By Mark Hutchenreuther, RVC9
I do not recommend attending three RGs in four weeks in three different states, especially if you also attend a Mensa party on the weekend you are not at an RG. I am STILL tired from it all, and yet I crave more.
This whole odyssey started with the San Francisco RG over Thanksgiving, followed by the AMC meeting and RG in Washington, DC, followed by a holiday party in San Jose, followed by the Las Vegas RG. It’s a hard job but someone has to do it.
The AMC meeting was a good one. Although it was decided by the Executive Committee plus me after the meeting, the 1999 AG was awarded to Orange County to be held in Long Beach. We finally get a west coast AG, which has been long overdue. Congratulations to Tom Herbertson and his committee.
We also learned that we are looking at a considerable budget surplus this year, and will not have to borrow from the life dues or any other fund to cover our expenses. The approximately $400K surplus could be used for many things, and the AMC is open to ideas. At least some will likely come back to local groups in the form of increased local group subsidies. Some should be saved for a rainy day, and some may be needed for our revised insurance coverage when we have finished that study. Dues will not have to be raised and will remain $45. The budget will be considered over the Presidents Day Weekend, which conflicts with our own Los Angeles RG. If I could attend both, I would, but my priority is to go to LA.
The Las Vegas RG was loads of fun. My personal highlights were the tour of the Ethyl M chocolate factory and cactus garden and the Saturday night show. This featured fellow M Kathy Saxe, the world’s oldest show girl. She still has her stuff!
As I write this, I have finished the first week of Winter Quarter at Cal Poly, where I am teaching two sections of Fortran for non-Majors, the class I taught three sections of last quarter, and one the Spring Quarter. I am also teaching two sections of C and UNIX for non-Majors, an interesting exercise in bilingual education.
This coming weekend is the Phoenix RG, so you know where I will be at that time. It is shaping up into an excellent RG in a new time slot which makes it the first RG of the year. I hope to see you there.
Next up is the Los Angeles RG, at the same location as last year. There is still time to sign up for that one, and I hope you will. Your extended Mensa family is anxious to meet you if you have not tried an RG yet, and equally anxious to renew and continue friendships made over the years. I hope you will join me there as well.