MAINESCENE - Maine Mensa



Mainescene

Volume 3, Issue 4 Spring 2012

Executive Committee

LocSec Anne W. Allen (207) 577-6362

locsec@maine.us.

Asst LocSec Susan Flaherty (207) 210-0657

suejflaherty@

Treasurer Gerald Nessmann (207) 564-7875

gerald@nessmann.us

Publications Robert S. Lagos (207) 846-3063

robert.lagos@

Editor & At Large Kevin P. Tremblay (207) 270-1744

ME_Real_Estate@

Proctor Coordinator Martin Perfit (207) 862-6475

MartinLP@

Ombudsman Kathryn E. Masters (207) 233-5222

k8masters@

Region 1 RVC Andrew Heffeman (518) 788-0019

Rvc1@us.

|American Mensa, Ltd. | | |

|1229 Corporate Drive West | |Stamp |

|Arlington, Texas 76006-6103 | |REQUIRED |

| | | |

| | |

|ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED |MAILING ADDRESS |

| |Street Number and Name |

| |City, State 98765-4321 |

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Maine Mensa

PO Box 184

Topsham, Maine 04086

Phone (207) 557-6362

Mensa is an international organization of people with an IQ at or above the 98th percentile. Mensa provides a forum for intellectual exchange among members. Its activities include the exchange of ideas by lectures, discussions, journals, special-interest groups, and local, regional, national, and international gatherings. Mensa does not hold any opinions, or have, or express, any political or religious views. Opinions expressed herein are those of the individual contributors and of the editor and not of American Mensa Ltd or of Maine Mensa. For more information go to the web site: http:// us.. The MaineScene is a free publication for members of Maine Mensa #01/040.

Editor’s Yak

By, Kevin P. Tremblay

2012 is the end of the world as we know it with the Mayan Calendar ending, and prognosticators saying, so why wait to celebrate? Illuminate your life with Mensa fellowship to help guide your ascension into humankind’s next step in our evolution, to the celestial realms. A good way to prepare for your personal ascension is to attend the American Mensa End of Time Annual Gathering in Reno, in July.

Then over the weekend of August 10 – 12th I will host an event here in Ripley; Flower Essences and Music, with an aim to increase participants’ vibrational resonance for an easier ascension. But for more earth-bound guests there will be good food, song, and copious flowers, and dancing is allowed

In this edition of the MaineScene, Raymond Taylor is highlighted. Raymond was the Hospitality Host for our Mini Shopping RG held in Freeport. In the photo of him, he is receiving the American Mensa Intellectual Benefits Award. We are fortunate to have Raymond in our local group.

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Calendar of Events

TRIVIA NIGHTS

MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2012 7:00 – 9:30 PM

Lilee’s Public House -

Brunswick, Maine

Mondays, May 14, June 11 & July 9, 2012 6:30 PM

Buffalo Wings of Auburn, Maine

Host: Anne Allen

First Tuesday of the Month, May 1, June 5….

Ri-Ra Irish Pub, Portland, Maine

Hosted by Anne Allen & Susan Flaherty

Maine Mensa EXCOMM Meeting

ANGLERS RESTAURANT,

134 Elm Street, Newport, Maine

May 20, 2012 2:00 – 4:00 PM



American Mensa End of Time AG

JULY 4 – 8, 2012 – RENO, NV

Silver Legacy & Circus Circus Hotels – Activity Sites

To Register: ag.us.

Cape Cod Mini-RG

MAY 11-13, 2012

The Corsair Motel

41 Chase Ave., Dennisport, MA

M & I Dinner 2012

MENSA, INTEL AND I.S.P.S DINNER

Great (Oriental) Buffet, 4th Fridays of the Month

Newington, NH

RSVP Host Walter Wakefield (603) 436-7250

Colloquium 2012

MAY 4-6, 2012, BIOTERRORISM STRIKES HOME – OAKLAND PARK, KS

July 3, 2012, Social & Video Games – Reno, Nevada



Region 1 Webpage



NATIONAL MENSA WEBPAGE



AREA COORDINATORS

MID-MAINE – LEWISTON/BRUNSWICK ANNE ALLEN

wilsnanni@ (207) 577-6362

Bangor – North Martin Perfit

martinlouisp@ (207) 862-6475

Central – Augusta/Waterville Vacant

Greater Portland Susan Flaherty

Sjflaherty2002@ (207) 210-0657

Southern Maine Vacant

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LocSec Speaks

By Anne W. Allen

Well finally we have Spring! ‘Lil darlin’ it’s been a long cold lonely winter…lalala’.

