Young at Heart

by Carol Young

"Sentences that begin ‘Mensa should…’ signal your willingness to volunteer."

- Jo Ann Malna, LocSec in San Francisco’s Intelligencer (11/98), quoted in this month’s Interloc

All too true. How often have we heard someone say "Greater Phoenix Mensa should…" but when the speaker is asked if s/he is willing to take the suggestion on as a volunteer project, quickly backs down with something like "I really don’t have time. I work/am getting a new job/ have a new job…." (as though we who volunteer to make GPM fun are unemployed). So for the past several months the call has gone out for people to volunteer and run for a position on the ExCom. We have enough candidates for each position, but not enough to have a contest for any position other than Member at Large. So be it. There’s still plenty of opportunity to help out. Does the following sound familiar?

"GPM should move the Forum to a more centrally located place" (without volunteering to look for places to move to)

"GPM needs more mind-challenging discussions, not just parties" (without volunteering to host such an event or form a SIG)

"GPM should change its RG to…… (fill in the blank here)" (without volunteering to work on the RG committee)

"GPM must make its new members feel more welcome" (without volunteering to work on the New Members Committee)

"MAAM should include more….." (without volunteering to submit articles)

The list goes on and on. So think about helping out the next time you see something in GPM that you feel needs improvement. It’s a great way to get experience, meet new people and spend some free time doing something fun.

AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER

If my column stirred up an interest to help out, here’s your first opportunity. We’re looking for people who are interested in administering the qualifying test to prospective Mensans. The position requires someone who really likes to make new people feel at ease, confident they can pass a test, and glad they tried. There are various hoops that need to be jumped through to make sure you are certified by National to administer the test, but nothing insurmountable. It takes about 3 hours of your time every other month, plus whatever time is needed on the phone to contact and schedule those who are interested in taking the test. If you need more information on what exactly is expected of you, contact Pete Moskovis for details (his number is on the inside front cover of the MAAM).