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Palm-Mensa©
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Palm Beach County Mensa
Newsletter for
March, 2001
Last updated Wednesday, February 28th, 2001 |

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Contents
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Correction!
The article
in the February issue entitled " Vikings: the North Atlantic Saga" by
Carole Seuling contained an error. The author submitted the correction
that Viking campaigns lasted from the 8th through 11th centuries, not
through the 14th as reported. |
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RVC Update
Karen Lary
As I write this in late February, the biggest news from the national front
is the resignation of our National Chairman, Bob Beatty. Bob has informed
the AMC that his doctor has all but ordered him to resign for health reasons
(he told us his blood pressure - trust me, he made the correct decision).
Since the news got out, quite a few people have asked me for information
about "you know - what really happened?" I was not present at any AMC
meetings prior to December, so I have not been around for many discussions,
but there is no secret information to impart. Bob set his priorities
correctly - his health and family over his position with Mensa. Jean Becker
became Chairman immediately upon Bob's resignation.
The most important thing you can do for Mensa right now is RENEW YOUR
MEMBERSHIP! If you have your membership number you can pay your dues via
the AML Web site. This process allows members 24-hour access to pay their
dues in a safe and secure manner. Dues must be received by March 30, 2001
(March 31 is a Saturday!) in order to ensure that your Mensa membership is
uninterrupted.
And from around the region...
The Heart of Florida RG, hosted by Central Florida Mensa was a big success.
We had a great bunch of people attending, the weather cooperated, the
speakers were interesting, the food was good, and there were plenty of hugs
to go around. I had such a good experience, that I agreed to co-chair the
RG with Maggie Truelove next year.
You should definitely make plans to attend Busch Bash (formerly Beach Bash)
May 25 - 28 in Tampa. This year, the RG is adjacent to Busch Gardens and it'
s on Memorial Day Weekend, so you get an extra day! For information, check
out the web site: http://www.sports-pac.com/home/mensa/bash.html or contact
Dana Groulx, 5410 Bold Venture Place, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544; (813)
991-7868. Don't miss this one - these folks know how to throw a party! |
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Notes From the Underground
LocSec - Barry Karas
E=MC³. I came upon an
article recently that said that 85% of science textbooks used in middle
schools throughout the U.S. have many *basic* errors each. I'm not
talking "rocket science" here - I'm talking basic information. One
example: the Equator runs through the U.S. This is one reason why U.S.
kids do poorly when compared to kids of other countries in science. And
our kids lack basic knowledge for everyday usage. This does not portend
well for their places in an increasing technological society. Who's to
blame? There's a lot to go around. The authors? The textbook editors?
The publishers? The school boards? The teachers? What do you think
about this?
HUMILITY? Yesterday, it was
announced that humans have only about 30,000 genes instead of 100,000
as previously thought. This is only twice as many genes as the common
fruit fly or worm has. (To save us from being totally humiliated, it
was revealed that the protein in our genes is much more complex than
the protein in the genes of fruit flies or worms.)
ACRO-REDUX. The latest
overused acronymS, courtesy of the computer industry: "2" for "to,"
surrounded on both sides by letters signifying nouns - such as "B" for
"business," "C" for "consumer," and "P" for "peer." Examples: B2B, B2C,
and P2P.
I have nothing against
acronyms when used sparingly or in trade publications. But when they
leak into the general media in a big way (or even when one in common
usage is in a trade journal but with a different meaning) that's when I
get concerned. Years ago, I read about "ATM" in a telecommunications
journal, and I wondered what in Hell does an automatic teller machine
have to do with this?
SPEAKER. Later this month,
we are having our first speaker in a long time. SHARRY ISRAEL is kind
enough to host this event. Details are in the calendar section.
RENEWALS. If your membership expires on March 31, 2001, please renew. You can renew by telephone (817-607-0600).
CULTURE QUEST XII. It's on April 29th
this year, at 4:00 PM. Ed Gross, the Team Captain, has almost completed
assembling a team, but there is a space left. The only requirement is
that a team member be a current Mensa member. Our own criteria include
having a sense of humor - some of the questions are so ridiculously
hard, that all we can do is sit back and laugh after guessing at what
*we think* sounds like the best answers. Contact Ed (561-487-3874) for
details.
