From the RVC:
Greetings and most sincere best wishes from your new Regional Vice Chairman. While some of you may already have heard at least part of the story, I feel it is only fair that I begin by explaining why I am writing this column in place of Ralph Rudolph.
Last fall, Ralph published a comment that had been made in confidence in an AMC-only e-mail. Ralph says this was inadvertent, and I have no reason to doubt him, but nonetheless this was a violation of AMC rules, and resulted in disciplinary actions that Ralph felt would compromise his ability to represent the Region effectively. When the other AMC members declined to reverse these actions, Ralph considered it a vote of "no confidence" and resigned both his office and his candidacy for re-election.
Now, since Ralph was seeking re-election as our incumbent (and popular) RVC, no one had filed as a candidate to run against him. When his resignation was announced, there were only four days left in the filing period for election to office for the term beginning in July of this year. As soon as Ralph's resignation became known, I received a call from a long-time friend, TJ Lundeen of Central Oklahoma Mensa, suggesting that I run for RVC. I immediately authorized the posting of a petition on the national website, and began e-mailing people to ask for their support.
No one else chose to run, so under American Mensa rules, when I was the only candidate at the end of the filing period, I was automatically declared elected. Then, since I was the duly-qualified RVC-elect, and the office was currently vacant, the AMC allowed me to take office early, thereby avoiding the necessity to appoint a non-voting representative to serve until July.
Now, about me: I am a 62-year-old attorney and part-time municipal judge, married (for 21 years) with no children. I joined Mensa in 1974 in Houston, where I served as a Board member and RG chair in 1983, but have spent most of my time in Dallas, where I have been LocSec (6 times), RG chair (several times) and AG Co-Chair (in 2001). I am a life member of Mensa, as well as a proctor, and currently serve as treasurer of North Texas Mensa's local Scholarship Foundation. I am not, however, under the impression that I know everything about Mensa, and I would welcome your help, suggestions, and constructive criticism. I look forward to meeting many of you in the course of the next two years.
Roger Durham