What I did in August 2024

MI News Team

• Filled out annual report.
• Prepped  a couple posts to promote AMG in Taiwan and one about France’s SSV program.
• Got V set up to post in the Mensa News space on the Hub and reminded her to reapply for the team.

Director of Administration

• Attended Chair’s Meet & Greet at EMAG.
  
• Participated in all-day ExComm in-person meeting.
  

• Long zoom w E re many topics and items for our to-do lists.
• Emailed MWJ Ed re order and deadlines for ExComm columns
• Responded to Bored Panda reporter asking for more time.
• Nudge AML staff to respond to Bored Panda.
• Responded to many many ticketed enquiries focused on AML information.
• Asked Monday to have CC update the boilerplate on her emails to new members.
• Responded to several requests for more information about volunteer positions.
• Asked LB to be a ticketing agent.
• Responded to a NM Chair’s question about using the Mensa Test on TV.
• Sent proposed schedule of From the ExComm columns to MWJ editor.
• Discussed upgrades to IBD Meeting tool and costs with E and J.
• Sent emails to ~60 vol applicants just letting them know that we’ve received their applications.
• Participated in discussions to refine motion drafts.
• Wrote first draft of a comprehensive update to I SIGs section of bylaws.
• Prepared motion for ExComm approval of Hub policy.
• Joined SMAC group and reviewed recent meeting minutes and discussions.
• Met with a NM chair to troubleshoot problems with the annual report form.
• Asked ER if she’s up for being appointed as interim NT Chair.
• Shared draft of adaptive testing contract with the rest of ExComm via google drive.
• Asked M about admin access for mailman lists.
• Responded to enquiry about Int’l Ombudsman position.
  
• Presented motion to finish up assigning ExComm liaisons.
• Shared neat and tidy list of motions for ExComm meeting.
• Notified FB group manager of necessary updates to the About section.
• Informed MWJ editor and ExComm of improved schedule for ExComm columns.
• Corresponded with chair of Switzerland about board problems.
• Worked on drafting updated policy for I-SIGs and for IVN.
• Created Step-by-step instructing for the Hub including graphics.
• Zoom w/ a few ExComm re several common issues.
• Informed developer that upgrades to the meeting tool will have to wait for next year’s budget.
• Proofed Oct MWJ and sent notes to editor.
• Sent acknowledgement of NM reports.
• Responded to another dozen website queries.
• Began discussion with C & E about Hub permissions.
• Changed permissions and asked E to be evil and try to break into a secrete private space.
• Sent draft of Hub Step-By-Step instructions to User Support for feedback.
• Requested that M redirect admin@mensa.international to me and to himself so the “Super Administrator” of the Hub is no longer B.
• Many hours prepping volunteer application spreadsheets.
• Responded to a DIM in Portugal wanting to get involved.
• Responded to another dozen queries from the website.
• Began writing input for ExComm Business Plan for upcoming year.
• Wrote report for the Aug 25 ExComm meeting.
• Participated in ExComm meeting on Aug 25.
• Hours of work prepping appointment applications for ExComm review.
• Set up two meetings’ worth of action points for easy reference on the Hub.
  
• Uploaded Bucharest pics to ExComm space.
  
• Zoom w A re SIG policy and a News Team article dealing with.
  
• Tweaked drafts of motions about SIGs and informed E.
  
• Emailed ER re interim News Team chair and next steps.
  
• Sent more acknowledgement of NM reports.
• Started making notes for News Team handover to new [interim] chair. 
  
• Quick zoom w J re dashboard stats for 2024.
  
• Worked on vol application organizing.
  
• Corresponded with Austrian member wanting to organize a Mensa cruise.
• Reviewed and provided input on IBD agenda draft.
• Video meeting with E and HumHub contact.
• Zoom w E re server costs and solutions.
• Sent more acknowledgements of reports and applications being received.
• Prepped ~30 MB of files into PDFs and uploaded to Hub.
• Notified ExComm of the 108 applicants so far and how to find the files to get a jump on our decision-making.
• Experimented with ways to format the NM reports for the agenda.
• Wrote and sent my annual DOA report.
• Helped chair of Montenegro with report problems.
• Zoom with SMAC.

What I did in July 2024

MI News Team

• Notified the team that I have to step down as Chair.
• Posted a couple articles I already had written and queued up.

