Sacramento Regional Mensa
Articles 2008

JUNE

Kerr has stepped up to the plate, and has offcially accepted to perform the services of RG Chair. Leonore Proctor has also stepped up to be official Program Chair. (You go, girls-----I mean, ladies.) Indeed, for a fleeting moment, there was concern that this annual event of ours would not develop and thrive for 2008. But Naaaaaaah, we’re on it.
--------------So, the planning begins.-----------------------
With that said, I offer you the following words from Kerr. Here’s your chance to help with our annual weekend long party, and make it the best one yet! We’re in the early planning stages where we meet roughly once a month, and we’re in need of some volunteers. I’ve stepped up as RG Chair, I have Hospitality and Program Chairs, and a Site Coordinator.

We need a Registrar (you’d receive the registrations and keep track of who paid for what and how much), and a Volunteer Coordinator (find people willing to volunteer, and put them to work where they’re needed during the RG). Also, anyone willing to Seek Speakers (make contact with presenters to get them onboard with the RG program) is very much needed. If you have anyone you’d like to see/hear, and you know how to contact them, this would be a great way to help the RG along. I’m looking forward to having a great RG this year, and I hope you’ll help. Thanks! Contact me or any Board member for info. or phone (530) 647-2396

Kerr

Hear ye, hear ye:

Activities column for June 2008

Activities Coordinator: Leonore Proctor

or 916-395-7311

• Waffling is in need of a couple of more homes for rotation and a host for July. You can just volunteer your home for a one-time potluck brunch, or become part of the rotation once every 3 or 4 months.
• Coffee And... is taking a break for this month because I have to be out of town that day. Does anyone want to volunteer to be an occasional host and contact person for the monthly coffee? We’ve been having good turn-out and interesting conversations, I’d rather not have to cancel it just because I can’t be there.
• Kids or no kids, come on out to the Sacramento Zoo on the 21st. If you haven’t been there in years, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the improvements, and you never know what the monkeys will decide to do.
• Feel free to join the EBUG dine-outs. We’re exploring smaller local restaurants that we would otherwise probably not even know about. Having an Entertainment Book is not a requirement!
• There is a Games Day in Lodi and a Games Night in Dixon. Now there is the frequently regular, occasionally intermittent Sacramento Games Day. Contact Hugh Everett — , (530) 219-4793 or Tennyson Lee — , (916) 435-2211 for the secret time and location. More information is given at the end of this month’s activities calendar.

See you at dinner or in front of the monkey cage......

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by John Recht, Region 8 RVC

rvc8@us.mensa.org

Last weekend Oregon Mensa hosted 130 Mensans and their guests at a Regional Gathering, BeaveRG XI, and it was a splendid event. We had excellent food, entertaining speakers, and ample opportunity to visit with one another in pleasant and comfortable surroundings. RG Chair Michael Meagher and his committee did a terrific job, and I especially liked the program event in which a couple dozen Mensans each tried to juggle several tennis balls while the speaker explained how this was benefiting us both mentally and physically. We certainly did get a lot of exercise chasing the dropped balls around the room.

Something else about the program that I liked a lot was that there was a room for teens to gather and there were activities designed with them in mind. As I noted in my column last month, the American Mensa Committee hopes to see new resources and opportunities for participation for teens in Mensa at all levels, and the effort on the part of Oregon Mensa’s RG to involve teens in the RG was perfectly in tune with that goal. Kudos to Michael Meagher and his committee for recognizing and acting on that and for learning about what worked and what didn’t work. This will in turn allow plenty of time to act upon lessons learned in order to help plan for the 2011 AG in Portland for which Michael is the Chair.

As Oregon Mensa’s very successful RG concluded, I found myself reflecting on how well American Mensa is doing these days. Membership is up and we are within reach of setting a new all-time high this year. Across the country most of our Local Groups are going strong. Special Interest Groups, discussion groups, and Mensan subscribers to the many social networking sites are connecting on the Internet in ever-increasing numbers, and there are plenty of exciting events for members to attend at the national and local levels. The Annual Gathering in Denver in July is on its way to drawing a huge crowd, and the Mensa Foundation is sponsoring two fascinating Colloquiums in the next year. In Region 8, Northern Nevada Mensa will be hosting their first RG in Reno this October, and the other RGs in the region have all done very well; Sacramento Regional Mensa will be hosting their 25th this fall.

