HalloweeM: Chicago Area Mensa’s Regional Gathering

History

HalloweeM began in 1975. Members of Chicago Area Mensa enjoyed attending other local groups’ Regional Gatherings (RGs) and meeting members from other chapters. The late Helen Kupper and about 10 other members got together to discuss the type of RG Chicago Area Mensa should have: unusual, fun, well-timed, and attractive to members from other chapters. After much discussion, it was decided to have it in the fall. Someone came up with an idea of a Halloween celebration. However, to customize it they named the RG HalloweeM ("M" for Mensa, of course). Helen chaired the first four.

Over 30 years later, HalloweeM is the largest Regional Gathering in American Mensa - only the Annual Gathering attracts a larger crowd. Approximately 500 to 600 members and guests attend this meeting of the minds every year.

Programs

See program schedules from 2007, 2008, and 2009 (PDF).

Lectures range across the arts, science, history, and lifestyle topics. Programs in years past included crime investigation, South American food, creative thinking, wine tasting, NASA and the Mars project, game theory, eating and working in Soviet Russia, squirrels, Britain’s kings and queens, Scotch tasting, movie flubs, self-defense for women, kayaking, Star Wars, cookie contest, Israeli folk dancing, Irish dancers, rock music, finance, funerals, jewelry making, nano technology, trivia contest, quinoa, firehouses, and more.

Hospitality suites are open around the clock and feature outstanding and plentiful food and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic). In recent years, Saturday night’s "pretentious drinking" has been a favored feature. There is a formal banquet Saturday night, a Sunday brunch with awards ceremony, dances, a book sale, movies, games, tournaments, vendors, and of course, dazzlingly intelligent conversations.

Chicago Area Mensa strives to have something for everyone, and in that spirit, a Gifted Children’s Track has been added to the schedule in recent years. Kids between the ages of 8 and 14 can enjoy puzzles, games, and demonstrations in a room set aside just for them. This is not a babysitting service, but it sure helps enrich and entertain the minds of our youngest members and guests.

There is a kids-only costume party before the adult party. You can still bring your kids to the grown-up party, but for those of you who have younger children who might be overwhelmed by hundreds of strangers, who have children with early bed-times, or who simply want to avoid having to explain some of the puns, this will give kids a chance to dress up and compete for prizes at their own party. Then get yourself into costume and come to the main event.

The Friday night costume party is one of the things that set Chicago Area Mensa’s RG apart from all the others. Mensan grown-ups take dressing up to a new level. Costumes range from fanciful to funny to elaborate and elegant, but the thing for which Mensans are best known are the pun and word-play costumes. In all of them, Mensa-style creativity is obvious. Bring your costume, sense of humor, and your wits, because our puns will keep you guessing and giggling all night long. View our pictures to see costumes from ’WeeMs past.

A word of caution: Once you attend, you’ll be hooked on HalloweeM forever.

Typical HalloweeM Schedule

Please refer to Upcoming HalloweeM Page for more information. ChiMe will also have details in the October issue.

Thursday Night

Following our very successful experiment of 2008, we now start HalloweeM on Thursday afternoon. There’s a small extra charge to cover Thursday and Friday morning attendance, but there are ample activities, food, and beverages.

Friday

Registration begins sometime around 2:00 pm for those who did not register for Thursday. FriPlay is the word used to describe the morning and early afternoon tours of local sites, such as museums, laboratories, or candy factories. The weekend’s schedule of programs begins at 3:30, which is also when hospitality opens. In the evening, Mensans change into costumes. Judging happens around 10 p.m., and programming begins again after the judging is finished.

Saturday

Again, festivities begin around 9 a.m. There are game tournaments, Fiendish Armchair Treasure Hunts, seminars, and other fun things scheduled throughout the day. In the evening, there is a banquet. Dinner is followed by entertainment, a cocktail party and then by a dance. For non-dancers, there are other interesting things to do, such as a trivia contest, movies, and additional programs. At HalloweeM, the smart fun runs non-stop all weekend.

Is this a long weekend or what?

Sunday

Breakfast is at 9:30, followed by the awards ceremony. At 11:30, programming resumes with more speakers and activities. In addition, there is a proctored test in the afternoon for any non-members who wish to join Mensa. The event finally winds down around 3:30.