October 31– November 2, 2014 - Boston`s RG

October 31– November 2, 2014
Special offer:
All Wicked Good! attendees will receive an extra
hour of sleep on Sunday!
RG Committee
RG Chair.................................................................................................Al Beecy
Hospitality Goddess ................................................................... Lori Norris
Bartender Extraordinaire ......................................................... Ron Norris
Bride & Groom....................... Pamela Smith and Christopher Wright
Mistress of Crafts .................................................................... Liz Modesitt
Entertainment ....................................................................... Dennis Higbee
Games & Tournaments .... Bill Zigo (Ziggy) & Tom Schnorrenberg
Printed Program ............................................................ Caroline D. Bruno
Puzzles.................................................................................. Wendy Birchmire
Registrar ................................................................................ Merrill Loechner
Speaker Seeker ................................................................................ Ed Meyer
Tasting Committee ....................... Jayne Rossetti & Robert Granville
Treasurer / AV Dude .......................................................... Tom Birchmire
Volunteer Extraordinaire .................................................... Louise Meyer
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Welcome to Wicked Good 2014!
General info
RG rooms are open until 2:00 a.m. We ask that you keep drinks and
refreshments in the hospitality, games and speaker rooms and out of
public areas.
The main games room is Norwood, as in prior years.
This RG is being thrown by volunteers. Thank a volunteer or, even
better, volunteer to help out. Volunteer signup sheets are available at
the registration desk.
We ask that only designated RG volunteers enter the prep room.
Parents should note that unaccompanied children under 12 in
Hospitality or RG rooms after 10 p.m. will be given an espresso and a
puppy.
Badges/Hugging Dots
Please wear your badge at all times at the RG. With other groups in the
hotel, we need to be able to identify our registered attendees.
We ask everyone to notice and respect “hugging dots” on people’s
badges. The dots are available at the registration desk.
Not all Mensans like to be greeted with a hug, so an RG custom is that
attendees attach a colored dot (or dots) to their badges to signify the
wearer’s preference:
GREEN
YELLOW
RED
BLUE
Hugs welcome
Ask before hugging
No hugs
M-Available SIG for singles
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Tastings
The Tasting Committee has selected a series of everyday items for you
to check out. There’ll be sampling and discussion during the times
listed, and you can give your opinion on the various choices
presented—or just have a good time trying things! This year we will be
enjoying our favorite Trick or Treats and taste testing a variety of Oreos!
Points for Puzzles, Tournaments, etc.
Raffle tickets will be awarded for various RG activities and turning
in correctly completed puzzles. Raffle items will be on view in the
games room.
Puzzling it out—times and rules for puzzles
A total of 12 different puzzles will be distributed in Hospitality at the
times listed in the schedule. All solutions must be turned in by 9 p.m.
on Saturday to receive a ticket, if correct.
Photo Booth
It's 2014 and social media rules our world. Celebrating an event isn't
over until all the pictures are on Facebook. To make sure we capture all
the fun and ridiculousness of Wicked Good! we're going to have a
photo booth. But since renting a photo booth will only get us one for a
couple of hours on one of the two nights, we're going to make our
own. You bring the phones and digital cameras and we'll bring the
props and make the space. Available throughout Hallowedding, the
Useless Talent Contest and Karaoke.
Hunt for Tricks and Treats
Instructions available at the registration desk.
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Hallowedding
Mensans Pamela Smith and
Christopher Wright have rented
the nearby ballroom for their
Wedding and afterparty. All RG
guests are invited to attend.
Costumes are encouraged but
not required. Have dinner at the
RG and then stroll on over to the
ballroom for the ceremony. After
the ceremony there will be a
costume contest and a DJ Dance
Party. A cash bar will be available
outside the ballroom.
Pamela Smith and Christopher Wright
request the horror of your presence
at this, their Hallowedding
Friday, the 31st of October, 2014
at 7 o'clock in the evening
Costume contest to follow
Dessert and dancing late into the night
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Useless Talent and Wicked Good! Strut
Wicked Good! attendees! Are you ready to strut your stuff? Do you
have a unique and incredible talent that you want to show off to
crowds of adoring fans? Well, this is Mensa, so you’re not going to be
able to. For one thing, a roomful of Mensans are never going to agree
on anything. For another, everyone’s seen amazing talents. Sure, you
can sing like an angel, play guitar like Hendrix, dance like Terpsichore
herself, heal scrofula with a touch. Big whoop.
The real question is can you do something really useless? And can you
do this really useless thing better than anyone else? And can you do it
in costume if you choose? You should be able to. After all, we’re
Mensans— useless is right in our wheelhouse. And I lied about
strutting your best stuff. You’ll totally be able to do that too, and
former Mr. Mensa contestants will be there to judge you as you do it.
So if you want to show off your useless talent at Wicked Good! while
dressed in a crazy costume, and then strut your stuff for all it’s worth,
sign up for the Useless Talent Contest.
The rules are as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
There will be up to 12 contestants, so volunteer quickly. If we don’t
fill the quota via the website or Facebook, volunteers will be
accepted until 1 PM on Saturday at the RG.
