As the RG Chair and therefore the person mainly responsible for the phrase "Owlizona", I took personal offense at Mark Motta’s unjustified put-down of the phrase. Perhaps I wouldn’t have been nearly as insulted if Mark had taken the time to come out to one of the many RG meetings – well publicized in the Calendar pages and open to all Mensans – and mentioned his displeasure in person and then pitched in a helped the committee schedule more of the intellectually stimulating workshops he craved. We felt we had a good mix that year, but more workshops are always good to have.
Unfortunately, far too many Mensans prefer to sit and do nothing but carp at the efforts of others then complain that there aren’t enough good events to interest them. But here’s the news: the activity fairies – you know, those wonderful little creatures who come in the middle of the night and plan all our Mensa events for us while we’re sleeping – were eliminated in the great Mensa budget crunch of a few years ago. They won’t be back. We have to plan the activities ourselves. NOT complain about the activities that others plan for us. Plan the activities ourselves..
My irritation at Mark’s complaints, however, pales in comparison to my reaction at his comment about the "cliquish nature" of Mensa events. Let’s put this old cliched statement to bed once and for all because IT IS NOT TRUE. Period. End of statement. In November, 1992, I walked into the Phoenix RG hospitality suite on Thanksgiving night, not knowing a soul in the room. Within a half hour, I was involved in conversations and made to feel at home by every Mensan I met, female, male, single, coupled. The only "clique" in Mensa is the one that permits the 98th percentile to join the organization. Any other barrier to friendship or conversation is created by each individual.
If you walk into a room and don’t talk to anyone, there’s a good chance no one will talk to you. Not because we Mensans are unfriendly, but because we Mensans tend to respect each other’s privacy. If you walk into a room and introduce yourself to others, and especially if you introduce yourself as someone new to the organization, you will be included in the conversations that are going on. There’s nothing magical about feeling a part of a group. Will you meet a few clunkers? Yes. And I defy you to find any organization that doesn’t have its share. But by and large, Mensa is a very user-friendly organization that will offer you the opportunity to meet new friends and take part in activities "worthy of [your] premium gray matter". If it doesn’t, you have no one to blame but yourself.
I want to do everything I can to get more people active in this wonderful organization. So if you need or want any in breaking the ice at a Mensa event, feel free to call the Membership Committee: myself at 243-0480 or Bill Rouse at 835-7997.
Carol Young