January 2013 - Southeast Michigan Mensa

M-Pathy 

January 2013 Page 1 

THE NEWSLETTER OF 

SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN MENSA 

VOL. 49 NO. 1 January 2013 MensaDetroit.com 

Inside This Issue 

Editors’ Page 2 

LocSec: Monthly Musings 3 

RVC: reMARK 4 

From the GCC 5 

Word Search: Language 6 

Just Joking 

Puzzles 

7 

Unforgettable Memories 8 

I’m OK 9 

The Sound and the Furry 10 

Scholarship essays are due! 

SEMM Balance Sheet 

11 

Membership Notes 12 

Events: The SEMM Calendar 

15 

Précis of November ExComm Meeting 

Stay for free at SEMMantics 34! 17 

Monthly Calendar 

18 

Dues Subsidy 

Directory: Executive Committee 19 

This issue is dedicated to the memory of former American Mensa Chairman 

Gabriel Werba, and one of the founders of SEMM. Gabe, who was 82, passed 

away November 7 at his home in Farmington Hills, Michigan. 

He was the 1989 recipient of the Margot Award, and received the Distinguished 

Service Award in 1995 and the Chairman’s Service Award in 2004. In addition to 

serving as Chairman, Gabe served as First Vice Chair and Development Officer 

and held numerous elected positions throughout his 48 years as a Mensa 

member. 

In 1980, as Chairman, Gabe proposed the annual Colloquium, saying, “I want to 

stimulate within Mensa a climate of intellectual excitement in which concepts can 

be explored, dialogues can be started and ideas can be generated that will move 

us in new directions.” And create a climate of intellectual excitement, he did – 

thank you, Gabe! You will be missed.

M-Pathy Page 2 

From the Editor’s Desk - Kathleen Giesting 

m-pathy 

(ISSN 0744-9763) is published monthly 

for $6 per year for local members and 

members-by preference and $12 per year 

for non-local members by Southeast 

Michigan Mensa at 13521Stahelin Road, 

Detroit, MI 48223-3525. Subscription 

cost for local members and members-bypreference 

is included in national dues. 

Publisher 

Brenda Lewis 

13521 Stahelin Road 

Detroit, MI 48223-3525 

publisher@mensadetroit.com 

Editor-in-chief 

Kathleen Giesting 

2947 Philadelphia Dr. 

Ann Arbor, MI 48103-6813 

Mpathy@mensadetroit.com 

Assistant Editor 

Toby Berger 

7269 Creeks Bend Court 

West Bloomfield, MI 48322 

Mpathy@mensadetroit.com.com 

Calendar Editor 

Calendar@mensadetroit.com 

Membership Editor 

Iana Questara Boyce 

ianaqtpie@gmail.com 

Circulation Manager 

Marilyn McZip 

P.O. Box 510056 

Livonia, MI 48151-6056 

Phone: 734-459-3884 

mmczip@wowway.com 

Distribution Manager 

Tom McClure 

41765 Onaway Dr. 

Northville, MI 48167-2411 

(248) 348-3603 

atmcclure@earthlink.net 

Jokes & Riddles 

Humor@MensaDetroit.com 

Allegra Louth 

Puzzles: 

Joan Rayford, Tom Shaw, Jim Szirony 

New year, new beginnings (aren't all beginnings new?), new tech toys!!! 

OK, as I write this at the end of November, we have already acquired a 5th generation 

iPod (LOVE that retina screen) and are starting to plan a replacement for Spencer's 

desktop. Amazingly, the desktop will probably cost only a bit more than the iPod. 

Just not sure about Windows 8. Maybe this is the year we move even further to the 

Apple side of the road. 

And it is a road. This is clearly seen in the new Living Computer Museum 

(http://www.livingcomputermuseum.org/) opened in November in Seattle. It joins the 

ranks of the Computer History Museum (http://www.computerhistory.org/) in Silicon 

Valley (any competition there???) and online sites like the Obsolete Computer 

Museum at http://www.obsoletecomputermuseum.org/ and the History of Home and 

Game Computers at http://computermuseum.50megs.com/ 

While Spencer likes to say my dad lived the evolution of modern farming -- from 

horses to self-propelled combines, many of us have lived the evolution of computing -- 

from building-size computers with real bugs to palm-sized advisors on where we are, 

where we could be, and how to get there (thank you, Siri) 

I'm open to the idea of implantable computers (they're already here! Google it!), I want 

to make sure I don't get stuck with the equivalent of DOS -- or Siri. How about you? 

From the Assistant Editor - Toby Berger 

Happy 2013! Hopefully the New Year will bring you and your family health, peace, 

happiness, and the time to enjoy it all. 

Make a resolution to attend several SEMM events during the year. Check M-Pathy’s 

monthly calendar of events for a variety of activities for you and your family. 

Speaking of resolutions, here’s something to think about for the New Year: 

“Let this coming year be better than all the others. Vow to do some of the things 

you've always wanted to do but couldn't find the time. Call up a forgotten friend. Drop 

an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories. Vow not to make a 

promise you don't think you can keep. Walk tall, and smile more. You'll look ten years 

younger. Don't be afraid to say, 'I love you'. Say it again. They are the sweetest words 

in the world.” Ann Landers


Monthly Musings 

Another day, another year. How time flies. When I 

was in elementary school, summer seemed to take 

forever and I couldn’t wait to get back to class in 

September. A year felt 

like eternity. As I grew 

older (and hopefully 

wiser) each year 

seemed to go a little 

faster. Nowadays the 

years fly by and I 

wonder where they went. I suppose it’s just an 

example of relativity. 

There is still time to make plans to attend SEMM’s 

highlight of the season – the Winter Bash. We 

return again to the VFW Hall in Berkley on 

Saturday, January 19 from 6:00pm to 11:00pm. 

There will be food & beverages, fun & games, 

friends – what more could you ask for. Last year 

we had a full house so don’t delay, make your 

plans today. 

SEMM’s annual Regional Gathering (RG) 

committee continues to meet at the Farmington 

Hills Holiday Inn. Anyone can be on the 

committee and you can choose how large or small 

a role you would like to do. At the last meeting, 

Joan Rayford presented a wide variety of potential 

speakers and programs. There will also be a 

children’s track on Saturday at the RG – Melissa 

Jenkins, who has done a stellar job as our Gifted 

Youth Coordinator, assures us that May 2013 will 

be even better than 2012. Let Jean Becker or 

Whitney Hopkins know if you can help in any way. 

REPEATED PLUG: Jean Becker is once again 

leading the committee but it would be great if one 

of our members volunteered to apprentice this 

year with the thought of taking the helm for 

SEMMantics XXXV in 2014. 

by John Voymas, President (LocSec) 

By the time you read this I will have attend the 

Cincinnati Area Mensa RG. This is one of the 

options that members have – to attend gatherings 

hosted by other local groups. When I went to the 

Outdoor Mensa Gathering (OMG) in Central 

Indiana a couple of years ago, I met a lot of new 

friends, had great conversations, ate pizza baked 

in a custom-made oven on an open fire and had 

instant ice cream frozen by the use of liquid 

nitrogen – only a professional should try that one! 

I’ve also enjoyed meeting members of Mensa in 

other regions. Most recent was a trip to Hawaii 

where Mike Last, SIGHT coordinator, took my wife 

and me on a walk around the rim and across the 

bowl of the Kilauea Iki volcano – a four hour walk. 

