vol. 38, issue 9 - st. louis area mensa · september,2010 vol. 38, issue 9 st. louis area mensa...
TRANSCRIPT
September,2010 Vol. 38, Issue 9
St. Louis Area Mensa Newsletter
Inside Highlights: Trivia Night Flyer ~ RG Flyer ~ Mensa Acting Studio ~ Wine Trip
Thanks to everyone for taking a month's break in August to allow MoDOT to tear up our street. This month, you'll have a chance to park on brand new asphalt! There will be no extra charge for this.
To refresh your memory, each month, we will focus on a single issue. The evening will start with a virtual guest speaker via the Technology Entertainment Design (TED) experience which provides presentations by experts from all over the world in a wide variety of areas. Each presentation is only approximately 15-20 minutes long; after that, the lively conversation begins! Of course, this is Mensa, so bring a snack to share.
The topic for September is "The World Needs All Kinds of Minds" The virtual speaker is animal behaviorist and autism activist, Temple Grandin. Dr. Grandin has designed humane handling systems for half the cattle-processing facilities in the US, and consults with the meat industry to develop animal welfare guidelines. Grandin’s books about her interior life as
an autistic person have increased the world's understanding of the condition with personal immediacy -- and with import, as rates of autism diagnosis rise.
Diagnosed with autism as a child, Grandin talks about how her mind works -- sharing
her ability to "think in pictures," which helps her solve problems that neurotypi-cal brains might miss. She makes the case that the world needs people on the autism spectrum: visual thinkers, pattern thinkers, verbal thinkers, and all kinds of smart geeky kids.
The event is on Wednesday, September
15th, at 6:30 PM, ending no later than
8:30 PM. You are invited to our home,
3392 Clemens Drive, St. Charles, 63301.
We do have a cat and a small dog, and
smoking is not allowed. Bring a snack to
share, and your comments, questions and
opinions. If you have questions or just
want to let us know you're coming,
call 636-288-1540.
I am trying to gauge the interest in SLAM
for a Scrabble Club SIG. It would be 3-4
players per board so that the games
would go quicker and beginning players
would still have fun. It would probably be
held on the first Friday of each month at
my home.
If you think you’d be interested in such a
SIG, or know of someone in Mensa who
would, let me know via email:
If I get at least half a dozen positive
responses, I may give it a go.
This Mensa tradition continues for another year: Carl Masthay will again host a fall party. These parties have always been lively. If you haven’t yet attended, try this one and have a great time.
As is customary, Mensa will provide soda and beer. The free beer will include a selection of foreign beers and domestic microbrews. Please bring a tasty snack to share and any special beverages you may require.
Carl has a large driveway with lots of space for parking. He strongly requests that guests using the driveway park at a 45-degree angle. This arrangement allows anyone to leave at any time and also
accommodates lots of cars.
The party begins at 7:00 PM, the SECOND SATURDAY, September 11, at 838 Larkin Ave. in Creve Coeur, St. Louis County. Larkin runs parallel to Spoede Road one block west of it and immediately south of Olive Blvd.
Carl Masthay: (314) 432-4231
Note: Angie Doering has approved of the cancellation of her
Game SIG on this night.
Editor’s Note: The live Periodic Table of the Elements in
Carl’s house is a must see!!
School of Thought by Barbara Kryvko Scrabble SIG, Anyone?
by Stephen Laniewski
Soirée SIG (aka: Carl’s Party) by Carl Masthay
Page 2
What a great month! There are many extra activities happening this month. First is Carl’s party on September 11. Join the fun at Carl’s! The following weekend finds Trivia Night (September 18) to earn money for the scholarship we give out each spring. Gather some friends and come have a night of fun! The next day, September 19, join us at Stone Hill Winery.
Thank you, Gary and Trudy Sudin, for hosting the fantastic barbeque in August. Great food, good company, and lots of fun was had by all.
Sally and John Breck have graciously volunteered to host the holiday party this year. Is anyone willing to host the New Year’s Eve party?
