RVC Update - Karen Lary

Notes From the Underground - Barry Karas

Member News and Updates - Glen Moulder

MERF Scholarship Competition for 2000-2001 - Ann Kasper

Events Review - various

National Testing Day Report - Elissa Rudolph

About Books - Dustinea Jacquette

AMC Office Candidates for 2001 - Cher Burnham/Maggie Rubin

Editor's ForuM - Glen Moulder

RVC Update

Karen Lary

By now someone has most likely explained how American Mensa Region 10 was born. Now you deserve a brief introduction to the newly appointed RVC. Here are the basics:

I joined Mensa (in Georgia) in August 1991. After moving to Texas, I became
active in Lonestar Mensa, switching hats every year or so. I served as
LocSec, Newsletter Editor and Treasurer. I have worked on a couple of
committees at the national level (Local Group Funding and Publications) and
served as a judge for Group of the Year. I have attended lots of gatherings
and participated in several leadership workshops. Most of my friends are
Mensans, and, like many of you, I consider Mensa to be my second family.

I've lived in Florida before, and have hurried back at every opportunity.
When I was offered an opportunity to work as a Systems Analyst at Walt
Disney World, I jumped at it. Although I was born and raised in Alabama,
moving to Florida 8 months ago felt like coming home. I suppose that, since
I was conceived in Pensacola Beach, this is sort of like returning to the
spawning grounds.

I am very proud to be a member of Mensa's newest region, and will do the
best I can as the new RVC.

 Notes From the Underground

Barry Karas

FAVOR. Our Editor/Webmaster is "running blind" about many of our functions. If our committee chairpersons could give him a few sentences about what their committees do and also notify him of all upcoming target dates/deadlines (both internal and external), he would greatly appreciate it and could then publish the information. Don't forget that the printed newsletter is sent to qualified prospects as well as our members, and our web site (except for the Members Only area) can be viewed by everybody. A person from Macedonia contacted me a few years ago in order to correct my spelling on our first web page.

WEIGHTY MATTERS. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine demonstrated a good news/bad news scenario about holiday weight gain.

• The bad: The weight you gain during the holiday season may endure for the rest of your life.
• The good: Most folks *think* that they gain five to 10 pounds during the season; they *actually* gain only about one pound (however, you may never lose that one pound).
• The very good: If you attend our Holiday Party (on the 9th) you will not gain any weight there because the food and drink are deemed to be non-caloric and non-fat by the Supreme Court.

HAPPY NEW YEAR. The *real* new millennium and century is the one coming up on 1/1/2001. Happy New Year!..especially to the young Henry V.

PARTICIPATION. A recent issue of *Interloc* had an article about members who didn't participate (or very rarely participated) in events. The problem may not be one of apathy but one of interest: the scheduled events may not interest many members. For example, some members may *choose* to not participate in dinners and/or happy hours that the members perceive as social, party-type events; these members may enjoy participating in more intellectual events. In light of the article, I propose if you have an idea for an event that you may want to sponsor, you could contact me, and I might be able to help you out with information about hosting (it doesn't have to be "fancy") and/or promotion (including providing "feelers"). Examples include travel (maybe with a slide show?), international trade, and taxation. Please contact me with your ideas.

HOLIDAY PARTY. Yes, this is a social, party-type event. But it's relatively low key (except for the gift "exchange"). This is also an opportunity for all of us to meet and see one another. And right before the party, an EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING is scheduled - all members are invited to attend and participate at that meeting. These events will take place on Saturday, December 9th. Please RSVP to me for the meeting and Elissa Rudolph for the party. There is more about the party later on in this newsletter/calendar.

Member News and Updates

Glen Moulder

At the end of October, our group membership total was 281, up by 5 from September. The national office reports membership of 44,446 up by 585 from the previous month. We welcome new member Joanne Scott. Welcome also to renewing member David Saxon, reinstating member Richard Rubin, Janice Johnson and Alan Posner who are preferencing in to our group and Larry Hafner, Jr. and Frank Flynt who moved into our area.