In a race against time, we barely made it across 

the crater before the sun set. Mike also took us to 

the Black Sand beach where a sea turtle posed for 

us as it lay sunning itself – as a protected species 

we had to refrain from touching it. 

Besides the RG in May, we are in the early planning 

stages for the Summer Bash which is usually held at 

Kensington Metropark in July in lieu of our monthly 

meeting. This is a great opportunity for an aspiring 

leader to coordinate an event. If you have ever 

planned a party or even attended a party, then you 

have the necessary qualifications. Although it’s not 

rocket science to plan a picnic at the park, rocket 

scientists are encouraged to apply. Send me an 

email or give me a call (contact info on the inside 

back cover of this issue). 

We’ll see you at the Winter Bash on January 19! 

Until next time. Cheers! John 

What do you call a woman who stands between two goal posts? Annette


reMARK 

Happy New Year! May it be healthy, prosperous and 

wonderful in every way for each and every one of you 

and your loved ones. 

I know that all who attended the Cincinnati Regional 

Gathering had a fabulous time; wish I had been there, 

but again, the American Mensa Committee met that 

weekend and my presence was precluded. Watch for 

notices of the postings of minutes of that AMC 

meeting. If you haven’t joined the Region 3 Yahoo or 

Facebook groups where I post such information, as 

well as Region 3 and National News, please do so. 

Congratulations to Region 3 winners of the Publication 

Recognition Program awards: 

Newsletter Awards 

Outstanding Newsletter—Medium Group, MPULSE, 

Dayton Area Mensa, Pat Reising, Editor 

Web Awards 

Owl Award, Dayton Area Mensa, Lonny Burger, 

Webmaster 

"Members Only" Section, Dayton Area Mensa, Lonny 

Burger 

Outstanding Web site — Medium Group, Dayton 

Area Mensa, Lonny Burger 

Contribution Awards 

Puzzles and Games, Jim Szirony, Cleveland Area 

Mensa, “Bake Sale Baffler,” Graffiti, March 2012 

You still have one month to run for National Office as a 

Petition Candidate. Petition forms, Candidate 

Information Forms and Acceptance of Nomination 

forms are available by contacting the National Office at 

Operations@americanmensa.org. You also can start 

an online, members-only petition via the Web site. All 

petition candidates should review the 2013 Code of 

Election Procedures before beginning the petition 

process. Members wishing to sign available online 

petitions may do so via the same link. 

Candidate petition forms must be received by 11:59 p.m. 

central time on February 1, 2013. Send completed forms 

and petitions to: Operations@americanmensa.org, fax to 

817-649-5232, or mail to Elections, American Mensa, 

Ltd., 1229 Corporate Drive West, Arlington, Texas 

76006-6103.” 

by Betsy Y. Mark, Regional Vice Chair 

Dayton Area Mensa will be hosting DAMNations 26: 

Triskadeka Times Two (or times three because it's 

2013!) Talks and presentations; games and 

tournaments; five meals by the famous Dayton 

Hospitality team; music and dancing; late-night 

conversations and general silliness! Registration is $60 

by March 1, 2013; $70 at the door. Ages 5-18 half price, 

under 5 free. MP (5): included. Checks payable to 

Dayton Area Mensa RG. Hotel: Wyndham Garden 

Dayton South, 31 Prestige Plaza Dr., Miamisburg, OH 

45342; call hotel 937-434-8030. Room rates ($83) 

guaranteed until March 15, 2013. CD 18 and under, H 

DT CP. Visit www.dayton.us.mensa.org or contact 

Karren Lehman, 7039 Monte Carlo Dr., Englewood, OH 

45322; RG.Registrar@dayton.us.mensa.org. 

Southeast Michigan Mensa will be hosting SEMMantics 

XXXIV, May 3-5. Chocolate Orgy & morning hike. 

MensaBowl, Mensalympics & tournaments. Top-notch 

speakers including John Blinke. Kid room/programs. 

Games by Karen Smith. Wine tasting & beer sampling. 

Hotel gives free drink & hot buffet breakfast. See why it 

is #34! Registration rate through Jan. 31 is $70; $80 

through April 15; $90 on-site. Daily rates are $50 for 

Friday and $55 for Saturday. Children under 5 are free 

and children 5-17 are half price. Make checks payable to 

SEMMantics, PayPal available to 

semmantics@sbcglobal.net. Hotel: Holiday Inn Hotel and 

Suites, 37529 Grand River Ave, Farmington Hills, MI 

48335; www.HolidayInn.com; 248-477-7800. Room rates 

are $89 + tax and are guaranteed until April 1. Contact 

Larry Arbanas, 24565 Glen Orchard Dr., Farmington 

Hills, MI 48336; 323-642-7226; larry@arbanas.org. 

I am looking forward to seeing you soon. 

LLAP and Peace, 

Betsy 

Betsy Yvonne Mark 

rvc3@us.mensa.org 

3674 Oak Drive - Ypsilanti, MI 48197 

734-434-5757 (Home) or 313-530-2055 (Mobile) 

Region 3 Website - http://www.region3.us.mensa.org/ 

Yahoo group - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AMR3/ 

Facebook group - 

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=71515809887


From the GCC 

by Melissa Jenkins, Gifted Children Coordinator 

RAISING GIFTED KIDS 

Whether your gifted child is young or old it is unlikely he/she fits the mold of the typical child. How then do you find effective 

techniques to raise your gifted child? Typical child-rearing methods don’t usually take into account the gifted child’s superior 

intellect, surprising ability to manipulate effectively at a young age and the need for early control over her/his own 

environment. Nor do these methods consider the gifted child’s extremely sensitive nature, compulsive need to ask incessant 

questions, and extreme physical activity needs. So then, where to you turn for help? Here are some general tips to help 

make the process smoother for you. 

1. Study child-rearing techniques that are more in line 

with the task of raising gifted children. Here are 

two great resources: 

a. “Keys to Parenting the Gifted Child” by Dr. Sylvia 

Rimm. I just love Dr. Rimm’s ideas and 

techniques. I feel I have used them successfully 

on my own children. Here are some other helpful 

books by Dr. Rimm: 

http://www.sylviarimm.com/books.html. 

b. Love and Logic ® parenting technique: 

http://www.loveandlogic.com/ I love the Love 

and Logic ® concept of giving choices and feel 

that really fits the gifted child well. However, I 

dislike the concept of giving consequences 

sometimes with seemingly no warning. I think 

overall this is a good resource though. 

The main thing to remember when reading about 

others’ techniques is that YOU are the expert on 

your child. Most gifted children are very unique and 

the best judge of what is best for them usually falls 

to the parents! Actually, I cannot say that too 

emphatically!! 

2. LISTEN to your child regularly. This one sounds 

simple, right? How could it be effective? You’d be 

amazed at how effective it can be. The child who is 

listened to learns that his/her thoughts and emotions 

are valuable to you, the parent. This can lead to 

improved self-esteem. There are other considerable 

benefits to listening. When you listen to your children, 

you learn so much about them! You can often 

discern what they like to do, what is important to 

them, how they feel about you and others, etc. In 

addition, you can gain insights about what they 

understand and how much! This is very valuable info 

when you need to gauge what level of academic 

material they are ready for, for instance. Listening 

carefully is also a handy way to catch a bad problem 

they may be dealing with before it becomes terribly 

serious! Don’t be afraid to ask your child about a 

problem and give them the opportunity to let you help 

them out. 

