FisherMensa '99, Nov 26-28, San Francisco, CA

Bongo by the Bay Program Guide

GAMES ROOM -- Visit the Games Room and sign up for a POKER game or SCRABBLE and/or BACKGAMMON Tournament play, which will be occurring during Friday and Saturday. While there, check out all the other games with which Games Maven Bethany Williams has stocked the room. Lots of opportunities to engage in a casual game. (And right next door to Hospitality, how convenient.)

IMPROMPTU WORKSHOP ROOM: One conference room (usually Coit III, when not in use) will be available for impromptu workshops that RG goers may want to present. There will be a pad at the entrance to the room. Sign up in there to book the room for the time you want.

PROGRAMS

FRIDAY November 26th

2:00pm CHAMPAGNE, EXOTIC CHEESES & SOURDOUGH will appear in Hospitality. Join us as we toast each other and kick off the festivities with some bubbly, and some yummy cheeses enjoyed with gourmet-quality San Francisco sourdough bread.

4pm

EMDR Researcher and Practitioner, Clinical Psychologist Priscilla Marquis, Ph.D. will talk about the findings in research in her work with Francine Shapiro, the founder of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and in her clinical practice. EMDR is a unique therapeutic tool which has been shown to be effective in helping people move past painful and traumatic experiences and memories.

"...EMDR, the remarkable new treatment modality for effectively treating trauma, conflict, phobia, addictions, and other contemporary problems of the human condition..." - Philip G. Zimbardo, Ph.D., Stanford University, author of Psychology and Life.

SPEAKEASY Ales & Lagers -- Check out their Web site (www.goodbeer.com) where you can order their products online. A recent addition to the San Francisco microbrewery scene (beginning a little over two years ago) soon they will be releasing their Prohibition Ale and Big Daddy I.P.A. in six-packs -- coming to a store near you
(with an advanced showing here) -- available on draught at many Bay Area pubs and restaurants. Steve Bruce, Vice President, will fill you in (and up) with their latest developments.

530-730pm -- DINNER AT NEARBY RESTAURANTS -- both Chinese and Italian choices.

730pm

MOTHERWAVEWORK founder Kathryn Masters-Darling is delighted to present her work to our group. From the website www.motherwave.com: "Motherwavework is based on principles of new science, such as quantum mechanics, chaos theory and fractals, which show that the whole universe is in movement, and that everything is actually made up of waves – even you! Leading edge thinkers now believe that our evolution is being pulled from an evolved wave-like source in our future, rather than our being kick-started in the past (and then abandoned!). The motherwave is a name for this loving, intelligent Future Source." The Motherwavework training teaches people to access this experience of an "all-providing, loving power."

930pm

SEX EDUCATOR Carol Queen, author of "Exhibitionism for the Shy." Carol Queen performs excerpts from her solo spoken word piece, "Peep Show." When a doctoral student decides to become a "real live nude girl" in North Beach, it's the best sex-and-cultural lab course ever! Adult content. Carol Queen has a doctorate in sexology. She is a writer, performer and sex educator whose work could make Sigmund "What Do Women Want?" Freud spin in his grave and Jesse Helms's head blow up.

SATURDAY

9am

SWEATING TO THE OLDIES with Richard Simmons' Exercise Video. Or bring your own favorite exercise video and pop it in to share if group agrees.

10am

COFFEE TASTING CONTEST in Hospitality. Accompanied with morning buns.

11am

GRAPHOLOGY -- Learn the basics of how to analyze handwriting with Kevin Tikker. Kevin's passion as a historian was enhanced with his use of graphology as a way to better understand his historical subjects. Kevin's approach is to note the obvious disparities and inherent conflicts borne from the paradoxes of our personalities as indicated through the handwriting. Kevin will be available for individual analyses afterward and throughout the weekend if you set it up with him.

FREE YOUR PASSION -- There is passion inside all of us waiting to get out. Participants will have a chance to experience getting in touch with deepest feelings and having a taste of release. Chip August and Leslie Levy are trainers with the Human Awareness Institute (HAI). They are co-founders of Relationship Effectiveness Institute. They lead workshops in love, intimacy, sex, couples communication, and passion.

NORTH BEACH WALKING TOUR -- Les Creelman has spent hours at the library researching the local history of North Beach during the Beatnik era. Put on your long legs and explore the nooks and crannies of this colorful neighborhood in an entertaining jaunt near the hotel. Meet in the Lobby at the foot of the escalator at 1pm for departure as a group. Your tour guide was a beatnik, man, so don your beret and be cool.

Noon -- CHEESECAKE will appear in Hospitality. (Pumpkin cheesecake? Maybe...)

1pm

POLAROID SCAVENGER HUNT -- Teams compete. Prizes awarded at the Sunday brunch for winning team members. Hunt is launched from Games Room (Pearl).

2pm

EXPRESSING GENIUS -- How to Create Brilliant Strategy by Transforming Issues into Innovation. Most organizations know why they must change. Most know what to change but few know how to change in a way that creates shared vision and releases limitations. Erik L. Austin, Founder of Strategic Convergence, will explore a new model of transformation in organizational consciousness that uses complex, volatile issues in developing group identity. His work in healthcare, high-tech and education sectors has been described as, 'original, valuable and timely', 'unique in the psychological sciences', 'among a select group of pioneers'. Erik will show how the four fundamental emotional needs of work relate to crisis in creating organizational identity. Ideal session for Mensans who want to lead organizational change processes in depth.

