Administrivia
The Memphis Mensa Newsletter (ISSN
#0745-3426) is published monthly by
Memphis Mensa, 6485 River Fall Drive,
Memphis, TN 38120-2624. Annual
subscription to members of Memphis
Mensa is included with the annual dues;
the cost is $8.00 to nonmembers.
Memphis Mensa is local group #380 of
American Mensa, Ltd. Copyright © 2003
by Memphis Mensa and the individual
authors. Any Mensa publication may
reprint our material provided appropriate
credit is given to the Memphis Mensa
Newsletter and the specific authors. The
decision to print material and the editing of
the material is at the sole discretion of the
Memphis Mensa Newsletter editor.
Opinions expressed herein are those of
the individual contributors, not those of the
editor, Memphis Mensa, nor American
Mensa, Ltd., unless so indicated. Mensa,
as an organization, has no opinions.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
Memphis Mensa, c/o American Mensa,
Ltd., 1229 Corporate Drive West,
Arlington, TX 76006-6103.
Memphis Mensa
c/o 1229 Corporate Drive West
Arlington, TX 76006-6103
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
February 2004
Vol. 23, No. 02
ExComm/Officers ................................................................................... 2
Culture Quest XV .................................................................................... 3
Gifted Children’s Program ....................................................................... 4
Financial SIG.......................................................................................... 4
Testing Update ....................................................................................... 4
Strategic Planning Session ...................................................................... 5
Silent Auction ......................................................................................... 5
Calendar ................................................................................................ 6
February Meeting Information .................................................................. 8
Culture Quest Answers ........................................................................... 8
Not All Problems Have Solutions (poem).................................................. 9
th
25 Annual Arkansas Scottish Festival ..................................................... 9
RVC Update..........................................................................................10
Anniversaries ........................................................................................11
Birthdays...............................................................................................11
PERIODICALS
PAID
MEMPHIS, TN
PERMIT NO.
686870
Executive Committee
Aimee B. Sufka: LocSec
8225 Hampton Wood Cove, Cordova, TN 38016, 901-624-5557, [email protected]
Ben Burgess: Asst. LocSec, WebMensor
1026 Moorefield Rd., Collierville, TN 38017; (901) 850-9356,
[email protected]
Brent Milton: Treasurer
2070 Irongate Ct. Apt 103, Collierville TN, 38017, 901-263-8701, [email protected]
David Stowell: Member at Large, WebMensor
8528 Poplar Pike, Germantown, TN 38138, 901-756-4221 [email protected]
Tom Miles: Member-at-Large, Proctor Coordinator
2098 Stafford Park Lane, Germantown, TN 38139, 901-755-4295 [email protected]
24 years
24 years
19 years
12 years
8 years
8 years
7 years
Larry Farabee
Jennifer Thompson
Sheila Ellis
Lynn Elsenstatt
H. Thomas Brown II
Karen Ellis
Joseph Davis
3 years
3 years
2 years
2 years
2 years
1 year
1 year
1 year
Jamie Williams
Stephen Willis
James Buchanan
William Stanek
Veerland Thompson
Jack Jackson
Travis Price
Greg Wayland
Other Offices
Editor: Open Position
Scholarship Chair : Open Position
Joe Baker: Program Director
2121 Ansley Park Lane, Southaven, MS 38571, 662-280-8862
J. R. Dunworth: Poet Laureate
225 E. College Av., Holly Springs, MS 38635, 662-252-7552, [email protected]
Madison Edwards:WebMensor, Teen SIG
C/o Angel Edwards
Susan Hirsch: S.I.G.H.T. Coordinator
947 Rustling Oaks Circle, Memphis, TN 38117, 901-767-3807 [email protected]
Mike Seigler: RVC – Region 5
770-423-7113, [email protected]
Tom Miles: Proctor Coordinator
2098 Stafford Park Lane, Germantown, TN 38139 , 901-755-4295 [email protected]
st
1
rd
3
th
4
th
7
th
7
th
8
th
14
th
15
th
15
th
15
th
17
Fredric Shapiro
Leslie Petty
Matthew Farris
Frank Holloman Jr.
