Host a CAM Event

It’s easy to host an event for your fellow Mensans and get the word out. Of course, you have to figure out what, where, and when. You’ll also have to decide if it’s going to be a virtual or in-person event. If virtual, do you want to take advantage of the CAM Discord server? Do you want people to RSVP and by when? Is there are a maximum number of attendees. Our Submissions page provides a good checklist about the information you may wish to consider when planning your event. Once you’ve figured all that out, CAM will help you promote your event on this website, in ChiMe (with enough lead time), and on Chicago Mensa Meetup.

GOBS Trust Funds

If you plan to take advantage of GOBS Funds to subsidize the cost of your event, you will be required to

1. submit the online application for GOBS funds prior to a CAM Business Meeting preceding the earliest ChiMe deadline for your event (article must be submitted to the Editor  a month earlier than the event info to the Activities Editor when your event’s RSVP deadline occurs during the month prior to the month in which your event occurs),
2. submit details of your event to our Activities Editor early enough so it can be listed in the issue of the ChiMe newsletter corresponding to the month of your event and, if the RSVP deadline is in the prior month, an article to appear in the same month as your RSVP deadline to our Editor ,
3. hold your event and save all receipts, and
4. submit an expense reimbursement form after the event, including the receipt(s) for the approved GOBS funds request.

An article about the event is encouraged (required if RSVP deadline month precedes event month) which should be submitted to our Editor  (see the Submissions page for guidelines), especially since the description of a GOBS-subsidized event is usually lengthy. At this point, your event must take place in June or later to get published in the appropriate issue of ChiMe, and you must submit a CAM Event Form or send an e-mail directly to the activities editor before the submission deadline (the deadline for the June issue is in 16 days). As long as you submitted your event info prior to the issue’s submission deadline, you will have satisfied this requirement even if the issue is published late or cannot be printed — your event will still be listed on this website, Meetup, and in the CAM Mensa Connect e-mails.

In addition to the requirement that the event be published in ChiMe, the CAM Board must also approve the submitted GOBS request before the event starts which means at a monthly Business Meeting (see our Monthly Gatherings schedule); you need not be present. Enter the date you’re planning to organize a GOBS-subsidized below to find out the deadlines.

Get All Deadlines to Qualify for GOBS Funds

Enter the date for the event you’re planning and see the amount of lead time you need to get it in ChiMe and when you must submit the actual GOBS event. Ideally, you want to get your GOBS request approved before submitting your event information for inclusion in ChiMe. Remember, earlier is always better to give everyone a chance process your submissions.

What to Expect from CAM

Once the Activities Bulletin Editor  receives your CAM Event Form submission, or your e-mail (see below for specifics), your event will be added to both our website (listed on the appropriate Monthly Activities) and Meetup. If you are a Meetup member, our Meetup coördinator will designate you as the host, which will enable you to edit the event as you see fit. There is no deadline to get your event listed on Meetup and here on our website, but you do want it listed as soon as possible to give your fellow Mensans a chance to find out about it as well giving the CAM Meetup and website volunteers some time to list your event. It may also be listed in the upcoming events e-mails that are sent via Mensa Connect to our group as well as being promoted on the closed CAM Facebook group.

If you happen to be planning well in advance, like June or later, and you submitted your form or sent your e-mail before the submission deadline (the deadline for the June issue is in 16 days), your event will also be listed in the ChiMe newsletter. ( This is a requirement for GOBS-subsidized events.)

If you have a lot of information to be communicated, you may wish to submit a separate write-up of your event to our ChiMe newsletter editor in addition to the short event notice; the details about submitting it via e-mail  are on our Submissions page and the submission deadline for articles is the same as the deadline for submitting events (above), requiring you to plan well in advance.

Discord and/or Board Game Arena Virtual Event

If you like to use Discord , Matt C. has graciously set-up a server for CAM’s use. We also recommend you use Discord for any Board Game Arena event if you don’t have a premium account because you can use the audio feature of Discord to communicate with your fellow Board Game Arena players. The Discord app is available on Google Play , the Apple App Store, or go to https://discord.com/new/download. Then register for a new account. Discord provides a Beginner’s Guide. Matt C. has also written an Introduction to Discord doc, specifically for CAM members, to help explain his set-up. If you do decide to use our CAM Discord server, it’s just a matter of creating an Invitation Link for CAM members who have not yet used this special Discord server — many already have via other events like HalloweeM, the Monthly Gatherings, CAMBeer, Games & Conversation, etc. as well as most of our gamers. You should be able to create an invitation link by tapping/clicking on the orientation text channel or hovering over it and then on the icon to the right of the orientation channel name. Otherwise e-mail  the Discord team to request an Invitation Link, if needed. We also have a Discord FAQ page to help people become familiar with some of the nuances including the requirement to agree to the Code of Conduct and defining one’s push-to-talk key(s).

To promote an event using our CAM Discord server, just let us know the details of your event by filling out our CAM Event Form. Alternatively, e-mail our Activities Bulletin Editor  and include all the details about your event. Our Submissions page provides a good checklist about the information that is required as well as optional information your attendees may need to know; you may wish to specify the CAM Discord channel in which you plan to meet. Should you need to cancel, e-mail the Activities Bulletin Editor  so they can update the website and Meetup.

In-Person

Just let us know the details of your event by filling out our CAM Event Form. Alternatively, e-mail our Activities Bulletin Editor  and include all the details about your event. Our Submissions page provides a good checklist about the information that is required as well as optional information your attendees may need to know. Events that have not been submitted to the activities editor early enough for publication in ChiMe (the deadline for the June issue is in 16 days for June) do not qualify for GOBS funds. Should you need to cancel, e-mail the Activities Bulletin Editor  so they can update the website and Meetup.

Facebook

If you use Facebook to promote an event, please notify the Activities Bulletin Editor  so that all CAM members know. Facebook events that have not been submitted to the activities editor early enough for publication in ChiMe (the deadline for the June issue is in 16 days for June) do not qualify for GOBS funds.

Meetup

If you post your event yourself on Meetup but don’t have Meetup announce it, or you cancel an existing event there, please notify the Activities Bulletin Editor  so that this website, etc. can be updated; Meetup announces an event ~6 days prior and only notifies attendees of cancellations. Meetup events that have not been submitted to the activities editor early enough for publication in ChiMe (the deadline for the June issue is in 16 days for June) do not qualify for GOBS funds.

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