1/Mon­day

  • ChiMe Activity Bulletin and Ad­ver­tising Deadlines. Last day for these submissions to the January 2026 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 January 2026 ChiMe. Please submit original ar­ticles, insights, puzzles, brain teasers, or short poems. Your fellow Chicago Area Mensa members would love to hear from you.

  • American Mensa Board of Di­rec­tors (AMC) Meet­ing 9 AM at the Sheraton Suites Chicago Elk Grove, lo­cated at 121 NW Point Blvd. in Elk Grove Village. To encourage members to see our national leadership in action, the regular quarterly meeting of the American Mensa Board of Directors (AMC) is being held in Elk Grove Village—not far from O’Hare airport. Members are encouraged to attend and observe the proceedings. For those wishing to briefly address the Board, opportunities for member comments will be made available at the beginning and end of the meeting. Expect to be on your own for meals. Since Elk Grove Village is a short drive away from the Monthly Gathering in Rolling Meadows, members can easily attend both events the same day.

    The December AMC meeting agenda will be available mid-November. See the ar­ticle in our December ChiMe (when it becomes available). RSVPs via Meetupor email to Jon G., are requested but not required. We hope to see you there!

3/Wednes­day

  • GOBS Request Deadline Noon. Today is the last day to submit a request for GOBS funds to be approved at this Saturday’s Business Meeting for any planned, eligible event, activity, or class taking place after Saturday, December 6th and through Saturday, January 18th or later; to be eligible, events involving CAM members must be published in the issue of ChiMe corresponding to the month in which they occur. For CAM events, it’s recommended you submit the GOBS request and get it approved before submitting your event information for publication in ChiMe—so no later than today for events planned for February. February events need to be submitted by the 1st of January to the activities editor to be included in the February ChiMe. An article must be featured in the February ChiMe for GOBS-subsidized March events with an RSVP deadline in February (same 1st of January deadline but article emailed to the editor; see editorial deadline).

4/Thurs­day

Big-Ben.jpg

  • Conversation with London Mensans 8 AM. Join a video chat with our kin from across the big pond in London at 2 PM BST. RSVP (via Meetup preferred) to local host Carey S. to receive the Zoom sign-in information. The London host is Ian David Moseley.
    Virtual Event!!

  • Zoom Lunch 1 PM. Perhaps the longest running Mensa event anywhere, Chicago’s Zoom Lunch (formerly known as the Downtown Lunch) is held every week, alternating between Tuesday and Thursday. Join us for conversation, laughs, and attempts to define words you’ll never use again. The Zoom id is 836 1178 6315 and the passcode is 190710; it is also included as part of your host Jon G.’s contact information if you prefer a link. Questions? Contact Jon via email or call/text him. You may also RSVP via Meetup. We’d love to have you join us!
    Virtual Event!!

6/Satur­day

Our next Monthly Gathering occurs on May 17th.
at the
Rolling Mead­ows Com­mu­ni­ty Center
3705 Pheasant Drive, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008


  • Monthly Gath­ering
    It’s the 60th Anniversary of Chicago Area Mensa!! The location of our December Month­ly Gath­ering is the Rolling Mead­ows Com­mu­ni­ty Center
    3705 Pheasant Dr. in Rolling Meadows.

    Games and hos­pi­tal­ity are in the spacious auditorium, with overflow space in the lobby. The speaker event is in the Card Room. Park in the NW lot behind the building and use Entrance K (near inner corner). Please note that we have this venue only until midnight, so plan accordingly. This gathering is open to the public. So if you’re interested in learning more about Chicago Mensa, come join us. There is an admissions fee to help cover costs (major credit cards accepted). Members, RSVP via Meetup to let your friends know you’re going to be there.

    Test:
    5 PM.
    Business Meeting:
    5 PM.
    Game room opens:
    6 PM.
    Nomi­nations for Local Officers:
    7:30 PM.
    Program:
    ~7:35 PM.
    Refreshments:
    8:30 PM - Midnight.

