What Mensa means to me - by Jackie Lyndon

 

In the Autumn of 1997, flushed with success after appearing on Channel 4's Countdown, I dusted off the Mensa home test I'd filed away for six years, completed it and bravely posted it. Then, having passed the invigilated test in Manchester, I made the decision to join Mensa 'for just for a year'. 

Ten years on, I've just paid my annual subs again and still consider the membership a very worthwhile outlay at approximately £1 a week.

My North West local secretary phoned to welcome me as a new member to his region, which prompted me to attend a lunchtime meeting. I've not stopped socialising since! Luckily, as the North West is one of the most proactive regions, I was spoilt for choice; travelling for pub lunches and evenings, walks and parties. 

Little did I realise how life-changing becoming an active member of Mensa would be, leading to many new friends and experiences.

It didn't take long before I was organising my own events, usually in the form of walks or themed parties. To see in the new millennium, I had a 'Glitz and Glamour' New Year's Eve house party – a glittering success, where no one left until 4pm the next day. To celebrate my 50th birthday, there was an 'I Spy with my little eye, something beginning with L' party, with friends dressing imaginatively as Liverpool supporters, lovers and a larva (wrapped in cling film).

The Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are a great way of meeting like-minded people. As a member of RamSIG (for walkers), I've spent weekends in Cumbria and Yorkshire, with options ranging from easy walks around a lake or scrambling across the scree, with spectacular views and great camaraderie. I've done the easy half walk up Ben Nevis but the pinnacle (excuse the pun) of these trips for me was a two-minute silence one Armistice Day at the top of an eerily misty summit in Cumbria; a sobering moment.

When I moved back to my birthplace, Swansea, four years ago, I became Publicity Officer for Mensa Wales, and hosted a variety of meetings to attract new members. Of course, there was a fancy dress do – an 'Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside' beach barbecue, with characters like Sandy Shore, Florence of Arabia, the archetypal man in rolled up trousers and knotted handkerchief, and a siren (that's a women not the foghorn). 

As you can gather, I naturally joined PartySIG, and love events like the annual Center Parcs, Penrith weekend in December. I think you've already gathered that I'm in my element at fancy dress parties but there are many other activities to try there, including board games, quizzes and water sports, or you can just chill out and chat in the luxury lodges . . . so be brave and come and join us.

In June 2005, the Mensa Wales Treasurer and I organised and hosted an All Things Welsh Weekend in Swansea. Almost 80 people attended some of the 27 events. I was proud to show off my home town, the beaches, heritage, history and literary talents.

In March 2007 a Murder Mystery evening, attracting 80 people, was performed by the professional theatre company, Fluellen, at the Dylan Thomas Centre. The characters were fittingly straight off the title pages of novels with Detective Morose evoking the help of the diners to solve the dastardly crime.

The Mensa weekends, as well as the annual gatherings, are not only a great way to see new parts of the UK and Eire, but with an excellent range of events, both sedentary and active, they are idea for people of all ages.

I'm a keen supporter of a greener world and several Mensans met up throughout the summer of 2007 to see a stunning collection of billboard-sized photographs of the Earth From The Air exhibition.

I often arrange to meet up with Mensans when I'm travelling. SIGHT (Services for Information, Guidance and Hospitality to Travellers) is an the organisation run worldwide to put Mensans in touch with each other and which sometimes offers accommodation. Through SIGHT, I have welcomed visitors wanting to see my part of Wales. Gower, the first Area of Outstanding Beauty, has a beautiful coastline and Swansea was the birthplace of the writer Dylan Thomas. 

Mensa is particularly useful for networking when members move to a new area. I'm keen to encourage people to join Mensa and have run three promotions at Swansea University and Waterstone's bookshop.  

Many of you reading this may find my story echoes your impetus to join Mensa. However, I suspect some of you will be saying, I wonder if I'd find friends, contacts, new challenges, opportunities or fun if I met up with other Mensans. 

The answer is just try it!

 

A version of this article first appeared in the January 2008 issue of the Mensa magazine. Copyright British Mensa Ltd.