Glossary & Policies

Glossary

AG: Annual Gathering: American Mensa’s annual convention meets during the summer months in a different host city each year.

AMC: American Mensa Committee: The ruling body of American Mensa consists of elected officers: Chair, first and second Vice-Chairs, two Past Chairs, Secretary, Treasurer, and a Vice-Chair for each of the nine U.S. Regions, and several appointed officers. The AMC meets 4 times each year.

AML: An abbreviation for "American Mensa, Limited"

APPOINTED OFFICERS: Officers appointed at the discretion of the Board to fill non-voting positions. The number of appointed officers may change according to the needs of the group. Current appointed officer positions include: Newsletter Editor, Ombudsman, Scholarship Chair, Webmaster, Membership Chair, and Proctor Coordinator.

BOARD: The Executive Board or Board of Directors for a local group. IEM’s board is composed of 5 voting members that govern IEM; LocSec, Deputy LocSec, Secretary, Treasurer and Member-at-Large; aka the Executive Committee or ExComm. Our Board usually meets on the first Sunday of every month and all IEM members are welcome to attend.

(The) BULLETIN: publication of America Mensa, Ltd., published 10 times per year

BYO: Bring Your Own: Commonly seen as BYOB (bring your own beverage), BYOG (games), etc.

CALENDAR: The monthly listing of events open to Mensans and their invited guests. Each event is listed in the Calendar and Planner sections of IEM’s monthly newsletter, along with contact information. See Events.

COLLOQUIUM: Similar to the AG, this AMC-organized annual event emphasizes serious thought and discussion in a singular subject or theme. This event was created in response to requests for Mensa gatherings with more intellectual content.

CULTURE QUEST: American Mensa’s annual knowledge contest: Each local group may field as many teams of up to 5 players as they wish. The LocSec must register all teams by the stated deadline for entries. Questionnaires created by Mensans for Mensans are sent out to team captains, and all participating teams open their question packets at the same exact time on the same day across the country. Teams have a specific period of time in which to answer as many questions as possible. Team answer sheets are then sealed immediately and sent back for scoring.

ELECTIONS: The 5 voting members of IEM’s Board are elected positions. Any member of IEM may run for office. Elected officers serve two-year terms. Elections are also held for national and regional officers, and the information on these elections can be found at www.us.mensa.org. See Nom Com.

ENCLAVES: IEM covers a very large area. IEM Board members created geographical subdivisions to help IEMers find activities and meet other members in their local areas. See a list of IEM Enclaves in About Us.

EVENTS: An event is any activity scheduled by and for Mensa members and published in the newsletter. Guests of members are always welcome. Prospective members are invited to attend functions to find out if Mensa suits them. Anyone may host or arrange an event, and all events may be published in the monthly newsletter.

FEED THE OWL: A “door charge” or “cover donation” to help the host of an event defray the cost, usually a minimal amount; requested at the discretion of the host

FEGHOOT: A tongue-in-cheek story or joke with a pun as the punch

FSM: Fold, Spindle, and Mutilate (aka the Folding Party): volunteers gather each month to fold, staple and label the monthly newsletter in preparation for bulk mailing. Volunteers are fed and thanked profusely at this informal and fun monthly event.

GC or GCC: Gifted Children’s Coordinator, an appointed officer

GOTYA (Group of the Year Award): Awarded to groups in each region for gathering the most points; based on participation in various events, membership retention, service, new members, etc. IEM has won the GOTYA Award in 2003, 2004, and 2005, and 2006.

HANDBOOK and DIRECTORY: The IEM Handbook and Member Directory is published at the discretion of the Exceutive Board and is available in hard copy or .pdf format to current members only. The Directory is for IE Mensa use only and any other use of the material within the Handbook and Directory is strictly prohibited.

IBD: International Board of Directors

i.e.: The newsletter for IEM: published monthly; it contains required elements consisting of a Calendar, LocSec and RVC columns, along with regular features, IEM and National news, columns, and content submitted by members. Submissions are welcome from all members.

