Mensa: A Smart organization- Grant G.

Have you ever wondered if there was a place to either just hang out and be social or to work your brain until it hurts? Well, if your answer is yes then you would love to be a member of Mensa. However, you cannot just sign up. Membership requires you to make an exceptionally high score on an IQ test. not matter. The two tests How Do I Qualify For that determine whether or Mensa?

What is Mensa? not you are intelligent Two of the tests that deterMensa is a non- profit or- enough to become a men- mine whether or not you san are called the Stanford- are intelligent enough to ganization that was founded in 1946 by Roland Berrill and Dr. Lance Ware.

It was also meant to recognize and take advantage of human intelligence. It is a non-political and non religious or racial organization that is open to individuals who score in the top 2% of the country on an IQ test. It was organized so that these extremely bright individuals could enjoy each other’s company and participate in social and cultural activities together. The word Mensa

is a Latin word that means table. It is called this because it is a round-table society where race, religion, and political opinions do

Binet and the Cattell. You must make a 132 on the stanford-Binet and a 148 on the Cattell. Mensans publish members-only magazines and articles which include columns written by members and information on upcoming Mensa events.

Roland Berill

become a mensan are called the Stanford-Binet and the Cattell. You must make a 132 on the stanford -Binet and a 148 on the Cattell. Mensans publish members-only magazines and articles which include columns written by members and information on upcoming Mensa events.

Dr. Lance Ware

How Was Mensa Founded-

palmistry, phrenology, astrology, and diane-

Mensa was founded by Roland Berrill

tics. Palmistry is the art or practice of sup-

and Dr.Lance WareThe other founder of

posedly interpreting a person’s character

mensa, as mentioned earlier, is named Dr.

or predicting their future by examining the

Lance Ware. He had the idea of the high IQ

lines and other features of the hand, espe-

society. His full name was Lancelot Lionel

cially the palm and fingers. Phrenology is

Ware. He was an English barrister and bio-

the deep study of the shape and size of the

chemist. Dr. Ware was born in Mitcham, Sur-

cranium as a supposed indication of charac-

rey. DR. Ware attended Steyning Grammar

ter and mental abilities. Astrology is the

School and Sutton Grammar School. He

study of the movements and relative posi-

earned a PhD in biochemistry and became a

tions of celestial bodies interpreted as hav-

biochemistry lecturer at St Thomas’ Hospi-

ing an influence on human affairs and the

tal in London. During World War II Dr. WAre

natural world. Dianetics is a system devel-

worked at the Porton Down secret research

oped by the founder of the church of scien-

establishment. He then went on to become

tology, L. Ron Hubbard, that aims to relieve

a scientist for the Boots Company in Not-

Psychosomatic disorder by cleansing the

tingham. Dr. Ware died August 15 2000.

mind of harmful mental images.

IN 1946.Dr. Lance Ware came up with the idea for a high IQ club. Though Roland Berrill actually “founded” it because he got the startup cash and became mensa’s first secretary. At the first meeting somebody stood up and said that They thought that black people should be excluded. This statement just created an awkward silence. Then Berril instead said that the motion should be amended so that the club excluded green people with yellow stripes rather than black people. The motion was passed except for one vote against it. Berill was born in Australia in 1897.Though he moved with his family to London in 1901. He believed in

L. Ron Hubbard

Organizational Structure The Mensa club has more than 121,000 members from 50 different groups world wide. The biggest groups are the American Mensa, British Mensa, and Mensa Germany.

American Mensa consists of more than 57,000 members. British Mensa consists of more than 21,000 members. Mensa Germany has 11,000 plus members. If the National group has too many members they get divided into local groups. American mensa consists of 134 different local groups. the largest American Mensa local group has over 2000 members while the smallest only consists of fewer than 100. There are members everywhere including the smallest country on Earth which is Vatican city. Sometimes members will form Special Interest Groups at different levels such as International, national, as well as local levels. Special Interest Groups or, SIG’s, represent many different interests. They represent both common interests as well as the weirdest interests.

They can be motorcycle clubs or even entrepreneurial co-operations. Certain SIGs are related to geographic groups where different groups act on their own of official hierarchy.

There are also SIGs where the members do not even meet each other it is all done electronically. The Mensa foundation creates it’s own Mensa Research Journal where both Mensans as well as non-Mensans write about various interests regarding human intelligence.

Gatherings The Mensa club has many events for members to attend. Many countries hold a large event called the Annual Gathering. Every year it is held in a different city.

There are speakers, dancers, leadership classes, kids games and kids events. The American and Canadian Annual Gatherings are usually on their independence days. American Mensa Annual Gathering is respectively held on July 4th. Canada has their Annual Gathering on July 1st, their independence day. There are also gatherings that are a b it smaller called Regional Gatherings. They are usually held in cities that attract members from large areas. The biggest Regional Gathering in the United States is one held in Chicago near the time of Halloween. The party is a costume party where members wear pun-based costumes.

The Mensa world Gathering in 2006 was held in Orlando, Florida and more than 2,500 people attended from 30 different countries. It was almost a week long being held from the 8th to the 13th. In 2010, the American Mensa and Canadian Mensa held a joint-gathering in, Dearborn, Michigan, to mark the 50th anniversary of Mensa. This is not the only time the American Mensa and Canadian Mensa have joined together for this event.

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