Director of Administration

• Read hand-over materials from former DoA.
• Got new email account set up and working.
• Approved a couple dozen Hub sign-ups.
• Polished messages to go along with volunteer descriptions and applications.
• Attended American AG.
• Several hours one-on-one with new Chair reviewing topics for agendas and other concerns.
• Reviewed staff descriptions.
• Responded to S Korean Chair re membership concern.
• Reviewed S Korea board conflict issues, but did not get involved.
• Reviewed proposed motions for ExComm to consider.
• Zoom w M.
• Hours trying to figure out a reasonable way to get to and from Perth.
• Worked with DoD to polish a couple motions for ExComm meeting.
• Zoom w A re Call for Volunteers.
• Sent request to treasurer for a proper chair and keyboard for A.
• Researched and wrote lengthy response to a 12 yo reaching out to Mensa for advice and support.
• Responded to ExComm discussion about member from Belgium using the Mensa name without permission.
• Re-wrote call for volunteers to take into consideration that recipients will be members without access to the members area of the website.
• Prepped and sent E&A copies of the zoom about the ticketing system.
• Gave A a brainstormed list of content ideas for next newsletter.
• Prepped some content for upcoming newsletter.
• Zoom w A regarding newsletter.
• Wrote a summary of what I know and understand regarding the status of the CRM project.
• Long Zoom w E&A about ticketing system.
• Set up space on Hub for Ticketing Agents.
• Wrote and sent DoA report for July 14 ExComm meeting.
• Nudged M again about sending forms to NMs for their annual reports.
• Proofed July newsletter.
• 3-hour ExComm Zoom meeting
• Sent ExComm reports to T via email, as requested.
• Zoom w E&A re preparing for Bucharest.
• Spent 3 hours pulling together ideas for Aug 3 ExComm agenda.
• Sent reminder to M about NM annual reports, Call for agenda items, pinned posts, and setting a meeting to talk about office topics.
• Discussed Adaptive testing issues with a few ExComm members.
• Got into the MI Survey Monkey account.
• Zoom w A re SM & NMs’ annual report.
• Proofed Sept MWJ and sent comments to the editor.
• Google Meet w ESJA regarding topics for upcoming agenda.
• Re-wrote google doc of agenda topics.
• Dug around to look for last year's SM form.. signs point to IH  having it on her personal account and never turning it over to MIL.
• Created google sheet of NMs’ membership and dues from 2023 reports.
• Zoom w M re officer concerns and general procedures for things.
• Zoom w A re mailchip glitch and Survey Monkey tech issues.
• Sent Chair and M list of agenda topics
• Answered several website inquiries.
• Sent treasurer my thoughts on expected expenses.
• Responded to several inquiries about volunteer roles.
• Began reconstructing annual report forms.
• Responded to many website inquiries about American Mensa.
• Responded to a member in France complaint that the newsletter was in English.
• Zoom w A regarding sorting out Survey Monkey (we succeeded!)
• Drafted annually report forms for NMs, Appointees, and Committees.
• Responded to Chair’s request for additional information for suggested agenda topics.
• Reviewed and refined annual report forms with E&A.
• Sent drafts of surveys to a few ExComm members for testing.
• Drafted message to C about the new ticketing system.
• Checked back with T regarding which discussion topics she wanted additional background information on.
• Informed IBD of A’s title change.
• Received draft adaptive testing contract.
• Emailed C about the new Ticketing system.
• Provided advice regarding a member’s use of the logo on a personal business website.
• Edited annual report forms per feedback.
• Responded to a few inquiries about volunteer positions.
• Filled out SMAC survey.
• Initiated contact as ExComm Liaison with CROs, Archivist, and SMAC.
• Finalized annual report forms and sent to M for distribution.
• Zoom w A re minutes process.
• Polished and sent DoA report to ExComm.
• Went to Romania.

Workplace Transition Team

• Zoom w C re Hub issues.
• Prepared google spreadsheet for sorting out details of various permissions and powers.
• Discussed ISIG policy and other  topics with Hub team.

MI Name & Logo Committee

• Alerted committee to a NM’s use of the N&L on condoms for sale in their boutique.

“Kitten Tasks”

• Prepped September From the ExComm pdf for website.
• Discussed ISIG policy and other  topics with Hub team.

MI Name & Logo Committee

• Alerted committee to a NM’s use of the N&L on condoms for sale in their boutique.

“Kitten Tasks”

• Prepped September From the ExComm pdf for website.

