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Palm-Mensa©
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Palm Beach County Mensa March, 2002
most recently updated Sunday, March 3rd, 2002 |
Spring is coming! |
Contents
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News and Notices * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Positions still to be filled.... Scholarship Chair-to distribute information to schools about Mensa's scholarship program that last year awarded over $50,000 to deserving students. Please contact Barry or Elissa if interested. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Mensa's MindGames 2002 is set for April 19-21 near Minneapolis. If you love games, get in on the chance to evaluate the newest ideas from U.S. games manufacturers. Email mensajudy@aol.com to register. Past games given the Mensa Select Seal include Taboo, Scattergories, Trivial Pursuit-Genus Edition, Apples to Apples, thepollgame, and Dao. Haven't tried most, except for A to A--great game & never the same twice! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Here is the Club Med SIG update for the April newsletter (calendar): (the last one!) 7:20 P.M. Saturday, April 20 Thank you. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * $2,000 Awaits Winners of Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition Entries are now being accepted for the 22nd annual Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition, created to recognize and encourage the efforts of writers who have not yet achieved major-market success. Writers will compete for a $1,000 first prize, $500 second prize, and $500 third prize in this internationally acclaimed competition. Several honorable mentions are also awarded each year. Stories in all genres of fiction are welcome. Maximum length is 3,000 words, and writers retain all rights to their work. The final deadline is May 15, 2002; winners will be announced at the end of July. For complete guidelines, please visit www.shortstorycompetition.com, e-mail Calico2419@aol.com, or send an SASE to the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition, P.O. Box 993, Key West, FL 33041. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Local members are sometimes the sources of the most compelling and interesting news. Take Sean Zullo, former M from our group who is now with the Peace Corps in the Ukraine. He recently sent a message with updates and an alluded to scary event that he never fully describes. Look for his letter home below. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * To Ponder... We must be willing to give up the life we've planned in order to have the life that is waiting for us. -Joseph Campbell. |
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Elissa Rudolph Deep into tax season, I can think of nothing but "deductible expenses," "tax rebates," "child tax credits," and EIC (earned income credit). Did you realize your summertime bonus of $300 or more was an advance on your 2001 refund? Not too many people did...what a surprise for some. In January Central Florida put on a great RG with interesting speakers, warm and friendly hospitality, a silent auction (proceeds to their scholarship fund), and discussions of all kinds ranging from the humorous to the stratospheric. Ever been to an RG? Try it-there's nothing like it! Early in February Northwest Florida held their first "Ungathering," an exploration of uncharted territory for them. Would Mensans come? Would it be successful? Would everyone have a good time? And the resounding answer to all questions is Yes!" A note from locsec,. Bob Horne, stated, "We had an excellent first-time gathering - 48 registered attendees, and a good time was had by all." They're talking RG next year. Congratulation on your first time event! At March's AMC meeting in Piscataway, NJ, a motion to raise the local group subsidy (from $7.85 to $8.15) will come up. Because many of the AMC members have been or are (me!) editors, the problem of putting out a quality publication on a shoestring has been an ongoing challenge. I believe the motion will carry without a problem. Should any of you like to know why the increase is not the $1.00 as suggested by the Editors' chat group, I can share with you a very cogent explanation written by Tyger Gilbert, Publications Officer, and member of the Budget Committee. Email me and I will be glad to send it to you. Regional spotlight this month is on Miami Mensa located (where else?) in and around Miami. A large group of 325 or so members, this group takes in the Keys, Puerto Rico, and the American Virgin Islands. Three well-deserved national awards were bestowed on their newsletter, Flamenco, last year. For fun in December, Miami Mensa members participated in the King Mango Strut, a sort of counterculture Orange Bowl parade. Humor and philosophical discussion are the primary ingredients of Flamenco. Please keep those great articles coming! Don't forget to renew! Don't let your membership lapse for even a month-there's too much going on! May 24-27, Tampa Bay Bash, same hotel as last year, www.thatparrotplace.com ; or Barbara Loewe, 813-9683343, bloewe@juno.com Elissa Rudolph 561-272-0475 |
