Programme Saturday 2nd August 2008
Discovery trip to MinD-College-Network "MHN"
(MHN, D)
Playfully we go on a discovery trip to MHN - the network for highly intelligent people in respect of studies at Mensa.
Participate - connect - discover: That's at the centre of it. More than 1000 members will contribute ideas to
workshops and seminars: To learn Japanese or Italian as well as project management or climbing.
During the EMAG we want to make international contacts to further our SpeakNet and mentor programme internationally.
Who is interested in helping us - or just curious enough to find out what hasn't been mentioned here.
The MinD-Hochschul-Netzwerk (Mind-University-Network) is a project of Mensa, where students, postgraduates and the
young employed are connected to discuss, share experiences and widen their horizon. We try to reach inquisitive
and motivated young people, who are interested in creative debates concerning all aspects of academic disciplines.
We are interested in foreign languages and international exchanges, e.g. in SpeakNet and TravelNet or during weekend
seminars and workshops.
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The role of the Supreme Court in a free Society
(Glen Odgaard, DK)
Since Montesquieu wrote the famous book “The Spirit of the Laws” in 1748 stating that government should
be separated in the legislative, the executive and judicial branch the term “separation of powers” has
been interpreted very differently in the countries based on these principles.
Some countries have a Constitutional Court, with the purpose to secure that the legislative and executive branches
does not extend its powers. This is the case in Germany and many of the new democracies in Central- and Eastern Europe.
In other countries like Denmark and the United States that role is left for the Supreme Court.
That raises the question: Should a Supreme Court in a free and democratic society have the power to review laws at all,
and if so when?
Glen Odgaard holds a master degree in law from Copenhagen University specialising in legal history and theory.
The master thesis was about whether the US Supreme Court has extended its powers beyond what the framers intended.
Currently he works at the Danish Pilotage Authority and lectures at the private CEPOS University in Copenhagen while
preparing a subject for a ph.d.- thesis.
Glen has been a member of Mensa Denmark since 1992 and has seen hold different positions.
He was ombudsman from 2000 to 2005 where he among other things made the bylaws of Mensa Denmark.
In 2006-07 he chaired the Mensa International Election Committee.
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ITligent Infoflow
(Andreas Weinberger, D)
A combination of intelligence, information and technology helps in dealing with information overflow.
A optimized methodology prepares information for consumption in an individualized way.
Teams can enhance their flow of information by using the right tools and a customized way of working with them.
A overview about tools (ticketing systems, wikis, Gmail, MS Outlook, blogs, newsfeeds and -readers, MindManager,
instant messengers) and a demonstration of these methods will be an incentive to think about optimizing ones
personal information flow.
Andreas Weinberger is a Bavarian living in exile in Konz (Rhineland-Palatinate) and working as Head of IT Service
at LBBW in Luxembourg. Since 16 years he deals with IT in banks and he knows what huge unused potential lies there.
He joined Mensa in 1997 and is one of the two founders of Mensa International Business ISIG.
He coordinates the roundtable in Luxembourg and the monthly meeting in Trier.
He is online at www.andreasweinberger.de
and www.itligenz.de.
Photo: Andreas Weinberger
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Think you very much!
(Jenny Åkerman, SE)
During approx. 60 minutes I will talk about how we think, what happens with habits, good or bad. And you are going to learn how your memory works. I will give you the code of memorizing! So, look forward to an easy, cheerful and useful seminar!
Jenny Akerman from Sweden has written three books with co-writer Gabriella Wejlid. The techniques in the books are easy and fun to do. Jenny originally is a music and voice teacher. She is also the Vice Chair of Mensa Sweden.
Photo: Jenny Åkerman
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Arts meet Music: Pictures at an Exhibition
(Daria-Maret Geller, D)
Are you creative? Do you like music? Then this workshop will be perfect for you.
The composer Modest Mussorgsky visited an arts-exhibition of his friend Viktor Hartmann.
