Well, I've about recovered from the excitement of attending an Annual Gathering as a Regional Vice Chair; technically I wasn't attending the AG, I was attending American Mensa's Annual Business Meeting, Freshman Orientation, an American Mensa Committee meeting... you get the picture. Not too much time for partying, but a lot of learning. I took an empty suitcase with me and it came back full of paperwork.
St. Paul is a beautiful city, with lovely brick buildings. It's great for running, especially along the Mississippi waterfront. You can run across one bridge into Minneapolis, run up a bit, then run back over to St. Paul. It is the home of Charles Schultze of Peanuts fame and to my delight, there were 4-foot Linus statues everywhere! Vestiges of previous year's Lucy and Snoopy tributes were also seen.
Regional News: The Publications Recognition Program's (PRP) annual awards given to local groups and members for official print and electronic publications had Region 1 winners - Congratulations to all of you!!!:
- in the Fiction & Poetry (print) category, Andrea L. Thompson's "Whispers", published in Media ,Connecticut/Western Massachusetts Mensa
- in the Presentation (electronic, i.e. internet) category, Bill Alleman, the Webmaster of New Hampshire Mensa was the Navigation Winner.
CultureQuest® 2003 in which teams of Mensans from around North America and Canada met and matched wits.
- Misha's Vineyard's Players, captained by Greg Draves of Greater New York Mensa, came in 18th in what was described as an extremely difficult challenge, winning $80 for GNYM's scholarship coffers.
Dr. Abbie F. Salny Proctor of the Year 2003,
- a Regional "Abbie" honorable mention was bestowed on Clotilde Cepeda of Greater New York Mensa, for her tireless efforts to recruit proctors and provide a welcoming atmosphere to those taking the Mensa qualifying test.
AMC News: Cyndi Kuyper, Region 4's Vice Chair, asked me to join the Community Service Committee which she chairs. Literacy initiatives are the primary focus.
Among issues discussed was that if membership dues should be necessary (note the use of the subjunctive case!), would they be incremental (over a few years) or one fell swoop. Attendant issues of prorating dues for new members who join during the year, as well as the impact on membership should dues increase were also raised.
The 2006 AG in Orlando will mark the 60th anniversary of Mensa's founding. It will be held in August. American Mensa's bylaws state that it must hold its annual business meeting between June 1st and July 15th of each year. Question: should the members vote on a bylaws change, so that, if approved, the business meeting can be held concurrent with the 2006 AG? Should the business meeting be held in June, and then have the AMC reconvene at the AG two months later? Legal points are being researched. Stay tuned.
Now that summer has finally made an appearance, here's a refreshing drink to keep you cool:
Jamaican Watermelon Punch
6 cups watermelon, seeded and cut into chunks
cup fresh lime juice
cup cugar
4 12 oz. bottles ginger beer, chilled
Fresh mint sprigs
Puree watermelon, lime juice and sugar in a blender or food processor. Pour into two ice cube trays and freeze solid.
Place 3 or 4 watermelon cubes each in 16 oz. glasses.
Pour ginger beer over the cubes and garnish with mint. Hey mon!