Outgoing LocSec's Column
by Kent Van Cleave
Do I Hear the Fat Lady Singing?
I'm not trying to be politically incorrect or insensitive with the above title -- just cute. After all, my second term as LocSec is just about over.
It's been a quiet time, in all, for which I'm thankful. As a warm body filling an office nobody else wanted, I certainly wasn't looking for much excitement. Whatever got accomplished in Greater Phoenix Mensa over the past two years is due to the work of others in the group, and I want to thank the members of the ExCom and our various committees for holding it all together -- often in style!
I want to keep this brief, but it wouldn't do for me not to mention two people in particular whose contributions to GPM were especially crucial to our well-being.
Bruce Stiles, our treasurer, has managed to trim the expense side of our budget dramatically (and he keeps sharpening that pencil!), so we are in particularly good financial health these days. He has also injected a lot of life into the group, with new activities, helpful suggestions and assistance to other members of the crew, and energetic participation at events. GPM would be much poorer, in many ways, without this dynamic guy.
Stevie Crowley provides the real "glue" that holds us together from month to month: our great newsletter. She keeps it interesting, classy, fun, and inviting, and handles the difficulties and frustrations of the job with good humor and patience. I hope, for all our sakes, we can keep her around for a few more years!
My level of activity in the group, post-LocSecdom, probably won't change much. I'll still be on the ExCom, I'll still be running the Libertarian SIG, and I'll still be attending my favorite events. Some local Mensans will actually be seeing more of me, since they've joined in my Family of Eagles gold coin business venture. I have high hopes that this little cadre will be able to establish some local scholarship and gifted children funding for GPM (and, eventually, MERF).
Personally, I suspect that GPM is in for a sort of renaissance this coming year. Our new LocSec, Carol Young, is brimming with experience, enthusiasm, and ideas. If the rest of us can just keep up, we'll have a ball!
Many thanks to all the help and support you've given me as LocSec, and I hope you'll give Carol the same.
Well, the aria's about over ... time to sign off. See you at Brunch 'n' Banter, or at PTA, or at the Duck & Decanter, or....