MAINESCENE Volume 6, Issue 2 The Newsletter of Maine Mensa Spring 2015 From the LocSec Anne W. Allen Loc Sec Speaks – Anne Allen Hello All, well here we are in a very important National Election Cycle, and I wanted to give you as much guidance as I can. However, the Loc Sec from NH, Rob Salkin of MONNY (Albany Mensa) is a candidate for Richard Conde, in his Loc Sec column for their newsletter, expressed his thoughts so well, I am reprinting Treasurer. I have met Rob several times, and listened to full them in entirety to you in my column: lectures about "How Mensa Can Respond to a Social Media Age". His vision, work, and qualifications are superb. Lori Norris, our former RVC1, will be running for Secretary. From: Richard Conde, Loc Sec NH: I cannot endorse her highly enough. But regardless of who you think should be on the AMC, check out the candidates At the end of March, around 11:59 pm Central Time, and vote. your dues for 2015-2016 are due. $70 for annual renewal, $190/3years, $310/5years. This year is an election year If you do not trust electronic voting, here's how to make sure for the Officers of American Mensa's Executive you get a paper ballot this election. Go to the American Committee, the ruling body of American Mensa. If you Mensa website, click on "my Mensa" at the top right of the are not renewed by the deadline, you cannot vote in the home page. Then click on "Member Profile". That opens the upcoming election. Login page, enter your member number (or email address) and password. (Yes, the same screen lets you say "forgot my If you view not renewing right away as a means of login information"). Then you will see the "Membership protesting any current policies, I'd argue that voting is a Profile" page. better protest, and certainly in this election. There is a clear distinction in not just one candidate, but a slate of Go to the bottom, look for the header "Mensa elections candidates and their objectives. And the primary objective materials delivery". Click on the option for "receiving is that annual dues have gone up too much, and certainly materials by US Mail". Then your ballot has to be on paper, too much without a clear explanation to membership. by mail. (Do remember to fill it out and mail it promptly.) Furthermore, there is a need for much more openness and transparency from the National Committee to the Reminder from Anne Allen, Loc Sec Maine: Please renew general membership. Many recent decisions have been before March 30th, and please vote. made in an obscure cloud of "we can't tell you"s. Finally, the Executive Director has yet to answer many questions about her leadership and goals. For the position of Chairman, I urge you to vote for our current NH Do you have a fact of interest, an article, an anecdote, puzzle, or Mensa Secretary, Deb Stone. Her experience, game you would like to share and would like to appear on qualifications, and willingness to help Mensans is MaineScene? Send an email to the editor, Rob Lagos, superlative. [email protected]. Newsletter 1 Executive Committee C ALENDAR OF E VENTS S PRING 2 0 1 5 LocSec Anne W. Allen (207) 577-6362 [email protected] Asst LocSec & Sight MONTHLY TRIVIA NIGHTS: Coordinator Susan Flaherty (207) 210-0657 [email protected] Mensa SoPo Trivia Treasurer Gerald Nessmann (207) 564-7875 [email protected] Jimmy the Greek’s in South Portland, Maine Last Tuesday of Every Month, 7:30 - 10:00 PM Publications & Hosts: Anne Allen & Susan Flaherty Editor Robert S. Lagos (207) 846-3063 [email protected] Program Chair Jim Sloan (207) 807-8594 Paddy Murphy's Irish Pub, Bangor, Maine [email protected] Second Wednesday of Every Month, 8:30 - 11:00 PM Testing Chair Nicole Bissonnette (207) 272-5870 Host: Gerald Nessmann, (207) 564-7875 [email protected] At Large & Membership Coordinator Leona Morgan (207) 710-9072 OTHER MONTHLY EVENTS: [email protected] Ombudsman Kate Masters (207) 233-5222 Mensa Does Happy Hour [email protected] Second Tuesday of the Month: from 5 o'clock on. Region 1 RVC Andrew Heffeman (518) 788-0019 Contact: Sue Flaherty, (207) 210-0657 or [email protected] [email protected]. Downeast Maine Mensa Dine-Arounds Fourth Thursday of Every Month, 6:00 - 8:00 PM Inquire for details; restaurants in the Ellsworth area which will vary in food, ambience, and price. Contact Steve Weinreich and Linda Hayward at [email protected] to be placed on email list. We are still building teams here in Maine, and we hope to have an even stronger presence this year than last Mensa Movie Night year! Last year we had four teams compete - our First Tuesday of every month at the Nickelodeon in presence has grown over the last few years - and maybe Portland. we can even win a prize! Cheap $5 movie night, drinks afterwards. Movies and times TBD. Culture Quest will take place on Sunday April 26, at Contact: Jim Sloan, (207) 807-8594. 