news

New: Mensan Online/Zoom Discussion Group, Saturdays at 2pm

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 17:38:53 +0100

Ken Lawrence is inviting you to a weekly Zoom meeting Virtual Discussion Group. Open to all Mensans - we talk about whatever anybody wants to talk about. For more info and zoom link, log in to https://us.mensa.org and access M-Compass, our local group (Group 339) newsletter, under the READ tab.

Mensa Scholarship Site is Now Open! Deadline January 15, 2024

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 21:58:15 +0100

Welcome to the MENSA Scholarship Essay Contest for 2023-24. The process is now entirely paperless. This year’s applications were available online starting September 15, 2023. Applicants will need to go online to:

http://www.mensafoundation.org/scholarships

and click on “Scholarship Applications,” to get the page where they will be able to click on the link after the second paragraph, to pull up a page where they will enter their zip code to determine the area in which they are eligible to enter. Then, by clicking on the link provided, they will have an online application to fill out, along with instructions, and a box in which to compose their essay. [Of course this can be composed in a document and copy-pasted]

Please stress the importance of following all the rules to the letter, to avoid their essay being rejected prior to judging. For any questions on the rules or eligibility requirements, please contact me at: mensafoundation.scholarships.sfl@aol.com and I will help you see that your student’s compositions make it to the judging operation.

The deadline for entries is January 15, 2024.

Regards,

Bill Bent

Scholarship Chair

RVC 10 Update: November 2016

Tue, 25 Oct 2016 18:04:01 +0100

At the September 17 American Mensa Committee (AMC) in Arlington, Texas, site of the American Mensa home office, we received updates on the implementation of the new Association Management System (AMS) which is ahead of schedule. Soon there will be a new set of tools available for local group leaders, and I’m looking forward to it. There will also be the inevitable growing pains as the old system is decommissioned and the new one takes its place, with occasional problems with connecting to the website, but these will be brief, and the results should be worth the slight temporary inconvenience.

A couple of motions were passed regarding topics that had raised a great deal of discussion in the online groups. One was to establish a Hearings and Dispute Resolution Process Review ad hoc committee to go over our existing AML processes. This committee is tasked to reorganize and condense the current process, and make recommendations for any changes, if necessary. There were also a couple of motions regarding Social Media policies, but the wording of the motions were still being updated among concerns that it appeared Local Groups would be required to appoint Social Media Coordinators, so the motions were postponed until the December meeting so they could have more review. While I encourage Social Media for our organization, and recommend that our Local Groups appoint coordinators in the same manner that they appoint Editors and Webmasters, I don’t want to burden any groups who already have difficulty finding volunteers with a requirement for yet another one.

For anyone interested, a 4 hour video recording of this meeting has been posted on the National website, and can be viewed by visiting http://www.us.mensa.org/lead/amc/meeting-reports/ and selecting 2016-09-17 – Arlington, TX from the dropdown. Mini-minutes are also available at this link; full detailed minutes will be posted after they have been approved at the December meeting.

Speaking of Social Media, 11 of the 12 groups in Region 10 now have Facebook groups (with some more active than others), so I encourage you to sign up for your local group’s site in order to get the most up-to-date information about activities in your area, since sometimes the items in your printed calendars can change at the last minute for unexpected reasons (venues closing, inconvenient Hurricanes, and other such complications).

Election season is almost over, and I’m sure most of you are glad to see an end to it. On the other hand, a new election season (this one for American Mensa) will be starting very soon, and our Election Committee is finalizing the 2017 Election Code, which will be published in the Mensa Bulletin and on the website. I’ll also be posting updates on the Region 10 Facebook page. All those interested in running for office must be members in good standing as of December 1, 2016. Petition details will be available when the Election Code is finished later in the fall.

In the meantime, to join the Region 10 Facebook group visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/MensaRegion10/ to request access and join the conversation.

Until next month (or until I see you online),

Thomas George Thomas

Email: RVC10@us.mensa.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thomas.g.thomas

In Memoriam: Cal Curlin

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:02:46 +0100

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our longtime Treasurer and friend, Cal Curlin.
Lemuel Calvert Curlin III, of Naples passed away on May 20, 2013 in Naples, FL.

He was raised in Allegan, MI and graduated from Allegan High School. He earned a Masters in Chemistry from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Hope College. Cal then began working for Diamond Shamrock. He proudly served in Vietnam for two years, where he was the chief of a biochemistry lab. Following the Army, he worked for both El Tech Systems and Oxy Tech Systems. Cal was a 30 year member of Mensa and was the treasurer of the SWFL chapter at the time of his sudden passing. He was a world traveler, holder of US patents for some of his work, and in his free time he enjoyed gardening, books, and bridge.

