Minnesota Mensa Board Meetings

Board commented that it would like to see more than one candidate for each office.

(At the following meeting, the minutes were amended to note that Judy Hogan was not present at this meeting.)

There was a discussion about the policies of the Mensa On-Line BBS.

Mensa will be needing a new Mensa On-Line BBS SysOp.  Also, does the computer need to be moved?

Moved that LocSec be authorize to extend reappointment to any committee chairs that desire reappointment.  GS/DT passed 96/03-02

Jenny McDermott has offered to design a web page for Minnesota Mensa.  She would not be able to maintain it afterwards.  Discussion was held as to how to finance a web page and what would be desired on it.

Jenny McDermott read a letter form a member who was upset about volunteering and being turned down.

Budget: Long, spirited discussion was held about the fair boot, the BBS, and the member's handbook.

BBS: Is purchasing its own caller ID machine.

Old Business:

Have found somebody willing to do a Web page for Minnesota Mensa.  Doing research into costs.

Web Site: A proposal was presented that would cost $20 per month for space and $5 per month for e-mail forwarding.  Will check into other possibilities.

BBS: Caller ID unit has been purchased and installed.  Rental unit has been returned.

BBS: Need new sysop and physical location.  If usage doesn't pick up board may be shut down.

BBS Coordinator: BBS has moved.  New number is 730-0041.  Mensa's national webmaster has been notified of the new number.

BBS: Has switched to being billed by the number of outgoing calls.  This should cut the monthly expenses.

Web Page: Discussion was held with Deb Hutton about web page ideas — what can and can't be done and what does Minnesota Mensa want on the web page.

Made following appointments/reappointments.  SH/CA passed 98/03-05.

BBS Coordinator       Mike Wyatt
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Mensa-On-Line BBS SysOp      Mike Wyatt
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Web Site: Al Heigl was present to discuss web site.  Motion approved to allocate $400.00 for star-up(sic) and first year service.

Webmaster: Al Heigl appointed Webmaster.

E-Mail Directory: Marty Gallanter wants to put together an e-mail directory of Minnesota Mensa.

BBS: Discussion held about continuing the Mensa BBS.  Possibility of putting BBS under control of a BBS SIG.  Discussion also about funding the BBS.

BBS Coordinator: Usership is up slightly up(sic) from last year.  Trying to increase usage and sponsorship.  Discussion about future of BBS.

Moved to make BBS a SIG instead of a Mensa activity CA/DT failed 8-14 99/BM-01

Moved to have Minnesota Mensa match BBS contribution on a 2 to 1 basis RV/HP 99/BM-02

Motion 99/BM-02 amended to say Mensa will match funds only up to annual operating costs GS/AH passed 25-1 99/BM-03.

Motion 99/BM-02 passed as amended 22-4.

Final wording of motion 99/BM-02 is "Move to have Minnesota Mensa match BBS contributions on a 2 to 1 basis until the annual operating costs of the BBS have been met, at which time the matching funds will end for that year."

BBS Coordinator: Moved to rescind Action in Effect 90/01-01 EA/GS passed 99/0501.

Moved to make the BBS a separate SIG with Minnesota Mensa matching one dollar for every two dollars donated for normal operating expenses (phone & electric) up to the point where one year's normal operating expenses have been met.  DT/JG passed 99/05-02.

BBS: Computer will need a new location by October 14.

BBS: Two possible new homes for BBS.

BBS: Has found a new home.  Will be moving on December 11.

Made following re-appointments:
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BBS Coord. ..........................................Mike Wyatt
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Webmaster............................................Al Heigl
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Mensa On-Line BBS...............................Mike Wyatt

Mensaphone: Had 20 calls in May.  Seventeen inquiries from Web page.  New area code for Mensaphone is 952.

Mensaphone: Had 18 calls in June.  Four inquiries from Web page.

Mensaphone: Fourteen calls in June.  15 Web inquiries.

Mensaphone: Had 15 phone calls and 16 Web inquiries.

Webmaster: Is adding links for direct e-mail to executive committee members.

Mensaphone: 24 phone calls and 14 Web inquiries.  Most were about testing.

Mensaphone: 26 phone calls — mostly testing questions.  Many resulted from Judy Hogan's appearance on KARE 11 on Nov. 9.  Thirteen Web site inquiries.

Mensaphone: 13 calls and 7 Web inquiries.

BBS: Mike Wyatt has submitted his resignation as both BBS coordinator and BBS Sysop.  BBS will probably be shutting down in the near future.

Mensaphone: Had 28 phone calls and 4 Web inquiries

Mensaphone: Had eight phone calls and six Web inquiries.

