elusive in modern society. Besides being a source of many new friendships, Mensa provides its members with a receptive and critical audience on which to try out new ideas.
Mensa is protean: Its most visible feature is its diversity. It recruits, not like other societies by persuading people to think as they do, but by scientifically selecting people who are able to think for themselves. Yet, though there is little surface agreement between members, we find there is an underlying unity which gives an unexpected strength to the society. In a world which must increasingly make intelligent use of intelligent people, we feel that our potential is very great.
Organization: Mensa is organized by a voluntary committee accountable to the membership; the Local Secretaries are also volunteers. (Mensa has only a small administrative staff and we therefore ask your indulgence if there is any delay in answering your inquiries).
Local Groups: There are over 120 local groups in the United States, more than a dozen in Canada, and in excess of fifty in the United Kingdom. In each local group there is a local-group secretary who is responsible for coordinating local activities. About sixty of the American groups currently have their own local publications. If the name of the local group in your area does not appear as the sponsoring group on the application stub, a list of local-groups should be enclosed in this brochure.
Meetings: Many local groups hold general meetings each month, usually featuring a specially qualified speaker, who may or may not be a member. In all cases, however, speakers devote their time without fee. Smaller study or special interest groups meet separately, and there are informal social get-togethers, at members' homes, restaurants, coffeehouses.
Many of the major cities in the United States have Mensa Activities. Aside from the monthly meeting there is usually a dinner planned during the month as well as open houses, special interest and committee meetings in which members are encouraged to become active. Several local groups
