The organizers of the events listed on this calendar have expressed willingness for members elsewhere in the world to join in. Please don’t give them a bigger crowd than they can handle, and do be careful about time zones. The displayed time zone is GMT! If you add them to your own calendar, the time zone should convert to your specified time zone.

To have your virtual event added to this calendar, contact Matt C., the CAM International Calendar contact.

There may be other virtual events, as well as in-person events, which may be of interest to CAM members, hosted by various local groups listed on the American Mensa Calendar of Events.

1/ Mon­day

Happy New Year
  • ChiMe Activity Bulletin and Ad­ver­tising Deadlines. Last day for these submissions to the February ChiMe. Interested in organizing and hosting a virtual or in-person event? Find out how by checking out our guide to hosting events.

  • ChiMe Editorial Deadline. Last day for editorial submissions to the February ChiMe. Please submit original ar­ticles, insights, puzzles, brain teasers, or short poems. Your fellow Chicago Area Mensa members would love to hear from you.

4/ Thurs­day

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  • Conversation with London Mensans 8 AM. Join a video chat with our kin from across the big pond in London at 2 PM BST. I [Carey] participated previously, along with a few other CAM members, and had a very nice chat with some of our “siblings” in the London area. RSVP to local host Carey S. to receive the Zoom sign-in information. The London host is Ian David Moseley.
    Virtual Event!!

5/ Fri­day

  • A Gathering of Gamers (AGoG) - Preregistration Rate Increase Alert! Join us for a relaxing weekend of games and hospitality on February 16th – 18th. Today was the last day you could pre­reg­ister for AGoG and qualify for the best AGoG discount. Also, if you’re paying by check, it must have been received today, else the best discount will not be honored. If you haven’t pre­reg­istered, come to AGoG and reg­ister at the door!

6/ Satur­day

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  • Saturday Movie & Dinner 4 PM. We’ll see Wonka, a movie that may give you the willies, at the AMC Randhurst 12 Theaters , located at 200 Randhurst Village Dr. in Mount Prospect. Lisa and I usually opt for seats on the aisle, closest to the theater entrance, and the first row up. You, of course, can sit anywhere you like. After the movie we’ll dine at the Blackfinn Randhurst Grill located at 157 Randhurst Village Dr., a short walk across from the theater. To RSVP (welcome, but optional), email Bill S.. If you show up and can’t find us, text Lisa S.. We hope to see you there! M&D usually recurs on second Saturday of the month.
    Schedule Change!!

7/ Sun­day

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  • NTM Gifted Youth Book Club 12:30 PM. At this Zoom meeting, we will be discussing Jake and Lily by Jerry Spinelli. Hosted by North Texas Mensa. Zoom link.
    Virtual Event!!

9/ Tues­day

10/ Wednes­day

  • Northern Ex­po­sure Dinner Cancelled. Join us at Jameson’s Charhouse, in Vernon Hills for burgers, steaks, chops, fish, ribs, salads, and more. Lo­cated at 151 E. Townline Rd. in Vernon Hills.
    Event on Hiatus This Month!!

11/ Thurs­day

12/ Fri­day

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  • Rock­ford Mensa Lunch Noon. Join Dave and other Rockford-Area Mensans for lunch at Franchesco’s Ristorante, lo­cated at 7128 Spring Creek Rd. in Rockford (just east of Perryville Rd. and behind JMK Nippon restaurant). To RSVP , for more information, or to get on our email list, contact Dave L., our Rockford-Area Coördinator. RSVP required in case of cancellation, time, or venue change. This event is usually recurs on the second Friday of the month.
    Time Change!!

  • Poetry Dis­cus­sion 7:30 PM. Our poetry group is using Zoom for meetings. Interested persons who are not currently members of the poetry group can contact Joe D. , and he will email the poems to be discussed or you can view them by tapping/clicking here. This event is usually held on the evening of the second Friday of the month.
    Virtual Event!!

13/ Satur­day

  • Gifted Youth Virtual Board Game 3 PM. Board Game Arena has a nice facility for playing games with friends on-line. It includes a chat feature, and I’ll also set up a Zoom meeting for those that want to talk outside of the game. Login to the website before the event and register if you haven’t already joined. Email your username to William R. so he can send a message to let people know who they should meet up with. Your host is wrock_NTM. Zoom link.
    Virtual Event!!

14/ Sun­day

  • Futures & Fantasies Cancelled. See you in March.
    Event Cancelled Due to Weather!!

