The Magazine of New Orleans Mensa Information and Entertainment
This month is the Olympic Games in Rio. Also in other international news, the madness of Pokemon GO has taken over.
In New Orleans, we have our festivals, even though it’s really hot this time of year. There’s Satchmo Summerfest, Coolinary, White Linen Night (which is followed by Dirty Linen Night the next weekend), and Southern Decadence.
August is the start of the Saints Pre-season, while the Zephyrs are winding down their season this month.
We’re actively working on our upcoming RG this December.
Let’s go Saints!
New Orleans Mensa is having a Regional Gathering in 2016 !
Dates: December 9 - 11, 2016
For the month of October, the cost for taking the Mensa test is only $20 instead of the usual $40.
So out in West Texas, I had to attend a formal event in a nearby large town. And “nearby” out here means 100 miles or less.
I needed a new suit and my friend recommended a tailor who would do the job, but he warned me that the tailor was a stickler for punctuality.
I set up an appointment with the tailor, and I even left the house earlier than usual. But on the way there, I was slowed down by, not one but two, road accidents. I ended up being 5 minutes late and I was hoping that would be okay.
He looked at me and said “You’re late.”
I told him about the accidents, but he was still mad at me. He told me that he didn’t know if he should do the work for someone who was late.
I said, “Come on ...”
“... cut me some slacks.”
I almost had something ready for this month, but I ran out of time. See you in September!
We have received a notice that one of our oldest members, F. Leroy Ball Jr. , has passed. He joined Mensa in 1967, and his ID number shows he was one of the first 4000 American Mensa members. I remember him very well - he could come to our events if he had someone drive him from the West Bank. We wish to convey our sympathies to his family and friends.
We are planning an arts fest to have fun and show off any talents of Mensa members at a gathering at the home of one of the Young Mensa members. There is a fully equipped music/dance studio, and tables for visual arts.
There will be other fun activities, too. Date has not been set yet. Let us know if you are interested. Contact Gerry at gward231@gmail.com .
Here’s Evan who baked cookies for us to eat during Star Wars.
This summer, our YM Sophia went to Theatre Camp at the World War II Museum.
At the end of camp, the kids put on a professional-style show produced by the Museum and the Bob and Dolores Hope Foundation. The show was “The Songs That Won the War”.
Sophia was featured as a group and solo vocalist singing and dancing to Andrews Sisters hits and others.
As I write this column, life is returning to normal following the 2016 Annual Gathering in San Diego, CA. We had 2,364 Mensans and guests gather, breaking all of our previous attendance records, including the 2006 World Gathering in Orlando, FL. The AG is a wonderful opportunity to spend a week connecting with your fellow Ms. AGs are continuing to grow, and you won’t want to miss next year’s party! Registration is now open for the 2017 Annual Gathering online at http://ag.us.mensa.org . You can also register by calling the National Office.
In between the speakers, games, and entertainment, the Annual Gathering also played host to the summer American Mensa Committee meeting. As a part of the meeting, the AMC appointed committee chairs and members for the next year. I will continue to serve as a member of the Finance & Audit Committee, Communications Committee, and Leadership Development Committee. I am also very excited to be the new chair of the Site Selection Committee. The committee and I will be working very hard in the next year to update all of the Site Selection documents that are currently hosted on the national website.
The other big news out of the AMC meeting was the selection of the sites for the 2020 and 2021 Annual Gatherings. We are spending the next 5 years bouncing around the country.
Yes, that’s right. In 2021, the Annual Gathering will be returning to Region 6 for the first time since 2013. This is obviously some time away, but Gulf Coast Mensa is very excited to be hosting, as they began discussing the possibility five years ago.
For those who are looking at a calendar a little sooner - September usually starts off with Lone Star Mensa’s Regional Gathering, held over Labor Day weekend. LoneStaRG is still happening, but this year will be held two weeks later, September 16-18, 2016. The party might be slightly shorter, but it won’t be any smaller. I encourage all of you to head to Round Rock for the weekend.
In December 2016, New Orleans Mensa will be hosting their first RG since 2012. It will be held in conjunction with the winter AMC meeting. I am thrilled that another local group in Region 6 will be showing off their excellent hospitality to my fellow AMC members. Plans for NORGY are coming together. You can find more information and registration forms at http://bit.ly/29Ke5v2.
As always, I ask that if you have any questions, concerns, or general comments, please let me know. I have created a simple online form where members can offer feedback on any topic, both by name or anonymously. You can find this form at http://tinyurl.com/AML-R6-Feedback. Of course, if you prefer, you can always contact me via email at rvc6@us.mensa.org.
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