3. BELIEVE your child. Don’t always think your child is 

trying to get away with something. This is very 

tempting in the case of gifted kids, because they can 

really get good at manipulating. Pay careful attention 

to their words/actions over time so that you become 

very good at distinguishing when they are 

manipulating and when they are not. Gifted kids are 

not surprisingly extremely sensitive to comments 

stating they are not believed, when they are in fact 

telling the truth. 

4. Teach your child to avoid the “black and white”, “all or 

nothing” mentality. To do this effectively, you must 

show them that they need not believe that 

consequences are irrevocable. What do I mean by 

this? You set down rules for your children, but you 

need not hold them to the rules like a taskmaster. 

This means you can bend the rules a bit occasionally 

to fit the circumstance. What? You say? Doesn’t 

that make them feel less safe when the boundaries 

are not firm? I’m not saying you should let them run 

wild; just make a compromise now and again, taking 

into account the circumstance and acting accordingly. 

If you do that, you may just find that your child gives 

you a break and the benefit of the doubt when you 

make a mistake too! 

5. Give your child lots of choices. We all know that the 

gifted child is capable of making sophisticated choices 

much earlier in life than the typical child. Giving her/him 

choices helps maintain a sense of personal control for 

your child. So, if there is a choice to make that is safe, 

let them make it! For instance, a toddler might want to 

choose the shirt or shoes she wears. An older child 

may want to help choose the family’s vacation 

destination or a new car for the family. Giving choices 

and input helps the child/youth feel like a more 

important and valued part of the family. It also shows 

the child/youth that he/she is capable and can trust 

his/her own judgment! 

6. Don’t be overly hard on your child. This one is much 

easier said than done. Gifted children can often be a 

Gifted continued on page 6


Gifted continued from page 5 

VERY BIG CHALLENGE. They are constantly pushing our 

limits and challenging our authority. Instead of cracking 

authority down on their heads to try to assert control, consider 

allowing them input in designing rules they will have to follow. 

Limit negotiation, especially in the case of an older child/youth, 

can help build valuable negotiation and judicial skills that will 

serve your child in the future. Focus on explaining and 

showing consequences rather than a “do it or else!” mentality. 

7. Be very sensitive to your child’s sensitivity. When I was a 

child, I sometimes felt overwhelmed by fear or sadness. I 

cried because getting those feelings out was the most 

important thing for me to do at the moment. Let them cry and 

express those feelings when needed, without punishment for 

doing so. Then teach them skills to help them calm down and 

face their fears, frustration, sadness, etc. and come up with a 

plan for managing the situation, whatever it may be. Teach 

them ways to manage the extreme emotions in public 

situations as well, since as older children and adults they will 

need that skill. 

8. Schedule lots of physical activities for your gifted child. Make 

sure he/she has lots of playground time as a small child and 

sports activities as an older child. Let your child choose 

his/her own sports/physical activities. 

9. Consider a musical instrument. Learning how to play a 

musical instrument can really help a child develop 

discipline and help shape and improve her/his selfimage. 

Just imagine how it must feel to go in front of an 

audience and play a tune you have mastered with much 

practice, receiving ebullient praise for your efforts! 

10. SHOW your children that you are proud of them and 

respect and love them. Praise is considered quite 

controversial in today’s world. It is important to 

realize your children need your praise to help them 

develop a positive and secure self-image. I like to 

use the rule of thumb Sylvia Rimm uses: Praise 

calmly and gently and give credit where credit is due. 

Do not praise overmuch or over-enthusiastically. If 

you follow these guidelines your child will be more 

likely to believe your praise and take it seriously. It 

will have the impact it should have to help your child 

develop a more positive self-image and believe in 

her/himself! 

11. Most importantly DO NOT BE TOO HARD ON 

YOURSELF! Raising gifted kids is an incredibly 

challenging task! As parents, we will all make 

mistakes along the way. Don’t waste time berating 

yourself when you are unhappy with your actions. Just 

consider it a learning experience, excuse yourself for 

being imperfect, and look forward to a better future 

response when the problem comes up again! 

Language 

by Joan Rayford 

W B R E V D A D G K C O M M A 

O R N S A E R E C R P N R E D 

R E O N E A N I S A O O E A J 

D V U E F D T E P M I M T N E 

S E N T E N C E G N N A A I C 

P R A R O A R N M O T T U N T 

E N E L P I A A I I L O T G I 

L A O S O L R T O T A P C D V 

L C D D S G A A H A U O N T E 

I U K R A M N O I T S E U Q P 

N L H I A T M D D O U I P I L 

G A D L O O I T S U N A N G A 

B R C N N O Z I U Q U I R K Y 

E X Y Y M S E M I C O L O N S 

E M M A B B R E V I A T I O N 

Word List 

Abbreviation, Adjective, Adverb, Antonym, 

Colon, Comma, Dead, Deal, Diagram, Draft, 

Exclamation , Gender, Homonym, Idiom, Its, 

Meaning, Noun, Odd, Onomatopoeia, Period, 

Play, Point, Punctuate, Question mark, Quirky, 

Quiz, Quotation mark, Real, Semicolon, 

Sentence, Slang, Spaces, Spelling bee, Tense, 

Tick, Unusual, Verb, Vernacular, Words 

Solution – 12 letters, answer on page 13


#1 

Submitted by Allegra Louth 

Please send your jokes and comments to: humor@mensadetroit.com 

My wife was in labor with our first child. Things were going pretty well when 

suddenly, she began to shout, "Shouldn't, couldn't, wouldn't, didn't, can't!" 

"Doctor, what's wrong with my wife?!" 

The doctor replied, "Nothing. She's just having contractions." 

------- 

One day, in the shark-infested waters of the Caribbean, two prawns called 

Justin and Christian were discussing the pressures of being a preyed upon 

prawn. "I hate being a prawn," said Justin. "I wish I were a shark." 

Suddenly, a mysterious cod appears. "Your wish is granted," he says and, 

instantly, Justin became a shark. Horrified, Christian swam away, afraid his 

former friend might eat him. 

As time passed, Christian continued to avoid Justin, leaving the shrimp-turnedman-eater 

lonely and frustrated. So when he bumped into the cod again, he 

begged the mysterious fish to change him back. Lo and behold, Justin was 

turned back into a prawn. 

With tears of joy in his tiny little eyes, he swam back to the reef to seek out 

Christian. As he approached, he shouted out: "It's me, Justin, your old friend. 

I've changed ... I've found Cod, and I'm a prawn again, Christian." 

------- 

Jimmy: "Hey, Mike! How's your new pet fish doing? You told me he was really 

something special." 

Mike: "To tell the truth, I'm really disappointed in him. The guy who sold him to 

me said I could teach him to sing like a bird." 

Jimmy: "What? You bought a fish because you thought you could teach him to 

sing like a bird? That will never happen." 

Mike: "That's what you think! It just so happens that this fish CAN sing. The 

thing is, he's terribly off-key and it's driving me crazy. Do you know how hard it 

is to tuna fish?" 

