LaRae Bakerink for Mensa International Chair

Voting starts April 15, 2024.

We may not agree on
everything, but we can disagree agreeably and move forward to strengthen our bonds as Mensans.

Mensa has brought joy and become a wonderful addition to my life. I’ve made lifelong friendships and continue to meet kind and wonderful people through our organization. My hope is that others will find the same happiness that has enriched me and my family. Volunteering for Mensa allows me to bring that joy to others in our organization.

We need to visualize Mensa (the organization) as a business and the members as a social group; and not confuse the two. Providing a strong and relatable strategic plan will give us the guidance necessary to look forward and make good decisions for years to come.
My time spent on international and national boards and committees will help me bring the expertise and knowledge necessary for our endeavors. My varied experience in leadership will help with working with the diverse members of the International Board of Directors and bringing them together harmoniously. Each IBD member has a voice and should be heard. Our differences are what makes Mensa so unique and exciting.

While we may not agree on everything, we can disagree agreeably and still improve our Mensa. My goal is to listen, learn, and help those that desire help.

If elected, I plan on focusing on

Board Member/Volunteer Training:

Preparing Board Members prior to in-person meetings with some sort of training should be required. Having sufficient volunteers with the proper training to take on different projects within Mensa would help boost our ability to complete projects.

Lack of consistent funding:

Many of our ventures or projects have been cancelled or declined due to lack of consistent funding. We need to find other avenues of revenue outside of the component (the percentage each national Mensa must pay for each member’s dues received) that will help us grow and change in a manageable fashion.

Protecting our Trademark and Name:

Trademark battles can be costly and time-consuming, which takes away from our ability to provide services to our members.

As always, I am listening.

LaRae Bakerink

Why do
you want to run?

Mensa has provided value and a sense of awe to my life. It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve in the different roles I have taken. I volunteer because it makes my Mensa experience better.

I feel that I am qualified for this role as I chaired the largest national Mensa for four years and I served on the IBD for 7 years, and the Mensa International ExComm for four years. I served in many Local and National positions and on committees. I served on the NASDAQ Stock Market Board and the NASD Board of Directors, which provided me with corporate experience.

My experience with testing, audit, finance, membership, search, development, marketing, and strategic planning committees gives me the rounded experience to see the overall picture necessary for leadership in a large organization.

What Members and Colleagues have to say

Salvatore Sodano

Former Chair & CEO of American Stock Exchange

I have had the opportunity to work with LaRae for a number of years on the NASD Board of Governors (now known as FINRA). At the time, in addition to being the self-regulatory body for the Wall Street broker dealer community, NASD was the parent of both Nasdaq and the American Stock Exchange (“Amex”). During that time, I served both as Vice Chairman of the NASD board and as its COO/CFO. In addition, I also served as Chairman & CEO of the Amex. Board discussions were often complex and had very significant implications to the equity markets and Wall Street community. Oversight of the markets, and the operations of both Nasdaq and the Amex were the order of business. LaRae was a very active and able participant in all of these deliberations. She could be relied upon to bring an objective, well thought out and valued point of view to all matters of discussion. She demonstrated leadership and reliability. LaRae is a very easy person to work with. Without reservation, I would recommend LaRae to serve as Chairman of Mensa.

Dr. Jenny Grant Rankin

Author and Fulbright Specialist of the U.S. Department of State

LaRae Bakerink has been an exceptional American Mensa Committee Chair and has the unique skillsets required for the role. While some with high IQs fail to dodge the pitfall of presuming to have all the answers, LaRae maintains an advantageous openness to new ideas, listens to varied perspectives, and respects the complexity of issues as she studies matters carefully and steers the organization on a beneficial course. The changes I have seen in American Mensa under LaRae’s leadership (like electronic testing, important new committees, updated processes, etc.) reflect a proactive focus on progress and sustainability. LaRae has the considerable expertise, passion, experience, and character our organization needs from its leader in order to thrive, and we are lucky to have her at the helm.

Alexis Wise

Former AMC Marketing Officer

I am consistently impressed with LaRae’s considered decision-making. Having served with her on the AMC, I’ve seen firsthand how LaRae is able to both bring a diversity of opinion to the table and build consensus. Her inclusiveness, structured approach, and commitment to impact enable her to motivate others and keep moving the ball forward. I’ve been impressed with her leadership of the AMC and am confident there’s more to come with her at the helm.

Laura Heffernan

Mensa of Northeastern New York

Over the years, I’ve been consistently impressed with how selflessly LaRae steps forward as needed, fulfilling whatever role is required. She’s chaired national events, served in multiple roles on the board, and never hesitates to help out. She’s an excellent leader who isn’t afraid to put in the work to get things done.

Ed You

"Mr. Mensa 2014," and life-time member

I endorse LaRae Bakerink because she is a great leader. She possesses great people skills and great management skills, and her actions visibly benefit the membership. I've been to at least 6 Mind Games conventions and 17 Annual Gatherings and have noted many management deficiencies, lacks of insight and failings in problem solving. However, the 2 Mind Games and 2 Annual Gatherings that LaRae was in charge of were notably better in execution, with fewer complaints. Her conventions even saw a few innovations, making the events better, such as having a gaming space available the night before Mind Games starts to accommodate all the early members that had assembled and were itching to play something and interact. These are examples of her executive actions enhancing the general membership experience. Also, several national problems have necessitated that the general membership be informed, and she has ensured that we have been so informed, as much as is legally possible. Prior chairpersons tended to sequestered problems in national committees, keeping the membership uninformed about our own organization. Prior national chairpersons' actions never seemed to trickle down to improve my membership experience. LaRae's actions do. Thank you, LaRae for all your work, dedication, insights, talents and leadership!

Ian Randal Strock

RVC1, Greater New York Mensa

I don’t always agree with LaRae, but I never question her motives; everything she does as Chairman is because she thinks it’s in Mensa’s best interests. It’s her combination of business experience and love of Mensa that make her an excellent chairman for the organization, and one with whom I’m honored to serve on the AMC.

Ask me a question

I am always listening.

bakerink@gmail.com

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