Thomas Roden
Joe Baker
James Rainer III
Kara Holden
Mary Joyce
Soo-Tsong Lim
Stephen Espy
17tj
th
18
th
19
th
19
th
20
th
20
rd
23
th
27
th
27
th
27
Robert Lazar
David Sanders
James Broome
James Gross
Van Burnham Jr
Madeleine Landrum-Noe
Dennis Hinson
David Barger
Harry Grubbs
Guy West
Alan Rasmussen: Jackson TN Coordinator,
63 Brackenhouse Sq, Jackson, TN 38305; (731) 664-5805; [email protected]
Dick Shaw: Publisher
2396 Eastwood Av., Memphis, TN 38112; (901) 323-8520; [email protected]
Phil Slaughter: Ombudsman
11190 Hwy. 100, Toone, TN 38381, 901-658-7968, [email protected]
Dave Stevens : Membership, WebMensor
5720 Integrity Dr., Millington, TN 38055-6510, 901-840-3864, [email protected]
Joyce Townsend: Arkansas Coordinator
1903 Metzler Lane, Jonesboro, AR 72401-5071, (870)268-8865, [email protected]
-2-
-11-
View from a Southern Porch
Mike Seigler
RVC Region 5
770-423-7113 (until
about 10:30 p.m.)
[email protected]
t
How y’all doing? I hope everyone is having a happy New Year. They say
things come in threes and there are three developments that have the
potential to affect every member of American Mensa.
CultureQuest® is MARCH 28! Don’t get left out – get your teammates and
sign up now! Call Dave Stevens at 901-840-3864 or e-mail him at
[email protected].
The first of course deals with ProxyQuest. The proxy process has turned out
to be more expensive than anticipated. (That seems to happen anytime you
deal with attorneys.) AMC has budgeted $60,000 for postage, printing, legal
fees and other expenses for a final push before the Las Vegas AG. This
expense can be avoided, if 51% of the members send in their proxies by the
end of March. (You know – I’ve seen a lot of people campaign to get elected
to positions, but this is the first time I’ve seen people work to make sure they
don’t stay in office.)
Sample Culture Quest Questions
The second development concerns International Mensa. They are operating
with minimal reserves. Several of the smaller national groups are just barely
surviving and are literally have nothing to contribute towards operation of the
International Office. To make a long story short the larger national groups’
assessment is being increased.
The third concerns risk management and our ever spiraling insurance costs.
Risk management is not risk elimination. It is identifying what is an
acceptable level of risk for an organization. The AMC is working very hard to
reduce liability without changing the spirit of Mensa. Let me say for the
record that there is no intention of eliminating the SIGs, but there may be a
few more releases for people to sign, before they jump out of a plane.
American Mensa is in good financial condition with strong reserves.
However, these three developments probably mean that a dues increase will
be forthcoming in the next couple of years. You can help delay any increase
by sending in your proxy now and encouraging your friends not to wait.
(However, this would be a good time to cover your bets with a multi-year
renewal.)
One final note – the AMC meeting was held in New Orleans in conjunction
with the RG the local group was holding to practice for the 2005 AG. The
hosts did a wonderful job. Everyone had great attitudes and the food was
great. You will not want to miss their party.
1. In most versions of the Stations of the Cross, Jesus meets two women
who are named; name one such woman.
2. In the United States Constitution, what does the Seventh Amendment
concern?
3. At Alamogordo, who famously quoted the line, ‘I am become death,
destroyer of worlds.’ ?
4. Identify the famous work of literature (and the author) from the brief
synopsis provided:
a. After 18 years alone, the title character might have exclaimed, "Thank God
it's Friday!" b. With a Miller, a Carpenter and pilgrims aplenty, the author
endowed literature with perpetual glory - and perhaps the first Traveling
Salesman's story. c. Gregor Samsa awakes to find he's a bug - the
cockroach kind.
5. Vexillology is the study of what?
6. Name the man famous for inventing the mobile; he also
custom-painted a Braniff Airlines plane.
7. What are you doing if you’re doing “double Dutch”?
8. Who ran against Dwight D. Eisenhower on the Democratic ticket in 1952
and 1956?
9. Hirohito published several books and was considered an expert on
ichthyology. What does ichthyology deal with?
Answers on page 8
-10-
-3-
Gifted Children Program
During January, Mensa gifted
children visited the Children's
Museum of Memphis. Both the
kids
and
adults
enjoyed
the museum's new addition as
well as the exhibit "Pattern
Wizardry." Check your March
newsletter for our next event and
remember,
everyone
is
encouraged to attend.
