The Official Newsletter of South Coast Mensa © South Coast Mensa, 2018

www.southcoast.us.mensa.org

https://www.facebook.com/southcoastmensa

Region 5 Chapter 365

September 2018

By all these lovely tokens

September days are here,

With summer's best of weather

And autumn's best of cheer.

-Helen Hunt Jackson

South Coast Mensa Wins Award!

. . . Or did we?

South Coast Mensa has won several Jewel Awards over the past several years. In

2014 we won the Emerald Award. In 2015 we stepped up to the Sapphire Award.

Then in 2016 and 2017 we were awarded the Ruby, the highest of the three. For

2018 we did not win any Jewel awards, but the American Mensa website listed us

as the winners of the Prolific Owl Award. The increase in our membership can be

directly linked to our officers (Donna, Dan, and Trey) for providing such good

leadership, inviting guests, scheduling great speakers, and talking up Mensa.

There is also a strong link with our proctors (Leslie and Bunny) who test and

encourage prospective members to join. Another key ingredient is our website

maintained by Al and our Facebook page managed by Trey. You are the other

important link in this chain. You remain a member. Many of you attend meetings

and encourage others to join Mensa or join you at a meeting. Thank you for

making South Coast Mensa so great and congratulations fellow South Coast

Mensans!

Here's what I found on the American Mensa website:

But here’s what I found in the August edition of the Mensa Bulletin:

So, I called Becky Folger at American Mensa. She said she would look into it.

Then, after contacting Becky, the American Mensa website changed to this:

As of 8/24/118 have not heard back from Becky.

Mensa Scholarship Program

We just honored our three scholarship winners in August, and now it’s time to

begin the process all over again. This year’s scholarship chairperson is Debbie

Hanson. Any one can apply for the many scholarships that American Mensa

awards.

The Mensa Foundation's College Scholarship Program

The scholarship application process is open Sept. 15 - Jan. 15.

The U.S. scholarship program covers all of the country and awards more than $100,000 every year. The Foundation's U.S. scholarship program relies on approximately 450 volunteers around the country with support from the Foundation's office staff. U.S. applicants need not be Mensa members. However, Mensa members may apply for both these scholarship programs and the additional Mensa Member Award Program.

September Super Lecture speaker will tell us all we’ve ever wanted to know about bugs in our seafood

For example, his tests after the oil spill revealed. . . (you’ll have to read the article)

by Dan Hanson Ass’t LocSec Our September Super Lecture speaker -- Captain William “Bill” Burkhardt III, Ph.D. – will fill us in on the very interesting subject of the sanity of oysters. Considering how significant oysters and their sanity – Sanitary? Not Sanity? Sanitary? Oops. Sorry, y’all. Dr. Burkhardt has extensively investigated microbial contaminants in estuarine waters and their impact on the sanitary quality of shellfish. He’s such an expert on the enteric virus and molluscan shellfish interaction that he’s invented things. In case you wondered, enteric viruses are the commonest cause of gastroenteritis worldwide. That’s inflammation of the stomach or intestines, which leads to diarrhea and vomiting -- in other words, the stomach bug. It was much in the news a few months back when more than 100 people came down with it at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Roughly 685 million other people came down with it during the prior 12 months and the same number come down with it each year. Worldwide. I’m pretty sure we don’t have any problems like that in our pristine Mobile Bay area, but just for the fun of it, you can ask him.

