Local Secretary's Message
By Gerry Schulze
E-mail: gerrysch@yahoo.com
Contents
I would like to blame someone else for the January M*Ark. It bordered on the fraudulent to call a postcard a newsletter. The only question is what side of the border it fell on.
If that wasn't enough, I didn't send it out in time, so it only served to tell members that they had just missed a meeting. I would like to blame someone else, but I can't. It was entirely my doing.
I have been doing a less than exemplary job in this position to date, but at least Bruce, Maags, DeLynn, Duke, and Richard were allowing me to disguise the job I was doing by their services. In particular Duke put together a fabulous and interesting newsletter, and Maags's web page is truly a work of art.
I really don't know what you want out of Mensa. I know what I want out of it. Mensa is a great place for people who score well on standardized tests to network and discuss our common interests. Therefore, my favorite things have been the meetings, the newsletter, and especially recently, the Yahoo! Groups.
Last week Maags got an email from a distressed mother. Her son had scored well on a standardized test, but was a discipline problem in school. Does that sound familiar to anyone? The lady had turned to Mensa for help.
I responded to the email with my personal observations with a caveat about my lack of qualifications. Intelligent children frequently misbehave because they are bored. Learning disabilities or conditions like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are often underdiagnosed in smart kids because they perform well enough academically in spite of the condition. That was the best answer I could give this poor lady. I could see my own mother asking the same question.
I think our next meeting could be fun. Bring your games. Bring your friends, family, and significant others. The Family Game Center has a lot of room to play. Maybe my son will tell you all about Dungeons & Dragons. I hope this newsletter gets out in time to tell you about the meeting before it happens.
If there is any interest in having meetings outside Central Arkansas, let me know. Take advantage of the Internet resources.
Mensa is whatever Mensans decide to make it. Let's do it and have fun.