May Brainstorming Meeting

A new Central Oklahoma Mensa event which has proven really popular is our monthly "Brainstorming" session.  The raison d'etre of the event is still sorta in flux, but ostensibly we are getting together to discuss <whatever> --maybe to think of possible solutions, or maybe just to exchange ideas.  Who knows.

Whatever the erstwhile goal, it has been a load of fun so far.  In April, about a dozen members gathered at Bob Hibbert's house, and our topic was suggested by Lois Sullivan (far left in this picture, with Rose Lambert sitting by the couch).  We spent a few hours discussing the phenomenon of youth crime, particularly timely in light of the schoolyard shootings earlier that week.

This photo shows former COM member Dr. Ron Kreienkamp, now a sophisticated kinda guy up Saint Louueeee way.  Ron was down here visitin' some of the old buds 'n' stuff.  Alongside Ron is member Becky O'Neal (who is probably thinking, "Oh, leave it up to Joe to be talking about a Shania Twain video and somehow infer a subliminal political reference to the Quebecois Independence Movement!").  

This pic shows inveterate number cruncher Mike Neander (ask him about Strom Thurmond and REALLY bad timing in apartment moves) , along with Sally Kerpchar, a recent transplanted member from Houston to the less humid and much cooler environs of Okieland (you know when Oklahoma is "cooler" than somewhere else, that ya gotta wonder.....)

Sally is the host of our June 20 "Trip on a Tankful" outing to Alabaster Caverns, plus is gonna be on our Executive Committee for the 1998-99 School Year.

The photo on the right shows (left to right) Rose Lambert, Rich Marmon, Joe Gentile (yah, that's me), and Ron Kreienkamp.  Note Ron and Rich being deeply engrossed as I explain to them my tentative doctoral dissertation,  Cartman and Rehnquist DNA Just Won't Splice:  The Eschatological Impact of South Park Upon the Judicial Decisionmaking Process During the 1997-98 Term of the United States Supreme Court.

Rich is gonna host our NEXT Brainstormin' session, on Friday, July 24.  Mark this on your calendar.....Wimbledon will be long over by then, so I won't be able to use the excuse, "But, but, Kournikova is playing in the semis, in that awesome little black dress......."

Finally, this pic was taken right before the meeting started.  It marks the first time I have ever taken a picture with a digital camera, without it looking like I have delirium tremens.  This is a picture of our host for the May Brainstorming meeting, Max Hedges.  Max is hosting a "Cookout and Conversation" at his place on Sunday, July 12 at 6 P.M.  This is one week after the Mens' final at Wimbledon, barring rain delays and such.