January ExComm Minutes

Rhode Island Mensa Executive Committee Meeting, January 31, 2003 at Eileen Darlings Restaurant

Attending: Mona, Dave, Joan, Carol, Arlene, Peter, Margie, Tom.

The meeting was called to order at 9:00 p.m.

Reports

• Treasurer: Joan reported that our current balance is $1426.90 in the checking account and $156 in the postage account. A bill for $150 was paid for a postal permit.
• Editor: Dave suggested putting a local group membership roster in the M'Ocean, using National Mensa's preference data for determining how much information to include for each member. Concerned with potential privacy issues, it was decided that Dave should include instructions for changing preferences in the March issue of the M'Ocean and put off the publication of the roster to a later issue.
• Publisher: Arlene reported that we have one out-of-state subscriber to the M'Ocean. Also, in order to use third class postage rates, bar codes (all nine digits of the zip code) are required for the address labels. Members are encouraged to add the last four digits if you have not already done so. Complete zip codes are available on the Post Office web site.
• Membership: Carol reported that we have 229 members as of December.
• Testing: Peter reported that there are two testing sessions coming up. On Feb. 8, Tom will be testing in E. Providence. He has 5 registered and 2 standbys. On March 8, Carol and Mona will hold a testing session at the Mediator. (There was some concern that Tom G. had several tests in his possession when he passed away. These have not been recovered.)
• Sunshine: Arlene submitted a report. The committee has been busy handing out hostess gifts, thank you cards and get-well wishes.
• Programming/Young Adults: Denise had to leave before we got to her. However, it was reported that our YAM group will be sharing events with the Boston YAMs.
• Gifted Children: no report.
• Webmaster: Margie reported that the hit counter on the web page was disabled during National Mensa's move to a new server. Since the old count was unknown, it was re-set to zero and the date was changed to reflect the start of the new counter. Our web site also lost the connection to the password-protected area during the move. Margie will contact the person in charge of restoring that connection.

Old Business

• Logo Contest: As we had feared, the winning logo design was rejected by National Mensa.

New Business

• There was a brief discussion of the possibility of including advertising in the M'Ocean. It was determined that it would not be worth doing as there are many rules governing the inclusion of paid advertising within a non-profit newsletter seeking reduced postal rates.
• There was a lengthy discussion concerning ways to save money in distributing the M'Ocean. Under consideration were the options of:

1. leaving things as they are
2. sending it via e-mail to those who request it
3. using Netpost. This is a service offered by the USPS whereby the customer submits text electronically and the USPS prints, collates, folds, tabs, labels and mails the finished (paper) product. We would be responsible for sending them the electronic copy of the newsletter and also an electronic mailing list.

After much discussion of the various costs and potential savings of one method over another, Joan moved that we go with Netpost. This was seconded by Peter and passed by a majority vote. Dave indicated that he may not be able to get prepared in time for the March issue, but will do so as soon as possible.

The meeting adjourned at 10:04 (moved by Margie and seconded by Peter).

Respectfully Submitted, Margie, Executive Officer