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Newsletter 1
MAINESCENE Volume 5, Issue 4 Fall 2014
From the LocSec Anne W. Allen
I have been really busy with Mensa lately. Besides the regular stuff like making sure we have quarterly meetings and newsletters, there was the Annual Gathering in Boston – where I took my grandson as a guest. Of course he really only cared about the Games, but he loved the dining out also. Now we have an election cycle, and we are putting in a bid to Host a National Event – Mind Games – in 2016. That requires a lot of figuring as to what is the best location and hotel. And how can we make our bid better than anyone else’s so we get it. Also in my mind is National Testing Day in October . You do know we only have TWO PROCTORS in Maine, right? We really need help in this area. Really. If we have a bunch of you interested and qualified, we can get you certified in October. Easy peasy. Contact Nicole Bissonnette for more information. There have been some great rumblings across the country about the need for more of us members to get involved in the National arena of Mensa – providing more feed-back on what we like, what we need, and importantly – what we are willing to pay for. I have been a long time advocate that our dues need to be as low as possible. Raise after raise without increased value makes no sense to me, nor to your ExComm. In 2011 we wrote a letter to National in regards to this. We do feel your pain personally and know that we as a group will act on your behalf to try and keep the dues as low as possible.
The Newsletter of Maine Mensa
Nominating Committee Named We have appointed a Nominating Committee otherwise known as NomComm: Pat Washburn, Chair; Kevin Tremblay and Jo Duhaime as members. They will make sure we have candidates for all seats on this year’s election cycle. If you would like to run for one of the
elected seats, contact Pat Washburn for more information: [email protected].
Half Price Testing in October! $20.00! Have friends you think ‘have the right stuff’? This is a tremendous opportunity. Usually priced at $40.00 for the two qualifying tests, October is Mensa Testing Month and so the special rate!. Get a bunch of people together (more than 4) and we will make sure a Proctor makes it to your area!
Do you have a fact of interest, an article, an anecdote, puzzle,
or game you would like to share and would like to appear on
MaineScene? Send an email to the editor, Rob Lagos,
Newsletter 2
Executive Committee
LocSec Anne W. Allen (207) 577-6362
Asst LocSec & Sight Coordinator Susan Flaherty (207) 210-0657 [email protected]
Treasurer Gerald Nessmann (207) 564-7875 [email protected]
Publications & Editor Robert S. Lagos (207) 846-3063
Program Chair Jim Sloan (207) 807-8594
Testing Chair Nicole Bissonnette (207) 272-5870 [email protected]
At Large & Membership Coordinator Leona Morgan (207) 710-9072 [email protected]
Ombudsman Kate Masters (207) 233-5222 [email protected]
Region 1 RVC Andrew Heffeman (518) 788-0019 [email protected]
A DAY at the LABYRINTH by Rob Lagos
A fun day was spent, on August 2, at the home of Kevin Tremblay, in Ripley, featuring his newly dedicated Labyrinth, made with posts, bricks, rocks, and various kinds of stones, in the midst of his garden. Most of us took the experience of walking the labyrinth, taking a stone, walking through the labyrinth, placing on the post, and walking back out. The labyrinth is an ancient spiritual symbol which relates to wholeness. It represents a journey to our own center and back again out into the world. It has long been used as meditation and prayer tools. A labyrinth is different from a maze in that it is unicursal - one way in and one way out. A maze is a puzzle which one must solve in order to get out. One could say a labyrinth is for finding one's way, and a maze is for losing one's way.
There was also much food, barbeque, music, talk, and a few of us went on to Moosehead Lake and took a ferry to Mount Kineo for a strenuous 3-hour hike up the Indian Trail. The weather was mostly great and it was a real Maine summer outing!
A DAY at the LABYRINTH (continued) Some pictures: (There were about 10-15 people who attended, but only Kevin's cat was proven here not to be camera-shy.)
