Connecticut & Western Massachusetts Mensa ExComm Minutes

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Minutes of ExComm meetings appear on this page after being approved at the following meeting.

ExComm meets approximately every six to eight weeks.

ExComm meetings are publicized in advance and open to all chapter members.

Minutes of the ExComm Meeting of December 14, 2007
(approved by ExComm on March 9, 2008)

The meeting was called to order at 8:50 PM at the Solomon Welles House in Wethersfield, CT.

ExComm members present - Art Swanson, Mike Wilson, Pam Guinan, Ann Fitzgerald,
Bob Smith. Other members present - Bill Vincent, Joe Lynch, Barb Holstein,
Cheryl Rice, Ginny Catanzaro

Minutes of the previous meeting were approved.

Officer Reports:

Treasurer: Chapter accounts with People’s Bank have been restructured due to revised federal regulations. We now have $10,000.00 in a nine-month CD at 4.8 % annual interest. In order to do so, we had to open a “non-business” checking account, which contains $25.00. The RG account holds approximately $1,350.00 and the regular checking account about $8,304.00. Pam’s new e-mail address is Pamela.cwm @hotmail.com. It was agreed that once the CD matured, funds would be placed in smaller CDs that mature at different times. There may be a larger than usual postage expense soon, since the USPS has been underbilling recently, and the discrepancy will be rectified soon. Treasurer’s report approved.

Loc Sec: An e-mail was received from lorelshea@yahoo.com, offering to speak to our (or any) group concerning Gifted and Talented Children, preferably during March or April. A committee consisting of Bob Smith, Pam Guinan, Ann Fitzgerald and Phradie Kling was appointed to investigate and go forward with arrangements.

Media Editor: Cheryl Rice was praised for the GREAT job she’s doing.

Website: It’s up and running, subject to continuous improvements. A link to 2008 RG information should be established.

Membership: We have over 700 members, a small but steady and significant improvement over earlier years. The bylaws are in process of updating. CASIES have been reviewed and updated.

Scholarship: After investigating MERF requirements and procedures, it was decided to maintain our own Scholarship operation, rather than going with AMC’s way of doing things. Letters have been sent to local schools and essays
will be read in early 2008, so that the best ones can be sent to National for inclusion in their program. Volunteer readers (who need not be Mensans) are needed in January and February.

RG: Arrangements have been made at the SUPER 8 Motel in Vernon for October 10-12, 2008. Rooms are only $65/night. Early reservations are recommended. Notice is to be sent to National for inclusion in the Bulletin ASAP. Joe Lynch will arrange to notify nearby chapters also.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 PM.

ExComm Meeting Minutes

May 19, 2007
Ellington, CT

Executive Committee Members Present: 

Art Swanson, Mike Wilson, Ann Fitzgerald, Pamela Guinan and Bob Smith

Other Members Present:

            Cheryl Rice

Meeting Opened at 2:10 PM (Art Swanson’s home).

Minutes of the meeting of February 25, 2007 were approved.

LocSec’s Report:  Local activities are increasing in number.  John Bentley & Barbara Holstein are temporary acting coordinators of the Diner Dinner following the resignation of busy Nicole Michaud.  A permanent coordinator is being sought.  The Madison Happy Hour continues to attract more participants.

Vice LocSec’s Report:  The Chapter experienced an approximate 20 percent drop in membership at the end of April, when members who lapsed were deleted from current list.  Based on past experience, one-third to one-half of these will renew later. The National office encourages and reimburses for letters to lapsed members.  Bob Smith & Bill Vincent will coordinate efforts to contact them.

Secretary’s Report:  Former Secretary E. Adams has not responded to emails requesting minutes for his term in office and prior years of which he might have custody.  Further efforts will be made to access them.

RG 2007:  RG Chairman Bill Vincent had submitted a written report.  The Bulletin information has been submitted to National, allowing our RG to be listed in this publication. Cheryl Rice offered to contact other local editors with publicity for their newsletters.  We have 30 pre-registrants, not as many as we’d like, but people often wait to see what the program offers.  A discussion about the program ensued.  Mike Wilson will meet again with Wild Wayne to confirm whether he will act as our Sock Hop DJ, or will participate in another way.  Ann Fitzgerald volunteered to coordinate speakers.  Anyone willing and/or able to fill a slot is asked to contact her.  We’re looking for people able to connect that time’s issues with those of the present day; Eg.  Nuclear threat & terrorism threats; the interstate highway system & the information highway;  polio vaccines & gardisil; etc. etc. … Speakers will not be paid, but are welcome to share in hospitality & other speaker’s presentations.  Bob Smith reported that the Saturday night menu will include beef, chicken, salad, potato, dessert & rolls, at a cost of only $9.00 per person to the chapter.  He will check on plates, flatware & other accoutrements.  Friday night’s speaker is likely to be titillating, but is not yet confirmed.

Treasurer’s report:   We have about $17,000 in chapter funds.  The audit of Chapter financial records for calendar years 2005 and 2006 took place since the last meeting.  The audit committee discovered a $0.50 discrepancy in our favor, which will be corrected before the July 2007 audit.  The chapter budget for 2007 will be presented for approval at the next ExComm meeting.  Pam and Mike are working to make the treasurer’s job and reports more user-friendly.

Chapter website:  Mike reported that the group of members who have been working on a new concept for the website were not yet ready to present their ideas.  Mike was authorized to work with Ann Polanski to tweak what we have to bring it more up to date.

Old Business:  Bob Smith reported that our proctor coordinator has done a LOT of testing, and that there are 2 new proctors and another in training and certification.  Proctors are currently paid at the rate of $6.00 per person tested.  Pamela Guinan moved to eliminate or cap payments to proctors.  Mike Wilson seconded the motion in order to enable discussion.  Following discussion, a vote was taken and the motion was defeated. 

As requested at the previous meeting, Mike distributed a list of current CASIEs, along with some comments and recommendations for updates and changes.  Discussion of these commenced but it became clear that there would not be time to complete action at this meeting.  It was decided that many of them require restatement and/or review of the underlying policy.  Mike Wilson will distribute a draft electronically and members are encouraged to give feedback this way as well, in order to approximate a consensus in advance of the next meeting so that discussion then need not be prolonged.

The online Media will be tested for the next few months before encouraging as many members as possible to go paperless.  It was noted that a reliable and current website is key to this effort, which can offer substantial savings in paper and postage costs, as well as reducing the bundling burden.

New Business:  Pam Guinan will develop a receipt/reimbursement form for Chapter expenses.

It was moved, seconded and passed that the treasurer be authorized to put chapter funds into an interest bearing account, subject to the RG account remaining in no-fee status, and that funds be available immediately.

A Camping Weekend is scheduled in southwestern Massachusetts in hopes of fostering camaraderie among the “C” and “WM” Mensa family.  There are several campsites reserved for Mensans on a first come, first served basis, beaches, a pavilion and shelters.  Activities will include games, a hike, lunch and a book discussion, and the rolling card party.  It was moved, seconded and passed to budget up to $500.00 for this event, including $200.00 in refundable deposits.

The next ExCom meeting is scheduled for Saturday June 23 at 2:00 PM at the Smith residence in Vernon, CT.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:45 PM

Respectfully submitted,  
Ann Fitzgerald
Secretary

ExComm Meeting Minutes

February 25, 2007