What I did in June 2024

 

MI News Team

• Sent draft of Focus on Austria article to new chair there.
• Prepped some posts.
• Notified B and T about having to resign as Chair on July 1.
• Created and queued up a couple weeks’ worth of posts to keep things going after I take office.

Director of Administration

• Long zoom w A about many topics, most significantly how to approach preparing for advertising vol openings.
• Prepared massive spreadsheet of all volunteers, job descriptions, etc.
• Started researching who is in charge of MI’s Facebook group and page and what the appointment process is.
• Zoom w T and B regarding the Facebook Page and general social media needs and issues.
• Drafted ideas regarding ICO position and how that relates to social media.
• Checked in with T re next pre-excomm zoom meeting and topics.
• Set up next informal incoming ExComm zoom.
• Began drafting changes to application form.
• Zoom w A about appointments process and tasks.
• Responded to a member’s displeasure about a “like” from “Mensa International” on the MI Facebook Page.
• Zoom w incoming ExComm about things we need to ponder or get going on.
• Zoom w A regarding appointments preparations.
• Sent incoming ExComm the list of appointees/committees needing liaisons.
• More discussion with Ashley to finalize appointment list and descriptions.
• Zoom w A re growing to do list.
  
• Facilitated discussion with A, Bo, and Molly (GY Staff at AML) about research and collaboration with outside organizations.
• Zoom w E.
• Worked on organizing tasks associated with the WP transition.
• Prepped expense form for trip to Bucharest.
• When the treasurer balked, I researched and explained in great detail why UA is actually cheaper than KLM.
• Call w Bjorn about SMAC, travel, etc.
• Zoom w A.
  
• Zoom w E about choosing ExComm liaisons.
• Drafted From the ExComm column for September MWJ.
• Commented on discussion of new Standing Orders motion.
• Asked M about what I need to do regarding messaging/forms for NMs and appointees’ annual reports.
• Made clear notes about agenda items for ExComm meeting to be shared with T in Kansas City.
• Facilitated clarifying ExComm Liaision assignments.
• Finalized and sent September From the ExComm column.
  
• Hours studying information about CRM issues.
• Zoom w A about appointment applications.
• Discussed motions about standing orders with NM chair.
• Began drafting introduction message to go at the top of role descriptions.
• Figured out and informed A of application deadline.
• Zoom w S about possible collaboration on a motion about the International Ombudsman.
• Investigate pieces of a mystery regarding Mensa-branded apps and sent findings to DoD.
• Drafted a white paper about how to communicate with all members.
• Corresponded with J about budget topics.
• Discussed white paper w A.
• Drafted a plan to handle the immediate  problem of notifying as many members as possible about volunteer openings and applications.
• Corresponded with L about volunteerism topics.
• Emailed M and ExComm regarding sending the newsletter this month.
• Suggested edits on Ombudsman motion to S.
• Advised A about handling a member’s many concerns about events listings.
• Zoom w J about budgeting and finance issues.
• Zoom w E re tech topics to be covered in handover meeting.
• Cleaned up google doc of meeting topics brainstorming and shared with ExComm.
• Reviewed and made suggestions for updates to Welcome Letter.
• 4-hour zoom w B, E, and A re IBD meeting voting tool, Hub policy, Ticketing system.
• Added several things to the growing list of topics for the ExComm to handle.

Workplace Transition Team

• Contributed to discussions on policy and community architecture.
  
• Created ~50 coordinated consistent thumbnail logos.
• Set up, populated, and explained purposes of a sandbox for Admins and Moderators.
• Zoom w WP transition team.
• Worked on Hub policy.
• Worked on second draft of policy.
• Worked on third draft of policy.
• Finished Hub Policy.
• Approved several dozen sign-ups to Hub.

MI Name & Logo Committee

• Corresponded with chair of Mensa Poland and N&L Comm about logo permissions.
• Nudged comm chair to finalize decision.
• Nudged him again.
• Alerted T & M about another AML item that violates the rules (socks).
• Looked up what contact info I could find for a couple rogue FB groups using the Mensa name.
• 
  

“Kitten Tasks”

• Responded to many queries about prior evidence for AML admission and other US-specific questions sent to the MI Contacts page.
• Researched contact info  to get permission for all the news links on the website.
• Asked Becky for info about AML's RR Comm and GY policies.
• Prepped August From the ExComm column pdf for the website.
• Wrote brief summaries of Hot Topics Sheets 1–4 for website.
• Looked up contact for reprint permission info for many news links on MI website.

