Mensa Indonesia is a group consisting of men and women from Indonesia and other countries with diverse profession and background who have scored in the top two percent of a professionally-supervised IQ tests, and have qualified for membership in the worldwide Mensa society. JOIN MENSABlogContact
The First Mensa Indonesia ExComm in 1991
October 1991 is the first Mensa Indonesia meeting in Jakarta. Mensa was chaired by Thomas Hanan Thoha and the other excomm until 2010.
Liliana Widyaningsih
MEnsa
Thomas Hanan Thoha
Chairman
Linda Yohana
Mensa
Sariputra Sumana
Mensa
Samsul Hadi
Ombudsman
It was sweet and lovely memories by our Founding Members of Mensa Indonesia.
Our emerging Mensa group in Indonesia was founded in 1990 by several mensan (members of Mensa International, British Mensa, American Mensa) in Indonesia, such as Paul Erickson, Sariputra Sumana, Thomas Hanan Thoha, Tut Sayogya, Cyanne Budiraharjo, etc) In March, 1991, Ed Vincent (Executive Director, Mensa International, Ltd) issued a letter authorising Paul Erickson, Sariputra Sumana and Thomas Hanan Thoha to study the possibilities of and prepare in establishing a national chapter. In June, 1991, the first IQ test was held at IPMI (an MBA school) in Jakarta spanning over 2 days. There were 396 people sat for the test and subsequently 176 people scored within the 2%. The test was supervised by Carole Rickard (Mensa International). October, 1991, the first Jakarta area meetings were held. We split Jakarta area into 5 sub groups, North, South, East, West and Central groups. Each group appointed their own spoke person and they organized their own at least three monthly meetings. After the first meeting, Mensa Indonesia was chaired by Thomas Hanan Thoha and other excomm (Liliana Widyaningsih, Sariputra Sumana, Samsul Hadi, and Linda Yohana), Jakarta, till 2010. November, 1992, the first Indonesian Mensa Journal (MInd) was issued under the editorialship of Tut Sayogya, a senior jurnalist in Indonesia, and her team (include Muhamad A. Martoprawiro, etc.).
In 1996, on July 14th, Sunday, the 2nd IQ test was held at LAN in Jakarta. There’re 290 people sat for the 2nd test and among of them there’re 127 scored within the 2%. The test was coordinated by Ferial Fahmi Kadir (Mensa Indonesia) and supervised by Godwin Zwanenburg (Mensa International). Also in 1996, The Constitution of Mensa Indonesia was listed at a law ofice in Jakarta establishing the existence of MENSA INDONESIA ASSOCIATION. Prior to this we always refer to ourselves as Mensa International IN Indonesia. The legal status was arranged by Samsul Hadi. 1997, among of 303 people (from 2 tests), there’re 245 members listed “in good standing” (paid their yearly dues up to date). 1999, at the end of the year, Mensa Indonesia welcomed Rossy Alexieva (Chair of Mensa Bulgaria) at Plaza Centris 5th Floor, Jakarta. The meeting was attended by a member (Sutikno Juwono) and excomm (Thomas Hanan Thoha and Sariputra Sumana)
In 2001, the 3rd test was held at Tarumanagara University in Jakarta without supervision from Mensa International. From 2001 till 2009 although there were no big activities (testing, publications, seminars, etc) we still had several small meetings among Mensa Indonesia or meeting with Mensans from other countries.
2006, on November, Mensa Indonesia welcomed Hasan Zuberi (Chairman of Mensa Pakistan) and his family at Sate Khas Senayan, Jakarta. The meeting was attended by several members (Sutikno Juwono, Sahat Simarmata, Wilson Nainggolan) and excomm (Thomas Hanan Thoha, Liliana Widyaningsih and Sariputra Sumana) In 2010, on May 21st, there was a little meeting related to reactivation of Mensa Indonesia. This meeting attended of excomm (Sariputra Sumana and Liliana Widyaningsih) and other members (Doni Soenarso, Riyanto Mashan, Bayu Prawira Hie, and Sahat Simarmata). They also agreed to reactivate the organization of Mensa Indonesia. In 2010, on June 18th, Friday night, there was a meeting related to coming of Cairman of Mensa Pakistan, Mr. Hasan Zuberi, and his family. This meeting was attended by Tom Thoha, Liliana Widyaningsih, Sariputra Sumana, Sahat Simarmata, and Evonne Jap. They also agreed to reactivate the organization of Mensa Indonesia and got supporting from Mr. Hasan Zuberi (Chairman Mensa Pakistan). In 2010, on July 14th, Wednesday, the 4th test was held at Binus University in Jakarta. There’re 58 people sat for the 4th test and among of them there’re 13 scored within the 2%. The test was coordinated by Sariputra Sumana (Mensa Indonesia). and supervised by Hasan Zuberi (Chairman Mensa Pakistan). All of the test work-papers was checked by Hasan Zuberi and the test result was distributed by Christine Cousins (Administration Manager, Mensa International). After the test, Hasan Zuberi (Chairman Mensa Pakistan) trained Thomas Hanan Thoha, Sariputra Sumana, and Sahat Simarmata as Mensa Proctors in Indonesia. After the training and confirmation by Mensa International, they (Thomas, Sariputra, and Sahat) can supervise a Mensa test in Indonesia. as Mensa Proctors. Also in 2010, on November 11th, Thursday, Mensa Indonesia and Intellectual Business Community held a seminar: Seminar “How to Balance IQ & EQ to be a Chosen Leader” at SCTV Studio, Senayan City 8 Floor, Jakarta. The seminar was attended more than 200 people and moderated by Bayu Prawira Hie, a mensan, member of Mensa Indonesia. Also in 2010, on November 27th, Saturday, the 5th test was held at Schneider Indonesia, Ventura Building, Jakarta. There’re 22 people sat for the 5th test and among of them there’re 12 scored within the 2%. The test was coordinated by Thomas Hanan Thoha (Chairman Mensa Indonesia) and supervised by Sahat Simarmata as a Mensa Proctor in Indonesia. All of the test work-papers was checked by Michael Feenan (Executive Director of Mensa International) and the test result was distributed by Christine Cousins (Administration Manager of Mensa International).