Southern Illinois Mensa is merging with SLAM. We are delighted to have them with us and look forward to meeting everyone.
The board has voted to form a committee to review and update the bylaws. If you are inter-ested in helping with this, please contact me. We will have our first meeting on October 16 before the monthly meeting. Watch for details in the October MSLaneous.
St. Louis Area Mensa is an awesome group with many activities. New ones are always
welcome, whether they are one time events or something held monthly, bimonthly, etc. As a
volunteer sponsor, the set up for a SIG or event is up to you. We do try to avoid conflicts in
scheduling whenever possible. Thank you to all our current SIG volunteers!
There is a distinct possibility that a Bright Kids event may indeed take place on September 25th. This is not official. If you would like to find out if this event is for sure taking place, please contact Laura DeWeese for more info.
Laura DeWeese:
Home: 314-729-9944
Cell 314-368-8638
The board is happy to announce that the Southern Illinois chapter is merging with St. Louis Area Mensa. We are looking forward to getting acquainted. If you live in the Southern IL area and would like to be an Area Coordinator, please contact Jackie at 636.386.3113 or [email protected]. As Area Coordinator, you might set up an occasional event in your area and send the information in to the MSLaneous. You could also just give Jackie suggestions, and she can set up an event.
Since September 2008, Mensans in the area of Paducah, Kentucky have been gathering for
dinners and discussions on the third Tuesday of each month. The next gathering will be on
August 17, at the Olive Garden Restaurant across from Kentucky Oaks Mall. For more
details, write to Charles Rawlings, whose email address is [email protected].
The Paducah group started because of the more than 100 miles to cities with established
groups: Evansville, St. Louis, and Nashville. The biggest difficulty in getting started was in
obtaining the names and contact information of Mensans living within a 70-mile radius of
Paducah.
Of special concern are Mensans within 70 miles of Paducah who allowed their memberships
to lapse because they felt isolated, living so far from cities with Mensa activities. The names
of those former Mensans are not available from the national office. If you can help in identi-
fying those former members, please let the Paducah group know.
Editor’s Note: The Paducah group interacts with the Southern Illinois Mensans. Since
Southern Illinois is now part of SLAM, this column is provided as a service to those Mensans
in Southern Illinois who interact with Paducah.
Jackie’s Corner
by Jackie Boyce / President LocSec
Welcome Southern
Illinois
Paducah Pals
Bright Kids
A new SIG will be born relatively soon. This group has been incubating for the last year or so and still has a few more months of gestation before it springs forth from the womb of possibility into the world of reality. Enough of the birth metaphor :)
You may remember the session at our last RG which involved a Mensa playwright from Southern Missouri working in consort with several Mensans from our SLAM chapter. This was a wonderful experience for all involved. I (George) had been mulling around ideas for ways to get some sort of acting SIG off the ground ever since I joined Mensa in 2008 and understood what SIGs were. This session with Bill Hopkins (the play-wright) solidified my conviction that an acting SIG should be a reality in some form or another. My heartfelt thanks go out to the Kryvkos for organizing this session at the last RG. It was a positive forerunner of the Mensa Acting Studio (hereafter referred to as MAS).
The MAS SIG will be a bit non-traditional in terms of its structure. Essentially it will exist on an “ad hoc” basis. In other words, we will have no regular meeting location and no set meeting day or time. We will come together on an as-needed basis when we have a play or film to work on and enough people to fill the roles and responsibilities of
the project. All details regarding meeting locations and rehearsal dates will vary by project. When in doubt, contact George.
A session at the upcoming 2011 RG is scheduled to be on the program as the official kick-off of the MAS.
Please contact me if you have any questions. It is my hope that this is an untapped area of interest in our chapter and that the MAS can be a vibrant SIG for many years to come. George Haynes
[email protected] 314-504-2392
E-mail is preferred over phone.
SLAM is preparing a bid to hold
Mind Games in St. Louis in April
of 2012. If you would like to
serve on the committee, please
contact Jackie.
