Vice Sheet - November 2001 by Sallie Banko, Region 2 RVC

We've experienced another successful National Testing Day! The latest figures are that 1,365 people were tested on October 20 in 171 testing sessions held by 98 groups. (Note: if your group participated but has not reported your results, please do so by emailing Catherine Barney, catherineb@americanmensa.org). And as an added bonus, many positive news reports resulted from the media blitz.

In our region for example, Pete Stevens, LocSec of Delaware Valley did a wonderful job representing Mensa in a local publication. The November issue of Philadelphia Magazine ran a great article of an interview with him. Both light hearted and humorous, it had a definite "Mensa feel" about it.

A little further south in Maryland Mensa, things were happening as well: Steve Collier, editor of Maryland Mensa, was on Maryland Public Television's "Direct Connection" November 2nd. LocSec Jean O'Donnell reports "The request for the interview was a direct result of NTD. A reporter from Washington DC covered our testing site at Hood College in Frederick, and wrote an article in the "Washington Times." A couple staff members of MPT read the article and suggested Mensa as a topic for "Direct Connection." Steve did an excellent job. He had all his facts, presented Mensa in a very positive manner, addressed all questions and comments well. The interview was basically "pro Mensa:" not negative. Very good publicity for Mensa. He did us proud!"

And now a reminder: We are now into the holiday season which means the MERF Scholarship program is underway. Groups who are participating are mailing application information right now to schools, libraries, museums, colleges. Applications and essays have to be in the local scholarship chair's hands by January 15, 2002. If you are interested in becoming involved in this worthwhile program, contact your local scholarship chair or Loc Sec. Or if you are interested in helping out at a regional level, let me know and I'll pass on your name to the regional Scholarship Chair, Sheila Gross. (My thanks to Sheila, for once again taking on this task.)

Happy Holidays to everyone!