Glass Blowing Excursion

Excursions

There will be excursions for those who arrive early.

Volunteer!

HalloweeM setup starts at ~3 PM at the hotel. As much as we’ve appreciated all the impromptu volunteers in years past, this year we ask you to sign up in advance for Hospitality either online or using the on-site sign-up sheet near registration because, for everyone’s safety, we need to tightly control the number of people who have access to the food preparation area and food in the serving area. Sign up before WeeM starts and earn double and even triple entries for the Sunday morning cash drawings held during the Awards & Announcements Presentation. Winners need not be present Sunday for awards of $25 or more.

Programs

Expect the first program to start at ˜6 PM.

Tournaments

The first tournament will begin at ˜6 PM.

Dinner

Gather in the hospitality area and catch up with your friends while enjoying a great meal including tasty sides at ˜7 PM. This year will not be buffet-style. Instead people will queue up to pick up their plated food from servers cafeteria-style. It may be somewhat slower but it will be safer. See the Westin floor plan to locate the south doors which is the only entrance to the serving area to pick up your meal.

Costume Parades

The Friday night costume party is one of the unique events that sets the Chicago Area Mensa RG apart from all the others. Mensa 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 sense of humor, and your wits, because our puns will keep you guessing and giggling all night long. Make sure to consider this year's theme, ripe for pun-filled humor! Puns, however, are not a requirement. View our pictures to see costumes from ’WeeMs past.

Kids Costumes

The kids costume parade will precede the adult costumes. As in past years we encourage more adults to attend and support our youth. 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 (occasionally suggestive) puns, this will give kids a chance to dress up and compete for prizes at their own party. If you signed up for baby-sitting, your kids can then go to the Kids Room and you can stay for the adult costume contest.

Pretentious Drinking

Liqueurs. The fancy stuff. Polished, cosmopolitan, perhaps even a bit snooty. The stuff you graduate to from beer and wine. You’d like to know more but, gosh, look at that price. What if that pricey potion isn’t quite the palate pleaser you expected? Rejoice! As in years past, you can sample some truly amazing liqueurs, and your money’s no good here! We will supply a wide range of weird and wonderful concoctions from around the world. You can determine which you’d like to own, which should be left on the shelf, and which you should give to your arch-nemesis as a thoughtful gift. Obviously, you must be of legal drinking age to join us and show proof at registration. Snobbish accents and extended pinkies optional.

Photo Booth

The return of the Photo Booth—this year it will be located near Pretentious Drinking—where you can pose with friends wearing all sorts of fun and silly props. You’ll be given a copy of your photos as a keepsake. See some of the prior years’ photos (2019 , 2018 , 2017 , 2015 or 2014) to get an idea of what to expect.

Werewolf of WeeM Tournament

For those under 21, in addition to the daily Social Deduction games, we will offer a special Werewolf tournament just for teens and tweens after the Epicurean Experience.

Epicurean Experience

Unusual food samples and, occasionally, unique beverages. This event is alcohol free, so anyone not wearing an “under 21” badge should visit before partaking of Pretentious Drinking and show us your PD ticket. (You can keep it.)
Please note: we aren’t serving a meal, just samples and sips, so come for curiosity, not dinner.

Contests

We’ve also had requests to bring back the Cookie Contest as well as the Scarecrow Decorating Contest from previous years. If you’re a local member or attendee interested in hosting or helping with either of those or another contest idea, please let us know by contacting our WeeM Chair  or signing up to add it to the program list..

Chicago Area Mensa Board Meeting

CAM members are invited to attend. Submit any GOBS requests no later than Friday to give the GOBS liaison time to process it during this busy weekend.

Awards & Announcement

Join us in Hospitality to find out who won the various Volunteer raffle cash prizes — it could be you! Volunteers winning smaller cash amounts ($20 or less) must be present. Hear about the AG and other upcoming RGs. Congratulate several well-deserving members who have been volunteering in our organization upon whom AML service awards will be bestowed. And the Hell's M's announce the party animal of this year’s RG.

Amazing Race: WeeM Style Tournament

Join us for the “Amazing Race” for Mensans! Based upon the popular TV reality show, teams of 2-4 competitors complete a variety of tasks, some cerebral, some lighthearted, on their way to the final “Pit Stop” and victors’ bragging rights. Our version is designed for all ages and activity levels, and is sure to be one of the most memorable things you’ll do this weekend!

Mensa Test

If you haven’t officially joined Mensa, today’s your chance. Plus you can take the proctored test for only $30 — that’s a 50% savings. All you have to do to take advantage of this offer is to preregister. So make sure you do so before HalloweeM starts.

HalloweeM Breakdown

Please volunteer to help us pack up. We need people to put all the decorations away so they can be loaded onto the truck as well as all the kitchen items in Hospitality. And this year there will be a special $25 raffle exclusively for those participate.