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Arlington, Texas - May 15, 2000 - American Mensa, The High IQ Society, showed near-record growth last year, and its leaders credit that to wider societal acceptance that smart is good.
At the end of its 1999-2000 membership year, American Mensa, Ltd., announced a growth rate of 5.7% - its highest since 1983. This latest boost brings the organization's total membership to more than 47,000 individuals and contributes to Mensa's steady rise in membership after experiencing declining ranks in the mid 1990s.
American Mensa, with national headquarters in Arlington, Texas, is a social, not-for-profit organization for which the only membership requirement is a score in the top 2% on a supervised, standardized intelligence test. The organization includes 139 local chapters across the country and the Mensa Education and Research Foundation, which supports research into intelligence and awards more than $35,000 in college scholarships each year.
I think that Mensa is doing a good job of breaking down the stereotypes, said American Mensa Executive Director Pamela Donahoo, CAE. We see more and more stories in the media about Mensa that stress the varied personalities and occupations among the membership and the fact that there isn't a 'typical' Mensan.
Donahoo also said there seems to be a trend that smart is cool. She noted that the success of television quiz shows and movies like Good Will Hunting have been a positive influence on society regarding giftedness and intelligence.
Donahoo credits a big part of Mensa's membership boost from increased awareness and participation in its annual National Testing Day.
Last November, 110 local chapters administered the Mensa Admissions Test to more than 1,600 people on one day, she said. Through this same publicity, many people find that we accept scores on tests they have already taken and choose to join that way. For many, the idea of digging up old test scores is more appealing than taking another test.
New members have joined Mensa at the rate of about 350 members per month since last April. However, they bring more than just warm bodies to the organization; they also seem to be changing the face of Mensa. Nearly half of the new Mensans are between the ages of 14 and 33. Traditionally, about half of Mensa's overall membership have been Baby Boomers - ages 34 to 53.
Donahoo cites American Mensa's presence on the Internet for the increase in younger members.
We get most of our membership inquiries through our Web site, where prospective members can easily find out if they qualify for membership with a score on a test they've already taken. They can also find out about how to take the Mensa test in their area, she said.
Not only did Mensa have more members who are new to the organization, but they also saw an increase in reinstating members - those who were renewing their membership after a lapse of more than a year.
Members are finding relevancy in Mensa and appreciate Mensa contributing to society, said Bob Beatty of Hilliard, Ohio, chairman of American Mensa.
Beatty noted that many members enjoy the opportunities Mensa provides to help gifted children and their parents, support literacy projects, provide books to schools and libraries, judge science fairs and writing contests, and support public television and radio fund drives.
Mensa has three purposes as outlined in its constitution. They are:
 | to identify and foster human intelligence;
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| to encourage research into the nature, characteristics and uses of intelligence and;
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| to provide a stimulating intellectual and social environment for its members. |
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