Terminology

I spoke too soon about the mild winter. I’m sitting here in Hunt Country, after one snowstorm, waiting for another snowstorm to follow. Punxatawny Phil was right, six more weeks of winter. But, when you read this, it will be April, are you foolin’ around again? It is that time.

We have entered the Internet age. How is this affecting Mensa? That is a very good question. Is the face of Mensa changing, and should it? I have had many Mensans tell me that they don’t want to travel 150 miles to play a game of cards, when they can do it from the convenience of their living room, on their personal computer. I have heard similar comments about the 2:00 AM conversations being replaced by the proliferation of mail groups and chat lists. But, on the other side of the coin, just how many individuals are on the internet? The last survey I saw stated that less then 50% of the American homes had internet connections, and less then 25% had a high-speed connection. How do those figures relate to Mensa, although I know of no data, I have heard opinions on both sides. Some say that Mensans, being part of the intelligence elite have flocked to the technology, while others say that it is a trivialization of intelligence, and have their IBM PC collecting dust on the shelf, right next to their 19” television. So, who should Mensa be catering to, the techno-geek or the luddite (a term used by one of the region’s members recently)? The bottom line is, your leadership needs to know the answers to this question, and the organization needs to be flexible enough to tend to the will of the membership. The demographics have and will change, for example, the GenX’ers are coming into their own as part of the organization, and as a member of the Reader’s Digest crowd, I see it as a welcome addition. We all have proved that we are intelligent individuals, based on one test or other, and we all deserve to be treated that way.

There is not much to written on regarding the National scene. The issues based on Risk Management and ProxyQuest are winding down, and as such, you will find that the AMC is exhausted. I have posted more questions on the Regional website concerning the issues, but by the time you read this, the AMC meeting will have past, and the Mini-Minutes will be available on the AML website. As a member of the Site Selection Committee, we are still looking for a site for the 2008 Annual Gathering, but it appears that, without some monumental effort, that will not be feasible within Region 2. There is also the opportunity of hosting an AMC meeting, the one in Charlottesville was very successful, and there is no reason that another one could not happen. An AMC meeting can occur in conjunction with a Regional Gathering, but it is not necessary.

Let me end this column with a discussion of something extra-Mensa. I was attendant at a function that is best described as a mechayah. This is Yiddish for an extreme pleasure. Congregation Sha’are Shalom had its dedication ceremony last weekend. It is the first temple in Loudoun County history. For your information, Loudoun County is the fastest growing county in the United States, and it is the county in which I have resided for the past five years. I have seen it progress from a dream, nurtured by a $3,000,000 donation by Leon and Rose Uran, and made a reality lauded by the Mayor, a Senator, and even the president of the United States. I sleep better at night, knowing, that in this troubled world, that this is still a country that encourages religious freedom for all. I have been witness to a similar mechayah, recently, remember, for the county also welcomed Mensa with open arms by featuring your Regional Vice Chair, and a Regional Gathering on the pages of their local magazine. The point is, that we should be interested in nurturing growth, which is why I make my pride in the fact that all of the ten local groups in Region 2 have grown in membership in the past year, it is something that we ALL can be proud of.

See you next month, in the field of May flowers….