MERF Scholarship Competition for 2000-2001

Ann Kasper

Palm Beach County Mensa has launched our local participation in the Mensa Education and Research Foundation's (MERF) 2000-2001 National Scholarship Program! Awards from $200 to $1,000 will be awarded by participating chapters to recognize outstanding essays from graduating high school seniors and college students about their academic or career goals. The entries will be judged solely on the merit of the essay - grade point average, age, gender and financial need will not be considered. The only requirements are that the recipient be a U.S. citizen, or legal resident, studying at an accredited school, and that the entry be 550 words or less.

Send your request for an application to Ann Kasper, 861 Cotton Bay Dr E Apt 2415, West Palm Beach, FL 33406, postmarked by midnight, December 31st, 2000. Completed applications and essays must be sent to me postmarked before midnight January 31st, 2001 to be considered. Three judges will evaluate each essay and decide on the winner. Volunteers to serve as a judge and anyone with questions, please contact me at annkasper@psn.net. Please spread the word about this scholarship that will help make some talented student's life a bit easier!

NORTH COUNTY - Bill Whitesell

The November North County Gathering was at Norris', where we ate well. The main topic of conversation was the election. Mother Teresa was hardly mentioned. Attending were Donna Bogner, Laura Bulawski, Bobbie and Julius Kadlecz, Mike Purcell, Brook Westover and Bill Whitesell and daughter Jennifer. We decided that our January gathering will be held at Donna Bogner's and will be a massage party. Shorts required, tops optional.

SOUTH COUNTY

 This event has been temporarily suspended.

The Big Room at Chesterfield's - Elissa Rudolph

There were so many attendees during November's First Friday at Chesterfield's that the very accommodating manager opened up the banquet room for us. With four tables in a spacious arrangement, we had plenty of room to eat and flit from table to table. We were pleased to see the family Cooper, Ken, Julie and 10-year-old Austin, Sean Zullo, Lynn O'Dwyer, Sharron Ronco, Elizabeth Kew, Barry Karas, Gary Underwood, Lila and Vinnie Arango, Ryan Leonard, Glen Moulder, Pamela Berteau, Elissa Rudolph, Bob Dolson, Merrell and Jerry Fortner and Lya Korda. The latter three are from our neighbor to the south, Broward Mensa. Lya, Mensa member for many years, is Broward's resident artist, providing cover art for Brow-Beat within which you may find a hidden hedgehog every time. What fun! Merrell is Brow-Beat's editor. Nice to see all of you! Will we see you at the next First Friday?

Perkophiles - Glen Moulder

November Perkophiles was great fun! Richard Linett and his wife Alexandra, Linda Madison, Bob Dolson, Pam Berteau and I talked about politics, guns, retirement, vocations and joked around a lot. Come on out next month and have some fun with us. If you like whole milk in your coffee, you'll need to bring your own to Einstein's since they serve all kinds of dairy products except that.

St. Martin's Day Oyster Party! - Glen Moulder

Tom and Allicyn Winchester and Mabel Mendel hosted a great party at the Winchester's home on November 11th. There were raw oysters, Oysters Rockefeller and Scalloped Oysters along with salads, relish trays, casseroles, soft drinks and beer and fireworks to enjoy. Tom gave guided tours of their lovely home and we gathered on the screened patio for dinner and socializing. I did not get a list of the names of all the attendees but about twenty people showed up. We enjoyed a beautiful moon and Tom shared fresh key limes from his back yard tree with us when we departed. We all enjoyed it so much that we hope Tom and Allicyn will host another party soon.

National Testing Day Report

Elissa Rudolph

Testing 1, 2, 3...19!!

