Terminology

As this is being written, I am in the process of packing to go to the Annual Gathering. Since most of the newsletters have first of the month deadlines, I am providing this column. There is plenty to discuss, so there will be little need for additions after the fact. Each local group has members who will have their own AG stories to tell, and mine would be redundant. Scott Rainey, RVC Region 8, provides a website with AG photos, http://www.or.us.mensa.org/pix/, one which I published to last year, and will again this year, for those who want to see the American Mensa Photo Album. Marianne Demkó, our webmaster will be providing my pictures as well as a link to the National pictures on the Regional website, region2.us.mensa.org.

Email is an inexact science, it always has been. As I am writing this, MSN is restoring my emailboxes, due to a software glitch. I have worked in the computer industry for 30 years, and have worked on some of the first personal computers and computer monitors, and as such know all the weaknesses involved with the machinery. The infrastructure necessary for getting an email delivered from one computer to another is monumental, and surely a tribute to the level of sophistication that our society has achieved. However, there is an amazing amount of cause for error and for corruption, and one MUST be aware of this at all times. I live within 5 miles of the headquarters of AOL, and just this week, one of their employees was arrested for illegal manipulation of email addresses. I work in another organization with some of their employees, and have been made aware of how much the situation has taken its toll on the industry in this area.

Now that I have said that, I will proceed with the difficult part of the discussion. I try to avoid controversial items in my column, for my purpose is to disseminate information that all the local group members need to know, not be provocative or opinionated. However, as some of you are aware, the Ombudsman has mailed a position paper to the editors, one that I did not get a hard copy of. Matters were serious enough for him to write the letter, and I am saddened by the need for it. It was, however, necessary. I don’t know what the meaning of the word “numerous” is, and have not been given an answer, but I do know that the man has been inundated with email on some topics of which I am not totally aware. I am always the one to volunteer when volunteers are scarce, and my efforts always make the job easier for the next person down the line. I must be successful at this, for as in other situations in which I find myself, people are lining up to convince you that they should reap the benefits of my hard work and become your next Regional Vice Chair. It is a difficult task, just ask any of my predecessors, fine hard-working individuals who have taken on the task, and their efforts have not been without their toll.

There are no new appointments to be made. Dave Cahn, like any good Ombudsman has nothing to report. In addition, Marianne is doing an excellent job on the website. I have approved Snowball XXXI, “Nautical but Nice” for Central New Jersey for the first weekend in March, the 4th through the 6th.  The others that are on the schedule are Delaware Valley’s “Mensans in Black”– October 15-17 and Tidewater’s “My Favorite Mensan” – November 12-14.

It has come to my attention that several local groups are preparing for their elections. I urge each and every one of you to consider how you can best help Mensa. There are not always enough interested individuals to run for office in a given local group, and that is something that should be changed. This scarcity of volunteers can be dealt with through Leadership Workshops, Local Group Retreats, or general recruitment efforts. It is imperative that we find the cause of this lack of interest, so that all ten local groups can have the leadership that they need. I have seen the level of volunteerism perk up in several groups, and this is pleasing, let us keep up the effort.

Not to date myself, but, “See you in September…”.