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Barry Karas Hairy? I just read that intelligent people tend to have more zinc and copper in their hair than other people. However, this assertion doesn't have any attribution and its validity is in question. Would you supply either or both? You can even make witty (and not-so-witty) comments. Personal Data Questionnaire (PDQ). At the December AMC meeting, the Committee voted to formalize the privacy of the information you give on your PDQ. Renewing members should expect the new PDQ form with their membership cards. Multi-year and Life members should expect the new form in a mailing late this month or early in April. In any event, this new form is available at the National web site: < http://www.us.mensa.org/>. Your User ID is "Mensan"; your Password is "GenderIssues" (no quotation marks or punctuation). Free Internet Access. If you know of a child who does not have Internet access, a call can be made to ConnectNet at 866-853-1234. The caller will be referred to a place that has free Net access in his/her zip code area. Prospective Members. Last month I mentioned that "Mensa" was mentioned in a popular movie's Web site. I think because of that there is an unusually large amount of prospective members, 21. This will probably generate more new members over the next few months. Growth. It was only a few months ago that we attained a membership of 300 members. According to the latest membership roster there are now 327 members of PBC Mensa! You must be persuading your friends and relatives to become members, and/or setting good examples. Either way, Good Job! |
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Glen Moulder and Elissa Rudolph As of 1/31/02, we have 327 (!) members, 2 brand new-Sandra LaHair of West Palm Beach and Daniel Moss of Lake Worth, 6 who moved in-James Frazer of Boca Raton (NJerseyite), Molly Leban of Lake Worth (Hollywood, FL) , Joel McTague of Boca Raton (Ft. Lauderdale), Naim Miller of Lake Worth (MA), Barbara Scott of Boca Raton (AZ), and Randall Uner of Jensen Beach (MN), and 5 who reinstated after less than a year-William Ashton, Steve Greenberg, Monty Preiser, Arthur Vanmoor, and George Young. Welcome to all-we look forward to meeting you for the first time, or renewing our acquaintance! Goodbye to Theodore Hout and Eric Spurgeon. Our condolences to the family of Gerald Levin who passed away recently. He had been a Mensa member for more than 25 years. At the end of January, American Mensa had 48,002 members (46,562 in January of last year). As reported by the National Office, direct requests for information are on the rise. It could be the recent Wall Street Journal article about the Leverage Marketing Corp. of America's use of Mensans as focus groups. Yes, a group of Mensans was asked to brainstorm brand extensions for Winnebago Industries. Some of their ideas--W. air purifiers, W. condoms (?), W. pet carriers, and more. If you'd like a copy of the article, email Elissa. Don't forget to renew your membership!! 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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27 ! Christopher Burgon 26 William Cofer, Deena Nathan-Strauss and Judge C Trowbridge 23 Steven Modell 22 Jo Gayne 20 Milo Eischens and Louis Priore 19 Charles Grande 16 Theodore Babbitt and Bruce Packtor 15 Dr. Sharron Ronco and Daniel Tobias 13 Anne Matson 11 Norman Moore 10 Dr. Jerome Blumen and John Murray 09 Kay Skoog 03 David Accetta and Norman Robbins 02 James Muro and Thomas Winchester 01 Robert Clark, Elizabeth Fletcher, James Frazer, Cassandra Hodgdon, Leslie Kavchak and Dr. Steven Solomon |
Happy March Birthday (day and persons) to:
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1st Ann Kasper 2nd Robert Abbott 4th Nairn Miller 5th Brad Perron 6th Robert Clark and David Lustgarten 7th Ronald Capute 8th Marc Manis 9th Steve Greenberg 10th Gregory Barry 11th William Ashton 12th Dr. Morton Chalef and Michael Grossfeld 15th Craig Wallace 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, Rory Burton and Gordon Chase 31st Daniel Moss |