------- 

During a performance for the high school drama class at the local theatre, a 

hole was cracked in the stage floor. Subsequent acts managed to avoid the 

damaged area until little Freddy, juggling bowling pins, accidentally stepped 

through the hole up to his knee. 

Puzzles 

By Tom Shaw 

#1 

In every super market 

You’re sure to see this name 

If your corn and peas are wilted 

You won’t have him to blame 

#2 

Copperfield makes things disappear 

He seems to do it all 

But can he throw a stick down 

And somehow make it crawl 

#3 

He exposed it to the nation 

The secret he had sought 

And wanted information on 

The thing that had been wrought 

#4 

Was it fact or fiction 

The method that he chose 

To show the troupes the wisdom of 

How far a dollar goes 

#5 

His daddy would endorse of course 

His untapped use of innate force 

Use the might behind the light 

When you are right you’ll win the fight 

Answers on page 13 

He apologized to the audience for his clumsiness. Then one sympathetic 

person in the back of the theater replied, "Don't worry, Freddy!" shouted a guy 

in the front row, "It's just a stage you're going through!" 

------- 

Lots of self-help tapes out there. Got one called How to Handle Disappointment. 

I got it home and the box was empty.


of Gabe Werba… 

“Mensa is greatly diminished by the death of Gabe 

Werba, one of the founders of Southeast Michigan 

Mensa and one of National Mensa's former Chairs. 

Gabe counseled many who were leaders locally, 

regionally and nationally with care to detail and pride 

in the organization. He set a great example and his 

presence will be missed.” Betsy Mark 

When Gordon MacDonald joined Mensa in 1963, 

SEMM only had 19 members. Gordon attended 

his first meeting at Jack and Elizabeth McIntyre’s 

house, where Gabe warmly welcomed him as a 

new member. 

“I knew Gabe both from Mensa and professionally 

from working for several Detroit area ad agencies 

and public relations firms. He was a super guy who did 

not take himself too seriously. 

One time I was joking around with him and told him in 

jest (only partly) how honored I was to be in his 

company. He smiled and said, "Thanks Ken. For that 

I'm going to allow you to kiss my ring." 

Last time I saw and spoke with Gabe was at the AG in 

Dearborn a couple years back.” Ken Haller 

“Having someone who had been Chair of 

American Mensa was a great model to me— 

showed that all chairs have to come from 

some local group. 

One of my favorite Gabe stories: Long ago at 

a SEMMERbash, a vivacious young, brand 

new member determined if he was AMC 

Chair, Gabe must be somebody important, 

and attached herself to him. She talked with 

him for a while and then, when someone else 

new approached the group, excitedly 

introduced him as the head of American 

Motors Corporation! Gabe being Gabe, he 

did not correct her in front of others. As far 

as we know, Gabe’s son has no plans to run 

for president.” Jean Becker


I’m Okay 

By Tom Shaw 

Dear Concerned Citizens of America, 

I request my name be removed from the past 

election ballot as candidate for president. 

Since the election is now over, there should be 

no need to hurry. 

“Write in”, a name I have used infrequently as 

well as ‘A’ ‘B’ ‘C’ ‘Other’ and 

‘None of the above’ has 

placed me in a position in 

which I need to explain to 

those who were misled into 

believing that I was a viable 

and willing candidate. I was 

not viable and had I been 

would not have served, at 

least with relish. 

I will further explain my reluctance to those who 

might have insisted I serve, had I been willing, 

which I was not, because I realized that I could 

not balance the budget, restore economic 

growth, bring prosperity to all classes, stop the 

war in Afghanistan and the killings in Flint and 

Saginaw as the leading candidates obviously 

can. 

Perhaps, as with willing candidates, a profile 

would be in order. 

My qualifications are as follows: 

Personality-----------------below average 

Looks------------------------below average 

Wealth----------------------below average 

Education------------------below average 

Ambition--------------------below average 

Knowledge-----------------below average 

Ethics----------------------- snake belly 

Friends in high places-- non existent 

Language-------------------English and other 

As you can obviously see, I would make an 

excellent presidential candidate, however I do 

have my couch potato ways which might hinder 

me from becoming bosom buddies with the 

leaders of the 200 plus nations of the world and 

paying them exorbitantly for the security of our 

ambassadors. 

My forte is not smiling at people I don’t like, but 

rather knowing that my ambition level has flat-lined 

at the bottom of the graph. 

This is an important asset that my friends insist I use 

to my advantage but, sadly, it is not enough. Couch 

potato is a derogatory term and very unfair to me 

since I was forced to the couch only when my Lazy- 

Boy broke. But, as unflattering as couch potato 

sounds, it has led me to what I consider my greatest 

asset as candidate, if I was willing, which I am not. 

Once, while hammocking in the back yard, a squirrel 

chattered at me. Under normal circumstances I would 

have shooed it away and went back to sleep but it was 

insistent and the more I heard the more I understood. 

EEEERIE! VERY EERIE! I was sure he was telling me 

to get off my butt and save the world. Holy Graynoly! I 

was learning squirrel talk in only my first session. 

It dawned on me that if I could learn squirrel talk then 

why not the language of other animals as well. I went 

back to sleep dreaming of how I could save the world 

by uniting not only the people of the world but the 

animals too. Then when my friends reminded me that 

animals outnumber humans, it hit me-----KABOOM! 

KAZOWEE! What if I could only convince them to vote- 

---well! 

Oh yes! You can plainly see the possibilities. Now, 

with my unique advantage and not wanting to sound 

over-qualified, I will rest my case here (the poor little 

fellow became road-kill the very next day) and hope 

those who would have voted for me (had I actually 

continued my squirrel lessons which I could not) was 

elected and decided to serve will see that some 

situations simply cannot be. Such as: King Kong and 

Fay Rae, garlic and first dates, pizza pie a-la-mode 

and couch potato presidents. 

However, don’t be afraid to dream the impossible dream. 

I do and I’m okay.


The Sound and the Furry 

2012 Jim Szirony 

Sound is the transmission of a pressure wave through a medium. This medium may be a solid, liquid or gas. Hearing is the 

response to this wave using specialized sensory organs. Over millennia, marine invertebrates evolved chordotonal organs 

that respond to pressure, while mammals and other vertebrates developed the auditory system. Mammals that reentered 

the sea, such as dolphins, then had to modify the auditory system for survival. Use sound reasoning and see how many of 

the following questions about mammalian hearing you can get right. 

1. The hertz (abbreviated Hz) is the standard unit of 

measurement for frequency. The frequency range of human 

hearing is 20 to 20,000 Hz. One hertz is equal to: 

A. 100 Helmholtz 

B. 1 cycle per second 

C. 250 Baud 

D. 60 rpm 

2. Sound frequencies that are in the range of human hearing 

are termed “sonic.” Which two of the following statements 

correctly describe sounds that are beyond our hearing 

range? 

A. Sound frequencies higher than we can hear are called 

ultrasonic. 

B. Hyposonic is the term for a range of frequencies below 

human hearing. 

C. Sound frequencies higher than we can hear are called 

supersonic. 

D. Infrasound is the term for a range of frequencies below 

human hearing. 

3. Which of the following is not a bone of the human middle 

ear? 