Newsletter 3
CA L E N D A R O F EV E N T S F A L L 2 0 1 4
MONTHLY TRIVIA NIGHTS:
Jimmy the Greek’s in South Portland Last Tuesday of Every Month, 7:30 - 10:00 PM Next event: September 30, 2014 Hosts: Anne Allen & Susan Flaherty
Paddy Murphy's Irish Pub, Bangor, Maine Second Wednesday of Every Month, 8:30 - 11:00 PM Next event: October 8, 2014 Host: Gerald Nessmann, (207) 564-7875
Pedro O'Hara's, Brunswick, Maine First Thursday of Every Month, 7:30 - 10:00 PM Trivia starts at 8pm, each person pays $2.00 to play. Next event: October 2, 2014 Host: Anne Allen, (207) 577-6362
Super Tuesday at the Nickelodeon, Portland, Maine First Tuesday Evening of Every Month $5 Movie! Time and movie announced the week before each event. Next event: October 7, 2014 Host: Jim Sloan, (207) 807-8594
MONTHLY DINE-AROUNDS:
Downeast Maine Mensa Dine-Arounds Fourth Thursday of Every Month, 6:00 - 8:00 PM Inquire for details; restaurants in the Ellsworth area which will vary in food, ambience, and price. Contact Steve Weinreich and Linda Hayward at [email protected] to be placed on email list.
Next event: September 25, 2014: Union River Lobster Pot, 8 South Street, Ellsworth, ME.
M & I Dinner 2014 Mensa, Intertel and I.S.P.E. Dinner Great (Oriental) Buffet, 4th Fridays of the Month Newington, NH RSVP Host Walter Wakefield (603) 436-7250
OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS:
Unwine with Maine Mensa Tuesday, September 16, 5:00 PM MJ's Wine Bar, 1 City Center, Portland, ME. (continued above)
C A L E N D A R O F EV E N T S (continued)
Join us at MJ's Wine Bar for happy hour. We will sample some wine and enjoy some snacks. Contact Sue Flaherty, (207) 210-0657.
Mensa at the Woodford's Club Friday, September 26, 6:15 PM 170 Woodfords St., Portland, ME. Dinner is $12 and includes a performance by the Wicked Good band. Reservations must be made by the Wednesday before the event: Call 772-4893. For questions contact Sue Flaherty, (207) 210-0657.
New Member Dinner Sunday, September 28, 12:30 PM Hollywood Casino, Bangor, ME. This is one of the perks of joining Maine Mensa - or moving in! New members get a FREE MEAL and get to bring a friend also. We love our new members and love to meet them. Contact: Anne Allen, (207) 577-6362
Mensa Bowling Sunday, September 28, 8:00 PM Sparetime Bowling - 867 Riverside St., Portland, ME. Join us for a fun night of bowling. It is just $10 for 2 hours plus shoes. Contact Sue Flaherty, (207) 210-0657.
First Friday Artwalk / Dinner, Dimillo's Friday, October 3, 5:30 PM We will meet at the Merrill Auditorium in Portland at 5:30 to see the recently refurbished Kotzschmar Organ. We will go on a quick art-walk afterward and expect to be at Dimillo's 6:30 or 7:00 PM. Contact Kevin Tremblay, (207) 924-6600.
2nd Annual Costumed Board Game Night Friday, October 31, 2014, 6:00 PM 18 Smithwheel Rd., Old Orchard Beach, ME. Back by popular demand. Leona is hosting a second annual costume party and board game night at her house! Food, drink, and games will be provided but feel free to bring anything you like. Host: Leona Morgan, (207) 710-9072.
AREA COORDINATORS
MID-MAINE (Lewiston/Brunswick) Anne Allen [email protected] (207) 577-6362
GREATER PORTLAND Susan Flaherty [email protected] (207) 210-0657 BANGOR & SOUTHERN MAINE Vacant
Newsletter 4
Activity at Maine Mensa Events Summer 2014 - Some Pictures
Games Night at Kate's
Sue's Pool Party
Maine Mensa Events - Some Pictures (continued)
The End Result of a Boggle Game at Sue's Pool Party
On the Casablanca Cruise (Portland):
Newsletter 5
You've Joined Mensa, Now What? by Rob Salkin
So, you've joined Mensa. You might have even attended a local event. Maybe a dinner, games night, lecture, or picnic in a park somewhere. Maybe you had a great time...or not. Local events can be and usually are great, but it largely depends on how many and which people decided to show up that day/night. If you haven't attended a Regional Gathering (RG) or the Annual Gathering (AG), you have yet to experience the full awesomeness of the Mensa experience. An RG takes place over a weekend at a hotel with convention space reserved for us. Anywhere from a few dozen to a few hundred Mensans and their guests will be in attendance. There likely will be engaging lectures, fun games to play, snacks and drinks to enjoy, and plenty of opportunity to socialize with your new friends. Some RGs even offer leadership training that could be applicable to your work/home life in addition to Mensa. Unless otherwise specified, significant others and kids are welcome to register and attend with a Mensan. Daytime events are usually family-friendly. Evening events may be adults-only. The RG committee usually negotiates a special discount hotel overnight rate for attendees. Staying at the event hotel is entirely optional. However, many locals stay in the hotel even if their home is only a few miles away. The action, as well as imbibing tasty adult beverages, can go quite late. It's far easier to get to a room upstairs while sleepy than it is to get home. If you don't have the whole weekend to spare, day rates are often available. I'm happy to note that I've seen quite a few people who decided they'd test out the RG on Saturday wish they arrived on Friday and booked a hotel room for the weekend. They can't go back in time, but they know better for the next time around!