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Northern Exposure No report received this month. |
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Crab House Breakfast Glen Moulder What? You haven't been to the Crab House Breakfast/discussion group yet? Come on out and enjoy the company and the great Florida weather! |
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First Friday - at Chesterfield's No report received this month. |
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Red Cyclo Vietnamese Restaurant Elissa Rudolph Hosted by Carole Seuling last month's Mensa Dining Experience was attended by 16 Ms! Among the diners were Tom and Allycin Winchester, Pat and Paul Couture, Beth Bodenstein, Gino Giglio, and many others. Carole reported that everyone had a good time and enjoyed the food. A repeatable place! Thanks, Carole, for doing the kitten herding.... |
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Perkophiles - Glen Moulder The February Perkophiles was windy, rainy, small and intimate. Jim and Joann Morse, David and Michale Saxon, Bob Peyton and me enjoyed a nice breakfast and lots of good conversation. This was the last Perkophiles that'll be held in West Palm folks, since I now live in Jupiter and will be moving it to a location there soon. Taking a short break in March, but will be back at a new location in April. |
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Palm Beach County Mensa 31 December 2001 for the period July 1, 2001 to December 31, 2001 John Swick Beginning bank balance July 1, 2001 $1,909.51 Income: Dues returned for local use Jul $179.44 Aug 188.32 Sep 217.94 Oct 295.26 Nov 199.29 Dec 203.99 $1,284.24 Revenue from tests 225.00 Total Income 1,509.24 3,418.75 Expenses: Cost of printing newsletter Jul $65.72 Aug 62.95 Sep 59.63 Oct 76.83 Nov 64.70 Dec 55.11 384.94
Other expenses: Misc. postage 55.03 Mailing supplies 26.80 Hotel/AMC meeting 97.90 Mailings to prospects 58.71 Web site for 1 year 121.15 Donation 200.00 Pins 26.00 Auto expenses 42.78 Mail set up fees 250.00 Post office account 400.00 Bank service charge` 15.00 1,293.37 Total paid out 1,678.31 Bank balance December 31, 2001 1,740.44 Postage account balance June 30 449.67 Deposits 400.00 849.67 Postage mailing newsletter Jul 79.49 Aug 74.55 Sep 80.38 Oct 82.05 Nov 86.23 Dec 89.24 491.94 Post office credit 357.73
Post office account balance December 31, 2001 West Palm Beach 133.20 Ft. Pierce 224.53 357.73 357.73 Total Assets 2,098.17 |
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Sample CultureQuest questions (from past CQs) Elissa Rudolph and Ed Gross 1. Two of the best-known dramas of 1950s TV were "Requiem for a Heavyweight" and "Marty." Provide the writer/author, the star, and the anthology show on which each appeared. 2. Which two famous men died on April 23, 1616? 3. Express the decimal number 429 in (a) binary, and (b) hexadecimal. 4. To what city would you go to see the major collection of works by each of the following artists: (a) Hieronymous Bosch; (b) Salvador Dali; (c) Vincent Van Gogh; (d) Maurits Escher; and (e) James McNeil Whistler? If you get 3 out of 4 correct, Palm Beach Mensa will pay for your dinner when you attend a First Friday. Email Elissa (elissa12@bellsouth.net) with your answers. And if you get them all correct, you not only get a free dinner, you get to be on the next CultureQuest team! Actually you can be on the team no matter what, even if you don't know any answers. Just let Ed Gross (mistered3600@cs.com) know you want to be part of CultureQuest XIII. |
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Miss Dustinea Jacquette that you go to the local library and check out the books and the librarians... |
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Sean Zullo Hello from Berdichiv, Ukraine! Here's new pics from Ukraine. Just click on this link. http://www.seanzullo.com/0202ukrainepix.html Well, much has happened since I last wrote everyone. I'm no longer in the Peace Corps training hub city of Zhytomyr. I have received my post-training permanent assignment, I'm now living with my host family, have started intensive language classes, started my internship, and even managed to get into trouble. I'll start with the trouble first since this was the unscheduled event. Of course, I can't go into the details of what I did, but let's just say I came fairly close to getting what they call in the Peace Corps the "Pan Am" award. It's basically been resolved, but I'm sort of on double secret probation. While there isn't a Pan Am Airlines any longer, the PC still refers to this as the free one-way ticket home they give people who mess