AML But as Plain Ol' Robin

• Alerted my RVC about concerns and background regarding a motion on the July AMC agenda.

So this happened...

 

What I did April & May 2024

MI News Team

• Created graphic for 2024 Poetry Competition.

• Zoom with A.

• Zoom with A about advertising for NT help in upcoming newsletter.

• Responded to several emails expressing interesting helping NT.

• Created post about members’ use of name and logo.

• Dug up an old MWJ issue that had excerpts from the very first Mensa Magazine and created a post from it.

• Revised draft of DPO interview and sent to B.

• Prepped a few posts from contributors.

• Zoom w A.

• Began drafting interview questions for outgoing Chair.

• Created a post about AML’s age demographics among officers.

• Reached out to VB (France) about joining News Team.

• Drafted long Focus on Mensa Austria article and sent to that Chair for review and input.

• Prepped several more posts.

• Messaged with VB about how she can help.

MI Name & Logo Committee

• Advised chair of Mensa italy about designing boutique items.

• Sent crisp logo-in-diamond files to Australia chair.

• Notified committee of a couple logo violations from Mensa Brazil.

• Asked for input/approval on a N&L piece destined for Mensa News.

• Asked about continued violations on merchandise for sale.

• Asked about unofficial Mensa FB group.

“Kitten Tasks”

• Polished and organized documents/web content for escape simulator events.

• Drafted several graphics for election pages.

• Added news items to list of website fodder.

• Drafted additional election graphic variations.

• Created a flag graphic for website.

• Cleaned up AMG 2024 collage for website.

• Gathered categorized links from WP to be highlighted in the newsletter.

• Created collage graphic for GLAM for website.

• Added news items to list of website fodder.

• Prepped pdf of June From the ExComm column.

• Created collage about Mensa Brazil’s Foundation.

• Reviewed new site’s look on cellphone.

• Notified all 30 people who submitted member stories and photos for the website.

• Checked all links in Member Area of website.

• Prepped pdf of July From the ExComm column.

• Hours of work on WP 2.0 policy drafting.

Gifted Youth Committee Liaison

• Nudged on Chinese translation of Hot Topics #3

• Typeset Chinese version into the layout.

• Drafted Hot Topics #4 (English and Italian)

Uncategorized MI

• Advised Chair on Workplace policy concerns.

• Lots of discussion and playing with new forum software.

Incoming Director of Administration

• Long zoom with team to transition workplace.

• Zoom w T about plans and such.

• Zoom w E.

• Zoom w A.

• Started to-do list.

• Discussed nuances of moderation approaches for new online community.

• Researched flight costs for Bucharest for incoming treasurer.

• Zoom w Current and incoming ExComm.

• Began informal Google doc for keeping track of topics  for future agendas.

• Emailed I about  transition of files and wisdom.

• Organized contact info and re-did permission agenda brainstorming google doc.

• Set up first informal zoom for incoming ExComm (took a while to calculate all the time zones!)

• Zoom w E.

• Sent initial brainstorming list of topics for first informal ExComm zoom to T.

• Zoom with incoming ExComm.

• Zoom w E.

• Researched and created spreadsheet of all appointees and committees’ chairs and members.

• Advised lead Admin of FB on how to handle a member’s complaint; ultimately figured out it was not about the MI FB group, so I message the complainer myself.

• Organized lengthy email to incoming ExComm regarding brainstorming agenda items.

• Asked for copy of or access to the survey monkey form used in the past for volunteer applications.

• Zoom w Chair of Romania about EMAG plans, N&L needs, and general concerns.

National Awards Committee

• Zoom meeting.