For the talent contest, each contestant will have up to 3 minutes to
show off their useless talent.
Costumes can be worn, but don’t have to be.
The more fun, creative, and useless the talent, the higher the
scores.
Coordinating your costume with your talent will be a separate prize
and will not affect the judging for the overall winning.
For the strut, every contestant is strongly suggested to have a
theme song for their strut.
The strut will be up to 1 minute along a “runway” laid out through
hospitality.
The DJ will play the first minute of the song, and you’ll strut your
heart out.
The only criterion will be AWESOMENESS!
Prizes will be awarded for (1) Overall winner; (2) Runner-up; (3) Best
strut that’s not a winner; (4) Best job coordinating talent with costume.
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Schedule
Friday 3:00 – 9:30 p.m.
3:00 p.m. ...................... Registration and Hospitality room open
4:00 p.m. ...................... Games room opens. And Puzzle 1 is out............. Hospitality
5:00 p.m. ...................... Puzzle 2 ....................................................................... Hospitality
5:00–6:00 p.m............. Ron’s Bar...................................................................... Hospitality
Have a pre-dinner mixed drink with bartender Ron, maybe a Dark and Stormy.
5:00–6:00 p.m............. Intro to Regional Gatherings........................................ Maine
Session for new RG attendees
Claire Natola
6:00 p.m. ...................... Puzzle 3 ..................................................................... Hospitality
6:00 –7:00 p.m. .......... Dinner......................................................................... Hospitality
Taco bar with beef and veggie tacos, rice and beans and all the fixings (okay,
most of the fixings). Salad bar. Dessert of cookies, brownies and even some
Mexican wedding cakes.
7:00 – 8:30 p.m. ......... Hallowedding ...................................................Ballroom
See description on page 5.
7:00 - Midnight ......... Cash Bar .......................................................... Outside Ballroom
8:00 – 10:00 p.m........ Ron’s Bar...................................................................... Hospitality
Bartender Ron mixes it up to keep the good mood moving as we welcome
new (and long-time) Mensans to the RG’s Friday night. There will be a special,
ghoulish drink served to celebrate Pam and Chris' nuptials.
8:00 – 9:00 p.m. ......... Tasting 1: Favorite Trick or Treats ................. Hospitality
Collect your Halloween bag and sample some favorite treats. Everyone
submitting a completed ballot will be awarded a ticket for the raffle (that's
not really a trick).
8:00 p.m. ...................... Puzzle 4 ....................................................................... Hospitality
8:30 – 9:30 p.m. ......... Costume Contest ........................................................Ballroom
9:30 – Midnight ......... DJ/Dancing ....................................................................Ballroom
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Friday 10:00 p.m. – Saturday 9:00 a.m.
Later on ........................ Late-Nite Nosh ............................................................Hospitality
Something with protein, something sweet, something healthy, and something
blue (after all there is a wedding happening tonight).
10:00 p.m. or later .... Werewolves ......................................................................... Canton
Werewolves is a party game run by a moderator involving deduction and
deception, days and nights, killings and mob hysteria. There are two teams:
werewolves and villagers. The objective of the werewolves is to kill off all the
villagers without themselves being killed. The objective of the villagers is to
figure out who the werewolves are and kill them. No experience needed -everything you need to know will be explained.
Ziggy
10:00 - Midnight ....... Tarot ............................................................................ Connecticut
Come discover more about yourself with an intuitive Tarot reading! Kelly and
Tom will help guide you through a fun and engaging reading. Using both
traditional Tarot and Madame Lenormand decks, the couple has found Tarot
as a source to help guide them through everyday life. Come learn how these
fun and exciting readings can help benefit and guide you towards the answers
you seek!
Kelly & Tom Galanis
Midnight – 2:00 a.m...BDSM Meet and Greet ...........................................Westwood
18_+ Only This group is for those into or curious, who wish to know other Ms
in the lifestyle. All experience levels welcome. We will discuss the basics of
BDSM
a
compound
acronym
for
Bondage,
Discipline,
Dominance/submission, and Sadomasochism. Learn about what constitutes a
scene, what happens at a munch, and the difference between SSC and RACK.
This is an open format session where no question is unanswered!
Boss and NaughtyBaby
Saturday Morning
7:00 – 8:00 a.m. ......... Pre-breakfast (coffee and…) ................................ Hospitality
Continental breakfast - coffee and something to hold you until breakfast is
ready.
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. ......... Breakfast...................................................................... Hospitality
The usual carbs along with fruit, cereals, ham, cheese and hard-cooked eggs.
If you were up a bit late last night, there may be something served later in the
morning so stop by and see what is available.
9:00 a.m. ....................... Puzzle 5 ....................................................................... Hospitality
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Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
9:00 – 10:30 a.m. ....... Mensa Owls ........................................................................ Maine
Choose from two to three different craft projects involving the creature that
is one of the symbols of Mensa: the owl. Materials and directions will be
provided, and all ages are welcome.