The captain is director of FDA’s Division of Seafood Science and Technology at the Gulf Coast Seafood Laboratory located on Dauphin Island. He’s also the Acting Deputy Director for FDA’s Office of Food Safety. This means he provides direction and oversight to most of FDA’s research, investigating the occurrence and distribution of autochthonous -- vibrio and toxic algae, in case you were wondering -- and both biological and chemical anthropogenic contaminants in seafood. The studies provide scientific support for FDA food-safety policies associated with molluscan shellfish – oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops. They also led him to an assay that received patent protection and is commercially distributed worldwide. Doctor-Captain Burkhardt – I’ll explain that in a minute -- co-authored over 30 peer reviewed journal articles, three book chapters, two enteric virus risk assessments, and sixty-six scientific abstracts describing enteric virus and shellfish interaction, including the environmental stability of enteric viruses . . . and, I might add, “the efficacy of wastewater treatment technologies to reduce these pathogens in wastewater.” The Captain began his professional career at the U.S. FDA Facility in Davisville, RI in 1987 and earned his Ph.D. in Microbiology at the University of Rhode Island in 1991. In 1993, he was commissioned a lieutenant in the USPHS in the Corps Scientist Category. That’s the United States Public Health Service, one of the seven uniformed services in the United States. Did you know that? The US has seven uniformed services: Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Oceanic Atmospheric Agency, and . . . that’s right: the Public Health Service. Today Dr. Burkhardt’s a captain. Naturally, then, he was involved in the oil spill studies. Among other things he geared up for the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo. “We set up a mobile laboratory in our parking lot,” he reported, “and together we tested samples that fishermen brought in, working round-the-clock for two weeks.” When all was done, “we were able to assure the fishermen that there was no oil or dispersants in their fish.” He’s done that and much more, and he’ll fill us in at our September 21 Supper Lecture. We meet at China Doll in Mobile, near the intersection of Airport and I-65. Pinebrook Shopping Center: 3966 Airport Boulevard. 6:30 p.m.

Monthly Mensa Lecture Series Friday, September 21, 6:30 PM

China Doll Restaurant 3966 Airport Blvd. Mobile, AL 36608

http://www.chinadollmobileal.com/

Second Saturday Meet to Eat

Those who missed Kraver's today missed some great company, some good food,

and generally a GREAT time. Thanks to Gary for suggesting this place. We will be

back. We had the privilege and pleasure of meeting Leon Maisel from Montrose

and his lovely lady friend Lynne. Although he has been a member for some 15

years, this was his first visit with this group. Welcome, Leon, and we hope you

will come back. Jean Golden arrived with pix from her recent trip to Ireland; Leon

is in the tourism business. So of course, this led to discussions about traveling. As

an experienced seamstress, I noticed the way Leon's buttons were sewn onto his

shirt. Well, seems said shirt was purchased in Argentina. Delta lost his luggage on

a trip, so gave him $300 to go buy some more clothing; and that shirt was one of

his purchases. George and his family showed up again after being absent for a

while. He has been growing food, which he brought and shared with us. The

bounty includes pears and eggplant. Haven't had pears in forever; can't

remember the last time I made eggplant. I am looking forward to it. Good to

have you back, George. For next month: Logan's Roadhouse located at Springdale

Mall on the east I-65 service road. GREAT steaks, and PEANUTS!!!!! Looking

forward to it. Just remember to call me or email me by 9 PM on Friday,

September 7, so I will know how large a table to request. ebunnyw@webtv.net or

251/776-6657. Take care, all and TRY to stay cool. EBW

Second Saturday Meet to Eat

Saturday, September 8, 11:00 AM

Logan’s Roadhouse

3250 Airport Blvd.

Mobile, AL 36606

Our August Meeting Had Everything

What do you get when you

combine an excellent speaker, three

scholarship winners, good food and

good company? You get an

outstanding night with a big,

enthusiastic crowd. What a great

night. We had 26 people in

attendance to hear Judge Wanda

Rahman speak and to honor our three

scholarship winners. Wanda said that

because of modern technology and the

news media we are overloaded with

news, and often it is bad news with

only a few titillating sound bites. She

started her career in the D.A.s office.

Wanda said that she did it all, from

dog cases to drug trafficking to murder

cases. Now she serves as the legal

advocate for police officers as the

Police Attorney. She has to pour through current laws and teach officers

those rules and laws. Sadly, Wanda pointed out that the starting salary for

officers is $28,000 or $30,000 with a degree. Officers work 12-hour shifts

and have only one officer in each patrol car, due to lack of funding. She

painted a vivid picture of what officers go through on a daily basis.

Our three scholarship winners (Latisha Fann, Wilson Bullington,

and Karen Peterson) are pictured with their certificates and Mensa

mugs. They will receive their scholarship money from the national office. I

learned that Wilson was the Valedictorian at Fairhope High School this

year.