IEMers: Members of Inland Empire Mensa

IEM: Inland Empire Mensa: Group #922, includes Riverside and San Bernardino Counties

InterLoc: A free newsletter published for interested and involved Mensans, reporting on the business of Mensa, the AMC and the national office. Any member may subscribe.

Isolated M: A group and newsletter for isolated Mensans who may be unable to participate in local group activities due to health or geographical factors

LOCSEC: Local Secretary: president of a local group of Mensa. The title is a holdover, reflecting Mensa's British origins, from when that officer was in fact simply a secretary reporting to national Mensa. Although many local groups call their chief executives something else, to National they're all LocSecs.

LOCAL GROUP: Most Mensans are assigned to one of the 134 local groups in American Mensa, based on geography. A local group’s geographical area can be compact and populous (New York City) widespread (IEM) or sparse (some states have one local group for the entire state). Members may, however, preference into a group other than the one in their geographical area.

M: A Mensan of either sex. Plural is Ms (pron.”emz”); FM and MM denote gender; SFM, DMM denote marital status or other, similarly deducible information

M&Ms: married Mensans

MERF: Mensa Educational Research Foundation

NO: National Office: aka ‘National’

NOET OWL: (Know it all) The IEM owl logo, designed and named by our members

NL: Newsletter

NEWSLETTER: Each local group publishes a monthly newsletter including a calendar of local events and reports of Mensa business. Groups receive a subsidy from National to assist with postage and publishing costs. See i.e.

NOM COMM: Nominations Committee: responsible for developing a slate of nominees for elected office; may also oversee the election process.

OMBUDSMAN: An appointed officer who serves to settle disputes and arbitrate problems arising within the group

OWL: The unofficial mascot of Mensa (the owl was sacred to Athena, Greek goddess of wisdom)

PROCTOR: A member who administers the Mensa admission test to prospective members; must have a 4-year degree

PROSPECT: A person who has shown interest in qualifying for Mensa membership

RG: Regional Gathering: a local group’s annual convention. Sponsored by a local group, an RG draws its attendance from its own membership as well members from other groups. IEM’s RG is usually held in late fall, on a 3-day weekend whenever possible. An RG features games, lectures, parties and at least one or two organized meal functions. The host group sponsors the Hospitality Suite (attendees can eat, play games and catch up with old friends) almost non-stop for the entire event. IEM’s RG is informal and fun; a wonderful event which also serves to raise money for IEM’s scholarship fund. RGs are held in hotels and motels; host groups secure bargain group rates. It’s a great way to visit other cities inexpensively. Many groups set up tours of museums and other local attractions. Attendance can range from 50 to 500.

REGION 9: The region to which IEM belongs. Other groups in our region are Borderline, Greater Phoenix, Tucson (AZ); Channel Islands, Greater Los Angeles, Harbor Area, Orange County, San Diego (CA); Hawaii and Southern Nevada.

RVC: Regional Vice-Chair: Elected by and for a geographic region of Mensa, this officer represents that region on the AMC and works to foster growth and development within the region. There are 10 RVCs on the AMC. IEM’s current RVC is Doug Miller.

SIG: Special Interest Group: a means of bringing together Mensans who have a common interest in a specific subject. It can be a national SIG, communicating by newsletter or correspondence only, or a local SIG that becomes a regular part of a Mensan's social life.

S.I.G.H.T. (Service for International Guidance and Hospitality to Travelers): A network of volunteer hosts offering help, guidance and sometimes accommodations to Ms who want to visit their cities. Local coordinators help get hosts and guests together. IEM's S.I.G.H.T. coordinator is Kate Reeves.

YM: Young Mensan under the age of 18

Policies

Click here for a copy of Inland Empire Mensa By Laws.

Click here for a copy of IEM's Internet Standards.