Would you be surprised to hear that CAM’s biggest expense is the printing
and mailing of our monthly newsletter ChiMe?
Please consider changing your profile’s Communication Preferences for the newletter from print to electronic.
The full-color, pdf version of the ChiMe is available to all Mensa members
on both the National website
and
this website.
It’s actually available electronically earlier than the print copy.
And you’ll be saving trees.
To change from print to electronic, perform this one-time change.
Change your profile’s Communication Preferences by logging onto the National website.
After logging in, if the National website (Communication Preferences) link in the previous paragraph doesn't take you to your your profile’s Communication Preferences,
find My Mensa to the right on the American Mensa menu bar and then, under it,
chose My Membership Profile .
On the Profile webpage, tap/click on the "My Communication Preferences" link listed on the right
within the box with the heading
" My Account Links".
Under "Publication Preferences" you’ll see "Local Group Newsletter" and to the right of it "Print"
if you’re getting the ChiMe mailed to you.
On the right of the "Publication Preferences" heading, tap/click on " Edit".
On the pop-up screen, tap/click on "Print" to the right of "Local group newsletter preference:"
and tap/click on "Electronic" on the dropdown.
Finally tap/click on the Save button.
You should stop getting the paper version of ChiMe in one to two months.
Thank you for making a difference to both CAM and the planet.
Our Mission
Chicago Area Mensa is a welcoming organization that provides a framework
for intelligent individuals to discover like-minded people and pursue
common interests in order to build a social community.
See the results of our 2021 Monthly Surveys.
Learn More
Open to the Public
Monthly Gathering
Monthly Gathering
Our July Monthly Gathering is scheduled for Saturday, July 19th in the Rolling Meadows Community Center.
Learn More
This Month’s Events
This Month’s Events
Find out what’s happening this month.
The more the merrier!
Learn More
Volunteer to be our Regional Coordinator
Volunteer to be our Regional Coordinator
Region 4 LocSecs are looking for a candidate to nominate as our Regional Coordinator to serve on the AMC.
We invite all interested members to apply.
Learn More
HalloweeM
HalloweeM 49
October 30 – November 2, 2025 in the Westin North Shore Hotel. Come, learn, & have fun! Register! Book your room!
Learn More
Youth & Parents
Youth & Parents
Join activities & the closed Facebook Group for Mensa youth and their parents and
Mensa parents and their children.
Learn More
July 2-6
Annual Gathering
(AG)
July 2 - 6, 2025
in the Hilton Chicago
on S. Michigan Ave.
Learn More
Code of Conduct
Code of Conduct
Chicago Area Mensa is a safe and inclusive in-person and on-line community for CAM members and guests
regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical
appearance, race, ethnicity, age, or religion.
Unacceptable behavior will not be tolerated. Unacceptable physical, written, or verbal behavior
includes, but is not limited to: intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory, or
demeaning conduct.
Please be aware that the other members are real people; gossip and negativity negatively impact the
group as a whole. Controversial topics are part of Mensa; that is not license to be tiresome or exhibit
a belief that everyone else is wrong. Assume good intentions. If your interactions frequently turn
negative, please consider self-reflection.
CAM encourages members to report any illegal activity to the proper authorities. CAM’s response
to unacceptable behavior is not dependent on the involvement of outside authorities.
Consequences can include being removed from an event, denial of access to future events and/or CAM on-line
communities, and referral to a regional or national hearing.
If you encounter inappropriate behavior, please immediately report it to the event host, a
CAM ExComm member, or the
CAM Ombudsperson.
Tap on/hover over any of the images above. Our Code of Conduct can be scrolled whereas all other images display a summary. Tap/click on the summary to view details.
These tweens qualified for and became members of Mensa
Ms enjoying CAMBeer outing
West Suburban Games
Volunteering at a Food Pantry
Dinner Out West
Youth event
Studying the next move at "A Gathering of Gamers" (AGOG)
Enjoying the party at a Monthly Gathering
Pride Parade
Mensans who have been members for over 20 years!
Tweens at a Monthly Gathering
Smiles at a Monthly Gathering
Uzbekistani cuisine brings smiles at an Ethnic Dining event
West Suburban Games
Checking in at a Monthly Gathering
A separate room is available for young children at Monthly Gatherings, thanks to Christine.
Playing in the hosts' gazebo at North Suburban Games
SwAG Star Wars Themed Party
Part of the crowd at the Single Mensans Over Thirty Something summer barbecue
Dining in southern Wisconsin
Considering possibilities at "A Gathering of Gamers" (AGOG)
Teens enjoying themselves at a Monthly Gathering
Sip 'n' Paint
Join us!
One out of every fifty people qualifies for Mensa… Are you the one?
Mensans come from all walks of life.
They range from just under three to over one hundred years old. They represent all
gender identities, all races, various professions, and many beliefs. In
fact, there's only one thing all Mensans have in common: high
intelligence. To qualify for Mensa, you must have scored in
the top 2% of the general population on a standardized
intelligence test. There are many
tests we accept. For fun, see how you score on the International Challenge.