AMC MEETING. There's going
to be an American Mensa Committee meeting during December of this year
at West Palm Beach. While this is not an "official" event of PBC Mensa,
it is quasi-official, and it would be very nice if we could provide
some members to 1. pick Committee members up at the airport and
transport them to the hotel (which is very close to the airport); and
2. staff the hospitality suite for a few hours. Please contact Elissa
Rudolph (561-272-0475) for details.
NEW CHAIRMAN. As you are
aware, Bob Beatty resigned as chairman due to health problems. Dr. Jean
Becker has assumed the chairmanship and Russ Bakke is now first vice
chairman. The second vice chairman position will be filled soon. Bob is
now past chairman and is still a member of the AMC.
COMPUTE. Mensa has been
mentioned in an advertisement that IBM has been running: "Web hosting
the Mensa Way." You may have seen it. Together with the sample quiz on
the backed the Kellogg's Raisin Bran box, Mensa has been receiving a
lot of good publicity lately.
NORTHERN EXPOSURE. For this
month's dinner, we are planning to meet many of the northern members
(from St. Lucie and Martin Counties) in Stuart on Saturday, March 17th.
Stuart is about half way between PB and SL Counties. Bill Whitesell,
our northern area coordinator, has done an admiral job. Let's show Bill
and the northern members our spirit and have a numerous contingent be
at Stuart. |
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Member News and Updates
Glen Moulder
At the end
of January, 2001, Palm Beach County Mensa had 297 members, increasing
the total by 7 members since December. American Mensa, Ltd. reported
membership at 46,562 up by 875 from the previous month. We welcome new
members Swartz Matthew, Joan Zieff, Margaret McKenzie, Jeffrey Schector
and J. Foster Chapman, Welcome also to Sarah Fauer and Kevin Mitchell
who just moved to our area and reinstating members Howard Engelsen,
Richard Block and Katherine Johnson.
Please
note: If you don't see your birthday shown in this section when it
should appear, you probably indicated to the national office that this
information should be withheld. If so, and you do want it to appear,
simply contact the national office and change your information
withholding preferences. |
Happy March MensAnniversary (year and persons) to:
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26! Christopher Burgon
25 William Cofer, Deena Nathan-Strauss and
Judge C Trowbridge
22 Steven Modell
21 Jo Gayne
19 Milo Eischens and Louis Priore
18 Charles Grande
15 Theodore Babbitt and Bruce Packtor
14 Dr. Sharron Ronco and Daniel Tobias
13 Lynn O'Dwyer
12 Anne Matson
10 Steve Linehan and Norman Moore
09 Dr. Jerome Blumen and John Murray
08 Avraham Adler and Kay Skoog
07 Angy Brooks
06 David Pomerance
02 David Accetta, Hilda Dennis, Robert Gelbman,
Mark Miller and Norman Robbins
01 James Muro, Dr. Andrew Stone and
Thomas Winchester |
Happy March Birthday (day and persons) to:
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1st Ann Kasper
2nd Robert Abbott
4th Dr. Norma Schulman-Waltzer
5th Brad Perron
6th David Lustgarten
8th Marc Manis
9th Steve Greenberg and Richard Harris
12th Dr. Morton Chalef
13th David Saxon
14th Robert Swedo
15th Stephanie Cooper and Craig Wallace
18th Robert Gelbman
20th Thomas Winchester
21st Richard Haney
22nd Michael Davis
23rd Nancy Greenberg
25th Mohan Thampi
26th Margaret Kiggins
27th Robert Dolson, Craig Gathman, Kenneth Olsen and
Thomas Zarate
28th Lila Arango and Rory Burton |

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PBCM member BOB ABBOTT has just put some new mazes on his web site named for Alice (of Wonderland fame). Click here: http://www.logicmazes.com/alice.html.
