing. Not everyone agrees with this, but that’s a separate
issue. For now, we work with the rules that exist.
After a million
posts and conversations in various online and in-person forums, there seems to
be, oddly, a consensus that a static sign or banner in a booth at an event is “marketing”
and a moving banner or sign in a parade or rally is “supporting a cause.”
The easiest
solution I see is to make a rule along the lines of “Local Groups, SIGs, or
subsets of Mensa members must get approval from the AMC Marketing Committee
before carrying a non-static sign or banner bearing the Mensa name and or logo
in a parade or rally. Failure to get approval in advance may result in a loss
of funding for the Local Group.”
(One problem I see
already is what happens when twenty Mensans from different Local Groups all
join together and march without approval and carrying a Mensa sign they made
themselves? Rules are so much easier to make than to enforce.)
So, to sum up this
insanely long post, here are my recommendations:
1. Vote NO on the
first two N&L motions
2. Vote YES on the
third one (adding a new section III to Appendix 8)
3. Get the word out
that using the name and logo on a patterned background of a shirt or poster
COULD be interpreted as an implication of an affiliation of the organization
with a social/political/ideological cause and should not be done. RVCs and
Groups should be reminded to ask the N&L Committee if they have any hint of
a doubt.
4. Make a rule
along the lines of “Local Groups, SIGs, or subsets of Mensa members must get
approval from the AMC Marketing Committee before carrying a non-static sign or
banner bearing the Mensa name and or logo in a parade or rally. Failure to get
approval in advance may result in a loss of funding for the Local Group.”
