Man’s Struggle For Eternity
By George Stelle
October, 2004

Since the beginning of history man has endeavored to guarantee his eternal presence. From monuments like the Chinese lord who had a whole army built from clay patterned after the residents and military men and commanders of his age and buried them in military formations where they remained undisturbed for centuries. Or the pharaohs of Egypt who built pyramids which architecture the world still finds fascinating. Monuments are quite interesting and also quite numerous. South Dakota mountains, the city of Washington D.C., all attest to man’s love of monuments. I always loved the libraries built by Carnegie.

Then, of course, there were progeny. Man’s desire to have large families is prodigious, fostered by several religions. King Henry VIII kept trying for a son but there are other methods of enlarging the number of progeny. Multiple wives, favorable taxes, and outright subsidies are among the few methods of encouraging more supporters and whatever cause, whether family, religion, or government. Hitler tried to build a bigger army this way.

The third way to eternity (of those popular with the world) is building legacies. Some of us without scions, no likelihood of monuments, and unwilling to give up any chance of eternity, build legacies. Of course some have all three, monuments, progeny, and legacies. No use to even try to endeavor to list even a small sampling but now we get to the reason this is being written. The author has a legacy he wants to talk about.

Many years ago the author saw a small insert in the Readers Digest which pricked his imagination. Could he answer what seemed to be very easy questions? Yes, he could!! Could he qualify for an organization that recognized people who could answer questions like that? He did!! Thus began what became, in time, his legacy. No such thought had penetrated his mind at that time.

Beginning with an introduction through El Paso (served as vice president, asked to run for president subsequently) then moving to Indianapolis. Since our main place of meeting was on the east side he organized a west side meeting also. He was asked to run for President but moved again. This move was to Sierra Vista, a town of about 30,000 located next to Fort Huachuca in Arizona.

After getting settled he got out the directory and discovered two names resident in the town. He mailed a card inviting them to his home. The mother of one asked if I knew he was only age 13. I didn’t, but he was welcomed and the first meeting was a 70 plus member and a 13 year old and they got along so well in conversation that I was amazed.

We had our meeting and thus started building a new chapter. The challenge of building an organization with the necessary fifty members required for recognition became more daunting because the military kept moving my recruits away, but eighteen months later Borderline Mensa was recognized by the National Office!!!

The hope of growing into a chapter that would last and grow to win the coveted Class V Group Of The Year Award for the sixth consecutive year was way beyond this writer’s wildest dream. A Borderline approaches its twenty-fifth year it is being led by very capable people and is still growing. This is my legacy, a legacy of which I am very proud. It is a pride which I share with all the charter members and those who have joined since. Continue to grow and be proud of Borderline Mensa and its recognition by the National Office.




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