Regional Ramblings |
Many of us think of our local Mensa group as our family. These are people we relate to, people we are comfortable with, many of our best friends. We have an even larger family. We are not only members of a local group but members of American Mensa and Mensa International. There are about 140 local groups in America and Mensa groups in almost every country. In all these groups you will be treated as family.
When you visit another city on business, for a conference, to visit relatives or even on vacation, do you look up your Mensa family? The largest local groups have activities almost daily. Many groups will even arrange a special meeting to spend time with you, if you give a little notice. If you donÕt want to sit around your motel room in a strange city or go out to dinner alone, call the local Mensa group.
If you plan ahead, you can take advantage of SIGHT the Service for Information, Guidance and Hospitality for Travelers. The name tells it all. If you are to visit an American city, contact the National SIGHT Coordinator. If you are traveling overseas, contact the International SIGHT Coordinator. Contact information can be found in the Mensa Bulletin.
If you want to know what activities will be on when you are in a certain city, check first with your editor. You editor gets at least twenty newsletters from other local groups and may have the one you are looking for. The full list of local group officers is published in the March and September issues of the Mensa Bulletin. If you do not think of it until you are there, try the telephone directory, many groups have a listing.
You may think that you could find enough to do in Honolulu without Mensa, but you still have to eat. The local Mensans have a Lunch Bunch every Tuesday and they go to a different restaurant every Thursday evening. They would be happy to have you join them on your next vacation.
If you happen to be in Honolulu from October 8 to 11, they are putting on some special activities in conjunction with the meeting of the International Board of Governors (IBG), do not miss it. If you will not be in Honolulu, I expect to see you at the Inland Empire RG; Swiss Family Mensans, October 9-11 in Ontario California. Of course, if you are in Switzerland, visit your Swiss family Mensans there.