Liz Modesitt
9:30 - 11:30 a.m. ....... Hiking/Geocaching …. ................................................. Offsite
Join us on the Wilson Mountain Reservation trail in Cutler Park Reservation.
The hike is about 2 miles in a loop accessible for all levels, and there are
several geocaches along the way to look for. There’s a sign-up sheet at the
registration desk– sign up if you plan to join us!
Alison Rainville
10:00 a.m. .................... Puzzle 6 ....................................................................... Hospitality
10:30 - 12:30 p.m...... Unlock Your Inner Genius …. ..................................... Canton
Do you wish for a more dynamic, authentic, successful life or business? Most
of us do! Unfortunately we cheat ourselves of our full range of intelligence by
relying exclusively on our minds to figure out life’s problems. Before we know
it, our lives are less joyful, less successful, or less fulfilled. With a few important
and relatively simple shifts in how we take in information we can create
powerful and positive changes in our lives. In this workshop, you will: (1) Find
out how to use intellectual, emotional, and kinesthetic knowing to create more
success and fulfillment. (2) Ask the right questions to create more of what you
want in your life (3) learn a simple yet highly effective process for unfolding
even more of your total genius.
Dr. Kate Siner
10:30 - 12:30 p.m...... Cribbage tournament…. ................................... Connecticut
Each match will be a first player to 3 points, with a skunk counting as 2 points,
and a double-skunk counting as 3 points. Muggins will not be used.
Experienced players only. If you do not know how to play cribbage and wish
to learn before the tournament, please contact Lynn on Friday evening.
Lynn MacDonald
10:30 – 12:30 p.m. .... Kaleidoscopes .................................................................. Maine
What is a kaleidoscope? Who invented it, where and why? Learn how a
kaleidoscope works by making one yourself! Come for some fun, kits are
supplied.
Aviva Andreen
10:30 - 12:30 p.m...... NEADS – Service Dogs…. .................................... Westwood
Discuss the training and use of handicapped service dogs and the regulations
covering service dogs.
John C. Moon & Dog
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Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
11:00 a.m. .................... Puzzle 7 ....................................................................... Hospitality
11:30 – 1:30 p.m........ Taza Chocolate Factory Tour ............................ Offsite
Limited to 12 people. Buy tickets at registration desk. Price: $5, transportation
and tour included. Learn how Taza makes 100% Stone Ground, Mexican-style
organic dark chocolate, sample delicious Stone Ground Dark Chocolate and see
our vintage chocolate making machines! The tour will include discussion and
explanation of the chocolate making process and factory operation. It is 45
minutes to an hour long and you will be entering active production areas during
your tour. Please know that these rooms can be loud & hot when we are
working on certain parts of the process. Taza will provide hairnets and beard
nets, which attendees will be required to wear in the production environment.
Closed toed shoes are required. Jewelry & perfume are not permitted. There is
no outside food or drink allowed. Come prepared to try a wide variety of stone
ground chocolate!
12:30 – 1:30 p.m........ Lunch ...............................................................................Hospitality
Make your own sandwiches and enjoy a bowl of homemade soup.
1:00 p.m. ...................... Puzzle 8 ..........................................................................Hospitality
1:30 - 3:00 p.m........... Intro to Burlesque............................................................. Canton
Open to all ages – Parental Guidance Advised. In American theater, the term
‘burlesque’ has evolved to mean a certain style of striptease as practiced by
classic performers like Gypsy Rose Lee or Tempest Storm, and modern
performers like Dita von Teese or The Boston Babydolls. Try something new,
fun, and frisky! Students will learn the iconic dance moves associated with
burlesque and some basic striptease techniques in this G-rated class taught by
members of New England’s leading burlesque troupe. Please wear comfortable
clothing you can move in and bring a button down shirt if possible.
Boston Babydolls
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Saturday 1:30 – 3:00pm
1:30 – 3:00 p.m. ......... Spelling Bee ...................................................................... Maine
Like spelling? Like snark? You'll find plenty of both at this year's Wicked Good!
Spelling Bee. Once again, Dennis Higbee and his trusty copy of MerriamWebster's dictionary will offer heated competition and mild abuse for dedicated
spellers. So challenge yourself (and Dennis if you think he made a mistake with
your word), but remember the dictionary is the final authority. Dennis Higbee
1:30 – 3:00 p.m. ......... Solving the UFO Enigma ....................................... Westwood
People are often skeptical about the UFO phenomenon but they shouldn't be.
At least a subset of historical UFO reports (about 5 percent) are from credible
witnesses and frequently backed by hard data such as radar tapes or gun
camera film. For example, astronauts Gordon Cooper and Buzz Aldrin as well
as astronomer Clyde Tombaugh, discoverer of Pluto, have all publicly described
their UFO sightings. But the interesting thing is that we may be on the
threshold of understanding the technology of UFOs. In a nutshell it was once
thought that the idea of extra dimensions was strictly the domain of science
fiction. That has all changed in the last several decades as physicists appear to
be closing in on a final "theory of everything" which suggests we may live in an
eleven dimensional universe. These cutting edge theories are now being tested
at the Large Hadron Collider particle accelerator in Geneva, Switzerland.
