Candidate Bio: Jonathan C Elliott

    I’m writing today to provide you with some additional information regarding my decision to stand as a candidate for AML Second Vice-Chairman.

    I did not originally intend to run for this position, nor to run for any position on the AMC until I had first completed some still-pending projects within my local chapter. However, with the decision of past AML Chairman Bob Beatty not to run for office this term, several other candidates decided to run for positions other than those for which they had originally been nominated by the national Nominating Committee. I was then asked by a committee of Mensa members, representing several local groups from around the country, to be a candidate this year. decided to accept nomination.
        Among my qualifications for this position (in addition to my having served as Chairman, Executive Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Calendar Editor, Awards Committee Chair, and Bylaws Committee Chair for my local group) are my multiple ideas for improving the internal operations and finances of American Mensa (several of which ideas have been discussed on the M-Grapevine e-mail discussion list, where I am known as “The Maestro”), my ability to translate broad ideas into detailed motions, the fresh insights and perspectives that a new person can bring to the AMC, my preference for calm and reasoned discussion over shouting and political backbiting, and my ardent desire for the AMC to serve the needs of local groups and individual members rather than pass numerous laws to require conformity of all local groups to their centralized standards.
    If any of your readers would like to know more about any of my specific ideas, or if they have any other questions about my candidacy, they may feel free to contact me at MaestroJCE@aol.com. In the meantime, I ask that all members interested in improving American Mensa give active consideration to my candidacy in the upcoming election. Thank you very much.