Reducing the Size of the AMC

I read RVC 4's October 2023 column with interest, since governance is a passion of mine. I have thoughts.

If the point of a Board of Directors is to guide and make decisions for the organization, then it follows that more wise voices participating in the process leads to better decisions. There is (always) talk of reducing the number on the AMC in order to streamline this or that. My question is: If you’re already having difficulty getting all 18 AMC members to actively engage in discussions, how would reducing that number lead to more wise input?

Imagine if the AMC comprised only the current ExComm. Yes, that would save money on meeting-travel. Now picture two or three of that five-person ExComm being utter outsiders with little or no Mensa leadership experience (it’s happened before and will happen again).

I don’t think I need to say more :-)

What I've done June 15 - August 15, 2023

I no longer have to do quarterly reports, but I like to keep track of things anyway. Here is a list of what I've done for Mensa over the past two months. 

MI News Team

• Posted list of assignments.
• Worked on post about the new N&L committee.
• Zoom with (GYC) to coordinate how we can help.
• Filled out Strategic Planning survey.
• Worked to find info about upcoming Constit referendum.
• Nudged new members to get on WP.
• Pulled info about communication outlets and sent to K.
  
• Brainstormed interview questions for sister of French PM.
• Nudged team to respond.
• Zoom with A.
• Facilitated V getting started with uploading events.
• Sent draft about EMAG post to EMAG chair
• Recreated GY YouTube template.
• Re-worked post on Book SIG.
• Nudged News Team to contribute something, anything.
• Messaged K about I-SIGs vs WP groups covering similar topics.
• Asked I and B about posting Focus on Italy without hearing from that chair.
• Reviewed and organized as-yet-unused post content.
• Reviewed Team members regarding levels and likelihood of contributing.
• Sent interview questions to new DoD.
• Helped new team member craft requests for info from his NM.
• Shared pdf listing many events with team in hopes of someone stepping up to do something.
• Organized content fodder and schedule with A.
• Nudged team members to sign up for WP and check the group for content ideas and needs.
• Drafted a summary of May 27 ExComm Minutes to be used as a post.
• Drafted article on Economics, Finance & Trade SIG and sent to coordinator for input.
• Drafted article on M-Compusig and sent to coordinators for input.
• Brainstormed questions for future interviews and asked team for additions.
• Worked to put together a spread sheet with info on all listed ISIGs.
• Posted GY post about Euro school survey.
• Nagged team to respond, again.
• Made graphic for discussion meeting minutes posts.
• Looked for info about EMAG online session link.
• Drafted a mini report to I about how things are going and what help we need.
• Discussed and edited draft report with A.
• Prepped for and then zoomed with A.
• Sent notes and action items to A.
• Sent mini report to I.
• Made graphic template for Gifted Youth committee posts.
• Asked V to write post-EMAG article.
• Sent interview questions to K.
• Drafted post-AG summary and sent to T for review.
• Nudged news Team again about looking for interesting activities around the world.
• Researched and drafted article about UK-based/newsletter-only ISIGs.
• Long reply answering many questions from R.
• Organized a Google doc listing every post we’ve done so far.
• Poked around looking for viable SIGs to write about.
• Researched and fixed links for Focus on Mensa Bulgaria article.
• Introduced R to JB regarding research.
• Drafted article on Level Up! program and sent to R for edits.
• Answered L’s questions and dug up images of Chicago's of Hungry Hungry Hippos as an example of an “Activity Around the World.”
• Messaged V about doing a post-EMAG write-up.
• Responded to a flood of comments and questions on WP; Re-sent info on uploading to MI website.
• Created and filled in spreadsheet with stats about all posts.
  
• Re-edited Book SIG article.
• Drafted interview with K.
• Whipped up a Remine memorial piece.
• Found and spreadsheeted info correlating membership numbers and languages for M to create an infographic with.
• Encouraged N and A to follow up on their ideas.
• Asked N&L for review of two graphics about simplified rules.
• Edited story  and returned to A for review.
• Nudged V to write about EMAG.
• Looped I in regarding Call for Volunteers and EMAG review posts.
• Cleaned up and  prepped info about Slovenian Ski Weekend.
• Responded to N’s request for onboarding.
• Asked V about handling the website events content.
• Drafted and sent questions for interviewing J.
• Zoom onboarding with N.

