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THREE FOR ALL - The Newsletter for
Region 3 Officers
February 2004
RVC:
, P.O. Box 91141, Columbus, OH 43209-7141
Editor: , 4550 West 228 Street, Fairview Park, OH
44126-2421
THE REGION 3 NEWSLETTER IS BACK
Manner of Distribution - e-mail or snail
mail? - A week or so ago, an e-mail was sent you saying
we hoped to make as much use as possible with e-mail distribution so as to
cut back on cost and, perhaps, increase the number of issues. You were
asked to respond if you preferred receiving this Newsletter via regular
mail. For those who replied that was their preference - it has been
done. For those who indicated they preferred e-mail or didn't indicate a
preference, we thank you for allowing us to send this in an economical
way. If
at any time you would like to change the way you receive this, simply hit
the reply key, request the change and, presto, it will be done.
Any updates, changes, corrections for
mailing should be sent to the current newsletter editor and the National
Office.
Who Receives Three
for All - All elected and appointed
Region 3 officers. Courtesy copies to all contributors and those who have
interest in certain included items.
Name - Thanks to Alan Baltis (Cleveland) for suggesting the catchy new name of Three for All for the Region 3 newsletter. Content - Let us know what you want to see here. Along with official business, this issue brings you a bit of fun history on how The Cleveland Clap and the My First Time buttons came to be. Colleen Fitzgerald Baltis has been kind enough to start us off with a fun article on what she thinks the Mensa Local Group Minimum Standard Bylaws should be. Let’s share ideas. Here are some thoughts that have come from my initial e-mail. Write and let us know what works for you and your chapter and/or what you’d like to see here. - What works best for your group to get member participation? - What works best for getting volunteers - the newsletter, phone calls, etc.? - What goes on at your monthly meeting? Dinner? Speaker? Games? Just chit chat? - What unusual events have you held and what was the response? - What's your most successful event, speaker, activity? - What do you do for recruitment? - What places and dates for testing are the most successful for you? - How do you get people to run for office? - What public services does your group do? - Where do editors get notable articles and art to reprint free - like really good stuff published by various Mensa newsletters? - Membership officers - what do you do when you get a Prospect List, Offer List and New Member List from the National Office? Do you call, write, ignore? - What are your favorite gathering events, tournaments, etc.? Have something to say, write or e-mail Charlie or De - we want to hear from you
PROXYQUEST
FACTS
increasing every hour
American Mensa is well on the way to receiving the needed proxies and Region 3 leads the way. - 20,891 or 87% proxies received as of 9:24 a.m., Monday, February 23 and seems to be averaging an increase of about four an hour. - Region 3 leads the way with 53.9% - the only region over 50% - Northern Michigan Mensa leads the way in Region 3 with 78.6% - WOW - Columbus, Cincinnati and Mid-Michigan have reached or exceeded 60% - The chapter with the lowest number is almost at 50% - Borderline Mensa, Region 9 - 68 of the 73 members for 93.2% - WOW WOW The January issue of InterLoc should have answers to any questions you might be asked by those members still undecided. Can we hold this position or will we fall behind? Just because the numbers look good, it doesn’t mean it’s time to sit back and relax. Keep encouraging members to vote by card or by going to the web site AND by renewing on time. Submitted proxies won’t mean a thing if members don’t renew - lapsed member proxies will be pitched. Members need to know this and, perhaps, a new goal of 60% of the membership should be encouraged to allow for non-renewals. Below is copy you may wish to use in your newsletter.
For online proxy submissions, go to <no longer needed>
You will be asked for a login and password. You can use these:
User name: Proxies (Proxies is the actual ID)
Password: Needed (Needed is the actual password)
Next Click: Enter Your Proxy Now
The next screen asks for your member number.
You can find this on your Bulletin or local newsletter label.
The web page will recognize you from that number.
Next, click:
Click Here to Begin Your Proxy Session
Then, if it is your name that comes up, click:
SUBMIT my proxy through electronic transmission
GET THE LATEST INFO - FAST - JOIN
AML NEWSFLASH
AML Newsflash is the email news service for involved American Mensans. The AMC
and the NO provide important news, administrative reports, requests for
volunteers, and other Announcements via this email list. If you'd like to stay
up-to-date on the latest developments in American Mensa, subscribe now.
Tim Folks writes that the goal of this list is to carry all of the national
news. You might get some in InterLoc, some in AML Today, some in the Bulletin,
and some on the web site, but *all* of it should be on the Newsflash.
To join, go to
http://lists.us.mensa.org/mailman/listinfo/amlnewsflash
or email amlnewsflash-request@lists.us.mensa.org with the one-word subject:
subscribe
CULTUREQUEST
XV
It's a 90-minute test of cultural knowledge for American and Canadian Mensans.
Questions range from politics to science and from entertainment to current
events.
CultureQuest® ("CQ") takes place anywhere and everywhere simultaneously on
SUNDAY, MARCH 28. The top 20 teams receive cash awards.