PICTIONARY -- With Les Creelman. This visual parlor game engages your creativity and your quick wit. Especially fun with a roomful of bright people.

DREAMS -- Behind the Veil. A logical look at the analogical world of dreams and prophecies... without dogma! Touches on the creative genius we have within us, the concepts behind those meaningful realizations and the practical use of foresight for our safety. Presented by Alan Harmony.

300pm CHOCOLATE will appear in Hospitality.

4pm

FLOWER ESSENCES are remarkable remedies for addressing deep soul issues, enabling easy and inspired transformation with areas of discontent in one's life. The mysteries of flower essences revealed, with Patricia E. Meyer, certified Flower/Gem Essence Consultant and Teacher who has been working with essences for 30 years. Hailing from Johannesburg, Patricia received her initial training from two of South Africaąs most renowned homeopathic doctors. She has since studied with flower essence pioneers from around the world and is now considered to be one of the foremost practitioners in the United States. She works with children diagnosed with ADD and ADHD, enabling them to safely eliminate the need for psycho-active medication like Ritalin. She is in private practice in San Mateo.

VISIONS OF MENSA -- Gather round the table and share your visions of an ideal Mensa with others who are interested in the possibilities that have yet to be tapped in this organization, so richly endowed as it is with bright people with good ideas. Darrell Bross and Sander Rubin will moderate, two long-time Mensans who have invested a lot of thought into what makes a great Mensa. Sander Rubin is a former American Mensa Chairman. He has a website devoted to his interests in Mensa. Check it out at www.dcn.davis.ca.us.

FINANCIAL PLANNING with Robert Berend. Robert will discuss tax-free income, retirement planning and his own outlook on the stock market over the next few years. Afterwards he will entertain all questions. Robert Berend has been a financial planner for 18 years. He's given over forty lectures to Mensas around the world. He's an attorney, registered investment advisor and stockbroker.

6-7pm DINNER

7-9pm STARQUAKES AND SERENDIPITY -- In March of this year, NASA launched the WIRE satellite, designed to observe distant galaxies at infrared wavelengths. Unfortunately, the main instrument failed within days of launch and the $72 million mission was declared a loss. Tonight we have as speaker the astrophysicist at UC Berkeley who had the unusual idea of using the 2" telescope used for the guidance system onboard WIRE as a scientific instrument, "saving" the mission for science. His idea to detect stellar oscillations ("starquakes") by precisely measuring tiny variations in stellar brightness allowed NASA to "scoop" the three asteroseismology missions destined to fly in the next five years from Canada, Denmark, and France, effectively giving the US a "first" in detecting multi-mode oscillations in stars other than the Sun. These oscillations can be used to probe the internal structure of stars, just as seismologists use earthquakes to learn about the structure of the Earth. Dr. Derek Buzasi will describe the process of turning his idea into reality, which involved scientists and engineers at several universities as well as at NASA. He will also show some early scientific results, including the first successful detection of multiple oscillations in red giant star.

FISHBOWL -- Adult-oriented sexually explicit discussion dealing with sex, relationships, dating and related topics. Moderated by Robert Berend.

9pm

ESPRESSO YOURSELF CAFE Open Mike Night -- Comedy writer (for a late night talk show) Rich Matthews will emcee Mensa's talent night fielding poets, musicians, comics, artists, & whatever, and in between entertaining us with his "news-based comedy stylings." We've invited some poets from the local poetry community as well. Be cool, man. Show your stuff.

11pm

ENCORE -- In the Games Room, players gather and divide into 2 teams. Then they take turns singing song lyrics that contain a given word or fit a given theme, until one team is stumped. It continues until one team reaches the "finish line" on the game board.

SUNDAY

10am-Noon BRUNCH and PRIZES presented to winners of all games. Volunteer raffle prizes awarded as well. Bethany Williams, Resident Games Maven, put her creativity into overdrive to come up with some cool prizes given the limited budget she had to work with!

1pm

DOLPHIN AND HUMAN EVOLUTION -- ED ELLSWORTH has worked with Dr. John C. Lilly and the Human/Dolphin Foundation's Project JANUS (Joint Analog Numerical Understanding System) from 1980 to 1985, doing computer and video work, and performing Communication and Visual Discrimination research with bottlenose dolphins. He is mentioned in the books "John Lilly So Far" and "The Scientist", and was featured as a dolphin communications expert in the Discovery Channel movie "For the Love of Dolphins." He is also known for his public education work as founder of The Dolphin Network.

Ed worked with National Marine Fisheries and the Marine Mammal Commission to create the first dolphin release permits (for the release of Joe and Rosalie, two Atlantic bottlenose dolphins). Ed will show slides and give a presentation about Dolphin and Human Evolution. He will cover many of the historic and mythic connections with dolphins and whales, and what we are learning from the dolphins about interdependence and about advances in interspecies communication.

SM 101 -- Jay Wiseman's book "SM 101" has become the standard-bearer of basic wisdom about SM practiced in a "safe, sane and consensual" manner, allowing responsible people to explore their dark sides and their limits in a productive life-enhancing way. Jay will cover the basic premises and principles of responsible SM, and will answer questions.

FisherMensa '99, Nov 26-28, San Francisco, CA

Bongo by the Bay Program Guide

Important Notes

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