Most of the work is done by
national, but there are a number
of small jobs to be done before
hand, and volunteers will be
needed the weekend of the
event.
For general information on Mind
Games, look it up on the national
site. This is a great opportunity
for SLAM to reach out to
members and everyone in the
St. Louis area.
Present: Jackie Boyce, Jack Lippold, Mary Hall, Angie Doering, Judy Shimkus.
Meeting was called to order by Jackie Boyce at 4:20 PM.
Minutes of the previous meeting were approved as read.
Treasurer’s Report: The Treasurer’s Report was approved, and is attached to these Minutes.
Monthly Gathering: The Board voted to keep the Monthly Gathering on Saturday evenings.
Job Descriptions for Elected and Appointed Officers: The following descriptions of the duties
and responsibilities of appointed Board Officers were approved and will be published on the
website: Webmaster, Hospitality, Membership Officer, Mensaphone, Gifted Youth Chair .
The position of SLAM Archivist will be explored.
Trivia Night will be 9.18.2010.
New Business: ASIEs (Actions Still in Effect): Board members will search the SLAM archives
and assemble any ASIE’s that have been voted on by the Board from the years 2000-2010. These
ASIEs will be brought to the Board for review at a later meeting.
The Board will establish a committee to review and update the SLAM bylaws.
Future Board Meetings: 8.29.2010; 10.17.2010; 11.21.2010.
Meeting adjourned at 5:45 PM
Respectfully Submitted, Mary Hall
Join us for a lovely afternoon at
Stone Hill Winery in Hermann, MO.
It will hopefully be cooler this year.
Why Stone Hill? They supply the
wine for the wine tasting at the RG.
Bring a picnic lunch or plan to eat in
the restaurant. Tours of the winery
are available.
For more information on the winery,
visit stonehillwinery.com
Look for the yellow and black
balloons at our table(s) when you
arrive to the winery.
If you wish to carpool, meet at the
Walgreens on Olive just 2 streets
north of I-40 at 11:00 a.m. Otherwise
we will meet you at the winery at
12:00. If you plan to carpool, please
call Jackie 636.386.3113.
Page 3
St Louis Area Mensa / Minutes of the Board Meeting
July 18, 2010
Second Annual Wine Trip
Stone Hill Winery: Sept. 19
Mind Games
Mensa Acting Studio
by George Haynes
Page 4 MSLaneous
SEPTEMBER DIVERSIONS
BYOB Bring Your Own
Beverage
DS Designated Smoking
area
HA Handicapped Access. NC No Children
NHA Not Handicapped
Accessible
NPIH No Pets In Home
NS No Smoking
PIH Pets In Home
RR Reservations Required
S Smoking allowed
STS Bring a Snack to Share
WBC Well-Behaved Children
Sep 2, Thursday, noon; Mid-County Lunch Bunch: Houlihan’s – 1085 N. Mason Rd. (HA), Jack Lippold: 314.428.4811
Sep 2, Thursday, 6:30pm, Newcomer’s SIG, Fitz’s on Delmar, Judy Shimkus: 314.602.6957
Sep 4, Saturday, 7:00 PM; Dinner SIG: Peppe’s Apartment 2 on 800 S. Geyer Rd in Kirkwood. If you plan on joining us, please call Jack at 314.428.4811 on or before Thursday, September 2nd to make reservations.
CANCELLED: Sep 4, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. – NO CARD SIG, Card Sig is on vacation until October. If anyone wishes to host it before then, please send the information in to the newsletter. Sep 9, Thursday, noon; Mid-County Lunch Bunch: Happy China – 12921 Olive Blvd. (HA) Jack Lippold: 314.428.4811
Sep 9, Thursday at 6:30: St Charles Meet & Eat at El Maguey Mexican Restaurant just off of 94 & Jungermann (309 Centre Pointe Drive in St. Peters). The restaurant is on the north side of 94, in the construction area, and is east of Jungermann and west of Harvester. Neither Google nor Yahoo maps seem to have a good grasp on this one. Please let us know if you’re coming, even if it is the day of the event, so we can get a large enough table. Contact Gary at [email protected] or at 636-219-7255 for more information or to RSVP.
