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Connecticut & Western Massachusetts Mensa
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What is Connecticut and Western Massachusetts Mensa?

C&WM is volunteers. How about writing an article for Media? Haven't you secretly known that you could write an article as good as any found in the New Yorker? You'll be famous and have Cheryl's gratitude! Media is C&WM's Members chance to see their work in print.

We have lots of things that need doing -- contact us!

C&WM is Members hosting activities. There are many events going on, with more sure to be added. Help the Calendar of Events Page have interesting things by planning an event in your area!

The Calendar abounds each month with a variety of activities from concerts and theater, to board games and book discussions, along with all the 'usual suspects'. So come on out, enjoy yourself, and "connect with like minds"..

What else is Connecticut & Western Massachusetts Mensa?
 

Connecticut & Western Massachusetts Mensa is people. C&WM Mensa members are young, chronologically enhanced (think "Red Hat Society", but for both sexes!), and everywhere in between. We come from all social and economic backgrounds.

Mensa takes its name from the Latin word for "table". Specifically, a round table at which we are equals. We each pay our own way, voice our opinions, and respect each other. The only qualification for Mensa membership is that a person score at or above the 98th percentile on any one of several standardized tests. Testing is done in C&WM several times each year, or people can submit the results of previously-taken tests. For information on taking the test to join us click here.

Interested in joining? Talk to anyone on the Contacts Page! There is a Calendar of Events Page so that you can check us out first hand, and there are more details about Mensa, including links to American Mensa (the national level of Mensa), below.

  • We're basically a social group like any other social group.

    We get together to meet old friends, make new friends, and have a good time.

    What we don't do:

    We don't get involved with political (or religious) issues or try to solve the world's problems. That's an individual's prerogative, not Mensa's.

    We don't pressure anyone to participate in an activity that they don't want to engage in. For example, many people drink only seltzer or soda at Happy Hours and parties.

    We don't say "I'll get the tab this time. You can pick it up next time." Each person pays his own way.

    Once in a great while, a Mensan may have a windfall or special event and feel like treating a group of people to dinner or some other activity. Repayment is never expected.

    What we do do:

    We do have some pretty regular activities we engage in. Please check the current calendar to see what's happening soon. You're welcome to attend these activities as a guest. Let us know if you're interested through one of the contacts listed.

    Wednesday Luncheons

Every Wednesday we have a lunch get-together at Hometown Buffet in the Shaw's shopping plaza off Prospect St. in West Hartford, CT. The food is buffet style: all you can eat for about $7.00. We wander in around noon and the conversation usually lasts until 1:30 pm or so, though since it is self-serve you can come later or leave earlier. Hometown Buffet is directly opposite Exit 44 on I-84 West-bound.

  • Happy Hours

Believe it or not, Mensans like beer, cocktails, or soft drinks now and then just like everyone else. Come along and join us at one of the following watering holes. Each Happy Hour location has its own personality. Attend one or all.

In Wallingford, CT, every 1st Friday. Please check the current calendar for the exact location.
In the New Haven, CT area, every 4th Friday at Colonial Tymes in Hamden, CT.

  • C&WM's Annual Regional Gathering: MensAutumn

Once each year, we get together for a three-day party/seminar session known as a Regional Gathering (RG). A lot of Mensa chapters hold RGs; C&WM's is called MensAutumn. MensAutumn will be held in Manchester, CT, October 10-12, 2008. See details: MensAutumn 2008.

  • Other Gatherings

Details are available on other gatherings in the Region 1 Gatherings Page (external site) or on the National Page (external site), which lists many of the gatherings around the country, and a few elsewhere in the world.

 

What is Mensa?

Mensa is the international high IQ society founded in 1946, with over 100,000 members world-wide. Mensa members (called Mensans) must be in the top 2% of standardized IQ tests to qualify. Connecticut & Western Massachusetts Mensa (abbreviated "C&WM") is a local chapter of Mensa. All the links in this section of this Page are external to C&WM's Site.

Mensa in the United States is known as American Mensa and is divided into ten geographic regions. Region 1 includes the Northeast portion of the country, from Maine to Northern New Jersey and all of New York State except for the Buffalo and Rochester areas. Approximately 6,000 Mensans reside in Region 1.

Connecticut and Western Massachusetts Mensa is a local group of American Mensa. C&WM consists of  Connecticut (except for Fairfield County, which is Southern Connecticut Mensa [SCM]) and the four western counties of Massachusetts: Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire.) Greater Boston Mensa covers the rest of Massachusetts.

Near-by Mensa Chapters also include Rhode Island (RIM), Greater New York Mensa (GNYM), Mid-Hudson (NY) Mensa, Mensa of Northeastern New York (MONNY), New Hampshire / Maine Mensa, and Vermont Mensa (alas, no Web Site!). There's a great map at the Region 1 Web Site (and some outstanding photos, too).

To find other local groups, check National's Local Groups Page.

Mensa International's WebSite is WWW.Mensa.Org.


[Last revised: June 25, 2008]    Submit comments or suggestions to the Webmaster at WebContact@CWM.US.Mensa.Org.