Region 10 RVC Column
July 2008
At this moment I am very proud of Region
10. I have just received the list of 2008 PRP Nominations, and
newsletters and websites from Region 10 are well represented. A large
percentage of the nominations were earned by Manasota Mensa's 4M
(editor Edgar Coudal) and Tampa Bay Mensa's Sounding (editors Maran
Fulvi, Dana Groulx, and Sylvia Zadorozny), but they weren't the only
ones. Indeed, Miami Mensa's website and Northwest Florida Mensa's
website were also nominated. I think that to give them all recognition,
I am going to list the region's impressive list of nominations in
this column.
NEWSLETTER NOMINATIONS:
Overall Presentation - Manasota Mensa, The 4M, Edgar Coudal, editor
Overall Entertainment - Manasota Mensa, The 4M, Edgar Coudal, editor
Calendar - Tampa Bay Mensa, the Sounding, Dana Groulx, calendar editor
Member Recognition - Manasota Mensa, The 4M, Edgar Coudal, editor
Local Reporting - Manasota Mensa, The 4M, Edgar Coudal, editor
Mensa Awareness - Tampa Bay Mensa, the Sounding, Maran Fulvi, Dana Groulx, and Sylvia Zadarozny, editors
OUTSTANDING NEWSLETTER (LARGE GROUP) - Tampa Bay Mensa, the Sounding, Maran Fulvi, Dana Groulx, and Sylvia Zadarozny, editors
OUTSTANDING NEWSLETTER (MEDIUM GROUP) - Manasota Mensa, The 4M, Edgar Coudal, editor
WEBSITE NOMINATIONS:
Overall Entertainment - Manasota Mensa, Dwight Gill, webmaster
Overall Entertainment - Northwest Florida Mensa, Jill Russ, webmaster
Calendar - Tampa Bay Mensa, James Heffernan, webmaster
Member Recruitment - Miami Mensa, Stan Bercovitch, webmaster
Member Recruitment - Tampa Bay Mensa, James Heffernan, webmaster
OUTSTANDING WEBSITE (LARGE GROUP) - Tampa Bay Mensa, James Heffernan, webmaster
OUTSTANDING WEBSITE (SMALL GROUP) - Northwest Florida Mensa, Jill Russ, webmaster
CONTRIBUTION NOMINATIONS:
"Dream Date", Bud Urban, Tampa Bay Sounding
If you see any of these folks, please join me in congratulating them for their nomination. Great things are happening in Region 10!
I can't wait until the awards luncheon at the AG in Denver to see how many of them actually receive the awards!
Until next month . . .
NEWSLETTER NOMINATIONS:
Overall Presentation - Manasota Mensa, The 4M, Edgar Coudal, editor
Overall Entertainment - Manasota Mensa, The 4M, Edgar Coudal, editor
Calendar - Tampa Bay Mensa, the Sounding, Dana Groulx, calendar editor
Member Recognition - Manasota Mensa, The 4M, Edgar Coudal, editor
Local Reporting - Manasota Mensa, The 4M, Edgar Coudal, editor
Mensa Awareness - Tampa Bay Mensa, the Sounding, Maran Fulvi, Dana Groulx, and Sylvia Zadarozny, editors
OUTSTANDING NEWSLETTER (LARGE GROUP) - Tampa Bay Mensa, the Sounding, Maran Fulvi, Dana Groulx, and Sylvia Zadarozny, editors
OUTSTANDING NEWSLETTER (MEDIUM GROUP) - Manasota Mensa, The 4M, Edgar Coudal, editor
WEBSITE NOMINATIONS:
Overall Entertainment - Manasota Mensa, Dwight Gill, webmaster
Overall Entertainment - Northwest Florida Mensa, Jill Russ, webmaster
Calendar - Tampa Bay Mensa, James Heffernan, webmaster
Member Recruitment - Miami Mensa, Stan Bercovitch, webmaster
Member Recruitment - Tampa Bay Mensa, James Heffernan, webmaster
OUTSTANDING WEBSITE (LARGE GROUP) - Tampa Bay Mensa, James Heffernan, webmaster
OUTSTANDING WEBSITE (SMALL GROUP) - Northwest Florida Mensa, Jill Russ, webmaster
CONTRIBUTION NOMINATIONS:
"Dream Date", Bud Urban, Tampa Bay Sounding
If you see any of these folks, please join me in congratulating them for their nomination. Great things are happening in Region 10!
