From: dwyn@compus.UUCP (Dwyn Auterson)
Subject: Re: Toronto Mensa
Organization: CompuSoft, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 92 20:10:30 GMT

Actually, the Toronto Mensa group is pretty lively. (Look how long it
took me to find time to get around to posting this.)

Last night we had the annual Christmas Party and Caroling. Bundled
up against the cold, and brandishing homemade candle-powered
lanterns, we clump from house to house singing Christmas carols and
songs. People walking or driving by pause and stare. Home-owners
are usually enchanted, stunned, and fascinated. They almost never
ask "who" we are. They go and wake the kids and bring them to the
door, and we get them to pick a song and lead us. A couple of
years ago, I remember one lady disappearing inside the house,
admonishing us not to leave, and reappeared with glasses of
eggnog for all. We only have about 2 really decent voices in the lot,
but we all have fun. "Let's sing page 15" "Oh no, not page 15 again"
"We 3 kings of orient are, tried to smoke a rubber cigar . . . . "

Once a month there is a *New Member's Party.* This is a well
attended event, with easily 30 or more people turning out. 

There are two *pub nights* a month, alternating Fridays, in selected
British style pubs. 

There are two *games nights* a month, in different parts of the city,
for the Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, Bridge, etc. fans.

The *Small Computer Group* also meets monthly, with a guest
speaker talking on some relevant topic.

Monthly is also the *Saturday Speaker & Social;* again with a
speaker, and usually retiring to a restaurant or someone's home for
further socializing after the custodian kicks us out of the hall.

There are a couple of *Coffee and Conversation* groups, and a
group that gets together for *lunch* downtown every other week.
There is a *FSM & S-F night,* when people get together to Fold,
Staple, and Mutilate the local newsletter, and watch Science-Fiction
movies.

There are also special events arranged. Recently we met with the
police at their new facilities and got a look at the forensics lab.
Someone is trying to organize a tour of the morgue now. We've
toured Old City Hall, the Abandoned Subway Station, The Don Jail,
a local brewery, to list a few. Every year, our local history buff leads
us on a tour of Mount Pleasant Cemetery (just after Halloween
actually) and regales us with tales about the famous people who
built Toronto who now rest there.

All in all, we are a pretty active bunch. There is certainly a group of
people who attend everything, some who only show up for certain
events, some who only come out once a year. We seem to have
avoided forming impenetrable cliques (IMHO), and new members
are always welcome. 

You're welcome to e-mail me if you'd like to go to anything, join, or
more information. I will put you in touch with the appropriate person.

There, I think that protects anonymity ok; and provides better insight
too. At least it's not copied verbatim from the inside back cover of
the Canadian national publication, mc^2.

Dwyn Auterson                     My opinions are not necessarily
                                  those of this computer.
dwyn@compus.ca                    It's an ill wind that blows
                                  out of the garbage chute.

Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa