The Editor Writes
The Editor Writes
The only constant is change. One change to come is in newsletter production, since Christine Bartlett is reaching out to pass the baton of Calendar Editor to ... you? From a mechanical standpoint, the Calendar Editor receives listings for the calendar and sorts and formats them for publication. There is a style guide for this. The people oriented side is interacting with members who will be hosting events and working to resolve date conflicts when that is necessary. Please contact me if you are or think you might be interested in this important job.
While you're considering that, kick back and enjoy the travelogue from member
Richard Zoerb and an RG recap from Laurie Levesuqe.
Howes Things
Since I last wrote the Special Business Meeting has come and gone. We have a full Executive Committee for the 2002 - 2004 term. Welcome and thanks for coming on board to Glenn Fernandes, Peter McDonald and Hallie Pentheny. Welcome back and thanks for continuing to Bill Alleman, Darlene Alleman, Katie Manthey and Tom Shiel. Thanks to departing board member Ann Majeske for many years of service to our group. Most recently Secretary, Ann has also been a Member at Large, RG Hospitality Chair and Assistant LocSec.
Our Regional Gathering was excellent as those who attended can attest. I hope to see everyone who came this year return next year along with many more members. Many thanks to the volunteers who made the gathering happen, starting with RG Chair and Hospitality Chair Sue Barnes. Laurie Levesque put together a great speaker program, one that a member from Boston Mensa described as "AG quality". Helping provide our round the clock Hospitality were Linda Church and Devin Starlanyl. Al Church helped out with hotel contract negotiation, logo design, shopping and setup. Bill Alleman once again procured a smorgasbord of good beer. Jim Barnes kept the beer and other beverages iced down throughout the event. Deb Stone was our Registrar from afar, assisted by Hallie Pentheny. Darlene Alleman ran the book sale and silent auction to raise money for our local Scholarship Fund in the midst of overseeing the Games rooms. Our master of tournaments was Jamie Cobleigh. Richard Conde kept the movies running. Beth Schwartz ran the Gifted Children's program for some of our young members and children of members. Katie Manthey kept the books and delivered leftover food to a Manchester soup kitchen. Some others who helped out were Glenn Fernandes, Thom Keith, Ann Majeske, Peter McDonald and Tom Shiel. And that's just a partial list!
Also appreciated are the donors of books and goods for the book sale and silent auction. There were many who anonymously dropped off donations in addition to the few we could identify. Thank you all, about $400 was raised!
Moving from the past to the future, this month features events in some new
places. Check the calendar for two events in Maine and one in New Hampshire's North
Country.
Six Down and One To Go (A Mensan's Travels to the Antarctic)
There's a term I recently became aware of in my quest to set foot upon all seven continents of the world. It's "continent collector" and apparently I'm not the only one who has had this goal in mind for many years. I was acquainted with it through conversations with fellow passengers on a January 2002 cruise to the Antarctic continent. I was accompanied by my oldest son, Rick, who substituted for my wife, Margaret, who had expressed absolutely no interest in "counting penguins" (her loss).
Rick, from Rhinelander, Wisconsin, and I left my home in Nashua, New Hampshire on January 8, flying out of Boston to JFK in New York and catching a United flight for the next ten hours to Buenos Aires. Sleep-deprived though we were after the all night flight and after checking in to a downtown Sheraton, we availed ourselves of a city tour in that capitol of the most European country in South America. Its architecture, food and language reflect the influence of the early English, Spanish, Portuguese and German settlers/traders.
One of the tour highlights was a visit to the burial place of Eva Peron in a cemetery of over 3000 aboveground crypts. She went to her death believing that her final resting place would be under a monument three times higher than the Statue of Liberty, but the political upheavals following her death and that of her husband, Juan, prevented its construction. Her remains eventually were interred here.
At the time of our visit Argentina was in the throes of an economic disaster and banks were closed. Merchants were accepting American dollars for 1.3 pesos and the rate was expected to go to two pesos per greenback. We only witnessed one small demonstration in a square in front of the presidential office building. That evening we took in a dinner and tango performance.
Rick and I had elected to take a side trip prior to our Antarctic cruise, so flew for two hours north to Iguassu Falls in a national park straddling the borders of Argentina and Brazil. This necessitated packing for subtropical weather as well as for the anticipated cold of the Antarctic region. Iguassu Falls, although not the highest, widest, or having the most volume of water flow over it, nevertheless boasts of having some 275 separate cascades, the greatest number in the world. We viewed them over the next two days from above on the Argentina side and below from the Brazilian side. Some on the tour opted to view them up close and personal via motorized boats on the river below the falls. Overnighting at the Sheraton on the Argentina side, we were advised not to venture off the hotel grounds after dark due to the presence of jaguars.