A. Incus 

B. Vestibulum 

C. Malleus 

D. Stapes 

4. Whale ears have different function and structure than land 

mammals. Their lower jaw conducts sound to the inner ear 

components. Since Blue whales communicate using sounds 

below 20 Hz, their hearing is most sensitive to these 

frequencies. Scientists using the U. S. Navy’s Sound 

Surveillance System (SOSUS) found Blue whales can 

communicate over: 

A. 100 miles 

B. 500 miles 

C. 1,000 miles 

D. 10,000 miles 

5. Studies have also found that Blue whales have near perfect 

pitch. The “B call” of the whales is the note that marks the 

end of their song. It has been found that all Pacific Blue 

whales end their song using the same note of 16.01 Hz. 

This is three octaves below middle C. Since only males 

appear to sing, what do scientists believe is the purpose of 

this synchronized pitch among whales? 

A. To indicate the migration route of the whales. 

B. That whale songs have a good beat and are easy to 

dance to. 

C. To enable female whales can locate a mate by 

detecting the Doppler shift of this note. 

D. To call others to join the pod. 

6. Elephants share, along with whales, the ability to hear 

using bone conduction. This allows them to hear other 

elephant’s low frequency calls over many miles. Their 

large footprint enables them to easily sense any vibrations 

carried through the ground. This makes elephants great 

predictors of storms. The pinna, or external ear of the 

elephant, is also very large. These ear flaps serve many 

purposes; these include: 

A. Localizing sound 

B. Temperature control 

C. Communication 

D. All of the above 

7. It wasn’t until the late 1930’s that scientists discovered 

that bats navigate and hunt by emitting sounds in the 20 

kHz to 100 kHz range. The bats can determine the size, 

speed and direction of prey, while maintaining a sonic 

picture of its surroundings. This form of biosonar is called: 

A. Echolocation 

B. Sonic Holography 

C. Doppler Navigation 

D. Hypersonic Ranging 

8. Which one of the following statements regarding the bat’s 

auditory system is not true? 

A. Bats can change the shape of their pinnas to improve 

their hearing. 

B. Bats are deaf to sounds in the sonic range. 

C. After emitting a locating click, the bat’s ear bones 

separate, so its own vocalizations do not deafen it. 

D. The inner ear is loosely attached to the skull to 

prevent bone conduction of sound. 

Answers on Page 13


[ 

Scholarship Essays Are Due! 

By Phyllis Voorheis, Scholarship chair 

The Scholarship program is drawing to a close - essays need to be online no later than midnight, 

January 15. No late entries accepted 

Attention, college-bound Mensans, dependents, friends AND interested people: The Mensa Foundation's 

scholarship application season runs through January 15, 2013. The scholarship program bases its awards 

solely on essays written by the applicants; more than $70,000 was awarded to scholarship winners last year. 

Both members and non-members may apply using the newly streamlined online process. For more 

information and to apply, visit www.mensafoundation.org/scholarships. 

Judging will take place in January, with local results reported to regional chairs by the first of February. Local, 

Regional and National Scholarship awards will be announced/published/available late May or early June. 

Southeast Michigan Mensa 

Balance Sheet 

As of October 31, 2012 

ASSETS 

Current Assets 

Checking/Savings $29,852.39 

Other Current Assets 1,004.70 

Total Current Assets $30,857.09 

Fixed Assets 805.45 

TOTAL ASSETS $31,662.54 

LIABILITIES & EQUITY 

Total Liabilities $113.25 

Equity 31,549.29 

TOTAL LIAB.& EQUITY $31,662.54 

Profit & Loss Statement 

May 1, 2012 to October 31, 2012 

Funds From National $ 4,732.10 

Testing 78.00 

Newsletter - 3,393.47 

Membership Expenses 4.38 

General Meeting 196.13 

Events 598.99 

Administration/Misc. -150.46 

Net Income $2,065.67 

The above are summary documents for SEMM’s second quarter of the current fiscal year. Anyone 

interested in detailed information may contact Jerry Breuer, Treasurer. 

John Voymas Real Estate Professional 

Real Estate One – Michigan’s largest broker 

For all your sales, purchase and leasing needs 

Office: 313.565.3200 ext. 165 

Cell: 313.434.6750 

Email: JohnV@realestateone.com 

Web: www.johnvoymas.realestateone.com


January Membership Notes 

Compiled by Iana Questara Boyce from National Office Data 

WELCOME 

Natalie Bourdeau 

14052 McGuire St 

Taylor, MI 48180-4449 

313-829-3032 

bourdean@gmail.com 

Heather Poucher 

324 W Ainsworth St 

Ypsilanti, MI 48197-5354 

734- 485-9501 

hkpoucher@gmail.com 

Marc E. Taylor 

502 N River St Apt 1 


231-510-0316 

taylorme27@gmail.com 

Zeyin Zhang 

526 Packard St Apt 203 


216-712-1199 

zeyinzh@umich.edu 

WELCOME BACK 

James R. Byce 

29229 Greater Mack Ave 

Saint Clair Shores, MI 48081-2751 

810-774-0960 

Lynn Marie Carter 

35200 Sims St Apt 212 

Wayne, MI 48184-1288 

313-748-5649 

Richard John Giesige 

5185 Merritt Rd 


734- 484-0721 

Tallmann2@comcast.net 

WELCOME BACK CONTINUED 

Dennis Nagy 

9912 Becker Ave 

Allen Park, MI 48101-3703 

313-908-7366 

John Szymkowski 

334 E Farnum Ave 

Royal Oak, MI 48067-3602 

(248) 990-8608 

jszymkowski@gmail.com 

MOVED IN 

Scott Joseph Helgemo 

4433 Fredro St 

Detroit, MI 48212-2836 

(313) 891-2845 

From Saint Petersburg, FL 

Eric Jarrett 

608 Monroe St Apt 4 


(248) 224-7874 

eric.l.jarrett@gmail.com 

From Washington, DC 

Victoria M. Knight 

3610 Galloway Ct Apt 2504 

Rochester Hills, MI 48309-2789 

(612) 568-3865 

From Somerville, MA 

Jerry D. Tubbs 

1221 Bowers St Unit 714 

Birmingham, MI 48012-7004 

(262) 853-5240 

tubbs_jerry@hotmail.com 

From Westbury, NY 

We extend our heartfelt sympathies for 

the family and friends of 

Gabriel Werba 

from Farmington Hills, Michigan 

who passed away recently. 

MOVED OUT 

Matthew Knysz 

To New York, NY 

Silke Kraus 

To Boston, MA 

Rudolph E. Lisa* 

To Kirkland, WA 

DIRECTORY UPDATES 

Catherine Biondi 

Melvindale, MI 48122-1611 

Iana Q. Boyce* 

ianaqtpie@gmail.com 

Mark Edward Crane 

2693 Lambeth Park 

Rochester Hills, MI 48306-3043 

Daniel DeRubeis III 

Royal Oak, MI 48067-4220 

Nicholas Lesnau 

Farmington Hills, MI 48331-5871 

James D. Miller 

millerj713@gmail.com 

Rajeev Raghavan 

692 Rolling Rock Rd 

Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304-1055 

Terry Redman 

55503 

*indicates 

Estates 

a 

Ln 

Life Member 

Macomb, MI 48042-1867 

David Michael Vincent 

35850 Booth Ave 

Westland, MI 48186-4204 

*indicates a Life Member


MENSA MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES 

[Number of years of continuous membership. Years 25 or more listed for each year; years less than 25 listed for 5-year milestones.] 