What I did for Mensa January 1 – March 31, 2024

MI News Team

• Put together a proposal for a new digital magazine, with graphic mock-ups.
• Worked on acronym article and asked M to make a graphic for it.
• Queued up posts for most of January.
• Wrote review of Mensa Norway’s magazine.
• Corresponded with former Chair of Mensa Brazil and subsequently edited post from Jan 8.
• Drafted Focus on Mensa Brazil article & asked M to make graphic.
• Worked on Focus on Brazil and Darwin 200 articles.
• Organized posting schedule a bit.
• Prepped article and photo collage of Slovenia Ski Weekend.
• Prepped post about ExComm Nov 25 Minutes.
• Drafted and sent interview questions for Isabella.
• Prepped post about Mensa Greece’s AG and forwarded info to V for MI website.
• Prepped post about a GY link.
• Prepped post about Taiwan Gifted event.
• Created nifty alphabet soup graphic.
• Discussed research ideas with N.
• Zoom with A.
• Zoom with A.
• Prepped a review of Weekend in the Dolmites.
• Polished Focus on Italy article.
• Nudged I about interview questions.
• Pointed V to info about Italy’s national gathering.
• Major editing and polishing of a submitted “postcard” about the Venice Carnival.
• Prepped graphics and content for new series about Mensa videos.
• Sent interview questions to P.
• Wrote instructions for crafting Focus on… articles.
• Wrote review of Montenegro magazine.
• Drafted fodder for a Focus On.. Mensa Austria article.
• Asked Eivind to write something about the translation project.
• Interviewed website team about  the new site.
• Wrote a long article about the IVN session and presentations in Dallas.
• Summarized long research article about bilingualism using ChatGPT.

MI Name & Logo Committee

• Checked in to ask what I should be working on.
• Responded to questions about logo design from VP of Slovenia.
• Responded to committee discussion about Slovenian designs.
• Responded to email thread about SIGs’ needs.
• Began massive creation and organization of many many combos and formats of logos.
• Created very simplistic illustrated ReadMe pdf giving basic instructions for rules.
• Nudged committee to finish reviewing so it can go on the new MI site with all the downloadable logos.
• Made suggested changes to illustrations.

“Kitten Tasks”

• Prepped 2011 motions-to-spreadsheet.
• Prepped March From the ExComm pdf for website.
• Replied to the first few responses to the call for member profiles for the MI website.
• Prepped four member stories and photos for website.
• Prepped three member stories for website.
• Prepped 2010 motions-to-spreadsheet.
• Filled out fresh table of all NMs’ websites and preferred names.
• Put together a list of mineable content for new MI website public blog feed.
• Assembled promo info and images for gatherings in 2024 for use on MI website.
• Assembled list of past news posts that might be appropriate for sharing with the pubic on the new MI website.
• Dug out and sent images from past events for the new website.
• Zoom w A re ending national events to highlight on website.
• Replied to and prepped 4th batch of member stories and photos for website.
• Prepped April From the ExComm pdf.
  
• Asked about MY Solstice event details in the MI Gifted Youth Forum on WP.
  
• Crawled every NM website and FB page to try to fill in  details of events for MI website.
  
• Prepped another 7 member stories and photos.
  
• Prepped another 3 member stories and photos.
  
• Prepped 2 more member stories.
  
• Gathered images and content for event review section of new website.
  
• Prepped more member stories and photos.
• Zoom with A about content needs for new website.
• Several hours crawling websites to create a lengthy list of Mensa-centric video content.
• Drafted elevator speech description of Mensa News benefit for website.
• Found & polished images of NM magazine covers for website.
• Updated map and table of countries for website.
• Created IBD, EMAG, and AMG collages for website.
• Dug around and wrote up consistent format text promoting IBD, AMG, and EMAG for new website.
• Proofed updated Welcome letter and checked all links.
• Prepped May From the ExComm pdf.
• Zoom with A re new website content needs and plans.
• Put in a slew of content links for new website’s blog and news feeds.
• Zoom with A, E, and R regarding preparations for promoting virtual escape rooms events.

MI Translation Team

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Gifted Youth Committee Liaison

• Did typesetting of English version of Hot Topics sheet #2.
• Did typesetting of English version of Hot Topics sheet #3.

Uncategorized MI

• Wrote to T and L asking AML to please do something about the libel from Yash that is still floating around on the web.

Chicago Area Mensa

• Prepped Feb birthdays and anniversaries for new editor.
  
• Did some initial proofing and assisting with Feb ChiMe.
  
• Prepped files and uploaded for digital and print distribution.
• Helped ChiMe activity editor with acrobat calendar editing problem.
• Helped ChiMe editor with a page formatting problem
• 
  

AML But as Plain Ol' Robin

• Provided detailed feedback on proposed job description update for CO.
• Gave feedback to AML marketing people about recent shirt for sale with 4 logo violations.
• Advised an RVC about LGs not publishing newsletters.
• Pointed out another logo violation on a shirt in the Mensa Store.

Strategic Planning Committee

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National Awards Committee

• Replied to Doodle poll about meeting times.