Author: Kevin Williams

Live and via Zoom, 7:00 pm (EDT) Saturday, October 18, 2025:

What do we know about the history of the mafia in the US? What CAN we know about that history? Our speaker Dr. Karla Mallette shares insights into the history of the mafia. Based on her research into the mafia in Detroit, she’ll focus on a notorious period– the bloody summer of 1930– exploring some of the differences between mafia myths and reality. Going deep into the details is the only way to correct the historical record and understand how the mafia took root in the US during Prohibition – and how it continued to thrive until ethnic competitors threatened its business model in the 1970s. 

Dr. Karla Mallette is author of three books on medieval Sicilian, Italian, and Mediterranean history, including Lives of the Great Languages: Arabic and Latin in the Medieval Mediterranean (University of Chicago Press, 2022), which won the Modern Language Association’s award for the best book in comparative literary studies. She has also published numerous articles on medieval and early modern history. Dr. Malette received a Ph.D. from the Centre for Medieval Studies, at the University of Toronto, in 1998. She has taught at the American University of Beirut and at Miami University of Ohio, and has been teaching at the University of Michigan since 2009. At Michigan, she has directed the Center for European Studies and the Global Islamic StudiesCenter and was Chair of the Department of Middle East Studies from 2020 until 2025. Since 2015, she has taught a course on the mafia in Sicily, the US, and Detroit.

Live Presentation

If you are able to attend the live presentation, you have the opportunity to mingle with your fellow Mensans and guests at our usual location:
Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church in Southfield
23925 Northwestern Highway
Southfield, MI 48075

Doors open at 6:30 pm (EDT). The program begins at 7:00 pm (EDT).

Ticket prices
Members 13+ years old: $5 or buy a strip of 4 tickets for $15.
Guests 13+ years old: $7
Members and guests 12 & under: Free
Exact change is appreciated!

Following the presentation, please join us for dinner at:
Buddy’s Pizza
31646 Northwestern Highway
Farmington Hills, MI 38334

Virtual Presentation (Zoom)

If you prefer to to attend virtually, pre-register:

• Click tinyurl.com/SEMM-2025-Gathering
• Choose “October 18, 2025 6:30 pm” from the drop-down box
• Fill in your name and email address
• Click the “Register” button

The Zoom room opens at 6:30 pm (EDT) for mingling. The program starts at 7:00 pm (EDT).

There is no charge for the Zoom presentation, but, due to rising costs, your donation via PayPal is greatly appreciated.

• Click PayPal.com
• Log in (or sign up)
• Click the “Send” button
• Enter the e-mail address: treasurer@webmaster
• Click the “Next” button
• Enter payment amount ($5 is recommended, but feel free to send any amount)
• Fill “What’s this for” with “SEMM Zoom Presentations”
• Click the “Next” button
• Select your payment method
• Click “Send”
• Bask in our appreciation

Live and via Zoom, 7:00 pm (EDT) Saturday, September 20, 2025:

Since he became China’s preeminent leader in 2012, Xi Jinping has pursued an agenda to make the country prosperous, strong, harmonious, and globally influential in advance of the 100^th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic in 2049. This talk will explore specific policies that the CCP has implemented to achieve this “Chinese Dream”, including domestic efforts to eliminate poverty and construct a unified national identity, and global outreach like the Belt and Road Initiative. It considers results to date and challenges that will impact China’s drive to cement superpower status over the next quarter century.

Join the members and guests of Southeast Michigan Mensa at 7:00 P.M. (EDT), on Saturday, September 20, when Wayne State historian Dr. Elizabeth Lublin, will lead us in our examination of Xi Jinping’s and his goal of national rejuvenation with the aim of restoring China to its historical place as a great world power.

A historian of modern Japan, Elizabeth Lublin taught courses on East Asia at Wayne State for over twenty years. Her early publications examined the reform activism of the Japan Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, and her current research explores Japan’s tobacco and match industries. Altogether, she spent roughly seven years in Japan before joining the faculty at Wayne State in 2001. The highlight of those years was an audience with the Emperor and Empress. This privilege came with Lublin’s receipt of a Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship. Dr. Lublin received a Ph.D. in Modern Japanese History, from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Live Presentation

If you are able to attend the live presentation, you have the opportunity to mingle with your fellow Mensans and guests at our usual location:
Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church in Southfield
23925 Northwestern Highway
Southfield, MI 48075

Doors open at 6:30 pm (EDT). The program begins at 7:00 pm (EDT).

Ticket prices
Members 13+ years old: $5 or buy a strip of 4 tickets for $15.
Guests 13+ years old: $7
Members and guests 12 & under: Free
Exact change is appreciated!

