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/ Satur­day

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.

6/ Thurs­day

8/ Satur­day

  • Rainbow SIG Potluck 6 PM. Potluck and Holiday Charades at a home in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago. The maximum number of attendees have already RSVPed for this event.

9/ Sun­day

  • Futures & Fantasies 2:15 PM. F&F will discuss Chasing New Horizons, by Alan Stern. Human curiosity about the outer reaches of the solar system started centuries ago, with the discovery of Uranus by William Herschel in 1781. By the 1830s it was known the planet’s orbit was not quite what Newton’s laws predicted — so much so that it violated Kepler’s 2nd law. “In the 1840s the astronomer-mathematicians Urbain Le Verrier in France and John Couch Adams in England both began searching for explanations to these anomalies—which turned out to be the existence of Neptune.” In 1930 astronomer Charles Tombaugh discovered Pluto. By the late 1980s, successful flybys of Jupiter and Uranus inspired Stern and colleagues to form the Pluto Underground, to see to it that the most distant planet was given its just due of attention. “Working with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and NASA, Stern and his team braved funding cuts, political fights, and bureaucratic red tape to plan, design, build, and fly [three billion miles at 32,000 mph] the Pluto-bound spaceship. Interspersed among the scientific and engineering details of the mission are moving stories, such as Pluto discoverer Tombaugh’s widow giving Stern some of the astronomer’s ashes to put aboard the spacecraft. Stern also shares the emotional impact the endeavor had on himself and his colleagues.” See the ar­ticle in the December 2021 ChiMe for more details. If COVID is still an issue (and I [Steve] suspect it will be), we will meet via Zoom. If it is no longer a problem, we hope to meet in Conference Room G on the 3rd floor of the Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake Street in Oak Park. Water, soda and light snacks are acceptable. Parking is available under the building. To RSVP , or for more information about this event and/or SIG, contact Steve M., the SIG coördinator. If not in-person, see Steve M.’s contact info for Zoom access info. F&F usually meets on the second Sunday of most odd-numbered months.
    Virtual Event!!

11/ Tues­day

12/ Wednes­day

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Northern Exposure

  • Northern Ex­po­sure Dinner Cancelled. Do you brake for caribou? Then you should have dinner with us. Join us at On the Border in Vernon Hills, for some yummy Mexican fare. Lo­cated at 535 N. Lakeview Parkway in Vernon Hills. Please RSVP (Meetup preferred) to Janice E., so she can reserve a big enough table.
    Cancelled Due to Omicron Concerns!!

13/ Thurs­day

14/ Fri­day

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  • Rock­ford Mensa Dinner 6:30 PM. Join Dave and other Rockford-Area Mensans for dinner 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 e‑mail list, contact Dave L., our Rockford-Area Coördinator. RSVP required in case of cancellation or restaurant change. This event is usually recurs on the second Friday of the month.
    IL Indoor Mask Mandate Applies!!

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Poetry SIG

  • Poetry Dis­cus­sion 7:30 PM. Our poetry group is using Zoom — now with closed captions — 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. Contact Roy L. for the Zoom link or any help you might need. This event is usually held on evening of the second Friday of the month.
    Virtual Event!!

15/ Satur­day

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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 e‑mailing, put “BASS” in the subject line. This event usually recurs on the 3rd Saturday of the month, about midday.
    IL Indoor Mask Mandate Applies!!

  • 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.
    IL Indoor Mask Mandate Applies!!

17/ Mon­day

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    Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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  • Got an opinion? If you have ideas, post them on the CAM Idea Board. Thanks for participating in our 2021 surveys. You can view all the results by tapping/clicking here. To promote CAM on Facebook , CAM is looking for very short testimonials about why you joined Mensa or what you like about most about being a member. Please send a photo (headshot preferred) and a sentence or two to our Strategy Committee .

19/ Wednes­day

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  • Dinner in in the North­west Suburbs: Chinese 6 PM. We will be dining at Lao Sze Chuan which serves highly rated Chinese cuisine. Separate checks are accommodated. The restaurant is lo­cated at 9434 Skokie Blvd. in Skokie.

    This is a a GOBS-subsidized event where ½ the total cost (including tax plus a 20% tip, rounded up to the nearest dollar) of a CAM member’s, and up to one guest’s, dinner will be covered for up to $25/person. A refund­able deposit of $25/person is required to reserve your spot. For dinners exceeding $50, the additional amount must be given to Ken, the event host, immediately after the bill is presented. For meals costing less than $50, the deposit amount re­fund­ed will be $25 minus ½ the total cost rounded down to the nearest dollar. See more details on Meetup. RSVP (Meetuppreferred; otherwise via e-mail) at least 24 hours in advance and submit your PayPal payment using Ken L.’s e‑mail address. Everyone will be notified of either their confirmed seat (based on received deposit order) or their position on a waiting list. Deposits will be re­funded for cancellations prior to the dinner.
    IL Indoor Mask Mandate Applies!!

