EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article refers to the agenda for the upcoming SEPTEMBER 18, 2004 meeting of the American Mensa Committee (AMC).
We start this installment of AAA with a sound motion. Item 10 is simple and direct:
10. Moved JACKOWSKI seconded KUYPER that AML SIGs are primarily a private volunteer activity and membership in a SIG is at the discretion of the individual SIG coordinator.
EXPLANATION:
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
We do note, however, that this directly conflicts with ASIE 2004-092, which mandates that SIG members also be Mensa members. That ASIE was passed in July, during a "Discussion" item on SIGs. The repeal of 2004-092 should be part of this motion.
Next up are items 18 and 19. The issue here is not the motions themselves, it's the implications of how they got on the agenda.
18. Moved TIMMERS, seconded BURG to amend 2002-156 as follows: the words "Michael Jacobson, Dan Burg and Jean Becker" are deleted and replaced by "TIMMERS, BURG, and BECKER" in the first sentence.
EXPLANATION: This is an action committee, which requires three current AMC members.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.OLD:
2002-156 21-Sep-2002
(Last amended on 14-Dec-2002 by 2002-173)
That the Research Review Committee be designated an standing action committee with AMC members Michael Jacobson, Dan Burg and Jean Becker on the Committee.
The following Guidelines are adopted by the Research Review Action Committee.
[The document is in Appendix 16.]
19. Moved Research Review Committee that the first portion of Appendix 16 (ASIE 2002-156 and 2002-173) be replaced with: ...
We have said many times that committees should not make motions. It obfuscates who is actually making the motion. It violates the spirit of Robert's Rules of Order, the manual of parliamentary procedure used by the AMC. With these two motions, we have a perfect example of the problem. Absent the information in item 18, it would be possible to suppose that one of the movers of item 19 was someone who has not been on the AMC for quite some time! Once again we call upon the AMC to get this right.
30. DISCUSSION REMINE
"Is INTERLOC still relevant?" Have the e-lists and the ability to quickly disseminate information widely removed the need for INTERLOC? Is the money being spent on INTERLOC getting AML any bang at all for its buck?
One can only hope that REMINE gets a round of derisive laughter for presenting this item. Yes, there are e-lists. Some have dozens of members. None have the reach to communicate with every local group officer. InterLoc is intended to be a communications link for involved members — it says so right on the cover (or used to until July, when, in what one can optimistically presume was an oversight, it was replaced with "Intelligence, Integrity, Industry"). Even with the substantial penetration of electronic communication into our lives, there is a need for a printed newsletter.
31. Moved FOLKS, seconded WILTERDING that The Joyce Lundeen be appointed InterLoc Editor for a term ending at the close of the 2005 Annual Business Meeting.
Here we have two AMC members who appear to think that InterLoc is relevant. They have also put forward a stellar choice to make InterLoc what it has the potential to be. [Note to cynics: TJ does not write this column.] If she is given a free hand to operate, it should work out quite well.
The next item is terribly open-ended and pregnant with opportunities for mischief.
32. DISCUSSION BECKER
Continuation of discussion on Gatherings policies. In March, we began to examine the many aspects of AML Gatherings policies. Ms. Donahoo will update us on progress on changes agreed to at that meeting. What (if anything) more do we want to do?
Recall that at the July meeting there were motions made and passed in the midst of "Discussion" items. This could spawn more motions, possibly destructive to the future of Gatherings, with no warning to the membership.
This next item is a mixed bag. It has a reasonable intent but it is fallout from the risk management mania currently afflicting the AMC.
34. Moved COONTZ, seconded JACKOWSKI and KUYPER that effective July 1, 2005, Hospitality Chairs for AGs, RGs, LDWs and Colloquiums must complete a food safety course prior to the gathering or workshop. Applications for these activities must include a copy of a certificate establishing that the Hospitality Chair for that event has completed a federal, state, county or Mensa food safety course.
EXPLANATION: Most Mensa gatherings include the provision of food prepared by members. A primary risk of serving food is contamination leading to illness. To become aware of possible food dangers and avoid them, each Hospitality Chair must practice appropriate food safety. Hospitality Chairs will need certification in safe food handling by completing a food safety course. A course will be offered at the AG, LDWs and occasionally at a RG. A self study course is also available through National Office. As part of their review, RVCs will verify that the hospitality section of the gatherings approval forms is completed.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: A textbook on Food Safety will be required for each person taking the Mensa sponsored course. The cost of the textbooks is $9.00 each. Estimated cost during the current fiscal year is $720. The cost during the subsequent fiscal year may be slightly higher. After initial training, costs should decrease. National Office will be ordering the textbooks from Penn State and will incur postage costs for mailing to food course participants.
There are two major holes in this motion as presented. The more visible is the cost burden of this food safety training. Estimated textbook cost is presented in the Financial Impact section. Note well that AML's bearing the cost is not presented in the motion and is thus not assured. That possible future burden on individual volunteers leads directly to the other problem with this motion — the law of unintended consequences. Anyone who has been involved with running an RG is aware that the Hospitality Chair bears a tremendous burden for the success of a Gathering. These volunteers put a great deal of time and effort into the job. Demanding yet more time, and the impact of that requirement on the future availability of volunteers for this position, should be carefully considered. A final thought on this issue: If this motion passes, will AML fully indemnify trained Hospitality Chairs as individuals in the event of a food-related issue at a Gathering?
Next up is a committee-moved motion that contradicts item 10, which is likely to have been passed by this point in the meeting. Item 10 is in the non-debated "Consent Agenda."
35. Moved SIGS Advisory Committee that ASIE 1978-086 be modified to include the following: "Membership is limited to members of American Mensa. At the sole discretion of the SIG Coordinator, members of International Mensa and non Mensans may participate in the activities of the SIG as guests." The words "both paper and electronic" are added after "newsletters". The new ASIE would be: "Resolved that AMC recognize the concept of national vs. local SIGs in that national SIGs operate through correspondence and newsletters, both paper and electronic, their members being dispersed over all areas of American Mensa. Membership is limited to members of American Mensa. At the sole discretion of the SIG Coordinator, members of International Mensa and non Mensans may participate in the activities of the SIG as guests. SIGs of American Mensa are under the jurisdiction of the AMC, delegated to the SIGs Officer. Local SIGs operate under the jurisdiction of the Local Group where they operate."
EXPLANATION: We need to address the new technologies, mentioning electronic communication, and also, we need to address the issue of limiting membership to current AML members.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The AML Office will require time to verify membership.
This will eliminate some SIGs. There are some SIGs that by their nature should or may simply prefer to maintain confidential membership lists. Those will, perforce, disband. Is this an inevitable consequence of the hastily passed July motion that made SIGs an AMC-controlled "member benefit"? Is it an ill-considered motion that just has not taken into account the needs of some of our more sensitive SIGs? Or is it part of a power grab on the part of some individuals on AMC, fear of which is what made the ASIE so unpopular originally with the membership?
This is the most positive column ever in this series. That indicates that there may be hope for the future of Mensa. However, there is still a way to go before the threat of legislating and risk managing Mensa to death is banished. We'll keep observing.
— compiled by Staff