Among the theories being tested is one called Warped Geometry by a Harvard
physicist which may allow for fast interstellar travel in the extra dimensions.
Spectrographic data from actual UFO sightings would confirm if these craft are
using technology we are now on the cusp of unraveling ourselves.
Robert Schroeder
2:00 p.m. ...................... Puzzle 9 ....................................................................... Hospitality
3:00 – 4:30 p.m. ......... Online Dating Experience .......................................... Canton
There is a greater than 50% chance that you or someone you know will try
online dating in the next 12 months. In the dog-eat-dog world of online dating,
a great profile can mean the difference between finding your soul mate and
losing your mind. This panel will show you how to craft a profile that stands
head and shoulders above the rest. We will deconstruct “the most amazing
profile on Match.com”, and we will peruse a plethora of examples of what not
to do. Because you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression!
Timmy King
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Saturday 3:00 p.m.
3:00 – 4:30 p.m. ......... Boston and the Civil War .................................. Connecticut
Barbara Berenson's presentation will address how Boston's abolitionists led the
nation to a war against slavery. She will focus on the birth and early growth of
Boston's radical abolitionist movement, the significance of the Fugitive Slave
Act in transforming public opinion in Boston, the development of the political
coalition between (many) abolitionists and "free soilers" that put Lincoln to the
White House, and the role of the abolitionists in persuading Lincoln to issue the
Emancipation Proclamation. Her talk will include discussions of William Lloyd
Garrison, William Nell, Lydia Maria Child, Charles Sumner, and other key figures,
black and white, male and female.
Barbara Berenson
3:00 p.m. ...................... Puzzle 10 ................................................................... Hospitality
3:00 – 4:30 p.m. ......... Candidates Meet & Greet ...................... Hospitality Foyer
Forget the national, state and local elections; come hear about what's really
important. In a few months you have an opportunity to vote in the national
Mensa elections! Here is your opportunity to hear from candidates for national
office, and to ask all the questions you can't wait to ask. What are their plans?
What are their issues? Why are they running? What's happening at the National
office and on the AMC? Join us and find out.
Deb Stone
3:00 – 4:30 p.m. ......... Quilting ............................................................................... Maine
While there are many types of quilting, English paper-pieced quilting is one
form that is done entirely by hand. Come learn the basics of quilt piecing with
paper, and create a coaster in the process. All supplies will be provided.
Allison Rainville
3:00 – 4:30 p.m. ......... Trivia .............................................................................. Needham
Come show off your trivia knowledge. Real, live Stump Trivia Jockey Annie
will host The Stump Trivia Mensa Showdown on Saturday afternoon. Come
and see if you have what it takes - will you be stumped? Limit of 20 teams,
1 to 4 players per team.
Stump! Trivia Jockey Annie
3:00 – 4:30 p.m. ......... Boston Strangler .................................................... Westwood
Who was the Boston Strangler? Or, rather, who WERE the Boston Stranglers?
One...or many? In this talk, I'll argue that the Strangler murders that terrorized
the greater Boston area between June 1962 and January 1964 weren't serial
killings, but rather individual murders committed by separate individuals
driven by their own unique pathologies. I'll address DNA evidence as well as
other recent developments in the long quest to solve one of the most
notorious cases in the history of crime.
Susan Kelly
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Saturday 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. ......... Tasting 2: Oreos ...........................................................Hospitality
Back by Popular demand. Traditional and not so traditional Oreos - vote for
your favorite one.
4:00 p.m. ...................... Puzzle 11 ........................................................................Hospitality
4:30 – 6:30 p.m. ......... The Great Penguin Rescue ............................................ Canton
When a ship sank off the coast of South Africa in June of 2000, half of the world's
population of African penguins were threatened by the ensuing oil spill. Within
days, 19,000 penguins were coated with oil, and another 20,000 were in the
direct path of the oil slick. A massive global response was launched, and 12,500
volunteers descended upon Cape Town to save the birds. Penguin expert Dyan
deNapoli was a member of the first team of penguin specialists that arrived
from the United States to help train and supervise the dedicated, but
completely inexperienced, volunteers. Tension and uncertainty ran high, as no
one had ever undertaken a rescue of this size before. Miraculously, after more
than half a million hours of grueling labor, 95% of the penguins were saved. An
inspiring testament to the power of collaboration and goodwill, this remarkable
event still stands as the largest and most successful animal rescue the world has
ever seen.
Dyan deNapoli
4:30 – 6:00 p.m. ......... Making a Profit Writing and Selling Books ........ Connecticut
Lisa Shea and Thomas Hollyday, who run Boston Mensa's Writing Group, will
discuss a variety of topics to help you write a book, get it published, and build
a fan base. We'll step you through how to self-publish. We'll explore blogs,
Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and promotional websites. We'll discuss the
challenges of getting a print book into bookstores. There'll be plenty of time
for individual questions and answers!
