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REPORT 2014

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Summary: Requests for help to start new groups in a few countries. Guiding Mensa FYROM back to normal operations. An attempt at animated video. A few good motions. New model for testing in new countries.

Developing Mensa in new countries depends very much on people living there. We have a few hundred Direct International Members spread out and some of them are interested in setting up a chapter. To do that, however, there are many steps to be taken. First, we need a way to recruit new members, i.e. testing. Testing in new countries, however, can be complicated. During the year, the ExComm has decided, following advice from the ISP and the MIL office, to discontinue the old practice of sending out test material when a candidate wants to join. A third person, such as a university professor, would be trusted to use this material to test the candidate, and everything would then be returned to the office for evaluation. This procedure was no longer deemed secure, and the risk of test material leaking onto the Internet or otherwise spreading was too great.

Currently, we are working on a new procedure for testing in new countries, that will be presented at the IBD meeting. In summary: New proctors in new countries may only be approved directly by MIL, until there is an established process in place with a supervisory psychologist in the country in question. Training material for people wanting to become proctors has to be prepared, so that people can study where they are, and only finalize the procedure under the supervision of the MIL office. Testing, however, can be done by proctors from established groups, with the approval of MIL.

Requests for help to start up Mensa has come in from a number of countries: Tunisia, Vietnam, Iran and Russia. Also, there are efforts to begin testing in countries like Portugal and Uruguay, where neighbouring groups can help. Together with a few dedicated members and the MIL office, I believe we should see some concrete results there in the next year.

The D-Dev is also responsible for Emerging and Provisional groups not represented on the IBD. Considerable time and effort has been spent over the last year in order to restore order to Mensa FYROM. Following their demotion by the IBD last year to Emerging status, their board was subsequently suspended by the ExComm, for lack of progress made and poor cooperation. An interim board was put in place, charged with putting the organization back on track again, and then arrange a proper election. The interim board has been working in close cooperation with myself, and also with the international ombudsman. The next step is to update the national constitution and the registration of the society, and only then can elections take place. It is an ongoing work.

"The Distillery" was another initiative taken together with a talented member. The idea was to produce informative short informative animations about Mensa developments aimed at members. Only one issue was produced and the project is currently on hold, pending new volunteers. The concept deserves a continuation.

Motions. I have moved a couple of "household motions" clarifying minor points in the ASIES: when to hold closed sessions, procedure for demoting FNMs and PNMs to Emerging status etc. A bigger change is the permission for ISIGs to seek permission to limit access based on e.g. age, and doubling the preparation time for IBD meetings from one year to two years. I invested a lot of time addressing an apparen loophole in the name and logo manual, following events in Mensa Sweden that resulted in some damage there. Is it commercial use of the name if members are used in advertisement, talking about their Mensa membership as a key theme of the ad? On this matter, opinions were divided. At last, instead of a motion, I wrote a summary of the events and the questions and had it sent to the IBD list, for others to learn from.

Comparing my one year as D-Dev, with the two previous years as DSNM, I notice that successful volunteer work at the international level depends a lot on being able to create and maintain dynamics