MI Name & Logo Committee

• Read concerns from German member about various logo violations.
• Lengthy responses to the many topics T posted.
• Provided instructions for signing up for Workplace.
• Posted about a probably issue of the name in a Mensa member’s new WhatsAp group.
• Zoom meeting.

Anti-Kitten Tasks*

• Re-reviewed MI website for broken links.
• Created basic text site map of MI site.
• Prepped pdfs of Aug and Sept “from the ExComm” columns for website.
• Created template for GY Hot Topics” tip sheets.
• Laid out and edited GY Hot Topics #1.
• Reviewed and commented on three site designs ICO is working on.

MI Translation Team

• Took the practice test (but clicked random answers halfway through) to see what needs to be translated.
• Compared all practice test text with AW’s English version and made notes.
• Looked up all the languages spoken by NMs and then determined into which the test needs to be translated. 
• Asked friends for better word for “fingerprints” in the test translation template.
• Helped identify priorities for languages to focus on first.
• Lots of discussion about how to proceed.
• Helped prioritize which translations to ask for and some editing of email template.
• Refined and prepped draft email and several versions of translation templates, then sent to E & A for review.

AML But as Plain Ol' Robin

• Advised RVC about how to remove someone from her region’s MC community.
• Wrote a Volunteer Insights column for the Bulletin.

Last bit of official AMC-related roles:

Communications Officer

• Posted farewell messages to various working communities on MC.
• Forwarded a member’s request for help to Becky.
• Bothered to reply to Eric G’s baiting on MC.
• Forwarded a death notice to the NO.
• Investigated unapproved use of membership data.
• Nudged staff to respond to Digital Officers’ questions.
• Posted goodbye to Digital Officers.
• Helped RVC8 find award bio information.
• Left the private AMC Facebook group.
• Weighed in on an editor’s question about referencing outside articles about GY.
• Stayed alert for a dust-up on MC.
• Rolled my eyes Eric’s last attempt to bait me.

Communications Committee

• Nothing- no one seemed to want to  finish up the Nat Pubs Policy project.

Strategic Planning Committee

• Contributed lengthy input regarding AMC’s fall planning day agenda.

Marketing Committee

• No activity.

Name & Logo Committee

• Commented on Brad Lucht’s proposed logo for his Theodore talks.

SIGs Advisory Committee

• No activity.

National Awards Committee

• No new activity.

*An "Anti-Kitten" task is something unofficial that helps keep me busy, without which I would probably go buying kittens and learning to knit.

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.

My Opinions on the 2023 MI Constitutional Referendum

1 Yes (Privacy concerns and laws are complex and ever changing.)

2 Yes (Mensa, whether national or international, should not have to be involved in a personal cat fight over the last ice cream sandwich at an RG. And no one should have to wonder if they’re allowed to call the police before trying to track down an ombudsperson somewhere.)

3 Yes (there are quite a few pretty dysfunctional national Mensas, so I’m good with the IBD having the authority to step in when necessary. Plus, I fully disagree that MI shouldn’t know who the members are... good grief, Mensa is an international club, not this mish-mash of being a member in your home country and nowhere else.)

4 Yes (It’s silly to have to renew rules every year, though regular review does have merit.)

5 Yes (Too much detail on a hard-to-change document strangles any process of adapting to changes. Job details should be in other documents.)

6 Yes (Short and sweet in the top document with fine details in other "lower" rules documents  makes it easier to adapt to changes when another pandemic hits, or a continent gets set on fire and takes out their internet or whatever.) 

7 Yes (MI is more than just AML.)

Parting Kiss

 I received this in the mail yesterday. It's a perfunctory parting gift. There was no note included. No "thanks for your service; we'll miss you."

Do I really need to clutter up my house with a physical reminder of the way this AMC has treated me? 