Lisa Shea and Thomas Hollyday
4:30 – 6:30 p.m. ......... Pumpkin Decorating ....................................................... Maine
Choose between a craft pumpkin or a real pumpkin; both will be on hand for
your artistic pleasure. Decorative materials of all sorts will be available, so let
your imagination run wild! Please note that you MUST take your decorated or
carved pumpkin home from Wicked Good with you. We do not want to find
abandoned pumpkins during RG clean-up!
Liz Modesitt
4:30 – 6:30 p.m. ......... Poker ........................................................... Needham
Come test your no-limit poker skills! The number of entrants will determine
whether we play an "OH" tournament or a pure Hold'em tournament. $10 buyin; at least two places paid. Join us!
Deb Stone
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Saturday 4:30 – 9:00pm
4:30 - 6:30 p.m........... Monster Mini Golf .......................................................... Offsite
Limited to 12 people. Buy tickets at
registration
desk.
Price:
$5,
transportation and 18 holes of mini
golfing
included.
The
phosphorescent indoor landscape at
the completely renovated Monster
Mini Golf immerses putters in an
eerie universe that inverts the sunsoaked cheer of conventional
courses. Rimmed in glowing barriers, 18 holes lure swingers to challenge their
coordination and resolve in the face of winged monsters, scowling animated
trees, a creepy clown, and their opponents' shockingly dazzling smiles.
Sheltered from searing rain and howling wind, the indoor course enables play
around hazards such as a spell well and luminous, ghostly windmill at any time
of the year. An in-house radio station and DJ mask the sound of pounding
hearts with lively beats and course commentary.
4:30 – 6:00 p.m. ......... 3D printing ............................................................... Westwood
This garage-built 3D printer uses a liquid resin that solidifies under ultraviolet
light. It was exhibited at Maker Faire New York last month, where it received
an Editor’s Choice blue ribbon from Make Magazine and later appeared on
the Adafruit Industries blog. Its virtue compared to other 3D printers is the
simple and forgiving design, allowing successful construction by
knuckleheads. Yes, you can build one in your own garage too, and you are
encouraged to do so.
Will Ware
5:00 p.m. ...................... Puzzle 12 ................................................................... Hospitality
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. ........ Book Signings ............................................. Hospitality Foyer
Many of today’s speakers will be available to discuss and sign their books!
6:30 – 7:30 p.m. ......... Dinner......................................................................... Hospitality
Pizza party, meatball subs, salad, vegan chili.
7:30 – 10:00 p.m........ Ron’s Bar.................................................................... Hospitality
Enjoy a drink with Ron and build up your tolerance to karaoke. Sarcastic
enough?
8:00 – 10:00 p.m........ Useless Talent and Wicked Good! Strut ........ Hospitality
See description on Page 6.
9:00 p.m. ...................... All Puzzles Due ....................................................... Hospitality
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Saturday 10:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m Sunday.
10:00 – Midnight. ..... Karaoke ...................................................................... Hospitality
Is the rock star inside you clawing to get out? Ready to channel your inner
diva? Got a set of leather lungs you're itching to show up? The Wicked Good!
karaoke party is the place to be. Come on down and belt out a tune or three
from 10:00 p.m. to Midnight.
10 – Midnight. ........... Whacktastic! ......................................................... Westwood
18+ only. Whacktastic! A Guide to Successful Impact Play: Learn the ins
and outs of body stimulation through impact play. We will cover the
physiology, psychology, communication, and finite details to have a great
experience with impact play
Boss and NaughtyBaby
After 10 p.m.................................Werewolves .................................................Canton
Werewolves is a party game run by a moderator involving deduction,
bluffing, killing, and mob hysteria. There are two teams: werewolves and
villagers. The objective of the werewolves is to kill off all the villagers
without themselves being killed. The objective of the villagers is to figure
out who the werewolves are and kill them. No experience needed -everything you need to know will be explained.
10:30 - Midnight ....... Late-Nite Nosh ................................................... Hospitality
Sundae bar, root beer floats, fresh fruit salad.
Midnight... ................... Mentalist Christopher Grace .......................... Hospitality
Mentalist, Christopher Grace will amaze and amuse you with mind reading
and incredible demonstrations of real psychological manipulation. He'll tell
you how much money you have in your pockets, teach you how to tell if
someone is lying, and divine pictures you have drawn while wearing a
blindfold of duct tape & solid silver dollars. He may even perform his most
requested demonstration: Answering serious, impossible-to-know
questions from the audience without ever having anything written down
or known in advance!
Christopher Grace
2:00 a.m. ..................... Receive extra hour of sleep
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Sunday Morning
7:00 – 8:00 a.m. ......... Pre-breakfast (coffee and…) ............................ Hospitality
Continental breakfast - coffee and something to hold you until breakfast is
ready.
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. ......... Breakfast.................................................................. Hospitality
Something to energize you for the trip home.
