Author: John Kaniarz

SEMMantics 2020 Regional Gathering Announcement

Greetings!  Registration is now officially open for this year’s RG, SEMMantics 2020, being held April 17 – 19, 2020.  Southeast Michigan Mensa and I are “Looking forward to seeing you!” at this great RG.

SEMMantics 2020 promises to be a wonderful experience.  Included in your registration fee are World-Renowned, Smoke-Free, 24-Hour Hospitality Rooms (from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning);  Friday evening Dinner; and Saturday’s Lunch and Dinner.  Hotel guests (up to two per room) will also enjoy a full hot breakfast buffet daily.  Non-guests will have a light continental breakfast available in Hospitality or can buy the hotel breakfast buffet.
For more information visit the SEMMantics page.

We have great news for those SEMM members have never attended SEMMantics before.  The SEMM ExComm has funded discounts to encourage attendance at SEMMantics for those have not experienced it yet.  We are pleased to offer a $20 discount to any current SEMM member who has never attended before.  A $50 discount is available, instead, to those who are still within their first year of membership. (Only one discount per member applies.)  Complete details on the discounts as well as how to register using them are available at this link.

Discount Hotel Rates and Early Bird pricing available. Visit the SEMMantics page for details.

February Monthly Gathering – Come Cruise the Cosmos with Mensa!

Join NASA Solar System Ambassador Ken Bertin, for a guided tour of the universe. Through the use of some pretty amazing 3D visualization (VR) software, our ship will convey us from the Earth to the edges of the known universe. Along the way, we’ll travel to many places, including the Moon,  Jupiter, Saturn, a gigantic black hole at the center of our Milky Way Galaxy, and more! Mr. Bertin will also demonstrate the challenges of space travel, and explain how the staggering size of the universe presents unique difficulties for those seeking to journey beyond the Earth’s celestial neighborhood. Those of us undertaking the journey will return with a better sense of the vastness of space. This is an awe-inspiring program, perfect for all ages, and Mr. Bertin will answer any space-related questions you might have! 

Ken Bertin received his first telescope at the age of seven and has been an avid astronomer for most of his life. He has traveled to and observed ten solar eclipses, three annular eclipses and both transits of Venus. He has also seen numerous Lunar and partial solar eclipses, photographing each type. Ken is past president of the Warren Astronomical Society. His stated purpose in life is “the acquisition of knowledge, and the imparting of it to others”

Your flight to the stars awaits! Join us on Saturday, February 15th, at
Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church in Southfield.
23925 Northwestern Hwy
Southfield, MI 48075

Doors open at 6:30pm. The program begins at 7:00pm. Please note the new starting time! Admission: $5, (Mensa Members $4)
Following the presentation, join us for dinner at Buddy’s Pizza, located at 31646 Northwestern Hwy., in Farmington Hills, Just East of Middlebelt Rd.