Activities Bulletin
January 2020

If you’ve joined Chicago Mensa Meetup, also check out the January Calendar, which may have additional events posted that are not in the January ChiMe. (And if you haven’t, please 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. On Meetup, even though events may have an RSVP option, a few CAM event coördinators are not members of Meetup. You may RSVP there to let other CAM Meetup members know you are attending, to easily add the event info to your calendar, and to set up notifications for the events, but you should always contact the CAM event coördinator as specified.

In addition to the events listed below (which includes all those listed in ChiMe and usually all those listed on Meetup), some area groups and the youth-related groups have their own closed Facebook group where they may publish events and details of events which are not included on our website. Contact South Suburban Coördinator Jeudi or Southwest Area Group (SwAG) Coördinators Kevin and Steve for information on how to join their respective Facebook group. Contact Gifted Youth Coördinators Stacey/Stephen or the Teen Coördinator to join their Facebook groups.

1 /Wednesday

• ChiMe Activity Bulletin and Advertising Deadlines. Last day for these submissions to the February ChiMe.

• 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.

• New Year Day Luncheon 11:30 AM. January 1st is the day after the big celebrations, and this luncheon will probably be a quieter experience. Join us at the Bakers Square at 1319 W. North Ave. in Melrose Park for an informal get-together. In addition to the varied and tasty food, this low-key get-together should appeal to those Mensans either who are new to the Chicago area or who just want some stimulating conversation before going on to other activities. Cash only. RSVP by 11:30 AM on Tuesday, December 31st, but earlier is advised given the number of attendees is limited. You will get a response confirming whether you have a spot provided you have enabled Meetup messages; if you cannot receive Meetup messages, you will not be able to enjoy this luncheon.
  Learn more & RSVP @ Chicago Mensa Meetup.
  Meetup Event Not in ChiMe!!

2 /Thursday

• Southeast Side Mensa Social (SEMinalS) 7 PM. Mensa dinner at Cocula South Chicago located at 8847 S. Commercial Ave. in Chicago. We will probably be in the back room near the windows nearest Commercial Ave. I [Carol] will try to display a flag of some kind. To RSVP or for more information, contact Carol (her contact information can also be found in the January ChiMe). RSVP recommended as event may be cancelled without notice. This event will recur on the first Thursday of the month.

8 /Wednesday

Northern Exposure

• Northern Exposure Dinner 6:50 PM. Please join us as we return to the fabulous & private “Florence Room” of Dissotto Italian for freshly made pasta and sauces! Dissotto is a part of Chef Scott Harris’s family of restaurants, which includes the fabulously successful Francesca’s chain. “Walking into Disotto is like being transported to another place & time, like visiting your Nonna’s wine cellar on the Italian countryside for a homemade meal. The dining room is rich with stone, brick and wood and the aroma of pomodoro sauce & fresh pasta permeates throughout. The clinking of wine glasses and laughter of friends pulls you in and sets the stage of a meal reminiscent of vintage Italy.” Salute! Located at 310 Greenbay Road in Highwood. 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.

9 /Thursday

• Downtown Lunch 1 PM. Join Gene and Sue E. for lunch at the Exchequer Pub at 226 S. Wabash Ave. in Chicago. For reservations and/or to be put on the mailing list, contact event coördinators Gene or Sue E. before 11 AM. Their contact information is also in the January ChiMe.

10 /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.

• Poetry Discussion Cancelled.  PM. As is our custom, we will not meet in January. The poetry meetings will resume on Friday, February 14th. Contact Joe D., the SIG coördinator for general information about this SIG. This event is usually held on the second Friday of the month.
  Annual Hiatus!!

• 

  AGOG Hotel Rate Increase Alert! If you haven’t booked your room, you’ve missed your chance to book a hotel room at the AGOG discount rate of $108.

11 /Saturday

• 

  SwAG Session

  SwAG Session 4 PM. Join the Southwest Area Group for its monthly, laid-back time together with food and talk of any imaginable topic. We meet at Kevin’s home (aka SwAG HQ) on Windstone Dr. in Plainfield. RSVP by one week prior (Saturday, January 4th) is required. 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. Hope to see you there!