    The CAM Executive Committee has allocated GOBS funds to be used for the reimbursement of either or Uber ridesharing services from/to the Arlington Park METRA station. Details are on our Monthly Gathering page.
    * * * * *
    Volunteer
    Get involved! Hone your leadership, organizational, or web skills. We’re looking for vol­un­teers to fill some of the open po­sitions listed both near the back of ChiMe or on the List of Officers. Try your hand as a co-Program Officer, a website designer, web content creator, or 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. Or consider supervising the children at the MG for some extra cash.
    * * * * *
    Express Yourself
    Write an ar­ticle, submit a photo, or create a puzzle for ChiMe; see our Submission Guidelines for contact information and deadlines. Host your own event or your own virtual event using Discord!

    Program Topic: TBA

9/Tues­day

11/Thurs­day

RSVP for MELT held on Saturday, December 13th no later than Thursday, December 11th. RSVP via Meetup preferred.

12/Fri­day

  • Poetry Dis­cus­sion 7 PM. Our poetry group is using Zoom for meetings. Please send a poem or two to Joe D. by Monday, December 8th. Interested persons who are not currently members of the poetry group can contact Joe D. , and he will email the poems to be discussed. Contact Bill K. for the Zoom links or any help you might need. Do NOT RSVP via Meetup. This event is usually held on the evening of the second Friday of the month.
    Virtual Event!!

13/Satur­day

music-notes.png

  • Downtown Musicians Meetup 11 AM. We are a group of hobbyist/amateur musicians who enjoy playing music together. We have also done a few open mics around Chicagoland. Open to all acoustic instruments and voices. All experience levels welcome. Join us at the Harold Washington Library Center Music Practice Room - Chamber Room, located at 400 S. State St. in Chicago (south loop). The Chamber Room contains a baby grand piano, music stands, and chairs. The purpose of the Chamber Room is to be a rehearsal area for small acoustic or vocal music ensembles of 3 to 10 people. Located on the 8th floor of the library. No amplifiers or drums are allowed. Feel free to bring a song to share or join in on ones we have been learning. For more details and to RSVP , visit Meetup. or contact Brian G. directly. He will host this event every other Saturday.

  • Rock­ford-Area Lunch Noon. Join Dave and other Rockford-Area Mensans for lunch at the Vanakkam India, lo­cated at 1620 N. Bell School Rd. in Rockford (a few blocks north of State St. on the west side of Bell School). To RSVP , for more information, or to get on our email list, contact Dave L., our Rockford-Area Coördinator. RSVP required in case of cancellation, time, or venue change. Do not RSVP via Meetup. This event usually recurs on the second Friday of the month.
    Date & Time Change!!

  • Best Geminids Meteor Shower Viewing peaking during the night of the 13th through Sunday morning. For more information, see the NASA website or see the viewing tips at space.com.
    Public Event!!

14/Sun­day

  • chanukkah

    Hanukkah starts this evening.

16/Tues­day

RSVP for Northern Exposure no later than 10 AM. RSVP via Meetup preferred.

8.jpg

Northern Exposure

  • Northern Ex­po­sure Dinner 6:45 PM. Ice road truckers cruising past your door? Northern Exposure is taking a break this month. Happy Holidays! Please RSVP on Meetup or via Janice’s email, jesser@chicago.us.mensa.org , so she can reserve a big enough table. Recurs on the third Tuesday of the month.

  • Irish Mensa Lecture and Discussion: Medieval Carols 1 PM. Irish Mensa meets virtually on the third Monday of each month at 7 PM Irish Time; a discussion then follows the lecture.

    From the first Christmas song by a 12th-century Northumbrian hermit, through the earliest surviving Christmas carol of the mid-14th-century, to the heyday of the carol in 15th-century England, Jeremy Summerly traces the early history of the world’s favourite musical genre with sung illustrations from the St Luke’s Carollers of Chelsea.

