Local Group Jewels
The Local Group Jewels recognize and reward Local Groups’ membership-related activities and for their active participation in all that Mensa has to offer to positively impact the experience of the Local Group members.
Points are earned for a variety of activities and accomplishments, earned by the group as a whole, including participation in Mind Games®, CultureQuest®, Mensa Testing Day, and Leadership Development Workshops. Accordingly, the program awards points for participation in Mensa rather than winning other Mensa awards.
Points are collected throughout the fiscal year, which is April 1 through March 31. All awards will be presented at the Annual Gathering following the conclusion of that fiscal year.
The achievement levels are, lowest to highest: Emerald, Sapphire and Ruby awards. The Local Group with the highest amount of points in each class will be recognized with the Diamond award.
Below are the areas that a Local Group can receive points and how they can ensure they’re getting credit.
Group Classification and Breakpoints
| Class | Emerald | Sapphire | Ruby |
|---|---|---|---|
| I (1100+ members) | 195 | 215 | 235 |
| II (400-1099 members) | 160 | 175 | 190 |
| III (200-399 members) | 130 | 145 | 160 |
| IV (125-199 members) | 95 | 105 | 115 |
| V (fewer than 125 members) | 80 | 90 | 100 |
Jewel Awards Criteria
Administration
It’s all about recognizing your Group for staying on top of administrative tasks and making sure that the National Office is aware of leadership changes in your Local Group.
| Description | Base Points | Max Points |
|---|---|---|
| Reporting officer changes to the National Office | 5 | 5 |
| Timely submission of Annual Financial Report (due April 30) | 5 | 5 |
| Local Group website on file with the National Office. Contact us to update your Local Group profile. |
3 | 3 |
Leadership Development Workshops
There are points for working on leadership training and making sure Local Group volunteers are aware of the latest programs and tools from the National Office, while learning how to meet and exceed members’ expectations.
| Description | Base Points | Max Points |
|---|---|---|
| Member attendance at individual LDW sessions at a Regional Gathering or the Annual Gathering This is calculated through sign-in sheets provided to the National Office. |
1 point/member attended | 10 |
| Member attendance at standalone LDW (no matter how many sessions) | 5 | 50 |
| Bonus: Three members from same group attending event (AG, RG, or standalone) | 5 | 5 |
Events
Providing members with social opportunities is vital, as is transparent leadership and leadership training.
| Description | Base Points | Max Points |
|---|---|---|
| Governance meeting with effective notice to members Business Meetings of the organization (ExComm, Board, Steering Committee) |
1/month | 12 |
| Hosting a Regional Gathering | 8 | 8 |
| Hosting a standalone Leadership Development Workshop | 8 | 8 |
| Hosting Leadership Development Workshop sessions within another event | 2 | 2 |
Membership
Members are paramount. Points can be earned for gaining new members and retaining the existing ones.
| Description | Base Points | Max Points |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage of early renewals by Feb. 1 Automatically calculated from database data. |
1 point for each 10 percentage points, rounded up | 10 |
| Percentage of members renewed by March 31 Automatically calculated from database data. |
1 point for each 10 percentage points, rounded up | 10 |
| Membership growth percentage Automatically calculated from database data. |
1 point for each percent, rounded up | 10 |
| Proctored test sessions Automatically calculated from test session recap forms. |
3 points per session | |
| Bonus: Points for each proctor who test twice or more during year | 2 | |
| Bonus: Points for each unique location used for testing | 5 | |
| Participation in the Lapsed Member Contact program | 5 | 5 |
Newsletters
Member surveys consistently show that the Local Group newsletter is one of the most valued benefits of being a Mensan. These items top the list for what members want to see.
| Description | Base Points | Max Points |
|---|---|---|
| Activities calendar/listing | 1 point/month | 12 |
| ExComm minutes | 1 point/month | 12 |
| LocSec column | 1 point/month | 12 |
| Member submissions | 1 point/month | 12 |
| Officer Listing | 1 point/month | 12 |
| RVC column | 1 point/month | 12 |
| Treasurer’s report | 1 point/quarter | 4 |
Assorted
A consistent infusion of new members, participation in different programs, and remaining active and involved at various volunteer levels — all positive signs of a strong chapter that is engaging members.
| Description | Base Points | Max Points |
|---|---|---|
| CultureQuest | 1 point/team | 10 |
| Foundational Scholarship Program participation | 5 | 5 |
| Mensa Testing Day participation | 5 | 5 |
| Mensa Cares! participation | 5 | 5 |
| AMC member (elected or appointed) | 2 | 2 |
| Local Group member serving on a national committee | 1 point/person |