That inspired him to compose a series of short pieces,that became his most popular work.
We will listen to the music of course. But first you will do your own artwork.
In groups of about four people you will draw a picture to one of the titles and then you will “compose“
a piece of music for it that you will present in front of the other participants.
If you play an instrument, it would be great if you could bring it with you, but I will have a lot of stuff with me,
so that everybody can join in. You don't need any musical knowledge.
Daria-Maret Geller, 33 years old, lives in Wennigsen (Deister), teaches Music, Maths and English at a
comprehensive school. Studying to get a Master in Musikvermittlung at Hochschule für Musik Detmold.
Active for MensaKids in the region Hannover / Braunschweig.
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Mensa - Organisation, Meetings and You! - Experiences of obtaining Member Participation
(Martyn Davies, GB)
Martyn Davies has been a member of British Mensa since 1987. Having spent 16 years as a LocSec and 6 years as
a member (5 as Chairman) of the Procedures Body, in 1998 Martyn joined the British Mensa Board and became
Committee Secretary and used his external commercial skills in assisting British Mensa in totally revamping
and updating all its processes and procedures to bring them inline with current Business practices.
On leaving the Board Martyn has been twice on the International Election Committee, as Chairman in 2001
and again on the 2005 committee and has since returning to his home town in the English West Midlands has
been Meetings Co-ordinator, Regional Newsletter Editor and is currently Regional Officer responsible for just
under 2000 members in that region. Martyn is also a guest member of Mensa in Deutschland having lived in Koeln
for a number of years. Professionally, Martyn runs his own Telecommunications Consultancy Business which permits
him to travel to many places and he has attended meetings not only in UK and Germany but also in Switzerland, Spain,
France, New Zealand, Hong Kong and USA. He looks forward to adding to that list over the coming years.
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IQ is not EQ
(Francois A. Aubert, CH)
Francois is a relatively new Mensan. Actually he discovered he was one when he was 32...
He eventually became a volunteer for Mensa Switzerland and then, things turned weird :-)
and he was elected chairman of the board, a position he is still in.
In parallel, Francois participated in the creation of the biggest Mensa e-community,
Mensa Business International ISIG, where more than 2000 Mensans from 40 countries are interacting.
Sometimes, Francois is doing other stuff .-9, like having a busy professional life as a consultant,
a trainer and a business coach
(www.linkedin.com/in/professional for the details)
or enjoying time with his family.
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Dancing Class I – Getting ready for the formal dinner-dance
(Peter Heide, D)
Dancing is body motion related to music - in ideal case neither checking the neighbour nor leaving the partner.
Therefore we will develop some common understandings, what by simple minds is called 'learning dancing steps'.
But menseans are alwas interested on things behind the scene - so we will not only talk about what we do,
but also about why. This should prepare you to have fun - not only at the event at the following evening ...
Peter Heide: If you expect a profile at this place - I have nothing impressive to show like european or world
champion titles like some of my coaches have. So, if you want to find out more, just come and enjoy the lesson ...
Hard facts: Mensean since 1988, doing from 1989 to now several voluntary services from press relations officer
to commissioner for Job-Net, inspired to dance at Mensas 2002 New Years Eve and driving it further like an
unleashed snowball ...
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Getting the Most out of SIGHT
(Richard D. Kingston, GB)
Mensa's own Service of Information, Guidance, and Hospitality to Travellers (SIGHT) brings together Mensa hosts and travellers
with the assistance and guidance of SIGHT officers. Indeed, it is fair to say that SIGHT is probably the main mechanism for
connecting Mensa members internationally.
SIGHT does not receive a great deal of publicity as information on the service only appears within the Members' Area
of www.mensa.org.
I was therefore not altogether surprised when meeting SIGHT officers and Mensa members from all over the world that many members
are not aware of the programme and, moreover, that many of those who are aware tell me that they are shy to try it out.
Rather than a presentation on how SIGHT works I will be talking about how to get the most out of SIGHT.