Quoting Bob: "These are called "Alice" mazes because they recall the
scene in Alice in Wonderland where Alice eats a piece of cake with the
sign "Eat Me" and grows larger, then she drinks from a bottle marked
"Drink Me" and becomes smaller. This maze won't make you larger or
smaller, but the distance you travel in a move will get larger or
smaller." |
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Members Ken
and Julie Cooper would like to announce the birth of their daughter,
Annabelle Rose Cooper, January 16, 2001, weighing in at 8lbs, 3 oz.
They hope they'll be able to come out and visit with us at a First
Friday sometime soon. Best wishes for the proud parents and their new
baby! |
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PBCM Elections
Glen Moulder
According
to our By-Laws (Article IV appears below), it's time for our group
elections. The process is simple -- nominations are submitted to the
Elections Committee and then votes are sent to the committee from the
ballot mailer that will be sent to all members. The committee is
responsible for collecting and tallying the responses and resolving any
questions that arise during the election. The elected offices are Local
Secretary, Editor Program Director and Treasurer. Nominations must be
for and from members who are currently in good standing with American
Mensa, Ltd. and must also be members of PBCM. Nominations must be
received by the committee by March 1st, 2001. Ballots must be signed on
the outside of the envelope and must be received by the committee by
April 20th, 2001. Any questions or comments should be addressed to the
members of the committee. You may contact them at:
Ms. Amy E.
Shaughnessy, Chairperson, 44 Coconut Row, #B, Palm Beach, FL 33480-4069
(phone 659.3620) or Donald Spero, Member, 1618 Twelve Oaks Way, #201,
North Palm Beach, FL 33408-3266
(phone 627-4720)
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Palm Beach County Mensa By-Laws (excerpted).
ARTICLE IV. ELECTIONS:
1. By majority vote the [Executive Board] EB shall choose an Election
Committee (hereafter EC) of two to four members who must be members in
good standing but not members of the EB, who shall serve for the
forthcoming election only, and who may not be candidates for election.
The EC shall be responsible for receiving and tallying the ballots and
certifying the results.
2. The February issue of the newsletter shall announce the forthcoming
election for officers to serve for two years and shall announce the
name and address of the members of the EC. It shall announce that
nominations must be received by the EC by March 1 and must be signed by
the person making the nomination who must be a member of PBCM in good
standing to be valid. Persons may not be nominated unless they have
agreed to serve.
3. The EC shall announce the names of persons nominated in the April
issue of the newsletter. Ballots shall be printed in the newsletter or
in a separate mailing and sent to all local members indicating that
only members in good standing may vote, that the envelope containing
the ballot must be signed to be valid, and that ballots must be in the
hands of the EC by April 20. For offices for which there is only one
valid nomination, the EC shall declare the nominee elected.
4. The EC may decide to permit candidates to provide the newsletter
with a set amount of campaign material. If so, each candidate who
chooses to avail himself of this right shall have an equal word limit.
The newsletter shall remain completely impartial.
5. The EC shall inform the candidates of the time and place of the
ballot count and invite them to be present in person or by proxy for
verification. The ballots shall be counted no later than April 30. A
plurality of valid votes cast for each office shall constitute
election. If a person is elected to more than one office, his vote for
the lower office in terms of succession shall be invalidated and the
next highest candidate shall be deemed elected to that office. Order of
succession for purposes of elections shall be: Local Secretary, Program
Director, Editor, Treasurer.