Now that we’re out of that season, we need to gear up for the next 3 fun seasons. We’re looking at a bunch of activities coming up for everyone to enjoy. You’ll see a Young Mensans event, some new trivia get-togethers in Brunswick and in Auburn, lunch in Bangor, etc. Try one out – just stop by and say ‘hi’. We’ll try to get some ever-popular meet-and-greets on the calendar also. It’s going to be a busy time from now till November, at least!

I’m really hoping we can get some volunteers to ramp up some local places to meet. If I were in Wells, I certainly wouldn’t travel to Downtown Portland for an event. And if I were in Dexter, I wouldn’t think that Brunswick was local. So we need some people in Southern Maine and Central Maine to step up. Give it a try. We (the officers) will help – and attend.

It’s an election year, too! Want to be a voting member of the ExComm? We meet in the following 4 months – February, May, August, and November. Otherwise we stay in touch by email, phone, and events. Interested in becoming a proctor? Ask for details. It’s a great way to meet new people

continued on page 2

and positively impact Maine Mensa. Our newest members are usually our most active.

So far our numbers have been essentially steady the last 5 years. We drop in April while some forget to pay their dues by March 31, but then we pick them back up throughout the year. We lose some by moving, and pick up some from testing. Such is life.

Anyways, it is always a pleasure being your LocSec (President) and I enjoy it probably more than I should considering how much it pays - hahaha! Drop me a line or call - would love to hear from you.

Bangor-Brewer Area Lunch

As threatened in a recent e-mailing, the long dormant Bangor Area lunch meets are about to resume. We’ll start in on Tuesdays or Thursdays in mid May. In the near future we’ll start alternating between Bangor/Brewer and Ellsworth/Bar Harbor.

Reservations will not be required but we will ask you to let us know if you plan to attend so we can arrange for suitable space.

My recent attempt to e-mail the entire Maine membership using the national site system failed to reach more than half our members! Please notify me by any means to be sure of receiving notification of what we hope will become on-going events.

Martin Perfit

MartinLP@

Maine Mensa Election Year

We need a Nominating Committee consisting of 3 members by Sept 15th. We also need a 3 member Election Committee by November 1st. These 2 committees can be the same people (and with the size of our group, they probably should be the same 3 people).

Since no member of either of these committees can be a voting member of the ExComm, or a candidate, we need 3 members out there to volunteer. ALL of your duties can be accomplished by EMAIL or PHONE.

Unless you’re going to be a candidate, or are ON the ExComm, you can be on this committee. We also need a chair. Don’t worry, the rules are easy to follow and the process is simple. It’s a good thing to sometimes give back to this organization through a little time of service. Contact Anne Allen if you’re interested.

Vacancies

Program Chairman – This is a voting position on the ExComm and has never been filled. Essentially it is the Chairman of all the Area Coordinators. In the Bylaws it states “The program Chairman shall be responsible for arranging for local group activities, and shall coordinate with and advise the officers and the Editor of these activities.”

Area Coordinators for Southern Maine and Central Maine - Ideally, you would try to get something going in your area at least once a quarter. It does not mean you have to hold the event. Just be the one that others contact about your area. If you do know of a restaurant where you can get together sometimes, and schedule it ahead on the Facebook page or website, that would be good.

Webmaster - Just keep the website functional and spiffy. Little time involved, just someone who cares and has the ability. Also monitor Facebook if needed.

Young Mensans News

Devin Herald, and his brother Dexter (as well as Mom and Dad) presented a program at the New Hampshire RG titled “Introduction to Modular Origami”. Only positive feedback came from their participation. It was a packed house – more adults than kids at this one!

Elijah Towne, and his Odyssey of the Mind Team, took FIRST PLACE in their division at the Maine State Competition in Wells.

