(Link to PDF version for printing)

December 2006
Newsletter

Wild Bird Sanctuary Florida Keys

Contents

LocSec Column MENSAŽ Education & Research Foundation Mensa Foundation Copper Black Award for Creative Achievement Farwell Ed Sorensen Coming Soon... Scholarship Program Miami Micro RG

 

LocSec Column

       As the year 2006 draws to a close on December 31st, it is comforting to review the events in our lives, and in the lives of others, that have made this year special.

       For us a vacation in China was a great adventure, as was the one year birthday of our youngest grandson. A hurricane season without one was a relief, and our visit to our happy family in Virginia. What are your special events and adventures this year? What will you plan for next year? We plan a trip to England, to visit family and to enjoy the sights, maybe to ride the high speed rail to Belgium or France. London to Paris in 2 hr. 15 min. from St. Pancras international and to Brussels in 1 hr. 51 min.

  What will we do differently next year? What challenges await us? I find it exiting to exit one year and begin the next. No two are the same, and although we plan, we cannot control everything that happens to us. Chance meetings, new friends, mysteries unraveled, mysteries created, they all await us on the path of life.

  Mensa in Palm Beach will reach out to its members to encourage them to participate and contribute, to build a better, more enjoyable chapter in the Palm Beaches. In October we welcomed all 2006 new members with an email or letter, depending upon if their email to is released. This welcome letter will be sent quarterly from now on, to the most recent new members. This chapter needs your support and volunteer effort; consider what you can do for your group in 2007.

  I wish all of you a great, joyful, fun filled holiday season. May your New Year wishes be fulfilled, and may your new year live up to your finest dreams.

  Brian K. Johnson / LocSec Palm beach Mensa

 

MENSAŽ Education & Research Foundation

The Mensa Education and Research Foundation is seeking nominations for its annual award which recognizes a teacher, professor or instructor at any educational level who has had an especially positive influence on the education or life of a Mensa member. The educator can impact the Mensa member directly or as a result of their influence on the education of a dependent. The Mensa member may submit the recognition letter for themselves or their dependent. A joint submission is encouraged if a dependent's educator is being recognized.   Award applications are available online at the Foundation's Web site, www.mensafoundation.org or by mail from:

Distinguished Teacher Award
Mensa Education &Research Foundation
1229 Corporate Dr W.
Arlington TX 76006-6103

Completed forms must arrive by February 1, 2007

 

Mensa Foundation Copper Black Award for Creative Achievement

The Mensa Education and Research Foundation is seeking nominations for its annual award to a Mensa member who has made the most outstanding creative achievement. The creative achievement may be an invention, an innovation, or a unique improvement  that has actually worked. Artistic accomplishments are not eligible.

You may nominate yourself, or another Mensan. Award applications are available online at the Foundation's Web site, www.mensafoundation.org or by mail from:

Copper Black Award for Creative Achievement
Mensa Education & Research Foundation
1229 Corporate Drive West
Arlington, TX 76006-6103

Completed forms must arrive by February 1, 2007

 

Farwell Ed Sorensen

       Ed has served the Palm Beach Mensa Chapter as Editor of the newsletter since April 2006. He has made many improvements in its style and content. We all thank him for his valuable time and effort knowing it takes considerable time and patience to put together a decent newsletter. We wish him well and hope to see him at many Mensa gatherings in the future, whenever he has the time.

 

Coming Soon...

Smarti Gras (January 26-28, 2007) -- Orlando
http://www.cfm.us.mensa.org/rg2007

Colloquium (March 23-25 2007) - Aspects of Humor, Oak Brook, IL
www.colloquium2007.us.mensa.org

 

Scholarship Program

       The 2007 Mensa Scholarship program is underway. Any student who will be enrolled in college next year may apply. Go to: http:/www.mensafoundation.org/scholarships   for applications. This year there are two applications. One is just for Mensa-member only scholarships; the other is for all the rest. You can fill out both.

       If you have questions, contact  Janice@aposner.net. Every year at least one scholarship is awarded to someone who lives in Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie or Okeechobee counties.

 

Miami Micro RG

The micro RG was attended by around 22 Mensans from Broward, Miami, and Palm Beach Mensa groups. We had beautiful weather, and great company. One of Friday nights dinners was at  Little Italy mm68. around 18 of us gathered there. We met several new Mensans, and had a great time conversing. On Saturday we visited the Dolphin Research center, and enjoyed learning about and watching the dolphins perform. It was a good opportunity for photographs. On Saturday evening there was a cookout, grills and charcoal provided courtesy Miami Mensans. I met Miami's editor, a fellow Englishman Marc, from Manchester. On the way home Sunday we did some wildlife watching at the wild bird sanctuary, and some wildlife feeding at the Robbie's Marina, both also good for photos. Some of my photos are shown below. If you have never attended an RG, please consider the next one. There is no better way to meet a motley bunch of Mensans, and share experiences and opinions.