Once you've decided to join us,
a world of social and intellectual opportunities is open to you.
If our local events don't keep you busy
enough, there are many other opportunities to meet other Mensans
from all over the globe.
In the summer,
Mensans from around the country get together at the
Annual Gathering,
which is a feast of presentations and activities for our omnivorous minds.
Travel to Regional Gatherings (RGs) hosted by other groups throughout the year, including
October, when Chicago Area Mensa hosts HalloweeM,
one of the grandest of all the RGs. Mensa also offers many
benefits for gifted youth.
In a social media world, it's good to find some PBS minds.
Come, see what we can do for you.
Only 103 more days!
Join Chicago Area Mensans during our infamous HalloweeM weekend.
Our Regional Gathering (RG) is the largest and the program offers plenty of variety to stimuate your mind. There’s also a superabundance of games and contests to challenge you
plus many opportunities to have fun, converse and just enjoy yourself.
The pun-tastic costume parade entries will make you laugh (or groan).
Meals, snacks, and beverages are included with the exception of dinner on Saturday & lunch on Sunday.
Mensans, you can register for HalloweeM and qualify for a discount through Friday, October 17th, which is also the last day you can register online!
The hotel is offering a special $129 WeeM rate through October 9th, subject to availability.
It's Halloween and you want to dress up and go to a party, of course.
Well, it is rare that Halloween and the WeeM costume party both converge.
The stars have aligned this year and this is a fun opportunity to join the largest Halloween party by attending our RG Friday, October 31st.
You don't want to miss this incredibly fun experience.
Daisy has been keeping a close watch on the Annual Gathering
(AG) Team as
they work tirelessly to prepare for the 2025 AG, happening
Wednesday, July 2nd through
Sunday, July 6th in Chicago.
The 2025 AG will be held in the downtown
Hilton Chicago,
located at
720 S. Michigan
Avenue.
Our incredible room rate of $139 per night ended on Monday, June 16th.
The hotel offers free WiFi in hospitality as well as your room.
Come be part of Daisy’s herd as she explores the area around the hotel, located across
from Grant Park, and also close to Buckingham Fountain, the Museum Campus (Shedd Aquarium,
Field Museum, Adler Planetarium), and Queen’s Landing (where Queen Elizabeth II
disembarked from her ship in 1959) on the lakefront. Milk your access to Chicago’s
wonderful sights. This will be THE annual gathering people will be mooing,
erm, talking about for years to come!
Your registration
includes four breakfasts, three lunches, and plenty of
snacks—available in hospitality throughout the event.
The current adult member registration rate is $399.
You know how you can tell the AG is just around the corner? That’s right—the
program schedule has just been posted on the
AG website.
Or you can
download the app,
which includes the schedule, hotel maps, and the link to volunteer.
You can claim the volunteer positions you’re most excited to help with, and have everything
right at your fingertips. So start locking in your plans, sketch out your must-see sessions,
and make sure you get some rest now—because we’re getting All Fired Up
for the 2025 Annual Gathering in Chicago!
Registration for the AG is available at
ag.us.mensa.org.
Remember, you’ll need to register for the AG before securing your hotel reservation
(hotel link included in your confirmation email if you register before
Monday, June 16th).
At this time, rooms are available for
Wednesday, July 2nd through Tuesday, July 8th.
Rooms may be available prior to and after
those dates but not necessarily our great Mensa rate; rooms in our block may free up if there are cancellations.
After the deadline, expect the rates to skyrocket to over $300/night due to NASCAR!
Daisy and the AG Team can’t wait to see you in Chicago!
Allison Reeves and Karen Gruebele 2025 AG Co-chairs
Chicago Area Mensa (CAM) has developed a culture of caring and commitment facilitated by
incredible volunteers, organizers, leaders, and members. The exceptional number of awards
which CAM has won proves it. The 50,000+ members of Mensa nationwide are governed by an
elected Board composed of 15 of its own members. The Board bestows awards annually. Even
though the makeup of the Board changes every two or three years, the awards keep coming.
The highest, single award given out to local divisions is called the Diamond Award. CAM has
won the Diamond Award for the largest division in the country eight times in the last eleven
years (including 2014, 2016, 2018-2020, and 2022-2024) and a Ruby or Emerald Award in all the other years.
Before 2013, the highest award was called the Group
of the Year Award (GOTYA). CAM won this award nine times in thirteen years from its inception
in 1999 through 2012. No other Mensa group comes close. CAM is a demonstrated leader in
social events, membership, and newsletters.
For a complete list of awards and years, please
tap/click here.
Lest you think otherwise, there is a place for you in our organization. We invite you to
join.
Mensa Fame
Mensa was featured on CBS Sunday Morning
(including notable Chicago Area Mensans!) some years ago. See the show on CBS's
YouTube channel:
