The Triple Nine Society ExCom Memo

May 1, 1997

To: TNS ExCom, Volunteers, and Interested Members

From: Kevin Langdon, Regent, P.O. Box 795, Berkeley, CA 94701
        (510) 524-0345; [old e-mail address omitted]

Distribution

Dale Adams, Ombudsman
John Cooper, Financial Officer
Bob Kopp, Editor
Jacquelinne White, Membership Officer
Jennifer Foster, Member-at-Large
Larry Jess, Member-at-Large
Laura Lansberry, Member-at-Large
Wilson Ogg, Member-at-Large

Jim Grzegorowicz, Correspondence Group
John Kormes, Legal Officer
Ray Suttles, Elections Officer, Monitor, Greeter
Matt Urnezis, Archivist

Memos Included

This Memo

Last-minute submissions have delayed and enlarged this Memo, which is dominated this time by submissions from Jacquelinne White.

Motion Carried

* (1) $75 is appropriated for repairs on the TNS Membership Officer computer, if necessary. Passed 8-1; Jennifer Foster voted ``no.''

Jacquelinne has said that, as renovations are being made to her home, she is not yet ready to receive the computer, so this is not a crash priority.

Motions Defeated

* (2) Whenever there is a ``single issue'' of Vidya, the Editor shall cause to be printed an extra 200 copies. Sample copies of Vidya shall be mailed to former mem-bers of the Triple Nine Society, to members of other societies with cutoffs at or above the 99.9th percentile, and to persons known to have made qualifying scores on tests accepted for admission to TNS. This shall continue until 600 people known to fall into these categories have received a sample copy of Vidya. Yes, 3 (Adams, Kopp, Ogg); No, 5 (Cooper, Foster, Langdon, Lansberry, White); Jess abstained.

I changed my mind at the last moment on this motion, because I agree that a single issue full of internal disputation should not be used to recruit new members and the wording of the motion does not allow the Editor discretion with regard to which issues should be used for promotional purposes.

* (3) A display ad for the Triple Nine Society shall be placed in the Mensa Bulletin on a one-time, experimental basis. Yes, 4 (Adams, Kopp, Langdon, Ogg); No, 5 (Cooper, Foster, Jess, Lansberry, White).

This sends us back to square one as far as taking action to recruit new members, which is needed, along with efforts to notify members when their dues are due, to reverse our membership decline. The vote was very close. Perhaps we'll be able to find other approaches or experiment on a smaller scale.

Motion Withdrawn: Admission of Minors Who Are ISPE Members

For context, this passage is reprinted from the March 15 ExCom Memo:

In the October 5 ExCom Memo, passage of a motion to make ISPE members eligible for TNS membership without further testing was announced. Jacquelinne White has pointed out that we do not accept age-corrected scores and that this policy was adopted with the aim of ensuring that the society be composed of those who had achieved a score at the 99.9th percentile of the adult population.

Therefore, I move that that motion be replaced with the following one, which adds the words ``over 18'':

* (4) Applicants over 18 furnishing proof of membership in the ISPE shall be accepted into the Triple Nine Society without providing additional evidence of qualification for membership.

Research subsequent to the March Memo indicates that it has been the policy of the ISPE for the past several years not to accept children as members (source: Col. Hugh White, ISPE Director of Admissions). The motion is withdrawn (the motion also failed: Yes: Adams, Foster, Jess; No: Cooper, Kopp, Langdon, Lansberry, Ogg, White; some of the ``no'' votes were cast on the basis of this research).

Motions Out of Order

Two motions that would restrict members' access to Vidya are contained in John Cooper's memo on page 6 and Jennifer Foster's memo on page 12. These motions conflict with Article II, Section 2 of the TNS Constitution, which reads:

The Editor shall publish a monthly journal for the Society, including therein all official announcements of the Society and such additional material from members and other sources as he may deem appropriate, and shall be responsible for the printing and mailing of copies to all current members and subscribers. He shall inform the Executive Committee of any circumstances that may require the temporary suspension of publication and shall indicate the probable duration of such suspension.