    Jeremy Summerly is a British conductor. He was educated at Lichfield Cathedral School, Winchester College, and New College, Oxford. In 2010, he was appointed Director of Music at St Luke’s Church, Chelsea. He conducted the choir of The Queen’s College, Oxford for the 2013–14 academic year, and was Director of Music at St Peter’s College, Oxford from 2015 to 2019. In 2017, he was made a Fellow of the Royal School of Church Music and he was Visiting Professor of Music History at Gresham College 2019-2022.

    For the full write-up and to join, visit the American Mensa event. One does not have to register for the event—simply click on the Zoom link at the appropriate date and time.
    Virtual Event!!

18/Thurs­day

20/Satur­day

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  • Conserv­atives Lunch 11:30 AM. 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. The venue will be The Patio, 2780 S. Highland Ave. in Lombard (NW corner of Butterfield and Highland, but you can enter only from Highland). RSVP by emailing Jim Z. the event coör­di­na­tor. You may also RSVP via Meetup. Open to non-Mensans; bring a curious friend.

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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 emailing, put “BASS” in the subject line. This event usually recurs midday on the 3rd Saturday of the month.

21/Sun­day

  • winter

    Winter Solstice

  • Best Ursids Meteor Shower Viewing tonight through Monday morning. See viewing tips at timeanddate.com.
    Public Event!!

23/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. Sepa­rate checks are available. Use Meetup, but if not on Meetup, RSVP to Ken L. via email. If you RSVP by email, your reservation is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation email.

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  • MEANS (North Suburbs) Dinner 6:30 PM. Join Mensans Eating Around North Suburbs (MEANS) at Hackney’s on Lake located at 1514 E. Lake Ave. in Glenview. Free parking. Separate checks available. Limit 12. Please RSVP via Meetup (preferred) or email Brent B. Recurs on the 4th Tuesday of the month.

  • Festivus Day

24/Wednes­day

  • xmas-tree

25/Thurs­day

  • toys

    Christmas Day
    Have a merry holiday.

    Acapella Fellas

    Enjoy the carol Good News performed by the Acapella Fellas featuring one of our own CAM members.

25/Thurs­day

26/Fri­day

  • Boxing Day

27/Satur­day

31/Wednes­day

  • newyear

    Happy New Year’s Eve

  • Ring in the New Year at the New WWHfWM 7:30 PM. You are invited to celebrate New Year’s Eve at the new location of the Weiss Ward Home for Wayward Mensans. Plans include conversation, food, bevers, and games. Please bring your beverage of choice and a snack to share. RSVPs appreciated but not required (Meetup preferred). The exact address is available as part of Beth W. contact info. If you have any questions, please contact her.

  • 3rd Annual Around the World Zoom New Year’s Eve Party from the wee hours (3:30 AM) of our morning & well into our New Year (5:30 AM) but show up anytime. Our 2020-2021 New Year’s Eve Party was a terrific hit—with attendees from all over the world helping us celebrate each time zone’s New Year’s as we rolled around the planet. We’re all looking forward to another great bash at the end of this year. As an added bonus, I[Priscilla S.]’ve found that this awesome bash has put various Mensans in contact with each other around the world, and has established several new friendships, some looking to be lifelong. So, yay! Kicking things off, then running with the event through the entire day was a taxing effort—but well worth it. And boy, did I need a sleep and a half afterwards! Learn more & RSVP on the American Mensa website.
    Virtual International Event Not in ChiMe!!


* * * * *

1 January/Thurs­day

Happy New Year

  • ChiMe Activ­ity Bulletin and Ad­vertising Dead­lines. Last day for these submissions to the February 2026 ChiMe. Interested in organizing and hosting a virtual or in-person event? There’s bound to be an activity or a restaurant you want to try, but you just want some other people to experience it with you. So invite your fellow Mensans. Find out how by visiting our guide to hosting events.

  • ChiMe Editorial Dead­line. Last day for editorial submissions to the February 2026 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.

Activities Bulletin
December 2025 (Tentative)

December
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7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31      

RSVPs - Always contact the CAM event host as specified in the event details—email , phone , text , 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 current calendar

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 current calendar

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