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  • SFRM: From Earth to Mars: Steps Toward the First Human Journey to the Red Planet 4:30 PM. The director and co-founder of the NASA Haughton-Mars Project, Dr. Pascal Lee, PhD will give an exciting presentation on the preparation for the first human mission to Mars. Please register early; we are limited to 100 seats for this presentation. To register, visit San Francisco Regional Mensa (SFRM)’s registration signup for this event.
    Virtual Event!!

15/ Mon­day

  • mlk

    Martin Luther King Jr. Day

18/ Thurs­day

20/ Satur­day

  • Conserv­atives Lunch 11:30 AM. Join other members of the Mensan cell of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy for lunch and civilized un-PC conversation. No forbidden questions, no unchallengeable answers. This lunch happens on the third Saturday every month, but the location changes and can’t always be determined in time to make the ChiMe schedule. If you’re curious about the location at this month’s meeting place, email Jim Z. the event coör­di­na­tor. Open to non-Mensans; bring a curious friend.

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  • Beverly Area Saturday Salon (B.A.S.S.) ~Noon. Spontaneous conversation in far SSW Chicago, approx­i­mate vicinity of 107th St. & Western Ave. Please contact Rick E. the Beverly Area Coördinator, for this month’s lo­ca­tion and the exact time as well as more information; if emailing, put “BASS” in the subject line. This event usually recurs on the 3rd Saturday of the month, about midday.

23/ Tues­day

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  • Break­fast in Mount Pros­pect 10 AM. Breakfast or lunch and conversation at Jelly Café lo­cated at 1784 W. Golf Rd. in Mount Pros­pect (northwest corner of Golf Rd. and Busse Hwy.), featuring a large and diverse menu. Sepa­rate checks are available. Use Meetup, but if not on Meetup, RSVP to Ken L. via email. If you RSVP by email, your reservation is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation email.

  • Dinner Out West 6:30 PM. This month, we dine at Greek Islands at 300 E. 22nd St. in Lombard. This is a GOBS-subsidized event. GOBS will cover ½ of your meal cost, including tax and tip (rounded up to the nearest dollar), up to a maximum subsidy of $25, for each CAM member and their guest. Cash, Zelle, or PayPal for your portion. Limit 20 people. Reservations are required so Beth knows how big of a table to reserve. RSVP directly to Beth W. no later than Sunday, January 21st.

24/ Wednes­day

  • GOBS Request Deadline Noon. Today is the last day to submit a request for GOBS funds to be approved at this Saturday’s Business Meeting for any planned, eligible event, activity, or class taking place after Saturday, January 27th and through Monday, February 26th or later; to be eligible, events involving CAM members must be published in the issue of ChiMe corresponding to the month in which they occur.

25/ Thurs­day

27/ Satur­day

  • Monthly Gath­ering
    The location of our January Month­ly Gath­ering was the Rolling Mead­ows Com­mu­ni­ty Center
    3705 Pheasant Dr. in Rolling Meadows.

    Games and hos­pi­tal­ity are in the spacious auditorium, with overflow space in the lobby. The speaker event is in the Card Room. A Parents-Kids Play Room is available after the Mensa Test. Park in the NW lot behind the building and use Entrance K (near inner corner). Please note that we have this venue only until midnight, so plan accordingly. This gathering is open to the general public. So if you’re interested in learning more about Chicago Mensa, come join us. There is an admissions fee to help cover costs (major credit cards accepted).

    Test:
    5 PM.
    Business Meeting:
    5 PM.
    Game room opens:
    6 PM.
    Nomi­nations for Local Officers:
    7:30 PM.
    Program:
    ~7:35 PM.
    Refreshments:
    8:30 PM - Midnight.

    The Nomi­nating Committee is looking for qualified candidates to run for the elected po­sitions on the Chicago Area Mensa Executive Committee. If you’re interested or just curious, see Deb J.’s ar­ticle in the January ChiMe for details. You can also view the job descriptions and the required qualifications.
    * * * * *
    The CAM Executive Committee has allocated GOBS funds to be used for the reimbursement of either or Uber ridesharing services from/to the Arlington Park METRA station. Details are on our Monthly Gathering page.
    * * * * *
    Volunteer
    Get involved! Hone your leadership, organizational, or web skills. We’re looking for vol­un­teers to fill some of the open po­sitions listed both near the back of ChiMe or on the List of Officers. Try your hand as the Gifted Youth Coördinator, a co-Program Officer, a website designer, or a MG Hospitality Volunteer. You can view the job descriptions and the required qualifications for all the open positions and ones you may be interested in. Or consider supervising the children at the MG for some extra cash.
    * * * * *
    Express Yourself
    Write an ar­ticle, submit a photo, or create a puzzle for ChiMe; see our Submission Guidelines for contact information and deadlines. Host your own event or your own virtual event using Discord!

