Bright Idea

Mensa logo

October 1, 1946: Mensa International is formed. Mensa is the oldest and largest high IQ (intelligence quotient) society in the world. There are several of these societies scattered around the globe. Mensa accepts members whose IQ test results are in the top 2% or the 98^th percentile. That means an IQ score of 130 with a standard deviation (sd) 15. They will also accept results from tests taken elsewhere. Intertel accepts only the top 1% or an IQ of 135 sd 15. There are three different groups that take the top 0.1% or IQ 146 sd 15. The Prometheus Society takes the top 0.03% or IQ 160 sd 15. The Mega Society requires an IQ of 171 sd 15 to reach the top 0.0001%. This means they are literally open to one-in-a-million. They have been around since 1982 and their current member list has 26 people on it.

Mensa’s requirements leave it open to one-in-fifty and there are about 110,000 members. The organization was founded by Roland Berrill (Australian barrister) and Lancelot Ware (British scientist and lawyer). They opened their group to any with the required IQ on this day at Lincoln College in Oxford, England. It was to be free from all social distinctions as reflected in the name they chose. Mensa is derived from two Latin words, one meaning “mind” and the other meaning “table” which was to represent the concept of a round-table society of minds. It was to be free of political leanings and stated so in the constitution.

The International group is the parent or umbrella society with national groups organized under it. American Mensa was the second major branch. There are 50 national groups today. If living in a country without a society, a qualified person can join Mensa International directly. The largest group is the American Mensa with 56,000 members while British Mensa has 23,500. The large groups are further subdivided with American Mensa having 134 local groups. The remaining 30,500 members are spread throughout the 48 remaining national groups or the international one.

The non-profit organization brings intelligent people together in a variety of ways. They meet together sometimes just for fun, sometimes for service projects. Some of the national groups put out publications for members-only. Mensa International also publishes and their magazine is often included as part of national newsletters or magazines. There have been many famous Mensans, from Scott Adams (Dilbert cartoonist) to Roger Zelazny (American writer). Marilyn vos Savant (highest IQ in the world and Mega Society member) belongs to Mensa, too. All it takes to join is to do well on a certain test. Good luck.

It is not worth an intelligent man’s time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that. – G.H. Hardy

Everyone is a genius at least once a year. The real geniuses simply have their bright ideas closer together. – Georg C. Lichtenberg

If there are no stupid questions, then what kind of questions do stupid people ask? Do they get smart just in time to ask questions? – Scott Adams

The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination. – Albert Einstein

Also on this day:

Yosemite National Park – In 1890 US Congress creates Yosemite National Park.
The March King – In 1880, John Philip Sousa became the leader of the United States Marine Band.
Superhighway – In 1940, the Pennsylvania Turnpike opened.

American Mensa

Brainiac humor?

February 10, 1971: American Mensa, Ltd is incorporated in New York. Everybody likes to feel smart and capable. Some people take this seriously. In 1946, Mensa was formed in England to be an “aristocracy of the intellect.” Roland Berrill (an Australian lawyer) and Dr. Lance Ware (a British scientist and lawyer) wanted a club or society whose only admittance qualification was a high IQ. No qualifications such as race, creed, or country of origin (or status therein) were needed.

Mensa has three goals: 1) foster intelligence for the benefit of humanity; 2) encourage research into the nature of intelligence; and 3) promote intellectual and social opportunities for its members. A successful applicant is that one reside at or above the 98^th percentile on certain standardized IQ tests. This means that a score for the Stanford-Binet must be at least 132 and for the Cattell a score of at least 148 is needed. Mensa also has it’s own application exam. There are about 100,000 members in 100 countries today. About 50,000 of those members are American.

Mensa has several events for members to meet and interact. Some are local and others are international in scope. Several countries hold large events called Annual Gatherings which are held in a different city each year with a slate of many options to socialize. There are many brain games available to attendees. There are also smaller gatherings called Regional Gatherings with the largest of these held in Chicago around Halloween. There was also a Mensa World Gathering held in August 2006 in Orlando, Florida to celebrate 60 years of “smart.”

Because of differences of opinion the American Mensans wished to separate from the British brains and incorporated in 1971. Mensa is a not-for-profit group that enjoys deep thoughts, or perhaps, high-mindedness.

“We should take care not to make the intellect our god; it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality.” – Albert Einstein

“If children grew up according to early indications, we should have nothing but geniuses. – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“I’m not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb… and I also know that I’m not blonde.” – Dolly Parton

“A great many people think that polysyllables are a sign of intelligence.” – Barbara Walters

Also on this day, in 1933 two boxers met at Madison Square Garden, Primo Carnera and Ernie Schaaf. Ernie died.