Sep 11, Saturday, 7:00pm, Carl’s Party, 838 Larkin Ave. in
Creve Coeur, Carl Masthay: 314.432.4231
Sep 15, Wednesday, 6:30 PM. School of Thought 3392 Clemens Dr., St. Charles, MO 63301 (PIH, STS, NS). Barbara Kryvko 636-288-1540 [email protected]. This month's topic: "The World Needs All Kinds of Minds," which explores and applauds all types of thinkers. See article for more information.
Sep 16, Thursday, noon; Mid-County Lunch Bunch: Fortel’s – 624 North New Ballas Rd. (HA), Jack Lippold: 314.428.4811
Sep 18, Saturday, 7:00pm, SLAM Trivia Night Fundraiser, Barbara Kryvko: 636.288.1540, [email protected]
CANCELLED: Sep 19, Sunday, Board Meeting, See you at the
winery
Sep 19, Sunday, WINE TRIP, Join us for the 2nd annual wine trip to Stone Hill Winery in Hermann, MO. If you wish to carpool, meet at the Walgreen’s on Olive just 2 streets north of I-40 at 11:00 a.m. Otherwise we will meet you at the winery at 12:00. If you plan to carpool, please call Jackie 636.386.3113. I do not want to leave anyone behind. See article for more information.
Sep 20, Monday, 6:30 p.m., RG Planning Meeting: Interested in being involved in the planning and production of the 2011 Renaissance Regional Gathering, and enjoy a light dinner and the company of fellow volunteers extraordinaire? Join us for our third planning meeting at the home of the Krumrey’s, 1210 Blairshire Dr., Manchester, Mo. [NHA, DS, WBT] Please R.S.V.P. 636.391.4858 [email protected]
Sep 21, Tuesday, 7:30 PM; Comedy SIG: “WHAT’S UP TIGER LILY?” on DVD. Woody Allen’s first film is not his really. Allen takes a Japanese film and replaces the soundtrack with his own hilariously scripted dialog. It will leave the viewer dub-founded (sic)! Join the fun at 9421 Minerva Ave. (NHA), Jack Lippold: 314.428.4811
CANCELLED: Sep 23, Thursday, noon; Mid-County Lunch
Bunch: out-of-town; no Lunch Bunch
Sep 24, Friday, 6:30pm (Note New Time), Buzztime Trivia SIG, Buffalo Wild Wings near Bass Pro Shop in St. Charles, George Haynes: [email protected] (e-mail highly preferred)
Sep 25, Saturday, Bright Kids Get-Together, Tentative: not officially planned, Laura DeWeese: Home: 314-729-9944 Cell 314-368-8638 [email protected]
CANCELLED: Sep 28, Tuesday, 7:30 PM; E-Cubed - Exotic and Eclectic Eats: Because of travel and on-call, there will be no
E-Cubed in September.
Sep 30, Thursday, noon; Mid-County Lunch Bunch: Thai Nivas - 11054 Olive Blvd. (HA), Jack Lippold: 314.428.4811
Sep 30, Thursday, 6:30 PM; So Happy It's Thursday: Hill Brewing Co. – 418 S. Florissant Rd., Jack Lippold: 314.428.4811
Oct 2, Saturday, Card SIG is back! Come join the fun - Jackie’s home, 1411 Mont Dore Dr, Manchester 63021, 636.386.3113. If you like to play card games, or games that involve cards, come join our group for laughter and a light hearted evening. [BYOB, STS, DS (OUTSIDE), HA (1 step).
Oct 7, Thursday, noon; Mid-County Lunch Bunch: St. Louis
Rotisserie – 13029 Olive Blvd. (HA), Jack Lippold: 314.428.4811
Please check the online calendar at
http://www.stlouis.us.mensa.org
for changes or cancellations.