Following the presentation, please join us for dinner at:
Buddy’s Pizza
31646 Northwestern Highway
Farmington Hills, MI 38334

Virtual Presentation (Zoom)

If you prefer to to attend virtually, pre-register:

• click tinyurl.com/SEMM-2025-Gathering
• choose “September 20, 2025 6:30 pm” from the drop-down box
• fill in your name and email address
• click the “Register” button

The Zoom room opens at 6:30 pm (EDT) for mingling. The program starts at 7:00 pm (EDT).

There is no charge for the Zoom presentation, but, due to rising costs, your donation via PayPal is greatly appreciated.

• click PayPal.com
• log in (or sign up)
• click the “Send” button
• Enter the e-mail address: treasurer@webmaster
• click the “Next” button
• enter payment amount ($5 is recommended, but feel free to send any amount)
• fill “What’s this for” with “SEMM Zoom Presentations”
• click the “Next” button
• select your payment method
• click “Send”
• bask in our appreciation

Live and via Zoom, 7:00 pm (EDT) Saturday, August 16, 2025:

Join members and guests of Southeast Michigan Mensa for the chance to indulge your CSI fantasies and compare them to the realities of forensic psychology. 

Forensic psychologists perform psychological evaluations in criminal cases for various reasons, like uncovering potential motives or patterns, assessing whether the accused is a flight risk, and determining whether the defendant is legally fit to stand trial. But not all forensic psychology professionals work directly with victims and those charged with crimes. Attorneys often hire psychology professionals to consult on jury selection, hold focus groups to assess the persuasiveness of the lawyer’s case, and much more. 

Join us at 7:00 P.M. (EDT), on Saturday, August 16, when forensic psychologist Dr. Jack Haynes will lead us in our examination of the nature and scope of forensic psychology and its application in both civil and criminal contexts. Methods and challenges will be discussed with a special focus on legal cases involving competency and criminal responsibility (insanity), with case examples. 

Dr. Haynes is a licensed psychologist in the state of Michigan. He is a forensic psychologist and the author of two books, more than 80 professional publications, and 120 professional presentations. He has testified as an expert in nearly 200 Court cases in federal and state courts.

His leadership experience includes president of the Michigan Psychological Association, Chair of the Michigan Psychology Licensing Board, and Chair of the Ethics Committee of the American Psychological Association.

Live Presentation

If you are able to attend the live presentation, you have the opportunity to mingle with your fellow Mensans and guests at our usual location:
Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church in Southfield
23925 Northwestern Highway
Southfield, MI 48075

Doors open at 6:30 pm (EDT). The program begins at 7:00 pm (EDT).

Ticket prices
Members 13+ years old: $5 or buy a strip of 4 tickets for $15.
Guests 13+ years old: $7
Members and guests 12 & under: Free
Exact change is appreciated!

Following the presentation, please join us for dinner at:
Buddy’s Pizza
31646 Northwestern Highway
Farmington Hills, MI 38334

Virtual Presentation (Zoom)

If you prefer to to attend virtually, pre-register:

• click tinyurl.com/SEMM-2025-Gathering
• choose “August 16, 2025 6:30 pm” from the drop-down box
• fill in your name and email address
• click the “Register” button

The Zoom room opens at 6:30 pm (EDT) for mingling. The program starts at 7:00 pm (EDT).

There is no charge for the Zoom presentation, but, due to rising costs, your donation via PayPal is greatly appreciated.

• click PayPal.com
• log in (or sign up)
• click the “Send” button
• Enter the e-mail address: treasurer@webmaster
• click the “Next” button
• enter payment amount ($5 is recommended, but feel free to send any amount)
• fill “What’s this for” with “SEMM Zoom Presentations”
• click the “Next” button
• select your payment method
• click “Send”
• bask in our appreciation

The originally scheduled program, The Disappearing Separation of Church and State, has been cancelled.

Updated Program Live and via Zoom, 7:00 pm (EDT) Saturday, June 21, 2025:

The Black Legion was a domestic terrorist militia active in the late 1920s into the late 1930s. Founded in Bellaire, Ohio in 1924, it spread across multiple states, including Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, throughout the Great Depression.

It was explicitly political, and despite overwhelming evidence that Black Legion members violated federal laws, Federal law enforcement failed to launch a proper examination of their activities. During the investigation of one particularly gruesome Black Legion execution, a member broke their code of silence and publicly revealed details of many of their heinous crimes. The backlash in the wake of these revelations helped eradicate the organization; however, their legacy stretches into the 21st century.

Despite the sensational news coverage at the time and the atrocities of their crimes, the Black Legion remains a relatively obscure historical flashpoint, which may be due to the fact that prominent industrialists and elected officials were implicated in their crimes.

As political violence escalates here at home and abroad, it is imperative that we understand what helped defeat the Black Legion as well as why the extent of their activities was downplayed by Federal investigators at the time they were active. 

Join us at 7:00 P.M. (EDT) on Saturday, June 21, when Christy McGillivray will lead us in a discussion of some of this country’s least-known and most sinister history. 