Hand-in-hand with all this growth comes a bushel basket of issues of concern. The future of our organization depends upon our willingness to take on these issues and resolve them in the best interests of our membership and in accordance with the values to which we subscribe as Mensa members. Just as I reflected on our success at the end of the Oregon RG, I was reminded of the many issues of concern when a longtime member criticized American Mensa’s licensing efforts, a policy that she opposes so strongly that she was willing to give up her life membership in her distaste for what she called the “prostitution” of Mensa. As the Chair of the Planning Committee I want to make sure that the AMC’s strategic planning efforts take into account the thoughtful suggestions and objections that members wish to express, and I am working actively to make sure that our members are heard and responded to; the objections raised by the longtime member who spoke to me will certainly be taken into consideration.

If you have questions or comments about the items on the national agenda that I discussed last month and this month or other items that you feel need to be attended to by the AMC and especially by the Planning Committee, I would like to hear from you. Please email me at rvc8@us.mensa.org and/or come to the meetings at the AG where strategic planning issues will be on the table. The best way to be heard is to enter the conversation, and I look forward to hearing from you. Hope to see you there!
John

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GIFTED CHILDREN’S NEWS

NATIONAL PLUS NEAR

by Genevieve Reilley

Finding appropriate reading material for gifted children can be daunting, subject to suitability and educational value. The National Wildlife Federation publishes several magazines for children geared toward an environmnental perspective. The National Wildlife Federation advocates protecting wildlife and wild places for future generations, in particular, confronting global warming.

Aside from its advocacy mission, the National Wildlife Federation publishes "Wild Animal Baby", for children ages 1 to 4 years. This magazine is geared to involve parents and toddlers in some interactive fun.

"Your Big Backyard" is intended for children ages 3 to 7. This monthly magazine is designed to start children on rudimentary reading exercises, using animals as backdrops for enjoyable activities.

"Ranger Rick" is for children ages 7 years and older. This monthly magazine compiles facts, photographs, puzzles, games, jokes and wild animal adventure stories.

For more information on these magazines, call 1-800-477-5560, contact customer service via email at wincustserv@nwf.org, or go to the website http://www.shopnwf.org/

Of local interest, Leonore Proctor encourages gifted children and adults to meet at the Crocker Art Museum on Saturday, January 5th at 2:00 pm. Gifted children and adults are also encouraged to meet at the Science Center on Saturday, January 26th at 1:30 pm. Please see the Activities Calendar in this issue for more information on these two separate events.

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

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Rod Baker, Proctor Coordinator Last month we had 625 members, this month we lost 105 members for nonpayment of dues. We gained seven new members so we now have 527 paid up members. During April I conducted two testing with six candidates. Three of the candidates qualified for Mensa. I currently have five candidates signed up for the May testing.

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June Birthdays!

John Bakos 3
Robert Chrisman 4
Susan McIntire 7
Richard Rohlfing 8
Susan Aten 9
Fred Jones 10
Norton Lehner 11
Clara Lam 11
Daniel Switlick 12
Joe Perfecto 15
Benjamin Lewis 15
Charles Myrick 15
Harold Robertson 17
Linda Luhman 18
Amanda Snell 19
Candace Garstang 19
Stephe Kershaw 21
Christopher Morita 21
John Reiger 22
Nitin Bhagwath 22
Edward Clemow 23
Cynthia Zundel 23
Richard Dunn 23
Robert Peterson 24
Paul Jones 24
Stacy Vavul 24
John Lucero 24
Eric Nakano 26
Gregg Simard 26
Clifford Dillon 26
Valerie Perry 27
Daniel Navarro 28
Dean Johnson 29
Susan Larson 30

Maxi-Food for Thought When I was younger, my Life was Loving to Work, Now that I am older & wiser, my Work is Living to LOVE. - Max

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The Biggest Little Reno Gathering: Come Play with Us!

Come play with us October 3-5, 2008, in Reno, Nevada as we kick off our very first Regional Gathering with tours you won't believe and the games that you love to win. The fabulous Silver Legacy Resort in the heart of downtown is our playground and the fun never stops.