Content accuracy is of paramount importance to the editor. Formatting, grammar, and
punctuation are only loosely attended to in the calendar section (but NOT at the expense
of content accuracy). Please be gracious and merciful if unintentional mistakes occur.
Page 5 September 2010
St. Louis Area Mensa
TRIVIA NIGHT FUNDRAISER
To benefit the Healthy Minds Scholarship Fund
Saturday September 18th, 2010 Washington University’s West Campus
7425 Forsyth, Clayton, MO (the same place as our monthly meetings)
Doors open at 6:30 P.M.
TRIVIA begins at 7:00 P.M. SHARP!
$15.00/PERSON $120.00/TABLE
(max. of 8 per table)
SOFT DRINKS AND SNACKS PROVIDED
*Bring your own special snacks for your group if you’d like*
*Beer will be available for a donation*
Mulligans, 50/50 raffle, Heads/Tails, Attendance Prizes…and more!
All proceeds will benefit the Healthy Minds Scholarship program, which has been
awarding scholarships to students of psychology/psychiatry since 1995.
FOR RESERVATIONS CONTACT:
Barbara Kryvko: (636)288-1540
Call or email to reserve a whole table, or to be matched with a table that needs your help!
Page 4 MSLaneous
Hotel Phone: 314.291.6700
Page 7 Credits & Notables September 2010
SSSTTT. L. L. LOUISOUISOUIS AAAREAREAREA MMMENSAENSAENSA CCCREDITSREDITSREDITS & N& N& NOTABLESOTABLESOTABLES
Elected Officers
President/LocSec
Jackie Boyce 636.386.3113 [email protected]
Vice President
Greg Krumrey 636.391.4858 [email protected]
Treasurer
Angie Doering 314.731.9864 [email protected]
Secretary
Mary Hall 314.849.9879 [email protected]
Director-at-Large
Jack Lippold 314.428.4811 [email protected]
Director-at-Large
Judy Shimkus 314.602.6957 [email protected]
Regional Vice Chair
Ken Silver 651.686.0934 [email protected]
Appointed Officers MSLaneous Editor
George Haynes 314.504.2392 [email protected]
Election Chair
Steve Feldenberg
Gifted Children’s Coordinator
Laura DeWeese 314.729.9944 [email protected]
Program Chair
Stan Waxelman 314.725.4818 [email protected]
Al Sher [email protected]
Head Proctor
Bob Smith 314.963.7324
Membership Chair & MensaPhone
Lin Leinicke 314.647.6630 [email protected]
Nominations Chair
Scott Middleton 636.256.7734
Ombudsman
Scott DeWeese 314.729.9944 [email protected]
Public Relations
Jerry O’Gorman 314.821.3578 [email protected]
Regional Gathering Chair
Jackie Boyce 636.386.3113 [email protected]
Greg and Rebekah Krumrey
Scholarship Chair
Open
Sight Coordinator
Mary Hall 314.849.9879 [email protected]
Website Editor
Judy Shimkus 314.602.6957 [email protected]
Electronic Publishing
Greg Krumrey 636.391.4858 [email protected]
Hospitality
Jack Lippold 314.428.4811 [email protected]
To Write for MSLaneous/ Editorial Ideals
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 spelling and grammar corrections first and foremost and determining if the material is in good taste according to St. Louis Area Mensa By-Laws. The editor will make every effort to leave a submission in the author’s own original wording and style. However, the editor reserves the right to change style and word choice, if deemed necessary. Any submission that is edited will not have the general meaning changed. All materials for publication must be received on or before the 5th of the month prior to publication. Please note: at times, there may not be enough space to run an article. In this event, please be gracious and patient. Original poetry, short stories,
event coverage, etc, are encouraged and appreciated.
Contact George Haynes.
