July
2003
Dear Great Lakes & Ohio Valley Mensans,
My 24th monthly column! Yes, this column marks the end of
my two-year term as your Regional Vice Chairman (RVC). I write this on June 1,
the deadline for two of the 16 newsletters in the region, which is after ballots
are due, but before election results are known, so I don’t know whether I will
serve another term—but this is still a good time to look back, and to look
forward.
Looking back at my prior 23 columns, I see that I’ve
introduced myself, written about happenings at two Annual Gatherings, including
many awards for Region 3 members, and written about American Mensa’s first
Colloquium in many years. I’ve written about how Mensa operates, including what
is the American Mensa Committee (AMC), and who serves on it. I’ve encouraged
you to renew your memberships, and I’ve talked about various benefits of being a
member, including local groups, SIGs, and the
AML website. I’ve written about the creation of the newest local group in
American Mensa, I’ve written about our various sorts of active members, and my
appreciation for our inactive members, and I’ve written about upcoming
activities for those of us who have chosen to participate. I’ve written about
organizational communications, including this column and the electronic
newsletter,
AMLRegion3News, I set up on Yahoo! Groups. I’ve urged you to vote, and I’ve
written about Mensans helping each other out. Only once did I get distracted by
“real world” events—the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001—and even then, I
concluded that to defeat the terrorists, life—and Mensa—had to continue.
All in all, I think it’s been a good two years for the
Great Lakes and Ohio Valley Region of American Mensa. Most of the groups in
Region 3 are thriving, and our activity level is so excellent that the May issue
of New Zealand Mensa’s magazine, Menzed, devoted most of a page to a listing of
our activities. Whether this is the end, or merely a turning of the page, I
feel good about my term as your RVC.
Looking forward, this region has a good foundation to build
upon, and I expect it to continue to thrive. By the time you read this, you
will know whether you have asked me to serve another term, or will have chosen
to have Charlie Bruce of Columbus be our new RVC. Charlie has been an exemplary
opponent in the campaign of the last few months, keeping the campaign positive,
and focused on what each of us can do if elected, and I would be pleased to have
him as my new RVC if you have chosen him. (I’d be more pleased to continue to
be his RVC, of course!—I did run for re-election, after all.) This is a region
of good people, and I am very proud both to be a member of this region, and to
have been able to serve.
July starts off with
American Mensa’s Annual Gathering (AG), held this year July 2-6 in St. Paul,
Minnesota; if you’ve never been to an AG, you truly should think about attending
one—they are well worth the time. (If you can’t go this year, think about
reserving time for future AGs—2004 in Las Vegas, 2005 in New Orleans, or a joint
US AG/Mensa International 60th birthday party in Orlando in 2006.) Closer to
home, Columbus Area Mensa hosts
its 2003 Regional Gathering July 25-27;
see the Bulletin, check the Region 3 website, or
for details.
As always—Yours in Mensa,