Richard D. Kingston is a DIM based in Cyprus. He is a member of Mensa for over 30 years now,
and was the founder and first SIGSec of the TravelSIG.
At present, Richard is SIGHT Coordinator for Cyprus and International SIGHT Coordinator.
He live in the hills of Cyprus and travels widely.
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Travel the World with Mensa
(Barry Needoff, GB)
I am delighted to introduce TravelSIG to members of delegates to this year's European Mensa Annual Gathering.
TravelSIG, Mensa's international SIG for travel, aims to promote travel and foster contact amongst Mensans worldwide.
Come and join us for this presentation which will show how we communicate the experiences, opinions and enthusiasms of your fellow Mensans for world-wide travel. Collect your copy of our award-winning newsletter and discover how people like you have escaped polar bears, eluded muggers and discovered what Mongolians smuggle on the Trans-Siberian Express.
For more information about the SIG see www.travelsig.co.uk.
Barry Needoff has been a member of TravelSIG since 1990 and became SIGSec in 1994. During this time the membership has grown significantly and now welcomes Mensans internationally. Jointly with newsletter editor Neil Matthews, Barry co-edited and published “Travels With Mensans”, a collection of Mensan travel writing, in 2007.
Barry lives in London, is a project manager, and works in travel industry information technology.
Photo: Barry Needoff
Look at your world anew through the eyes of fellow Mensans in Travels with Mensans,
a unique travel anthology.
Travels with Mensans brings together the experiences of over 40 members from the
Travel Special Interest Group of British Mensa, who have travelled through Europe,
Asia, Africa, the Middle East, America and points in between.
They've met the Slovenian Beer Woman, taken part in a bus race with a difference,
stared down the barrel of a schoolchild's gun and done much else besides.
Every emotion - joy, surprise, nostalgia, bafflement, anger, the sheer wonder of
what we find when we travel - is here in this evocative travel writing collection.
Travels with Mensans is on sale now
at www.lulu.com/content/608480.
Net proceeds from the sale of this book go to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF),
an international charity which provides assistance to populations in distress and to
victims of natural or manmade disasters or armed conflict.
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Insolvent and nevertheless successful
(Anne Koark, GB)
A pleading for a second chance and for courage never to capitulate. Anne Koark is also of the opinion that the way
we deal with failure and our own personal value as a human being (apart from money) are topics which we should be
teaching at school and at institutions for further education.
Anne Koark is British has been living in Germany for nearly 21 years.
In 1999 she founded her own business called “Trust in Business”, which assisted international companies coming onto
the German market with services such as relocation, accounting, salary processing, making economic contacts, PR,
marketing, event management, intercultural training and business centre services.
With this company she won a prize for Entrepreneurs which was awarded for the German speaking area by the
Internet magazine Breakeven.de. Anne Koark wrote a book about her experiences with insolvency and also founded
a non-profit organization called B.I.G: = Bleib im Geschäft e.V. (BIG = Stay in Business ) which has the slogan
“Think BIG” to support entrepreneurs experiencing difficulties with their companies.
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Dancing class II – Perfecting your style
(Peter Heide, D)
Her duty is, to look pretty. His duty is, to make her looking pretty. With regard to this target,
we will talk about some little changes to gain big effords - just thinking about that menseans are working always
with their mind - before we start some exercises to let it flow from the brain into the body.
Nearly so precise as written by Aley Moore, but no so droughty like reading his book.
So you will be well prepard for the dinner-dance ...
Peter Heide: If you expect a profile at this place - I have nothing impressive to show like european or world champion
titles like some of my coaches have. So, if you want to find out more, just come and enjoy the lesson ...
Hard facts: Mensean since 1988, doing from 1989 to now several voluntary services from press relations officer
to commissioner for Job-Net, inspired to dance at Mensas 2002 New Years Eve and driving it further like an unleashed
snowball ...
