By Mark Hutchenreuther
This month’s spellchecker highlights include (in order of appearance): Chatter, Denied Flanging, Mischief Porkies, NERD, Locos, Misprint, Strutting, Crates, Ebullition, Breaded, and Hominy. The Chocolate oRGy is a Chocolate Orgasm, but you knew that, and RGs are GROAN!
New officers, scholarship and CultureQuest news, and RGs coming up
We have a few new officers in our region: Richard Brooks has taken over the reins of President from Jack Turner in San Diego and Dale Karr was elected to succeed Denise Flanagan as President in Southern Nevada. Congratulations to all, and thanks to the outgoing presidents for their jobs well done. I must also note the resignation of Michael Porjes as Editor in Hawaii. A special thank you is due him for stepping in as editor when one was needed.
The MERF Scholarship season is upon us and LocSecs are busily naming local chairs as I make a final selection of a regional chair. One change that is welcomed this coming year is that every local group will be honored with at least one $200 winner. This past year, our smallest group, Borderline, had three winners of scholarships worth a total of $1200. In a prior year, Channel Islands had three big winners also. This is one area where all groups are equal, however, those who do the most promotion get the most entries and increase the possibilities of having winners.
Borderline was one of three groups from our region to enter CultureQuest8, although it was a team from our biggest group that came in fifth nationally and first in our region. Mirk Mirkin was Captain of the GLAAM2 team, with a crew of Russell McConnell, Stratton Lindenmeyer, Gloria Krauss, and Margaret Bellisario. Phoenix’ Saguaro Savants, captained by Barbara Bradley placed second in our region. The Borderline Bombers came in third, captained by Jonathan Holman. This just goes to show that any group can find five compatible and enthusiastic Mensans and enter a great event. Why not try it yourself this year?
I learned a couple of months ago that the Four Corners Area of the U.S. is also the Four Corners Area of Mensa, where regions 6-9 come together. There are thoughts about a real regional gathering, but more importantly we four RVCs are working together to schedule our RGs so that we can enjoy as many as possible. That includes promotion of neighboring regions’ RGs, and the first ones to come up are San Francisco’s and Dallas’ Thanksgiving RGs.
In our own region, the RG season is also upon us. Los Angeles’ Owlywood will be in February over President’s Day weekend, Phoenix has moved its Phiesta to January on Martin Luther King, Jr., weekend, and Las Vegas is holding their biennial RG in December.
I will have to report on whodunit at the Inland Empire RG next month, but for now the thing to do is to sign up for Las Vegas. This only happens every other year, so if you miss it you miss it big time. Their RG is called the Chocolate oRGy, and there is an optional private dinner show. I hope you will join me there in December!