25+: 

47 Years 

Earl G. Swain 

46 Years 

Elizabeth B. Gregory 

41 Years 

Alison Wolfson* 

37 Years 

Ann Ruslander Burgess 

36 Years 

Ervin Larry Beyersdorf 

Sue Carol Spencer 

35 Years 

Michael V. Dean* 

34 Years 

Gerald J. Schloff 

33 Years 

Pauline K. Averbach 

Marlene Kay Bowers 

Edward M. Trainor* 

32 Years 

Joyce Elaine Foy* 

John Charles Shafer 

Valdemar Luther 

Washington* 

31 Years 

Robert L. Hetzler 

30 Years 

Robert E. Brooks* 

Michael S. Khoury 

29 Years 

John Michael Chmura 

Ann Davis Garvin 

Tim R. Magers 

27 Years 

Marsha Vohsen Holmes 

15 Years 

Tom Augustine 

10 Years 

David M. Austin 

5 Years 

Agnes J. Bochenek 

Thomas Frushour* 

Daniel F. Mawby 

As of November 1, 2012 

SEMM had 997 members 

*indicates a Life Member 

Win $1 Million in Chocolate!!! 

Who? You! 

What? $1 Million in Chocolate 

When? SEMMantics XXXIV 

Where? Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, Farmington Hills, Michigan 

How? By winning the annual RG Cribbage Tournament. 

Is there a catch? Yes, you must be registered for SEMMantics XXXIV to enter. 

Don't know how to play? There will be a Cribbage tutorial session held prior to the tournament at the RG. 

Puzzle Answers 

1. Clarence Birdseye 2..Moses 3. Samuel Morse 4. George Washington 5. Luke Skywalker 

Word Search: Are Odd Things 

Jim Szirony Answers: 

1. B or D, 2. A and D, 3. B, 4. D Whales can communicate across entire oceans, 5. C, 6. D, 7. A, 8. B


HAPPY JANUARY BIRTHDAYS! 

1 

2 

3 

5 

6 

7 

Kumar Bhatt 

Walter L. LaMasters 

Kim S. Horger 

JoAnne Ingram 

John F. Schmidt 

Candace DeLattre 

John F. Keating 

Regan R. Mack 

Glynette S. Wolk 

David Keith Smith 

Ronald G. Chimelak 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

Michael Curmi 

Brett Radlicki 

Margaret Skelly* 

R. Larry Arbanas 

M. Michele Chadwick 

Michael D. Hayden 

Bill Wisniewski 

Donald F. Rossin 

Kenneth Grundberg* 

Jake Heiney 

David Lawson 

Tim R. Magers 

Mattie Carolyn Majors 

23 

25 

26 

27 

28 

Brinton L. Butler 

Paul Raymon Jung 

Myron G. Sherer 

Steven O. Darling 

Jason D. Howson 

Michael S. Khoury 

Maria C. Leahy 

Marc David Manson* 

Katherine E. Fennimore* 

Marsha Vohsen Holmes 

Kenneth D. Johnston 

Thomas J. Karnosky 

John C. Golovich III 

Peter W. Shermeta 

8 

9 

Eric Jarrett 

Michael Joseph Csapo 

Dennis George Ganster 

Michael Kong 

Henry W. Seitz 

Marcella Wojtyca 

17 

19 

20 

Carol Mannino Kachmar 

Thomas H. Price 

David Louis Wilson 

Richard Augustine Doherty* 

29 

30 

Lawrence D. Dworin 

Clinton C. Williams* 

John Bejnarowicz 

Bettina T. Edwards 

Michael J. Ewing 

John Reed 

10 

Wayne Chadwick 

Anne R. Laperriere 

Heather Poucher 

22 

Jack Charles Beckman 

Kristine Marie Hawver 

Robert Lawrence Overmars 

31 

Penny Schultz Ettinger 

Lance Lis 

Michael M. Martin Jr. 

*indicates a Life Member


SEMM Events Listing 

Events are listed by Category: Dining, Social Gatherings, Movies, Brain Food (Discussion/Working Groups), Games, 

and Children’s Events. Events are also listed by date in a Monthly Calendar view at the end of this section. 

M-Pathy is published monthly and reflects info as of the 1 st of the preceding month. For the latest events information, 

see www.MensaDetroit.com. To sponsor an event, give feedback on events, or to suggest a new activity, email 

Calendar@MensaDetroit.com NOTE: Mensans lead busy lives; it is advisable to call ahead to confirm events. 

DOWNRIVER MENSANS 2nd SATURDAY BRUNCH 

2nd Saturday, 10:45am 

Note: We’ve moved to the second Saturday of every 

month and are alternating between two restaurants, 

one in Southgate (even months) and one in Westland 

(odd months). 

This month: Fire Mountain, 34615 Warren Rd., 

Westland, S side of the road, just E of Wayne Rd. 

Optional: A movie after at nearby theater. 

RSVP to join the distribution list, for location details -- or 

to suggest a movie. 

Host: Pauline Averbach 734-281-2726, 734-751-2304 

cell, semmtest@paverbach.us 

Optional: A movie after at nearby theater. 

RSVP to join the distribution list, for location details -- or 

to suggest a movie. 

Host: Pauline Averbach 734-281-2726, 734-751-2304 

cell, semmtest@paverbach.us 

Dining 

A3M BRUNCH (and a movie?) 

2nd Saturday, 10:30am 

Big Boy Restaurant, 3611 Plymouth Rd, NE Ann Arbor 

(use Red Roof Inn driveway) Breakfast bar buffet 'til 

2:00pm or order off the menu. Look for us in our own 

section! 

Optional: A3M 2 nd SATURDAY MOVIE after 

RSVP to reserve a place or for movie details. 

Host: Karen Smith 734-449-2359, cell phone 248-444-3813. 

Email karenls@ameritech.net to join the distribution list. 

FLINT AREA GASTRONAUTS 

4 th Wednesday, 6:30pm. We move around frequently 

as we sample local and sometimes not so local cuisine. 

At each monthly dinner, we decide where to go the next 

month, preferably within 25 miles of Flint. 

Hosts: Lynne & James Draper 810-744-1252. Email 

paradyme4@comcast.net to join the distribution list. 

A3M DINNER AND "NOT SO CHEAP" MOVIE NIGHT 

2 nd Wednesday, 5:30pm 

Holiday's Restaurant, 2080 W. Stadium, Ann Arbor, 

between Liberty and Pauline, across from the P.O. 

Movie at Quality 16, 3686 Jackson Rd, Ann Arbor. 


Hosts: Karen Smith 734-449-2359, Mike LaMoreaux 

734-971-2242. Email Karen karenls@ameritech.net to 

join her Ann Arbor distribution list. 

A3M EATOUT 

LAST Wednesday, Jan 30th, 6:30 PM 

Join us at Seoul Garden for Korean and Japanese cuisine 

to ward off the winter chill! Lots of filling Korean barbecue 

and hot pot dishes, plus a full sushi bar. Located on south 

side of Ann Arbor at 3125 Boardwalk between Eisenhower 

Parkway & Victors Way, just east of State St. near 

Briarwood.Restaurant phone:734-997-2121. 

Hosts: Bob Strauch, 734-973-6522, cell 734-604-3791; 

bstra2012@aol.com and Ann Garvin. Email Ann at 

agarvin224@aol.com to join the distribution list. 