Mensa Indonesia Reborn in 2011
Sahat Simarmata
Chairman
In 2011, Mensa Indonesia is chaired by Sahat Simarmata and other excomm (Ferial Fahmi Kadir, Bayu Prawira Hie, Riyanto Mashan, Muhamad A. Martoprawiro, and Anne K. Adijuwono) and there is a licensed psychologist (Risma Silaban).
In 2011, Mensa Indonesia is chaired by Sahat Simarmata and other excomm (Ferial Fahmi Kadir, Bayu Prawira Hie, Riyanto Mashan, Muhamad A. Martoprawiro, and Anne K. Adijuwono) and there is a licensed psychologist (Risma Silaban). In 2011, on March 12th, Saturday, the 6th Mensa test in Indonesia. The test was held at Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Bandung. There’re 20 people sat for the 6th test and among of them there’re 16 scored within the 2%. The test was coordinated by Thomas Hanan Thoha and supervised by Sahat Simarmata as a Mensa Proctor in Indonesia. All of the test work-papers was checked by Michael Feenan (Executive Director of Mensa International) and the test result was distributed by Christine Cousins (Administration Manager of Mensa International). From six times Mensa Test in Indonesia, Mensa Indonesia registered members are 346 (include 2 guest members). In 2011, April 30th, only 67 members in good standing, paid the annual membership fee. They are young and old, short and tall. Some are in high school; some have Ph.D.’s; some are retired. Members come from all ethnic groups, all nationalities, and all religions and faiths. Because the only requirement for membership in Mensa is an IQ score in the top two percent.
The early days of Mensa Indonesia was led by an Engineer, the one who built the foundation. The story was continued by an Accountant, the one who raised strong organization pillars. Mensa Indonesia today is led by a Marketeer, the one who develop the community growth!
Mensa is an international high IQ society. Its only qualification for membership is a score in the top 2% of the general population on a standardized intelligence test. Mensa was founded in England in 1946 by Roland Berrill, a barrister, and Dr. Lance Ware, a scientist and lawyer. They had the idea of forming a society for bright people, the only qualification for membership of which was a high IQ. The original aims were, as they are today, to create a society that is non-political and free from all racial or religious distinctions. The society welcomes people from every walk of life whose IQ is in the top 2% of the population, with the objective of enjoying each other’s company and participating in a wide range of social and cultural activities.
Mensa has three stated purposes: to identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity, to encourage research in the nature, characteristics and uses of intelligence, and to promote stimulating intellectual and social opportunities for its members. “Mensa” comes from Latin, and has triple meanings : mind, table, month, implying a monthly meeting of great minds around a table. The name stands for a round-table society, where race, color, creed, national origin, age, politics, educational or social background are irrelevant.
Mensa takes no stand on politics, religion or social issues. Mensa has members from so many different countries and cultures with differing points of view, that for Mensa to espouse a particular point of view would go against its role as a forum for all points of view. Of course, individual Mensa members often have strong opinions–and several of them. It is said that in a room with 12 Mensans you will find at least 13 differing opinions on any given subject! Mensans have ranged in age from 2 to more than 100, but most are between 20 and 60. In education they range from preschoolers to high school dropouts to people with multiple doctorates. There are Mensans on welfare and Mensans who are millionaires. As far as occupations, the range is staggering. Mensa has professors and truck drivers, scientists and firefighters, computer programmers and farmers, artists, military people, musicians, laborers, police officers, glassblowers–the diverse list goes on and on. There are famous Mensans and prize-winning Mensans, but there are many whose names you wouldn’t know