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European IQ Challenge - Finals (John Doktor, DK)
So you were able to successfully pass an IQ test and prove yourself as belonging in the top 2% range.
How about upping the ante a bit then? The European IQ Challenge brings Mensans from all over Europe together - to find
out just what country truly belongs on the IQ throne. Every European country represented on EMAG is encouraged to present their three
quickest brains for this IQ-test battle.
The concept was used last year for the Scandinavian IQ Challenge with great success, and now we're re-introducing it on an even grander scale.
Note that this event has been divided into two sessions; the preliminary round on Friday and the grand finale on Saturday.
See you on the IQ battlefield!
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Guided Tour of the WDR Radio and TV Studios
The WDR (Westdeutscher Rundfunk, the public broadcasting company for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia)
offers five radio channels as well as a TV channel, "WDR Fernsehen",
to an audience of 18 million in North Rhine-Westphalia, plus millions more who receive the WDR
programs nationwide via DVB-T, satellite or cable.
On this guided tour around the WDR studios, you'll find out what's behind the voices and sounds
you hear on the radio. Who are the specialists working on a show? How does a broadcasting studio work?
How is a program compiled? If possible at the time of the tour, you'll also get a look behind the
curtains of current productions.
Photo: Birgit Schmitz
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A guided tour through the Museum of the City of Cologne
Since 1958, the Cologne City Museum is situated in the restored historical armoury. On app. 2,000 square meters, the museum shows exhibits about the history, economy, and everyday life of Cologne and its citizens, starting in medieval and going on to present times. Doing a circuit of the museum, you will first be introduced to Cologne-typical phenomena like Kölsch, carnival, Eau de Cologne as well as the Otto-motor (which was invented in Cologne) and Ford. Following that, on the ground floor the exhibition focuses on the political history of Cologne starting in the late medieval times and going to the post-world-war-II period. On the upper floor the permanent display gives information on various themes like religion, intellectual developments, science, Cologne?s bourgeoisie, home décor, economy, and traffic. The main focus lies on the times around 1600 AC and 1900 AC.
Photo: Frank Spakowski
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Guided Tour of the „Lindenstraße“ Set
In addition to its own program, the WDR (Westdeutscher Rundfunk, the public broadcasting company for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia) contribute approximately ¼ of the ARD’s (an association of German public brodcating companies) entire TV program. Their best known production is the weekly series
“Lindenstraße”. It’s been on the air since 1985 and reaches an average audience of 4.7 million (20% market share).
On this tour you get to walk the Lindenstraße’s 150m outdoor set. Furthermore, the tour includes the workshops (scene painting shop, carpentry, ironing shop). You also get to see the studios, provided there’s no ongoing filming at the time.
Photo: WDR
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Magic Media Tour through the MMC televisionstudios
Magic Media Company (MMC) means Europe's greatest and most modern media land for TV-, movie-, music-
and event-projects. 34 studios with a total floor area of 39.000 m² provide space for TV-productions
of all kinds. Known Productions like "Genial daneben", "Nur die Liebe zählt", "Big Brother" or
"Deutschland sucht den Superstar" are produced on a daily basis.
Under the slogan "Experience the colourful world of TV at close range" you can have a look behind the scenes.
What does the equipment look like in a TV studio?
Who are the persons behind the scenes? What is a "Blue Box"?
What happens during commercial breaks? What is it with the audience rating?
These are only some of the questions you get answers to, during the visit.
Photo: MMC GmbH
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Guided Tour of Augustusburg Castle
Augustusburg castle is considered one of Germany’s earliest significant buildings
– and a masterpiece – of the rococo era. Until its completion in 1768, artists renowned all over Europe worked here. One of them was Balthasar Neumann, who conceived the magnificent staircase design.
The synthesis of architecture, sculpture, painting, and landscape gardening brought forth a high-ranked gesamtkunstwerk of German rococo. In 1984, Augustusburg castle, along with its gardens and Falkenlust castle, was recognized as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.