6. Challenges to the election must be submitted in writing to the
existing EB by June 1 following the election. Any actions taken by the
EB in the meantime will not be affected by the outcome of any such
challenge. |
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February Events Review
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Super Duper Chili Bowl II - Elissa Rudolph
January's
Superbowl game between the Ravens and the ?? wasn't nearly as exciting
as our "chili-tasting," which took place just before kick-off. Six
different kinds of chili intrigued the palates of the judges until they
settled on a nearly uncontested winner. Unlike the recent presidential
election voting, the votes needed to be counted only once (there were
only 13 votes). Carol Seuling's traditional chili won the prize. In
attendance and/or judging the tasty treats were Tom and Allicyn
Winchester, Sharron Ronco, Barry Karas, Pat and Paul Couture, Glen
Moulder, Pamela Berteau, Sean Zullo, Tom Peck, Kentuckiana Mensans Mark
McCarthy and Bill Ragains, Miles Stoerfer, Bob Dolson, and Elissa
Rudolph. Maggie Rubin, Broward Mensa, and Evie Rabin, Miami Mensa,
stopped to say hello on their way home from Heart of Florida RG. With
Kentuckiana and other south Florida Mensa groups represented, this
year's Chili Bowl was wonderfully diverse!! Who won anyway? |
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First Friday at Chesterfield's - Glen Moulder
The
groundhog must have seen his shadow, 'cause I think he scared some of
the previous Chesterfield's crowds away. This month, only Bob Dolson,
Barry Karas and I attended from our group along with guest Pamela
Berteau and from Broward, Jerry and Merrell Fortner and Lya Korda came.
We squeezed in around one table and the food, as usual was scrumptious.
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Breakfast at the Crab House - Glen Moulder
Richard
Linett hosted a breakfast here in Jupiter on the 3rd at 9 A.M. We again
had a good turnout and some lively discussion about politics
(dictators), education, Buddhism, Paganism (Wiccan), food and Mensa.
Although it was a rainy, drizzly day, we sat out on the deck, where the
staff had lowered the storm shades and watched a flock of pelicans
flying around the world-famous lighthouse. We befriended the multitude
of small sparrows that came begging under our chairs with bits of toast
and helped our waitress to call her mother in Texas to wish her happy
birthday. A very pleasant two-hour affair attended by Richard and Alex
Linett, Bob and Ann Abbott, Tim Hunter, Bob and Peg Peyton, Glen
Moulder and Pam Berteau and Bettye Pfau. |
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MensAdventure! - Elissa Rudolph
Dinner at
Antonio's Mama Rosa restaurant in Delray on the 9th proved once again
that Italian food never goes out of style. A pleasant ambience,
attentive servers, and homemade pasta gave our Mensadventure dinner 7
out of 10 points. Out of Denmark's dinner is still unequaled. Dr.
George Kovacs, Glen Moulder, Pamela Berteau, Bob Dolson, Sharron Ronco,
and Elissa Rudolph attended. |
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Trivia Challenge - Barry Karas
We met at
G. W. Sharkey's in Coral Springs on the 13th. You'll be pleased to know
that your representatives won. I think that MERRELL FORTNER, the
BrowBeat editor who made the arrangements of where we'd play tried to
squeeze some extra points and arranged for a smoky place with backless
bar stools. Although some of us were coughing ands sputtering, and
visited chiropractors for our aching backs the next day, we still
prevailed.
I got to
meet PHIL HALES, the Broward Mensa LocSec. It was the first time that
we met, and it was nice putting a face together with a name, and a
person to whom I've spoken and corresponded with for almost two years.
Attending
for Broward were: MICKI HAWN, IVAN GORDON, PHIL HALES, MERRELL and
JERRY FORTNER, LYA KORDA, and two college-age people ERIC AND SEAN (I
think - and I apologize for not getting their last names).
Our team: ED GROSS, PAT and PAUL COUTURE, CAROLE SEULING, and me.
Many thanks
to Merrell, who I really don't think tried to "torpedo" us - although
she does have a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. Oh yeah. Because we
placed #1 at Sharkey's, we won $25.00. I split the winnings up among
our team. Therefore, we're not strictly amateurs any longer. |
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Games Night - Barry Karas
The Games
night was held on the 16th at Pat and Paul Couture's home. Pat and Bob
Dolson played backgammon while the rest of us played convoluted (my
name for it) [actually, Double Deck Cancellation - Ed.] hearts. John
Swick brought his sister Sally Becker along, who brought her friend who
was visiting her from northwestern Pennsylvania, Delphine McFate. Thank
goodness Delphine was there - she saved me from being last in the
hearts game. Some of us thought that Sally's name was Charlotte,
because she was wearing a shirt that said "Charlotte" on the front. She
patiently explained that it came from Charlotte, NC where her daughter
works for US Airways. Paul kept his neighbors up by playing choral
music on his tape player. Actually, the noise level was low and his
neighbors could only hear if the listened hard with glasses pressed up
against the wall. Both he and Pat sing choral music, and we were
entertained by the tape and by a special in-person performance.
