NorbaMensa May 2011 (last issue I prepared)
From the Editor /\/\/\ Travis Hardin

Few articles were sent for publication this month, so I would like to use the space to tell you what Mensa has meant to me. And to caution you about power vacuums. My young niece Angela Hardin told me about Mensa in the late 80s, and in the summer of 1989, after a certain amount of retesting, I made the grade and joined Maryland Mensa. I drove 90 minutes each way countless times to get to Mensa activities in Baltimore from Hagerstown. I was in my 40s, five-years’ single, fun-loving, sociable, and youthful, and I met similar folks. I was well-liked. The newsletter editor took a liking to me, and I began to write a humorous column. I changed direction and for seveal years wrote a column on philosophy and psychology from a humanist viewpoint. I didn’t take any other responsibility. It was a rich and happy ten years, heady, with not much downside.

I made Huntsville my retirement home in 1999 and right away I sampled a Mensa FS&M and a dinner meeting. The Mensans in Huntsville were tamer -- Wait -- was it I who, at age 58, was tamer? Certainly, at the end of 12 years I enjoy less dancing, drinking, and hiking, and more eating out, discussing ideas or technology, and sleep. I enjoy my Mensa companions here and my time here has not been without adventure -- Jeeze Louise, in 2003 I married one of my Mensa companions!

In Huntsville, after seeing my mother through her final illness, I pitched in almost every year:

2001 Lone (Restaurant) Arranger

2002 Lone Arranger

2003 Lone Arranger

2004 Local Secretary and Program Chair (Lone Arranger folded in)

2005 Local Secretary and Program Chair (")

2007 Local Secretary

2008 Local Secretary and Program Chair

2009 Membership Chair

2010 Newsletter editor and nominating committee.

(The local Mensa year begins May 1.)

I took positions of leadership (sometimes two at once) not because I’m a stellar leader, but because others were less stellar, or they were tired, busy, or otherwise unable to take responsibilities. It seemed to me the group would risk dying without any leadership. I wanted the Mensa group to continue to exist because many of the people I meet are interesting and stimulating. They are irreplaceable friends, and Mensa is an irreplaceable group. —