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So who is this Clark Jones guy anyway?
This is intended to be a quick profile of Clark Jones, who is the Regional Vice Chairman for the Far West Region for the July, 2007 through June, 2009 term. Clark Jones is 53 (at the beginning of his term in 2007). He worked for 23 years with an official title of "Software Engineer", though his responsibilities included a fair amount of electronics, and also some management roles. Twenty one of those years were working for a division of Schlumberger, Ltd. His specialty was writing highly specialized compilers for testers for computer chips. He "retired" from this work in 2003. Clark currently resides in Gilbert, Arizona, which is a suburb on the east side of Phoenix. He has lived in Gilbert since 1996, and in the Phoenix area since 1984. He is single (divorced), and has no children. He graduated in 1980 from the University of New Mexico, with a B.S. in "Computing and Information Science", a degree that today would be called "Software Engineering".	. 834 N. Constellation Way Gilbert, AZ 85234 480-641-7801
How long has he been in Mensa? Clark first joined Mensa in 1981, while living in the Dallas, Texas area (North Texas Mensa). He then moved to the "Silicon Valley" area of California in 1982, becoming a member of San Francisco Regional Mensa. In 1984, he moved to the Phoenix area, becoming a member of Greater Phoenix Mensa.
How active is he in Mensa? Clark actually attended his first Mensa event prior to joining, and quickly became one of the more active members. While in NTM, he would often attend two or three events each week. During his stay in California, he would attend several Mensa events per month. He was a "regular" at a weekly lunch group that met a few blocks from his office, and would often drive an hour or more (sometimes carpooling) to other events in the region. It was at this time when he attended his first Regional Gathering, returning to Dallas to renew old acquaintenaces, and also his first Annual Gathering, which happened to be in Phoenix. Clark's visit to Phoenix for the 1983 Annual Gathering led to his requesting a transfer to his company's Phoenix office. Unfortunately, it took over a year to get the transfer. Clark quickly became active in Phoenix, including hosting parties in his apartment. When he found an article reprinted in the GPM newsletter offensive, he decided to take direct action and started writing a monthly column. He also served one term as "Member at Large" on the GPM ExCom. During his first decade in Phoenix he was a regular at many events, including the paste-up parties (getting the newsletter ready for the printer -- back before using PCs to do it was common), as well as "Fold, Staple, and Mutilate" (preparing the newsletter for mailing). He participated in the organizing of several RGs in the Phoenix area, including serving as Registraar for two years. He attended many other events, and hosted a few. In the late 1990s, Clark was less active, as his elderly father was living with him, though he still participated in a few events. After his father passed away in 1999, Clark again became very active in Mensa. Since 2000, Clark has been "Member At Large" on the ExCom for two terms, ran unsuccessfully for LocSec, been the "monthly party organizer" for a year, and organized the monthly lectures for about a year.
What else is he involved in? Clark has a variety of interests outside of Mensa. Some of them include: World Travel - since Jan. 1, 2000, he's been to Australia four times, Europe twice, the Carribean, and several places in the U.S. Photography Amateur Radio Clark serves on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Repeater Association, which, amongst other things, helps with "behind-the-scenes" things for the fund-raising events for various charities. MARCA Amateur Radio Club Clark also serves as a representative of each of the above two organizations to the Amateur Radio Council of Arizona Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers Target shooting, especially muzzle loaders. He's a member of the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association. Alternative energy (he has a 3120 watt utility inter-tie solar electric system at his home, generating 35 to 40% of his electrical energy needs)
Anything else important to know? Clark is physically handicapped, though you might not notice at a brief glance. He has osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as "brittle bone disease". (Yes, this is the disease that the "villain" had in the movie Unbreakable.) Between the ages of 2 and 15 he had some 45 broken legs, and could not walk until age 15. Since about age 20, his fractures have been limited to a few broken ribs and three broken wrists. Currently, he uses a cane for extended walking, especially outdoors, will make use of wheelchair service in airports, and uses electric scooters to get around Annual Gatherings and very large stores. He is limited to how much he can lift, and finds it painful to stand very long.
How can I contact Clark? If you need to get in touch with me, please feel free to do so. E-mail is generally best, but snail mail or telephone will work too. (If you get my answering machine, please leave a message and I'll call you back.) . 834 N. Constellation Way Gilbert, AZ 85234 480-641-7801

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