LEAPers Share Mensa Best Practices
In 2016, the Leadership Exchange Ambassadors Program (LEAP) received 16 applications from 12 countries: Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Mexico, Montenegro, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States. After reading and viewing the materials sent by the applicants, the LEAP committee selected six ambassadors for 2016. This group of future leaders will travel to the 2016 American Mensa Annual Gathering in San Diego (June 29-July 3) and the European Mensa Gathering in Kraków, Poland, (Aug. 10-14) to present workshops on their leadership experience and innovative ideas that have helped their own Mensas grow and thrive.
The applicants were ranked according to communication skills, presentation content, topic relevance to Mensas worldwide, their previous involvement in Mensa and other criteria mentioned in the application form. The following listing is alphabetical by surname and does not represent the candidates’ actual standing in the selection process.
Predrag Djukic, Serbia, plans to share his country’s experience with IC Development Games. The main idea was to introduce an activity that provides newcomers with an easy way to become familiar with longtime Mensa members and the Mensa organization itself. IC Development Games are simple, short, easily adjustable and fun, which makes them ideal for communication, collaboration and enjoyable competition.
Rosemary Horwood, Canada, is a YAM (Young Adult Mensan) and the first YAM national coordinator in her Mensa. Her workshop will feature ways to attract other young members with strategies that have increased Canada’s membership growth in recent years. Rosemary’s three key leadership functions and actionable steps can be duplicated and implemented to have positive effects on worldwide Mensa membership.
Richard Klysz, Australia, is interested in what happens when involved members leave the group. Is there a succession plan, and is there an efficient transfer of volunteer skills? Does the group have to start again from the beginning? Richard will discuss how preparing your replacement keeps your Mensa group healthy and growing.
Fernando Villafuerte, Mexico, will focus his presentation on how a national Mensa group can develop and minimize the pain of expansion without losing the intellectual attraction that brought in members originally. There’s a balance to be maintained when a group seeks to become a Full National Mensa while keeping the local members happy.
Teresa Wong, Australia, says that there are natural leaders, but most of us are not so inclined. To create and see a project to successful completion requires energy and enthusiasm. Teresa’s presentation, “Simple Project Management for Complex People,” may ignite Mensans’ passions to organize great events create excitement for the next interesting project.
Bill Zigo, United States, has given workshops on leadership and management of local Mensa groups for many years. One issue he will address in his LEAP presentation is volunteer burnout, which may eventually happen to the most enthusiastic volunteers. To avoid burnout, Bill suggests ways to maximize volunteer efficiency and reenergize volunteers.
We believe that this year’s candidates will bring new ideas to captivate, entertain and educate all who attend their presentations. Thanks to the 12 National Mensas that nominated their members for this committee to consider. Thanks also to the IBD and national chairs for their continued support of LEAP. We know that it would not be possible to have this program and get to know some of Mensa’s future leaders without IBD’s involvement.
Provided by: Leadership Exchange Ambassador Program Committee, Jacek Cywinski (Chair), Aleksandra Borovic, Beth Anne Demeter, Cinthia Reyes, Elissa Rudolph and Petr Mazal
Reprinted from Mensa World Journal, issue #041, June 2016, Editor Kate Nacard.