What Is Mensa?
Mensa is an international society established to promote friendship and communication between its members. The sole requirement for membership is a score at or above the 98th percentile on any number of standardized IQ tests, making it a virtual melting pot of personalities, ideologies and opinions. Over five million Americans are qualified to join.
Mensa is a not-for-profit organization whose purposes are:
- To identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity
- To encourage research into the nature, characteristics, and uses of intelligence
- To provide a stimulating intellectual and social environment for its members
Much of this research is done by the Mensa Education and Research Foundation, a philanthropic, non-profit organization committed to the pursuit of excellence in the areas of intelligence.
"Mensa" is not an acronym. The word is Latin for "table" and signifies the round-table nature of the organization, wherein all members are treated as equals. Mensa began in Britain in 1946. American Mensa, Ltd., founded in 1960, has become the largest of the Mensa national organizations.
Mensa holds no opinions, champions no causes and is not affiliated with any other organization. Further information about American Mensa can be found at American Mensa's website along with links to the websites of other local and national Mensa organizations. Try our FAQ section for answers to the most frequently asked questions about Mensa.
Our Local Group
Broward Mensa is the Mensa local group for Broward County, Florida. It was created in 1967, when it spun off from Dade (Miami) Mensa. We currently have about 400 members. Our Calendar lists various local events that happen each month. Our Regional Gathering, FloRanGe, is held every other year on Labor Day Weekend.
The detailed calendar can be found in our monthly newsletter, BrowBeat, where you will also find member letters, SIG news, organization announcements, and puzzles. We have a variety of local SIGs, including the Brunch Bunch, BULL SIG, Meet Greet and Eat, Mensa Night @ the Movies, Outdoor SIG, and SIGMA4.
Sounds like something you'd want to be a part of? Then join us! You can meet some of our members at our "Meet, Greet and Eat" events, which are open to prospective members. Check the Events Calendar to find out where we will meet next. If you have a question for us, don't hesitate to contact us.
Broward Mensa is local group number 333, a part of Region 10, one of ten geographic regions in which American Mensa is divided.
The Joe Vitale Memorial Scholarship
Broward Mensa participates in the Mensa Education and Research Foundation’s Scholarship Competition. We also extend the annual Joe Vitale Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $1000.00 to a Broward county student. Our sole means of raising the funds for this local scholarship is an auction that is held at our biennial regional gathering. The 2008-2009 winner is Mary Chrisochos of Plantation, who is currently seeking her degree in Osteopathic Medicine at Nova Southeastern University.
The Mensa Education and Research Foundation’s Scholarship Competition is unique in that its awards are based totally on essays written by the applicants. There is no requirement for applicants to be Mensa members nor is consideration given to grades, academic program, or financial need.
There are three requirements for applicants:
- The applicant must currently reside in a participating local group's area
- The applicant must be enrolled in a degree program in an accredited U.S. institution of higher learning during the academic year following the application date
- The applicant must submit an application and essay of not more than 550 words explaining his or her academic and/or vocational goals
The scholarship process begins during the first week of September and ends with the scholarship application deadline of Jan. 15. No applications are available at any other time. Between September and January, interested applicants may visit http://www.mensafoundation.org/scholarships, or send a legal size (#10) SASE to:
Dr. Laura J. Peralta
Scholarship Chairman Broward Mensa
1040 Weston Rd., Suite #215
Weston, FL 33326