RVChat - July 2008
by Lori Norris

$4.01⁹ – the price of a gallon of gas this morning.  And we’re planning on beginning our coast-to-coast driving trip in less than three weeks.  What are the odds that the high gas prices will keep everyone else off the road and away from the tourist attractions we want to visit?  One can always hope.

Ron and I and other Mensan friends are looking forward to the Denver Annual Gathering – so many things to do, games to play (maybe some of the new MindGame winners), speakers to enjoy and learn from, old friends to catch up with, and many new friends to meet and get to know.  The AG will be five days filled packed with activities, if it is anything like last year’s AG we’ll need a couple of days to recuperate.  But since we’ll be leaving from the AG to do some camping in the Rockies, I’m sure we’ll be able to find some time for relaxing.  A good book and a hammock will solve this problem.

During our summer trip, I’m hoping to attend a few Mensa events around the country.  I’ve been checking out a few local group calendars and newsletters and it appears that we may be able to hit a games night at the end of June and hopefully a couple of events in July, haven’t really seen much for August yet.  And then we hope to finish up August by visiting Mensa friends near Montreal (and maybe Toronto) before heading to Tanglewood for Betthoven’s Symphony No. 9.

With this column I mark one full year as your RVC.  For the most part it has been a very rewarding job.  With help from many volunteers, a successful Leadership Development Workshop has been held and another is in the planning stages for fall 2009 hosted by Mensa of Northeastern New York.  I’ve attended three RGs at which I’ve hosted RVC rap sessions and had surprisingly large and inquisitive audiences.  We’ve begun the process of separating Maine Mensa from New Hampshire Mensa and I along with many members look forward to completing the process later this year.  I have had the opportunity to meet many of you at RGs or other events or via e-mail and have enjoyed those occasions.  However, it has not been a complete bed of roses.  There have been a few problems which I have worked on with local members.  Serving on the American Mensa Committee (AMC) over the past year has also brought challenges and delights.  I look forward to the remaining year of this term and, hopefully, to a second term (2009 election).

Happy Fourth of July to you and enjoy your summer.

Lori