You've Joined Mensa .. (continued)
Volunteers organize and run RGs. Consider volunteering for a couple hours before, during, or after the event, especially if you're a shy person. You'll get a great sense of accomplishment for helping to pull off a great event and you'll form bonds with the people you worked alongside. Pro tip: The best way to meet the most people in the shortest amount of time is to help with registration. People will have to meet you in order to get into the event! If you want to kickstart or restart your Mensa experience, spending a weekend at an RG is an awesome way to do it. Here are the remaining RGs in 2014 in Region 1:
*First weekend in October (Yom Kippur) - Welcome to the Renaissance in Mystic, CT: https://www.facebook.com/events/293774434113811/ *First weekend in November (Halloween) - Wicked Good in Dedham, MA: http://bostonmensa.org/rg/
Mensa's premier event is the AG. It was in Boston over the 4th of July holiday week/end. Your new friends are waiting to meet you! See you soon! --- Robert Salkin, J.D., M.B.A., M.S. (917) 204-3995 ================================== Rob Salkin is a Mensa life member and is the Co-Chair of RechaRGe in Albany, NY which is held annually over the Labor Day long weekend. ==================================
Newsletter 6
More puzzlers by Rob Lagos
1. A boat leaves the dock, travels at a constant speed of 20 mph across a river with no current, up to a certain point, turns around, and goes back the same way. The next day, the river has a current going at constant speed in one direction. The boat makes the same trip at the same speed but relative to the water, and directly with or against the current. Will the second trip take more time or less time, or the same, as the first trip, when there was no current?
2. I just made a cup of coffee when I realized I had to run upstairs for a moment. I did not want the coffee to get cold, and I had to add milk at room temperature. Should I add the milk before I go up or after I get back? 3. I have a glass of exactly 8 ounces of pure liquid A and another glass of exactly 8 ounces of pure liquid B. I take exactly one measure teaspoon of liquid A and dump it into liquid B and mix perfectly. After this, I take exactly one measure teaspoon of liquid B and dump it into liquid A and mix perfectly. After this, which is higher, the purity of A or the purity of B - or are they the same purity? Assume that liquids A and B are completely different, and that they don't chemically react. Answers at bottom right of page.
A side of math: some great test answers
The above is from the series "F in Exams: The Very Best Totally Wrong Test Answers" by Richard Benson
A letter:
Dear Algebra,
Please stop asking us to find your X.
Your X is not coming back and we don't know Y.
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Newsletter 7
RVC Chat by Andrew Heffernan
This year I spent Labour Day weekend with friends and
family at the 4th Regional Gathering called
RechaRGe. It was an opportunity to celebrate our volunteers. During the opening ceremonies for the
gathering I had the great pleasure to fulfill one of my
rarely used privileges as the Regional Vice Chair: the privilege of formally awarding members for their
outstanding service to the organization and its values.
While every volunteer that supports Mensa is valued, these members are being honored specifically for their
demonstration of leadership and excellence in supporting
the regional growth of Mensa in the Northeastern United States.
