You'd never guess just by looking at someone, but that person sitting in a nearby cubicle at work just might rank in the top 2 percent of the population on a standardized intelligence test.
In fact, one in every 50 people falls in that 2 percent group, meaning that they could qualify to become part of the international organization Mensa, a social group for those ranking on the higher end of the intelligence scale.
The Tucson Mensa group has reached more than 200 members, and membership is growing substantially, thanks to some public-relations efforts, said Ray Sola, 45, membership officer for the group.
Membership is especially high on the East Side, which accounts for the fact that many of the group's social and educational events are held in East Tucson.
A recent social gathering for Tucson Mensa members at Mama's Pizza, 4500 E. Speedway, brought together an accountant, an Internet company owner, a pharmacist and textbook author, a retired lawyer, a registered nurse and a retired tax consultant, to name a few.
People are also reading…
"We even have members here who are real rocket scientists," said Bob Leff, 79, Mensa member for 36 years.
Members of the Tucson group range in age from University of Arizona students to some close to 100 years old, said Sola.
Mensa events, held nine to 10 times a month, are as diverse as the members. They recently went to a drag show at Colors Food & Spirits. They go to wine tastings, practice target shooting, read plays, eat pizza, watch movies and listen to guest speakers.
Cathy Gallagher joined Mensa seven months ago and was hesitant at first to attend the social events.
"I thought people would be sitting around talking astrophysics, but that's not it at all. I can be myself," she said.
East Side resident Scott Harrington joined Mensa four years ago to meet other people like himself.
"I thought it would be stimulating, and it has been," he said. "I wanted to meet stimulating people and have stimulating conversations."
Sola joined Mensa in 1985 "to meet chicks," which he says he did when he was single.
And what exactly does Mensa mean? It's no acronym, says Harrington.
"Mensa is a Latin word that means mind, table, month. It's a joke that there is a meeting of the minds around the table every month," said Sola.
Other than passing the Mensa test or showing prior evidence from a standardized intelligence test, there really aren't any requirements to join Mensa, though East Side resident Brian Spangler joked that "you have to know everything about Star Trek."
Dues for the international organization are $52 a year, and lifetime memberships are available. Most Mensa events are open to the public, and non-Mensans are encouraged to attend. For more information on Tucson Mensa and upcoming events, visit www.tucson. us.mensa.org online.
Take the Mensa challenge
● Think you have what it takes to join Mensa? If you know the answers to these sample quiz questions you just might be qualified to pass the Mensa test and you can also win a prize from the Arizona Daily Star.
Send quiz answers to:
"Mensa Quiz" c/o Erin Hefley
Arizona Daily Star
P.O. Box 26807
Tucson, AZ 85726
● Responses must be received by June 29, and a winner will be chosen at random from those with the most correct responses. The winner will receive an Arizona Daily Star baseball cap, a tour of the Star newsroom, and the chance to sit in on an editorial meeting. The quiz answers will be published June 29 in Star East.
1Tommy raided little Joey's piggy bank and came away with the same number each of pennies, nickels and dimes. The total was $4.80. How many coins of each denomination had Joey saved?
2Tabitha likes cookies but not cake, likes mutton but not lamb, and likes okra but not squash. Following the same rule, will she like cherries or pears?
3Susie's boyfriend wanted to know her exact age. He asked her younger sister, who said: "Ten years ago, Susie was as old as I am now. In 13 years, I'll be three-fourths her age." How old was Susie at the time her boyfriend got nosy? How old was her sister?
4Can you think of an American tree whose name contains all five vowels?
5What is the 11-letter word that all smart people spell incorrectly?
Sample questions courtesy of Dr. Abbie F. Salny
● For more sample questions, visit www.mensa.org/ workout2.php online. If you want to take the Mensa test, call the proctor, Selma Leff, at 325-5915.
