From the LocSec
By
October 2009
As of August 31, 2009, CAM has 367 members. In a vacuum, this number means little. Then I looked at our 8/31/08 membership number - we were at 346. Over the year, we have grown by 21 members, or about 6.0%. (By comparison, American Mensa is 1.7% ahead of where we were a year ago.) Given the state of the economy, and the fact that Mensa dues went up 13% this year, I think that I would have considered breaking even to be a good result. I guess we're doing something right to make people want to join and then stay in CAM. But I also want to say "thank you" to each of you; we appreciate having you as members of our society.
We try to get everyone's name in the Mencinnatian twice each year, once on the anniversary of your join date and once for your birthday. However, we can only run birthdays of members who have authorized release of this information on the Personal Data Questionnaire (or its web equivalent). So if you don't see your birthday listed, it's not that we're disrespecting you; rather, it's that we respect your choice as to what information you want publicly released. If you want help changing your settings, let me know, and I'll give you the information you need to make the changes you want. Information on members younger than age 18 can only be released if a parent provides written authorization to the national office; all others can change their options either in writing or on the American Mensa website.
Elsewhere in this issue, you will find your ballot for electing CAM’s 2009-10 Executive Committee ("Excomm"). The people we elect will determine CAM's course over the next year. Let me urge every CAM member to find out about the candidates, and cast not just a ballot, but an intelligent ballot. Don't rely just on the candidate's statements - they can be quite self-serving; ask people you know who are active in the group about who works hard for the group, and to whose judgment you may wish to entrust our group. Unfortunately, exactly eight people are running for the seven available positions this year, so one good candidate will have to lose. The eight candidates have served CAM well, in a variety of capacities; choosing is not going to be easy.
(And, here’s some fun data on the eight candidates: One joined Mensa in the '60s [before 3 of the candidates were born], three joined in the ‘80s, and four joined in the ‘00s. Four candidates have multi-year memberships, and two are life members. The candidates range in age from 29 to 72 - and five were born in March. Six candidates live in Hamilton County, one lives in Clermont County, and one lives in Kenton County. The real variety of personalities is, of course, much greater than such statistics can show!)
October brings us the largest regional gathering held in Mensa, Chicago Area Mensa's "HalloweeM," held this year October 29-November 1 in Arlington Heights, IL. It’s big enough to have the multiple track programming that we find at the Annual Gathering, but not so big as to be overwhelming - all less than five hours drive from Cincinnati. Of course, if you're patient, we have our own Regional Gathering, "CAM-a-lot," coming up December 4-6 in Sharonville. Chairs Marty Meighen and Misty Richmond, along with their entire committee, are working hard to ensure a good time for all who attend - and it’s a great way to meet other Mensans.
--Rick Magnus
CAM LocSec