Attending
were: MYLES STOEFFER, ELISSA RUDOLPH, DELPHINE McFATE, PAUL COUTURE,
JOHN SWICK, a friend of Pat and Paul's from Broward whose name I've
forgotten (I'm sorry) [but if that person reads this, please e-mail
Barry and give him the business - Ed.], SALLY BECKER, PAT COUTURE, BOB
DOLSON, and me. |
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Perkophiles - Glen Moulder
I wasn't
able to attend the February Perkophiles due to suffering from the flu
that's been going around. Nevertheless, I understand that David and
Michaele Saxon, Bob and Peg Peyton and Bettye Pfau were able to get
together and have a little breakfast chat. No reports of what was
discussed, but I'm sure I missed something important in our
ever-entertaining and enlightening get-togethers. See you in March! |
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NORTH COUNTY GATHERING - Bill Whitesell
The February NCG was at The
St. Lucie Draft House. In attendance were Rosemary Elliot, Bobbie and
Julius Kadlecz, Mike Purcell, Laura Bulawski, Donna and David Bognar,
and Bill Whitesell and daughter Jennifer. |
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Movie Night - Glen Moulder
Our first
Movie Night held in recent memory occurred on the 24th at Linda
Madison's home. The turnout was small consisting of our host Linda,
LocSec Barry Karas, me and Pamela Berteau. We enjoyed watching a
quirky, funny little film called "The Gods Must be Crazy" about the
adventures of a Kalahari bushman trying to rid his family of an
unwanted gift of technology from the sky. Linda showed us an electronic
device called an eBook that has a very nice backlit screen and 16
megabytes of memory and will hold a good number of books that can be
downloaded from the internet. Linda is celebrating her retirement from
Bellsouth with 32 years service! Good for her and we wish her the best!
Thank you for the movie and entertainment Linda. Now, who'll host our
next Movie Night? |
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About Books
Dustinea Jacquette
Time for only one review
this past month because I am building brain cells by reading classic
philosophical thought instead of brain candy. There's much to be said
for the latter, but it's the former that probably carves deeper grooves
in our brain mass. |
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In a Sunburned Country by
Bill Bryson, Australia is the star player. Bryson planned to spend
several weeks exploring the oddities of this vast country and found
that he could spend months and only scratch the surface. Even though
Australia is the driest, most infertile, and "climactically aggressive"
country on the planet, it has more things that can kill you than
anywhere else: the ten most deadly snakes in the world, toxic
caterpillars, seashells that attack you, and the deadly box jellyfish.
It is a very old country
also, not only geologically, but in the appearance of humans. Probably
60,000 years ago the Aborigines appeared. They have no evident racial
or linguistic relationship to their neighbors in the region. This means
that somehow the Aborigines must have crossed the ocean from Indonesia
(the nearest land) long before, 30,000 years before anyone else even
thought of ocean-going craft. It is still an unexplained phenomenon.
And the Aborigines aren't talking.
Eighty percent of all that
lives in Australia-plants, animals, insects, etc.-occurs nowhere else.
Bryson writes, "This is a country that is at once staggeringly empty,
yet packed with stuff. Interesting stuff, ancient stuff, stuff not
readily explained Stuff yet to be found." I couldn't have said it
better myself.
Take Ayers Rock. This is
geologic wonder almost smack dab in the middle of the continent. Bryson
writes that driving south to Ayers from Darwin on the northern coast,
he experienced what he said was an eerie feeling of not being on planet
Earth any more. He describes the surroundings: The soil took on a
reddish glow, more Martian than terrestrial, the sun seemed to burn
more intensely, and the emptiness to the east and west, shows up as
hundreds and hundreds of miles of featureless blank on the map.
