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Do you ever get the feeling that being a member of Mensa is like playing a grand game of smoke and mirrors? An example of what could cause this feeling is the scheduling of the Annual Business Meeting (ABM) of AML, when and where is it to be held. Go look for information and, voila! you’re in the maze.
This is peculiar, because the ABM is quite important. It is the only place and time that the membership has an opportunity for direct input into the governance of the society, and the only time and place the members have the right to be heard. But OK. If nothing is written down about it, it must be just a matter of the AMC, or the Chairman, picking some day and time within the time frame of an AG. There’s no “tradition” to give you a clue, no written reference in any of the rules and regulations. You can find the ABM on any day during the AG. You thought it was always on Sunday, the last day of the AG? Where’d you get that idea? ASIE 1989-011 states: “That the AMC adopt the revised AG Bid Guidelines.” Guidelines and other explanatory materials are included with the ASIEs as appendices. The relevant parts of Appendix 11: AG Bid Guidelines read, “The Annual Meeting [sic] of American Mensa, Ltd. is held on Sunday morning, with brunch and farewell speeches as the final event,” and “The Host Group shall reserve Sunday morning of the AG weekend for the Annual Business Meeting of American Mensa.” Hey, there is something written! Or does “adopt the . . . Guidelines” mean only that the guidelines are so much window dressing, gauze curtains to obscure the smoke to hide the mirrors? There is no better way to assure arbitrary decisions than to have many, many self-contradictory, ambiguous rules. But isn’t it fun? — Helen Lee Moore |
The
Bylaws are mute on the day and time of the ABM, except to state that
it shall occur during the period 1 June - 15 July, the delimiting dates
for the Annual Gathering (AG). The Actions Still In Effect (ASIEs) have
little more to say. The ABM is referenced in ASIE 2000-139, 2001-038
through -041, 2001-054, 2001-057 & -058, and 1995-080, none of which
specify a day or time.