Northern Nevada Mensa is pleased to be able to offer a look at some of the wonders and curiosities unique to this wild west location. Cruise the beautiful blue waters of Lake Tahoe amid the mountains of two states. Take a trip back in time to Mark Twain's old stomping grounds, Comstock/Virginia City. See what the inside of a brothel looks like and find out what really goes on in there... aside from the obvious.

We are happy to announce that we have been able to secure great prices on Tahoe Queen tickets and the necessary transportation. The Tahoe Queen day cruise is $55.00 each, which includes the transportation to and from the beautiful Lake Tahoe launch site, and the ticket for the cruise. The Virginia City trip is only $20.00, and the adults only Brothel tour is also an unbelievable $20.00. There are meals available at each tour location, but they are not included in the price.

The way our Master of Ceremonies for these Tours has the trip arranged, everyone will get a look at gorgeous Lake Tahoe, everyone will have a look at the outside of a brothel and everyone will get some time in Virginia City. The difference being the amount of time and level of involvement on your chosen tour. The Tahoe Queen people will get the cruise, the brothel tour will get to go inside and the Virginia City folks can wander the Comstock to their hearts content.

For the less energetic or adventurous, or for those short time frames when opportunity presents, there are guided or self tours of the National Automobile Museum and Nevada Museum of Art.

Sign up for the limited (30-40) seating Texas Hold 'em Tournament; attend classes on how to play your favorite gambling game; go on a Pub Crawl with the famous Reno Ron; listen to a wide variety of speakers on topics such as Alternative Energy, Burning Man, Electric Cars, Belly Dance, the Power of the Mind to Heal, Aboriginal Canadian Women and Challenges they face, Bicycle travel in foreign countries, and more being scheduled every day.

The Burning Man presentation and slide show is worth the registration price all by itself. Come see why thousands of people band together on the playa of Black Rock Desert every year amongst the dust and scorching heat.

Author of Plug-in Hybrids: The Cars that will Recharge America, Sherry Boschert has kindly consented to interrupt her busy schedule and travel to Reno to speak at our Gathering. Reno's own Alternative Transportation Club will be on hand to demonstrate various alternative fuel/power source vehicles.

Rather than having the Traditional Banquet and due to the abundance(22+) of fine eating establishments in this three-casino complex, we will be doing a "Dining Out" night on Saturday, with sign up sheets for those who wish to go as a group, and by doing that you will have the best choice of meals, for the best price.

Our Hospitality Suite will be open 24 hours a day and stocked with snacks and drinks of the finest variety, along with the best conversation to be found. The Suite chosen has spectacular views from the 35th floor looking out over what is sure to be splendid fall foliage surrounding the University of Nevada Reno. There will be plenty of seating for those conversations that only Mensans can get into, and room for just plain relaxing.

We have learned that REO Speedwagon is performing Friday 3 October and Bill Engvall will be doing his act on Saturday the 4th for those who wish to catch a show.

We are planning to hold a Mensa Testing session during the RG. If you have a prospective member please have them contact our Webmaster at the address below for scheduling.

We are working hard to arrange the fun, but we need YOU to Come Play With Us!

Registration is $60 until 5/31/08; June/July $75; August/September and at the door $90.

Reservations: http://www.silverlegacyreno.com/index_noflash.aspx

Room rate $99.99 SR/DR with "Mensa08" code.

* Rates quoted are for single/double occupancy. Each additional person is $10 per room, per night plus tax. Maximum four (4) people per room.

* All rates are subject to Washoe County room tax, currently at thirteen and one-half percent (13.5%), subject to change.

* All rates are subject to a $3.00 per room, per night resort fee. This resort fee provides guests with round-trip airport shuttle service 19 hours per day, both covered valet and covered self parking, and unlimited local phone calls.

Room rate guaranteed until 9/03/2008

Frequently asked questions: http://www.silverlegacyreno.com/faqs/

Northern Nevada website http://northernnevada.us.mensa.org/

You can find and print a registration form on the Northern Nevada website and send with your check (make checks payable to Northern Nevada Mensa) to:

Registrar:
Anna Wright
510 Michael Drive
Fallon, NV 89406-5726
(775)423-4694

for more information contact; Webmaster@northernnevada.us.mensa.org

RGChair@northernnevada.us.mensa.org