Photograph courtesy of Don Preuss
NOT ALL PROBLEMS HAVE SOLUTIONS
When the frost is on the whiskers,
And the scalp is showing through;
When the face that's in your mirror doesn't seem to look like you;
When you start getting more respect than you really think you're due,
That's when something deep inside you
Just cries out to start anew.
And if you don't set your sight too high,
Reliving one's youth can be done.
But the first time around, bye the bye,
Is a helluva lot more fun.
By J. R. Dunworth
25th Annual
Arkansas Scottish Festival
th
The Financial SIG will be held on February 24 starting at 6:30 at the
Formosa
restaurant. The planned topic is: "How to make money in Real Estate? Is
this a good time?" The speaker will be announced later.
by Tom Miles
On 3/5/04, the Fox TV Network will again offer and
broadcast a nationwide "Test The Nation" program
regarding intelligence. Following the first such
broadcast months ago, Mensa gained extensive
publicity and ensuing interest from America's
general population.
National officials in Texas are now planning a follow-up testing process, as
done before, for all local chapters to offer the Mensa exam and again take
advantage of publicity. For now, all Proctors and caring members should be
thinking ahead in preparation for the broadcast. It's an excellent opportunity
to promote Mensa and to acquire new members!
th
The 25
Annual Arkansas Scottish
festival will be held in Batesville, AR on
rd
th
April 23 – 25 . We thought it might be
fun to get a group together and make the
trip. The festival usually brings in more
than 5,000 visitors during the three-day period and there’s a variety of
activities available. Pipe bands, drumming competition and Highland dancing
goes on throughout the festival, and there are food vendors with every type
of Scottish food imaginable for you to sample. Games, storytelling, and
sheepdog demonstrations are just a few of the children’s activities that are
available.
If enough people are interested, we can reserve some rooms in Batesville
and make it a weekend blast. For more information or to be put on the
attendee list, contact Dial Bowen at 901.725.0045 or Trisha Ely at
[email protected].
Proctors? Caring members? To arms! Let's start planning NOW to have
Memphis offer Mensa testing at multiple sites and odd dates/times within the
30-day period after the TV broadcast! Please!
-4-
-9-
February
Meeting Information
by David Stowell
Our February speaker, John
Vergos, is well known in the
Memphis community. He was
a leader in stopping the sale of Shelby Farms, one of the first to
build much-needed residential housing downtown Memphis in
1976 and has served on the city council for the past eight years.
John is a graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas,
Texas and of the University of Memphis law school. He has
practiced law in the Memphis area for over 15 years. Hs is coowner of the Rendezvous restaurant and president of the
Rendezvous Shipping Company.
In light of the recent newspaper articles of questionable
spending by the city of Memphis, Dr. Vergos’ topic is extremely
relevant, “Memphis Fiscal Matters”. He will cover the “ins and
outs” of the City Council with special emphasis on the Memphis
budget process and its implications for our community's future
and well-being. Bring those questions about Memphis that you
really wanted to know but didn't know where/whom to ask.
Since Boscos will be closed completely on our next meeting date, we have
had a search for a new, temporary location. The February monthly meeting
will be at Neils, 1827 Madison Ave. Neils has a mid-town tavern
appearance and an enclosed back room where we will meet. This used to
be a regular place for the M-M monthly meetings, some unknown number of
years ago. So, back to the past for the month of February.
CULTURE QUEST ANSWERS:
(1) Veronica or Mary, (2) trial by jury, (3)Oppenheimer, (4) a. Defoe,
Robinson Crusoe b. Chaucer, Canterbury Tales c. Kafka, Metamorphosis,
(5) Flags, (6) Calder, (7) Jumping rope, (8) Stevenson, (9) Fish
The next Strategic
Planning Session will
be held on Saturday,
January 31 at the
Collierville
Library
from 10 AM to 2 PM.
Lunch
will
be
provided. The major
topics will include: (a). handover of materials and insights from the old
ExComm members to the new ones. Since we have a healthy 3/5
turnover in our board, this is an important mechanism for getting the
newcomers started well. Other items that might be discussed include:
newsletter editor - either we find one or we deal with alternatives;
such as on-lines notices only or mailing a stripped down newsletter
infrequently. (b). Expanded phone communications with our members
and ways of accomplishing this. (c). Finding people for our present
list of non-elected offices, eliminating inactive offices, or, adding and
changing some of our offices (e.g. Office of the Party Maker?; revive
the office of Greeter etc). All ideas and participants are welcome.