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    Program Topic: The British Invasion of America: Popular Culture of the 1960s and 1970s

    From James Bond to the Beatles and from the Avengers to the mini skirt, British movies, music, television, fashion, and theatre have had a profound influence on American society. 

    Dr. John F. Lyons will be exploring the effects on popular culture of the British Invasion of America. Through the use of music, video, and many unseen photographs from the 1960s and 1970s, this highly entertaining presentation brings to life the British invasion of the American mind.

    Show all…

    Following the sensational reception of The Beatles in the U.S. in early 1964 with their No. 1 hit, I Want to Hold Your Hand, they appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show to an estimated 73 million viewers—about 40% of the U.S. television viewers.

    The Beatles opened the door for groups from the UK, such as the Rolling Stones, the Dave Clark Five, Herman’s Hermits and many other solo and group performers. The Rolling Stones are still recording and will be on tour in 2024, playing in Chicago in June at Soldier Field.

    John Lyons was born in London, England, but now lives in Chicago. He is a Professor of History at Joliet Junior College, where he teaches classes in British and U.S. history.

    He has appeared on podcasts and radio programs discussing popular culture. John is a noted public speaker who has spoken to audiences in the U.S. and Europe.  America in the British Imagination: 1945 to the Present and Joy and Fear: The Beatles, Chicago and the 1960s are the latest of the five books John has written.

    Show less
    If there is a spike in Covid cases, the in-person MG may become virtual & testing would be cancelled!!
  • Rainbow Restaurant Outling 6 PM. The Rainbow SIG will hold a restaurant outing at Martino’s Italian Cuisine and Pizzeria at 3431 W. Peterson Ave. in Chicago. On street parking is relatively easy. Please notify the Rainbow SIG coördinator (email or text preferred) by Thursday, January 25th, if you plan to attend so that we will have enough seats reserved.

28/ Sun­day

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Kansas City Joe's Z-Man Sandwich

  • Theodore Talk: Kansas City BBQ 2:30 PM. Are you attending the AG in Kansas City this year? Of course you are! And once you’re in town you are going to want to eat some BBQ. But where should you go? And what should you eat?

    Better get schooled first, because there are over 100 places to eat BBQ in Kansas City. Most are joints, but there are a few restaurants (they have tablecloths!) and at least one has a classically trained chef.

    Here to help is Jill Wendholt Silva, Kansas City’s James Beard award-winning food editor and writer. She will discuss the history of BBQ in Kansas City, the different styles of BBQ (wait, what, there are different styles?), and maybe, just maybe, we’ll discuss some of the best places in town to chow down. But bring your napkins, because it is going to get messy!

    See the full write-up and find contact info on the American Mensa Events website. Even if you can’t attend the live Talk, as long as you register you will receive a link to a recording of the event. Closed captioning enabled.
    Virtual Event!!

31/ Wednes­day


* * * * *

1 February/ Thurs­day

  • ChiMe Activ­ity Bulletin and Ad­vertising Dead­lines. Last day for these submissions to the March ChiMe. Interested in organizing and hosting a virtual or in-person event? There’s bound to be an activity or a restaurant you want to try, but you just want some other people to experience it with you. So invite your fellow Mensans. Find out how by visiting our guide to hosting events.

  • ChiMe Editorial Dead­line. Last day for editorial submissions to the March ChiMe. Please submit original ar­ticles, insights, puzzles, brain teasers, photographs, or short poems. Your fellow Chicago Area Mensa members would love to hear from you.

  • Zoom Lunch 1 PM. Perhaps the longest running Mensa event anywhere, Chicago’s Zoom Lunch (formerly known as the Downtown Lunch) is held every week, alternating between Tuesday and Thursday. Join us for conversation, laughs, and attempts to define words you’ll never use again. The Zoom id is 836 1178 6315 and the passcode is 190710; it is also included as part of your host Jon G.’s contact information if you prefer a link. Questions? Contact Jon via email or call/text him. We’d love to have you join us!
    Virtual Event!!

Activities Bulletin
January 2024

January
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RSVPs - Always contact the CAM event host as specified in the event details — email , phone , text , or Meetup .

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Chicago Mensa Meetup - All our events are listed; see who signed up, get notifications, and add the event(s) to your personal calendar. Check out the calendar,

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Meetup

Chicago Mensa Meetup - All our events are listed; see who signed up, get notifications, and add the event(s) to your personal calendar. Check out the calendar,

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