Christy McGillivray is the Legislative and Political Director of the Michigan Chapter of the Sierra Club. She began her career as an environmental advocate after graduating from Sarah Lawrence College in 2004. Her areas of expertise include solid waste policy, Great Lakes water quality problems, including PFAS and other toxics, agricultural policy, and the intersection of public health and environmental policies at the state legislative level. She has an MSc in Environmental Education from the University of Edinburgh and has worked as an adjunct professor at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, and Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan. Her past roles include Campaign Director for Clean Water Action, STEM education coordinator for the Farmington Hills Nature Center, and organizer for the American Federation of Teachers in Michigan. In politics, she’s worked continuously to get environmental champions elected and to keep them acting to benefit the environment once they are in office. Before taking her position with the Sierra Club, Christy was teaching chemistry and physics at Eastpointe High School. 

Live Presentation

If you are able to attend the live presentation, you have the opportunity to mingle with your fellow Mensans and guests at our usual location:
Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church in Southfield
23925 Northwestern Highway
Southfield, MI 48075

Doors open at 6:30 pm (EDT). The program begins at 7:00 pm (EDT).

Ticket prices
Members 13+ years old: $5 or buy a strip of 4 tickets for $15.
Guests 13+ years old: $7
Members and guests 12 & under: Free
Exact change is appreciated!

Following the presentation, please join us for dinner at:
Buddy’s Pizza
31646 Northwestern Highway
Farmington Hills, MI 38334

Virtual Presentation (Zoom)

If you prefer to to attend virtually, pre-register:

• click tinyurl.com/SEMM-2025-Gathering
• choose “June 21, 2025 6:30 pm” from the drop-down box
• fill in your name and email address
• click the “Register” button

The Zoom room opens at 6:30 pm (EDT) for mingling. The program starts at 7:00 pm (EDT).

There is no charge for the Zoom presentation, but, due to rising costs, your donation via PayPal is greatly appreciated.

• click PayPal.com
• log in (or sign up)
• click the “Send” button
• Enter the e-mail address: treasurer@webmaster
• click the “Next” button
• enter payment amount ($5 is recommended, but feel free to send any amount)
• fill “What’s this for” with “SEMM Zoom Presentations”
• click the “Next” button
• select your payment method
• click “Send”
• bask in our appreciation

Program Live and via Zoom, 7:00 pm (EDT) Saturday, May 17, 2025:

Come and explore the intellectual roots of atheism — from Epicurus to today — while addressing common misconceptions, highlighting key moments in American atheist history, and examining current trends and challenges.

Join us at 7:00 p.m. (EDT), on Saturday, May 17, when Chris McLaughlin, the State Director of the Secular Alliance of Michigan and President of Michigan Atheists, will lead us in our examination of atheism, secular identity, and the broader cultural and civic landscape of non-belief in America.

Chris, a lifelong atheist and activist, speaks regularly on atheism, secular identity, and the growing influence of nonreligious Americans in public life. His talk will trace the intellectual and cultural roots of atheism from ancient Greece to the modern atheist movement in the U.S., while debunking myths and offering insight into who atheists are today.

Chris has founded multiple secular initiatives in Michigan, and leads efforts to build inclusive, evidence-based communities grounded in a naturalistic worldview. He has a background in business and economics and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a minor in Economics from the University of Michigan.

Live Presentation

If you are able to attend the live presentation, you have the opportunity to mingle with your fellow Mensans and guests at our usual location:
Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church in Southfield
23925 Northwestern Highway
Southfield, MI 48075

Doors open at 6:30 pm (EDT). The program begins at 7:00 pm (EDT).

Ticket prices
Members 13+ years old: $5 or buy a strip of 4 tickets for $15.
Guests 13+ years old: $7
Members and guests 12 & under: Free
Exact change is appreciated!

Following the presentation, please join us for dinner at:
Buddy’s Pizza
31646 Northwestern Highway
Farmington Hills, MI 38334

Virtual Presentation (Zoom)

If you prefer to to attend virtually, pre-register:

• click tinyurl.com/SEMM-2025-Gathering
• choose “May 17, 2025 6:30 pm” from the drop-down box
• fill in your name and email address
• click the “Register” button

The Zoom room opens at 6:30 pm (EDT) for mingling. The program starts at 7:00 pm (EDT).

There is no charge for the Zoom presentation, but, due to rising costs, your donation via PayPal is greatly appreciated.

• click PayPal.com
• log in (or sign up)
• click the “Send” button
• Enter the e-mail address: treasurer@webmaster
• click the “Next” button
• enter payment amount ($5 is recommended, but feel free to send any amount)
• fill “What’s this for” with “SEMM Zoom Presentations”
• click the “Next” button
• select your payment method
• click “Send”
• bask in our appreciation