Term For National Ombudsman

In July, 2022, the AMC meeting agenda listed six motions to modify the American Mensa Bylaws all of which involved the position of the National Ombudsman. There was no clear explanation about why there were so many Bylaw amendments about the National Ombudsman.

At the previous AMC meeting in March, 2023 AMC, during a closed Executive Session, the AMC adopted a motion of "no confidence" in the then-current National Ombudsman, Bud Klueck. There was no explanation for this action. This was highly irregular. The American Mensa Bylaws make it clear that the National Ombudsman is not a member of the AMC. There is a method that the AMC can use to remove a National Ombudsman, but other than this, they have no authority to discipline the National Ombudsman. Robert's Rules of Order does not include a no confidence motion and people who are experts in Robert's disparage the use of such a motion.*

This was not the first time that the AMC had been in conflict with the National Ombudsman. The previous National Ombudsman, Dave Cahn, had been excluded from AMC mailing lists, despite American Mensa Bylaw requirements to the contrary. Nor would it be the last. The AMC held a similar executive session at their December, 2022 meeting where they passed a "no confidence motion" in the then-current National Ombudsman, Ed Lomas, for breaking confidentiality.

The AMC subsequently met by teleconference at a special meeting in March, 2023 and voted to remove the National Ombudsman. The only person who spoke to the motion was the mover; there was no discussion or debate. The vote was by anonymous paper ballot with the actual count of votes for or against the motion not revealed. This was also highly irregular, since the American Mensa Bylaws require that a hearing on removal of the National Ombudsman be public (unless the National Ombudsman requests otherwise) and that it be held at a regular meeting (one of three calendared in January). There was no public debate on the issue because, from all appearances, this had been previously conducted in closed executive session.

Reducing the term of the National Ombudsman is part of this collection of motions to diminish the role of the National Ombudsman. The argument in favor makes this clear, mentioning that it is needed "in the event of a ineffective Ombudsman." But ultimately, the determination of whether a National Ombudsman is effective or not should be in the hands of the membership, especially when it appears that each of the independently elected National Ombudsmen have raised concerns about AMC actions, and been on the receiving end of AMC antagonism.

The argument that a three year term is needed, rather than the six year term that the membership adopted, to encourage Local Group Ombudsmen to run for office lacks any evidence that this has been a problem. What the AMC wants is to have a National Ombudsman who, if not compliant, at least serves for a limited term.

• Parliamentary procedures in England (and some other countries) allow for a motion of "no confidence". It is specific to the Prime Minister and results in the position being vacated and a new PM chosen. (It is similar to motion to vacate the Speakership in the US House of Representatives.) It is not applied to members of the House of Commons, certainly not to non-members, and it is not done in secret. Needless to say, the American Mensa Committee is not a parliamentary body and no such authority exists in the Mensa Constitution, American Mensa Bylaw, Robert's Rules, or other governance documents for a motion of no confidence.