Helen Karnes, San Diego Mensa's former Gifted Children's Coordinator, writes a monthly column. Here are a few examples:

• December 2006 : "Causes of School Frustrations and the Way Around It All"
• November 2006 : For our Young Mensans
• September 2004 : "Attributes Of A Self-Actualized Person"
• August 2004 : "Gifted Children"

Guest columns :

• January 2007 : "Quotations on Wry"
• December 2006 : "Toying with Ideas"

American Mensa hosts an e-mail list for people interested in gifted children. See http://www.lists.us.mensa.org/mailman/listinfo/brightkids. It is an "open" list; that is, you don't have to be an official "Gifted Children's Coordinator" to join. So sign up!

Here are some recent messages from that list, to whet your appetite:

Enrollment deadlines for US University-Based Talent Search Programs.

Enrollment deadlines are imminent for the Talent Search programs offered for highly gifted young people by Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, Duke, and the University of Denver offer such programs.

Taking the tests through the Talent Searches gives families additional information about a child's math and verbal reasoning abilities, leads to recognition, and links gifted students to special programs that help them develop their special abilities.

Program, region, website, and application deadlines are below

• Program: Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY)

  For students in AK, AZ, CA, CT, DE, HI, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, OR, PA, RI, VA, VT, WA, WV, DC

  Website: www.cty.jhu.edu

  Application deadlines:

  • 7th and 8th graders: November 30

  • 5th and 6th graders: November 19

  • 2nd through 4th graders: no deadline, but test before February 15 for summer courses

  Online application at http://cty.jhu.edu/ts/registeronline.html

• Program: The Northwestern University Center for Talent Development (CTD)

  For students in: IL, IN, MI, SD, ND, OH, WI, and MN

  Website: http://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/

  Application deadlines (use online application only at this point) Jan 22 (SAT) & Feb 12 (ACT) 2005 registration has a deadline of Dec 10, 2004.

  • March 12 (SAT) & April 9 (ACT) 2005 registration has a deadline of Feb 2, 2005.

  • January 29, 2005 (EXPLORE) registration has a deadline of Jan 5, 2005.

  • February 26, 2005 (EXPLORE) registration has a deadline of Feb 2, 2005.

  Online application at https://wallstreet.itcs.northwestern.edu/CTD/register/MATSP00.asp

• Program: University of Denver Rocky Mountain Talent Search

  For students in CO, NV, NM, WY, ID, MT, and UT

  website: http://www.du.edu/education/ces/rmts.html

  Deadlines: (from the program director: "We hope most students will apply by 11/17 so they will be eligible for the summer program and awards ceremonies."