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. .... Awards & Prizes / Raffle / Wrap-up ............. Hospitality
11:00 – Noon.............. Cleanup ................................................................... Hospitality
Sell-off of leftovers (if any). Have a safe journey home and a wonderful year!
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Our presenters and others—Thank you!
Al Beecy (RG Chair) a long-time member of Boston Mensa is too lazy to write a bio.
Barbara Berenson (Civil War) is the author of
Boston and the Civil War: Hub of the Second
Revolution (the History Press, 2014) and
Walking Tours of Civil War Boston: Hub of
Abolitionism, an official Guidebook of the
Freedom Trail Foundation (2011, 2nd ed. 2014).
She is co-editor of Breaking Barriers: The
Unfinished Story of Women Lawyers and Judges
in Massachusetts (2012). A graduate of Harvard
College, Harvard Law School, and the Kennedy
School of Government, Barbara works as a
senior attorney at the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. For additional
information and a list of upcoming speaking engagements, please visit
www.CivilWarBoston.org
Tom Birchmire (Treasurer, AV Dude) is a long-time Mensa member who retired to
Massachusetts, after living in Florida for years and years. Now resides in Needham
with devoted wife Wendy and some cats who seem to have adopted us. They also
seem to have a feline sense of devotion. We, Wendy and I, spend a lot of time finding
geocaching treasure around the Commonwealth while the cats get to guard the
house. Currently Boston Mensa Treasurer 2012-2014.
Wendy Birchmire (Puzzles) joined Mensa way back in 1971 when it looked like it
might have good “husband prospects.” I was unsuccessful at finding one so I dropped
out for many years. There just weren’t enough events for my age group to keep me
involved in the organization. A decade or two later I rejoined. Twenty-five years after
my first join I finally got it right when I met my husband, Tom, at a Mensa dinner.
Lately I have fulfilled the jobs that I got nominated for when I stepped out of a room.
When not doing Mensa things, I enjoy geocaching, XC skiing and playing with our 3
cats.
Boss and NaughtyBaby (BDSM) Soulmates, wondertwins, lovers, and best friends,
Boss and Naughty are a married power couple who have explored kink for their entire
16 years together. They are frequent presenters on a number of topics in the BDSM
community and love to support and help others discover their confidence in the
bedroom and beyond.
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Boston Baby Dolls (Intro to Burlesque) The Boston Babydolls are bonafide bumping,
grinding, tassel twirling, burlesque troupe on a mission to re-create the golden age
of burlesque. Since 2005, they have been shaking and shimmying their way around
a rhinestone-covered, glamourous world, entertaining the masses and picking up
new fans wherever they go. Their unique dance repertoire boasts hundreds of
routines, from sizzlingly sensual to the side-splittingly comedic! Whether swirling and
twirling gigantic feather fans, offering devilish delights, or swaying and sashaying to
a live singer, every Boston Babydoll performance is a night to remember.
This award-winning troupe has gotten rave reviews in leading local and national
press. Their precision dance moves and vintage style have dazzled and
delighted audiences from The Great White North to Sin City to The Big Easy! The
Boston Babydolls are proud to have shared the stage with burlesque legends like
Tempest Storm, Satan's Angel, and April March, as well as modern burlesque greats
such as Angie Pontani and Jo Weldon. For more about The Boston Babydolls, please
visit www.BostonBabydolls.com
Caroline D. Bruno (Printed Program) is too busy between work, volunteering, and
travel to write an interesting bio. She is looking forward to seeing all her friends at
Wicked Good! and also to convincing a few of them to buy her a drink at Ron’s Bar.
She is also running for RVC in Region 2.
Dyan deNapoli (The Penguin Lady) is a penguin
expert, TED speaker, and author of the awardwinning book, THE GREAT PENGUIN RESCUE,
which vividly chronicles her experiences as a
rehabilitation manager during the dramatic
rescue of 40,000 penguins from the Treasure oil
spill in South Africa. Better known as The Penguin
Lady, Dyan has shared her passion for penguin
conservation with hundreds of thousands of
people around the world since 1995, including
appearances on CNN, the BBC, and CBC Radio
Canada. She has served as the guest expert and
lecturer on nature cruises to Antarctica and the
Galapagos Islands, and will be leading a penguin-viewing trip to New Zealand in
December. Dyan's mission is to raise awareness and funding to protect Threatened
and Endangered penguins - to that end, she donates 20% of the proceeds from her
book and from every appearance to penguin rescue, research, and conservation
groups. A four-times TEDx speaker, Dyan's inspiring talk about the world's largest
animal rescue can be viewed on TED.com. To learn more, visit
www.thepenguinlady.com
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Kelly Galanis (Tarot) is The Red-Headed Diva – a professional socializer, creator of
confidence, and speaker and educator of positivity. Highly in tune with premonition,
sensation, and higher power, she has recently turned to reading tarot and helping
guide others down their chosen path. By day, she is a higher education administrator
and social media guru, currently completing her doctorate at Johns Hopkins
University. She has been with her brilliant Mensa husband, Tom, for over 16 years.
