To protect our members’ privacy, contact information has been
removed from this listing but isavailable on our website for members only.
Each of the CAM events has a link to the host’s RSVP information which
also takes you to this same information.
You must use the AM password reset which you can access by tapping/clicking
here.
If you forgot your id (e-mail address), contact the National Office.
Their phone number and e-mail address are at the bottom of AM login page.
Event E-Mails
CAM members will get periodic
e‑mails about upcoming events, including ones that did not make it into ChiMe,
or to get notified of any special events or last minute changes.
Illinois has once again loosened its restrictions a bit where
Indoor events are limited to 50 people.
Indoor and outdoor dining is allowed but at lower capacities and subject to an explicit
maximum number where no party exceeds 10 people.
There is an indoor time limit of 2 hours.
Restaurants and bars are free to impose even stricter group or time
restrictions.
You must wear a mask except when seated, however, also during any interaction
with staff and anyone who is not part of your group.
RSVPs -
Always contact the
CAM event host
as specified in the event details —
e-mail ,phone , or
Meetup .
About Meetup
About the CAM Meetup Closed Group
Meetup often includes events that are not in the
January ChiMe.
So consider
signing up
for this great tool — an active Mensa number will be requested to verify your
Mensa membership before you can be added to our CAM Meetup group.)
Meetup will have the same RSVP contact information that is on
our website
and in ChiMe.
RSVP, but you should always contact the CAM event coördinator
as specified. A few CAM event
coördinators are not members of Meetup, so for those events,
your RSVP there only lets other CAM Meetup members know you are attending,
plus you benefit by getting reminders.
It’s easy to use Meetup to add the
event info to your personal calendar.
Set up notifications and Meetup will e-mail you about
upcoming events. (You can adjust your Meetup e-mail
settings to limit notifications to one e-mail/day.)
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,
Facebook -
The following CAM area- and youth-related groups have their own closed Facebook
groups which may have events not listed here nor on Meetup
(contact them to join):
Meetup often includes events that are not in the
January ChiMe.
So consider
signing up
for this great tool — an active Mensa number will be requested to verify your
Mensa membership before you can be added to our CAM Meetup group.)
Meetup will have the same RSVP contact information that is on
our website
and in ChiMe.
RSVP, but you should always contact the CAM event coördinator
as specified. A few CAM event
coördinators are not members of Meetup, so for those events,
your RSVP there only lets other CAM Meetup members know you are attending,
plus you benefit by getting reminders.
It’s easy to use Meetup to add the
event info to your personal calendar.
Set up notifications and Meetup will e-mail you about
upcoming events. (You can adjust your Meetup e-mail
settings to limit notifications to one e-mail/day.)
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,
Facebook -
The following CAM area- and youth-related groups have their own closed Facebook
groups which may have events not listed here nor on Meetup
(contact them to join):
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 Morning Coffee contact.
There may be other virtual events, which may be of interest to CAM members,
hosted by various local groups listed on the American Mensa Calendar of Events.
CAM Discord Access and More
Already a member?
Simply open up the Discord app, look for the
CAM
icon on the very left, and tap/click on it.
New?
A few days before the event, check out the Introductory Guide to Discord
as well as our CAM Discord FAQ for instructions
about getting the app and registering yourself.
Read the doc and/or peruse the various questions and answers to familiarize
yourself with our customized version.
About three days prior to the event, the Invitation Link, needed only by new
CAM Discord users, will be available as part of the event host’s contact info.
Tap/click on it and it will open the Discord app you installed on your device. You must
acknowledge the displayed Code of Conduct to see all the rooms (aka
channels). Do this by tapping/clicking on the emoji symbol at the end that best describes
Your membership category.
Once you’ve done that, you’re in and won’t need an
Invitation Link again.
