By Carol Young
I'm running again for LocSec to continue doing the things I've wanted to see happen in Greater Phoenix Mensa.
During this past year, we began sending welcome packets to new members, we've revived the RG and it's stronger than ever, and we're financially sound. In the coming year, we hope to use some of the extra money in the budget to help those people become Mensans who otherwise don't have the resources to join, in return for their giving something back to Greater Phoenix Mensa by volunteering some of their time.
My greatest concern is that I'm overseeing the beginning of the end of Greater Phoenix Mensa. Fewer people are willing to host events. Fewer people are attending. Fewer people are helping out. Fewer people seems to care what happens to GPM. I'm heartened by the newer members who are showing interest and are volunteering, but we don't have enough of them.
So once again, my priority will be to get more members involved in this organization. It doesn't run itself. Never has. Never will. I'm hoping you'll come out in larger numbers this time and join me in making a good organization even better.
Please vote and please get involved.
Carol Young
Assistant LocSec
Jerry Corbin
Like any organization, GPM needs an influx of new blood to keep it alive and vital. One of my goals for the coming year, is to form an active Membership Committee that will more vigorously "sell" Mensa in the greater Phoenix area. The committee’s charter will be to increase the number of qualified new members, and to get them involved in GPM activities.
The monthly Forums have historically proven to be one of the most popular events on GPM’s monthly calendar. It is important that an appropriate and permanent home be found soon for these monthly gatherings, and that the quality of the speakers is of high caliber. If elected, my top priority as Assistant LocSec will be to ensure the continuing success of the Forums.
As a potential member of the Executive Committee, I commit to focus my time and talent to help make GPM a better and stronger organization in the coming year. Any members who want to help make this happen are encouraged to get involved. We need your input.
Treasurer
Gene Holmerud
Member GPM: 22 years
Experience: Registrar, Phoenix Phiesta 16 and 17 RG's.
Treasurer, Arizona Toastmasters, 1983-1984
Treasurer of my computer user group, 6+ years
My contribution: Apply my experience by clearly showing monies received and spent, but most importantly to reflect the effect of future known expenses upon current balances.
Mike Keleher
I believe that I am suited for the office of Treasurer for the following reasons:
1. I have a personal fortune more than twice the balance of the chapter's account so I'm not going to risk it all for greedy reasons.
2. Arithmetic is one of my strong points.
3. As a consultant, I have a keen eye for fraud.
4. I would be happy to participate.
5. When I breathe on a mirror, it fogs.
Remember, vote for me, I'm running!
Particulars: Mensa Member for over 25 years, Data Processing professional for 24 years, resident of Phoenix since 1990, bats right, throws right.
Members at Large
Bruce Stiles
My keen insight and unique perspective are probably not any better than those of any other member of Greater Phoenix Mensa. However, my experience is that insight and perspective are less important than attendance at the ExComm Meeting, for two reasons: 1. If you're not at the ExComm Meeting, neither is your insight and perspective. 2. If enough ExComm Members are not at the ExComm Meeting, you won't have a quorum, and you won't be able to get any work done. ExComm Meetings are held on the first Sunday of the month, immediately after a brunch. I go to the brunches anyway, so staying to attend the ExComm Meeting is not difficult. As I write this statement on 4/4/98, the only conflict that I know about is for the October ExComm Meeting. I will be attending the Annual Conference of the Society of Insurance Licensing Administrators. The 1999 Rocky Point Trip is scheduled for April 16-18, and should not present a conflict.
Vote for Bruce Stiles for Member-At-Large, because you want his body – at the ExComm Meeting.
Meg Kelleher
I have enjoyed being a member of Mensa and especially serving as Member-At-Large for the past year. I discovered I really like the opportunity to offer my "two cents," and have some small impact on the direction of the group. This year I will try to focus more on learning what you, the membership, have as "two cents" to offer, so I can present that and properly represent you.
So, please feel free to bend my ear with whatever issues are burning in your mind, or even simmering. Suggestions, complaints, praise, opinions, comments, questions; I am open to all. I'd like to be bringing things to the meetings that are really what the membership wants. I also hope this can be a way for members, especially new members, to get more involved and thereby have more fun!
Thanks, and see you all "out there."
Here it is, elections again.
Are we going to have another rousing response (remember, last year we nearly doubled our response from the year before – we had something like 11 votes!!!) or will it be the same old "I don’t care, just so long as I don’t have to do it"?
Elsewhere in this issue, our Party Maven Leigh Butler bemoans the lack of people to host events. Carol Young, the Calendar Goddess, has had to disband two long-time events because nobody will step forward to coordinate them.
Do you see a pattern here? You should – you’re Mensans.
Which brings us back to the old question: why did you join Mensa? Is it so you can flash your card and impress the heck out of other people? Because it looks good on your resume? Because you just wanted to prove to yourself that you could pass the test?
Or did you join because you wanted to meet people who can see patterns … who don’t make fun of you if you use "penurious" in a casual conversation … who are as willing to talk about the recent gamma ray burst as to make incredibly bad puns … who really give you a challenge when you play Scrabble … who like to eat, and talk, and party …
And did you think you’d be spoon-fed all this fun? Well, wake up, GPM. If some of you don’t get off your couches and away from your keyboards, we’re going to fold. That’s right, we’re not only going to give a party and have nobody come, but there won’t be anybody to host the shindig in the first place.
And to heck with the parties. What about somebody to coordinate a scholarship program … a book drive … a tutoring resource … any of a million things that Mensans should be willing and able to give back to our community.
We’re supposedly bright. If we’re the top 2%, I don’t hold out much hope for the rest of humanity in terms of altruism and community spirit. Or do we all think we’re so smart we don’t need the rest of life – we already have intelligence, so why bother with real people?
Give it a moment: that’s what this kind of volunteerism will take per month. No … give it an hour or two.
No, even better … give it your lifetime. Get involved. Help other people. Interact. Reach out. Meet somebody. Enrich your soul, not just your cerebrum.
Happiness doesn’t just come from a job, or a book, or a keyboard, or a TV tuned to The Learning Channel. It comes with being human.
Jump into the gene pool. The water’s fine.