Words From Nick - November 2007
As I write this I am gearing up for the December AMC meeting.
How do you replace an RVC that has stepped down? In the past the Executive Committee would make an appointment and at the next AMC meeting there would be a vote to accept the decision. The problem is that the people who are actually affected have no say in the matter. They don't even have a representative. This is not inline with the applicable laws. The obvious solution is to hold a regional election, but that would cost about $15,000 and take a lot of time. The motion on the agenda is to allow the Local Secretaries to vote on the position. There have been several other options brought up and as of right now I do not yet know how I will vote.
There is another motion to limit the liability of the national organization against lawsuits caused by the serving of alcohol at official functions. The problem that I have with it is that it requires the other members to take certain actions if a member is intoxicated. My question is if the member did his required duty and got the person a cab, what if the cab crashes and injures the member? What if the member damages the cab? Not only does this motion not limit the liability of the national organization it forces that liability onto the local groups and members. I'm going with a nay on this one.
The AMC is probably going to adopt the proposed vision statement and goals. I don't like either. They aren't clear enough nor do they address the important issues. However, I think the greater issue on hand is that they aren't relevant to anything. The AMC will act as it deems necessary regardless of if it is inline with an official vision statement or goal. This will only add to the length of the Actions Still in Effect (ASIE's).
Now for the diamond in the rough. Sometimes a member has a problem with something or someone. More often than you would think these problems escalate well beyond a level that is appropriate. The plan is to approve a list of escalating "avenues of redress" for a member to follow. The idea is solid, but it needs to be modified to allow a more realistic flow between the different options. This guide will allow a member to find a solution with much less frustration and well before the issue escalates further than is necessary. I expect that this will encourage issues to be addressed quicker. This will not only help keep the affected member active, but will prevent frustration among other members of the group.
Obviously next month will be the debriefing from the meeting. We need an RG sometime in the October '08 - January '09 time frame. Any takers?
Nick Sanford
RVC5@us.mensa.org
How do you replace an RVC that has stepped down? In the past the Executive Committee would make an appointment and at the next AMC meeting there would be a vote to accept the decision. The problem is that the people who are actually affected have no say in the matter. They don't even have a representative. This is not inline with the applicable laws. The obvious solution is to hold a regional election, but that would cost about $15,000 and take a lot of time. The motion on the agenda is to allow the Local Secretaries to vote on the position. There have been several other options brought up and as of right now I do not yet know how I will vote.
There is another motion to limit the liability of the national organization against lawsuits caused by the serving of alcohol at official functions. The problem that I have with it is that it requires the other members to take certain actions if a member is intoxicated. My question is if the member did his required duty and got the person a cab, what if the cab crashes and injures the member? What if the member damages the cab? Not only does this motion not limit the liability of the national organization it forces that liability onto the local groups and members. I'm going with a nay on this one.
The AMC is probably going to adopt the proposed vision statement and goals. I don't like either. They aren't clear enough nor do they address the important issues. However, I think the greater issue on hand is that they aren't relevant to anything. The AMC will act as it deems necessary regardless of if it is inline with an official vision statement or goal. This will only add to the length of the Actions Still in Effect (ASIE's).
Now for the diamond in the rough. Sometimes a member has a problem with something or someone. More often than you would think these problems escalate well beyond a level that is appropriate. The plan is to approve a list of escalating "avenues of redress" for a member to follow. The idea is solid, but it needs to be modified to allow a more realistic flow between the different options. This guide will allow a member to find a solution with much less frustration and well before the issue escalates further than is necessary. I expect that this will encourage issues to be addressed quicker. This will not only help keep the affected member active, but will prevent frustration among other members of the group.
Obviously next month will be the debriefing from the meeting. We need an RG sometime in the October '08 - January '09 time frame. Any takers?
Nick Sanford
RVC5@us.mensa.org
Copyright © 2008 American Mensa, Ltd. The Mensa logo is a registered trademark of Mensa International, Ltd. and American Mensa Ltd., all rights reserved. Mensa does not hold any opinions, or have, or express, any political or religious views.