Précis of the November 17 ExComm Meeting 

by Billie Lee, Secretary 

Attendance: 6 voting, 2 non-voting. Next Meeting: January 19, 2013 5:00pm at the Winter Bash 

Bylaws: Come to the ExComm meeting right before the Winter Bash to join the discussion on updates to the bylaws. 

Voting on the changes will be done separate from the election. RG 2013: We need to get younger members in the 

organizing group. There will be a drawing at the Saturday dinner for people staying at the hotel. The winner gets their 

hotel bill paid. All meals will be served in the breakfast room. The next RG meeting is January 17th. Financial Policies 

& Procedures: Approved unanimously to adopt the updated financial policies and procedures. The documents will be 

hosted on the website. SEMMer Bash: The ExComm will decide on the date, location and budget. Everything else is 

handled by the Chair.


SOTS—SOUTH OAKLAND TAVERN SOCIALIZERS 

Every Friday, 6:00pm 

Wrap up your week and help audition new taverns. 

Lively conversation, entertaining company. 

Host: Lee Helms 248-895-6389, email 

leehelms@wideopenwest.com to join distribution list or 

call Lee for info. 

A3M 1 ST WEDNESDAY ART FILM (QUIRKY MOVIE) 

1 st Wednesday, 5:30pm 

Mr. Greek's Coney Island, 215 South State, Ann Arbor. 

Movies at Michigan Theatre and/or the State Theatre. 


Hosts: Rich Bury 734-929-2066, rdbury@gmail.com & 

Karen Smith 734-449-2359, karenls@ameritech.net 

A3M DINNER AND "NOT SO CHEAP" MOVIE NIGHT 

2 nd Wednesday, 5:30pm (see above) 

A3M 2 nd SATURDAY MOVIE 

2 nd Saturday, after the Brunch (see above) 

Quality 16, 3686 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Discount 

prices are in effect at this time. 

RAM—ROCHESTER AREA MENSA 

2 nd Sunday, 5:00pm 

Somewhere in the Rochester area. 

Let’s talk about science! 

Host: John Blinke 248-659-8438, johnb44221@cs.com 

Call for location and directions – or to suggest a topic. 

Social Gatherings 

Movies 

Brain Food - (Discussion/Working Groups) 

THE BREWERY CIRCUIT 

See us at the Winter Bash on January19! 

Host: JohnVoymas 313-434-6750, email 

johnvoymas@yahoo.com to join distribution list. 


Hosts: Karen Smith 734-449-2359, Mike LaMoreaux 

734-971-2242. Email Karen karenls@ameritech.net to 

join distribution list. 

FRIDAYS AT THE DETROIT FILM THEATRE 

Fridays, 6:55pm, by Exit 2 (not aisle 2) 

Detroit Institute of Art, 5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit. For movie 

schedule, see www.dia.org/detroitfilmtheatre/14/DFT.aspx 

RSVP (Leave a description if we haven’t met) 

Host: Sharon Suhrie 313-563-8609, sharonsuhrie@earthlink.net 

Optional: Convene after the movie at http://www.trafficjamdetroit.com 

U of M SATURDAY MORNING PHYSICS 

LECTURES/BRUNCH 

Returning in February! Plan ahead to celebrate the 

physics of Acoustics on Feb 2 in Hill Auditorium – and its 

100 th year! See www.saturdaymorningphysics.org 

Host: Rick Bollinger 734-645-7170, richard.bollinger@ieee.org 

GAMES IN HIGHLAND (Shelby Township) 

NEW DATE! 2nd Saturday, 1:00pm to whenever, 1950 

Crystal Lake Court West, Bldg C, Apt. 46, Shelby 

Township. RSVP appreciated. Smoke and alcoholfree, 

fun for all. Are you a games person? Just want to 

socialize? Please stop by. We have a variety of games 

to play, such as Outburst, Quirkle, Word on the Street, 

Settlers of Catan, or cards for Hearts and Euchre, or 

BYOG (Bring Your Own Game). Non-alcoholic 

beverages and snacks provided or BYO to share. 

Games 

Host: Phyllis Voorheis 313-719-1696, PhyllisVoorheis@yahoo.com. 

LONDON, ONTARIO GAMES NIGHT 

2nd Saturday, 7:00pm. Drop by anytime after 7:00pm to 

play games or just socialize. Hosts have a wide variety 

of games, but feel free to bring your own favorites. 

Location: 35 Scottsdale Street in Lambeth (SW area of 

London). Hosts: Lois and Pete Fuchs 519-652-0282, 

petefuchs@bell.net 

Your Game Here 

What would a SEMMantics RG be without games? Have a favorite game that you’d like to play tournament 

style? Contact Joan Rayford, rayfordj2002@yahoo.com or 734-788-2922 with your suggestions. 

Come to SEMMantics XXXIV and have fun with old and new friends! See you there!


Kid’s Events 

Please Note: These events are coordinated by Gifted in Michigan. RSVPs are critical!!! A leader/facilitator 

will be present at all events. See www.giftedinmichigan.com for more details, to RSVP, to identify event 

leaders, to volunteer, or to see the cancellation policy. If it is difficult to find the group at an event (due to a 

crowded/busy location, for example), please call the leader at the phone number provided so that s/he may 

help guide you to the group. 

Host: Melissa Jenkins gifted_in_mi@sbcglobal.net 

Henry Ford Museum Lego Architecture: Towering Ambition 

Saturday, January 5, 2013, 3:00 PM, Dearborn, MI 

MSU Brain Bee and Neuroscience Fair 

Saturday, January 12, 2013, 1:00 PM, East Lansing, MI 

Gifted In Michigan Potluck Games Night 

Saturday, January 26, 2013, 5:00 PM, Berkley, MI 

DIA Celebration Masks and Artist Demonstration 

Sunday, January 27, 2013, 12:00pm, Detroit, MI 

Learn about Puzzle Parties for Kids, 

see https://sites.google.com/site/puzzleparty2011/ Host: Hiren Bhatt, ghbhatt@gmail.com 

Stay for free at SEMMantics 34 (May 3-5, 2013) 

by Jean Becker, RG Chair 

We encourage our members and their friends and family who come to SEMMantics to stay in the hotel. There are a number 

of reasons why it is the best way to experience a Regional Gathering, including being able to pop back to your room for a 

nap or to change into your swim suit, and not having to worry about getting home if you overstay in the hospitality room. But 

you may not know that one of the reasons the RG registration is so inexpensive is that the cost of our hospitality and games 

suites and speaker rooms are reduced, depending on the number of sleeping rooms our registrants occupy. 

At our first meeting recently, the RG team decided to offer a bribe (we admit it!) At dinner Saturday night May 4 th (included 

in the registration), we will draw a name and we will then pay the hotel bill for one lucky person. We will pay the room 

charge and taxes that person is registered for: one or two nights. You need not be in the room for the drawing---we know 

there are always multiple things going on in every time slot—but you must be registered for the RG and hotel before your 

name is drawn. 

Register now to become eligible to win a free hotel stay during SEMMantics! Call 248-477-7800 for reservations or go 

online at www.HolidayInn.com using the code SEM. We are at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites in Farmington Hills, 

Michigan. 

More about SEMMantics in the next several Issues of M-Pathy. Or better yet, join us at our upcoming meetings to be part of 

brainstorming new RG activities. Our remaining meetings are: Jan. 17, Feb. 21, Mar. 14, April 4 & 18.