On the following day we flew back to Buenos Aires, spent one more night at the Sheraton and then flew for four hours south to the city of Ushuaia, pronounced "oosh-why-a", Argentina, the southernmost in the world. There we boarded our home for the next eight days, the cruise ship "Marco Polo", operated by Orient Lines. Its passenger capacity is 848, but Antarctic cruises are limited to about 400 to permit convenient and quick access to various landfalls by inflatable zodiacs.
Proceeding down the Beagle Channel to the open sea was a pleasant time to become acquainted with the many levels and venues on board this 578' long ship. It had been built as a troop carrier by the former Soviet Union, but after the Soviet Union collapsed it was strengthened for cruise purposes by Russia. When the money ran out prior to its conversion, it was purchased by the line and completely refurbished to its present status as one of the world's 70 best cruise ships according to a Conde-Nast Traveler poll.
Crossing the 350+ mile Drake Passage tested the equilibrium and appetites of more than a few passengers and popping pills and wearing behind-the-ear patches were the orders of the day. One of the two days it took to cross produced seventy knot winds which canceled our first intended landfall at Deception Island. Another cruise ship was stuck in the harbor there for more than a day unable to depart. Our captain elected to continue sailing southwest along the peninsula and eventually we were able to board the zodiacs and motored close to several islands with a high population of Adelie penguins.
Continuing down through the Le Maire Channel we reached our farthest point and made a U-turn through sheets of two to three-foot sea ice, which caused a number of seals to hastily avoid the crunching bow of the ship. The next three days were occupied by landings each day. Two were on islands and one at a Chilean research station on the continent itself, thus qualifying as my sixth continent with only Africa yet to reach. The landings were at Port Lockroy, Paradise Harbor and Half Moon Island. There were thousands of Chin-strap penguins, as well as kelp gulls and Antarctic terns, on the latter. Penguins were literally wandering about our feet with no apparent concern for those red-clad upright onlookers.
For all the landings we wore our complimentary red parkas, the better to keep track of us, life preservers, and shin-high boots for the shallow water between the zodiacs and dry land. "Dry" is a relative term when referring to the surface covered with an abundance of penguin guano, which necessitated a thorough scrubbing of our boots prior to re-boarding the zodiacs.
The weather was surprisingly mild with one day reaching into the mid 40's. The clear blue skies contrasted with the snow-covered landscape and our red parkas made for great video and photo opportunities.
Shipboard activities included daily lectures on all phases of the continent and its inhabitants, nightly entertainment in the main lounge, gambling, a workout room, ample meals and between-meal snacks, and an interact room where we were able to send and receive emails. The outdoor pool was closed, but three hot tubs remained open for the more adventurous.
Proceeding northeasterly along the peninsula we made a left turn and headed back between two of the South Shetland Islands to again cross the Drake Passage. This traverse was much rougher than the earlier one and probably reduced the appetites of more passengers. We saw landfall again at Cape Horn and eventually docked again at Ushuaia early on the morning of January 19 next to a much larger cruise ship, the Ryndam, out of Rotterdam.
Rick and I opted for a catamaran tour of a portion of the Beagle Channel and navigated around several small islands teeming with penguins, seals, sea lions and albatrosses, or is that "albatrossi"? Following that was a bus tour to the Tierra del Fuego National Park which covers 63,000 hectares in southwestern Argentina.
Daylight at or near the Antarctic Circle, which our cruise almost crossed, lasted about twenty hours. We never saw any stars which would have required being up between midnight and 4:00 a.m.
We were homeward bound via Buenos Aires, Miami, Raleigh, North Carolina, and finally to Boston by January 21, some 26 hours after leaving the Marco Polo and hoping that the two hours of video and some 300 photos would all turn out (they did!). Some 30,000 tourists now visit the continent annually with most leaving from Ushuaia and others from New Zealand. The continent is currently protected by a 1961 treaty signed by some forty nations.
All in all, it's a trip I would highly recommend for anyone with the slightest
interest in experiencing the so-called last frontier on earth. There is a sense of
isolation in spite of having all the comforts of home and instant communication via email,
phone or fax with almost any other spot on the globe. Africa awaits my footfalls.
Leave Your Watches and Ties at Home - You Are On RG Time Now…
The luggage rack was weighed down by cases of beer as it made its way past those of us in the hallway. We were the advance crew, and we had arrived at the Radisson Hotel in Merrimack to prepare for THE annual event here in New Hampshire. Over the course of a few hours things began to take shape. The main Hospitality Room was rearranged to efficiently serve meals and drinks. It took many trips to bring all the food in - enough to serve the almost 170 people who attended. More homemade food was delivered later as the volunteers brought the entrees, breads, and desserts they had made to the RG. The iceman brought ice, more ice, and yet more ice. He filled half a balcony with enough of it that we were able to keep several tubs of beer, soda, and water appropriately chilled for the weekend.