Mensaphone: Had 18 phone calls and nine Web inquiries.

Mensaphone: Had 16 phone calls and six Web inquiries.

Mensaphone: Had 8 Web inquiries and 13 phone calls.  Patty Morgan would like to resign as Mensaphone coordinator.

Mensaphone: Had six Web inquiries and 16 phone calls.

Old Business:

Web Site: Considering making some changes to local Web site.

Mensaphone: Nine Web inquiries and 18 phone calls.

Mensaphone: 10 phone calls and five Web inquiries.

Mensaphone: 10 phone calls and five Web inquiries.  Mike Schurch has volunteered to take Mensaphone.  Moved to appoint Mike Schurch as Mensaphone coordinator.  JH/KS passed 02/02-01.

AG: Having regular planning meetings.  Will have full committee meeting toward the end of June.  Need to get AG info on to Web site.

Mensaphone: Had 17 phone calls, 4 Web inquiries.

Committee Reports:

AG: Have person working on AG Web site.  Initial pages look good.

Mensaphone: 21 phone calls, 12 e-mails, mailed six information packets.

AG: Committee met on April 6 with Rose Lee Crutcher.  Confirmed Mensa Canada's intent to have joint AG.  Will recruit attendees at HalloweeM and Canada RG.  Budget session on May 21.  Need ad by June 1 for 2002 AG program.  Jason needs information to populate Web site.

Mensaphone: Had 32 phone calls, 4 Web inquiries.

Old Business:

Appointments: Motion: To reappoint all listed on the June 2002 Mensagenda back cover, except Gerald Dubin to Rochester area coordinator, Paula LeCocq to preteen (was teen Mensan), and Paula LeCocq to Young Mensan coordinator [JR/DT, unanimous].

AG Chair: Web site is progressing well — Padelford information is loaded, and national Web site redirect is in place; we will get some help from Mensa Canada at this year's AG; registration form is ready and will be used at the AG; business cards are available for distribution.

Mensaphone: Had nine phone calls, three Web inquiries, sent out two packets.

New Business:

Web site: Motion: On July 17 the Board voted to remove Al Heigl from his appointed position as Webmaster [JH/PJ unanimous].  The Board thanks Al for his contributions as Webmaster for the last four years.  Motion to appoint Jason Schmitz as  Webmaster [BC/DT Unanimous].  Jason suggested that we offer personalized e-mail accounts hosted from our Web site.  Jeff will work with Jason on this idea.

Meeting called to order at 7:05 P.M

Special agenda: Minnesota Mensa Webmaster assignments.

Motion to establish discussion guidelines: Each Board member is allowed up to three minutes to present their position, plus up to two minutes follow-up, with exception given to Jeff and Paul to present factual background material., [DT/KS unanimous 02/08-03.

Motion to rescind July 30, 2002, Board action 02/OB-02 appointing Jason Schmitz as Webmaster [MA/KS].

Motion to suspend the rules to allow general discussion on Webmaster issues [PJ/JH unanimous 02/08-D4].

After extensive discussion, vote on previous Motion to rescind July 30, 2002, Board action 02/ 08-02 appointing Jason Schmitz as Webmaster [yes: PJ /MA/BC/KS, no: JR, abstain: DT/JH, passed 02/08-05].

Motion to rescind July 17, 2002, Board action 02/08-01 to remove AI Heigl from his appointed position as Webmaster [PJ/KS, yes: PJ/MA/BC/KS, no: JR, abstain: DT/JH, passed 02/08-06].

Motion to adjourn [PJ, failed for lack of second].

Motion to remove AI Heigl from his appointed position as Webmaster, per the provision of Article IIl, Section 12, of the Minnesota Mensa Bylaws, which permits removal of an appointed officer by a majority of the entire Board of Directors [DT/JR, yes: DT/JR/MA/BC/JH, abstain: PJ/KS, passed 02/08-07].

Motion to appoint Jason Schmitz as Webmaster [JH/BC, yes: DT/JR/MA/BC/JH, no: PJ, abstain: KS, passed 02/08-08].

Meeting adjourned at 8:55 P.M.

Officer Reports:

2nd Vice: Reviewing SIG list on Web site, many are inactive; Karen Cyson would like to start a Needlework SIG.

Editor/Circulation: Jane Gmur will put out next newsletter issue.  [since changed]  Discussing putting PDF format newsletter on the Web site in a members-only section.

Other Reports:

Mensaphone: Had 21 phone calls, 3 Web inquiries, mailed 7 packets.

Scholarship: 2002-2003 program to kick off September 1 and submission deadline is January 15; all materials available electronically, and program will be primarily based off our Web site.

New Business:

Web site commerce: No sales transactions will occur directly from our mnmensa.org Web site, but visitors will be directed via e-mail to individuals responsible to sell authorized item (e.g., Jeff Rowan for membership directory).

Web Site: Suggestions — add hit counter, investigate us.mensa.org as host, prepare proposal to offer personalized e-mail accounts next month.

Old Business:

Webmaster: Will take no action on recent communications.

Mensaphone: Had 16 phone calls, three Web inquiries (nonspam).

Website: New features: updated privacy policy, Technology & Stuff section, home test information, restored Mensagenda archives.

New Business:

Web hosting and personalized e-mail: Motion: Webmaster should change Web hosting service from jtl.net to AML, as long as we can retain the mnmensa.org domain —  financial impact is a $240 annual savings (02/11-02 PJ/JH unanimous).  Personalized e-mail will not be offered at this time.

Old Business:

Webmaster: This matter continues to need attention.  Motion: to contact national office to request assistance in matters of alleged name, logo, and copyright material infringement —  financial impact unknown (02/11-04 DT/KS unanimous).

Webmaster: Mensagenda now available each month online, located in the new Members' Section.

Old Business:

Heigl Website: AML Name & Logo committee met last week, 2nd notice to go out within days.

Website Address: It was reported that AML will only host our Web site if we change our domain address to comply with their format of localgroup.us.mensa.org, which would mean abandoning our current name of mnmensa.org.  After discussion, there was consent to request minn.us.mensa.org.  Motion: Rescind AIE 02/11-02 (02/12-01 JH/PJ unanimous).  Motion: Webmaster should change Web hosting service from jtl.net to AML — financial impact $240.00 annual savings (02/12-02 DT/PJ unanimous).  It was discussed that this change should be done carefully and may take 90 days or more.

Webmaster: Jason reports many new features available monthly, recently added Google Search.

Old Business:

Web site: Discussed status of relocating our Web hosting to the AML service.  Motion: Rescind AIE 02/12-02 — financial impact of $179.40 annual expanse (03/03-01 PJ/BC unanimous).  Jason should take another look at the option to sell vanity e-mail addresses.  No chat room or bulletin board should be started at this time.

AG: 760+ registrations as of Feb. 28, swamped at end of March (this is good); repellent without DEET received; tours will be listed on Web site by end of next week; speaker info in process; working with national office to obtain a PowerPoint projector that would be property of AML.

Mensaphone: Had 21 phone calls, 9 Web inquiries (detail report submitted).

Teen SIG Web site: Paul is working with Webmaster of National Teen SIG to create a Minnesota section there.  This would offer our teens a place to connect with each other.

AG Report: 999 are registered as of April 29.  We are still looking for volunteers.  The tours are now listed on the Web site.

AG: At present, 1,079 registered, 538 boat rides sold.  Volunteers are still needed.  The program schedule is now posted on the Web site.  Randi Kaye will be the keynote speaker.  Both the City of St. Paul, and the State of Minnesota have proclaimed the first week in July as Mensa Week.  There are more than 250 speakers and events scheduled.

State Fair Volunteers: Paul Jensen will place on the Web a list of those who have served in the past.  Members will be able to sign up on the Web to volunteer to serve at the Fair this year.

LocSec: Thank you for all the hard work from Minnesota Mensa to the AG Committee.  Lapsed-member letters went out.  Web site updated.  Paul Jensen won the national chair's award for service to the organization at the AG.  We have 979 members as of June 30.

Old Business:

Motion 03/07-01: Minnesota Mensa is to allow the AMC to start a hearing process and allow the nation office to start the legal process to remedy Al Heigl's alleged use of Mensa' copyrighted and trademarked information without permission.  (MA/JH)

New Business:

Motion 03.07-02: Minnesota Mensa regretfully voted to remove Jeff Rowan from membership officer position.  (KS/MA)

Election: DT suggested the establishment of a Web site.

Webmaster: Web site needs updating.

Publication Recognition Program: We have guidelines and forms for Mensagenda and Web site.

Al Heigl matter: Discussed status.  Eric Adams has indicated he wishes to remain impartial until he has all the information.

Motion: (04/04/.01) KS/MA: That the Board of Minnesota Mensa formally thank Judy Hogan for her nearly 18 years of service to the Board of Minnesota Mensa.  The motion carried unanimously.  It was noted that Judy Hogan elected to resign the position of Past LocSec and that, according to the bylaws, the position cannot be filled by anyone at the present time.

