From the LocSec
By
August 2008
As Local Secretary ("LocSec") of Cincinnati Area Mensa, I'm merely one volunteer among many, helping this group to function. Part of my position is supporting all the other volunteers in getting the tasks done that need doing. This month, that function proved important.
Two of our volunteers got sick; in fact, both were in Good Samaritan Hospital. Both stories appear to have happy endings.
Tom Vonderahe has been our scholarship chair for more than ten years, and has done a fantastic job. When I didn't hear any information on scholarship results, I started making inquiries, and learned that Tom is in a nursing home, rehabbing after his time in the hospital. It seems he had an infection that got out of control, and its treatment led to drug interaction issues and muscles atrophying from non-use. I worked with Tom to get word and checks to our scholarship winners; look for their essays in the Mencinnatian. The good news is that Tom hopes to get home in the next few weeks, fully recovered - and we look forward to Tom running our scholarship program again for 2008-09.
Last winter, we appointed Steve Fletcher as chairman of our 2008 Regional Gathering ("RG"). Steve has served on various RG committees, but this was to be the first time he would chair an RG. Steve assembled a top-flight committee, and had the RG well organized. As I'm on my way to Denver for the Annual Gathering of American Mensa ("AG"), Steve calls me from his hospital bed, telling me that he has congestive heart failure, and the need to reduce stress in his life means that he must resign as RG Chair. The good news is that Steve is now home and expects to return to work in a few weeks.
Of course, that meant that I needed to find someone to take over the leadership of this year's RG. Misty Richmond, who has chaired some of our most successful RGs, agreed to step in and see this venture through to its conclusion. Most of the team Steve had assembled are staying on, and I expect that we'll have another fine RG, this one reflecting the personalities of two people at the top. (And there's a Good Sam connection with Misty - she works there as a nurse.)
My thanks go to all our volunteers - we have no functioning group without volunteers. But I'd like to send special "thank-you"s to Tom, to Steve, and to Misty - we do appreciate the work you do.
I had a great time at the AG. Denver is a beautiful city, and the AG committee did a great job of putting together a fantastic event. Unfortunately, I can't report that any Cincinnati Area Mensans won any awards that were presented this year, but I can report that I counted about 25 Cincinnati Area Mensans there, having a good time with over 2000 other attendees. The AGs the next two years are in easy driving distance - 290 miles to Pittsburgh, PA in 2009, and 250 miles to Dearborn, MI in 2010; starting making plans now to attend. (FWIW, our own Mary Lee Kemper is co-chairing the 2009 AG in Pittsburgh.)