Signs went up on all the RG rooms, and one by one they were ready. The Games Room was unpacked and myriad puzzles, board games, and card games were laid out to one side. Five large tables and three smaller ones were set out to accommodate the many players who would drop in or stay in that room all weekend. The Smoking Games and the Smoking Hospitality rooms were stocked with drinks. The equipment for the Movie Room was put together and the mini-theater was arranged in preparation for viewing Shrek, Memento, Rocky Horror Picture Show, and more. The Gifted Children Room was set up with crafts, toys, art materials and other items of interest to persons under age 10.
Registration opened promptly at 4:00 p.m., which is good because the influx of attendees had already begun. Badges were doled out and dots were applied to many of them (for an explanation you'll have to come to next year's RG or wait for our local group's member handbook to come out later this spring). An RG Primer was given for new members who had arrived by 5:00. Lowell Barnes and Merrill Loechner stepped in at the last minute to host this (thanks!!). Dinner consisted of homemade soups and stews, such as African vegetable, moose, and turkey noodle (and yes, the moose was a big success, which surprised those who live south of Maine and New Hampshire). These were delicious and served along with homemade breads. Games tutorials were given for Unexploded Cow (www.cheapass.com), Settlers of Cataan (www.coolgames.com), and Kings Cribbage (www.kingscrib.com). These were the games being used in tournaments on Saturday. Later on an ice-cream social drew a big crowd in Hospitality. Even later they all came back for the International Coffee and Shrimp Feast. About this time some folks meandered down to the heated pool and very hot hot-tub. Of course, from the time registration opened until ... well, the whole weekend really, there were small conversations to be joined everywhere - in the halls, in the Hospitality Rooms, in the Games Room, and even in the pool. Like any Mensa event, RG attendees were never at a loss to meet new people, greet acquaintances from past RGs, or hug old friends - and then start talking about every topic under the sun, moon, and cloud cover!
Saturday was a long day for those of us who made the most of it. Breakfast was out as early as 7:00 a.m. for those capable of being awake at that hour (or for those who never went to bed). There was a full day of movies including Tarzan, Bananas, Princess Diaries, and more. The Movie Room provided nonstop entertainment for folks to drop in or watch an entire flick. The tournaments began and ran all day. Other games were played throughout, and this year chess and cards were very popular (last year it was Apples to Apples: see www.otb-games.com). Many donations were made for the Book Sale and Silent Auction. Many attendees took the opportunity to browse and buy and we raised nearly $400 for the scholarship fund.
Before lunch we also had seven guest speakers! Although the speaker tracks started at 9:00 a.m. (which for some RG attendees was perceived to be the crack of dawn), there was a great turnout for the first two talks. Zero-Knowledge Proofs were the subject of Eric Postpischil's talk, which presented the intriguing dilemma of convincing your computer that you know your password without actually giving it. Cynthia Collins talked about the principles in her new book, Building a Magical Relationship: The Five Points of Love (www.amazon.com). They were followed by Ed Ting, of the N.H. Astronomical Society who spoke about buying your first telescope, and by Louis Klotz who discussed Earthquakes in New England. Both speakers provided very concrete and interesting information to their audiences _ and could easily have continued longer given the interest level in the rooms. At the same time, Ron Norris met parents and their kids pool side to lecture and demonstrate Teaching Your Child to Swim. This hands-on session was a hit, and several adults have requested that Ron come back and do a lesson next year for adults who want to learn to swim. Buzz Scherr talked about Genetic Identity: Rhetoric or Reality and captured people's attention with the concept of individual vs. collective identity. And for those of us interested in another aspect of the body, John Lewicke talked about Exercise, Pain, Food, and Longevity, which focused on the practical relationships between diet and exercise.
RG attendees took a break for lunch and found sandwich makings, leftover stews, salad, and American Chop Suey in Hospitality. At the same time, Cynthia Collins and Marty Capodice proctored a Mensa Admissions Test session for nine prospects. This was a great turnout and we hope that those who pass will have been intrigued enough by the RG to follow-up and join our chapter.
Throughout the day the kids' room was filled with excited young'uns and several parents or visitors. The kids enjoyed hula hoops, both swinging them around waists and rolling them down the long hotel hallway. They outlined and drew their bodies on large newsprint rolls donated by the Nashua Telegraph. These were hung up in the hall for everyone to admire. There were numerous games played, crafts assembled, toys used, and in general very happy kids and parents.
