Planet Mensa
Column for the Mensa World Journal February 2015
Stockholm, Sweden. This time of year, you see the stars already at three in the afternoon. Traditionally, today on the first of Advent, people put up chandeliers in the windows everwhere, little triangles of light to brighten up the long night and remind us all of the returning sun. Thanks to Mensa, we also have interesting company and intelligent conversations to light up our days - but what of all those countries where there are no groups?
We at Mensa International are changing our procedures for testing in countries without a Mensa group, in order to have steady and orderly growth. As part of this, we are asking established groups and travelling members for help. Adopt a country!
Full National Mensas can set up "offspring" groups abroad. However, it is absolutely critical that no member starts crossing borders to test new people without first getting approval from Mensa International, from the Director of Development and the International Office. We want to expand, but in a controlled way. Each national Mensa has authority and responsibility to test within its own borders. Mensa International is here to coordinate what takes place elsewhere. Cooperation is the way forward. If you are a proctor in your country and you want to go abroad to test - do nothing until you have received a clear go-ahead from us.
Several Mensa members with connections to foreign countries have contacted us asking for help to set up Mensa abroad. Here are a few basic principles we want to follow:
- Get your board on board. The board of the established Mensa group should agree to help. We would much rather have the support of an entire country behind the individuals who do the travelling and testing.
- Approved proctors only. The member who travels to another country in order to test and recruit has to be a proctor trained and approved by their own board, or their appointed testing committee or similar body. The training of proctors in any country needs to have the approval of the National Supervisory Psychologist.
- Test as usual. Mostly. When testing abroad, make use of your domestic routines and processes for scoring and evaluation of the candidates. Notwithstanding, deciding what test to use should be done together with Mensa International.
- Recruit DIMs. The new members will become Direct International Members of Mensa. They will pay dues to Mensa International and not to the country who is generously assisting.
- Find a psychologist. Apart from recruting members, finding a psychologist to collaborate with is also important. This person may eventually assume the role of National Supervisory Psychologist, which is necessary for the new group to become independent and manage its own testing.
- Do not train new local proctors. Once you have a go ahead to start testing - do so. But refrain from teaching the locals to be proctors themselves. This is a very crucial step that requires cooperation from Mensa International. Any new test proctor in a new country must be approved by Mensa International until there is an established process in the new country, with its own NSP.
- No pay. We do not do this for the money, it is all volunteer work. The model described here depends on individuals travelling on their own money, maybe with support from their national board. Of course, testing and PR material and the like are paid for by Mensa.
Of course, testing is not all. We also need PR, setting up posters at universities, contacting the media etc, in order to attract people. The concept of a high-IQ society is still very novel in many parts of the world so the PR potential is good. Many Full National Mensas already sit on lots of material that can be recycled and adapted to the new territories.
As soon as there are members, there must be activities, starting with the basic building block of Mensa: the recurring meeting at a local restaurant or coffee house. From this group must eventually emerge a team that will formalize a society, draft a constitution and get recognition from Mensa International. It is not that difficult after all, since all current chapters have travelled this road.
If you, as a member reading this, want to help out, contact me and we will see how we can proceed.