What I Really Did for Mensa February-June, 2023

 Feb 15, 2023 – June 15, 2023
 
Communications Officer

• Reviewed and asked questions about budget.
• Attended GLAAM RG in February- met with LocSec and Editor to discuss how to handle smaller print versions.
• Further discussion with Trevor about Volunteerism program.
• Advised GLAAM editor about  two versions of newsletters.
• Worked with LaRae to craft Vol Insights column for Bulletin.
• Nudged Marketing Officer again re column for Bulletin.
• Asked again for copies of onboarding emails sent to editors, webmasters, circ managers, etc.
• Discussed with Chip the inclusion or rejection of a Bulletin article about paper vs digital newsletters.
• Read all March newsletters.
• Read all April newsletters.
• Read all May newsletters.
• Read all June newsletters.
• Reviewed and commented on April/May Bulletin.
• Reviewed and commented on June Bulletin.
• Reviewed and commented on July Bulletin.
• Reviewed Spring YM.
• Participated in R8’s zoom about MC training.
• Reviewed which editors are not receiving MC emails and messages.
• Invited Felice to the sandbox community and got conversation started.
• Intervened gently re a MC situation.
• Attended March AMC meeting in Hurst.
• Filled out speaker form for AG roundtable session.
• Prepped another Vol Insights article for the Bulletin.
• Sent suggested revisions  of onboarding messages sent to editors and SM people, and made suggestions for what can be included in a similar message to webmasters.
• Gave MN a list of ongoing and new things that need doing in the IT area.
• Worked on project planning with Trevor for Mensa Volunteer program.
• Looked up and sent key nuggets from 2011 LGS&F report to Trevor and others for discussion on member value.
• Advised a member about TOS interpretations for posts.
• reviewed and offered opinion on a potentially controversial Bulletin article.
• Helped a new member find ways to contact other local members.
• Sent Chip the story about the Bulletin and Asia Carrera.
• Sent nominations for Nat Awards to Jean B.
• Advised RVC9 about a newsletter situation.
• Forwarded on a couple death notifications.
• Attended AMC meeting in TX, including meeting w Staff and a few others to talk about roles, projects, etc.
• Advised an RVC about moderating MC.
• Directed a SIG coordinator to the Nat SIG person to answer a question.
• Dug up and shared five governance reports to Trevor he didn’t already have.
• Sent Trevor a handful of things-for-staff-to-do.
• Replied to an Editor asking about ACE awards.
• Asked staff to update the ACE award page to make it clear that it’s no longer a thing.
• Advised editor about reprinting unattributed memes.
• Discussed with Membership Officer about communicating to LG officers.
• Sent Lori top five expectations of the CO position.
• Advised Chair on some writing.
• Drafted annual CO report for Bulletin.
• Helped test potential new search engine for AML site.
• Answered members’ question about LG funding in the past.
• Wrote long long response to a disgruntled member’s questions about newsletters.
• Phone call with CB.
• Prepped and sent spring Pubs Officers’ letter.
• Filled out application for another term.
• Drafted response to member complaining about R8 moderation.
• Reminded AMC about looming deadline for annual reports for the Bulletin.
• Handled a MC admin task for RVC1.
• Reposnded to questions from a Circ Mgr about how to email to all members.
• Forward notification of members’ deaths to Becky.
• Mailed an editor about correcting the indicia on their newsletter.
• Prodded the AMC governance discussion thread.
• Prodded the “Value” working group discussion threads.
• Dealt with spam posts in R1 MC community.
• Posted Zoom event reminder in Pubs Officers.
• Sent spring (and summer) letter to the NNJ editor (who is too young to be on MC).
• Discussed a brewing MC moderation/harassment issue w/ lead Mod, drafted a message to the harassing member, and sent it.
• Quarterly Zoom with Pubs officers.
• Tossed out a new thread in the “value” working group.
• Offered advice to Mensa Germany board member about forum software and moderation tactics.
• Advised a newish LocSec about how to recruit an editor.
• Revisited draft of Nat Pubs Policy and sent to Trevor for his input.
• Revisited other policies that will need amending to align with Nat Pubs policy amendments.
• Advised RVC7 about postal issues.
• Wrote a Volunteerism Insights column for the Bulletin.
• Tended to a few MC support questions.
• Advised NNJM LocSec and Editor regarding an event host collecting and misusing email addresses under the guise of needing RSVPs.
• Nudged IT staff about several things on their to do list and responded to his updates.
• Long discussion with Membership Officer about common issues.
• Helped member with address change.
• Weighed in on AMC discussions of governance topics.
• Commented on draft agenda for May zoom meeting.
• Prepped lists and thoughts about staff issues for Lori.
• Advised LocSec about newsletter tools and advertising for a new editor.
• Participated in informal AMC zoom chat.
• Zoom with Chip.
• Zoom with Charles & Chip.
• Notified CB that we’re supposed to be uploading the Bulletin to the MIL website.
• Helped LocSec/Interim editor with InDesign questions.
• Notified staff about out-of-date ads on the website.
• Complimented new SF Mensa editor.
• Filled out AMC survey about committees.
• Attended May AMC meeting (virtual). Got fired as Comm Officer with no explanation.
• Discussed web security issues with a LG webmaster.
• Forwarded notice of deceased member to NO.
• Responded to a LocSec’s concerns about misdirected email aliases.
• Filled out review of Exec. Dir.
• Cut and pasted entirety of two discussion threads for an RVC.
• Forwarded another request to cancel Bulletin for a member now in memory care.
• Archived the progress on the Member Volunteer Program and notified Trevor of the link.
• Updated LG Comm Guide and sent new pdf to staff for uploading.
• Wrote & sent final quarterly letter to Pubs Officers.
• Re-sent Spring Editors’ letter to an editor who didn’t receive it earlier.
• Forwarded some print preference info from an editor to the NO.
• Forwarded contribution offering from a member to the Bulletin editor.
• Advised staff to update p 55 of the Comm Guide to reflect changes in some of the online emailing tools.
• Hosted summer Zoom session with Pubs Officers.
• Facilitated getting SFRM layout designer added to the Pubs Officer MC community.

