General
Feel life is passing you by? Activities with fellow Mensans will turn this around. Think coffees, martinis, movies, dinners, quizzes, anything that ravels up the tired sleeve of care. We’re informal and unstructured, on occasion intellectually stimulating. Mensa Calgary is a community where members interact, network, support each other, and enjoy each other’s company. For further info, contact Patricia at kathleen4057@yahoo.ca ["There's no pleasure on earth that's worth sacrificing for the sake of an extra five years in the geriatric ward of the Sunset Old People's Home.” (John Mortimore)]
Mensa Test
We’ve scheduled a session at 6:30pm on Thursday, November 6, 2008. If any readers work at a post-secondary institution such as U of C, SAIT, or Mount Royal, or if you think potential Mensans are affiliated with your company or organization, we’d appreciate if you post a notice on a bulletin board, in the corporate classified ads or other appropriate location. For the notice format, contact Vicki at vherd@shaw.ca or (403) 243-6144. We’ll advertise future tests or generally in some local community newsletters commencing December. If you have any other ideas for advertising Mensa Calgary, please let Vicki know. Also, if you have friends or colleagues who may qualify for Mensa, please let them know about the upcoming test.
The testing fee is $90. This covers the cost of writing 2 tests, receiving feedback on eligibility for Mensa membership, plus the first year’s membership fee if you qualify. You write 2 tests so you have 2 chances to qualify for Mensa. Full time students pay only $70.
A pictorial test is available if your mother tongue is not English and you do not want your test scores to be disadvantaged by language.
You need to score in the top 2% of the population in one of the two tests to qualify.
Contact Vicki with questions about Mensa or the testing, and let her know if you want to write the tests so she can plan resources and give detailed directions to the testing site, likely at meeting Room 2, Basement, W R Castell Central Library, 616 Macleod Trail SE, Calgary.
MensaGenerationX
Viva the under-30s!! Ideas and participation are welcome. Beat the winter blues by contacting Leslie Joanne at august_83@hotmail.com
CoffeeFests
Brighten dark November by attending our coffee soirees, Tuesday November 18th and Thursday November 27th. 7:00 pm both evenings at Kaffa (2138-33rd Ave SW, corner of 33rd Ave & 21st St). Parking on 21st. A copy of Harry Potter will be at the table. RSVP not required, atmosphere great, munchies superb. Really funky. Visit Casablanca afterwards for a DVD; they have the best selection in the city. Cash only at Kaffa.
DinnerNight
November’s Dinner Night will be held at Bolero’s located at 6920 McLeod Trail (above Smugglers) on Friday November 21, 2008 @ 6:00 pm. Bolero’s is a popular place and it took time to get a reservation for our group. The restaurant is Brazilia-inspired, a steakhouse featuring rodizio-style dining. Gaucho chefs bring churrasco (sword-like skewers) to the tables, slicing off pieces of tender meat, vegetables and even sweet grilled pineapple for tasting. A gourmet fresco and hot bar offset the meat selections. All you can eat. There are also plenty of gourmet salads, cheeses and vegetables if you aren’t into meat. Check the place out at http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/life-style/food/big-beef/ You must RSVP for this one, so call Patricia asap: almostp@shaw.ca.
BookClub
The Mensa Book Club will meet on Friday November 14th, 2008 @ 7:00 pm at Patricia’s home in Bankview, hosted by Jeff Pugh. We’ll each discuss a book of our choice. Please contact Patricia (almostp@shaw.ca) if you want to join or try it. The club is basically fun, full of novel ideas (groan). Our membership has been pretty steady but we’re always looking for new members. You can talk about any book at all for the November meeting, so consider joining us.
SecondTuesdays(of the Month)
Second Tuesday will be held (naturally) on Tuesday November 11th, 2008, at the home of Vicki Herd (2469 Sorrel Mews SW) @ 7:30 pm (near the Safeway in Garrison Woods). Contact Vicki (vherd@shaw.ca / 243-6144) or Patricia ( almostp@shaw.ca / 212-1461) for additional information. RSVP not required. Second Tuesday is a casual open house. Drop by and meet some of the other members.
OtherUpComings
Movie night is scheduled for Friday, November 7th, 2008. Details to follow. Suggestions? Contact Patricia, you know the email address.
Jeff and Leslie will host a Novemdrums party. Place? Bookers. When? Saturday, November 15th, 2008 at 6:00 pm. Check it out: 316 3rd Street SE, just off the 4th Avenue fly-over with free parking in front. Members and guests welcome to drop in for dinner and/or drinks. http://www.bookersbbq.com/F23.cfm
If anyone wants to host a games night or video night in November, let Patricia know. Suggestions and comments always welcome.
Last Month:
October was busy.
We had about a dozen attendees for the lecture: A Calgary Pilot At War (Squadron Leader Thomas H. Hoare DFC), Air Combat Over Western Europe 1942-45, presented by the dynamic Stéphane Guevremont. The lecture was outstanding and we plan to have Stephane back in January. For those of you who did not attend, you missed out. Stéphane can lecture on many subjects related to WWI or II. We’ll narrow the choices in December, then select the next topic. Perhaps WWI this time. We’re always on the lookout for lecture suggestions so please let us know if you have ideas/contacts. We’re keen to develop a regular lecture series.
The October book club discussed The Great Depression by Pierre Burton. Only a couple of us actually read the book, but everyone learned something from it. Sobering material.
Jeff, Maria, David and Colleen enjoyed the day trip to the Drumheller Museum, Gopher Museum and area. Jeff will host more road trips next spring. Ellis Bird Farm, Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump/Ft. Macleod, Frank Slide, Reynolds Museum, Waterton Lakes and Great Falls/Ft. Benton are possibilities.
Eight members attended the dinner at SAIT. The food was elegant and delicious, consisting of five courses served over approximately two hours. Plenty of time for chat. There’s a fabulous buffet on Thursdays.
We welcome six new members to Mensa Calgary. Congratulations to Robert, Andrew, Raihan, Brad, Jeanette and Joey.
For other and general event queries, email Patricia (almostp@shaw.ca).
