The Shape of Things to Come: Don Taylor's article in the March '02 issue of Going Forward, "The Round Table," has sparked interest in reexamining the Mensa logo in current usage. On the electronic Editors List, a great deal of lively discussion has been put forth regarding our logo and the Mensa "face" it presents to ourselves and the world. Several members have produced their own renditions of a Mensa logo. Tyger Gilbert, AMC Communications Officer, offered to facilitate redesign efforts by walking a plan, when developed, through appropriate channels.

On Report: Awards given to newsletters have long been a subject of controversy. This issue of Going Forward touches upon the topic. For a more in-depth history, go to Dick Amyx's Mensa Pages and look for the "new" posting regarding editors and awards.

Final Bell: The Mensa Constitution states (III.D.): "Members having a dispute with Mensa, with any national Mensa or subdivision thereof, or with another member arising out of Mensa-related activities shall exhaust all avenues of settlement and redress within the Society before taking the dispute to external authorities. Failure to do so may be considered an act inimical to Mensa." The national Hearings Committee unanimously held that Carole Bell did not exhaust all avenues of settlement and redress within Mensa before taking her dispute to external authorities and declared it an act inimical to Mensa.

The Hearings Committee voted 2-1 to expel Carole from Mensa. The majority of the Hearings Committee based its sanction on two things:

a) Bell did not appeal to the International Board of Directors (IBD) to lift her suspension before she filed externally. Although Bell was suspended at the time of the IBD meeting and could not make a motion to lift her suspension, it was felt that she should/could have asked an IBD member in good standing to make that motion for her; and

b) Bell did not file charges of "acts inimical" with the American Mensa Hearings Committee against Jean Becker and Dave Remine, the two American members of the International Executive Committee that suspended Bell. The majority of the Hearings Committee felt that such filing of charges was an avenue of redress available internally if Bell felt her suspension as international Membership Director was illegal.

The dissenting vote on expulsion, that of Tony Jackowski, was based on five points, including Mensa's lack of a published list of all avenues available internally for problem resolution and the order in which those avenues should be utilized, leaving a member in potential violation of the Constitution simply by not knowing that a certain form of redress exists. Jackowski also reminds us that the cost to Mensa in attorney fees is irrelevant because that is not part of the charge against Bell.

As of publication date, the AMC has not met to vote on the sanction determined by the Hearings Committee. That vote will come on Saturday, July 6.

Sundaze Redux: The last issue of Going Forward carried an article about and brief history of AMC's violation of the ASIE requiring that the Annual Business Meeting (ABM) be held on Sunday morning during the AG. The agenda for the July 6^th AMC meeting includes a motion that will allow the day of the ABM to be determined on an annual basis. This year's ABM will be held on Thursday, July 4, two days before the AMC votes on the motion.