After lunch we had another half dozen speakers. Trooper Parsons from the N.H. State Police Explosives Disposal Unit returned this year to talk about the local perspective on 9/11/01. He showed many examples of how bombs can be disguised. The Science behind Science Fiction was analyzed by science-fiction author and former astrophysicist, Jeanne Cavelos. Her website (www.sff.net/people/jcavelos) has information about all her books and some free excerpts, as well as information on the Odyssey Writing Workshop that she runs. This was followed by "Whodunit?" - a presentation by Kathrine Descheneaux of the state medical examiner's office. She captivated the audience by talking about the role of the medical examiner, whose day typically starts when someone else's ends. There were a number of people with practical interest in Jim Carty's revelations about How to Win the Car Buying Game. A former car salesman, Jim now runs a website devoted to what REALLY goes on behind the scenes at car dealerships, and how they very carefully get more money out of us than we need to pay (www.dealertricks.com). The last two program speakers were a great cap to a very full day's schedule. Devin Starlanyl and her husband, Rick Gerdus, offered a two-part session beginning with how to make your own wine and ending with a tasting of their own wines as well as some commercially available varieties. Despite having to relocate this talk at the last minute due to those pesky state liquor laws, Devin had a crowd of interested (and thirsty?) followers. Check out her site at www.sover.net/~devstar. Lastly, we had Rick Davis, a nationally known performer, teach us several Totally Useless Skills, including one-handed clapping and creating songs on the telephone keypad. His presentation kept us laughing and wondering - it was thoroughly enjoyable. Check out his website (www.jlc.net/~useless) as well as his new book, Totally Useless Office Skills, which is available at amazon.com.
Saturday night after the sun set, the big telescopes came out. The N.H. Astronomical Society (www.nhastro.com) held a sky watch for us in the parking lot of the hotel. Several of their members arrived with massive telescopes and sighted in celestial objects. It was a perfect night for viewing, as anyone listening to the squeals of delight would have guessed. The rings around Saturn, four moons of Jupiter, and the moon were all clearly visible. It was a huge treat that both kids and adults enjoyed tremendously. Given the enthusiasm we displayed, the NHAS has offered to come back next year and host another sky watch (weather permitting). The buffet banquet followed this visual display and about 40 people bought tickets for this event. Other RG attendees went out for dinner, while fewer still snacked in Hospitality. Some of these folks came down in time to hear our keynote speaker, Chris Elliot (www.thumpcity.com). He provided us with a splendid, fast-paced romp exploring intelligence and the lack thereof in society and in politics in particular. Though Chris didn't know what to expect from our group, his talk was a big hit. Several of the people crowding around him afterwards encouraged him to come up to hospitality and stay for a while - which he did to our delight.
Around 9:00 p.m. the Chocolate Orgy commenced and Hospitality was turned into a scene of hungry Mensans vying to try as many of the desserts as possible. And they did! Chocolate cake, mocha cake, rum cake, cookies, and much more - almost all homemade - were devoured with great pleasure. About the same time, both the annual Poker tournament and Hall SIG began. Those poker players were serious (they always are)! To counterbalance this in the greater scheme of things, several people sat in the hallway to chat, play Set (www.setgame.com), tell jokes, drink, have a boxer underwear contest, massage, and generally enjoy a relaxing evening. At around 10:00 p.m., around 20 people joined Lisa Maxwell and Phil Simonds in a Fishbowl. For the uninitiated, this is a Q & A session where you get to ask questions of the opposite sex. En masse, the men answer anonymous questions written by the women and vice versa. It is always an interesting event to attend, and this year was no different!
Sunday morning rolled around and continental breakfast-like items were in hospitality. Many of the attendees had purchased brunch tickets and made their way downstairs for that. After the brunch, others showed up for the awards and announcements. Certificates were given out to the game tournament winners (Otto Kunz, Chris Orton and Wendy Birchmire) and to the committee members who helped put together and run the RG. Folks migrated upstairs to pack up and head home or take one more tour through Hospitality to say good-bye to longtime and new friends. Some had short trips home and others had many hours of driving south to New York and Maryland and some headed north towards the top of Maine and into Canada. The dismantling began - all rooms closed but Hospitality. All the games, kids' stuff, and kitchen items were packed and loaded onto the trailer. Leftovers were donated to a Manchester soup kitchen. Signs were taken down, badges came off, and we closed shop.
Join us next year. It will be at least as good as this, and this was damn good.
Check out the RG photos at: nh.us.mensa.org/2002_02_rg.htm.
©2002 New Hampshire Mensa - All Rights Reserved