Tom Galanis (Tarot) is a visionary technologist who thrives on leading through
education. He is an IT project management professional and adjunct professor by
day and curios thinker, soul-searcher, and gentleman by night. Tom enjoys studying
tarot and is interested in Lenormand style readings, and always appreciates
developing his skills as he helps others guide others down their paths. He is married
to his diva wife, Kelly, where they’ve shared their happy ever after for over 16 years.
Christopher Grace (Mentalist) called “The Sherlock Holmes of Mind Reading,"
Christopher Grace is one of the hottest corporate entertainers and mentalists in the
country with 15 years and over 5,000 performances. He has lectured on body
language and non-verbal communication at Boston University, Harvard and MIT and,
unlike other mentalists and psychics in Boston, Christopher uses real psychological
techniques to give the illusion of a sixth sense. He speaks and performs his interactive
comedy mind reading show at several colleges and magic organizations around the
country on a regular basis.
Dennis Higbee (Spelling Bee) has been a member of Boston Mensa for more than 10
years and has previously run game tournaments at Wicked Good! and Granite
Gathering. He enjoys beer, games, good conversation and beer. ("You said beer
twice." "I like beer.")
Thomas Hollyday, (Profit from Writing) a native of the Chesapeake Bay region, has
been writing local history for most of his life. He attended the Writing Seminars at
Johns Hopkins University, is a decorated Army veteran of Vietnam, and studied under
Michael Curtis in Boston. His published work includes illustrations and poetry in
magazines such as Good Housekeeping, historical articles in journals like the
Neptune of the Peabody Institute, and six River Sunday thriller romance novels. For
purchasing information visit solarsippers.com.
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Susan Kelly (Boston Strangler) has a Ph.D. in English literature from the University
of Edinburgh, and has taught at Tufts University and the Harvard Business School.
She is the author of THE BOSTON STRANGLERS, re-examining one of the most
notorious cases in crime history; six novels (The Gemini Man, The Summertime
Soldiers, Trail of the Dragon, Until Proven Innocent, And Soon I'll Come to Kill You,
and Out of the Darkness); and various scholarly and magazine pieces. For more
information, contact Susan at [email protected] or visit
www.susankellywriter.com.
Timmy King (Online Dating) There isn't much you can say about Timmy that hasn't
already been said in a multitude of restraining orders. Therefore, here are some
tidbits from his online dating profile. Timmy is an ordained minister, a Justice of the
Peace, a Certified Project Manager, a Certified Public Accountant, and certifiably
insane. He has run the Boston Marathon every year since 1993. He's played piano for
30 years but only plays one song. He once drove from Los Angeles to Boston using
only his left foot. He was recently on the cover of Sports Illustrated. He met his first
wife by placing an ad in a newspaper. And he plans to meet his last wife via the
dangerous world on online dating.
Liz Modesitt (Crafts) Liz Modesitt has been an active member of Mensa for over
eight years, in the New Hampshire and Boston chapters. She enjoys spending time
with her son Drew and other family members, doing arts’n’crafts, baking, watching
NFL football, and being a social butterfly. Currently Liz lives in Cambridge with her
fiancé Dennis Higbee (also of Boston Mensa) and Missy-cat.
John C. Moon (Service Dogs) is the Director
of Client Programs and Community
Engagement at NEADS, where he initially
joined the staff in the spring of 2008 as the
Major Gifts Officer. John is responsible for
insuring that Canines for Combat Veterans
and all client programs are properly aligned
with the NEADS mission and the population
(s) they support and that the various groups
who can benefit from an assistance dog, are
aware of NEADS highly trained assistance
dogs. John is also responsible for engaging
with the community to educate about the
rights of those using assistance dogs; the
availability of assistance dogs; how they can
help and why they can. Before joining
NEADS, John had multiple assignments in
the magazine and online publishing field,
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from sales manager to publisher. John has a Bachelor’s of Science in Communications
from Boston University, and is certified as an Executive Coach and Lego Serious Play
workshop leader. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife Jill and their two children,
Evan and Cameron and his retired assistance dog, Rainbow.
Claire Natola (Intro to Regional Gatherings) has been a member of American Mensa
since 2003. She held a ridiculous number of volunteer positions locally, regionally,
nationally, and internationally for 11 straight years, and is now taking a well-deserved
break from all of it. No matter how much Bailey's people try to ply her with, she is
determined to let others have fun volunteering for a while. She lives in Maryland and
is a member of Isolated M.
Lori Norris (Hospitality Chair), a member of C&WM, has a long history with food,
including a Culinary Arts degree from Johnson & Wales University. Now a selfemployed family law attorney, she unwinds after a long day in court by cooking for
her husband, Ron (whom she met at Pilgrimage 1998 and married on the way to the
NH RG in 2001). She enjoys cooking for appreciative Mensans and has handled
Hospitality for several RGs and the recent 2014 AG in Boston! Feel free to offer her
your assistance whenever you have spare time this weekend.
Ron Norris (Everybody’s Favorite Bartender) learned about bartending from the
wrong side of the bar. College fraternity parties, port visits while in the Navy, and a
generally misspent youth—all have taught him about the gamut of possible libations.