News from the Recruiting Front: Hello Y'All! We, at South coast Mensa, hope you are getting over the Back-To-School season and preparing for the Fall season!!! Fall, or as I prefer to call it, Autumn promises beautiful colors, refreshing temperatures and great expectations for the Holidays to come! As part of that expectations of all good things coming our way, we would like to remind you that our next testing session will be in October, which is NATIONAL TESTING MONTH! Saturday, October 20, 2018, at 10:00 AM. (Please be there at least 15 minutes earlier.) Bunny will be waiting for all those interested at: Moorer Spring Hill Library Mobile Public Library - Moorer Branch 4 McGregor Ave S Mobile, AL 36608 Please share this information with family and friends!! Remember, if you are a Mensan, there is a high probability that you are surrounded by exceptional people! Being extraordinary runs in families!!! In addition to that, there are a few promotions that all new prospects can take advantage of: - September: Mensa Practice Test - $9.99 - October: Supervised Testing - $30 (Mensa Membership Month, regular price is $60) - Oct. 23: Mensa Practice Test - $10.23 (Mole Day promotion, extra excellent if the person is a chemist!) - November: Discounted Prior Evidence Review - $30 All details for these promotions can be found at the American Mensa website (us.mensa.org) After that, the next session will be in December on the Baldwin County side. Do not hesitate in contacting any of us for more details!!! Many blessings, Leslie and Bunny

Here’s a crossword puzzle from Claude Kuffskie.

Monthly Report from RVC 5, Baker Ring

615-230-6819 rvc5@us.mensa.org

In just a few short weeks, Mensa in Georgia will be hosting Peachtreat 43, “Primed for a Good Time”.

Set aside September 28- 30 for a great event. This year’s RG will explore the concept of "prime,"

including things that are primal, primary, and primitive. They are planning: two speaker/activity tracks —

plus a dedicated kid track, beer tasting, button making, chocolate orgy, Codenames mega game, cow

tipping, escape rooms, and more! Registration is $65 until Sept. 24. It becomes $70, with $75 at the door.

Room rates at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Atlanta Gwinnett Place are $96. Guaranteed until September 6.

Use the code MENO. For more information, contact Jolie Elder at: PeachtreatRG@gmail.com.

October will be Mensa Testing Month and most of our local groups conduct testing session. During

October, the cost of testing is $30. Half off the regular price! If you know someone or have a family

member who is interested in taking the test, this is the time to do it. If you’ve ever considered being a

Proctor, contact your local group’s Testing Coordinator and find out what you need to do to get certified.

We are approaching scholarship time. If you have always wondered how you can help Mensa, it’s now

your time. The Scholarship program is an important part of Mensa’s mission. More than $130,000 in

scholarships were awarded last year. There are some scholarships for members of Mensa and their

dependents. However, applicants don’t have to belong to Mensa. If your group has a scholarship chair,

you have the opportunity to get at least one local scholarship. Scholarship applications are available

September 15. You can find more information at: http://www.mensafoundation.org/what-we-

do/scholarships/

The 2019 AG, “Mensa Rising”, will take place in sunny Phoenix, AZ July 3-7. Registration is now open.

Hotel registrations will open November 1. The tours are also online. Some of the tours are going to be

sold out, so if you think you might be interested in participating in one or more of them, you need to get

on the ball. You can find more information at: https://ag.us.mensa.org/.

Before school began I was able to attend several local group events. One of those was Games Night for

Central Alabama Mensa. We had a great time and had a chance to catch up with Jan Kral, who was back

from Russia for a few weeks. We heard about her adventures while in Moscow. I also joined the fine

folks in Chattanooga for a great Sunday Brunch. There was a great crowd in attendance.

Every time that I am able to attend a local group activity, no matter which group, I always have a great

time. Most Mensans don’t attend any local group activities. If that is you, give it a try. Find an activity at

your local group – or a nearby group – and show up. I bet that you’ll have a good time and may even

make new friends.

School is back and some of you are heading off to college, whole others have an empty nest for the next

few months. Whatever your situation it, make the most of it and enjoy belonging to Mensa.

Question of the Month Mensans have a lot to say, so I’d like to hear your thoughts on the question of the month. Send

the editor an email or a snail mail with your answer to the Question of the Month. Please

include your first and last name to be printed with your response.

August Question of the Month:

What things in your home hold lots of memories? Why?

As I look around our home, it feels like almost everything has a memory or a

story attached to it. The songs on a CD evoke emotions from an earlier time.

Holding a book can remind me where and why I bought it and what it’s about.

(I bought several old poetry books from the Haunted Book Store that used to be

in downtown Mobile. They wrapped your purchases in brown paper.) Some

people move a lot and can’t take the “things” with them, but it’s not so much the

things as it is the love and the memories they hold. Here are just a few items

that evoke memories:

• My grandma’s dining room table. We had many Christmas dinners at that

table and I used to play under it as a child. I no longer fit under there.

• A small round side-table with a lion’s head drawer pull. My mom kept a

pair of scissors and newspaper articles in the drawer. The table moved

with mon and dad from home to home and now it’s in our home.

• My dad’s diamond ring. He was a man of very few possessions, so this

was an unusual purchase for him. I think mom insisted that he buy it. It

fits me perfectly.

• Old clay and porcelain pitchers from my mom and grandma.

• Red stemware from my mom and dad.

• My dad’s American flag from his funeral.

• Old photos and notes from my parents.

• Our wedding photos.

This question is hard for me, since I have things in my house that go back

to my Great Grandparents. Let me see, books, china sets, souvenirs,

games, collections and, above all, photos, all those items can (and

probably more) can be found at my home. As I have mentioned before, I

was the last of my siblings to move from Puerto Rico to the continental

USA and Mom came with me. By that moment in time all my grandparents

and my father have already departed. My mother's sister has already

moved to the continental USA too and there was going to be nobody to

look after the family properties afterward. Long story short, when we

moved here it was my stuff, my parents’ stuff and whatever additional

family heirlooms we have all decided to keep. Historical memory is a good

trait that runs in the family, so for almost any item here, we can tell you why

is here, from where it came from, who got it first, etc.... The house does

look like a small family museum. Then there are the photos and

scrapbooks....that is whole story by themselves......

Leslie Castro-Rosario

September Question of the Month: Have you visited the new park in Foley, OWA or are you planning to? (Suggested by Leslie Castro-Rosario)

Scenic Train Ride in North Georgia

One of our members, and scholarship winners, Karen Peterson, wants to share information about a scenic train ride. The photos really tell the story. Here’s the link: http://www.brscenic.com/

I mail out 21 printed newsletters in the US mail each month.

The abbreviated, printed newsletter is from 8 to 16 pages in length. Some

content is deleted each month due to space.

I email out over 100 newsletters each month.

The full newsletter contains color photos and larger fonts. It typically has

anywhere from 24 to 48 pages.

Gary Kubina, Editor

Fellow Mensans: What are you up to? What have you been doing lately?

I think your fellow Mensans would love to have a peek into your interests

and hobbies. Send me information about your activities, hobbies, and

interests. Attach photos. Let me hear from you.

(Gary Kubina’s contact information is at the end of this newsletter.)

South Coast Mensa Gets a Mention in the Lagniappe

It was a joint effort between Bunny Warsh, Dan Hanson, and Gary Kubina.

The blurb appeared in the August 15 edition of the Lagniappe on page 34.

Mensa scholarship awards

Three local students will be honored with this year’s national award at

Mensa’s monthly Lecture Series Friday, Aug. 17, 6:30 p.m. at China Doll in

Mobile, near the intersection of Airport and I-65. Former Mobile Judge

Wanda B. Rahman will be the speaker. Learn more about the scholarship

program at mensafoundation.org. Lectures are open to the public.

Read any good books lately? Why not write a review and send it to the editor for

a future issue of M-Port? Happy reading . . . and writing.

VICTORY AT YORKTOWN The Campaign That Won the Revolution

Richard M. Ketchum

--Reviewed by Stan Virden

In 1780, who’da thunk? To date the Colonial Army had won only one major victory, Saratoga, in three

years previously. Otherwise, it engaged mostly in skirmishes, winning some, losing some, as it continued

to evade traditional head-on clashes with the British Army, the finest and most experienced in the

world. At least, Saratoga gave the French incentive to be helpful, but they were difficult allies.

Washington’s forces were exhausted and thread-bare. There was a shortage of weapons and other

military equipment. There was no money. There was little food. There were no shoes. The private

soldier faced many incentives to slip away and go home. The American public was war weary, ceasing to

care who won. They just wanted the fighting to end. How could the Revolution ever succeed?

Sentiment in Britain was also tiring of the war. Long-range logistical support of their army was frightfully

expensive, especially with losses at sea from American privateers and French naval intercepts. Many in

the UK wished just to give it up and go on with life. Britain imagined there would be more Loyalist

feelings in the South, and focused on capturing control over Savannah and Charleston, essentially

collapsing organized American southern forces. Sir Banastre Tarleton’s cavalry terrorized Americans

thought to be unsupportive of the crown. Satisfied that all was well in the South, General Henry Clinton,

the overall British commander, returned to New York, leaving General Charles Cornwallis to mind the

store.

