Corby's Corner

by Jerry Corbin LocSec

Good news!  We have a new Assistant Local Secretary

Lauri Vickers has recently been appointed Assistant Loc Sec for Greater Phoenix Mensa. This important appointment fills a void as GPM gears up to host the upcoming AG2002. Lauri, we expect good things out of you and welcome aboard!   I asked Lauri to write a few words about her self so that you can get acquainted.  Below is an excerpt from what she wrote…

“I’m a relatively new member of GPM, but I volunteered for Assistant Loc-Sec in the hopes that I can keep Mensans entertained, enlightened and interested in attending the Forum. As a professional speaker and panel moderator at technology conferences, I hope to keep the discussions progressive and civilized - that way both the speakers and club members can feel good about their choice to take the time to participate in the Forum. Also, it’d probably be a good thing to have an Assistant Loc-Sec with AG coming up and all! ;-)

I’ve lived in the Phoenix Metro area for almost 10 years now. I was born in Oregon, raised in western Massachusetts, went to high school in St. Louis, got my bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and my master’s from Thunderbird (AGSIM). My career has been spent in various aspects of the computer industry, and I have been a senior market analyst covering networking equipment for Cahners In-Stat Group for the past two years. I’ve been the Circulation Manager for the MAAM for almost two years now, in which time I’ve saved the club approximately $1,200 a year. Short of getting the speakers to pay us to come and speak, I don’ t think these kinds of savings can be accomplished with the Forum, but I promise to equally innovative and efficient in my new role.“

Special Thanks to Mike Johnson

    When non-Mensans ask me what Mensa is like, I sometimes say that it is an organization made up of the most eclectic collection of characters that they could ever imagine. And without a doubt, one of the most interesting characters within Greater Phoenix Mensa is Mike Johnson. You can love him or hate him (many people have both emotions simultaneously), but being around Mike is seldom boring!

For the record, I would like to point out that Mike has stepped into the breech to save GPM from calamity on more than one occasion. He volunteered for the job of “Forum Coordinator” to fill a void until we appointed an Assistant Loc-Sec. Under Mike’s tenure as Forum Coordinator, we had interesting (although admittedly controversial) Forums and large crowds. And Mike recently volunteered to be PTA Coordinator when nobody else wanted the job. Mike is also involved in running or supporting several other GPM activities, not the least of which is the hugely successful GPM Email calendar.

Mike has proven himself by his actions to be a good and dependable friend of GPM.  So the next time you see Mike, give him pat on the back or say a kind word of thanks. Just don’t try to shake his hand (an inside joke). He may not show it, but I think he would appreciate the gesture. And I am very pleased to say that Mike is a good personal friend of mine and of many other Mensans that I can think of.