up. This past week a car and driver was set for me and I was instructed to leave my host family and go to the Peace Corps main office in Kiev. I was put up at a hotel and was instructed to report to the country director the next morning. I won't go into details, but let's just say everything was worked out, and I'm still here. The director was extremely fair, and I was sent back to my host family the next morning. I was holding my breath for a while there. I will say that I learned a few very valuable lessons regarding the Peace Corps, the US Federal Government, and myself. I also learned once again the value of humility. Now for the other stuff... My host family is GREAT. It's a Mother- Luda, her mother -Janna, her husband- Vitale, (both in their late 20's), and their daughter- Sasha (5ys). The grandmother runs the house like a German Scientist. Everything is scheduled, exact, and tidy. The flat is very comfortable. I have my own room, desk, and bed. She is a great cook as her daughter, and it's so interesting to watch her on her small stool in the kitchen peeling potatoes (almost every meal, -mashed, boiled, fried, in salads, etc.) with the scarf around her head and her granddaughter with identical scarf helping her cook. Everything is made each meal by hand and it's amazing the length of time that goes into each meal and the ceremony around food. I've never eaten so well in my life. Lots of soups, I didn't like soup much previous to coming here, but I've been introduced to so many varieties of soups that I'm amazed at the different tastes. Bread is a MAJOR deal here. Each meal includes bread and it is incredibly good, but heavy by American standards. I have been told that the reason bread is revered is because many times in Ukrainian history many millions died of starvation, and the saying goes that if you have bread everything will be ok/life is good. If I was in LA, I would definitely be gaining weight from so much food, but the cold combined with all the walking seems to burn off the calories. Still, I don't eat as much as they would like, but form what I hear from the other volunteers they get the same treatment. The father is a police (tax enforcement) captain, a really nice guy, and very personable and smart. The wife is very nice and friendly, she also works in the local unemployment office, and the daughter is so cute. She talks to me in Russian or Ukrainian and I just look at her with a silly grin on my face. The grandmother is a pensioner, but previously her husband was the director of the town's leather factory. When he passed away, the grandmother became a director of a smaller leather factory until she retired. She is one sharp lady, and she speaks the most English in the family. They are all trying to teach me Russian constantly. As you might have figured out my Ukrainian language study is over, and it was decided that I will be studying/speaking Russian for the remainder of my training. I'm actually very happy about this. I think Russian will be much more valuable for travel and business that Ukrainian, but it did require me to sort of start over a bit. I have a super Russian teacher, Valia, which I meet with 5 days a week for 3 hrs/day. While I'm in Berdichiv, studying Russian I'll also be doing an internship at the Youth Business Center in the Mayor's office. This will be really interesting since Monday is my first day, but I hear it's a cool spot, and I'm looking to see what I can do their. The description that I've been given is that I can give small business seminars, and share some of my insight (oh, yes). Well, I've been there, did a lot of hand shaking and they were quite impressed. The next day I was given a key to my office and taken to lunch. They are very excited for me to get started, and know of my permanent sight and it's director. Ukraine is a very small country I'm learning. I've drawn up a schedule of seminars with the idea of speaking at the local colleges, which I pitched to the director of the Ukrainian Intellectual and Natural Resources Fund who came from Kiev to meet this new American (who doesn't drink). She came with driver, photographer and secretary. Quite a little scene. She said that I would need four or five young female translators that would be at my continual disposal (wink, wink). I'm learning a lot about how business is done here. My site assignment will be at the Women's Information Consulting Center in Zhytomyr. Zhytomyr is about 1/2 hour from where I'm at now and about 1 1/2 hours drive from Kiev. This was not one of the sites, which I had requested, or had even considered. This organization serves battered and exploited women which is