When you join a Discord event you won’t automatically
see all the participants like in Zoom when the host lets you in or you join a meeting
in progress. Instead you’ll scroll down and find the channel
specified as part of the event info. Unlike Zoom, you get to see the list of
names indicating who is in
the channel before you tap/click on it to join. And if there is someone
presenting, you’ll need to tap/click on the presenter’s
feed or double-click the Live button next to the
presenter’s name to enlarge the feed. And
when you leave, it’s immediate — none of that akwardness
that happens when you leave a Zoom event especially when in a breakout room.
It may feel weird at first but the learning curve is pretty short and
chances are you’ll like it better than Zoom and choose to use it any time
to video call a fellow Mensan.
CAM Morning Coffee 7 AM & 8 AM.
Both of these weekday online events are
not hosted which simply means when you join the Morning
Coffee channel (under Events) on our CAM Discord server,
you may be the first — wait several minutes and give the
others a chance to join you. Attendance is spontaneous and can be sporadic
— no individual is present every day, some days there are
several people, but there are days when no one participates.
You can expect casual conversation on
any topic you and the others would like to explore.
On Thursdays, the 8 AM CAM Morning Coffee group joins the 8 AM Conversation
with London Mensans so use their access info
(on Meetup) rather than Discord.
In the mood for some interesting conversation?
It’s easy to check in any weekday and see who else is up for a chat.
Contact Matt C.
for general info. Both events will recur every weekday until further notice.
Discord Event!!
1/ Friday
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 tapping/clicking here.
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 Mensans
would love to hear from you.
7/ Thursday
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!!
Virtual Downtown Lunch 1 PM.
Perhaps Mensa’s longest running event anywhere, Chicago’s
Downtown Lunch has gone virtual! Join us for conversation,
laughs, and attempts to define words you’ll never use again.
The Zoom access info is included as part of your host
Jon G.’s
contact information.
8/ Friday
Rockford Mensa Dinner 6:30 PM.
Join Dave and other Rockford-Area Mensans for dinner at
Kuma’s Asian Bistro,
located at 420 E. State St. in Rockford
(a few blocks east of the river between 1st
and 2nd Streets).
To RSVP , for more information, or to
get on our e‑mail list,
contact Dave L.,
our Rockford-Area Coördinator.
The number of attendees is limited, so RSVPs are mandatory.
This event is usually recurs on the second Friday of the month. Illinois COVID-19 Group & Mask Restrictions Apply!!
Poetry Discussion 7:30 PM.
Our poetry group is now using Zoom for meetings.
Interested persons who are not currently members of the poetry group can
contact Joe D.
,
and he will e-mail the poems to be discussed and the Zoom information to them.
This event is usually held on evening of the second Friday of the month.
Virtual Event!!
SwAG Session Cancelled.
Please see the Southwest Area Group Facebook page to RSVP and for information about this
and other SwAG events; contact the
Southwest Area Coördinators
to find out how to join (Kevin’s contact information is also on
our website).
We’ve been meeting on the second Saturday of most months.
Event Cancelled Until Further Notice!!
Games and Conversation 7:30 PM.
Join us at the (Virtual) WeissWard Home for Wayward Mensans (WWHfWM).
We’ll gather for conversation in the
Game Night Foyer on
CAM’s Discord server (see the FAQ if new to Discord)
and then split into channels (rooms) as desired for
playing games — mention or upvote games in the
game-night!! channel.
I’m newly addicted to The Crew, a coöperative trick-taking card game.
I’d love to play some online Euchre. We’ll
be playing other games, too—and we teach—and like
being taught, if you have a favorite.
Access information was available as part of host Beth W.’s contact info; new members must agree to the Code of Conduct to access all the channels.
If you’re new to Board Game Arena ,
you should
register in advance
to play The Crew.
For more information, contact
Beth W.
Join us.
Discord Event!!
10/ Sunday
Futures & Fantasies
2 PM.
F&F will discuss Alchemy of Glass, by Barbara Barnett.