Washington sent his most able commander, General Nathanael Greene, to take over American Southern

Forces, which consisted primarily of guerilla bands. A courageous and adroit leader, Greene was unable

to retake the two major cities, but harassed Clinton in a manner that drove him unsteadily north,

incurring heavy casualties, eventually to Virginia, where he finally dug in at Yorktown to await help from

the Royal Navy. A small American force led by the Marquis de Lafayette kept him under close

observation.

Meanwhile, Washington focused his attention on recapturing New York, but his planning was indecisive.

Reinforced by 5,500 French troops recently landed at Newport RI, he pondered with Comte de

Rochambeau, who advised that New York might be too tough a nut to crack, and that Comte de Grasse

was bringing his French Fleet from the West Indies to the Chesapeake Bay to unsettle Cornwallis. De

Grasse was also transporting additional troops and 500,000 silver pesos collected from citizens of

Havana, Cuba, to fund supplies for the siege and payroll for the Continental Army. [Simultaneously,

Spanish forces, under General Bernardo Galvez, through successful attacks on Mobile and Pensacola,

were drawing off Royal Navy units to the Gulf of Mexico]. This situation was too good to pass up.

Washington and Rochambeau therefore pointed their armies toward the south, commencing a difficult

and painful forced march to Yorktown, leaving behind a small force to throw Clinton off guard by

pretending preparations for a siege of New York.

De Grasse, in September 1781, managed to engage and drive off a Royal Navy relief fleet, leaving the

way clear for him to take control of Chesapeake Bay and bottle up Cornwallis. Shortly afterward,

American and French ground forces assembled at Yorktown to put the cork in that bottle. Cornwallis

was left with no choice but to defend against siege. Through brilliant tactics and bravado, in which

Hamilton and Lafayette demonstrated heroic leadership, Cornwallis was compelled to give it up. His

band played “The World Turned Upside Down” leading over 7,000 British soldiers onto the surrender

field to lay down their arms and become POWs. An embarrassed Cornwallis feigned illness and did not

attend. The war continued in a suspended state for two more years, until the Treaty of Paris

acknowledged the United States as a free and independent nation, reaching from the Atlantic to the

Mississippi River, below Canada and above Spanish Florida.

It is interesting to compare our War for Independence with our war in Vietnam. There are many

parallels. They each lasted about the same length of time and were settled by international treaty. They

each saw a rag-tag army of partisans, having some outside support, pitched against an overseas military

force acknowledged as the best in the world, but weighted down with extended logistical lines and

tiring, hostile public sentiment and support. Would the outcome have been different if the American

leadership had studied their own history more carefully?

Richard Ketchum, a distinguished and prolific writer on the Revolutionary War, gives us a fine and lively

account, focused on Yorktown, but including the full scope of military and political factors leading to

that epic event. Along the way we become much better acquainted with “The General,” His Excellency

George Washington. It is a breathtaking narrative that needs to be well understood by anyone claiming

to be American.

In My Yard What’s in your yard? Share photos and captions. Maybe it’s your home, a pet in

the yard, a flower, a vegetable garden, kids playing, a sunset, a moonrise, or a

porch swing. Grab your camera and walk around your yard and start sharing.

George Hartley shares a photo of a Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. Georges

says, “You can see his antennae and his proboscis. He landed on the

pavement to get a drink of water.”

September Mensa Anniversaries September Birthdays Adam Brown 11th Sara Phillips 17 Bunny Warsh 43rd Bunny Warsh 18 Jan Gallo 25 Debbie Hanson 27

Treasurer’s Report from Trey Lemley

August 13, 2018 balance: $1024.71

Cook’s Corner CHOCOLATE COBBLER

from Tommie Peterson This is a simple and easy recipe that produces what I consider to be a wonderful

dessert. It is imperative that you follow the directions and never stir or mix

ingredients after adding them to the baking pan (do not even rock the pan).

INGREDIENTS:

1 stick butter

1 cup self-rising flour

¾ cup sugar (first use)

½ cup milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup sugar (second use)

¼ cup cocoa

1 ½ cups boiling water

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350°.

Put butter in 9” X 13” pan and place in 350° oven.

Mix next 4 ingredients (flour, ¾ cup sugar, milk, vanilla) and pour over melted

butter. Do not stir.

