Greater New York Mensa
Directory of Special Interest Groups
August 1, 2009
Compiled by Marty Merado, GNYM SIGs Liaison Officer.
Note, for GNYM members only, a complete directory with contact information is available via the GNYM Members-Only Area.
Next edition: For the upcoming March, 2010 SIGs Directory (to be published in Mar.-Apr., 2010 Mphasis), all changes in SIG blurbs and blurbs for new SIGs must be received by Jan. 13, 2010. Send to Marty Merado, merado@juno.com . The text for all blurbs must be 50 words or less. Thank you.
Please inform me of any changes or corrections. If a SIG becomes inactive, any member can volunteer to lead it.
The rules to start a new SIG are simple:
- The proposed SIG's activities must be lawful in the political jurisdiction in which its activities will take place.
- The proposed SIG cannot be entirely duplicative (of site and activities) of an existing SIG under another name.
- The SIG must be open to all interested M's, except for certain SIGs designated confidential.
- The name Mensa or the stylized M may not be used in a SIG's title.
- SIGs must have at least one Calendar item in Mphasis between semi-annual SIG listings, except for exceptions designated with the symbol "*".
- In addition to other forms of contact, every SIG must list a telephone contact number for the SIGs Directory and all Calendar items.
- All contact persons listed in all SIG Calendar items must be current members of American Mensa.
If a SIG is a local chapter of a National SIG, then dues may be collected if the national SIG assesses them. While other local SIGs do not have dues as such, all expenses incurred as a result of their activities must be borne entirely by their participants.
To volunteer to be a SIG leader, please call or write me. Be sure to give me your Mensa ID number. SIG leaders and co-leaders must be current members of American Mensa.
Note: Whether you participate in a National or local SIG, you should know the following: SIGs are voluntary associations of members of Mensa, which operate independently of Greater NY Mensa. Their financial activities and liabilities are entirely their own, and not those of Greater NY Mensa. Furthermore, no SIG leader may obligate GNYM in any way.
Just as SIGs' activities and liabilities are their own, so is the responsibility for disciplining SIG members where necessary. SIG leader(s) and/or the SIG membership have full authority to sanction any member of the SIG whom they deem has interfered with effective functioning of the SIG's activities.
BridgeSIG
Piri, piri@mindspring.com
Join us for some fun, non-competitive bridge, every Wednesday night. All skill levels are welcome, whether to play or kibitz. For more information, and to be placed on the e-mailing list, e-mail me.
Business Solutions Hub / Mathematical Methods for Business and Economics SIG
Business Solutions Hub (MMBE) is a special interest group that takes business issues and discusses possible solutions or recommendations. State your business issue or come join the solutions forum. Whether it's a tricky role requirement, business dilemma, or a start-up quandary, feel free to join in on the discussion. This a focused, open, and informal discussion group for business professionals and interested parties.
Crank and Spin: The SIG for Cyclists [new Sep., 2009]
Cyclists! Looking to combine your long weekend ride with the finest of bottom bracket banter? Then Crank and Spin may be the SIG for you. Once a month we cluster for a 15 mph 40 - 80 mile ride and to talk about whatever. Unsure/slow riders: call anyway; Group B rides possible.
Dog Owners
This SIG offers a time for owners and their dogs to socialize off-leash. We will meet in Central Park at 9pm. Beginning at this time the leash laws are not enforced. Tentative meeting location is the south side of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Evil M-Pyre
Wanna be a party animal? Don't wanna cross any bridges to do so? Local chapter of the national SIG Hell's Ms ("The Party SIG of American Mensa"). Operates independently of GNYM, yet open to all Mensans, anywhere! Activities and liabilities happen at your own risk. Initiation $18 - covers National's fees, T-shirt, newsletter.
Games
Join us for an afternoon of games, ranging from the very silly to relatively serious, and all degrees of silliness in between. Feel free to bring your own games, too. In the 70's. Please reserve by the Wednesday before. $2 for refreshments.
Gay And Lesbian
The Gay and Lesbian SIG is for sharing ideas and socializing among gay and lesbian members of GNYM, and is affiliated with the National GAY SIG. Meetings in members' homes or other gathering places are held occasionally. For further information, call ____.
Give Back SIG
Volunteering is something all of you do individually and it's great that you do. But I'm thinking of volunteering with other Mensans, even those in SIGS you're already in. It's very enjoyable and you can still make friends through group volunteering. For more info or to volunteer, contact ____.
LIMENSIG
The only Long Island general interest group. Meet in various Nassau and Suffolk locations. Check Calendar.
