Excom Minutes

Greater Phoenix Mensa's February Executive Committee Meeting

1) Meeting called to order at 1:00, February 7th, 1999.

2) Present were:

Carol Young, Local Secretary

Jerry Corbin, Assistant Local Secretary

Bruce Stiles, Business Manager

Stephenie Crowley, Newsletter Editor

Jason Grimm, Recording Secretary

Carolyn Robinson, Member at Large

Mike Johnson

John Seeliger

Paul Nowak

Mel Anderson

Bob Hirschfeld

Gene Holmerud

Ken Brown

3) Dave Verbil, long-time member, was found dead in his home, cause of death unknown. Stephenie Crowley moved $30.00 be spent to send flowers. Jerry Corbin seconded. No discussion. Voted. Approved.

4) John Seeliger's name was misspelled in the January minutes. It was resolved he should change his name to Smith, and would henceforth be known as Smith Seeliger. With this change, the minutes of the January meeting were approved.

Jason Grimm was appointed Election Chair. Voted. Approved, with the dissention of Jason Grimm himself, who had taken an allergy pill and wasn't really sure what was going on.

Carol appointed Stephenie Crowley and John Seeliger as Y2k Regional Gathering (RG) Chair.

Carol Young would like to move Brunch and Banter and the Executive Committee meeting (ExCom). Jerry Corbin suggested Jerry's (no connection) on Scottsdale road. The location's strengths include easy freeway access, low prices, familiarity due to its use for Skeptic's meetings, and its private room. Discussion leaned towards holding the March meeting at La Madeleine. John Seeliger wanted to move sooner, stating "why postpone the inevitable." It was decided to move Brunch and Banter and the ExCom to Jerry's for March. Because of the move, the free birthday breakfast program will be sidelined.

5) There was a round of applause for Mel Anderson, who worked hard to cover Pete Moskovitz's absence, due to a snowstorm, at the RG.

Half of the potential members inconvenienced by Pete's Moskovitz's being inconvenienced have already been tested.

6) Membership Committee meeting will be this Tuesday, at the time printed in the monthly Maam newsletter.

Jerry Corbin is trying to get Arizona Republic writer E.J. Montini to speak.

7) Directory corrections will be in the March MAAM. Carol Young remarked on how she liked the pictures.

Stephenie Crowley and John Seeliger would like to hold an RG postmortem, discussing what worked and what didn't. Jason Grimm volunteered to be RG Hospitality Chair. Paul Nowak was suggested as Beverage Chair. Paid attendance at the most recent RG was 114.

8) Gene Holmerud burst into the room.

9) Old Business

There was no Old business.

10) New Business

Gene Holmerud called for Greater Phoenix Mensa (GPM) to contribute several hundred dollars for a Science Bowl scholarship in return for recognition. Stephenie moved $200 be donated to Science Bowl in the name of GPM. Jerry Corbin seconded. Discussion ranged around the amount, but in the end, this contribution was seen as a testing and learning experience. Voted. Passed unanimous.

Resolved to call for a picnic organizer in MAAM. Ken Brown suggested holding the event as a Salon or Soiree.

Mel Anderson suggested a $200 scholarship for the top essay writer in Yvonne Solbrekken's program. Carol Young suggested giving prizes to the top three essay writers. Gene Holmerud moved $200 be awarded to the top three essay writers. Motion was amended to $200 for the first-place essay writer, $100 for the second-place writer. Stephenie Crowley seconded. Discussion. Approved unanimous.

Ken Brown addressed the Executive Committee. He would like more involvement in the Science Bowl. Carol Young suggested caution, stating GPM's small involvement will generate information for the near term, to guide future involvement.

11) Adjournment called for at 1:48.