For the kids - CultureQuest: The Next Generation. They take the same test but
don't complete with the adult teams. Your chapter may file for the Gifted
Children Grant and receive $30 toward the fee.
Each team captain must submit a completed registration with the $40 FILING FEE
by MARCH 1. Each team, comprising one to five members, can be supplemented by
up to two alternates.
So get a copy of the Rules and the Registration Form, round up some teammates,
and sign up for CQ XV today! More information on CQ can be found in the
January issue of the Mensa Bulletin. Email other questions to CultureQuest(r)
Coordinator Eliot T. Kieval at
CultureQuest@us.mensa.org
Forms are at www.us.mensa.org/best_of/culturequest.php3
YOU'RE INVITED TO THE REGION 3
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP (LDW)
Never been to an LDW? Never even heard of one? Well, here's the lowdown. A Leadership Development Workshop is for any current Mensan (officer or not) interested in how things are run and done. The actual Workshop is FREE and held during the day on Saturday for the convenience of those who wish or are able to only attend that portion of the event. However, we need to have an estimate of the number of attendees to expect, so please RSVP to . Below are some of the details that have been cooked up to entice you to attend. Where: Best Western Columbus East, 2100 Brice Road, Reynoldsburg, OH, 614 864 1280 Mensa rate of $45 +tax
Friday - 2/27
7:00 Dinner Soup and Sandwiches
8:30 Socializing / Games, etc.
Saturday - 2/28
8:00 Continental Breakfast
9:00 Presentation by AML
10:00 1) LocSec Basics: General Group Adm.
2) Editing/Newsletter Basics (Mensa 101)
11:00 1) ExComm Basics: What Every Mensa Officer Should Know
2) Web Site Basics
12:00 Noon Lunch - Different Soups and Sandwiches
1:00 1) PR/Marketing
2) Proctoring, Admissions and Welcoming New Members.
Special Track - Group Food Preparation Course
2:00 1) Gifted Children Program and Family Activities
2) Proctored Mensa Test Session
5:30 Closing and Participant Evaluations
Saturday Dinner - On-Your-Own
RETURN TO HOTEL for the Columbus Mensa Games Night
Curriculum/Speakers: Objectives Selected from LDW Handbook
- LocSec and ExComm Basics - Alan and Colleen Baltis (aka The Balti).
Cleveland
- Editing and Newsletter Basics - April Lashbrook, Columbus
- Web Site Basics - Sandy Johnson, Southeast Michigan
- PR/Marketing - Jim Blackmore, National Office
- Testing and Membership - Jack Schultz, Northern Michigan
- Gifted Children & Family Activities - Dr. Deborah Ruf, National Gifted
Children Program Coordinator
- Food Preparation - Don Barrett, City of Columbus Health Department
Information about this is sparse as Stormie Kuhlman just recently became the chair. So, I’d like to be the cheerleader so that Region 3 can have a strong showing on this committee. According to the ASIEs, every chapter can have a representative on the National Nominating Committee. This also may be a group of people working together, but only one will actually be included in the process. It would be the responsibility of this person to distribute the information to the other members representing your chapter. Any interested member should make it known to the local ExComm and then the name should be submitted to Basic Committee Membership Duties - Attendance at the AG is not required, but if you’re a committee member and going, then there will be two meetings for you to attend. In the past, the first meeting is for the committee to decide how they want to work together and the questions to be asked of the members seeking a position. At the second meeting, the members running for office will present themselves in an open meeting of officers and interested members. This is actually quite interesting. When back home, you probably will be signed up on an e-mail list (but can get the stuff via snail mail) and the correspondence begins. People will submit statements about the candidates and at a specified date, the committee members will vote for six (6) positions - each of the top five AMC positions and their own Region’s RVC candidates. DEADLINE for submitting names to Stormie is really March 1, but she can be a bit flexible, but only a day or two. If your group doesn’t have a representative as yet, perhaps a phone call or two might find a suitable one.