RVChat

One of the missions of Mensa is to support intelligence in the community.  One way to do this is through the scholarship program that is organized by the Mensa Foundation.  The Foundation is a non-profit side of Mensa that awards $50,000 in scholarships across the country each year.  Some local groups even support their own scholarship programs above and beyond the national program.  Last year, we had some great entries, and I want to thank everyone who applied.  More importantly, I want to thank the dozens of volunteers that make this program possible.  All the entries are read at the local level and then again at the regional level

From the Mensa Foundation Website: “The Foundation’s college scholarship program bases its awards totally on essays written by the applicants. Consideration is not given to grades, academic program or financial need.  The Foundation’s U.S. scholarship program is operated by approximately 400 volunteers around the country with support from the Foundation’s office staff.  U.S. applicants need not be Mensa members.”

This year, we are looking for a Regional Scholarship Chair.  Experience with the program is appreciated, but not required.  Responsibilities include communicating with the local Scholarship chairs in Region 1 and the National Program Coordinator.  In addition, the Chair arranges the regional scholarship judging of the entries that reach the regional level.  For info, please contact me directly, and I will share with you more details on the appointment.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Andrew Heffernan

518-788-0019

rvc1@us.

Raymond G. Taylor

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Raymond is an accomplished mathematician, attested to by his having won the Franz Edelman Award in 1997. More recently he was selected to receive the American Mensa Intellectual Benefits Award. These prestigious awards were given for his work developing a modeling software algorithm that larger school districts use to predict future growth needs. To date his integrated planning method has determined where 5.5 billion dollars of new school construction is located.

He was born in Pennsylvania and attended the seminary there, graduating in 1962, and since has attended many universities and obtained two PhDs. Raymond is a Priest in the Episcopal Church, and has always volunteered his services to the church. He was more recently the Rector for the Episcopalian Church in Malaga, Spain that employed six clergy members.

Raymond first came to Maine in 1977 accepting the Superintendant of Schools position for Skowhegan, and from there went on to become the Superintendant of the Augusta Schools. He moved away from Maine to teach at University of North Carolina for the next twenty-five years. In 2000 he began teaching online for the university, and spent six months in southern Spain operating an olive farm, and six months in Maine each year while continuing to teach and mentor doctoral candidates.

I was fascinated by his olive farming adventures in Spain and to hear about how oil is extracted from the olive. Like many prized varieties of fruit, Raymond grows the Ajiblancho olive which is grafted onto a hardier wild olive rootstock. This black olive is grown for oil and is not as a table olive. These trees can be thirty feet tall and as wide. Every year approximately 40% of the new growth is pruned out so no branches are shaded, as olives will not set on shaded branches as Raymond explained.

Last year he took a position with the Maine Department of Labor in the Bureau of Labor Standards, as the Statistical Program Supervisor, allowing him to move back to Maine. Raymond said that Maine’s population is oldest in the nation and challenges our workforce. There are more accidents due to lifting and people hurting their backs, and issues surrounding long-term illness. He said, “There are different kinds of concerns than in the past. Logging, fishing and paper and pulp industries have seen the greatest decrease in jobs of all industries in Maine.”

Raymond joined Mensa in 1965. As a student, his professor asked if he would like to have lunch with him at the faculty club, which turned out to be a Mensa sponsored event. His professor asked if he would like to join, as his test scores indicated he could.

We are sure glad that Raymond is back in Maine. What a treasure he is!

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Flower Essences and Music

A weekend surrounded by flowers and music is being offered August 10th to 12th. This will be a weekend of sensual pleasures for Mensa members and their guests at this event hosted by Kevin Tremblay, your editor of MaineScene, and Maine Mensa Member-at-Large. There will be guest speakers, ongoing pot luck and barbeques, poetry reading, stories and house and garden tours. Other events are in the works with more complete schedule of events in the summer edition of MaineScene.

Off site there is Lake Wassookeag for swimming and boating, the Grist Mill Museum in Dexter for area history, and many scenic and recreational places close by. Robert has promised to play a few selections for us, and other music will be heard. Plant swapping and camping will be offered. Call for more information or for accommodations call Kevin @ (207) 270-1744.

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The Newsletter of Maine Mensa

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