Therefore, I rule both of these motions out of order. This Committee will not vote on them.

John Kormes' ``motions'' in his letter starting on page 32 of Vidya #163/164, to expel John Cooper and me from the Triple Nine Society are procedurally defective. If they are intended as motions to be voted on by the Executive Committee they should be sent to the Regent for publication in the ExCom Memo. It is unclear whether the ExCom can expel a member (one of my proposed amendments to the TNS Constitution would clarify this), but it would surely set a dangerous precedent. If these proposals are intended as initiatives to be voted on by the membership, they should be presented to the membership with petition forms.

Editor

Jacquelinne White has made a number of charges regarding the performance of the Editor. I see this somewhat differently.

I made a study of Vidya publication over the past five years, with results that some may find surprising.

Four different Editors produced issues during this period, but Cyd Bergdorf only edited one issue, so she is not included in this comparison among Editors. Dennis Wilson produced approximately 80% of the issues called for during the portion of his term as Editor included in the five-year study period; Clint Williams produced approximately 70%; and Bob Kopp has produced 100% (counting double issues as two in all cases). There was one lengthy gap in production of Vidya at the end of 1995 and the beginning of 1996, shortly after Bob took over as Editor, but I assume that Bob has a life which occasionally demands attention and he has published Vidya regularly since then.

Jacquelinne prefers single issues, and so do I, but two single issues are a lot more work for the Editor than one double issue.

It's true that Jacquelinne was sent a bad roster printout, but this doesn't seem terribly important to me, as I believe that a more current version was sent to her after this incident. I understand that Jacquelinne has had some frustrating interactions with other officers and has had difficulty in obtaining information she needed to do her job at times, but her disuputes with both Bob Kopp and John Cooper have been due, at least in part, to unrealistic expectations of what can be expected from busy volunteers.

We've had a hard time finding Editors who can produce high-quality journals on schedule; I'm not in a hurry to replace this one.

Membership Officer and Legal Officer

I am unclear about the status of two of our officers.

Membership Officer Jacquelinne White has threatened to resign and has stated that she is unwilling to receive telephone calls from me. Officers of this society don't necessarily have to like each other, but the ability to work together is essential. If Jacquelinne can't accept that other officers don't necessarily dance to her tune, perhaps she should resign.

I have requested an answer from Legal Officer John Kormes regarding his ability to advise the society in the event that we are sued by someone who is the subject of disciplinary proceedings. He has not replied. I now request the Legal Officer to give us either his assurance of his availability for this task or his resignation.

After hearing from Ms. White and Mr. Kormes, I'll make a further report to members of this Committee.

At this point, I'd also like to hear from anyone willing and able to perform the duties of either of these offices if necessary. Readers of this Memo are the natural source of new officers for the society.

Psychometrics Committee

Dr. Greg Grove, the new Chairman of the TNS Psychometrics Committee has published his first mailing to members of the Committee. Those interested in receiving Psychometrics Committee mailings should contact Dr. Grove [address omitted].

E-mail from John Hook

The following e-mail message, addressed to members of the Executive Committee but not to other recipients of the ExCom Memo, was received:

Date: 17-Apr-97 09:56 PDT

From: INTERNET:modon@ix.netcom.com

The suggested expulsion of Kent Schulz [sic] and suspension of Paul Maxim would be potentially dangerous for the entire Society. If you want to hear my reasons for this, please telephone me. John Hook, [telephone number omitted].

I find this message very disturbing. If John has something to add to the debate on this subject, he should stand up and be counted.

The Shultz and Maxim Matters

As petitions for the expulsion of Mr. Shultz and the suspension of Mr. Maxim are before the membership, please address comments on this subject to Bob Kopp for publication in Vidya, so that members voting on these proposals may do so in possession of all the pertinent information.