Thirteen hundred miles later, Bryson and his friend stand in front of
Ayers Rock, known as Uluru to the Aborigines. It is 1,150 feet high, a
mile and a half long, and five and a half miles around. And there is
nothing but flat, dry land surrounding it. It seems plunked down by
some giant hand. To the local Aboriginal people, called Pitjantjatjara
and Yankunyjatjara, it is a sacred site formed during the Dreamtime
when the rest of the Earth was created.

Click here for link to Ayers Rock site |

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Readers, there is a new "Cat Who..." book out! Lilian Jackson Braun has done it again with "The Cat Who Smelled a Rat," her 13th
book about Jim Qwilleran and his two detective Siamese cats, Koko and
Yum-Yum. Look for a report on this lovely little time waster next month
from your favorite retired librarian, Miss Dustinea Jacquette.
That's all for now, my pretties! Visit your local library soon! |
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An Elderhostel Program in New Orleans
Blossom Meyerson
I recently
attended an Elderhostel in New Orleans lasting five days. We were
lodged at the Great Western Landmark Hotel in Metairie, outside the
city. We were two groups of 40, the "purple" and "gold". Our leader was
charming and the program well planned so that everything ran smoothly.
Bus transportation was provided to and from all our destinations and we
were free to participate in the day's activities or go out on our own.
After
registering, we had dinner followed by a class, "So, what is the French
Quarter?" Each of the following days included two classes at the hotel
with lunch and dinner at different restaurants. The classes were taught
by brilliant, enthusiastic professors from Tulane, Loyola or LSU.
We learned
about the history of "New Awlins", jazz, literature, architecture, the
Mardi gras, and Huey Long. We attended a class at a Creole cooking
school where we had the food for lunch.
Though
limited by poor weather, our trips included; a walk in the Garden
District to identify the many different styles of architecture, a tour
of the Hermann Grima
house in the French Quarter, and a bus tour of the city with stops at
the City Park and cemetary. On our own we visited the Jax Brewery (a
shopping complex), Riverwalk, the Cabildo, Jackson Square, the French
Market, the roof of the Royal Orleans Hotel, and took a free ferry.
Among the
things I learned were that most of the New Orleanians are blacks, the
next largest group are Italians. Creoles are people who have at least
one European ancestor and Cajuns are descendents of French Canadians
fleeing the Protestant English Acadia. I also learned the differences
between Creole and Cajun cuisine. Mardi Gras is a period of religious
origin when a person can pretend to be someone else and whose
uninhibited behavior is expected and accepted. |
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AMC Office Candidates for 2001
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.
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OFFICER |
CANDIDATE(S) |
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Chairman |
Bob Beatty
Tony Jackowski |
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1st Vice Chairman |
Jean Becker
Linda Hathaway |
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2nd Vice Chairman |
Russ Bakke
Bob Cox |
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Secretary |
Dan Burg |
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Treasurer |
Jim Werdell |
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RVC 1 |
Betsy Burke |
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RVC 2 |
Sallie Banko |
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RVC 3 |
Wil Huff
Rick Magnus |
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RVC 4 |
Stacey Kirsch
Cyndi Kuyper |
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RVC 5 |
Ike Kullman
Oscar Ziegler |
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RVC 6 |
Ray O'Connor
Dan Wilterding |
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RVC 7 |
Steve Burnham
Marcia Lannan |
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RVC 8 |
Scott Rainey |
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RVC 9 |
Barbara Lytle |
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Personal Biographies of AMC Chairperson Candidates
Glen Moulder
Two candidates for AMC
Chair have sent campaign materials to us, requesting that we publish
them in our newsletter. We will do so, stating that Palm Beach County
Mensa is impartial and does not endorse or support the campaign for any
particular candidate. All candidates for AMC positions are welcome to
submit materials for us to publish, which will be done with NO editing
except to create web links as appropriate and make references to them
in the text. Materials will be published in the order that they were
received chronologically.