A few years ago, he found that he also had a talent on the working side of the bar. His
signature drink is the Mango Margarita, but he also concocts Piña Coladas, and
Banana Splits, as well as a variety of other libations. He likens himself to "Seinfeld's
Soup Nazi": he’ll tell you what you want to drink…Ron also has run the Bar at Albany's
ReChaRGe, and C&WM's Mensautumn and our own Cape Cod Mini RG. When not
tending bar, Ron teaches high school math and is the membership officer for Rhode
Island Mensa.
Allison Rainville (Hike and Quilting) has a plethora of spare time activities, including
geocaching, hiking, and kayaking. She has also been quilting since 2008 and is
president of her guild, Mothertown Quilters in Lancaster, MA. She has been a member
of Mensa since 2005.
Tom Schnorrenberg (Games Co-Chair) has been a member of Boston Mensa since
2000. At Mensa gatherings, he can usually be found in the Games room, playing
strategy board games or card games. Professionally, he is a software quality
assurance team lead with a national financial services provider. He enjoys baseball,
reading, tooling on his phone and/or computer, and working out.
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Robert Schroeder (UFO) Bob recently retired
from Hewlett-Packard after 26 years in
operations and product management.
His
educational background includes a BA in math
from Rutgers University, an AS in aerospace
engineering and a MBA. Bob and his wife Carol
have resided in the suburbs of Boston for the
past 30 years. Carol teaches math at LincolnSudbury High School.
They have a daughter
who is a structural engineer in the DC area. Bob
served in the U.S. Army between 1966 and 1968
including a tour of duty in Vietnam. One of his
personal accomplishments has been to complete
the Boston Marathon three times (but three is
enough!). He has done talks or appearances at Worcester Polytechnic Institute; 2014
International UFO Congress in Scottsdale, Arizona; 2014 Exeter UFO Festival, New
Hampshire; Kate Valentine Show WVNJ 1160 AM at studio in Teaneck, New Jersey
(on YouTube); Tom Anderson Show FOX News Alaska 95.5 FM KOAN; Billy Cox phone
interview at Sarasota, Florida Herald Tribune for his DeVoid blog; Waldorf High
School in Belmont, Mass.; Tatnuck Book Store in Westborough, Mass.; Triangle
Variety Radio with physicist host Patrick Walters out of North Carolina; NorCal
MUFON San Francisco meeting via Skype; Fringe Radio, Salt Lake City, Utah; 2013
New England UFO Conference in Leominster, Mass.; Future Theater with Bill & Nancy
Birnes (Bill is host of the History Channel's UFO Hunters Show); etc. Link to book:
http://www.amazon.com/Solving-The-UFO-Enigma-Technology/dp/1452836817
Lisa Shea (Profit from Writing) has published 78 non-fiction books, 38 fiction books,
and 21 short stories. She has earned a gold medal, silver medal, and bronze medal
from the Independent Publishing book awards. Her fiction books run the gamut from
medieval romance to modern murder mystery, from science fiction to dystopian. For
non-fiction she's written about working from home, cooking, relationships, green
living, healthy sleep, journaling, ASP programming, and much more. She's also
posted over 50,000 articles of her own content on the web. Lisa has been a member
of Mensa since July 1988. For more information visit LisaShea.com.
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Dr. Kate Siner (Unlocking your Complete
Genius) As a speaker, author, educator holding a
Ph.D. in Psychology, Dr. Kate has been called a
true visionary who advocates for a muchneeded shift in the world today. She has
dedicated her career to helping people find and
develop their own fulfillment and success by
connecting to their true selves and taking
powerful action. Dr. Kate has provided worldclass training in entrepreneurial and personal
development for more than a decade. Her
business, Dr. Kate Inc. provides mentoring, retreats, virtual classes and more to help
highly motivated individuals change the world for the better by transforming
themselves.
Deb Stone (Poker and Candidate Meet and Greet) is a thirty-year member of Mensa
and a long-time life member. She has held many local offices including LocSec,
Treasurer, Secretary, Proctor Coordinator, SIGHT Coordinator to name a few. She has
been involved in running RGS for over 25 years and has helped run 3 AGS including
co-chairing this year's Brilliance in Beantown with the amazing Claire Natola. She is
currently running for the Chairmanship of American Mensa.
Will Ware (3D Printing) has been active in Boston Mensa for over 15 years. He is a
software engineer whose occasional lapses into disorderly conduct include meddling
uninvited among electrical and mechanical things.
Bill Zigo (Ziggy) (Games Co-Chair) celebrated 25 years in Mensa this year, and has
never missed either a Pilgrimage or a Wicked Good! since joining. He tends to be a
fixture in the Games room of RGs. Ziggy is actually a member of Mid-Hudson Mensa
and has written a game column for his chapter's newsletter for many years.
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Special thanks to…
All the members of the RG Committee, without whose help and support
Wicked Good! would never have happened.
You are here! RG Rooms Layout
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