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.

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.