Movie-Going M*****s [updated Sep., 2009]
For fans of flicks, a SIG for going to new movies on Long Island.
We meet at a movie theatre every other week (currently Friday nights around 7:30pm or 9:30pm), see a movie together, then go someplace for coffee and chatting.
Age range of attendees is 30s to 90s -- all smart, with lively anecdotes about cinema experiences. Come join us! Contact Julie to be added to notification list.
NY Fine Dining / Opulent M
David William Bowden, 718-380-3842 (keep trying)
Our goal is to evoke incandescent joy from within your being. Luxuriate in the ambient splendor and culinary hedonism of Manhattan's most opulent restaurants. Abundant is the delight of evening's leisurely conversation with fine Mensan friends, over a sumptuous repast, in warmth and deep beauty. Our purpose is your ecstasy.
Parapsychology and Psychotronic SIG
Mainly lectures on the above. Parapsychology deals with UFOs, ghosts, unexplained phenomena, etc. Psychotronic deals with energy fields, whether through the mind, machines or any other factors.
Polyamory SIG [new Sep., 2009]
Ever feel you didn't understand monogamy? Incredulous that some people find happiness with ONE PERSON? From the Latin for "many loves," polyamory recognizes that with honesty, communication, and respecting boundaries, you CAN have meaningful, loving relationships with multiple partners simultaneously, as long as everyone involved knows and consents
Restaurant and Dining Lovers
To sample the variety of cuisines in the New York area.
Rock Musicians Network [new Sep., 2009]
Get together to play and sing classic rock, blues, jazz, folk and country music. Dust off that old Fender and contact us!
Science Fiction & Fantasy
The first Tuesday of each month, meet us in ____ to talk about favorite speculative fiction books, movies, TV shows, etc.
Sig X
For all GNYM twentysomethings and thirtysomethings interested in meeting their fellow Ms for good company and fun times. We will have events at bars, clubs, parks -- anywhere you want. If you would like to be added to the e-mail distribution list, shoot me an e-mail.
Smart Company (For Mensa Business Owners and Executives)
Smart Company is a forum where Mensa Business owners and executives and their non-M guests can improve their business knowledge, meet new friends, make new contacts, and give-and-take solutions to business problems. To keep it lively and worthwhile, all attendees are expected to participate and foster an open, noncompetitive environment.
Spanish Conversation SIG [new Sep., 2009]
For those who enjoy the languages and cultures of Spain and Latin America. You need not be fluent, but should be able to conduct a basic conversation.
Strategy Gaming
This games are won primarily by skill, planning, negotiation and management of limited resources or assets, rather than chance. Come put your competitive skills to work. First Sunday every month, location floats throughout chapter.
The Cool Kids [new Sep., 2009]
Join us on the 3rd Thursday of the month for a bar hopping adventure, in either Manhattan or Brooklyn. We'll discover the latest hot spots, cocktail dens, and brew shrines, all accompanied by classic MENSAn company and conversation. Occasionally we will plan events beyond bar hopping. For the current month's location, email ____ .
Turkey Shoot
More of an event, really. We get together periodically, sit together and watch terrible films. We laugh our heads off, like the characters in MST3K. Feel free to shout out your own putdowns. If someone else wants to host one, I'd be glad to bring some tapes or discs.
Bill Ross welcomes all questions at billrossvlogic@webtv.net .
Volunteer *
Two groups we could benefit are the School Volunteer Program and Recording for the Blind. A convenient two-hour a week time commitment follows initial training. SVP has day or evening programs near your work or home. RFTB needs people to record college level textbooks. For more information, call ___.
*Denotes confidential or informational SIG.
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Lapsed SIGs
The following SIGs are either 1) on hiatus, 2) temporarily unable to function, or 3) inactive. Please call the GNYM SIGs Liaison Officer to find out more about these SIGs or to volunteer in any leadership capacity:
Harold Berman Whistleblowers, Abe Cohen Memorial Law, Bill Miller Aerospace, Art Lovers, Baby Boomers, Bronx Dining, Brooklyn Great Books, Chess, Fitness, Kosher Dining, Menyou, Music Lovers, Orthodox Jewish, PC Applications and Enhancements, Philosophy and Social Issues, Poetry, Psychology, Publishing, Retired M, Sapph, Second Amendment, SignSIG, SingleSIG, Smart Bar Hopping, Star Trek, Tai Chi Club, Travel, Vegetarian, Westchester Dining, Westchester Lawyers & Business Professionals. |