Allan Neuner - for Chairman
Hello. I'm Allen
Neuner, past Ombudsman of American Mensa. As you may already know, this
is an election year for American Mensa. This coming April, you will be
asked to vote for those who, for the next two years, will be running
our organization to the best of their abilities. The decisions they
make will affect not only you for right now but all Mensans and for
years to come. That's why I'm urging you, when you receive your
election materials in the April/May issue of the Mensa Bulletin, to read over the candidate statements, mark your ballots carefully, and mail in your vote.
Why am I writing to you about this? Partly because I believe in the
responsibility of every member to cast his or her ballot and exercise
his or her say in the running of Mensa. And partly because I am running
for the office of Chairman. I believe it's time to turn Mensa away from
the business of mandating "one size fits all" solutions to the local
groups and members, and away from the business of the explosive
proliferation of rules and regulations. It's time to turn Mensa back
towards the business of listening to the members' concerns and
utilizing the members' intelligence and imagination to come up with
workable responses to those concerns. I believe that my 23 years in
Mensa, which include terms as national Ombudsman, Local Secretary,
proctor, and RG co-chairman, give me the experience and communication
abilities needed to turn Mensa in this direction. I would like your
vote for Chairman.
Mensa's strengths have always been the diversity of its members and
the power of their minds. Mensa has always been whatever its members
have conceived it to be.
Click here for Allen Neuner's web site
Tony Jackowski - for Chairman
Dear Fellow Member of Mensa:
PLEASE DON'T READ THIS IF...
...you are getting all that you want or need out of Mensa. BUT...
...if you not only enjoy the social aspects of Mensa (AGs, RGs,
SIGs, and parties), but feel that our organization can, and should, be
just a little bit more, then read on! Please.
My name is Tony Jackowki, and I have been a member of Mensa for
nearly 17 years, and I am running for Chairman. In November of last
year I became a Life Member because I believe in the future of this
organization. During my years of membership I have held numerous
elected positions (locally, nationally, and internationally), performed
many tasks (1991 Annual Gathering Co-Chairman, InterLoc Editor, IBD
member, 2nd Vice-Chairman AMC, and RVC7), and chaired or been a part of
committees too numerous to list here. (Please look over the resume on
my web site for complete details of my contributions to our
Organization). I hope you will agree that my experience more than
qualifies me for the office of Chairman. In fact, in the recent
nominating process, more members of the Nominating Committee voted in
favor of my nomination for Chairman than any other candidate. (They
like me...they really like me!)
While it is good to know that the members of the NomComm have placed
their trust in my abilities, I want you to know that you can believe in
me as well. I have a very strong track record. When I accept a task or
position I tackle it with both enthusiasm and diligence, and I follow
through on all my undertakings. As Chairman, I would like to direct
this energy towards making Mensa a social organization with a
conscience. I support MERF and our Gifted Children's Programs, and
believe that Mensa needs to become more involved in our communities and
schools. Our future members will come from these activities.
I am also concerned for the health of Mensa. We seem to be on a path
to becoming an organization where disrespect for one another are the
rule rather than the exception. I want to change this direction before
it's too late. When elected Chairman I will stress respect, tolerance
and understanding as qualities I expect form all Mensa leadership. And
what better way than leading by example. I expect to focus the work of
the AMC on setting policy based on what is best for the whole
membership by listening, and more importantly, hearing what the members
expect from their organization.
I invite you to join me at the round table, where your voice will be
heard. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss my
campaign, my philosophy or my vision for Mensa. Together, we can begin
the rebuilding of Mensa -- a Mensa where we embrace our uniqueness and
share it with others -- a Mensa where all members will be proud to say
they belong.
BECOME MORE THAN JUST A MEMBER -- BECOME AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE FUTURE OF MENSA.
