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Brain Storm!
BeaveRG-XII
May 1 - 3, 2009
Mt. Hood over Portland
Flower Cart Downtown
MAX and the Convention Center
Portland's
Japanese Garden
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What Is An RG You Say?
A Regional Gathering is an event sponsored by a Mensa local group. The RG is open to all Mensans and their guests. It usually spans a weekend, Friday to Sunday.
Some are large and elaborate, some are small and informal, but all give you the opportunity to meet people, see new places, hear amazing speakers, play games, and otherwise stimulate your uncommon mind.
For more information on what to expect at an RG,
click here. (Takes you to the American Mensa website. Login required)
The Hotel
We are very excited to return to the Red Lion at the Quay in Vancouver, WA, across the river from Portland, OR. This will be the fifth time the RG has been held at this popular location. The action takes place on the main floor, so you can easily switch between the Game Room, Hospitality, speakers and other events.
Details about the hotel can be found from a link in the RG menu at left.
Registration
The current registration rate is $90 for adults, $40 for those 18 and under when accompanied by a paying adult.
Send payment and registration form to:
Stephen Darnell
3011 NW 23rd Ave.
Camas, WA 98607-8094.
Speakers and Programs
There will be three tracks of programs during the RG, including one 'active' track, with topics ranging from Sleep and the Brain to Juggling. We are also offering some extras such as a Storytelling Workshop, Yoga, and a variety of social games and activities. More details about what's in store can be found on the Programs page.
Details about Speakers and Programs can be found from a link in the RG menu at left.
Scholarship Auctions
There will be both a silent and a live auction, with many wonderful donated items to bid on, and a $1 book sale, with hundreds of excellent books. Proceeds from the auction benefit the Oregon Mensa scholarship fund. This is always a fun event, for bidders and spectators alike. The silent auction and book sale will take place during the day on Saturday; the live auction follows dinner on Saturday night. We are also planning on a raffle, and other entertaining fundraisers.
If you would like to make a donation to the auctions or the book sale, please contact Auction Chair Diana Maul.
Friday Tour
Tour participants will spend Friday afternoon at Bullseye Glass. If you're interested in joining the group, please be aware that we are now taking names for a wait list. Contact Steve Darnell for current information on the tour.
Game Room
No gathering would be complete without the Game Room! Join in a round of Quiddler, puzzle over a jigsaw puzzle, or amuse yourself watching the drama unfold as Scrabble dictionaries are consulted. Bring your favorite game, or play one of ours, including several past MindGames entries.
Several tournaments will be held in the game room. Possible games include Spades, Hearts, Pinochle, Boggle, Backgammon, Bunco, Quiddler, and Trivia. Check the Games page for rules and other information.
Teen Room
The teen room is a great place for those aged 12-18 to hang out. Video games, board games, puzzles, movies and more will be available. Teens are welcome to join in the regular RG programming, in addition to Teens-Only activities.
Hospitality
The Hospitality room is the heart of any Mensa gathering, where attendees can eat, drink and relax with each other. Our primary Hospitality space will be a large ground-floor room overlooking the Columbia River.
New this year will be an additional Hospitality suite that we'll use as a serving room. Snacks and beverages will be available there throughout most of the RG and more substantial foods will be available for dinner on Friday and for breakfast and lunch on Saturday.
For more information including hours of operation and special events, click here.
Attendees who volunteer to help in Hospitality will be given "BeaveRG Bucks" as a small thank-you, which can be applied toward purchases in our scholarship auctions/sales. A sign-up sheet will be posted in the Hospitality serving suite that will indicate when help will be needed. In addition, the volunteer who works the most hours (must exceed 4 hours) will win a bottle of RG Co-Chair Mike Yamrick's award-winning wine, a bottle of which sold for $55 in last year's scholarship auction! If anyone is willing to sign up for volunteer slots in advance, please contact Hospitality Chair Laurie Yadon (lyadon@spiritone.com) -- especially if you can help with unloading supplies and setting up Hospitality starting at noon on Friday.
Thanks in advance to anyone who volunteers to help with Hospitality during the RG!
CONTACTS:
RG Chair: Laura Kruss
RG Chair: Michael S. Yamrick
Registration: Stephen Darnell
Program Chair: Ruth Parvin
Hospitality: Laurie Yadon
Auction Chair: Diana Maul
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