• Chinese on Saturdays 6 PM. We meet at Lao Sze Chuan House, 1331 Ogden Ave. in Downers Grove. Come for good food, good conversation, and occasionally some slightly warped humor. Please RSVP by 2 PM via e‑mail, Meetup, or phone. For those using the phone or whose Meetup messaging is blocked, provide a way you can be contacted about any last-minute changes to the event. For e-mail or phone RSVPs, Walt L.’s contact information can be found on our website or in the January ChiMe. This event recurs on the 2nd Saturday of the month.

12 /Sunday

• Futures & Fantasies 2 PM. F&F will discuss A Memory Called Empire, by Arkady Martine. See the article in the December 2019 ChiMe for more details. The discussion will take place 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 acceptable. Parking available under the building. For additional information about this SIG, contact Steve M., the SIG coördinator. F&F usually meets on the second Sunday of most months.

• 

  Ethnic Dining

  Ethnic Dining: Korean Cancelled. Join us at BBQ Garden, located at 9020 W. Golf Rd. in Niles, featuring unlimited Korean BBQ served or that you cook yourself; plus a kimchi/bonchon bar, hot/cold bar including salads/sushi/soup, and unlimited tea. More details in the January ChiMe.

  One non-Mensan guest may accompany each member at the GOBS-subsidized cost, but additional guests will be charged the full price. There will two GOBS-subsidized options: deluxe at $25/person or premium at $30/person. There will be a different table for each option so if your party wants to sit together, you may wish to agree on an option. The cost includes taxes and tip, and, for anyone over 10 years of age, one soda/person. Dinner for children ages 7 - 10 is ½ price and ages 4 - 6 is ¼ price; soda is not included. Reservations are required and attendance is limited. RSVP by noon Friday, January 10th. Contact Carey S. directly to RSVP and, for each person in your party, include 1) the full name, 2) the Mensa membership status, 3) specify either the deluxe or premium option, and 4) the age of anyone under eleven years of age as of Sunday, January 12th. If you don’t receive a confirmation e‑mail, try again. If you need to cancel, let Carey know ASAP since your fellow Mensans may be waitlisted and would love your spot. Please try to avoid cancelling in the last 24 hours, but if you must, contact Carey by mobile phone, which you must also use if you are lost or will be late. If possible, text first, then call, as he may not hear it ring. For Ethnic Dining notifications, updates, and all the details, join the Mensa Connect Ethnic Dining Group.
  Event Cancelled!!

14 /Tuesday

• Downtown Lunch 1 PM. Join Gene and Sue E. for lunch at the Exchequer Pub at 226 S. Wabash Ave. in Chicago. For reservations and/or to be put on the mailing list, contact event coördinators Gene or Sue E. before 11 AM. Their contact information is also in the January ChiMe.

15 /Wednesday

• Mensa Testing 6 PM. Location just west of State & Ontario St. in Chicago. You must preregister and prepay — very limited seating. Parking is very expensive; public transit strongly recommended! Latecomers and anyone without a reserved spot will not be admitted. If you are or someone you know is interested in joining Mensa, see our Testing Information for contact details and additional dates/locations.
  Event Not in ChiMe!!

• 

  A Gathering of Gamers (AGOG) - Preregistration Deadline Alert! Join us for a relaxing weekend of games and hospitality on January 24th – 26th. Today was the last day you could preregister for AGOG and qualify for an AGOG discount. Also, if you’re paying by check, it must have been received today, else you’ll have to register at the door because your preregistration and any discount will not be honored. Enjoy that same warm feeling you get when you win by signing up to volunteer today! If you haven’t preregistered, come to AGOG and register at the door!

17 /Friday

• 

  A Gathering of Gamers (AGOG) - Volunteer! Join us for a relaxing weekend of games and hospitality on January 24th – 26th. Be a winner and make this year’s AGOG the best one ever by signing up to volunteer today.

18 /Saturday

• Conservatives Lunch 11:30 AM. Join other members of the Mensan cell of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy for lunch and “secret planning” at The Patio, 2780 S. Highland Ave. in Lombard. The Patio is on the NW corner of Butterfield and Highland, but you can enter only from Highland. Look for a table with a red Meetup sign. RSVPs appreciated. Open to non-Mensans; bring a conservative friend. For more info, contact Jim Z. the event coördinator. You may also RSVP via Meetup.

