09 Why Should I Join Mensa?
Description
This article is from the Mensa FAQ, by Phil Hill phil@miracle.com with numerous contributions by others.
09 Why Should I Join Mensa?
There are many intelligent reasons to join Mensa. Whether you actively
attend Mensa meetings, or simply relish the intellectual stimulation
that membership promotes, you'll find the benefits of Mensa membership
to be numerous indeed.
* JOIN FOR THE INTELLECTUAL STIMULATION.
Think-two-three, think-two-three! Mensa provides intriguing ways to
flex your mental muscles. You'll find intellectual resources in the
Mensa Bulletin, in local newsletters, in Special Interest Group (SIG)
newsletters, and at our annual and regional conventions.
* JOIN FOR THE SOCIAL INTERACTION.
Mensa meetings are anything but dull! Local groups meet at least
monthly... for dinner and drinks on a Friday night, get-togethers
featuring a speaker, or a lively, free-wheeling discussion. All with
fellow members who share your intellectual interests.
Some groups have special get-togethers or activities throughout the
month. Others, especially the larger groups, have events on
practically every day. Of course, participation in local group
activities is always entirely at your option.
There's also a widely attended annual convention offering workshops,
seminars, and parties. Plus, some 50 regional gatherings are held
around the country each year, offering social and intellectual
excitement.
* JOIN FOR YOUR SPECIAL INTERESTS.
Whatever your passion, there's almost certain to be a Special Interest
Group (SIG) filled with other Mensans who share it! Mensa offers
approximately 200 SIGs, in mind-boggling profusion from African
Violets to zoology. Along the way you'll find microbiology, and
systems analysis, but you'll also find Sherlock Holmes, chocolate and
Star Trek. There's the expected: biochemistry, space science,
economics -- and the unexpected: poker, roller skating scuba diving,
UFOs and witchcraft. There are SIGs for breadmaking, winemaking,
cartooning, silversmithing, and clowning. Heraldry, semantics and
Egyptology co-exist with beekeeping, motorcycling and tap dancing.
Sports SIGs cover the classics (baseball, basketball, football) and
the not-so-classic (skeetshooting, hangliding, skydiving). And any
Mensan who can't find a SIG to join can easily start one.
* JOIN FOR THE PUBLICATIONS YOU'LL GET.
Ten times a year, you'll receive our interesting and thought-
provoking magazine, the Mensa Bulletin. It incorporates the
"International Journal," and both publications contain views and
information about Mensa, as well as contributions by Mensans on a wide
variety of subjects.
Also, you'll get lively local newsletters informing members of local
activities and events, and other items of interest and announcements
of special interest.
"Interloc" (also published ten times yearly) is free to officers--and
for other active members on request. It contains news an information
about various society administrative and internal matters.
The "Mensa Research Journal," published quarterly by MERF, reports on
Mensa-supported research. It also publishes original articles in
diverse fields of interest, and is available for a small subscription
fee.
"Isolated M" is a popular and informative newsletter sent to those
members who are geographically or otherwise isolated from a local
group. It, too, is available at nominal cost to any other member.
The Mensa "Register," published every other year, lists all the
members and includes such information as geographic location, areas of
expertise and/or interest and other professional and personal data.
In addition, Mensa books, gifts and other materials are available to
members.
* JOIN FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS.
Mensa sponsors a members-only credit card and insurance program.
There's also a program that aids traveling Mensans.
* JOIN FOR THE GOOD OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
Mensa members also find opportunities to contribute to the betterment
of society through programs such as:
* The American Mensa Education and Research Foundation (MERF)
MERF is a philanthropic, nonprofit, tax-exempt organization funded
primarily by gifts from Mensa members and others. MERF awards
scholarships, sponsors colloquia, grants research awards, and
publishes articles. Of particular interest to MERF is the study of
the intellectually gifted. Research projects in the social and
psychological sciences supported by MERF have included: measurement
of the upper levels of intelligence, psycho-social adjustment,
identification of cultural differences, educational strategies and
neurophysiological attributes of giftedness, and intelligence and
aging.
Scholarships are awarded to approximately 60 students nationwide
each year. More than 5,000 students apply for these awards, which
range from $200 to $1,000. Awards are made to applicants enrolled
in degree-granting programs at accredited American colleges and
universities based on a competitive essay. There are also awards
made from several endowed funds, including awards to women who
re-enter academic study after a period of employment or family
management, and awards for the study of engineering, mathematics,
medicine, the physical sciences, and history.
MERF also sponsors weekend-long meetings on serious issues.
Authorities are invited to speak and discussion follows. Themes for
past meetings (Colloquia) have included "Science and Society: Our
Critical Challenges," "The Impact of the Arts on Civilization," "The
Gifted in Society," and "Forecasting a Valid Tomorrow."
* The Gifted Children Resource Program.
Which compiles and provides information for gifted children at the
national and local levels.
* Mensa groups also get involved in many volunteer activities within
their communities.
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