First Timer's Guide to Minnesota Mensa's First Friday

When: The first Friday of every month. Check the calendar for changes.

Where: Fort Snelling Officers' Club

Directions:

Head toward the main entrance of the airport on Hwy 5.

Coming from St Paul, pass the airport exit and take the next one, Post Rd. Turn left onto Post road.

Coming from Bloomington, take the first exit from Hwy 5, Post Rd. Turn right onto Post road.

Post Rd will bend left. Just a few yards from there, turn left into the driveway. There may be a sign there, but it's very easy to miss in the dark. If you reach the entrance of Fort Snelling State Park, you’ve gone too far.

The Officers' Club is just off of Hwy 5 and all driving distances are very short. You won't get lost.

The driveway goes directly to the parking lot and the front door of the Officers' Club is obvious from there.

Once inside the building, go up the steps to the coat-check room on your right to hang up your coat. If someone is working there, it would be nice to leave a dollar. Then turn around and see if we’re in the room just across the hall. If you don’t see the table with the FF sign just inside the door, go down the steps to the lower floor. We’ll be in the room just to the left of the stairs.

Click here for a map.

Welcome to Minnesota Mensa's largest monthly gathering! This event is entirely open to the public. You don't need to be a Mensa member, or be invited by a Mensan, to attend. We strongly encourage members and prospective members alike to come out and sample the conversation and good times.

There is no structure, no speaker, and no food. The attire is casual. You can come and go whenever you want, sit or stand wherever you want, and talk with whomever you want. If you're a college student making macaroni and cheese with water instead of milk, don't worry, First Friday is cheap. Admission is $4 for members and $6 for all others, and the proceeds go toward the publishing costs of our newsletter, Mensagenda.

If you're a "first-timer," and aren't sure what to expect at a First Friday, this little guide may help.

Mensans get together at First Friday to talk about everything from Cars and Insurance to how much electricity it takes to run a LINUX cluster in your basement.

MOST IMPORTANT: Remember that each of us here, at one time or another, came as a first-timer. We remember what it was like, so we want to make it as easy and comfortable for you as we can.

Why are we here? We're here simply to enjoy each other's company and compare notes on things that interest us. Aside from sharing only a single common bond, that of the high IQ, we are as diverse in our personalities and interest as you will find anywhere. Oddly enough, we rarely talk about IQs. And deep, philosophical discussions on literature or physics don?t happen very often either. Mensans get together at First Friday to talk about everything from cars and insurance to how much electricity it takes to run a Linux cluster in your basement.

Any discussion taboos? There are none, except that we do try to avoid stepping too hard on each other's personal sensitivities. Otherwise, just about anything is fair game.

Keep in mind that this is not all there is to Mensa. First Friday is only one of many activities, and the flavor and atmosphere are remarkably different at each. Even some of our long-time members have never been to a First Friday, but they are often hip-deep in other areas of Mensa activity, and really enjoy it.

First Friday is just the tip of the iceberg, and this first glance can't possibly show you everything that we have going for us. We hope that you'll read the other materials you pick up, and take a look at our calendar on the bulletin board. If once isn't enough, come again the next month.

We think this is a great organization. If you'd like to find out why, join us.

Your new friends,
The members of Minnesota Mensa.