What's Cooking in Region 1 - April 2004
by Marghretta McBean
Spring has supposedly sprung, but as I write this in early April, the temperature is hovering at freezing, with wind chills in the twenties. The soil in my garden plot is icy and rock hard; no early tomatoes this year!
Charlottesville Virginia, however, was full of budding trees while I was down there for the AMC meeting March 20th - 22nd. Topics covered included increasing the prior evidence fee to $30; a motion to increase dues to $52 beginning in 2005 was postponed as one to increase the local group subsidy to $8.64/member; and what has drawn a great deal of attention, that SIGs (Special Interest Groups) be made a membership benefit (for reasons too numerous to mention here, I abstained from the vote). This action, which came at the recommendation of the SIGs Committee following the Risk Management Report, has generated enormous discussion among many members. Details are to be presented at a later date.
Also, following the recommendation of the AAA (American Arbitration Association) Task Force, of which I am a member (I was an arbitrator in a past life), a choice of arbitration for finding of fact will be offered to someone against whom charges have been leveled.
April 2nd - 4th found me up in Manchester Connecticut where Connecticut & Western Massachusetts Mensa hosted a wonderful Region 1 Leadership Development Workshop. Representatives from New Hampshire/Maine, Boston, Northeastern New York, Vermont, Mid-Hudson, Greater New York and of course, C&WM Mensas convened for a weekend of workshops covering topics ranging from Financial Basics to Getting PR for Mensa to Dealing with Problem Members. Stellar presenters included our president Dr. Jean Becker, Cookie Bakke the Bulletin associate editor, and Catherine Barney, Mensa's PR manager. Dr. Deborah Ruf , the national Gifted Children Program Coordinator, led a Gifted Children track in which several children and their parents participated. A HUGE tip o' the hat goes to C&WM Mensa for the excellent job they did in planning and hosting!
My end of the fiscal year allocations to the groups who expressed an interest were:
- Boston Mensa - $100 (RG supplies: $50 for a crockpot + $50 for game containers)
- Central New York Mensa - $125 (newsletter production: copy of Adobe Acrobat Professional)
- Connecticut & Western Massachusetts Mensa - $100 (promotional video and cable TV show)
- Greater New York Mensa - $106.37 (Peggy Deane Memorial Scholarship Fund)
- Mid-Hudson Mensa - $75 (non-specified)
- Mensa of Northeastern New York - $100 (items from Mensa Boutique for speakers, Anniversary Picnic etc.)
- New Hampshire Mensa - $95 ($20 reimbursement for postage and copying costs + $75 non-specified)
Eggs are a symbol of spring and renewal. Here they are in a classic Italian soup.
Stracciatelle ("rags") alla romana
- Bring broth to a slow boil and add spinach.
- In a bowl thoroughly blend eggs, cheese, lemon rind, salt and pepper.
- Lower heat under broth and as soon as it stops boiling add egg mixture.
- Turn up heat and stir.
- Add lemon juice and serve with additional grated Parmesan cheese.