Mix the 1 cup sugar and ¼ cup cocoa; sprinkle over mixture. Do not stir.

Pour water on top. Do not stir. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes. Allow to cool about 15 minutes before serving. I suggest serving with a generous scoop of premium vanilla ice cream. Serves 12 at most folks’ homes; 6 at mine.

Wyatt's Eggplant

Wyatt's is a cafeteria in southern California where they serve wonderful eggplant; and I got the recipe - and now you do, too. 1 lb. peeled eggplant 1/2 lb. bread crumbs 1/2 can evaporated milk 1/4 cup whole milk 1/4 cup onion chopped fine 1/4 cup bell pepper chopped fine 1/4 cup celery chopped fine 1/4 cup melted butter 2 eggs slightly beaten 1 Tbsp. pimento 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. pepper 1/4 tsp. sage 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese Cut peeled eggplant into 1-inch cubes and soak in salt water overnight (minimum 6 hrs.). Drain eggplant and place in pan. Cover with water and simmer until tender. Soak breadcrumbs in milk. Sauté onion, bell pepper and celery in melted butter for about 15 minutes until tender. Combine cooked eggplant, bread crumbs and sautéed vegetables. Add eggs, pimento and seasonings and blend thoroughly. Place in 1 ½ quart greased baking dish and bake at 3500 for 45 minutes. Top with grated cheese and return to oven until cheese melts. Serves 6. Good stuff! EBW

Picture This!

Photos by Tommie Peterson

All photos are copyright protected and should not be reproduced without permission.

You may send the newsletter to friends in its entirety.

It should surprise no one that this month’s topic is “sunsets.” It does surprise me that it had not returned sooner. As is usually the case, these photos were shot from our home in Daphne. So…

The entire sky was ablaze that evening!

I believe this is called a “sun pillar,” caused by reflections from atmospheric ice crystals.

I love deeply-colored sunsets that present without any clouds. The string of lights on the horizon are from the Dog River Bridge in Mobile.

This was another cloudless sunset, from November 2011. Besides my friend you see standing on a piling, please notice the two “stars,” which are planets: Venus and Jupiter, as I recall.

The mullet were very actively jumping the evening this was shot, much to the frustration of my fisherman friend seen here.

Here you see the distant Mobile skyline and the Interstate-10 “Bayway” bridge.

I’m very fond of low-angle shots catching the reflections of the sky.

As the sun sinks slowing into the West… see you next month!

LocSec Assistant LocSec Treasurer

Donna Workman Dan Hanson Trey Lemley

donna@gulftel.com dhxtwo@yahoo.com tlemley@gmail.com

251-981-1901 251-767-0106 251-610-6587

Proctor Facebook Manager S. S. Meet to Eat

Leslie Castro-Rosario Trey Lemley Bunny Warsh

SCMensaProctor@yahoo.com tlemley@gmail.com ebunnyw@webtv.net

787-501-4289 251-610-6587 251-776-6657

Editor Mailing Coordinator Web Master

Gary Kubina Gary Kubina Al Warsh

garymath@hotmail.com garymath@hotmail.com alwarsh@webtv.net

251-633-3564 251-633-3564 251-230-5001

Second Saturday Meet to Eat

Saturday, September 8, 11:00

AM

Logan’s Roadhouse in Mobile

Mensa Monthly Meeting

Friday, September 21, 6:30 PM

China Doll in Mobile

3787 Raphael Court

Semmes, AL 36575

To:

M-Port: The Official Newsletter of South Coast Mensa

Opinions expressed in M-Port are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any other

individual or of any official Mensa body.

Mensa is an international society in which the sole requirement for qualification for membership is a score at or

above the 98th percentile on any of a number of standardized intelligence tests. Mensa is a not-for-profit

organization whose main purpose is to serve as a means of communication and assembly for its members.

“Mensa’s purposes are to identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity; to encourage

research in the nature, characteristics, and uses of intelligence; and to provide a stimulating intellectual and social

environment for its members.”

All items for publication are subject to editing except those ordered to be printed by the Board of Directors, the time and date of calendar entries, and those articles designated “print as is or not at all.” Editing will consist of correcting spelling and grammar, modifying for space, appropriateness and clarity, and determining if the material is in good taste. Any submission that is edited will not have the general meaning changed unless approved by the author. If, after negotiation, the editor and the author do not both approve the text, the submission will not be published.