Palm-Mensa

Palm Beach County Mensa Newsletter
April, 2005

PDF version for printing

Contents

Notes from the Underground -- Barry Karas Member News RVC column -- Maggie Truelove Odds & Ends

Notes from the Underground
by Barry Karas

TERMINATION. A sort-of non-intellectual online monthly recently terminated publication. It presented short biographies of semi-famous (or semi-obscure, you make the choice) people. This is a clear example of the lack of support items that appeal to one's intelligence have. That lack of support may be a portent of things to come...

TRIVIAL MATTERS. Last evening (Saturday) I played NTN trivia. As some of you know, we usually play trivia on Tuesdays. Some teenagers were playing trivia. Now, I am under no illusions, but maybe, just maybe one of those kids will take an interest in sort-of intellectual pursuits?

ANNUAL GATHERING. This year's annual gathering ("AG") will occur July 6 - 10 in New Orleans. A myriad of Mensans attended last year's AG in Las Vegas ranging from computer programmers to trading card collectors. The annual gathering is Mensa's biggest party.

You (and your family) will find many other Mensans to play and/or study with. Contact me for more information.

The trivia question for this month:

What problem did Leonardo da Vinci, Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison and General George Patton have in common?

A) Dyslexia
B) Color blind
C) Hard of hearing
D) Missing an extremity

Please contact me with your answer. (Contact info. is on the front panel.) I do not know the answer, but I do know what I'd guess.

 

Member News

Palm Beach County Mensa ended February with 376 members. We gained 9 brand new, renewing or moving into our area. Welcome or welcome back to: Robert J. Killian of WPB, Mark Hunt Dorfman of Royal Palm Beach, Bettye Pfau of WPB, John H. Hotchkiss of Tequesta, Gary C. Greenwald of Port St. Lucie, Paul R. Sauer of Port St. Lucie, Jeff S. Marder of Boca Raton, Lawrence E. Hoffer of Boynton Beach, and Jerry Mitchell of Boynton Beach. Come on out to an event or organize one yourself. We'd like to meet you!

Congrats to Maggie Truelove, the new Region 10 Vice-Chairman, starting in July. She has a tough act to follow, taking over RVC10 from Elissa Rudolph.

 

RVC Column
By Maggie Truelove
Assistant/Acting RVC10    truluvs@cfl.rr.com

I can report to you that our intrepid RVC, Elissa Rudolph, is making great progress on her master's thesis - which is the reason I am presently Acting RVC. This has given her the time to apply herself and focus on finishing that thesis. Way to go, Elissa!

There are many things to think of this month. First of them should be to make sure that you have renewed your membership. This April issue of your newsletter is the last you will receive if you let your membership lapse. And if you haven't renewed yet, this might be a good time to consider doing a multi-year or even a lifetime membership.

And then there is our date with Uncle Sam, which we each face on or near April 15. Enough about that.

April also brings us MINDGAMES, hosted this year by Tampa Bay Mensa, April 15-17. Just think, you could be one of the Mensan "judges" to play brand new games, only breaking to eat, drink, and sleep. The results of this weekend will determine which five games released in the past year are granted the coveted "Mensa Select" seal. If you are a games player, as so many Mensans are, here is your perfect opportunity, as MINDGAMES is generally a lot farther away than Tampa! Find out more about this event at http://mindgames.us.mensa.org.

Moving ahead to May, do plan to join us at Broward Mensa's FLoRanGe RG, Memorial Day weekend, May 27-30. I can't think of a better way to spend a holiday weekend with our wonderful Broward Mensans. Find out more about this event at http://broward.us.mensa.org.

I recently received an email telling me that as an unopposed candidate for Region 10 Vice-Chairman, I am "declared elected". I will be seated as RVC10 effective at the New Orleans AG in July. I am both delighted and in awe of the responsibility I will have to all of you. I promise to put forth my best efforts to work with each and every group in the region. This doesn't mean you don't still need to vote in the Mensa National election. Consider carefully the qualifications and words of each candidate and VOTE!

Have a happy spring!

Acting RVC Maggie Truelove

 

Culture Quest XVI

Culture Quest XVI ("CQ") will be held during the afternoon of April 10. Please contact Barry Karas

for more information.

 

MindGames, April 15-17

April 15-17, Mind Games 2005 in Tampa Bay, FL. For more information, check the links on newsletter at our web site for links.
http://mindgames.us.mensa.org/participant/MG_Registration_Form.pdf

 

Renew Now!

Renew your membership online or by mail:
http://us.mensa.org/member_resources/prerenewalform.php

 

Odds and Ends

FYI: April Fools Day- When the Julian calendar was used in the 14th to 16th century, the new year began on April 1st, the start of spring. After the Gregorian calendar was mandated, the New Year started on January 1st. Those people that continued to use April 1st as the start on the New Year were sometimes mocked and called fools. Later, April 1st became a day to commit pranks on your friends.

Cellular phone text-messaging is becoming the new way to communicate, and it helps to avoid eavesdropping. There are times when talking on the phone is inappropriate. Acronyms save people having to type as much with the tiny multi-letter keys. A few to remember:
TIA - Thanks In Advance
WYP - What's Your Point?
IMHO - In My Humble Opinion
CUL8R - See You Later
JTUSK - Just Thought yoU Should Know
TEOTWAWKI - The End Of The World As We Know It.
ROTFLSHISMC - Rolling On The Floor Laughing So Hard I Spilt My Coffee

'Stewardesses' is the longest word that is typed with only the left hand when 'touch-typing'.

Lots of great events at your Palm Beach County Library.
http://www.pbclibrary.org/adult.htm
http://www.pbclibrary.org/children.htm

Andy Ritchason
mensa@ritchason.net
23053 Old Inlet Bridge Dr
Boca Raton. FL

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.