Central South Carolina Mensa

Send your stories, poems, rants to Roman Holder or David Money

Back in July of 2018, when my term as RVC 5 began, I wrote out a list of what I wanted to accomplish during the 2019-2021 term, I posted it on the wall behind my desk, so I would see it every time I sat down at my computer. By eight months into my term, I had accomplished several of them--first annual LDW, visiting ten of the twenty local groups in Region 5, encouraging the use of the Jewel Criteria as a blueprint to local group success, etc. Then--COVID happened!

I miss seeing you all at RGs and AGs. I miss visiting local groups and getting to know the very talented people who lead them. But mostly I miss the feedback that I got from these activities. So this year, I want you to help me compile a list of things that we want to accomplish in Region 5 during the 2021-2023 term.

Here are some ideas to get you started. Please, please email me and let me know which of these you strongly support, which you think are not worth the effort, and add anything else that we should address on the Regional level.

On the National level:

Fix the national website. It is slow, quirky, and needs a search function.

Find ways to make the Annual Gathering (AG) less costly to attendees.

Help the national office to understand what the local groups (LG) need.

Review the idea of role-based distribution of data.

On the Regional level:

Get 100% Scholarship participation.

Help Region 5 grow by at least 10%.

Continue to hold Leadership Development Workshops.

Train my successor so that they can hit the ground running.

Help the five weakest groups to grow.

Urge local groups to hold Leadership Retreats to plan the upcoming year's activities.

Surely you can add some ideas to these--and help me prioritize them! I'm hoping to hear from YOU!

I have the highest hopes that we will be able to have the World Gathering this year, August 24-29, in Houston, Texas. Have you registered for it yet? Here's the link. Prices increase again on April 30th. Get your COVID vaccination now so you will feel comfortable going. I'm scheduled for March 1st and 22nd. Call now to schedule yours!

--Nancy Campbell, RVC5

Tired of being cooped up inside? Ready for some real-life adventure? If you've got 11 minutes and internet access, you can join Tracy Edwards, the first woman to earn the Yachtsman of the Year trophy, as she shares how she went from teenage misfit to skipper of the first all-female crew in the toughest race on the seas--and how she now helps young people around the world achieve their dreams, too. Tune in to her TedEx talks here.

--Karen Edwards