Welcome...

What is the Postcard Pals SIG?  Most importantly, the SIG is for postcard pen pal relationships for Mensans around the world.  There is no minimum amount of cards that you need to send but it is requested you are polite and respond in a reasonable amount of time if you receive a card from another member.  (Oh, and members are requested to use their membership number so that way if the recipient can't read your signature, at least they can find your address on the roster by your number!).  If life interferes and you need to take a break from sending postcards, let me know. There is an inactive/quiet member status for people who need to take such a break - they will get the newsletter and be active when they can.

There is also the opportunity to have formal SIG gatherings.  Simply give me the information (dates, city, etc. and a brief idea of what you might do) and I will pass the information along.  I will also print feelers to see if there is enough interest in people attending a gathering.  Hosting a gathering is no more difficult, if not more pleasurable, than hosting any other out of town guest.   If only all your guests were Mensa members and interested in seeing all your town had to offer.  What you do during a gathering is totally up to you and your guests.  The Boston Gathering in August 2006 included seeing a Shakespeare play on the Boston Common, touring Salem, and having brunch with local Mensans.  Of course, you should send me and other members Gathering Postcards signed by all the attendees!

Many member have met informally.  If you are traveling through a member's hometown, write to them and let them know.  Maybe you can meet up for coffee, a meal or a little sightseeing. 

Any pictures for the photo album would also be greatly appreciated!

The last major activity is the Postcard Pals Contest.  During the calendar year, one member sets the rules for the contest.  At the end of the year, the person who wins the contest gets to set the rules for the following year.

To request a sample newsletter or get more information, please send an email to David Whiting. Include your snail mail address if you want a sample newsletter and your birthday, if you wish for people to send you birthday cards!

How to become a member

Step 1: Let me know you are interested in becoming a member. 

Step 2: In the next newsletter you will be listed as an "interested" member and of course you will receive the newsletter. 

Step 3: With the newsletter you will get this short description of Postcard Pals SIG, pointing out that the sole requirements for membership are you that you be kind and friendly to other members, are willing to exchange postcards from time to time and to be willing to attend gatherings if organized in your home country (if not, be courteous enough to send a card saying you are unable to attend).

Step 4: If are still interested then it is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY to send me an email and explicitly say that you want to join the Postcard Pals SIG. The email also must include your current Mensa membership status. American Mensa requires that I fill out reports to the SIG officer twice a year and in those reports, I must tell them the percentage of SIG members who are Mensans. If you do not tell me your current Mensa membership status, you will not be allowed to join the SIG.  Without this email confirming your interest in becoming a full member of the SIG, I will assume you are no longer interested and not send you further newsletters.

Step 5: Newsletters will be sent out several times a year by email. 

How to stay a member: You must renew your membership annually, no  later than July 1, and also let me know if  you are still a member of Mensa.  Non Mensans will be allowed to remain in the SIG!  Don't worry about that.  But if you don't let me know you wish to remain in the SIG, you will be purged from the roster until you contact me to let me know you wish to return.

Other important information: 1) You must keep me up to date with your contact information.  If snail mail or email bounces back/is returned to sender twice, you will be removed as a member until you provide me with updated contact information.  It is your responsibility, not mine - to track you down.  2) Members should put their membership number next to their name when sending postcards (this way if your signature is illegible, then people can find your address on the roster by your membership number).  If you are an interested member and therefore don't have a membership number yet, simply leave out the number, don't make one up! Just make sure you sign your name legibly.  3) There is no minimum number of cards you need to send out but please realize if someone contacted you first, they are expecting a reply, within a reasonable amount of time.  Please be courteous and respond ASAP, even if it is to say sorry, but you can't take on any new corrspondents at this time.

Adding Fun

Hosting a gathering combines the best aspects of having out of town  guests with attending any other Mensa event or gathering.

Attendance depends on many things including the time of the gathering (you might get more attendees if you plan it for New Year’s instead of Christmas, for example), distance and money. Those that do attend are interested in doing so many things: Sightseeing, enjoying the company of SIG members – perhaps even attending a local Mensa event, and so on. People can stay at the home of the organizer as well as in accommodations arranged by the local SIGHT coordinator or inexpensive lodging nearby. If you attend a gathering, it would be considerate to bring a gift for the organizer(s) to thank them for the hard work involved in organizing the gathering. 

Put as simply as possible, if you can't host people in your home, or can only host some attendees but not all, then guide guests to inexpensive lodging nearby.  And then show them a wonderful time - be an ambassador for your hometown.

The only other requirements: Send me and other SIG Members postcards from the gathering signed by all the attendees AND if you live nearby, you are expected to participate.  If you can't, be polite and send a card to all the guests and the host wishing them a wonderful time.