The following members are presented with the American Mensa Regional Service Award:
Leo Kellogg - Mensa of Northeastern New York
Judy Keating - Mensa of Northeastern New York Harry Ringermacher - Mensa of Northeastern New
York
Dean Howard - Mensa of Northeastern New York Phil Baun - Boston Mensa
Mark and Elizabeth Becker - New Hampshire Mensa
Emily Gordon - Greater New York Mensa Blakeney Bartlett - Vermont Mensa
Barb Holstein - Connecticut and Western
Massachusetts Mensa
Bill Zigo - Mid Hudson Mensa Lori and Ron Norris - Rhode Island Mensa
Thank you, Andrew Heffernan
Regional Vice Chair [email protected]
Maine Mensa Ex-Comm Meeting
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Type of meeting: Executive Committee Meeting The meeting was held at the home of Kevin Tremblay, 220 Chandler Road, Ripley, Maine. Officers present: Anne Allen (LocSec); Gerald Nessmann (Treasurer); Robert S. Lagos (Acting Editor and Publications Officer); Jim Sloan (Program Chair); Kathryn Masters (Ombudsman).
Maine Mensa Ex-Comm Meeting (continued) Minutes recorded by Robert Lagos. The meeting was called to order at 2:18 pm. Old Business.
The minutes to the last meeting of June 1, 2014 were approved. New Business.
New member dinners: Anne brought up that there will again be new member dinners, planned for September. Because National was unable to provide us a new-member list last year, those new members (who were new within the last two years) who could not make it will be invited again this year. Jim offered to act as the host for those in the southern Maine part, and Anne will act as the host for members in the northern part, which includes the Bangor area and north of Bangor. Proctoring: Anne went to the talk at the Boston AG on proctoring. Due to the tightened rules, now, there only exist 274 proctors in the 130 Mensa groups nationally. To maintain proctorship, it is necessary to test at least once within a 2 year period. Otherwise, it is necessary to go through the training process all over again. A rule which will be more rigorously enforced is that the test cannot be discussed with anyone who has not yet taken it. Becoming a proctor is easier now because it is possible to take a webinar course. Maine Mensa also gets a $25 bonus from National if we have one test within the month. Local group award: Maine Mensa won the Emerald award for Group Size IV, 100 to 199 members. Points are awarded for different activities, events, testing, member retention, and reports, among other things. Kat Masters volunteered to keep track of our points this year to maximize our award for next year.
Mind Games 2016: Anne is looking to submit a bidding packet to have Mind Games in Portland in 2016. She has been looking into different hotels for Mind Games 2016 in Portland. The Westin Hotel, which is a luxury hotel, is a good prospect, at $129/night. Other possibilities are still being weighed. A Mind Games Committee was formed. Anne offered to chair. Steve Weinreich offered to be in the committee. Sue will also be on the committee. Jim and Kat would like participatory roles as active members of the Portland area and game enthusiasts. Kat will act as a "creative consultant". Gerald offered to act as a treasurer. Robert will solicit event attendance. Anne will also talk to Kavi Montanaro, in regards to his participation since he attended Mind Games in 2014 in Austin TX. The bid will be submitted in the fall. A motion was made to accept the above plans for forming the committee and submitting the bidding. It was accepted. Anne and Sue plan to go to Mind Games in San Diego in 2015. Meeting was adjourned at 2:41 pm.
Newsletter 8
American Mensa, Ltd.
1229 Corporate Drive West
Arlington, Texas 76006-6103
STAMP
REQUIRED
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED Mailing Address
Street Number and Name
City, State 98765-4321
Maine Mensa
PO Box 184
Topsham, Maine 04086
Phone (207) 557-6362
Mensa is an international organization of
people with an IQ at or above the 98th percentile.
Mensa provides a forum for intellectual exchange
among members. Its activities include the exchange of
ideas by lectures, discussions, journals, special-interest
groups, and local, regional, national, and international
gatherings. Mensa does not hold any opinions, or have,
or express, any political or religious views. Opinions
expressed herein are those of the individual contributors
and of the editor and not of American Mensa Ltd or of
Maine Mensa. For more information go to the web site:
http:// www.us.mensa.org. The MaineScene is a free
publication for members of Maine Mensa #01/040.
Maine Mensa on the Web
Visit our web pages, and drop us a line!
Regional page: Region1.us.mensa.org
Maine Mensa page: maine.us.mensa.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MaineMensa
National Web Site: www.us.mensa.org
