Author: John Kaniarz

National Membership Month

Every year, American Mensa makes a special effort to recruit new members during October. During October, applicants can take the Mensa admission test for half price – $30 instead of $60.

To take the Mensa Admission test, applicants should go to: https://mensadetroit.com/semm/testing/ and follow the directions to register for a test session.

To submit prior evidence got to: https://www.us.mensa.org/join/testscores/ and follow the directions.

This year SEMM has tests scheduled in Sterling Heights on October 21 and in Dearborn and Southfield on October 28. In addition, tests can be scheduled by appointment by emailing testing@nullmensadetroit.com.

October Monthly Gathering – From Peenemunde to the Moon: The Space Race 1945 –1969

On October 4, 1957, in an unprecedented display of technology, the Soviet Union caught the world’s attention, with the orbiting of Sputnik, the earth’s first artificial satellite. This shiny metal ball, only 23 inches in diameter circled the earth every 96 minutes, beeping out a radio signal that proclaimed the USSR’s technical superiority to the world. This event marked a milestone in a competition between the USA and USSR, which had begun in 1945, at the end of World War II, and would not end until July 20, 1969, when Neil Armstrong took ”one small step for a man” on the moon. This presentation reviews the circumstances, events and the personalities of that epic struggle for political, military, and technical dominance in Rocket Science, which was a highlight of the “Cold War”, and captured the imagination of the world for over 30 years.

Guiding us on our trip through the cosmos will be, Jim Shedlowsky, a former Warren Astronomical Society treasurer and rockabilly legend. Jim worked for 36 years at General Motors as a Vehicle Development Engineer/Manager, retiring in 1999. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1960 with a degree in Engineering Physics and spent two years as an Artillery officer in the US Army in Germany. In his spare time, he wrote and recorded music for Epic and Roulette Records as one of the “Skee Brothers”.

Jim’s astronomical interests include observing and outreach, and he owns several telescopes, but in recent years his “passion” for astronomical history and technology has become a major factor. He is a member of the McMath-Hulbert Astronomical Society, has visited a number of major observatories, and has assembled a significant library in this regard. Jim and his wife winter in Mesa, Arizona (…a great place for observing), where he participates in the activities of the East Valley Astronomy Club.

Join us on Saturday October 21 to learn more about the space race and to hear Jim sing “The Rocket Science Song”. Doors open
at 7:00pm. The program begins at 8:00pm.

DATE
Saturday, October 21, 2017

TIME
Mingling begins at 7:00pm, program at 8:00pm

ADMISSION (Exact change appreciated)
Adult members: $4, or a strip of 4 tickets for $12
Adult guests: $5
Children 12 and under: $2
Members receive free admission
in the month of their birthday

LOCATION
Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church
23925 Northwestern Highway
Southfield, MI 48075

AFTERWARDS
The gathering adjourns to –
Buddy’s
31646 Northwestern Highway
Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334

Mensa Scholarship Essay Competition Open

The Mensa Scholarship Essay competition opened September 15, 2017 and will remain open until 11:59 p.m. Central Time, January 15, 2018.

The Mensa Foundation scholarship program is an essay contest that is open to all students who are enrolled in a U.S. college or university in the academic year following the award. Applicants write 550-word essays that describe their educational and/or career goals. Entries are judged solely on content – including grammar. No financial information needed or considered for awards. You do not have to be a member to be eligible for the public scholarships, and there also are 2 scholarships for a Mensa member and/or member’s dependent.

NO PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION CAN APPEAR IN THE ESSAY OR IT WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.

There are 3 unrestricted National Awards, 2 unrestricted Local Awards, and 4 unrestricted Regional Awards.

In addition, there are restricted special category scholarships for:

  • Graduate student planning a career in professional writing, teaching English grammar and/or writing.
  • Study of aeronautical engineering or an aerospace field.
  • A female returning to school after any absence of 7 or more years.
  • Pursuing a degree in Natural Sciences or Mathematics.
  • Study for an undergraduate liberal arts degree (BA or AA)
  • Graduate study in history.
  • Study in journalism.
  • Pursuing a degree in the Art, including creative writing and journalism.
  • Pursuing a degree in the Fine Arts.
  • For a Veteran.
  • For study in interpersonal communication, mediation or related study.
  • Study in Fine Arts that include applied arts such as architecture, photography, ceramics and textiles.
  • For an LGBT applicant.

Four scholarships were new last year:

  • 4 Paws and a Tail ? $600.00
    Restricted to graduate level studies or continuing education of an established Veterinarian
  • Dr. Peter M. Kendall Science Scholarship ? $600.00
    Restricted to the Natural Sciences including but not limited to Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, Geology, Environmental Science, Forestry, Pre?Med, Pre?Dent
  • STEM Scholarship ? $2,000.00
    For natural and applied science, technology, and math majors
  • Carol Martinez Scholarship ? $2,500.00
    Restricted to the field of information technology

To apply go to: www.mensafoundation.org/scholarships

Michigan Association for Gifted Children Annual Conference

Have Gifted Children?  Work with Gifted Children?  Have questions about education for Gifted Children in Michigan?  Here’s the perfect event for you!

Come and join our friends at the annual Michigan Association for Gifted Children (MAGC) conference, Saturday, October 21st, 2017 at the Roeper School, in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

If you are a parent, educator, or friend of gifted children, this conference is for you!

The team at MAGC has put together  a great list of speakers, including:

  • Tom Clynes – Opening Keynote Speaker, Author, The Boy Who Played With Fusion
  • Dr. Michele Kane – Closing Keynote Speaker, Living with Asynchrony: Living with Intensities Gifted Education Program, Northeastern Illinois University
  • Andy Mahony, Mark Talaga – Center for Identity Potential
  • Ellen Fiedler, Sherry Sparks – MAGC

Please feel free to share this information with other interested parents or teachers. Looking forward to seeing you there!

More details.
Register here.

September Monthly Gathering – Scam Class 101

Join us for an entertaining and informative evening designed to help raise awareness of one of the most prevalent, yet little known and under-reported types of crimes. Sadly, scams are also crimes that are often perpetrated upon our most vulnerable populations; the poor and elderly. Learn how to not be a victim of: utility worker impersonators, pigeon drops, police impersonators, computer and phone scams, and more! Our guest presenter, Robert Haig, a 27-year
veteran of the Detroit Police Department, will relate his first-hand experiences with these most insidious crimes; from identifying, to targeting and surveillance, to final prosecution.

Robert Haig was born and raised in southwest Detroit. At the age of twenty-five, he joined the Detroit Police Department and remained on the force for twenty-seven years. He walked away from a career he truly loved, bitter over the politics and inept command structures he had witnessed, and decided to write a book. Choosing the title was easy, as he had ten different
chiefs in his first twenty-five years of service. According to Mr. Haig, some were good, most were horrible. “Ten Little Police Chiefs” is his story.

Forewarned is forearmed! Join us on Saturday September 16 to learn more about scams, why they are so effective, and yet often go unreported! Actual items recovered from suspects being investigated will be available for your examination.

DATE
Saturday, September 16, 2017

TIME
Mingling begins at 7:00pm, program at 8:00pm

ADMISSION (Exact change appreciated)
Adult members: $4, or a strip of 4 tickets for $12
Adult guests: $5
Children 12 and under: $2
Members receive free admission
in the month of their birthday

LOCATION
Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church
23925 Northwestern Highway
Southfield, MI 48075

AFTERWARDS
The gathering adjourns to –
Buddy’s
31646 Northwestern Highway
Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334