#locsec message

[gpm-maam]

A Year-end Message from David Sebesta, GPM Local Secretary

Fellow Greater Phoenix Mensans:

I hope this message finds you safe and healthy.  Whether it’s celebrating with friends and family, binging the latest thing on Netflix, or just decompressing from work for a few days, please have an enjoyable holiday season.   As 2021 winds down, I look back and reflect on the last two years Greater Phoenix Mensa has faced.  I remember one of the first ExCom meetings I led, where we had the unenviable decision to cancel the Phoenix Phiesta for the first time in decades. With things coming to a halt due to the pandemic, we had to scramble to find ways of keeping Mensans engaged.  Zoom was our lifeline for months, whether for ExCom meetings or Judy Herrmann’s Saturday virtual discussion forums.  I appreciate every GPM member for sticking with Mensa during these unprecedented times.   I’m happy to say 2021 improved, albeit at a slower pace.  Thanks to our volunteers – Jim Delton and Pete Costantino especially – we hosted our Member Appreciation Day this past summer and followed it with a well-attended Thanksgiving Day dinner.  I’m happy to say several of our dine-out events have resumed, and we have new events like bicycle rides and trivia events showing steady growth.  I extend my sincerest gratitude for your efforts to all those who have stepped up and coordinated these events.   By the time you read this, we’re well past the holidays and on to celebrating Earth’s next journey around the Sun.  We all celebrate New Year’s Day in a myriad of ways – watching the ball drop, embracing your significant other to the chords of Auld Laud Syne, going to bed early (for us introverts), or starting a New Year’s Resolution list. Personally, the one resolution I had that I didn’t break came a few years ago where I resolved to take a more active role in my social groups. As GPM shows life again, we’re seeking volunteers for a few critical roles.  Depending on the level of interest and position, the time commitments vary.  If interested in any volunteer opportunity, don't hesitate to get in touch with me at LocSec@phoenixmensa.org or call (480) 798-9409. A complete list of openings may be found below. Thank you once again for your continued GPM membership.  I look forward to more significant events and dinners throughout 2022! Regards, David Sebesta Local Secretary The following volunteer positions are open: ExCom Member at Large Opening The Member-at-Large is a voting member of GPM ExCom. The time commitments are minimal – a virtual board meeting on the second Sunday afternoon of each month, plus any other programs or initiatives you would like to lead.   An appointment to this role would last until the end of the current ExCom term, which ends June 30, 2022. Any questions about this specific position may be directed to locsec@phoenixmensa.org. GPM Gifted Youth Coordinator The Gifted Youth Coordinator helps shape the future of GPM.  Some GYCs set up mentor programs within their chapter Group to encourage gifted – often overlooked – youth through interested adults who are accomplished in professions, disciplines, and hobbies.  A GYC also works with local schools to coordinate intellectually stimulating activities, such as essay contests, museum trips, or science fairs.  This role is ideal for a passion for learning and working with talented children and educators. There is an application process, and a criminal background check is required and the candidate must be a Mensa member.  More information on both is on the American Mensa site: https://www.us.mensa.org/lead/certifications/gifted-youth-coordinators/ Any questions about this specific position may be directed to locsec@phoenixmensa.org. GPM Ombudsman Opening The Ombudsman is GPM’s first avenue to resolve member disputes.  Time commitments are minimal, and this role is ideal for someone versed in conflict resolution and mediation.  The GPM Ombudsman will cast a vote in Spring 2022 for the National Ombudsman. More information on the role and its responsibilities are here: https://www.us.mensa.org/lead/handbooks/ombudsman-handbook/ Any questions about this specific position may be directed to locsec@phoenixmensa.org. GPM 2022 Regional Gathering Chairperson Opening While GPM has not held Regional Gatherings in 2020 and 2021, we intend to host a Regional Gathering (Phoenix Phiesta) during 2022’s Thanksgiving weekend. Photos and Program from the 2019 RG may be found HERE. This role will coordinate volunteers, work with a hotel to set up an event hospitality contract, and establish an event calendar for the four-day event.  More information on Regional Gatherings is here:   https://www.us.mensa.org/attend/regional-gatherings/ Any questions about this specific position may be directed to locsec@phoenixmensa.org. GPM Proctor/Testing Coordinator Sought This role is key to increasing GPM’s membership.  Leveraging Mensa’s Prospect Management Tool, coordinators can easily track prospects, download contact information, and email prospects about in-person testing events.   Additionally, the coordinator identifies testing locations (typically libraries or event centers) and works with our pool of certified proctors to conduct testing. Any questions about this specific position may be directed to locsec@phoenixmensa.org. GPM Speaker Forum Coordinator Sought GPM would like to resume the Speaker Forum Series, preferably in an in-person environment.  This role coordinates speakers, identifies Forum locations, and serves as the host for the Speaker Forum. Any questions about this specific position may be directed to locsec@phoenixmensa.org.

[gpm-maam]

RVC9 Column

From Mike Wong, RVC9

Dear Region 9 members, I apologize for the tardiness of last month’s RVC column.  I was still getting my bearings after 2 months of non-stop travel and it took awhile for me to get back into the groove of hosting local events and executing my RVC duties.  Most of you will probably see 2 columns for February as my January column missed the deadline of most Region 9 local newsletters.

The new communication tool Mensa Connect from Higher Logic is now online.  Members who are net savvy and those who checked the Mensa website recently may already have signed on and played a little with the application.  Mensa Connect works like yahoo groups and social applications like facebook, but is linked to the Mensa database.  Membership lists such as current AMC members, current LocSecs, proctors, etc. are automatically updated, those who no longer volunteer for a specific position or whose membership expired will be purged when their statuses change.  Updating all these membership information each year used to be a massive and time consuming task, the advantage of handling over this to Higher Logic is not only do we automate the process, they also take care of archiving all old messages.

A task force was formed and headed by GLAAM’s own Billie Lee (who also serves as our Second Vice Chair on the AMC) a few months ago to test this software and it went online December 5th.  As of now thru March 1st. we are in the process of creating local elists and communities for Local groups, by April 1st. the migration process should be completed and all local elist will be turned off.  If you have been active on old local elist, be aware that it may not be operating for much longer.

I received a nice email from a Region 9 member inquireing about becoming a proctor because he has read about the problem with Southern Nevada, I was very excited about his enthusiasm and the positive experiences he had with his proctor when he initially joined.  I can not emphasize enough about the importance of our proctors, who are responsible for bringing in most of our new members and are probably the first Mensans most prospective members meet when they take the admission test.  I have submitted my proctor application recently and hope to join our fine team of proctors some time early in 2018.  On the subject of the Mensa test, the special code for free testing as the program is due to expire at the end of March, please take advantage of this.

Finally, Phoenix has been chosen as the site of the 2019 AG.  The AG co-chair Brian and Allison Reeves will be having an informal site walk thru at the end of January.  They are scheduled to arrive on January 26th. and leaving before noon on January 28th.  They are hoping to meet with as many local members as possible.  I will try my best to be present for part of this.