I can't wait until the awards luncheon at the AG in Denver to see how many of them actually receive the awards!
Until next month . . .
August 2008
GREETINGS FROM DENVER!
Today is Sunday, July 6, and the Annual Gathering in Denver has ended literally moments ago. What a terrific gathering! I wish you all could have been here. The attendance topped 2000, which is the largest American gathering except for the 2006 World Gathering in Orlando. Considering the distance from Florida to Colorado, I was quite impressed with just how many Florida Mensans were here in attendance. Next year's Annual Gathering will be back in the east, in Pittsburgh. Time to start thinking ahead and planning to attend.
Of course, what you probably most want to hear is which awards were won by Region 10 groups, so here you go:
Group of the Year Award (GOTYA) Class III - Palm Beach Mensa (WAY TO GO!!)
PRP WEBSITE AWARD - for member recruitment - Tampa Bay Mensa - James Heffernan
SPECIAL MENTION - Outstanding Young Mensa Website - Central Florida Mensa - Keri M. Guilbault
CAP AWARD - Central Florida Mensa - judging the Seminole County Regional Science Fair - Keri M. Guilbault
There were also some items of note and interest from the AMC meeting, as well:
First, this was the final vote on the dues increase which goes into effect next dues year, bringing annual dues to $59. I mentioned in a recent column about considering doing a 3 year, 5 year, or lifetime membership, finances permitting, before the dues increase takes effect. If you wish to do so, December 31, 2008, is the last day to get a break on those rates, as the dues increase goes into effect on January 1, 2009.
Second, 2008 was the first year that IRS required that local groups file form 990 with national, who then filed for the entire national group with IRS. Not all local groups did so, so the filing was an estimate for many groups. In 2009, it will REQUIRED that groups do so. Before it is needed for 2009 filing, there will be an electronic form to fill out on the national website, making it as simple as possible.
Today is Sunday, July 6, and the Annual Gathering in Denver has ended literally moments ago. What a terrific gathering! I wish you all could have been here. The attendance topped 2000, which is the largest American gathering except for the 2006 World Gathering in Orlando. Considering the distance from Florida to Colorado, I was quite impressed with just how many Florida Mensans were here in attendance. Next year's Annual Gathering will be back in the east, in Pittsburgh. Time to start thinking ahead and planning to attend.
Of course, what you probably most want to hear is which awards were won by Region 10 groups, so here you go:
Group of the Year Award (GOTYA) Class III - Palm Beach Mensa (WAY TO GO!!)
PRP WEBSITE AWARD - for member recruitment - Tampa Bay Mensa - James Heffernan
SPECIAL MENTION - Outstanding Young Mensa Website - Central Florida Mensa - Keri M. Guilbault
CAP AWARD - Central Florida Mensa - judging the Seminole County Regional Science Fair - Keri M. Guilbault
There were also some items of note and interest from the AMC meeting, as well:
First, this was the final vote on the dues increase which goes into effect next dues year, bringing annual dues to $59. I mentioned in a recent column about considering doing a 3 year, 5 year, or lifetime membership, finances permitting, before the dues increase takes effect. If you wish to do so, December 31, 2008, is the last day to get a break on those rates, as the dues increase goes into effect on January 1, 2009.
Second, 2008 was the first year that IRS required that local groups file form 990 with national, who then filed for the entire national group with IRS. Not all local groups did so, so the filing was an estimate for many groups. In 2009, it will REQUIRED that groups do so. Before it is needed for 2009 filing, there will be an electronic form to fill out on the national website, making it as simple as possible.
On a lighter
note, also from the AG, Ohio Mensan Alan Baltis broke a Guiness World
Record for the most hugs given by one person in an hour. The old record
was 765 hugs. Alan hugged 833 within the hour for a new record. Yours
truly was about #620 of the attempt. What fun!
RVC 10 Maggie Truelove
rvc10@cfl.rr.com
407-855-9078
rvc10@cfl.rr.com
407-855-9078