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IBD Meeting 2011

sentatives from 29 National Mensas around the world sat in conference at the thirty-fifth meeting of the International Board of Directors (IBD) of Mensa International, held at the Kempinski Hotel, Sofia, Bulgaria, from October 14-16. Also at the table were Sherman Chui from Mensa China, Executive Director Michael Feenan, and Administration Manager Christine Cousins. Observers included International Ombudsman Martyn Davies, International SIGHT Coordinator Rich Kingston, IJ Editor Kate Nacard, Honorary President Abbie Salny and MERF CEO Greg Timmers. The Agenda was extensive, covering updated reports from national chairmen, discussion items, presentations, morning tea appointments and tabled motions. Presentations included the development of Mensa China (Sherman Chui), American Mensas Gifted Youth Program (Pam Donahoo), the current status and possible future direction of the Leadership Exchange Program (Elissa Rudolph), how to maintain membership growth by keeping remensa international journal january 2012

Thirty-five repre-

tention rates high (Matthias Moehl), when national Mensas have internal problems (Willem Bouwens), and a status update on the revised Strategic Plan of Mensa International (Willem Bouwens). Dan Burg (on behalf of the Governance Papers Advisory Committee) led discussions on the status of direct international members (DIMs) residing in an emerging (ENM) or provisional national Mensa (PNM), sanctions of DIMs in ENMs and PNMs, and the progression from an emerging to provisional to full national Mensas. There was also considerable discussion on the funding of national programs for the Gifted and Talented. Decisions made by the IBD included that a Media Advisory and Creation (IMAC) committee be established, that the Leadership Exchange Program be continued, that IBD delegates authority to the ExComm to appoint members to many non-elective positions and committees, and that the IBD sets the component for the fiscal year ending 31st March 2013 at 4%. The IBD accepted the audited financial statements for Mensa International Ltd for the year ended 31st March

2011 as presented. Amongst other appointments, Sara Henrysson Eidvall (Sweden) was reappointed International Supervisory Psychologist, Jean-Marc Rakotolahy (DIM from Madagascar) appointed Constitutional Review Officer, Martyn Davies (UK) was reappointed International Ombudsman, and Cinthia Reyes (Mexico) and Vesper Burnett (USA) were appointed to the newly-established International Media Advisory and Creation committee (IMAC). Mensa Bulgaria was a host extraordinaire - everything ran seamlessly from the accommodation, to the sound equipment needed, to the media interviews, to the city tour - a much-needed and appreciated respite after three days of intensive debate. Thank you, Mensa Bulgaria. Next years IBD meeting will be hosted by Mensa Croatia in Dubrovnik, October 10-15.

Kate Nacard 05

m e ns a i n te r n a ti on a l j o u r n a l Mensa Japan - our newest Full National Mensa

Mensa Japan became a Full National Mensa in September, 2011. Chairman Hisashi Niizuma tells of its history...
I came across Mensa approximately 35 years ago. It was in Tokyo at a lively monthly meeting. However, at the time, with the only communication being a printed bulletin and no internet, just a few volunteers carried the burden of making Mensa work and the members gradually decreased. members. As a regular of the quizzes each week, I appear on TV, and we do much publicity work such as manuscript offers, the TV show, and have made a movie advertising the quiz in cooperation with the puzzle company.

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Connecting Mensa Travellers: SIGHT

At the first ever conference for
international SIGHT coordinators (October 15-16, 2011 in Sofia, Bulgaria) there was full agreement on spotlighting that SIGHT was a vehicle to connect travelling Mensans. While accommodation was often offered, this was not the main purpose of SIGHT. Getting travelling Mensans in contact with other Mensans, 1) for information, 2) to discuss world politics, 3) to play games, 4) have a lunch, etc. are the SIGHT goals and this applies both internationally and nationally. At home in Sweden, we have been trying to increase the ease with which members from one part of Sweden can more easily get in contact with Mensans in other areas when they are travelling within the country. This can be done partly by looking at the calendars for local activities, but there are often smaller things that dont make the calendar, and in addition, it can be beneficial to have an individual to contact. Since only Mensans can log into the member area of our web site, besides access to our local calendar, they can get access to a map with SIGHT contacts in different areas. These are people that can be contacted for more local information and even sometimes for a place to stay. Some of the same type of efficient contact could be arranged internationally if we had a single sign in. Therefore a major point in our presentation to IBD, was the importance of being able to access both the international Mensa web