4pm. Across the country, Mensa teams of up to 5 will be competing starting at exactly the same time. We can have any number of teams. M & I Dinner 2014 Mensa, Intertel and I.S.P.E. Dinner Great (Oriental) Buffet, 4th Fridays of the Month Even if you don't consider yourself such a great player, if Newington, NH you have strong knowledge concentrated in a particular RSVP Host Walter Wakefield (603) 436-7250. area - and even if not - you can still contribute!! Participation is of no cost to the members - Maine Mensa will pay the cost per team. New monthly event in Topsham. New location of Smitty's theater opening in June. For more information, email [email protected] or Anne will host a monthly dinner/theater with the day call Anne Allen at 207-577-6362. and date to be determined. Newsletter 2 C ALEND A R O F E VENTS C ALENDAR OF E VENTS ( c o n t i n u e d from previous page ) OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS: OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS: (continued) Game Day at Sue's House, March 22 at 3:00pm. Mensa Does Happy Hour, May 12, 5:30pm. Susan Flaherty's house, 71 Vera Street, Portland, Maine Bonfire Country Bar, 37 Wharf St., Portland. Please join us for an afternoon of games. Bring any game Bacon Happy Hour. you would like to play. There will be plenty to eat and drink. Contact Sue Flaherty, (207) 210-0657 or Contact Sue Flaherty, (207) 210-0657 or [email protected]. [email protected] . Math/Science Forum/Meet, May 23, time TBA Game s Day/Mensa Games Night (6:00-11pm), Rob's house, 385 Portland Street, Yarmouth, Maine. April 11. Math/science enthusiasts gather and discuss favorite current facts, discoveries, puzzlers or favorite articles in Part I (Open to the Public): Weekend Anime is hosting an Mensa Brainwave - or anything else! Snacks provided, all-day board game event at the South Portland High School. more details later. Contact: Rob Lagos, (207) 846-3063 Drop in any time between 10am and 5pm. For more info: or [email protected]. https://www.facebook.com/events/747566595311687 . Possible Booze Cruise in June. Part II (Mensans and their guests): 231 State St., Portland. Cruise in the Portland bay area. Head back to Portland for a night of board games, snacks, Details at a later date. and drinks. Menu TBA but feel free to bring a favorite snack Contact Sue Flaherty, (207) 210-0657 or or beverage. RSVP for this part, please. [email protected]. Contact: Kat Masters, (207) 233-5222. Moxie Festival, Downtown Lisbon Falls, Mensa Does Happy Hour, April 14, 5:30. Saturday July 11, 11am on. Join us this month at Buck's Naked BBQ, 50 Wharf St., Hosted by Anne Allen: 577-6362 or Portland, Maine. There will be drink specials and some tasty [email protected]. appetizers to share - please join us! For more information contact Sue Flaherty, (207) 210-0657 or UPCOMING IMPORTANT NATIONAL [email protected] . EVENTS! Mensans Love Roller Derby! April 25 at 5:00pm. We are going to an exciting Maine Roller Derby double ** April 15 through May 31: American Mensa header bout at the Portland Expo. General admission tickets elections. will be available on the MRD website or at the door. Contact ** April 26, 4:00pm - 5:30pm: Culture Quest XXVI. Jim Sloan, (207) 807-8594, for details. ** April 30 - May 3: Mind Games 2015, San Diego. ** June 30: Colloquium 2015: Brain Health: "Peter Pan", May 1 - performance at 7:30 pm. Research, Challenges, and Breakthroughs, Louisville, St. Lawrence Arts Center, Portland, ME. KY. We are planning on attending the Friday May 1st evening ** July 1-5, 2015: Mensa Annual Gathering, performance of Vivid Motion's "Peter Pan" This is sure to Louisville, KY. be a fun evening of dance and you may recognize someone in the cast. For more information and info on tickets, contact Sue Flaherty, (207) 210-0657 or [email protected]. REA OORDINATORS A C Games Night in Yarmouth, May 9 at 6:30pm. MID-MAINE (Lewiston/Brunswick) Anne Allen Home of Rob Lagos, 385 Portland Street, Yarmouth, Maine. [email protected] (207) 577-6362 Games night at Rob's house in Yarmouth. Bring a game you would like. I will provide snacks and drinks but bring GREATER PORTLAND Susan Flaherty anything you would like! Please RSVP, Rob Lagos, (207) [email protected] (207) 210-0657 846- 3063 or [email protected].