Next ExCom Memo

I expect to publish the next ExCom Memo on June 15.

[The memo by Ken Rogers to which the following note is appended in the hard-copy memo has not yet been prepared for Web publication.] 

[Kenneth Rogers is an ISPE member who is interested in joining TNS and one of the coordinators of the IQarus Group. I told him that we accept ISPE members without further testing and that he should contact Jacquelinne. Ken, please write to her (P.O. Box 397, Forest Knolls, CA 94933), with documentation of your ISPE membership. The reason Ken has been on the ExCom Memo list so long is that when he originally asked me I wasn't sure about our policy regarding admission of ISPE members; a recent motion has clarified this point. --KL]

Date: 06-Apr-97 11:02 PDT
From: Jennifer Foster [e-mail address omitted]
Subj: TNS votes

Hello, and happy springtime to you all! Below are my votes on motions in the 3/15 ExCom Memo:

(1) AGAINST. I don't support the purchase of what is now a common household machine for an officer who doesn't have one; what happens to it after the officer's term ends?

(2) AGAINST. Why should sending people copies of the latest ``rabid drivel and quibbling'' entice them to join the group? Also, the proposed effort of assembling a distribution list and making the mailing would be better spent by cleaning up our membership list and sending out renewal notices! (Now that the issue has been raised, I realize that I've been a member since 1994 and have NEVER received a renewal notice. Does TNS really expect members to read the renewal instructions buried in the ``statement of publication'' and carefully watch their Vidya issue numbers? In my opinion THIS (plus the ongoing tiresome, negative ``rabid drivel and quibbling'') is the reason for the decline in membership. JW's dues reminder mailing is much needed, though it would be more economical to have an insert in Vidya.)

(3) AGAINST. I agree with John Cooper on this. There's already a smaller ad; no need for a bigger one.

(4) FOR.

Vidya should not be expanded at members' expense to print long-winded opinions and arguments by the same few members issue after issue. The current Editor has agreed verbally but is too nice and ``easy-going'' to set an editorial policy as some of us have suggested. Therefore, I move that any individual's material in Vidya shall be limited to one page per issue (2 pages in double issues); this shall apply to members and officers, including the Regent, with occasional exceptions at the Editor's discretion.

Two comments: (1) This would be better as an editorial policy; if Bob Kopp would care to state such a policy I would withdraw my motion. (2) John Cooper made a similar motion in the body of a recent letter, but his phrasing was too weak in the context of the current situation, where the Regent routinely takes up large quantities of space by quoting long passages from others' letters and long-windedly arguing minor points; he could be much more succinct, and needs some motivation to do so. Anything that really needs to be longer can probably be put in the ExCom Memo instead, which goes to a distribution list who's presumably interested in the tiresome details without making the general membership wade through the muck in Vidya.

[Jennifer, I hope you don't mind my including your comments on the motions along with your other remarks. I think that it's very helpful for readers of the ExCom Memo to see all the comments submitted on the various motions. --KL]

April 19, 1997
Jacquelinne White 

Sent to EXCOM TNS & selected TNS members.

My typewriter is being repaired.

[This letter has been retyped from Jacquelinne's handwritten original. --KL]

(1)

I object to R. Kopp's statement (pages 2 & 3, VIDYA 163/164)

``All forms in the present issue of VIDYA which are returned are interpreted as `yes' for the expulsion to appear in a subsequent issue.''

(2)

R. Kopp did send me mailing labels to use in sending out dues notices. They were not used because I had sent almost all the notices before I received the mailing labels.

(3)

Re restricting length of material published in VIDYA, I believe some editing or restrictions are needed, in particular pertaining to diatribes and discussions of the sort published in the past several issues of VIDYA. I should not like to see articles such as the one by Dr. Tutorow or that by Mr. C. Williams and similar well done pieces curtailed.

(4)

Questionnaire re personal information of members.