YOU CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN TONY JACKOWSKI
VOTE FOR TONY JACKOWSKI FOR CHAIRMAN
Click here for Tony Jackowski's web site |
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Advertisements
Glen Moulder
Wanted! We
are looking for someone who can offer relevant educational commentary
on a wide variety of subjects during normal daily after school
activities for our 2 boys, Mensa members, aged 6 and 8. We are not
looking for a 'tutor' in the classic sense of the word. Except on rare
occasions, we do not wish to have specific didactic sessions. However,
we would like for our children to learn science, literature, languages,
history, math, etc. both in school and during their recreational
activities. If you feel that you can assist us in accomplishing these
goals, please contact Eric at 561.775.1950. |
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Editor's ForuM
Glen Moulder
A few years
ago, I moved into a condominium that had been vacant a long time. The
previous occupant left behind some wormy old furniture and books that
her relatives did not want to keep. Among the books, I found a copy of
Ernest Hemingway's "For Whom The Bell Tolls." It was an older hardbound
edition, poorly made. I turned it over in my hands a few times,
examining the mold patterns on the covers. Did I want to read it? I
wasn't sure. I had never previously read Hemingway and wasn't sure this
book would be worth breaking my streak. I set it on the nightstand and
turned away. Very few other books from the collection were saved.
My only
previous experiences of anything having to do with Hemingway came from
visiting his Key West home in 1995. It was early summer, hot and muggy.
I thought they charged me too much admission at the gate and had a
brief, unpleasant exchange with the woman in the booth. No, heck, they
overcharge everyone too much. I forget how much it was now, something
like eight dollars. The house is comfortable and breezy-looking, the
grounds well kept. The organization that runs the place permits the
descendants of Ernest's polydactyl (many-toed) cats to live there in
peace unmolested. You are warned against any interaction with them, but
the cats don't give a hang. You walk through the house and look at some
of Ernest's possessions, can see the room where he wrote. As with the
Hemingway shrine at a hotel in Havana, there's a typewriter in the
room. Don't know who used it, he reportedly wrote longhand in pencil. I
hung around the house for a couple of hours, soaking up wispy fragments
of Hemingway spirit and imagining bits of conversation that occurred
between he and many of his famous guests. According to biographer
Carlos Baker, Hemingway was nearly always open to entertaining guests
whether hunting, fishing, discussing literature, drinking or fighting.
Somewhere along the line, maybe started by Marlene Dietrich, Hemingway
received the appellation of Papa that stuck with him the rest of his
life. I stuck my foot in the algae-coated pool and left. I went down
Duvall Street to Sloppy Joe's where Papa drank and argued. The place is
dirty, noisy and stinks. Not far away, tourists can now come directly
into town from the new cruise ship docks on Mallory Square. Maybe
that's Papa's ghost puking up the noxious substances on the sidewalk
outside the bar.
One night,
I picked up the book, intending to read a few pages before bed. This
was a mistake. I was instantly drawn into the world of Maria, Anselmo,
Pilar, Pablo and Robert Jordan until about 3 A.M. Over the next week, I
devoured the book in the evenings. I had never read fiction that was so
engrossing and entertaining. I rented the two-part video and watched
it. Also very good. Now I could understand a small part of why
Hemingway was such a tremendous force in American literature. Soon
after, I read The Old Man and the Sea, A Farewell To Arms, To Have and
Have Not and a complete collection of his short stories. I then read
the Baker biography and a remembrance of Papa by A. E. Hotchner, a
friend during Hemingway's last twelve years. Papa was larger than life.
What exaggerated tales of him did not come from others, he made up
himself. He traveled to many places in the world and left his mark on
most. Last year, Michael Palin (of Monty Python fame) retraced many of
Hemingway's travels and revisited places where Papa worked and played.
His show aired on PBS over two nights and examined, sometimes
humorously, the life and times of the writer.
The world
is a smaller place without Hemingway, who died by his own hand of a
shotgun blast in 1961. Today, the market is filled with writers and the
mall bookstores are bursting with fiction of every shade. But I must
say that I haven't read anything like the gems produced by this most
famous of American writers. Haven't read Hemingway? Try it. Start with
The Old Man and the Sea. It's outstanding. |
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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. |
© 2000-2007 Palm Beach County Mensa. The Mensa logo is a registered trademark of Mensa International Limited
and American Mensa Limited, all rights reserved. Mensa does not hold any opinion or have, or express, any political
or religious views.
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