The Mensa Mentor

PSST!!! If you haven't yet booked your place for the Spring Wine Tasting event, you can still do so! Email pta.treasurer@mensa.org.za now to secure your place!

More info:
You are cordially invited to join Mensa Pretoria for an "Out of Africa" Garden Party and tasting of South Africa's very best Méthode Cap Classique Wines (better known as "Champagne" to anyone who lives OUTSIDE of France...)

Enjoy a welcoming glass of Bubbly on arrival and Morning Tea in the garden of the historic Sammy Marks House Museum, before a guided tasting of a number of award-winning sparkling wines and the still-wine cultivars that they are made from... the best Bubblies to come "Out of Africa".

Those with creative flair will want to come dressed for the occasion, in keeping with the theme ("Out of Africa" or "Spring Day", you decide). Prizes will be awarded (Bubbly, of course) for the Best Dressed and the Most Interestingly Dressed people.

The tasting will continue into the mid-afternoon after a break for a light lunch and awarding of prizes.

ESSENTIAL INFO:

DATE:
SPRING DAY, Saturday 1 September 2018

TIME:
10:30 for 11:00

PLACE:
Sammy Marks House Museum

GPS:
25° 44' 59.41″ S 28° 22' 48.16″ E

ADDRESS:
Bronkhorstspruit Rd, Savannah Country Estate, Donkerhoek, Pretoria
DIRECTIONS:
Take the N4 East from Pretoria
Take Exit 11, Solomon Mahlangu Drive
Turn left at the traffic island
After 800 m turn right on the R104 towards Bronkhorstspruit
After about 1.2 km turn left to Sammy Marks House Museum (white sign board)

FOOD:
Upon arrival you will be treated to some milk tart, coffee and tea. Brunch will be quiche and salad, finished off with apple pie and cream.

COSTS:
R125.00 for paid-up Mensa-members (same price for adults and children); R150.00 for non-members.
This cost covers the food and wines to be tasted.

ADDITIONAL INFO:
The venue is child-friendly and has ample parking.
There is no a la carte menu on that day. If you have special dietary requirements, please let us know in advance, so that we can notify the venue and arrange the necessary with them.
There is a cash bar available for soft drinks and other refreshments.

BOOKINGS: Please e-mail the below information to pta.treasurer@mensa.org.za to secure your booking:
Your name and membership number
Number of bookings
Your cellphone number (in case we need to reach you beforehand)
Proof of payment. Payment details are: Mensa Pretoria, FNB Lynnwood, Branch code 252 045, Account number 5103 0053 626, Ref: Name and membership number

Booking is essential!

Got something you need to get off your chest? Then you should be excited for the next "Open Mic" evening! The advantage of Open Mic evenings is that anyone can join in the conversation on the evening's topic, which means it's much more interactive than listening to a speaker and you might just change on mind on an issue or broaden your worldview.

Mensa Pretoria hosted another Open Mic evening on Wednesday 7 August and the topic was Fake News.

You are cordially invited to join Mensa Pretoria for an “Out of Africa” Garden Party

and tasting of South Africa’s very best Méthode Cap Classique Wines

(better known as “Champagne” to anyone who lives OUTSIDE of France!)

Enjoy a welcoming glass of Bubbly on arrival and Morning Tea in the garden of the historic Sammy Marks House Museum, before a guided tasting of a number of award-winning sparkling wines and the still-wine cultivars that they are made from... the best Bubblies to come "Out of Africa".

Those with creative flair will want to come dressed for the occasion, in keeping with the theme ("Out of Africa" or "Spring Day", you decide). Prizes will be awarded (Bubbly, of course) for the Best Dressed and the Most Interestingly Dressed people.

The tasting will continue into the mid-afternoon after a break for a light lunch and awarding of prizes.