(See Langdon pages 7 & 8, VIDYA 163/164.)

The questionnaire I proposed was incorporated in a letter I sent to EXCOM members Dec. 29, 1996. Langdon & Kopp were sent copies.

(5)

Procedures re roster maintenance and procedures regarding responding to enquiries, processing applications for TNS membership, etc.

(See Langdon, page 8, VIDYA 163/164.)

Neither the regent nor ombudsman have appropriately addressed issues about the rosters. The concerns I have presented by letter are not difficult.

(a) Several rosters sent to me were not useful because they were not current, did not contain VIDYA & Member numbers. One had numerous cut-offs on both names and addresses. Langdon prefers to use the phrase ``truncated in some fields.'' (E Mail Memo to ExCom, April 7, 1997) J. Cooper's rosters rec'd Jan 11, 1997 contain something like 200 lapsed or dead members. It is the one I sent with dues reminders.

(b) I refer you to my reports to VIDYA 161-162 and 163-164.

In order for me to complete my files about new members I began having their cheques sent directly to me starting June 1996.

R. Kopp is sent photo copies of all cheques I receive and information regarding members in the same mail I send the cheques and information to J. Cooper. They are usually sent the day I receive them and never later than a day or two after.

K. Langdon's proposals serve only to complicate a simple matter.

The hold up at present is R. Kopp. He receives membership info from me about new members and such info as I receive from renewing members. I believe J. Cooper also sends him info regarding both new and renewing members.

* * *

At this time only Bob Kopp keeps the roster. We are back to square one. I had understood Jennifer Foster was working on maintaining & cleaning up the roster. I had been sending her duplications of info I sent Kopp & Cooper. We need someone, with a computer, whose sole job is to maintain the roster.

Re a phone call, I believe April 9, 1997, Jennifer told me she is not working on the roster.

There have been remarks made by telephone and by writing that I am, or have been upset with Jennifer Foster. This is untrue. If my reports have given that impression I apologize. I deeply resent any gossip to the point I have meant to be insulting to her.

* * *

Let me be clear.

I am not going to be further party to the ongoing controversies.

I AM OPPOSED TO THE TWO PETITIONS from K. Langdon printed both in EXCOM memo and in VIDYA 163-164.

I object to the wording and I object to the proposed manner of handling responses to the petitions.

* * *

I refuse to allow K. Langdon to insult me by his ``mightier than thou'' attitude. I see no evidence he is superior in intellect or leadership qualities than the rest of us. If something concrete is not soon done to stop this nonsense I shall resign.

* * *

Information from TNS members, including EXCOM members, leads me to understand R. Kopp withholds publication on some submissions. To support R. Kopp when he first became editor I sent 2 articles, one small drawing and a poem, or what I thought was a poem, that accompanied my drawing. The ``poem'' was one line long.

He did publish one light little article I wrote. He refuses to publish the second which is a memory of my childhood experiences on a Canadian Indian Reserve.

R. Kopp does court material to at least some extent. Celia Manolesco wrote to me that he has asked her to submit material.

I suggest he contact other members also.

The only information I have received from other members re publication in VIDYA is that their work has not been published. I do not know what the articles were but their letters are literate enough.

Members are confused about Member numbers and VIDYA numbers. They do not understand, and often do not read, the memo re expiring VIDYA numbers on the inside covers of VIDYA.

I have asked R. Kopp to explain the numbers in the body of VIDYA.

I have asked him to correct Larry Jess's postal code. He does not. L. Jess's postal code is L9C 5Y6.

Jacquelinne White

April 22, 1997

Members of EXCOM

A phone call April 21, 1997 informs me that Langdon's admendments to the Constitution were never put to the membership for vote and therefore cannot be included in copies of the TNS Constitution.

I do not wish to be involved in a controversy re the Constitution. However if it is proven Langdon's amendments are not legal I shall refuse to send copies to members.

I do seek concise advice regarding the legality of the Langdon amendments.