It's that time of the year once again! The National Awards Committee is calling for nominations for the American Mensa National Awards program. These nominations are for those members whose service to American Mensa as a Society, or achievements benefiting the Society, have resulted in a significant contribution to the organization (as distinguished from service or contributions to local groups, regions, SIGs, etc., which may have their own awards programs.) Please send nominations of members you feel are deserving of a National Award to: National Awards Committee, American Mensa, 1229 Corporate Drive W, Arlington, TX 76006-6103 Your nomination submission should detail the reasons why the member is especially deserving of a National Award, and the qualifications which make that member a special candidate for such an award - the more information provided, the better the Committee can consider the nomination. The national awards include Certificates of Appreciation, National Service Awards, Distinguished Service Awards, and the Life Membership Award. Questions may be sent to me, but Award Nominations should be sent to the National Office not later than the end of April. , National Awards Committee
WHAT'S IN A NAME - ESPECIALLY IF THE NAME IS GLOATER RVC3 Charlie Bruce is known far and wide by Gloater. Indeed, when introducing him, one often needs to pause while trying to remember his real name. He has written about it in his RVC columns, it’s his Hearts’ name and it's even his license plate. He comes by this name honestly. When does Charlie gloat? Mostly, when he's winning in a Hearts card game or giving the queen of spades to the current low scorer. He’s a good Hearts player and often gives lessons at RGs on the strategy of how to play (and win) the game. At the Cincinnati RG, Denny Bender (Brutal) and Deborah Henry (Debutante) put together a fine new tournament - Elimination Hearts. The tournament began. The first person to be eliminated stood up. There is no way to adequately express in words the amazement and amusement of that moment, but a mighty roar when up when the very first person in the very first Elimination Hearts Tournament ever, turned out to be our very own GLOAT, GLOAT, GLOAT, GLOATER. In all fairness, though, I must report that he redeemed himself at the Indy RG by winning the tournament. NOW YOU KNOW ... Ever wonder how some of the Regional Gathering traditions got their start? The following information is courtesy of Cleveland Mensan Sandy Murphy with bits and pieces from discussions here and there. FROM THE 1978 CLEVELAND ANNUAL GATHERING, WE GOT ... THE CLEVELAND CLAP - Victor Albanese was the MC for the Cleveland AG. At the Friday evening banquet, he started introducing the people at the very long head table. After the first couple of introductions, it became evident it would take just too long to give everyone the accolades they deserved at the time their names were mentioned. It was then asked that there be only one striking of the hands until after the names were presented, then followed by a thunderous round of applause. Thus, "The Cleveland Clap" was born. MY FIRST TIME BUTTONS - also were born at the Cleveland AG. Someone commented that a new member attending an AG, or even an RG, should sometimes feel left out when everyone around them were greeting old friends. It is believed, but not certain, that Harper Fowley invented the button. The little green buttons were a signal to all that a person needed extra attention. The buttons became so popular that everyone wanted one and some of us had to invent a reason to wear one. All RGs passed them out at registration for first time attendees, etc. Sandy said that she wore a "First Time Button" at the Minneapolis RG. When Harper saw that he challenged her about wearing one but laughed when Sandy told him it was the "first time" she had been on the Mississippi River.
A MODEST
PROPOSAL - Mensa Local Group Minimum Standard Bylaws
I've noticed a disturbing trend toward the idea that more rules make for a
better Mensa. I personally believe this to be bushwa. But if we're going to
have rules, let's at least cast aside the lawyers and adopt some rules that
have a ghost of a chance of making Mensa better, not just more officious. In
the spirit of Region 3, so often the leader in The Things That Really Matter,
I humbly propose the following Mensa Local Group Minimum Standard Bylaws:
1. Start with "Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" by Robert
Fulghum. Add in similar works by Mr. Rogers and Captain Kangaroo, if any.
2. You may complain about the nature, quality, or quantity of events only if
you have planned an event yourself.
3. You may complain about poor leadership only if you have stepped up and led
yourself.
4. You may nurse a grudge for no longer than it took to pass the Magna Carta.
5. You may make references to the Magna Carta only if you know what the hell
you're talking about.
6. You are permitted, encouraged and expected to hold opinions.
7. You are required to realize that opinions are not facts.
8. You will not persuade by shrieking until everyone cries "uncle."
9. If you are airborne-infectious, stay home. If you are contact-infectious,
don't hug me.
10. You are not Mensa. You can't do anything in the name of Mensa.
11. You're in the smart club. You're not allowed to be stupid, even if it
serves your purpose.
12. With great power comes great responsibility. Use your powers for Good, not
Evil.
13. Risk is to be handled, not merely avoided.
14. You must maintain a minimum standard of personal hygiene.
15. You must maintain a proper clothing-to-weight ratio.
16. You must use utensils when appropriate, even if they slow you down a bit.
Please note that a trowel is not a utensil.
17. There is such a thing as enough food.
18. You must clean up after yourself, or bring your mother.
19. You must develop/maintain a sense of humor, including/especially about
yourself.
20. You must develop/maintain a sense of perspective, including/especially
about yourself.
21. Playing is more important than winning.
22. Good manners are more important than the rules.
23. Pay attention to the game. When it's your turn to play, for the love of
god, play.
24. Trivia is trivial, or they would call it significa. See the previous bylaw
re: sense of proportion.
25. No one is really interested in exactly what route you took to get to the
meeting.
26. Speak up, even if your voice shakes.
27. Speaking more loudly/sarcastically/righteously does not make you right.
28. Being pleasant is more important than being right.
29. Know when it's time to sit down and shut up. Then sit down and shut up.
30. Non-dairy creamer flows from the she-devil's scabby teat.
31. Except for the one immediately proceeding, everything in the bylaws may be
wrong.
Respectfully submitted, C. F. Baltis, Cleveland Area Mensa
Page last updated: 05/11/2005 |
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