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

Mensa in the United States is known as American Mensa and is divided into ten geographic regions. Region 1 includes Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York (excluding Western New York Mensa and Rochester Area Mensa), the northern portion of New Jersey (including the Newark area) and a portion of northeastern Pennsylvania. Twelve local groups comprise the region.

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.

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

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 98^th 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 at American Mensa's website http://www.us.mensa.org.

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.

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. Click here to see the latest information on our RG.

Who are Connecticut & Western Massachusetts Mensans?

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.

Where is Connecticut & Western Massachusetts Mensa?

We cover a lot of territory - all of CT except Fairfield County and the four western counties of Mass. If you would like to know how members are distributed throughout our dominion, click for a map of Connecticut or for a map of Massachusetts. If you're curious about which individual communities have the most members, click here for a list of communities with more than ten members. Knowing some extra folks in your town could come in handy for a party, card game, etc. This list is dynamic and will be updated from time to time.

The chapter is so spread out that we have area coordinators (see Contacts) who organize events and spread information in various areas. Feel free to contact the coordinator in your area. If you don't see one, feel free to volunteer !