For Palm Beach County Mensa, National Testing Day on November 11th was an outstanding success! Hank Colman, proctor, tested 19 prospective members that day at Levenger's in Delray Beach. Several were prospects whose names came from the National Office, others were there because of the advertising blitz, and a few more came because they'd always meant to look into Mensa. The age range was about 16 to 65, more women than men. Out of eight men, four were named Dan. How coincidental is that? One person was also a reporter for the Palm Beach Post. We hope she had a good experience; she may write an article about our group.

The next testing session will take place in West Palm Beach in January. Look for details on the web site or in January's newsletter.

About Books

No matter how busy, how crazy one's schedule is, one should always make time for books. Fiction, non-fiction, documentary, whatever pleases the brain cells, get into the habit of being friendly with your local librarian who could make visiting the library such a pleasure. There are worlds waiting for you to explore....

 A watery world is made achingly real in "Remembering Blue" by Connie May Fowler. Mattie O'Rourke, whose father leaves her early on to join the circus and whose mother becomes a drunken sot, reaches her 20s and independence with a sweet naiveté intact. What endeared Mattie to me are her words in the first few pages of this book, "...in the arms of a good book, I could be lost to the world for days." Ah, yes. Of course, her mother has other acidic words, "Books! They're rotting your brain!" After her mother's early death (good riddance), Mattie moves to a Florida panhandle town where she meets Nicholas Proteus Blue, a shrimper, who lives on an island with his family where he can daily commune with his element. His words: "I love the sea. I love it so much sometimes I dream that I can breathe underwater." Born during a Gulf storm, his father battling to keep the ship afloat and his mother lost in the ancient birthing process, Nick is named for the son of Poseidon, one of the mythic Greek gods. Maybe that explains his deep connection to the sea and its citizens. Nick and Mattie's life together seems idyllic with few of the 21^st century's materialistic concerns. The rise and fall of the tides, the waxing and waning of the moon, sunrise, sunset, all help mark time and seasons. The island is named Lethe, for the river of forgetfulness, and perhaps living here the people forget the modern world and instead retreat to a simpler, yet more fulfilling time. Nick, dreamy Nick, says, "Sometimes when I'm out there on the water all alone, I feel like the night might not end and I might not see another human being. It's then that the singing starts, beautiful faraway singing." Now you can piece together the rest-the title nearly gives it away. Read the book to remember what's is really important-it's not your computer or your car or your next paycheck.

 And continuing on in that same blue, watery world, you might check into "The Oceans" by Ellen J. Prager and Sylvia A.Earle. Recently named a "Hero of the Planet" by Time magazine, Sylvia Earle now comes together with her friend and undersea colleague, Ellen Prager, to provide us with an in-depth exploration and study of aqua-science. Touching on oceanography, biology, environmental science, chemistry, animal behavior, geology, and old-fashioned exploration, "The Oceans" imbues readers with the proper amount of awe and reverence for this singular characteristic of the third planet from the Sun. The study of Earth's oceans has fascinated me for years-it's scary and wonderful at the same time. Beyond the work of Jacques Cousteau and a few others, no one has really been able to capture for a general audience the complex workings of today's oceans. Less than five percent of the world's oceans has been explored. And we are constantly hearing about new types of organisms, such as the coelacanth and the tubeworms, which live without sunlight performing not photosynthesis but chemosynthesis. Only in the last five years have the trenches and abyssal depths been touched upon. There is much more of the ocean floor that is still beyond human reach. More of the Moon's surface has been mapped than that of our own planet. This book will help you appreciate what modern exploration has been able to discover; but you will also feel like we've only made a slight ripple in a vast bowl of water. The ocean is the Earth's last frontier and probably more dangerous, because it's so seductive. Just ask Nicholas Blue.

