Mensa's Golden Anniversary

Mensa 50th Anniversary Logo

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Revised 6/20/96 msh, added link to new update page.

Revised 11/10/95 msh, added anecdote about meeting Dr. Ware.

Join the Celebration

Mensa will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in London 20-26 August 1996. Plans are well advanced to make this the biggest and best Mensa party ever. We will have Mensans and their families and guests from all over the world. Although it appears to be a long way away, advance planning is necessary to avoid disappointment.

This page is under construction, please be patient.

Location

The main venue is a magnificent London Metropole hotel, with several overflow hotels available. There will also be student-style accommodation at Ramsay Hall of University College London.

Programme

An impressive programme of events is included in the booking package and will include:

  • Sightseeing -- museums, Wembley Stadium, London Dungeon, Tower Bridge, Palaces, etc.
  • Gala Dinner -- this is a formal dinner, and formal wear will be available for hire.
  • Fun Dinners -- such as Planet Hollywood.
  • A Day Out to Mensa's Birthplace at Oxford.
  • Games -- Alien War, Quasar, Kart Racing, etc.
  • Entertainment -- Mensa Variety Show, an Icebreaker, etc.
  • Lectures -- will be presented each day and will be free of charge to all registered guests. The speakers have yet to be confirmed, but we hope they will be both controversial and provocative. Details are now available on an Update Page.
  • Etc., Etc.

    • Airfare Discounts

    We have arranged a special deal on airfares with American Airlines. Departing from anywhere within the US or Canada, a 10% discount can be obtained on any applicable round trip fare to and from London by quoting the code: STARFILE 02866D.

    If you are attending the British 50th Anniversary celebrations and the AG in Manchester the weekend before then a similar discount can be obtained on a round trip arriving in Manchester and departing in London by quoting the code: STARFILE 01866D.

    The above discounts are subject to date restrictions.

    Extending the Stay

    During the previous five days, Manchester will host the British Mensa AGM with a tremendous itinerary. The ideal would be to spend eleven days of hedonistic pleasure at these two venues. However, you will be able to pick and choose one or both and any part of the programmes. For booking information on "The Big One" in Manchester, contact:

    Steve Sutton
26 St. Andrews Road
Stretford
Greater Manchester  M32 9JE

    Registration

    The first notice that Registration Forms are available will appear in the July International Journal. There will be a delay in response as we are aiming for an equitable arrangement for those Mensans who live in isolated parts of the globe and whose magazines are received later.

    A warning. Interest shown and a large demand for Registration Forms (which will not be sent unless requested on the official form that will appear in the International Journal) show that we can expect a very heavy call on our somewhat limited accommodation. It will add to your enjoyment considerably if you obtain a room at the designated hotel or main hall of residence, but there is expected to be a big demand following the first official announcement. Please, do not feel that 1996 is somewhere over the horizon, so you can book later -- you will probably be disappointed.

    For Further Information

    David Schulman, Chairman, 50th Anniversary Committee
17b Merlyn Park
Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
Ireland
Phone and Fax (+353) 1-269-7659
    100106.651@compuserve.com

    A Brief History

    Mensa's Original Logo

    In 1945, two men met by chance on a train. Roland Berrill was an Australian expatriate licensed in law, spared the need to practice by a substantial investment income. Lancelot Lionel Ware was an Oxford university student who would someday become a barrister also. They subsequently corresponded about forming a club, which was a lifelong dream of Ware's.

    On March 11, 1946, Ware administered the Cattell III 'A' test to Berrill. It was Berrill who printed the first piece of Mensa literature on October 1, 1946, the accepted date of founding. It was also Berrill who named Mensa. Initially, "Mens" (Latin for mind) was suggested, but discarded out of fear of confusion with a popular magazine of that era. Chosen instead was "Mensa" which had three meanings -- mind, table, and month. This suggested monthly meetings of great minds around a table, a common Mensa event that continues today.

    On April 22, 1946, the qualifying IQ level for membership was set at 155 on the Cattell test, which corresponded to the top 1%. In 1960, the acceptance level was officially lowered to 148 on the Cattell test, corresponding to the current top 2%.

    Mark Hutchenreuther maintains this page and welcomes comments and suggestions.

    The Creative Mischief SIG is already at work preparing for this event.

    The story of how Hutch met Dr. Ware in 1992.

    Created 15 June 1995 using HTML Assistant.
    Updated 21 June 1995 to include counter and fix some text.
    Further updated 1 November 1995 to include additional information from the booking form.
    On 10 November 1995 added an anecdote about how Hutch met Dr. Ware.

    Source material is David Schulman's article in the June 1995 International Journal.
    Additional material from A History of Mensa, 1990, American Mensa, Ltd.