From: shapiro@cfsctc.enet.dec.com (Steve Shapiro)
Subject: Re: Membership Renewal ??
Organisation: SKS Computer Consulting, Inc.
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation - Marlboro, MA
Date: 27 JAN 93 08:25:46 EST


In article <728013638.AA00000@blkcat.UUCP>,
Linda.Cunningham@p811.f70.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Linda Cunningham) writes...

>  SS> But now that I don't have the time to participate fully, is it worth
>  SS> retaining membership, just in case? I guess it is kind of like having an
>  SS> attorney on retainer. You think that you're never going to need to use 
>  SS> it, but just in case you have to, its nice to know its available. 8-)

>Why?  What is wrong with going out and finding other outlets for your social 
>life when you have more time?  
>I think a lot depends on the outlook you want to take in life. Sure, if you are
>considered "smart" by some scale, you might want to hang around with other 
>"smart" people. Me? I'd rather be with people who share my interests and can 
>deal with life by accepting responsibility for their actions. From my
>experience,  
>(meetings, newsletters/electronic communications, gatherings, etc. that I've 
>been part of over the years) that *doesn't* describe most Ms.

Smart? Mensans? Just because you can score in the 98th percentile on a
standardized IQ test doesn't mean you're smart! 8-)

Nor does it mean you're interesting.

I have belonged to a LOT of groups in my short lifetime. Social, professional,
sports, etc. Of all of the groups, I found that Mensa and (in particular) the
type of Mensans who tend to participate in Mensa activities are the types of
folks that me and my wife 'fit in' with.

I found that SCAM (Space Coast Areas Mensa in Cape Canaveral FL, where I first
joined), NTM (North Texas (Dallas area) Mensa), LoneStar (Austin area, TX) and
now Boston Mensa are all very enjoyable groups and we enjoyed it when we had
the opportunity to participate. 

Plus, I have attended several RG's and the AG when it was in Dallas and
interacted with Mensans from all over the country (and internationally as
well).

Sure there are the socially inept. In fact, a very good friend of mine whom I
met via Mensa considers the bulk of Mensa to be socially inadequate and refuses
to invite most of them to any of her own private parties. Based on what I see
from her perspective, I have to agree with her.

But thats the wonderful thing about it. The diversity. One persons ineptness is
another persons tact. So it goes.

Getting back to my message which started this whole thread, the question
became, "when an individual doesn't have the opportunity to participate in the
local groups activities, is the value received for the dues worth the expense?"
ie: does National alone provide us enough value to substantiate the cost of the
membership?

I would still like to see someone post the breakdown from national of actual
costs per member for what we get for our dues. ie: from National I get the
bulletin. That's it. I will acknowledge the possibility that I can get Interloc
even though it keeps disappearing at random intervals. So, lets say that my
physical manifestation of my dues to national is the Bulletin and Interloc.
Now, take my $45, subtract the $$ that go to the local group and subtract the
$$ that go to the international group, and what is left that I pay which
actually goes to national? Now subtract the actual cost of the Bulletin and
Interloc per member, and what is the new number? Whatever that new number is,
it is the cost of overhead for the organization to operate. I assert that if
this number is greater than the number for the cost of the Bulletin and
Interloc, that the organization is self serving as it is spending more on
perpetuating itself than the members.

Regards,
Steve.

/*******************************************************************
* Steve Shapiro                 * All views and opinions expressed *
* SKS Computer Consulting, Inc. * are my own and are offered as-is *
********************************************************************
* Steve.Shapiro@f440.n101.z1.fidonet.org  BBS: (508) 664-6354 N81  *
*******************************************************************/

From: Dave.Aronson@p11.f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Aronson)
Sender: Uucp@blkcat.UUCP