REGION 2 RVC

Vice Sheet - April 2001
by Sallie Banko, Region 2 RVC

This month’s report covers the March AMC meeting: Motions passed, things that will affect the local group and other important information:

The National membership count as of 3/31/01 is 48,380. Next year, let’s all do what we can to help Mensa reach the big 5-0, as in 50,000!

Those of you who count the beans for the local group will be happy to know that the Corporate Subscription and newsletter exchange reimbursement rate has been increased from $.55 to $.65.

New investment policies were put into place - these are a little more conservative than what we had been doing earlier. This new policy stresses preservation of capital with a predictable return on investment by investing in CDs, US Government Securities, etc.

One change you will be seeing if you subscribe to Interloc (you DO get this newsletter, don’t you? If not, contact the national office and ask for a subscription. It’s free!) is that the full minutes will no longer be published there. The mini-minutes will continue to be published and a notice will be included directing those interested in reading the minutes to the AML website. Members can also request a paper copy from the National office.

Why is this being done? It is believed the space available in the Interloc can be put to much better use than the dry reading of the minutes. This is where the officers of the organization can interact and react; where anyone can offer ideas, suggestions and opinions. It is where new programs can be presented, analyzed and their impact discussed.

Also the AMC is no longer waiting until the next meeting to approve the minutes, but doing so via e-mail vote. This makes the full minutes available in about six weeks. There was concern voiced about how long it took for the minutes to be available, so the AMC decided to do what they could to shorten the process. Both the e-mail approval and the posting of the approved minutes on the website provides for the shortest possible time lapse between the meeting and the availability of the official minutes for that meeting.

The budget was passed as it was proposed, so if you have a copy of the proposed budget, you’re set. If you want a copy of the budget, you can contact the National Office, Jim Werdell (National treasurer) or me.

MERF has increased the local scholarships that will be awarded from $200 to $250.

The cyberspace committee has been directed to research the possibility of offering "Mensa" e-mail address. (Sort of like vanity plates on the electronic highway) Keep an eye out for this in the near future.

There will be a colloquium held in the year 2002 in Michigan. (If you want to help shape what is to be presented, go to www.colloquium2002.org and take part in a survey.)

The 2003 Annual Gathering is scheduled to take place in Minnesota.

Things to note:

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PROCTORS AND TESTING/PROCTOR COORDINATORS! The laws dealing with testing have changed recently (within the past 18 months) in certain states. Due to these changes, we cannot give ranks or scores when testing a potential member - we can only state whether or not a person is eligible for membership. What proctors administer are Mensa Admissions tests, and as such, all that can and will be given is whether or not a person qualifies for admission into Mensa. This is effective immediately! If a person wants his/her specific IQ, they will need to go elsewhere - Mensa will no longer include a score when sending the results to those tested.

If your local group is planning an event or holds something at a public site on a regular schedule, it is strongly suggested that you contact the national office and get a certificate of insurance. This may come in handy when negotiating for usable space, and will certainly help all parties involved if, god forbid, something would happen in which insurance becomes an issue.

There are some of you who are looking into offering the local newsletter via electronic publication. If this is indeed the case, please be sure to pay attention to certain details. If the group currently sends out the newsletters using the periodical category, it is imperative that you keep a file of all issues of the newsletter sent, noting whether it was done via mail or electronic form. The annual forms will still need to be submitted to the post office, and you want to make sure all subscriptions are accounted for. The other important thing to be concerned about has to do with access to individual personal information. If plans are to publish the entire newsletter as part of a web page, be sure those whose name and personal contact information may be included are aware of this accessibility. Get their permission first, or limit what information is released using this format.

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