 
 
Communications Committee

• Began discussions about how to approach getting answers to the questions about newsletters we generated last quarter.
• Requested addition of Ian to the committee.
• Asked Michael to research internet/computer access stats in the US.
• Proposed an initial crowd-sourcing strategy to generate likely survey answers.
• Wrote up research on internet access and shared with committee.
• Asked Mem Officer for a copy of most recent membership survey and demographic stats.
• Did some number crunching.
• Kept discussions going.
• Long replies to questions and suggestions.
• Crowd-sourced response options in MC M-Leaders & General Discussion
• Requested review of proposed Appendix 10 update.
• Shared four random things from my to-do list and asked for input.
• More work on Nat Pubs Policy.
• Nudged quiet AMC committee members.
• More work on Nat Pubs Policy to incorporate feedback from a couple AMCers.
• More work on Nat Pubs policy.
• Tidied up draft of Nat Pubs Policy with highlights of major changes and directed the AMC members to do with it as they please.
• Announced & provided link to archive of not-quite-over-the-finish-line Nat Pubs policy revision.

 
Strategic Planning Committee

• Did some research and proposed that the committee revisit LG funding formulas.
• Wrote long response on LG funding topic.
• Shared an article about planning for the future and nudged discussions again.

 
Marketing Committee

•  The committee was inactiive

 
Name & Logo Committee

• Participated in discussions about a school claiming to partner with Mensa and a possible logo copying.
• Participated in discussion of logo-on-tie-dye shirt topic.
• Weighed in on discussion of Rainbow Mensans SIG.

 
SIGs Advisory Committee

• Offered opinions and approval for a few new SIGs.

 
National Awards Committee

• Nudged IT to make contact information easier to find.
• Nudged AMC to provide nominations.
• Some discussion with Jean about tracing of vols who do internet stuff.
• Participated in conference call.
• Forwarded an idea regarding presentation ceremony at the ABM to Jean and Ian.
• Reminded Chair of deadlines and filling out a committee review form.