He is survived by his loving wife, Jean; sons, John and David; stepson, Joseph (Maryann) Kenesky; grandchildren, Jennifer (Billy) Evitts, Joe, and Megan Kenesky; great grandchild, Emma Evitts; brothers, David Curlin and Tom (Donna) Curlin.

Cheap Charlie's Feb 20, Monday after-work party Feb 11

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:10:04 +0100

A few Cheap Charlie's ago, Jan 2 to be precise, we all headed to Ballyorney to dine on Irish, and behold, the place was closed... packed up in the middle of the night or something. So we moved over to Mimi's and still had a great time! Now, you can head over to the newsletter to get the scoop on the Monday after-work party in Bonita Springs today (Feb 11, 5:30 pm at Barry Nicholls'), and the Cheap Charlie's dining-in on Wednesday Feb. 20th. 6:30 pm. Don't miss out on activities -- follow the link to the newsletter and come meet your fellow Ms!

Newsletter. And CFM RG

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:04:23 +0100

Our Jan/Feb newsletter (there are only six per year) is available as always from the top-center of the events page, but in case you were missing it, here's the link, you will need to use your American Mensa login to see it: http://www.us.mensa.org/newsissue?id=6920

Also, Orlando's Central Florida Mensa RG is coming up quickly: Jan 25 - 27 at the Hilton Altamonte Springs. See the ad in our newsletter, or go to http://www.sun-n-games.org/registration.

Wishing you a pleasant, peaceful, prosperous 2013.

Until Dec 31, Qualify and join in one step!

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 06:31:58 +0100

From the US Mensa website:

This November and December, you can qualify and join Mensa in one easy step! If you submit your qualifying test scores and your first year's membership dues before December 31, 2012, you'll pay only $84 — we'll review your test score for free and extend your membership through March 31, 2014. You'll automatically become a member upon qualifying, and you'll save money by having your test scores reviewed for free!

Many Thanks to Cheryl Rushing!

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 05:41:41 +0100

A huge Mensa vote of thanks to Cheryl for all her hard work in keeping the website up-to-date and coordinating SIGHT. SWSF lost a very valuable and involved member when Cheryl moved out of state -- but we're hoping she'll be coming back again some day! Until then, I (Heather Preston) have started updating the website and will also coordinate SIGHT (unless someone else wants that job -- let me know!).

The link to the newsletter should show you the current two months' worth of newsletter pages (you'll need your Mensa login to see the newsletter), and calendar updates on this website will start to be added in January. Until then, please check the newsletter and the Facebook page for details!

Have You Renewed?

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:46:40 +0100

Have you renewed your membership yet?

If you pay annually your current membership card expires 03/31/2012. You should have received a renewal packet from the National office in December with an offer at that time. If you didn't take advantage of the early renewal you may have received a renewal packet since then.

Didn't receive your renewal packet? Never fear. Click for a blank application. Just fill it out and mail it with your check to the address indicated.

You can also renew your membership online, or you can call the National office at 888/294-8035 ext. 199.

Bylaws Voting

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:24:12 +0100

As reported in the December 2011 ExComm Meeting minutes, the Southwest by South Florida Bylaws have been revised. This is the first revision since 1997.

The only changes in bylaws were in reference to officer titles (LocSec would be President, Assistant LocSec would be Vice President). The terms of office for officers were also amended to two (2) years term with elections in odd-numbered years.

As per the guidelines of National, the bylaws must be approved by a vote of the membership. The ExComm asks that you review the bylaws and submit a vote of approve or not approve by March 31, 2012.

There are two ways to review the bylaws:

1. Review the bylaws online at this link: http://bit.ly/swsfbylaws

2. Pick up a copy of the bylaws at Hurricane Cycle, 17230 S Tamiami Trail #1, Fort Myers, FL

There are three ways to vote:

1. Vote online here: http://bit.ly/swsfvotehere

2. Complete the voting form attached to the March/April 2012 M-Compass and mail to Jeff Avery ℅ Hurricane Cycle, 17230 S Tamiami Trail #1, Fort Myers, FL 33908.

3. Email your vote to cheryl.mensa@gmail.com. Please be sure to include your full name, membership number and your vote. Your vote will not be counted without this information.

Only one vote per member. Please submit your vote on or before March 31, 2012.