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.

Dues Increase

 So The December AMC meeting agenda has a motion for a dues increase. 

While I guess I can be convinced that it’s been a while and some increase in the dues rate is warranted, 35% seems excessive. I could get behind it if there were a clear list of additional benefits, programs, and improvements that will add value to our membership. I can note that last spring, the Executive Director did  initiate a small AMC working group (which included me as Comm Officer) to discuss ways to add value, but unfortunately those discussions were abandoned before any progress was made.

Does the AMC have a plan beyond “we need more money to keep up with the status quo?"

What I did for Mensa Aug 16 – Oct 18, 2023

Two months' worth of work. Keep in mind that one of those months included dealing with the aftermath of my partner being injured in a bad auto accident and then my daughter, who lives 6 hours away, being very severely injured in an accident, necessitating a couple trips to help her.

MI News Team

• Cleaned up several posts from V.
• Created graphics for several posts.
• Asked M to make a graphic promoting all the upcoming big gatherings.
• Zoom with A about how to  support/promote AMG in Bali.
• Worked with H to get her going on Workplace and coming up with ideas.
• Prepped a google spreadsheet with NMs chairs and addresses for interviewing and sent to H.
• Edited post about Far and Bright tours.
• Gave V several more content ideas.
• Began tediously researching current test costs in each NM. It took many hours.
• Asked M to do graphic about EMAG attendance and provided data.
• Sorted and organized graphics for IBD presentation.
• Prepped quick post about Mensa in the news article from Argentina.
• Nudged A about getting a photo to go with his interview.
• Nudged H and asked what help I can offer.
• Nudged N about his famous members interview idea.
• Whipped up a post about GYC’s Hot Topics sheets.
• Drafted responses to survey monkey form for IBD Committee report.
• Zoom with A re report and future plans.
• Hours of work on Powerpoint presentation.
• Drafted annual report to the IBD.
• Participated in comments about N&L rules post.
• Whipped up a few more posts and graphics and got them queued up.
• Posted a follow-up/nudge to team members.
• Created graphic and post re Int’l elections.
• Nudged J re interview.
• Organized post schedule through October.
  
• Prepped and addressed a long “agenda” list for a zoom with A.
• Long zoom with A.
• Whipped a post and graphic about AML’s Virtual LDW weekend.
• Prepared post about Zebra puzzles.
• Discussion with K about NT goals and  purpose and ideas.
• Prepped more posts and graphics.
• More work on IBD powerpoint.
• Much work refining and expanding article about testing costs.
• Ran testing cost article past E and A.
• Zoom with A.
• Prepped a few more posts.
• Polished prevention and  saved to flash drive, then sent A the script to make doing minutes easier.
• Attended IBD meeting and gave presentation.

MI Name & Logo Committee

• Asked about the member’s request to use the logo on a grave marker.
• Wrote and shared list of rules that I think need tweaking or pondering (incl a powerpoint to give examples of animations).
• Read and responded to long summary post from T.
• Reviewed and commented in detail on the Google doc of pertinent bylaws that need attention.
• Hours creating graphics depicting acceptable and unacceptable examples for Rule E.
• Zoom meeting.

Gifted Youth Committee Liaison

• Zoom with A re GY YouTube issues.
• Researched and created new pictures for the rest of the hope-to-recover videos for GYC.
• Asked M to try to grab the missing GY videos.
• Downloaded the GY videos from M and organized them with the fresh thumbnails.
• Put GY videos into a Google drive and shared with K and A.
• Re-set GY Hot Topics #1 with Italian translation.
• Prepped and sent templates etc to ICO for YouTube channel improvement

“Kitten Tasks”

• Prepped pdf of From the ExComm for Oct.
• Customized a graphic for top of reporting surveys.
• Re-did Mensa countries map a few times.
• Created video thumbnail pictures for new GY YouTube channel.
• Did some graphics work for the MI newsletter.
  
• A couple hours re-doing FNM/PNM/EM/DIM map and table per Isabella’s instructions.
• Another couple hours re-doing map and table colors yet again.
  
• Created graphic for IEC page.
• Started working on the big Minutes-to-Spreadsheet project.
• Spent several tedious hours on the Minutes-to-Spreadsheet project.
• Another several tedious hours on Minutes-to-Spreadsheet project.
• Tested links for new Welcome Letter website page.
• Started working on the next set of motions-to-spreadsheet project.
• Finished 2017 motions-to-spreadsheet.
• Worked on and mostly finished 2022 motions-to-spreadsheet.
• Redid banner logo in higher resolution.

MI Translation Team

• Zoom with A and E
• Refined priorities for languages to be translated.
• Refined draft of request email to be sent to NM chairs.
• Hours of work organizing a spreadsheet for tracking everything.
• Began tediously drafting the customized individual emails to go out.
• A couple more hours customizing and drafting emails to go out.
• Finished drafting emails.
• Sent to Germany, Austria, and K (asking about the need for Malay or not).
• Sent to Brazil, Bulgaria, and Denmark.
• Cheered when Hungarian translation came in after just a couple days of asking.
• Sent to 7 more countries.
• Sent to the rest of the countries.
• Responded to a few inquiries.
• Tracked sending and responding on spreadsheet.
• Responded to dozen of offers from Mensa Poland members.

AML But as Plain Ol' Robin

• Responded to a few emails about the Volunteerism column.
• Began working on November ChiMe.
• Jumped in to help with the virtual LDW session about communications.
• Shared links to google doc of things I was working on as Comm Officer.
• Finished and uploaded Nov ChiMe.
• Sent L info about how to sign up for Workplace for her Bulletin column.

Strategic Planning Committee

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

National Awards Committee

• Checked in a few times regarding when the NO will mail the awards (it’s been two months)

Oh My....

 Is it "vague booking" if I post this on my blog?

Mensa International News Team Goal

Since November 2022, I've been the Chair of the Mensa International News Team. It's been a great experience and very different from volunteering in American Mensa. This month, I'm putting the final touches on a PowerPoint presentation I'll be making at the IBD meeting in Dallas in mid October. As part of that, I had to really ponder and distill the ultimate goal of what we're trying to do.