Directions: Take Poplar Avenue East into Collerville. Poplar View is
on the left at a stoplight; on the right is Shillings Farm Rd. Go left onto
Poplar View Parkway from Poplar; go down about 2 blocks to a 4-way
stop. The library is across that intersection on the left. 501 Poplar
View Parkway, Collierville (853-2333)
Silent Auction
After many years of faithful service, the old MM copy machine is being
retired. You can give this machine a good home and a purpose in life, while
helping the local group fund.
This is a Mita DC-1755 (age unknown). Inspections can be arranged by
contacting Dick Shaw at [email protected] 901.323.8520. Send
your bid, along with your name, address & phone number to: Brent Milton,
2000 Bailey Woods Dr. S, Apt 102, Collierville, TN 38017.
th
All bids must be received by Wednesday, Feb. 25 . The winner will be
notified and will have ten-days to pick-up “Old Faithful”.
5-
-8-
SUN
MON
2
1
TUE
WED
3
4
THU
5
FRI
6
SAT
7
-Temperance
--I2DG
8
9
15
16
22
23
10
--Monthly Mtg.
17
11
12
--ExComm Mtg.
18
24
--Financial SIG
25
--FSM
13
-Temperance
19
--Newsletter
Deadline
20
-Temperance
21
-- I2DG
26
27
-Temperance
28
-- I2DG
--MMLD
Feb. 19th
Deadline
(Thu) Newsletter
Feb. 20th (Fri.) 5:30 pm:
Temperance; (see Fri., Feb. 6th )
Feb. 21st (Sat) 7:00 p.m.:
Informal In-Depth Discussion
Group (I2DG). (See Feb. 7th )
Feb. 24th (Tue) 6:30 pm:
Financial SIG at Formosa
Restaurant, 6685 Quince Ave.
See page four for additional
details.
--Deadline
Silent Auction
February 2004
29
14
-- I2DG
Feb. 14th (Sat) 7:00 p.m.:
Informal In-Depth Discussion
Group (I2DG). (See Feb. 7th )
Feb. 25th [Wed] Silent Auction
th
Feb 6 (Fri.) 5:30 pm: Temperance; meet at the Cockeyed Camel
(683-4056), located on westbound Poplar, just east of I-240.
Conversation and Friday let-down? Let-up?? S,A
Deadline
Feb. 7th (Sat) 7:00 p.m.: Informal In-Depth Discussion Group (I2DG).
This group meets every Saturday night at McAllister’s Deli. Contact
Aimee Sufka at 624-5557.
Feb. 25th (Wed) 6:00 pm.: FSM Party at Dick Shaw's house, 2396
Eastwood Ave, phone 323-8520. Pizza and soft drinks will be
available. Directions: Go to the Firehouse on E. Parkway in Overton
Park. Directly across Parkway from the firehouse door is Eastwood
Ave, which is only one block long. Dick's house will be on the left.
Feb. 10th (Tue) 6:30 pm: Monthly meeting at Neils Restaurant, 1827
Madison Ave, phone 278-6345. It is less than a mile from Boscos
(previous meeting location) and, heading west on Madison, is on the
left hand side of the street. Neils has a mid-town tavern appearance
and an enclosed back room where we will meet. See page 8 for
speaker information.
Feb 26th (Thu) 7:00-9:00 pm: MMLD Group, 8225 Hampton Wood
Cove; phone 624-5557 (home) or 523-5051 (work). The February
discussion will be on The Da Vinci Code by Dan BrownThe March
discussion will be on The Plague by Albert Camus. Directions: Take
Gtown Pkwy north to Cordova Rd. Turn right then turn left onto
Garden Willow and then left onto Hampton Wood Cove. OS, C
Feb. 11th Wed.) 6 p.m.: ExCom Meeting at Perkins restaurant, 1340
S. Germantown Road in Germantown; phone 759-5938. All members
in good standing are welcome to join.
Feb. 27th (Fri.) 5:30 pm: Temperance; (see Fri., Feb. 6th )
Feb. 13th (Fri.) 5:30 pm: Temperance; (see Fri., Feb. 6th )
-6-
Feb. 28th (Sat) 7:00 p.m.: Informal In-Depth Discussion Group (I2DG).
(See Feb. 7th )
-7-