Jacquelinne White

c.c. J. Kormes as legal advisor

Kevin Langdon

This baseless speculation reminds me of the tactics of Joe McCarthy: ``I have a list of Communists''--but nobody gets to see whose name is on the list. If you want to lean on the existence of a source beyond yourself for what you have to say, name the damn source!

It is quite true that the proposed amendments to the TNS Constitution drafted by me have not been put to a vote of the membership; the Editor has not yet received the required number of completed petitions.

When amendments to the Constitution are approved by the membership, a revised version of that document is prepared--but this was not done after the last round of amendments, in 1992. What Jacquelinne's informant probably knew is that I have revised the TNS Constitution to include these amendments, as the Membership Officer needs a current version to send to new members. My revision does not, of course, include amendments which have not yet been voted on. It is simply a clerical task; I haven't added or changed anything.

The Legal Officer knows about the legal system of the outside world, but is not necessarily an expert on the TNS Constitution, motions in force, or administrative precedents.

However, the problem here has very little to do with such technicalities. It's based on the false assumption that spurious material was being slipped into the Constitution. It would be rather silly to do this, as anyone who's been paying attention could tell.

April 22, 1997

Members of EXCOM

A phone call received yesterday, April 21, 1997, alerted me that there is question re the legality of Kevin Langdon's tests. I have written to the California Board of Psychology for clarification.

I have very little knowledge of either law or psychometrics. I must however act responsibly for myself and others. I make no charges in the matter of the tests. I shall report what the Calif. B. of P. advises me. I am told I shall hear before 3 weeks from to-day.

Jacquelinne White

Reply to Jacquelinne White

Kevin Langdon

Acting on a complaint by Paul Maxim, the Medical Board of California, Division of Medical Quality, has initiated an investigation into the testing activities of my company, Polymath Systems. The Board has cited sections 2903 and 2970 of the Cali-fornia Business and Professions Code:

2903. Necessity of license; practice of psychology; psychotherapy

No person may engage in the practice of psychology, or represent himself to be a psychologist, without a license granted under this chapter, except as otherwise pro-vided in this chapter. The practice of psychology is defined as rendering or offering to render for a fee to individuals, groups, organizations or the public any psychological service involving the application of psychological principles, methods, and procedures of understanding, predicting, and influencing behavior, such as the principles pertaining to learning, perception, motivation, emotions, and interpersonal relation-ships; and the methods and procedures of interviewing, counseling, psychotherapy, behavior modification, and hypnosis; and of constructing, administering, and inter-preting tests of mental abilitites, aptitudes, interests, attitudes, personality characteristics, emotions, and motivations.

The application of such principles and methods includes, but is not restricted to: diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and amelioration of psychological problems and emotional and mental disorders of individuals and groups.

Psychotherapy within the meaning of this chapter means the use of psycho-logical methods in a professional relationship to assist a person or persons to acquire greater human effectiveness or to modify feelings, conditions, attitudes and behavior which are emotionally, intellectually, or socially ineffectual or maladjustive.

As used in this chapter, ``fee'' means any charge, monetary or otherwise, whe-ther paid directly or paid on a prepaid or capitation basis by a third party, or a charge assessed by a facility, for services rendered.

2970. Violation; offense; punishment

Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, or by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by both.

Of course, the matter of credentials is irrelevant to the quality of my work in psychometrics, which is highly regarded. I am exploring my legal options at this point, but I will continue my work in psychometrics, either in California or elsewhere.

My fundamental position is that the highly gifted constitute a minority many of whose members have a strong need for contact with one another and that the super-high-I.Q. societies have a first-amendment right to select their own members. From this, it follows that there is a right to construct and administer the instruments required for this purpose (none of the standard tests discriminates reliably at the four-sigma level and above).

The courts would certainly be inclined to take a dim view of any attempt by the State of California to coerce the Triple Nine Society with regard to the tests it makes use of for admission purposes.

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