• Beverly Area Saturday Salon (B.A.S.S.) ~Noon. Spontaneous conversation in far SSW Chicago, approximate vicinity of 103rd 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. Usually recurs on the 3rd Saturday of the month, about midday.

• 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 available here on our website or in the January ChiMe. Do NOT RSVP via Meetup since Gary is not a member.

19 /Sunday

W-Sub Sundays

• West Suburban Sundays Noon. Join us for Sunday lunch in the southwest suburbs at the Steven’s Family Restaurant at 2393 63rd St. in Woodridge. The restaurant has a large variety of breakfast, lunch, and brunch items, reasonably priced. Please call John or Betty N. or e-mail John N., the West Suburban Coördinators, by 2 PM on Saturday, January 18th and let them know if you are coming. Their contact information is also in the January ChiMe. You may also RSVP via Meetup. This event recurs on the third Sunday of the month.

• Rainbow SIG Dinner 6:00 PM. This will be a planning session for the year. Bring your ideas and let us know if you are willing to host an event. Meet at Nookies Edgewater (1100 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. in Chicago). Seating in the general dining area. Order off the menu. Plenty of parking in the rear (enter through the alley by the el tracks). Very close to the Red Line Bryn Mawr station. RSVP via e-mail or text message by Friday, January 17th, so we know how many seats to reserve. To find out more about this SIG, contact Brad, the SIG coördinator

Rainbow SIG

20 /Monday

• 

  Martin Luther King Jr. Day

23 /Thursday

• Downtown Lunch 1 PM. Join Gene and Sue E. for lunch at the Exchequer Pub at 226 S. Wabash Ave. in Chicago. For reservations and/or to be put on the mailing list, contact event coördinators Gene or Sue E. before 11 AM. Do not RSVP via Meetup since neither are members. Their contact information is also in the January ChiMe.

24 /Friday

AGOG 2016

• 

  A Gathering of Gamers (AGOG) 3 PM. Join us for a relaxing weekend of games and hospitality at the Westin North Shore Hotel1, 601 North Milwaukee Ave. in Wheeling. Bigger than a house party, smaller than an RG; just hundreds of Chicago Area Mensa’s games, plenty of tables, and well over a hundred friendly, albeit competitive, players. At AGOG, you can play all your favorite board and card games, including Euro/German games as well as party games and classics, or bring your own to share with friends. There are also social deduction games planned. Food and non-alcoholic beverages are provided throughout the weekend. Plus the fee includes access to Saturday’s Monthly Gathering. If you haven’t preregistered, you can register at the door. Please post on the AGOG Facebook Event or e‑mail our Chairs  regarding questions or concerns you have about anything other than registration. Sign up now to help setup and enjoy a special lunch, or to help any time later. Play and enjoy Friday’s dinner. And join our Facebook Event.

25 /Saturday

AGOG 2015

• 

  A Gathering of Gamers (AGOG) continues. Join the fun and attend the long weekend gathering of just games all day through Sunday afternoon at the Westin North Shore Hotel, 601 North Milwaukee Ave. in Wheeling! All the games we have at WeeM and more, because folks like you bring their own to share. There are also social deduction games planned. We provide food, non-alcoholic beverages, and all the games you want for a reasonable price. Plus the fee includes access to today’s Monthly Gathering. If you haven’t preregistered, you can register at the door. Sign up now to help out. And join our Facebook Event.

• 

  CAM Monthly Gathering @Westin North Shore Hotel

  
  

  Monthly Gathering
  Our January Monthly Gathering will be held at the Westin North Shore Hotel
  601 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Wheeling.
  There will be a parent-child play room available. This gathering is open to the general public. So if you’re interested in learning more about Chicago Mensa, come join us. There is an admissions fee to help cover costs. Members, RSVP via Meetup to let your friends know you’re going to be there.

  

  Monthly Gathering

  Test:

  4 PM.

  Business Meeting:

  5 PM.

  Game room opens:

  All weekend for AGOG!

  Nominations for local officers:

  7:15 PM.

  Program:

  7:30 PM.

  Party:

  8:30 PM - Midnight.