How to Host an Event
Want to start a new event or your own Special Interest Group? Send your event announcement to the newsletter editor in accordance with current editorial policy. Include the name of your event, a brief description, the event date and time, the location including the street address, your name and phone number, and the applicable event
codes.
Even if you establish a regular schedule, such as the 2nd Friday of the month, your event will require monthly confirmation to be on the calendar. If your event needs monthly updates, such as a different location, please get the information to the newsletter editor on time. Prospective members and guests of members are welcome at all
events.
S t u f f o u r L a w y e r s M a k e u s P r i n t
MSLaneous is published monthly by the Board of Directors of St. Louis Area Mensa. Other publications of American Mensa may reprint articles
provided that the meaning is not changed and proper credit is given. This permission does not apply to material designated as copyrighted by
individual authors.
MSLaneous is available for $6.00/year to members of other chapters.
MSLaneous in no way endorses or guarantees its advertisers’ products.
Ad rates vary according to size. To place an ad, contact the editor.
Mensa is an international society of people who have scored above the
98th percentile on any of a number of standardized IQ tests. For information about joining Mensa contact the membership chair or any
member of the Board of Directors.
The opinions stated in MSLaneous are those of the authors and are in no way intended to reflect the opinions of local or national Mensa chapters
or their officers. Mensa takes no official stand on any issue.
Postmaster: Send address changes to: MSLaneous, c/o AML, 1229
Corporate Drive West, Arlington, TX 76006-6103
Members: Send address changes to the same address above, or up-
date your information online at www.us.mensa.org.
For More Information
Call the MensaPhone at 314-995-2982 24/7 for event information or visit www.stlouis.us.mensa.org
All Positions are held by volunteers. Pat
their backs...and ONLY their backs.
St. Louis Area Mensa, Group #620
c/o American Mensa, Ltd.
1229 Corporate Drive West
Arlington, TX 76006-6103
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The Newsletter of St. Louis Area Mensa
We’re on the web! www.stlouis.us.mensa.org
I’ve had a great summer!
The AG was very enjoyable and I’ve had plenty of chances to pursue my passion of
spending time in various amusement parks with my kids. These tours not only gave us a chance to ride roller coasters, but also to socialize with Mensans along the way. It was a lucky coincidence that our latest trip brought us to Chicago the same day as
Chicago Mensa’s July Monthly Meeting (an event I enjoy attending any time). We even spent an evening in Region 3, doing trivia with a group of Cincinnati Mensans
after a day at King’s Island.
All of this leisure time has given me a chance to ponder something again that’s been
bothering me for awhile; maybe even something I’ve mentioned in this column
before.
We can all do the math; we know that American Mensa has a membership pool of
about six million. But, our actual membership, although ever upward, is still less than one percent of its potential. Why we don’t attract more members puzzles me. But what puzzles me even more is that even that very special one percent of you, who
have taken the step of joining Mensa, aren’t willing to take that next step to become
more involved.
In our region alone, two small groups are merging with bigger groups this year due
to a lack of volunteers. I get the list each month of who holds the various positions within each local group in the region, and I see that there are many people holding more than one job, and that other positions are going unfilled. I’d like to think that
being a Mensa volunteer or taking a position of responsibility within Mensa would be a satisfying experience for any member. It certainly is for me. If it’s not, I’d like to know why; that’s another matter for discussion. Involving members is one of
Mensa’s greatest challenges. If there’s something that interests you, or if you have an area of expertise that may be valuable to your group, contact your Loc Sec and
let him/her know. I’m confident that your initiative will be well received.
We have 2 males and 1 female, three aquarium cages and all the accessories needed to keep these critters fed and watered. You can have 1, 2 or all three pigs along with cages, water bottles and feeders.
Contact Greg or Rebekah at 636-391-4858 for more details.
These are friendly creatures that like being held and
fed carrots and celery. They also like to graze on
grass (in an enclosure). Other than begging for their
favorite treats, they do not do tricks.
W i t h i n Yo u r K e n
by Ken Silver RVC4
Free to a Good Home:
Guinea Pigs