 And now for something completely different.... "Gone But Not Forgotten," Philip Margolin's first novel, a murder mystery set in upscale Portland, Oregon with flashes to Hunter's Point, New York, will keep you up nights until you finish it. Just when you think you've figured out where the author is going, he sets up a roadblock. If Margolin's successive novels are as captivating, you will see those reviews here eventually. Looking for a beach book? And who isn't in Florida? This would be a great choice especially since in daylight the grisly murders do not seem so bloody. A charismatic, sexually twisted man has abducted several beautiful women whom he keeps chained, hungry, and eager to do his bidding. When they do not comply he savagely murders them. This is one angry fella. He also changes disguises so that he can move across the country to take up a new life. But has he continued his perverted ways or is someone out to frame him with similar messy murders? Whoever it is leaves a black rose and a note, "gone, but not forgotten," on each woman's pillow. Once you get into it, it will be difficult to put the book down. I promise.

As you can tell, my book interests range from the romantic to the educational to the simply bizarre. And I intend to continue that way. Read, fellow Mensans-what wonderful worlds you will find!

Cher Burnham

The following is a list of candidates for AMC offices who have chosen to run in the spring of 2001 through the Nominating Committee (NomComm). If you, or any other member of Mensa, has information regarding any of these candidates pertaining to their expected performance in the office for which they are running, please send it directly to me. I will then forward the information to the candidate for response before circulating it to the NomComm and all other interested parties.

OFFICER

CANDIDATE(S)

Chairman

Bob Beatty
Tony Jackowski

1st Vice Chairman

Jean Becker
Linda Hathaway

2nd Vice Chairman

Russ Bakke
Bob Cox

Secretary

Dan Burg

Treasurer

Jim Werdell

RVC 1

Betsy Burke

RVC 2

Sallie Banko

RVC 3

Wil Huff
Rick Magnus

RVC 4

Stacey Kirsch
Cyndi Kuyper

RVC 5

Ike Kullman
Oscar Ziegler

RVC 6

Ray O'Connor
Dan Wilterding

RVC 7

Steve Burnham
Marcia Lannan

RVC 8

Scott Rainey

RVC 9

Barbara Lytle

Editor's ForuM

Glen Moulder

The November 2000 presidential election was an eye-opener to us all. While we saw that neither of the lukewarm candidates had a strong lead, no one could predict the citizenry would be so evenly divided between them. Further, our state, our very county, is at the center of the still contested race! Correspondence I've received on the topic has ranged from expressions of worry about the continuation of American government to humor and even ridicule. Rash statements by the "talking heads" for both parties exacerbate the problems. Some officials are declaring victory with the slimmest of leads while trying to deny the other candidate's right to challenge results. The truth behind the partisan battling is discernible, but only if one looks and reads very carefully. In the end, our system of justice must determine that every eligible voter's voice is heard (if s/he participated). I hope that rational thought will prevail throughout this process and that the principles upon which this nation was originally conceived will be upheld. Also, it's likely that before the next election, the antiquated balloting used in Florida will be replaced with a system that produces more conclusive results.

All local groups in the state of Florida are now officially grouped into new Region 10 of American Mensa, Ltd. We have a new RVC, Karen Lary, who is taking over from Ike Kullman by appointment until next July. Next spring we will cast ballots to elect a new RVC for our region who will take office next July at the 2001 AMC meeting.

Do you know what MERF is? No, it's not a foam toy. And it's not a little blue guy in a cartoon from the '80s. Mensa Education and Research Foundation (MERF) "is a charitable (501-C3) organization that is funded by American Mensa and other charitable donations." One of its functions is to award scholarships to individuals that participate in competition by submitting an essay to their local Mensa group for judging. Please see the article by Ann Kasper in this issue for further information and contact her for an application. Note that requests for the application must be received by Ann postmarked no later than midnight, December 31st, 2000. Please notify anyone you know who might benefit from this program. The competitors do not have to be members of Mensa to participate and there are no age restrictions. More details can also be found at http://merf.us.mensa.org/scholarships/faq/index.php3.

Happy New Year to everyone and I hope I'll see you at the Holiday Party on the 9th!

Note: The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and DO NOT reflect opinions of Palm Beach County Mensa, its officers, or of American Mensa, Ltd., which holds NO opinions.