Rhode Island Mensa Executive Committee Meeting, October 15, 2003 at Chelo's Restaurant

Att: Voting members: Joan, Lori, Tom, Margie.
Non-voting: Mona, Ron, Vic Zeller.

The meeting was called to order by Tom at 6:43 p.m.

Reports

Executive Officer: Nothing new to report

Treasurer: Joan submitted a Treasurer's Report. Our current balance is $1,888.23.

Membership: Although Carol was not present, she later reported that we currently have 249 members.

Testing: Lori reminded us that National Testing Day is coming up on October 18. Our testing sites are full. Twenty-one people are scheduled to be tested by the end of the year. We could use more proctors. Contact Lori for training.

Editor: no report.
Programming/Young Adults: no report.
Gifted Children: no report.

Webmaster: Margie requested input for the web site. It is being regularly updated with the calendar and M'Ocean. Articles and photos are welcome.

Old Business

A special meeting was held on October 5 (Sunday) at 2 p.m. at Lori's house for the purpose of revising the RIM by-laws. We expressed our appreciation to Lori for working so diligently on the by-laws. Some minor revisions were made during this meeting and they were approved. (Joan made the motion, Lori seconded it.) They will now be submitted to National Mensa for their approval. Next, the RIM membership will vote on them. They will be published on our Web Site after we receive the approval from National Mensa.

New Business

Due to an omission in the American Mensa's Certificate of Incorporation specifying what method members could use to vote if they did not physically attend the Annual Business Meeting, the default in the state of New York dictates that they must be present to vote. In order to change this, and to establish a quorum of 100, it is necessary that all members must vote, either in person or by proxy, at the next business meeting. Tom reported that we are covered by a Certificate of Liability Insurance. See the latest M'Ocean and the Mensa Bulletin for further details. [See note below. -Ed.] Tom mentioned that MERF offers several awards.

The Copper Black Award for Creative Achievement awards $500 to a Mensa member who has made the most outstanding creative achievement during the year. The Mensa Distinguished Teacher Award donates $500 to the teacher's school and the person doing the nomination (a Mensan) receives a plaque and invitation to the MERF reception at the AG. Contact Tom for further information concerning the application for these awards.

The meeting adjourned at 7:02. (Joan moved and Lori seconded.)

Respectfully Submitted,

Margie Zeller, Executive Officer

[Note: LocSec Tom indicates that details of insurance are unclear at the moment. He is in conversation with National Office to clarify that.]