The novel opens with Erceldoune visiting the Columbian Exposition of 1893 — beginning with the
time travel aspect of a novel which has him struggling to prevent the future from degenerating into a
wretched dystopia. To do this – with a plot that outshines Wells’s Time Machine —
he attempts reconciliation with Dr. Anne Shaw, whom he treated poorly in the first book. Additionally,
he must explore the mythic, mysterious Eildon Hills of Scotland (his sanctuary when young), and
discovers the faery journal of his old friend Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and a glass shard which transports
him into a world utterly different from that which Doyle describes. This sequel can stand alone, but
some readers note that knowing the past history of the characters helps us to empathize with their
confusion and frustration while confronting the romantic, historical fiction, fantastic, mythological,
and science fictional situations encountered. Their depth makes them attractive.
See the article in the
December 2020 ChiMe
for more details.
If COVID is still an issue (and I [Steve] suspect it will be), we will meet via Zoom.
To RSVP , or for more information about this event and/or SIG,
contact Steve M.,
the SIG coördinator.
F&F usually meets on the second Sunday of most odd-numbered months.
Virtual Event!!
Northern Exposure Dinner Cancelled.
Join us for dinner at a venue TBD in Lake County.
Please RSVP (no later than 10 AM) to our
North Suburban Coördinator
Michael B., so he can reserve a big enough table; also let
him know if you need to cancel, even if it’s last minute
(by texting),
so the restaurant can change the seating and doesn’t wait
until everyone shows up to take orders.
Event Cancelled Due to Coronavirus Concerns!!
HotTopics 6 PM.
Join 10-20 of us in learning & sharing our views while having fun in a
friendly & safe environment! Topics: our place in the world, the power of
music, and whatever else the group wants to discuss.
Visit Chicago Mensa Meetup for links to some videos and articles on these topics. The day will come when we can gather again over coffee, but, until then, join us
by voice (and optional video
) over the Internet using the Zoom app.
The access info was provided to those who RSVP on Meetup or
e-mail Mike B. Meetup Virtual Event Not in ChiMe!!
Virtual Mixology with Mister Tootsie 7:30 PM.
It’s a new year and Mister Tootsie is back for some additional fun! This month, we’ll be mixing
gin-based drinks. New “students” welcome!
Participants will get a list of needed ingredients and equipment,
as well as the Zoom info, by e-mail prior to the event. This is a GOBS-subsidized activity.
The subsidized cost is $10 for up to 2 people per Zoom login where one person has to be a CAM member.
The cost is $20/login if no one is a CAM member.
RSVPs are required; to RSVP and get payment info,
e-mail Beth W..
Payment is required to hold your spot.
Virtual Event!!
16/ Saturday
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 e‑mailing, put “BASS” in the subject line.
This event usually recurs on the 3rd Saturday of the month, about midday.
Conservatives Lunch 1 PM.
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 and the COVID restrictions
at this month’s meeting place, e-mail
Jim Z.
the event coördinator.
Open to non-Mensans; bring a conservative friend.
Time & Location Change!! Illinois COVID-19 Group & Mask Restrictions Apply!!
South Bend Mensa Dinner 6 PM.
Contact Gary L., the
South Bend Area Coördinator of Fort Wayne, Indiana Mensa,
for location information.
His contact information is also available in the
January ChiMe.
Monthly Gathering (Held via Discord )
The January Monthly Gathering takes place via video
teleconference using Discord.
Join the group as we all experiment with a different way of interacting.
BYOB and snacks
.
In this age of social distancing, aren’t you ready to have some fun and to try something different?
The Nominating Committee is looking for qualified candidates to run for the
elected positions on the Chicago Area Mensa Board of Directors. If you’re
interested or just curious, see Deb J.’s article in the
February ChiMe or
January ChiMe
for details. You can also view the
job descriptions
and the required
qualifications.
* * * * * Volunteer
Get involved! Chicago Mensa needs you.
We’re looking for volunteers to fill some of the open
positions listed both in the back of ChiMe or on the
List of Officers. You can view the
job descriptions
and the required
qualifications
for all the open positions and ones you may be interested in.
* * * * * Express Yourself
Try your hand at writing an article for ChiMe, submitting a photo,
or creating a puzzle; see our Submission Guidelines
for contact information and deadlines.