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The Cologne Cathedral – Guided tour through the treasure chamber
Since early the 9th century, a precious treasury of the church was attested at the Cologne Cathedral. This hasn’t changed since. Starting autumn 2000, it has been on presentation in the restored historic cellars of the 13th century on the northern side of the cathedral. These rooms alone would make a visit worthwhile, as it is here that remains of the Roman city wall, columns from the church preceding the cathedral and modern architecture meet in one place. On an area of app. 500 square meters, precious reliquaries, gowns and insignias of former arch bishops, medieval sculptures, and Frankish grave finds are exhibited among other things. Amid the most important pieces of the treasury are the
“Petrusstab” and the “Petrusketten”.
Photo: Birgit Schmitz
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Fancy Dress Shopping
The gala dinner will be held in a typical Cologne style, meaning that we will combine the ballroom feeling of a formal gala dinner
with the atmosphere of the Cologne carneval.
We would be absolutely thrilled if lots of you would turn up in a fancy dress instead of in ball gowns and smokings to celebrate in style.
For all, who can't bring their costumes with them, we will go twice, on Friday and on Saturday afternoon to a big fancy dress
supplier not far away from the hotel.
For sure you will find something appropriate here, either a complete fancy dress or just some funny (carnival) accessories to pimp up your ball gown.
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Guided tour through the museum of chocolate
Here you'll learn everything about the long journey from cocoa bean to finished chocolate. The tour begins with a documentary on farming and harvesting cocoa. How raw cocoa, which can be tasted here, becomes tasty chocolate can be seen at our facility. From cult drink of the Maya and Aztecs to a luxury drink for everyone. The “treasure room” of the museum provides you with all you want to know.
Enjoy an expedition through 3,000 years of chocolate history.
Photo: Schokoladenmuseum Köln
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Guided city tour of another kind: Medieval Spectacle Tour
On this tour, the dressed up “Luitpold the Musicus” will whisk you into the medieval ages. While making music, he will also guide you along the pathways of medieval Cologne and even show you his skills in jugglery and magic. You will go corselete hunting and follow into the footsteps of the saint Albertus Magnus. Take the chance to be a hero, when it is time to strike down the archiepiscopal lion, or to conserve the freedom of holy Cologne. With Luitpold the Musicus, you will experience breathtaking magic and be a witness to true medieval love. Allow yourself to be swept away and be a part of history.
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Formal dinner
At the formal dinner we offer you a very colourful evening in the typical Cologne style, inspired by the “Fifth Season of Cologne”,
the traditional Karneval (Carnival).
We will give our guests an insight into the cheerful nature and lifestyle of Cologne and will combine the ballroom feeling of a formal gala dinner
with the atmosphere of the Cologne carneval. The San Marino Dance band will play a mix of famous carnival smash hits and ballroom dance,
so that you can either "schunkeln" (sway left and right with linked arms) or waltz.
Typical local food like Hämchen (boiled porc knuckle), ox meat or Halven Hahn (a cheese roll!) will help to get you in the local feeling!
There is no obligation to wear a fancy dress, but nevertheless we would be absolutely thrilled if lots of you would turn up in a fancy dress
instead of in ball gowns and smokings to celebrate in style. For all, who can't bring their costumes with them, we will go twice,
on Friday and on Saturday afternoon
to a big fancy dress supplier not far away from the hotel.
For sure you will find something appropriate here, either a complete fancy dress or just some funny (carnival) accessories to pimp up your ball gown.
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International IQ-Test for those whose mother tongue is not German
We offer an inexpensive, language free Group-IQ-Test to determine your intelligence quotient.
It will take place on Saturday, 2nd August at 10:00 o'clock in the Senatshotel (Unter Goldschmied 9-17, 50667 Köln) in the Bel'Etage room.
The fee is 49 Euro. Registration via website www.mensa.de (https://mind.laterne.de/edetail?mpn=&eid=394806700002) not later than 31st Juli 2008.
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