 
MI News Team

• Zoom with A.
• Prepped and queued a few posts.
• Forwarded info about Canadian AG to A.
• Prepped and queued more news posts.
• Zoom with A.
• Prepped a few more posts.
• Wrote to chair of Mensa Cyprus about when we’ll post her interview responses.
• Asked about Twitter and FB moderation policies.
• Zoom w A.
• Asked Foundation President and MRJ editor about using their subscription services.
• Photoshopped Dhruv project mages for posting.
• Organized future posts.
• Nudged team on assignments.
• Drafted Focus on Hungary article and sent for review.
• Long zoom w/ A to catch up and plan.
• Nudged various NM chairs to respond to drafts of “Focus on…” articles.
• Asked for write up about Chicago’s AGOG event.
• Requested to join AMG 2022 Seoul Korea FB group, which supposedly has info about the 2023 gathering in April. Researched details for Seoul gathering.
• Wrote article about AML’s CultureQuest.
• Tediously added social media links to spreadsheet
• Sent A info about Silvensa 2023.
• Wrote Focus on Mensa Netherlands and sent to chair for review. It bounced, so then tried a proxy chair.
• Dug around to find and convert dues and testing fees for all NMs (several hours of work!)
• Began learning about PPP conversions.
• Wrote teaser article for new series about activities around the world.
• Lots of prep and then Zooming w A Apr 6.
• Nudged N and M with assignments.
• Drafted messages and sent to a disengaged team member. 
• Wrote and queued up a few more posts.
• Wrote up a post using sparce info from Mensa Italy member.
• Drafted Focus on Mensa Italia and sent it with a bunch of questions for review.
• Prepped templates for future disengaged committee members.
• Looked for iStock image for Poland’s gathering.
• Responded to suggestions from a member of Mensa Italia.
• Wrote an evergreen post to promote WP.
• Zoom with A.
• Wrote 5 more posts and created graphics for each.
• Kept things hobbling along while my elbow is broken.
• Re-wrote article about Korean AMG.
• Asked Jon G to write about US vs Euro gatherings.
• Tested new WP tools with A.
• Asked for English version of French MY Camp event registration.
• Caught up on organizing and planning content.
• Collaborated on Communications survey for I & ICO.
• Asked Hungary Chair for info about MY Camp event.
• Created graphic for post about MY Camps.
• Zoom with I & A re addition news team members and comm survey.
• Zoom with A.
• Responded to E about MY Camp issue.
• Asked M to make graphic for MI Poetry contest and advised on logo use.
• Nudged chairs of Switzerland, South Africa, Philippines, and Italy re Focus On articles.
• Edited interviews with Cyprus & Germany.
• Zoom with A.
• Prepped for adding new people to the team.
• Read Spring 2023 ExComm minutes.
• Gave direction to a team member.
• Tedious review of all MI website links (side project for A).
• Mucked around with some WP tech issues.
• Emailed for edit info on Mensa at Cambridge promo.
• Created graphic for Photocup Jury call.
• Zoom with A.
• More prep for onboarding new team members.
• Zoom call with new team volunteers & sent meeting notes to all.
• Attended virtual IBD meeting.
• Did some tedious admin work to help A.
• Discussed News Team’s role with the GY Comm.
• Prepped WeeM info for event listing.
• Sent DoA spreadsheet with communications contacts for most NMs.
• Zoom with A.
• Nudged on getting new team contributors added on Workplace.

 
MI Branding Project

• Zoom with ICO.
• Zoom with A.
• Call with CB about how rebranding might affect AML.
• Drafted solicitation for member photos.
• Created site map of public sections.
• Zoom with A & ICO.
• Hours searching and gathering useful images for site redesign.
• Reviewed mock-up from ICO.

 
MI Name & Logo Committee

• Attended initial on-boarding Zoom call.
• Set up WP group.
• Reviewed some outside company branding documentation.
• Shared 2009 N&L Workbook and 2023 LG Comm Guide Branding section.