  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 Nomination Statements is March 1st. Candidates’ 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 directly to Stacey. She’d prefer them via e‑mail  or you may send your statement on disk to her at home. Her address can be found in the here on our website.
  * * * * *
  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. Or consider watching the children at the MG for a fee. You can also view the job descriptions and the required qualifications. Or 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.

  Program Topic: Everything I Learned about Teams and Leadership, I Learned from D&D
  Michael Shorten, our guest speaker, has been playing and running D&D campaigns since before there were editions! He’ll share his experience using fantasy role playing to build effective teams.
  See the full write-up in the January ChiMe.

• 

  Chinese New Year
  Year of the Rat

26 /Sunday

AGOG 2017

• 

  A Gathering of Gamers (AGOG) continues until 3 PM. Join us for a relaxing weekend of games and hospitality at the Westin North Shore Hotel, 601 North Milwaukee Ave. in Wheeling. Bigger than a house party, smaller than an RG; just hundreds of Chicago Area Mensa’s games, plenty of tables, and well over a hundred friendly, albeit competitive, players. At AGOG, you can play all your favorite board and card games, including Euro/German games as well as party games and classics, or bring your own to share with friends. There are also social deduction games planned. Food and non-alcoholic beverages are provided throughout the weekend. Sunday breakfast is included as well. If you haven’t preregistered, you can register at the door. Please post on the AGOG Facebook Event or e‑mail our Chairs  regarding questions or concerns you have about anything other than registration. Sign up now to help with breakfast, clean up, and/or pack up. And join our Facebook Event.

28 /Tuesday

• Breakfast in the NW Suburbs 10 AM. Breakfast and conversation on the 4th Tuesday in various locations. This month’s location: Le Peep located at 10 E. Northwest Hwy. in Mt. Prospect (NW corner of Northwest Hwy. (U.S. 14) and Main St. (IL 83) where the main parking lot can be accessed from Main St.). Separate checks will be available. Attendance is limited. RSVP strongly suggested in case of possible cancellations or changes in venue. Use Meetup, but if not on Meetup, RSVP Ken L. via e‑mail.

• Downtown Lunch 1 PM. Join Gene and Sue E. for lunch at the Exchequer Pub at 226 S. Wabash Ave. in Chicago. For reservations and/or to be put on the mailing list, contact event coördinators Gene or Sue E. before 11 AM. Do not RSVP via Meetup since neither are members. Their contact information is also in the January ChiMe.

• Sterling/Rock Falls/Dixon Dinner Cancelled. The group will be on hiatus until May. For more information or to get on our e‑mail list, please send a message to Dave L. our Rockford Area Coördinator. This event is usually scheduled on the last Tuesday of the month from May through October.
  Event on Hiatus!!

• SEMMantics Registration. Join the Southeast Michigan Mensans for their 2½ day RG held Friday, April 17th through Sunday, April 19th at the Detroit Metro Airport Marriott at 30559 Flynn Dr. in Romulus, MI. For more information, visit their website, where you can register and which will have the most up-to-date information. Rates increase after Friday, January 31st.

* * * * *

1 February /Saturday

• ChiMe Activity Bulletin and Advertising Deadlines. Last day for these submissions to the March ChiMe.

• ChiMe Editorial and Advertising Deadline. Last day for editorial submissions to the March ChiMe. Please submit original articles, insights, puzzles, brain teasers, or short poems. Your fellow Chicago Area Mensans would love to hear from you.

• Mensa of Wisconsin RG Registration. The RG will be held Friday, April 17th through Sunday, April 19th, just outside of Geneva, at The Ridge at W4240 WI-50 in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. The theme is “Science:Magic, a Continuum.” Your registration fee includes: Four hospitality rooms, open early and late, for games, snacking, beverages, and chatting — plus three meals. The registration form is on the Mensa of Wisconsin RG website. Their website will be updated as more details become available. Rates increase after Saturday, March 21st.

• Metropolitan Washington Mensa RG Registration. The RG will be held Friday, August 14th through Sunday, August 16th, just outside of our nation’s capital, at the Sheraton in Reston, Virginia. The theme is Pandemic RG 2020 Around the World. The registration form is on their RG website or view their flyer.