It has been less than two months since I returned from the Annual Gathering in New Orleans, but many of my memories of the AG have been replaced with the images of Hurricane Katrina. Several hundred members of American Mensa live in the hurricane region and we are developing ways to support these Mensans. Please visit the American Mensa website (www.us.mensa.org) for the latest information on how you can help Mensans in need.

In August I attended the annual Thomas Jefferson Mensa Corn Boil. Dave and Liz Remine hosted the event at their beautiful new home in Luray, Virginia. More than a dozen Mensans from six local groups attended this event. Region 2 was represented by members from Central New Jersey Mensa, Lehigh Pocono Mensa, Metropolitan Washington Mensa, Richmond Mensa, and the host group, Thomas Jefferson Mensa.

While I was in the area, I attended three local Metropolitan Washington Mensa events. I spent Friday evening in Washington, D.C. at Zorba's Cafe with more than a dozen local members. This weekly event features three things that Mensans do best - eating, drinking, and talking. Saturday morning on my way to the Corn Boil, I hooked up with six Mensans at their weekly Starbucks outing. This was also my first ever visit to a Starbucks. After the Corn Boil it was off to North Potomac, Maryland, for the "A Trio of August Birthdays Party" hosted by Dianne Dawson and Mary Pat Collins. More than twenty people showed up to celebrate the birthdays of Herb Guggenheim, Fred Nelson, and Thomas Kates.

I hope to see many of you at our region's next RG, Delaware Valley Mensa's "That's Medieval! An Anachronistic Extravaganza", October 14 - 16 at the Sheraton Park Ridge in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. I will be presenting an overview of the World Gathering and leading a RVC Rap Session.

October 22 is American Mensa's eighth annual National Testing Day. I'm pleased to report that all ten groups in Region 2 are participating. I've been told we are the only region with 100% participation. Thank you to all the Testing Coordinators, Proctor Coordinators, and Proctors who are taking part in this event.

The MERF Scholarship Program soon will be underway. Eight of the ten groups in Region 2 are participating. Selena Updegraff is once again our Region 2 Scholarship Chair. Thank you to Selena, the local Scholarship Chairs, and the Scholarship Judges for participating in this activity.

MWM is about to announce plans for their next RG, to be held Feburary 17 - 19, 2006, in Laurel, Maryland. Stay tuned for more information.

I have just finalized the guidelines for the 2006 Publications Recognition Program (PRP). This is my third year chairing the program. When I talk to people throughout the region about the PRP, the question I hear most is, "Why hasn't Region 2 won more awards?" The main reason is simple - most of our groups don't enter. Only two newsletters and zero websites from our region participated in the 2005 PRP. I'd like to see that number increase next year. I know that some editors and webmasters do not wish to have their work judged, but the awards also cover contributions to the newsletters and websites. Contributions won't get recognized if the newsletters and websites aren't entered.

Plans are still underway for a spring 2006 Leadership Development Workshop (LDW) in the King of Prussia, Pennsylvania area. I hope to have some details to announce next month. I have sent a copy of the LDW Needs Assessment Form to each LocSec in the region. This form helps identify the topics we should cover at the LDW.

American Mensa will be hosting Mensa's Diamond Anniversary World Gathering (WG) from August 8 - 13, 2006, in Orlando, Florida. More than 100 programs already have been booked. The WG also will feature an American Mensa Committee (AMC) Meeting, International Board of Directors (IBD) Meeting, and two full days of LDW programs. More than 700 people already have registered. Please check out the WG website (wg06.us.mensa.org) for up-to-the-minute information.

It is good to see a few new members joined our Region 2 Yahoo Group last month. You will find the group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AML-Region2/, and you can join by going directly to the website or sending an email to AML-Region2-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.