January 2013 

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 

1 2 

3 4 

5 

5:30pm A3M 

Art/Quirky Movie 

6 7 8 9 

13 

5:00pm 

Rochester Area 

Mensa 

20 21 22 23 

27 

12:00pm Kids 

DIA 

Celebration 

Masks and 

Artist 

Demonstration 

5:30pm A3M 

Dinner & NSC 

Movie 

10 11 

14 15 16 17 18 

28 29 30 

6:30pm Flint Area 

Gastronauts 

6:30pm A3M 

EatOut 

24 25 

31 

6:00pm SOTS 

6:00pm SOTS 

6:00pm SOTS 

6:00pm SOTS 

3:00pm Kids! 

Henry Ford Museum Lego Architecture 

12 

10:30am A3M Brunch (& movie?) 

10:45am Downriver Brunch-Southgate 

1:00pmKids! 

MSU Brain Bee & Neuroscience Fair 

1:00pm Games-Highland (Shelby 

Township) 

7:00pm London Games Night 

19 

6:00pm-11:00pm Winter Bash! 

26 

Dues Subsidy Program, by Spencer Wolff, Dues Subsidy Administrator 

It’s that time again. Time to pay those pesky annual dues. Having a little trouble with finances 

this year? Could you use a little help? 

SEMM will subsidize up to 75% of the annual dues payment to National for members in good 

standing who can demonstrate a need for such a subsidy. 

For information about this program please write to: 

Spencer Wolff, Dues Subsidy Administrator 

2947 Philadelphia Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48103 - or - ceewolff@ameritech.net 

There is a small bit of paper work, and a deadline for official requests of February 15, 2013, so 

contact Spencer real soon to get complete details on the policy and its associated procedures.


Executive Committee of Southeast Michigan Mensa 

President (LocSec) John Voymas locsec@mensadetroit.com 313-434-6750 

Vice President Harley Berger VP@mensadetroit.com 248-210-3563 

Secretary Billie Lee Secretary@mensadetroit.com 248-535-8524 

Treasurer Jerry Breuer Treasurer@mensadetroit.com 734-459-1886 

Co-Vice Presidents 

Ann Arbor Area 

Co-Vice Presidents 

Northeast Michigan 

Kathleen Giesting AnnArbor@mensadetroit.com 734-327-4884 

Betsy Y. Mark AnnArbor@mensadetroit.com 734-434-5757 

Bob Strauch AnnArbor@mensadetroit.com 734-973-6522 

James D. Draper Flint@mensadetroit.com 810-744-1252 

Lynne A. Draper Flint@mensadetroit.com 810-744-1252 

Judy Johnson Flint@mensadetroit.com 810-240-3801 

Derald R. Schnepp Flint@mensadetroit.com 810-694-3560 

General Representative Pauline Averbach genrep1@mensadetroit.com 734-281-2726 

General Representative Katie Jeffries genrep2@mensadetroit.com 248-961-1444 

Appointed Officers-Voting 

Regional Gathering Chair Jean Becker semmantics@mensadetroit.com 810-229-2113 

Membership Kurt Love membership@mensadetroit.com 586-293-1456 

Newsletter Editor Kathleen Giesting Mpathy@mensadetroit.com 734-327-4884 

Appointed Officers—Non-Voting 

Arbitrator and Ombudsman David Brown ombudsman@mensadetroit.com 734-458-1194 

Archivist Edward Becker Archivist@mensadetroit.com 810-229-2113 

Chuck McQueen AuditCom@mensadetroit.com 586-468-7096 

Audit Committee 

Geoffrey Vasquez AuditCom@mensadetroit.com 248-346-1614 

Felecia Studstill AuditCom@mensadetroit.com 

Budget Committee 

Jerry Breuer BudgetCom@mensadetroit.com 734-459-1886 

James D. Draper BudgetCom@mensadetroit.com 810-744-1252 

Community Volunteer 

Coordinator 

Lynn Broniak-Hull Volunteers@mensadetroit.com 734-451-7278 

Dues Subsidy Administrator Spencer Wolff DuesSubsidy@mensadetroit.com 734-327-4884 

Gen-X/Gen-Y Coordinator Katie Jeffries genxy@mensadetroit.com 248-961-1444 

Gifted Children Coordinator Melissa Jenkins GiftedCoord@mensadetroit.com 248-586-9926 

Music In the Schools Pauline Averbach MusicInSchools@MensaDetroit.com 734-281-2726 

National Testing Day 

Coordinator 

Pauline Averbach Testing@mensadetroit.com 734-281-2726 

Newsletter Publisher Brenda Lewis publisher@mensadetroit.com 313-835-3454 

Parliamentarian Edward Becker Parliamentarian@mensadetroit.com 810-229-2113 

Proctor Coordinator Pauline Averbach Testing@mensadetroit.com 734-281-2726 

Project Inkslinger Vacant Inkslinger@mensadetroit.com 

Publicity Vacant PR@mensadetroit.com 

Recruitment Officer Gary Rimar Recruitment@mensadetroit.com 248-338-7867 

Scholarship Chair Phyllis Voorheis Scholarships@mensadetroit.com 248-437-1509 

SEMMer Bash Chair John Voymas SEMMerBash@mensadetroit.com 313-434-6750 

SEMM Forum Moderator Steve Goodhall ForumMod@mensadetroit.com 248-334-9073 

SIGHT Judy Johnson SIGHT@mensadetroit.com 810-695-5553 

Web Master Billie Lee webmaster@mensadetroit.com 248-535-8524 

Winter Bash Chair Harley Berger winterbash@mensadetroit.com 248-210-3563 

Assistant Newsletter Editor Toby Berger Mpathy@mensadetroit.com 248-851-3563 

editorial policy 

Mensa, as a group, holds no opinion on 

any subject. Its members do. All opinions 

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Mensa is an international society whose 

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Send address changes to: 

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M-Pathy 

Periodicals Page 20 Postage Rates 

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ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED 

SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN MENSA’S 

Winter Bash 

The coolest party of the year! 

Saturday, January 19, 2013 

6:00pm - 11:00pm 

Berkley VFW Hall 

3025 Coolidge (Between 11 and 12 Mile Road) 

Berkley, MI 48072 

Plenty of free parking! 

Salad Pizza Beverages Munchies Cards Rock Band 

Board Games Pool Table Music Darts 

In advance through January 11: 

$12 for ages 12 and up 

$6 for ages 11 and younger 

Children 4 and under: Free 

At the door: 

$14 for ages 12 and up 

$8 for ages 11 and younger 

Children 4 and under: Free 

Please fill out the form and mail with check made payable to SEMM to: 

Harley Berger, 7269 Creeks Bend Court, West Bloomfield, MI 48322 

To use PayPal, go to www.PayPal.com, and click on the "Send Money" tab. Enter email address: 

semmantics@sbcglobal.net and your payment amount. If registering more than one person, enter 

each registrant’s name in the Comments section on the confirmation page. 

Any questions? Call 248-210-3563 or email: winterbash@mensadetroit.com 

Name: 

Address: 

City/Zip: 

Number of Tickets: ages 12 and over: 

ages 11 and under: 

$12 each $6 each

January 2013 - Southeast Michigan Mensa

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