something that goes on this country without much discussion (just like alcoholism). I think that God really had a hand in this one. I was a little surprised when they announced it as my site, but I came here with no expectations of being put into a certain site, so I thought they must have a reason for putting me there. Having come from the world of small business, I never fully grasped that politics( within the PC) can play such an important role in resource allocation. I was told that I was put at that particular site because it was close to Kiev, and I was the best volunteer they had. It was also pointed out to me that the Peace Corps needs to do some PR work in Zhytomyr, and it's very important that they put someone who will get the job done correctly since the Peace Corps has such a large presence there. On looking over the site information, I soon realized why they put me there. That place needs some help, and I think it will be a good challenge for me. I'll get to train, teach, and put to use all the skills that I've developed over my professional career to date. From what I can see I will be hard-pressed to finish this assignment in two years. When I was in Kiev I had the opportunity to present some of my ideas for the site to the country director, and they were well received. All in all the past three weeks have gone by in a flash. I really love it here, the hot water situation is my only irritation, but I've worked it out. Yesterday, I was dumbstruck by watching a boy, pump water out of a corner hand water spigot to wash his hands. It made me realize in one instant how different is it here compared to the US. The cost of things is very inexpensive by US standards, but what is most amazing to me is that people get by with the basics with such a huge amount of dignity. I realize that I can learn so much from this experience, and that I also have something to give back in return for their kindness and generosity. My address for the next three months is: Peace Corps- PCV, Sean Zullo, P.O. Box 204, Kyiv, 01001, Ukraine So here's the pitch. I can get just about anything over-here, but the few cigarillo type cigars I have found have been expensive and lacking in quality. My favorites from the U.S. are called Black and Mild, and you can get them in any 7-11, AMPM, or Supermarket. The problem here is that cigarettes start at about 10cents/ pack and today I paid 20 hryvnia or about $4.00 for one box of 10 small cigars, and they definitely weren't worth it. This would really help me out, since my cigars are one of the ways that remind myself of home. Just remember to pack anything you send to me in a padded envelope (usually does not get opened by customs) instead of a box. I promise you they won't go to waste, and if it gets bad, I could always trade them for bread (just joking). |
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Elissa Rudolph (from Gino Giglio) Actually she was missing only her front paws; someone had chopped them off and abandoned her. A good Samaritan found her and brought her to PAWS-2-Help, a no-kill, not-for-profit animal shelter on Palm Beach Lakes Blvd. Nicknamed "Paws," and otherwise OK, the cat was scheduled for surgery to rebuild some kind of paw pads the next day. Enter local member Gino Giglio, licensed massage therapist trained in craniosacral therapy (CST) and Somato-Emotional Release, who has been called in on other traumatic cases involving animals to help relieve their pain thus promoting healing. Little Paws was in dire need of therapy, both emotional and physical. Before the surgery, Gino worked with the kitty to calm her, then nearly four hours later he was there to adjust and clear charkas and meridians, repair and cohere Paws' energies. Paws went from groggy to visibly alert to peacefully sleepy, according to Gino. He termed his experience as one he is "busting his buttons over." In other words he is most proud of his part in Paws' recovery. And we are proud of him too! As an aside, the day before the surgery, Gino met with the vet who was to perform the surgery and who was very open to the idea of an energy session for Paws. Gino conducted his first encounter with Paws that evening. Afterward, the vet complained of a headache. Gino sat him in a chair, worked on him, and in six minutes the vet's headache was gone. This happened mid-February. At last report Paws is recuperating well, eating "a lot" and has even been adopted (I think by the person who found her). A great ending to a great story! Gino, thanks so much for sharing this with us. |
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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.