ESSENTIAL INFO:

DATE:	SPRING DAY, Saturday 1 September 2018
TIME:	10:30 for 11:00
PLACE:	SAMMY MARKS HOUSE MUSEUM GPS: 25° 44' 59.41″ S 28° 22' 48.16″ E ADDRESS: Bronkhorstspruit Rd, Savannah Country Estate, Donkerhoek, Pretoria

DIRECTIONS:	Take the N4 East from Pretoria Take Exit 11, Solomon Mahlangu Drive Turn left at the traffic island After 800 m turn right on the R104 towards Bronkhorstspruit After about 1.2 km turn left to Sammy Marks House Museum (white sign board)
FOOD:	Upon arrival you will be treated to some milk tart, coffee and tea. Brunch will be quiche and salad, finished off with apple pie and cream.
COSTS:	R125.00 for paid-up Mensa-members (same price for adults and children); R150.00 for non-members. This cost covers the food and wines to be tasted.
ADDITIONAL INFO:	The venue is child-friendly and has ample parking. There is no a la carte menu on that day. If you have special dietary requirements, please let us know in advance, so that we can notify the venue and arrange the necessary with them. There is a cash bar available for soft drinks and other refreshments.
BOOKINGS:	Please e-mail the below information to pta.treasurer@mensa.org.za to secure your booking: Your name and membership number Number of bookings Your cellphone number (in case we need to reach you beforehand) Proof of payment. Payment details are: Mensa Pretoria, FNB Lynnwood, Branch code 252 045, Account number 5103 0053 626, Ref: Name and membership number
	Booking is essential! Please let us have your complete booking information by WEDNESDAY, 22 AUGUST 2018, as we need to confirm the number of attendees with the venue and wine guides.

We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Are you a general knowledge buff? Fancy yourself as the next winner of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Do you simply retain useless facts for some reason? Or do you enjoy a fun night out with great conversation? Well, either way, you should consider adding weekly quiz nights to your calendar!

Teams consist of 6(-ish) people so if there's more than six, we can start another team! There are quizzes at Jock of the Bushveld pub every Thursday night at 19:00, hosted by Aux Technicals. Quiz Master Leon Botha will test your knowledge about topics ranging from astrophysics to zoology, so no matter what your field of knowledge, you will be an asset to the team.

Our very own quiz team, the "Conquiztadores", regularly participates in and does very well! Tonight, the team won the quiz night at Jocks! Congratulations team!

How about joining the new quiz league? Not from Pretoria? No problem. Anyone who wants to join is welcome.

So, what are you waiting for? Reserve your place on a team by sending an email to pta.sigs@mensa.org.za right now!

Yes, the best things in life are FREE! So we're offering free membership-eligibility tests on the 21st of July! Do you have friends or family who have wanted to take the Mensa membership eligibility test, but were deterred by the cost? Use the code PRETORIAFM when they book a test for FREE test admission!

So what are you waiting for??? BOOK NOW!

"Gandalf, my old friend, this is going to be a night to remember!" - Bilbo Baggins

The clash of metal on metal! It's a fight to the death! Who hasn't dreamed of owning their own hand-crafted, rune-inscribed sword? If it's your dream to be a sword-wielding badass warrior princess (okay....or prince!) warrior, then this speaker evening is just up your alley. Acclaimed Bladesmith, Knifemaker, designer and owner of Black Dragon Forge, Neels van den Berg will be educating us in the art of all things smithy! So gather up your armour and book your seat at the Pretoria Boys High School Old Boys Club at 7pm on the 11th of July!

You won't want to miss this one!

Notes from the editor of the Chronicle for May 2018:

"Welcome to the May edition of The Chronicle.

Two contributors, Steven and Douglas, have provided some more insights into how we should change how we do things. Reading both articles in quick succession makes me think that as Mensans, we could be asking a different question to start addressing the state of our own country.

Also, a reminder to all who want to participate in the Photocup competition: the closing date is 30 June and fast approaching! Find more details on page 11.

Have fun reading this month's edition!

Until the next issue,

Erik Lear

Editor"

Download it here

At Mensa Pretoria

we are always happy to meet new Mensans and reunite with old friends.

Invitations are open not only to prospective Mensans, but also to friends of Mensans when accompanied by a Mensan (of any chapter.)

Please join us!!

Check your email or on Mensa South Africa

ENQUIRIES

20171101 - Capital Craft

20170930 - Mimmos

20170830 - Capital Craft

20170726 - Mimmos

20170531 - Capital Craft

Sadly no photo-evidence remains of best attended new-members social in years! It might be due to my phone crashing at the shear number of Mensan's on the pictures - or maybe we miss-behaved when we strong-armed some tough blokes to gain an extra table for our party...at the party...mid-party..so here's a picture of a previous visit to Capital...

