Harley's Crushed in Our World

Man oh Man oh Man - Harley is devastated! Poor little guy - I can't console him. You see, last week he happened to peek on my computer and saw an electronic photo I was sending President Lynn Brinckmeyer (don't tell him I told you but he has such a crush on her!) and he collapsed. Seems President Brinckmeyer was spotted kissing a frog, do tell! Nope, frog didn't change into anything BUT she was seen kissing a frog. Harley has been pining away for her. He takes on jobs just to be around her like the NEB Parliamentarian (he has no idea what to do but he just loves the job). Oh well, let's hope the little guy gets it together in time for the holidays. He needs to get his bottom out there and shop for a holiday gift for me..... like who does he thinks brings home the bacon - the frog

I am happy to report that I sent off the draft minutes last Friday to President Brinckmeyer. She gets first stab at them before the draft is sent to the NEB members to vote on them. After they edit, vote, etc, they are then put up on the web so that the MENC state leadership can get a looksee. These minutes dealt with some heady topics: 1) MENC Strategic Plan; 2) MENC Governance; and 3) Guidelines for Relationships By Outside Organizations with MENC. The last item needed to be revisited since MENC is now moving into the arena of "Sponsorship" and "Licensing Program" -- you can find this "amended" document on the MENC web site ..... The NEB Governance will be a Bylaw change and voted on by the membership in January.

The NEB approved the addition of four members to the current make-up of the NEB. It was the consensus of the NEB to propose changes to the current make-up in order to balance MENC's needs for better membership representation and to remain fiscally responsible by retaining the four division presidents who are off the board on June 30. What this boils down to is that the three division immediate past presidents from the largest divisions (active and retired members) will remain on the NEB for two additional years. One division president from the three smallest divisions (active and retired members) will rotate on a yearly basis among those three divisions. What does this really mean according to me -- well, it means -- if approved by the membership -- the three division presidents slated to "go off" the NEB on June 30, 2008, will remain. Southern Division President Jane Morlan, North Central Division President Joyce Patch, and Western Division President Barbara McLain will remain. Morlan and Patch for two years; McLain for one; and Eastern Division Immediate Past President Earl Groner will be asked to come back for one year. Whewwwwwww. Sounds a little confusing but it really isn't once we get into the swing of things.

I have one sad note for all of you readers of the MENC Staff Blog. Gene Morlan (former staff long long long time staff member) lost his wife of 67 years yesterday. Betty Morlan passed away with loved ones gathered round her - she was 90 years old. We (MENC staff) were so blessed to have her and Gene out for the 100th Birthday of MENC on April 12. We are keeping Gene and the Morlan family in our thoughts and prayers.