RVChat - February 2010
by Lori Norris

I am looking forward to February, the shortest, and frequently coldest and snowiest, month of the year.  New Hampshire's RG will be held in Portsmouth the weekend of February 12-14.  This event is usually well-attended by members from around the region.  If past performance is anything to go by, there should be interesting speakers, good food (I'll be contributing to the crockpot cook-off), lots of games and great opportunities to mingle with fellow Mensans and have impromptu discussions of many and varied topics. 

It is time to plan ahead for March.  The first weekend is Central New Jersey's RG, Snowball, as well as an AMC meeting for me (the agenda should be on line shortly).  For those of you who don't know me well, I like games.  So I am hosting a regional weekend games event in Springfield, Massachusetts the weekend of March 19 – 21.  Space is limited so reserve early.  If you are interested, e-mail me at lorijnorris@hotmail.com for more details or check out the Mensa Region 1 Facebook group for info (are you one of the more than 150 members?).  March is time to sign up for the 2010 Culture Quest® which will be held April 11th.

I have been honored to be named as one of the AML Leadership Development Ambassadors and as such will be presenting a Leadership Development Workshop (LDW) session at the Annual Gathering in Dearborn, Michigan this summer.  In addition, as one of the three named ambassadors, I will be representing American Mensa at the European Annual Gathering in Prague at the end of July.  What a privilege!  There will be a couple of European LDW presenters in Dearborn.  You may want to fit one of these sessions into your schedule to see what is different in other Mensas as well as what is the same.  Don't forget this will be a combined North American Annual Gathering so there will be presentations by our Canadian neighbors.  Take this opportunity to make friends with members of other Mensas; remember, we are part of an international organization.

Renewal season is upon us.  You may renew on-line.  Is it time for you to consider a life membership or a multi-year plan (three or five years)?  Multi-year plans are a money-saving option and help prevent your membership from inadvertently expiring.  Don't forget local group officers and proctors must be members in good standing with AML.

As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions/concerns/suggestions you may have about Mensa.  I may not know all the answers off the top of my head, but typically I am able to track down the appropriate person to answer the question or to get the suggestion to. 

Lori