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RVC Thoughts
October/November, 2007
Hello members of Region 3! This column will be a short synopsis of the AMC
meeting held September 8th - I'll offer my insight into the issues presented
at the meeting. This being the first airplane trip for me in over over twenty
years, I was somewhat surprised at the flying pencils that pass themselves
off as jet airliners. Only an Airbus 319 that I was on during the Dallas to
Detroit leg of the journey was what I would have called a comfortable plane.
Obviously customer comfort is not a high priority anymore. The customer
service wasn't so hot, either. Unlike the airlines, we (or at least some of
us) on the AMC do strive to provide the membership with good service. Your
feedback only strengthens our ability to provide such service. Now on to the meeting's agenda items worthy of note.
1 .A nominating committee process review committee was established to review
the nominating process - don't know where this is headed, but if it results in
more candidates running it will be a good thing.
2. A local group
charter review committee was reformed; last term's came up with several
unacceptable proposals which were voted down.
3. A planning committee was formed - as no planning goals have been reached,
it won't have a lot to do.
4. The AMC's Executive Committee's responsibilities and authority were
redefined and somewhat limited. While not comprehensive enough for my taste,
it is a step in the right direction - accountability to the membership.
5. Local groups will be required to provide a definitive statement of their
cash balance annually to AML. Hold on now, this is an IRS requirement and one
which the local treasurers have readily on hand. I don't view it as a burden.
6. Members who are under sanction at the time of elections, but whose
sanction doesn't specifically forbid voting, will now be allowed to vote.
This is a sensible action and one long overdue.
7. We held a lengthy Executive Session, which I am not at liberty to go into
in detail. It is just for this reason that I really oppose the idea of
Executive Sessions. All discussion, whether personal or legal, should be
open for review of the membership. I will say that motions such as expressing
a vote of confidence in our EXCOMM or individual members of the AMC pervert
the notion that competent, effective job performance is the expected norm -
not the exception.
The meeting was cordial despite lots of differing viewpoints; just goes to
show that intelligent persons can state their side of an issue and bring up
opposing points of view without matters becoming unduly personal. An
organized planning meeting was also held, which I fortunately missed most of.
Organized, structured planning meetings usually are about as productive as a
dog chasing its tail. Give me a good old fashioned brain storming session
anytime - especially one with over twenty Mensans involved. Now that would
yield some meaningful ideas on where to head Mensa for the future. Oh well,
the best laid plans of mice and Mensans....
As always, it's good to hear from you and enjoy the beautiful Autumn season!
Dave Swanka
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American Mensa - Region 3