20170329 - Alfie's Pizzeria

We decided to combine not only the Social SIG and New Members Evening but also the Innovation SIG - albeit earlier - at Alfie's.

We were rather more focussed than this photo!!

20170222 - Mimmo's Moreleta

The Social SIG and New Members Evening were full of surprises - our Chairlady even had a flat tire but that was sorted pronto thanks to an certain committee member's motivational brandy stash...which looked ominously like a permanent fixture in his car.

Speaker evenings remain the backbone of

Mensa Pretoria's

social interaction and as such are as diverse as our member's interests.

As always we value feedback and suggestions on topics and in general

- we are a social club at the end of the day !

Please google our speakers should these snippets entice you,
alternatively be in contact and we'll furnish you with more info

ENQUIRIES

20171004 - Mensa Pta Games Evening

Since we absolutely love playing games on (with) each other we jumped at the opportunity to squeeeeze one more Games Night in before the AGM.
We only had time for one photo but evidence ..is evidence...no-one actually looked at the camera.....not even Bev...mmm conspiracy!!

20170906 - Falconry and Bird Abatement

Well I sure did not know that pigeons were evil!!!
But sure as chips they carry disease and with it a big risk to all.
To reduce the number of pigeons and associated risk a natural predator is flown by super skilled humans like Nadine Van Der Merwe.
I was very impressed by what I learned and urge you to investigate this artform!

Nadine with the Hawk she flies, and flew in the hall.

Pretoria being Pretoria!

Bev expressing her gratitude as is our tradition

20170802 - They're Your Rules, Break Them!

Now THAT is something I can through my weight behind!
How fitting that we were breaking rules of our own by moving the speak...ing over to the more intimate dining area of PHSOB.
We can now make use of their generous dinner-specials
whilst listening to the wisdom of our speakers.

Speaking of..
Douglas Kruger showed us exactly why he was inducted into the
'Speakers Hall of Fame'
in 2016
Surf over to http://www.douglaskruger.co.za/ you will not be sorry.

Douglas Kruger

Classic Venue Classic Filter

Stop!..Pano-time

again with the loaded questions!

Thanks Super-Speaker!

20170705 - Open Mic - Conspiracy Theories

Lots of great discussion took place during the annual open-mic evening
- fueled by paranoia, suspicion, curiosity or just plain alcohol...
the truth might never be known yet it is out there and we will keep searching...
Mandela effect, Flat Earth, Titanic....
we are coming for you!

Kolver explaining the Mandela Effect

20170607 - More Secrets From Below: Rising Star Cave

Sworn to secrecy for nigh on 2 years the world's favourite caver and
our friend Rick Hunter
was finally released to give us the scoop on what was
also found when
Homo Naledi famously captured our imagination in September 2015

Great souvenirs!

Bev in Science-mode!

ooohhh secrets!!

Rick scaring us with claustrophobia ^^

Homo Naledi welcomed to Maropeng

20170510 - Games Evening

Being jock's of note we normally
play ice-hockey and dead-lift family cars when not cracking walnuts on our foreheads...
yet once a year we take time to dominate in
boardgames!
Most lost, only some won but in the end
Mensa Pretoria will never get bored of games!!

20170405 - The Colour Code

Why do you tend to dominate a conversation,
why can crowds scare you, why do you always choose the wrong friends -
well the last one not even our speaker can help you with
but some very insightful conversation and even a short self assessment was enjoyed when we learned about our colour code!

Eager to learn about ourselves!!

Alan Harvey with Bev

20170301 - Self Defence !!

Now more than ever we need to listen to our six-sense,
intuition or that chill down your back,
lest we experience something unspeakable at the hand of a perpetrator.
These words define the training program
WIP and GRIP by Mark Grobbelaar
a gentleman so proficient in self defense that it has become his primary nature -
yet his advise remains to always try to walk away and
swallow your pride.

Bev presenting with Mark with a small gift

Eager to learn

Kallie, Ilze and Jaco enjoying the speaker evening.

20170201 - Online Marketing

Zero Moment of Truth, Keith Kirsten, limits exist only in the mind -

these are some of the points raised by an intrepid entrepreneur in his quest to leverage technology to bring info to the people and naturally profit to his company.

Head over to plantinfo.co.za and see what it is all about!