Governance Discussion -- Bylaws Amendment #5

Amendment Summary
Reduce the amount of RVCs from ten (10) to three (3). Divide the groups into large, medium and small classes in such a manner that approximately one third (1/3) of the membership falls into each. Each RVC can only be elected from local groups that fall into that class. The existing funds used by the other seven (7) RVCs would be added to the budgets of remaining three (3) to facilitate RG travels and awarding of discretionary funds for local use. Groups would be redrawn prior to each election cycle in order to continue to provide optimal representation.

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Affected Bylaws
Article III, Item 4
There shall be no fewer than five (5) and no more than ten (10) Regional Vice-Chairmen. The Regions represented by the Regional Vice-Chairmen shall be defined in terms of postal ZIP codes and shall be established by the American Mensa Committee after it has considered the membership distribution, membership growth trends, local group preferences, and administrative feasibility.

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Revised Bylaws
Article III, Item 4
There shall be no fewer than three (3) and no more than five (5) Regional Vice-Chairmen (RVCs). The Regions represented by the RVCs shall be divided into large, medium and small groupings based on local group size in such a manner that approximately one third (1/3) of the membership (or divided evenly if additional RVCs are added) falls into each. Final groupings will be completed and delivered to the American Mensa Committee by the National Office for approval at the AMC meeting at least four (4) months prior to the appointing of a Nominating Committee.

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Pro-Position Statements for Amendments
Many members see the RVC as our elected representative to the AMC, much in the way our House Members and our Senators represent our congressional districts in Washington. The reality is this is not the case. RVCs don't represent membership, and local groups actually report up to the RVC instead of the RVC reporting down to the members that elected them. This restructuring will allow a few things to start happening. By structuring regions based on size of the local group rather than geographic proximity, we can begin to select RVCs who have experience being successful at the local level with groups of a certain size. RVCs will then have an experience level and a focus on the needs of a specific size/type of local group. RVCs can identify local group needs and introduce best practices to other groups that face similar challenges and help integrate them in a more efficient manner. Local RVCs can begin to be identified and elected based on their track record at the local level and not just by their popularity at a national level or on their longevity as a member. The one third approach by general membership numbers also will accommodate those who may oppose such a change due to perceived equal representation. However, in reality that majority of Mensa members may never directly interact with their RVC or even meet that individual during the course of a RVC's elected term. RVCs would continue to interact directly with Local Secretaries, but if the actual number of local secretaries a RVC has to work with becomes too great to manage, a buffer of up to five RVCs has been worked into the amendment to allow for growth.