THE MENSA INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING 2019 KUALA LUMPUR
11th October 2019 to 13th October 2019
Report by Yong Chuan Teck (MY00426) with contributions from Aimi Syazwani, Michael Tan, Nadia Ridza, Low Keng Lok and Lee Hauii
The haze covered almost the entire regions of the three countries – Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. It started around July of 2019 increasingly raising the API readings to unhealthy levels in Kuala Lumpur by August and September. By early October the pollution reading levels were still at an unhealthy range and showing no sign of abating.
You might wonder if this article is about pollution – it is not. It is about a meeting of the representatives of an organization of intelligent people, the Mensa International Board of Directors Meeting 2019. And why is it of relevance? Because Malaysia played host to this event. For the organizers this was a nightmare. Members from all over the world will be converging in our city and we did not want them to feel uncomfortable and having respiratory problems. If you had participated in the event, you would have noticed a face mask as one of the items in the goodies bag. This was not a souvenir nor for the masquerade at the gala dinner nor was it in sympathy with the Hong Kong people but it really was what it was – a face mask for protection against smog! Yes, we were that desperate. But miracles do happen indeed. Three days before the event started the wind changed direction and it brought the rain with it. After two days of rain and thunder, all the delegates saw were clear skies and cool weather. I could write more of the haze situation – the cause and the effects of it but that is a story for another day.
This article is about the IBD.
Mensa Malaysia hosted the International Board of Directors (IBD) Meeting at the Kuala Lumpur Hilton 11th and 13th October 2019. This was the second time the IBD meeting was held in Kuala Lumpur; the first being held a quarter of a century ago in 1994.
Fifty-one delegates from thirty-six countries flew in and converged at the hotel for their annual gathering to discuss, present, deliberate and decide the future of governance in Mensa International. In addition to the delegates there were approximately another one hundred non-delegate Mensans participating in parallel events being that was being held in conjunction with the IBD meeting. Non-delegates however, may sit in to observe the proceedings but are not allowed to participate in the discussions.
The registration of delegates and non-delegates started from 9:00 am at Level 6 of KL Hilton. Teams of volunteers stationed at the airport and central train station welcomed and ushered them to their final destination. the Old and new friends met sharing their experiences and the stage was set for the event.
The event started on Thursday evening of 10th Oct 2019 with the Ice Breaker for all the participants followed by a buffet dinner at the Hilton itself.
Motions, Presentations and Discussions listed in the agenda were deliberated and discussed during the two and a half days that was set aside for that purpose.
Of the notable motions brought forth, one was for the proposed constitutional amendment to the limit the service in the same office to two terms, another proposed changes to election rules and yet another for IBD to adopt the Bylaws of Mensa International and discontinuance of the document called “Actions Still In Effect”. The International Chairman’s Report, Annual reports and Budgets were presented by delegates of respective Mensas.
The Chairman of Mensa Taiwan was invited to the meeting and gave a presentation on the future plans of Mensa Taiwan while the Mensa India, represented by Mr. Kishore Asthana spoke on the Tribal Mensa Project and Project Druv which aim to combat social issues in rural India such as poverty, child marriages and the lack of formal education. The projects focus predominantly on identifying intelligent youths and providing them with channels to acquire education and part-time jobs for the betterment of the quality of their family life and local communities overall.
South American delegates, Jose Luis Martinez and Cadu Fonseca of Mensa Argentina and Mensa Brazil respectively presented and got budget approval in their aspirations in organizing the first ever Gathering of Latin Mensa (GLAM) much like the European EMAG and the Asian AMG. Bibiana Balanyi, International Director of Development presented on the ongoing activities specifically development plans for countries where national groups are still growing and have high prospects in becoming actively participating chapters.
There was an application for a large grant for the Computerized Adaptive Testing Project which aims to improve the admission testing procedure for Mensa worldwide that is to be undertaken by MIL. After some discussions this grant was consented on condition that a detailed proposal is provided to the Board for approval.
Overall, the flow of meeting was smooth and well conducted under the guidance of Mr. Michael Feenan, Executive Director of Mensa International and Mr. Bjorn Liljeqvist, the current International Chairman of Mensa. The high ceiling and grandeur of the banquet hall at KL Hilton provided the perfect ambience for this meeting.
Food. No event is complete without it. The first night, delegates were treated to a scrumptious wide spread and well stocked buffet dinner that prompted one guest to remark “this is how an IBD event should be organized”. The second night they were treated to a Malaysian fine dining experience at the Bijan while the third night saw delegates and non-delegates dressed up like “Crazy Rich Mensans” for the Gala Dinner. Elsewhere, other members made their own arrangements – be it street food or fancy restaurants within the city, food is a must-do experience while in Kuala Lumpur.
The IBD meeting closed on the morning of the Day 3 with a photo session. The delegates were then treated to a half-day tour of KL, firstly with the visit to Royal Selangor where they learnt of the history of the company and how to make a pewter bowl and before proceeding to a visit to Batu Caves. The visit to Royal Selangor was especially meaningful because the person who gave the presentation was none other than the Chairman himself who was also the founder of Mensa Malaysia, Tan Sri Yong Poh Kong. He gave a good briefing of the products and how his company came to be called the Royal Selangor.
Few dared to ask…….
While the IBD was underway, other parallel events were being held concurrently. The International Volunteers Network (IVN) comprising of members representing their countries held their own meetings.
The Mensa International Youth Festival was held concurrently on the 12th and 13th of October 2019 in Kolej Damansara Utama in Petaling Jaya. Other non-delegate participants joined in the “fun” parallel events. There were Street Hunts, Hawker Stalkers and Pub Crawl organized and executed under the able stewardship of Jay Menon and Yeoh Ban Lye. On tour activities, Mensans were treated to Crab Island, an aborigine settlement, an elephant sanctuary, a firefly river cruise and a tour of KL cultural and heritage sights. Other Mensans took it upon themselves to organize their own dinners, karaoke and pubs crawls around the city.
There was a post-IBD tour to Penang organized for the delegates and other participants who wanted to enjoy the food and splendor of the island.
The success of the IBD would not have been possible without the efforts of our fifty odd local members who volunteered and sacrificed their time and energy to the event. Together they worked to make themselves ubiquitous and interfaced the various activities seamlessly like a well-oiled machine. Special thanks to team leaders – Zabeda Abdul Hamid, Catherine Chua, Low Keng Lok, Nadia Ridza, Ng Peng Ji, Daniel Lee, Leonard and their assistants with supervision from our current Chairman, Tan Kee Aun and the members of the Lead Committee including Audrey Chooi, Firdaus Al- Asedi, Chau Woon Haw and Chennie Ng.
