Nearly New. The American Mensa elections returned the top five nationally elected officers to their positions, so our American Mensa Committee's (AMC) Executive Committee remains the same as it was last term. The 10 Regional Vice Chairman (RVC) positions bring new faces in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9; only 48 votes or fewer determined the outcome in every RVC race. Special congratulations go to Panhandle Mensa. Their approximately 50% membership vote return is a record for a local group! Tim Folks, a member of Mensa for only two years, was appointed AMC Communications Officer, and Gabe Werba, who served as Chairman two decades ago, was appointed AMC Development Officer. Greg Timmers was appointed to take the seat of Director of Science and Education, formerly held by Michael Jacobson.

No Translator Needed. On the ballot for International officers, candidates from the United States and Great Britain won all four positions. Chris Leek from the United Kingdom is the new Chairman, replacing Dave Remine. Jim Werdell from the United States is Director of Administration; he now holds positions on both the International and American Mensa boards. Peter Boswell from the United Kingdom is elected Director of Development. Stacey Kirsch from the United States is Treasurer. Kirsch and Werdell have worked together very closely in the past.

ByLoss Provision. The American Mensa Bylaws contain a provision for holding the Annual Business Meeting (ABM) — the only meeting of the year at which the entire membership is allowed to have a voice — within a specific time frame. The ABM is regularly scheduled during the Annual Gathering (AG) to ensure its easy access to the most members. The American Mensa Committee, our board of directors, has chosen to hold the 2006 AG outside the bylaw-mandated ABM period, in order to accommodate going to Disney World or environs and inviting International. The AMC has suggested holding a referendum to change the bylaws to legalize a one-time occurrence. Fearing that the membership would not concur with what could be construed as a frivolous changing of the bylaws for trifling reasons, one AMC member suggested that the ABM be convened at the National Office in Texas and immediately recessed to the AG in Orlando at a later date. Chairman Jean Becker referred the ABM matter to the Bylaws Committee, indicating that the committee should work on changing the bylaws to allow for the hosting of an Orlando ABM while the AMC continued to work on a backup plan involving a convening/recessing process — in case the membership refused the bylaws referendum item and the bylaws needed to be circumvented.

Advocate Appointed. Although our bylaws specify the exact methods to be used in the case of hearings against members, the AMC has created the position of Advocate, a person given the AMC's authority (and financial backing) to file charges of acts inimical on behalf of the AMC or members who don't care to come forward as accusers themselves. Per our current provisions, the Hearings Committee is to be kept at arm's length from the AMC — but with this position the AMC and Hearings Committee are instead brought together. The AMC states that the position is merely a clarification of the bylaws. Ted Elzinga, one of the people instrumental in creating the position, was named Advocate. It appears that AMC's soi-disant "clarification" of the bylaws via AMC action is just going to keep dragoon on.

Bumf and Grind. In an effort to put American Mensa's name in front of the public yet more frequently, we gave Pfizer pharmaceuticals the right to use our name — but didn't retain the right to approve the final form in which it was used. So, when Pfizer sponsored an exhibit at a museum, its ad agency asked celebrities a set of questions with Mensa's name on them. The result was that most of those queried either didn't respond or else responded negatively — about Mensa. We certainly did get our name in print and pixels in front of the public — with the humor aimed directly at us. Those in charge of Mensa's PR speak of hindsight. Foresight (or possibly just records and memory) should definitely be employed before we fill our next dance card with more bumf and grind.