20/ 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 (via Meetup preferred). The London host is Ian David Moseley.
    Virtual Event!!

  • Downtown Lunch: Virtual 1 PM. Perhaps the longest running Mensa event anywhere, Chicago’s Downtown Lunch is held every week, alternating between Tuesday and Thursday. We’d love to have you 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. You may also RSVP via Meetup.
    Virtual Event!!

  • HotTopics 6 PM. Join us in learning & sharing our views while having fun in a friendly & safe environment! Topic: The Great Resignation. Visit Chicago Mensa Meetup for links to some videos and articles on this topic. The Zoom access info will be provided to those who RSVP on Meetup (preferred) or e-mail Mike B.
    Meetup Virtual Event Not in ChiMe!!

21/ Fri­day

  • Virtual Mixology with Mister Tootsie: 7:30 PM. January in Chicago calls for hot drinks. Join as we mix up some warm cocktails to fend off the January Chicago cold. Participants will get a list of needed ingredients and equipment (which you probably have in your house already), as well as the Zoom info prior to the event. Make this your month to join in! This is a GOBS-subsidized activity. The subsidized cost is $12.50 for up to 2 people per Zoom login. Participation maxes out at 15 Zoom logins. One person at each Zoom login has to be a CAM member. To RSVPs and get payment info, e-mail Beth W.. Payment is required to hold your spot.
    Virtual Event!!

22/ Satur­day

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    CAM January Monthly Gathering @Discord

    Monthly Gath­ering
    (Held via Discord )
    The January Monthly Gathering takes place via video teleconference using Discord. Here are the Discord setup instructions for new Discord members which we recommend you complete at least 30 minutes before the event; Discord is free. Check out the CAM Discord FAQ for many of the features like changing your avatar or setting your push-to-talk key(s), a requirement to speak in the MG Speaker channel.

    To join the MG, existing Discord members can simply open the app and tap/click on our CAM icon. For new Discord members, the Invitation Link will be available on our website. 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? Members, RSVP via Meetup to let your friends know you’re going to be there.

    Test:
    Cancelled this month.
    Business Meeting:
    5 PM in the Business Meeting channel.
    Socializing :
    7 PM in the Hospitality channels.
    Nomi­nations for Local Officers:
    7:30 PM in the MG Speaker channel.
    Program:
    Cancelled this month.
    Socializing & Games:
    ~7:35 PM in the Hospitality or Games channels.

    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 January ChiMe for details. You can also view the job descriptions and the required qualifications.
    * * * * *
    The Deadline for Candidate’s Statements is Tuesday, February 22nd. The statements for publication in the April ChiMe are to be no longer than 500 words and cannot include any boldface, italic, or larger type; they should be sent to Hieu N., our Nominations Committee Chair, via e‑mail .
    * * * * *
    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. Try your hand as the ChiMe editor, Communications Officer, or as 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.
    * * * * *
    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!

    Discord Event!!

23/ Sun­day

  • What's Love Got to Do With It? Writing a Harlequin Romance Novel 2:30 PM. Elle Jackson, Harlequin’s first Black author of historical romance, will discuss her latest novel, A Blues Singer to Redeem Him, her love of writing, and writing about love. Hosted by Mid-America Mensa. Register on the American Mensa website.
    Virtual Event!!

24/ Mon­day

RSVP for Breakfast in the Northwest Suburbs held on Tuesday, January 25th no later than 10 AM on Monday, January 24th. RSVP via Meetup preferred.

25/ 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. Dining will be indoors. Sepa­rate checks are available. Attendance is limited. RSVP  required in case of possible cancellation or changes in venue. Use Meetup, but if not on Meetup, RSVP to Ken L. via e‑mail by 10 AM Monday, January 24th. Ken will let you know if you are confirmed or not.
    IL Indoor Mask Mandate Applies!!

27/ Thurs­day


* * * * *

1 February/ Tues­day

  • 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 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.

  • firecrackers

    Chinese New Year
    Year of the Tiger

Annual Gathering (AG) Rate Increase Alert!
Register for the AG held Wednesday, July 6th through Sunday, July 10th in Sparks, Nevada by Monday, February 28th before the next rate increase.

Activities Bulletin
January 2022

January
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9 10 11 12 13 14 15

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30 31          

RSVPs - Always contact the CAM event host as specified in the event details — e-mail , phone , or Meetup .

About
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 January 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):

About
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 January 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):


Come & play at AGoG!
Feb. 4th – 6th googleCalendarButton

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