I had a struggle deciding what to write about this month, given all the activities currently underway.
I could talk about the project to develop an adaptive IQ test for Mensa entry qualification – a test where each candidate gets an individualised sequence of problems, bringing significant benefits over current ‘paper’ tests. Put on hold during Covid lockdowns, this is now back on track. Then there’s the Global member directory, and CRM system Mensa International is planning to implement. Having surveyed National Mensas to identify the range of different systems currently in use, we have been reviewing our functional requirements with an external consultancy, specialising in systems for not-for-profit organisations, to shortlist a technology partner to work with.
However, you will hear plenty more about those as the projects progress, so I will talk instead about members and events (and a conversation I had recently with a couple of Chief Executives).
In common with many Mensa groups around the world, my own national Mensa, British Mensa, runs a varied programme of events in addition to supporting members with creating their own. There are, of course, our Annual Gatherings, which take place in Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales and provide an extensive timetable of activities for attendees to participate in.
Always thoroughly enjoyable, these provide a wonderful opportunity to catch up with other Mensans and have some fun in the process.
Mensa at Cambridge is a four-day conference, attracting members from various countries, where high-profile speakers are invited to present on a pre-selected topic. The subject this year is “The Affects and Effects of the Virus” and our stellar line-up of speakers includes representation from academia, law, finance and education. Based in the scenic surroundings of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, it is sure to be a fascinating event (and speakers are warned in advance they will face some searching and insightful questions from their audience).
Designed for our younger members, the “Future Paths” Conference provides young Mensans with expert advice on the Oxbridge admissions process, as well as motivational speakers talking about various professions. Participants in the event, taking place at Worcester College, Oxford, should find it incredibly useful as they explore their university options.
Returning to that conversation I mentioned – not an event that we run, but one we both sponsor and enter a team into, is the CGI UK Challenge. Described as the “World’s leading team building event”, this annual event, in which up to 130 teams compete, provides a platform through which individuals can develop valuable skills and delivers lifelong memories and a strong sense of achievement for the participants. During seven stages, over three (long!) days, teams are presented with a series of serious mental and physical challenges (running, swimming, cycling, kayaking, combined with a range of intellectual tasks to solve en route). This year’s challenge took place on the Isle of Man, whose terrain provided a beautiful, natural, adventure playground.
For one of the stages, chief executives of the companies and organisations participating are invited to join their teams, so I joined Team Mensa tackling the challenges in that stage. That evening Cath Hill (CEO of British Mensa) and I were chatting with other CEO’s. The ‘Mensa’ name was well recognised, and respected, by them but the first two we talked with both, independently, suggested ‘You will surely do well on the intellectual challenges [quite right!] but won’t your team struggle with the physical challenges?’. We very quickly disabused them of the idea!
One of the great things about Mensa is the variety in our membership. Yes, we have in common an IQ measuring in the top 2%, but aside from that, members bring an enormous spread of skills, interests, and backgrounds. Between them our six team members had interests including performance arts and putting on improv shows, cooking, astronomy, philosophical debate, but also running half marathons, hill-walking, martial arts, cycling, competing in triathlons – and the team certainly proved that Mensans can combine both brains and brawn.
To quote one of the team talking right after the event “Physically, mentally, emotionally gruelling, but I had such a great time; I felt I had learnt so much, and had such a great opportunity to bond with such a great group of people from really different backgrounds, but we are all Mensans and that has been the main thing that brought us together and allowed us to go on this great adventure”.
Mensa provides plenty of opportunities – be sure to join us in some of the adventures…
Reprinted from the Mensa World Journal, 9/2022, issue 116.