Host your own event or your own virtual event
using Discord!
Program Topic:
Science of Obesity
Anthony Auriemma, MD, will be speaking on the science behind obesity and weight loss.
He will cover topics such as how the hormones Leptin and Ghrelin affect appetite, why
the calorie in, calorie out model is broken; the role of gut health on weight loss; why
you cannot rely on exercise alone to help you lose weight; the ketogenic diet; and much
more. Members, see the full write-up in the
January ChiMe.
Discord Event!!
26/ Tuesday
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.
Dining will be indoors.
Separate checks are available.
Attendance is limited. RSVP required
in case of possible cancellation or changes in venue.
RSVP to Ken L. via e‑mail.
Meetup Event Not in ChiMe!! Illinois COVID-19 Group & Mask Restrictions Apply!!
CAMBeer 7:30 PM. I declare a CAMBeer! CAMBeer (n): a gathering of Chicago Area
Mensans in the presence of alcohol so that stressors flow off the sides.
Beer is optional; if you find wine, a mixed drink, water, or soda to be a better stress-reliever, that works, too.
We’ll use CAM’s Discord platform. Discord Event!!
30/ Saturday
Murder Mystery: 80s Mall Murder Madness 7 PM.
It’s 1985, and real estate developer and “entrepreneur” Whit Wiley has just cut
the ribbon opening the newest marvel in his shopping mall empire: the Wiley Waterside Galleria
Mall in Malibu. Whit was to top the Forbes list of most rich and powerful men of 1985 —
until he washed up in the mall fountain, strangled by his skinny tie.
Who could be responsible for the murder of this influential businessman? Was it his first wife
Willhemina Wiley, seeking revenge for Whit Wiley’s many extramarital affairs? Was it local
super shopper Connie Sumer, angry over the Galleria’s inflated scrunchie prices? Or was
it fashion designer Cal Von Cline, who objected to Wiley’s appallingly gaudy bad taste?
Time to whip out that credit card and tease that hair as big as it can go — we’re
shopping for a murderer in 80s Mall Murder Madness!
Yep, we’re doing it again! It was so gnarly last time that we decided to make this an
ongoing event every other month or so. Join us for this GOBS-subsidized (in this case: free),
virtual Zoom event lasting for
about two hours. There is no charge to attend. We will need between
6 to 20 character players, so RSVPs are
required to play one of the roles. Reply via
Meetup
and send or message your e-mail address to
Karen G.
by Monday, January 25th, if you are interested in
playing a character. Sometime before the event, your character information will be e-mailed
to you. Costumes and props appropriate to your character are encouraged but not required.
If you want to join us in the audience and watch the mystery play out, it would
be like totally tubular! We’d love to have you.
The Zoom id is listed as part of host
Karen G.’s contact info.
Let’s go back to the 80s, join together virtually, and have some fun figuring out
who strangled Whit Wiley!
Virtual Event!!
31/ Sunday
Annual Gathering (AG) Rate Increase Alert!
Today was the last day to register before the rates increased.
See the AML 2021 AG website
for details about the “Multifaceted Minds” AG held
Tuesday, August 24th through Sunday, August 29th
as Mensa celebrates its 75th anniversary in Houston, Texas.
And register now
for the Colloquium exploring “Advances in Food Science” presented on Monday, August 23rd.
* * * * *
1 February/ Monday
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? Find out how by tapping/clicking here.
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 Mensans
would love to hear from you.
Thanks for being our 725th visitor to
January Events.
These pages and all content Copyright 2021
by Chicago Area Mensa, all rights reserved. Chicago Area Mensa is part of
American Mensa, Ltd.
Mensa® and the Mensa logo (as depicted for example in U.S. TM Reg. No. 1,405,381)
are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by
American Mensa, Ltd.,
and are registered in other countries by
Mensa International Limited
and/or affiliated national Mensa organizations.
Mensa does not hold any opinions, or have, or express, any political or religious views.
CAM
,