Approval of Appointed Positions: Motion: (04/05/02) DT/BC: That the Board of Minnesota Mensa approve the reappointment of those people now serving in appointed positions.  The motion carried unanimously.

Web site: Thanks were expressed to Ken Silver and Paul Jensen for getting the Web site back up.

The Al Heigl matter was discussed.  No action was taken.

Web site: Discussion about the "Members Only" Web site and the fact that in January 2005 there will be a change in the manner in which members will be able to obtain access to it.  Discussion also centered around the possibility of a "forum" section (somewhat like a chat room) for members.

Old Business:

Al Heigl: Cyndi Kuyper discussed this matter with the board, outlining the options available.  Discussion followed.  No board action was taken.

Web site: The Web site is up-to-date.

New Business:

Motion: 04/10-01 (PJ/MB) All comments or allegations made during "member forum" or issue discussion must be identified specifically by source, with any negative or accusatory content available in full record for distribution to the Board before being introduced into discussion by any member or guest.  Motion carried 5-0.

Recording Secretary: Via e-mail on August 11, 2004, the following motion was made by MB, seconded by KS, and passed unanimously by the Board of Minnesota Mensa: 08/11 2004 04/08-01 That the Board of Minnesota Mensa immediately remove Andrew Tighe from the appointed position of State Fair coordinator and that DeDe Tredinnick be appointed to assume the duties of that position.  This item is presented at this time to allow it to be a matter of record.

Officers' Reports:

Testing: Paul Jensen reported that testing will take place in Roseville on December 11.  Any other tests scheduled will be listed on the Web site.

Old Business:

Al Heigl: another letter was sent to him.

Minnesota Mensa information has been updated.

There was an update regarding the former Webmaster.

New Business:

New spam rules were discussed.

Other Reports:

Webmaster: Word-a-Day is a new feature appearing on our Web site.

Other Reports:

Webmaster: "Culture Quest" link is up and running.

Other Reports:

Webmaster: Discussion was held regarding Web site archives. The placement of ASIEs on the Web site was discussed.

Old Business:

Motion: 06/02-03 (KC/PJ) That a notification be placed on the Minnesota Mensa Web site and in Mensagenda stating that the Board is soliciting a committee chair and members to review and update the policies and procedures set forth in the bylaws; that current Minnesota Mensa members who are interested in participating in this activity should contact the Board by February 20; and that at the March meeting the Board will appoint a committee and a committee chair. The motion carried unanimously.

Other Reports:

Ombudsman: Eric Adams introduced himself and described the duties of his position.

Webmaster: We now have a local forum on the national Forum Web site.

Other Reports:

Ombudsman: Eric Adams referred to and was critical of the LocSec's column in the March Mensagenda.

Webmaster: There has not been much activity on the national forums.

Old Business:

Theft of Intellectual Property: Karen Cyson noted that this is a recurring problem and asked what has been done about it. Paul Jensen said that he will contact the national office.

Ombudsman: MOTION: 06/05-08 (BC/JG) Eric Adams was nominated by Bill Conlan to be appointed to the position of Ombudsman.  Jan(sic) Gmur seconded the nomination. Further nominations were called for. MOTION: 06/05-09 (PJ/MB) Ken Silver was nominated by Paul Jensen to be appointed to the position of Ombudsman. Marian Bystrom seconded the nomination. Further nominations were called for. There were none. A vote was taken. The appointment of Ken Silver to the position Ombudsman (sic) was approved with a vote of 5 to 2.

Webmaster: There was consensus that this position remain open.

Member Soapbox:

Karen Cyson noted that, when she voted on some appointments at the last meeting, a person sitting next to her uttered, "Bloc." She asserted that she is not a "bloc," nor is she a member of a "bloc," and requested that those in attendance at board meetings act like adults and refrain from name-calling.

Member Soapbox:

John Masengarb requested that consideration of personalities not be involved in the changes being made in the Minnesota Mensa Member Recognition Program.

Officer Reports:

It was reported that Minnesota Mensa member Al Heigl has received notice regarding his violation of intellectual property law, but continues to ignore the request to cease.

Old Business:

Al Heigl Status: Jane Gmur presented an update. Letters have been sent by the national office to Mr. Heigl via regular and certified mail, informing him of the charges and requesting that he reply by August 1 as to whether he wishes to contest the charges.  If a reply is not received by August 1, it will be assumed that he does not contest the charges and/or has no defense against them. A hearing will then be held by electronic means on September 16 to determine what sanctions should be levied.

Old Business:

Al Heigl case: Jane Gmur reported on the status of the Al Heigl case.

Old Business:

Al Heigl case: Jane Gmur reported on the status of the Al Heigl case.