We hold a regular meeting in Tokyo and Osaka every month. We perform There was a glacial various promotions epoch of Mensa for and continue to years, but activity started make an effort to again in 2006. We started increase the memadvertising with the bership from now on. Wed like to Internet and a magazine, and the members gradually increased. hold the IBD of meeting 2016 in Japan if possible! We were approved as an Emerging Mensa in Hong Kong IBD in 2007. Thank you to the Director of Development Ms Bibiana Balanyi and I write articles in the magazine to all of those world members who every month, we work on a quiz have welcomed us. show on TV, and our membersship Hisashi Niizuma is still increasing with now over 600

Next years IBD meeting will be held in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

mensa international journal january 2012

What would you like to see in the IJ? More articles? Puzzles? Member communication channels? Send your ideas to me at ijeditor@mensa.org

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site and at least some information on the web sites of other countries, directly after signing in to our own national web site. (Mensans neednt proliferate the need for multi IDs and security codes.) There were, of course, lots of other inspiring discussions at the SIGHT conference. One of the most interesting concerned a web site for Mensans being developed in Hungary by among others, Eszter Chrobacsinszky, who was at our conference. The site is at present on sight.netstudio. hu. I believe that we all went home very glad for the support of IBD through ExComm, financial support of many National Mensa Organisations, and the personal financing of many of the participants that made our conference possible. Despite the importance of modern technology including, for example, Facebook, nothing can match the occasional face-to-face meeting with immediate feedback and personal contact. Bob Kaill, SIGHT Coordinator Mensa Sweden

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The 2011 International Board of Directors (IBD) meeting was held in Sofia, Bulgaria. One of Bulgarias newest members, Svilen Georgiev, 36, tells us a little about himself.
Ive spent most of my career in marketing communications working in several international advertising agencies. However, I gradually came to realize that what I truly loved doing was writing. I followed my heart and now I am a freelance writer for different lifestyle magazines and websites. But you know us writers we are always underpaid (except for the Paulo Coelhos and Danielle Steels of course), so I try to keep an open eye for job opportunities in marketing as well. Apart from writing, travelling is my greatest passion, as it gives me an unparalleled feeling of freedom and being ones truest self. I also love sports and practice different kinds of them. My other keen interests include music, cinema, politics and various social issues. Its no wonder all of them have been present in my articles. Like many other good things in my life, joining Mensa happened somewhat by chance. I had always thought of doing it but it had been more of an idea than a conscious effort on my side, until this summer when I saw an announcement about an upcoming test. Apparently I did well enough to become a member. Things have been moving really fast for me since then just a month after joining I took part (albeit a very small one) in organizing the IBD meeting, held for the first time ever in Bulgaria. It celebrated the

Delegates to the SIGHT Conference held in Sofia in October 2011 enjoy a break in the sunshine.
mensa international journal january 2012

65th anniversary of Mensa International and marked the 20th year of existence of the Bulgarian chapter. It was a memorable experience indeed to meet so many different people from all corners of the globe all sharing the same curiosity and thirst for knowledge. There was also a sense of pride that we could show our guests at least some of the natural splendour and fascinating culture that our country has to offer. The start has been great but what do I expect to get out of my Mensa membership in the long run? Above all, personal enrichment and the unique opportunity to meet amazing people from diverse cultures. And who knows, maybe from these interactions might spring new and exciting writing projects for me. My friends keep asking me if joining Mensa has been worth it. My answer is always the same: Every second of it.

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IBD Meeting Sofia, 2011

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