Volunteering Oppportunities


Things get done by our members who volunteer their time to ensure GPM is able to support the mission of Mensa, that is, to identify and to foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity; to encourage research into the nature, characteristics, and uses of intelligence; and to provide a stimulating intellectual and social environment for its members.

There are many opportunities to volunteer, ranging from the Executive Committee, to hosting an event of your choosing. Below are some of the positions for which we are seeking volunteers.

We have created a special mailing list for those members who want to be the first to know when we have a need for help. Click HERE to be added to that list.

In all cases, members should contact the Exectutive Committee Local Secretary with questions for more information.

GPM Ombudsman

Description
A full description of the appointed office for the local Ombudsman is found in the Mensa Ombudsman Handbook. But briefly: Ombudsman is a gender-neutral term referring to a person who uses alternative dispute resolution (ADR) techniques to help resolve Mensa-related conflicts on an informal basis outside the chain of command and apart from any formal disciplinary procedure. A conflict might be a complaint from one or more members of improper, unfair, unjust, or abusive treatment by a person in a leadership position or a member of the National Office staff (or vice versa), or it may be a dispute between two or more members, unrelated to any office they may hold. Although policy generally is the province of those empowered to make it, a complaint that a policy is unfair or works an injustice on one or more members is also within the jurisdiction of the ombudsman.

Responsibilites
Under the Mensa Standard Bylaws, every local group must have at least one ombudsman to assist in resolving disputes within the group. The major function of an ombudsman is to ensure fair and just treatment for each member and the membership as a whole. In Mensa, ombudsmen also help resolve disputes between members that arise within a Mensa context. Resolution of private disputes–those that are not Mensa- related–are not within the mandate of an ombudsman, even though the parties happen to be members.
An ombudsman serves as a neutral party in any dispute. When a member brings a dispute to an ombudsman, the ombudsman is not an advocate for the member, at least initially. It is the ombudsman’s role to investigate the dispute and help the parties to a fair and just resolution. If after neutral investigation, the ombudsman finds a complaint to have at least some validity, that then may mean advocating part or all of a solution desired by the complainant. Other times, the ombudsman may have to explain to a complainant why the treatment has not been unfair. Alternatively, the ombudsman may have other recommendations, different from those sought by the complainant, and may advocate for them.

Qualifications
Be a member in good standing of Mensa. It is probable that an ombudsman will do better if that person has had significant experience within Mensa and much life experience. Local groups would do well to choose one of their most stable and reasonable members to this office, preferably one who is not strongly identified with any particular faction within the group. Professions that could lead one to be a good ombudsman include professional consultant,
attorney, psychologist, clergy, professor, teacher, and mediator.