The organizers of the events listed on this calendar have expressed willingness for members elsewhere in the world to join in. Please don’t give them a bigger crowd than they can handle, and do be careful about time zones. The displayed time zone is GMT! If you add them to your own calendar, the time zone should convert to your specified time zone.
To have your virtual event added to this calendar, contact Matt C., the CAM International Calendar contact.
There may be other virtual events, as well as in-person events, which may be of interest to CAM members, hosted by various local groups listed on the American Mensa Calendar of Events.
1/ Saturday
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ChiMe Activity Bulletin and Advertising Deadlines. Last day for these submissions to the March ChiMe. Interested in organizing and hosting a virtual or in-person event? Find out how by checking out our guide to hosting events.
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ChiMe Editorial 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 Mensa members would love to hear from you.
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Annual Gathering (AG): All Fired Up Rate Increase Alert!
Register for the AG, held Wednesday, July 2nd through Sunday, July 6th in Chicago, Illinois, in the Hilton Chicago on south Michigan Avenue, before midnight EST Friday, January 31st, before the next rate increase. Due to all the 4th of July and weekend festivities in the area, it may be best to book a room.
2/ Sunday
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Groundhog Day
4/ Tuesday
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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/ Thursday
9/ Sunday
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Ethnic Dining: Sushi 1 PM. Join us for a GOBS-subsidized lunch at a venue TBA. For Ethnic Dining notifications, updates, and all the details, join the Mensa Connect Ethnic Dining Group. This event recurs on the 2nd Sunday of the month.
11/ Tuesday
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Breakfast/Lunch in Arlington Heights 10:30 AM. The Southern Kitchen is located in a strip mall at 818 E. Kensington Rd. in Arlington Heights, a little west of the northwest corner of Kensington and Dryden. Separate checks are available. A 2% surcharge is added to the prices on the menu, but is waived if payment is in cash. A gratuity might or might not be added to the bill. Check your bill and please leave a tip if it is not included. You may include an additional tip for good service. 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.
12/ Wednesday
RSVP for Northern Exposure no later than 10 AM. RSVP via Meetup preferred.
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Northern Exposure Dinner 6:45 PM. Aurora borealis an everyday thing? Then you should have dinner with us. Join us for dinner at a venue TBD in Lake County. Please RSVP on Meetup or via Janice’s email, jesser@chicago.us.mensa.org , so she can reserve a big enough table.
13/ Thursday
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Conversation with London Mensans 8 AM. See Thursday, February 6th.
Virtual Event!!
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Zoom Lunch 1 PM. See Tuesday, February 4th.
14/ Friday
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A Gathering of Gamers (AGoG) 3 PM. Join us for a relaxing weekend of games and hospitality at the Westin Northshore1, 601 North Milwaukee Ave. in Wheeling. Bigger than a house party, smaller than an RG; just hundreds games supplied Chicago Area Mensa, 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. Although AGoG is laid back, we do offer scheduled tournaments and opportunities to learn new games. To find out more, view the Online Schedule. Food and non-alcoholic beverages are provided throughout the weekend.
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Poetry Discussion 7 PM. Our poetry group is using Zoom for meetings. Please send a poem or two to Joe D. by Monday, February 10th. 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!!
15/ Saturday
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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 Northshore, 601 North Milwaukee Ave. in Wheeling! All the games we have at WeeM and more, because folks like you bring their own to share. Although AGoG is laid back, we do offer scheduled tournaments and opportunities to learn new games. To find out more, view the Online Schedule. 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. And join our AGoG Facebook Event .
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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.
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Rockford-Area Lunch Noon. Join Dave and other Rockford-Area Mensans for lunch at the Olive Garden Italian Kitchen, located at 6367 E. State St. in Rockford (on the south side of State St. between Mulford and Perryville). 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.
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Monthly Gathering
The location of our February Monthly Gathering is the Westin North Shore Hotel
601 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Wheeling.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:2 PM.Business Meeting:5 PM.Game room opens:All weekend for AGoG!Nominations for Local Officers:7:30 PM.Program:~7:35 PM.Refreshments:8:30 PM - Midnight (food & beverages put out earlier than 8:30 PM is for AGoG registrants only).The Nominating Committee is looking for qualified candidates to run for the elected positions on the Chicago Area Mensa Executive Committee. If you’re interested or just curious, see Deb J.’s article in the February 2024 ChiMe for details. You can also view the job descriptions and the required qualifications.
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The Deadline for Candidate Statements is Thursday, February 27th. The 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 to Deb J., our Elections Procedures Chair, via email .
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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.
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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
The topic is usually game-related to coincide with AGoG.
If there is a spike in Covid cases, the in-person MG may become virtual & testing would be cancelled!!
16/ Sunday
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A Gathering of Gamers (AGoG) continues until 3 PM. Join us for a relaxing weekend of games and hospitality at the Westin Northshore, 601 North Milwaukee Ave. in Wheeling. Bigger than a house party, smaller than an RG; just hundreds games supplied Chicago Area Mensa, 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. Although AGoG is laid back, we do offer scheduled tournaments and opportunities to learn new games. To find out more, view the Online Schedule. Food and non-alcoholic beverages are provided throughout the weekend. Sunday brunch is included as well.
Benyamin Cohen
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SFRM: The Einstein Effect: How the World’s Favorite Genius Got Into Our Cars, Our Bathrooms and Our Minds 4:30 PM. Albert Einstein’s genius continues to impact our everyday lives — from science and technology to his status as a pop culture icon and his legacy as a humanitarian rescuing refugees and fighting in the civil rights movement. For his book, The Einstein Effect, journalist Benyamin Cohen spent years tracking down lesser-known stories about Einstein (did you know the pathologist performing Einstein’s autopsy stole his brain?) to reveal an intriguing — and often hilarious — look at how Einstein is more relevant today than ever.
Journalist Benyamin Cohen is the author of The Einstein Effect, a book about the modern-day relevancy of the world’s favorite genius. He manages the official social media accounts of Albert Einstein, where he posts every day to the 20 million fans who follow Einstein across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. He is also the news director of the Forward, America’s oldest Jewish newspaper. He is based in Morgantown, W.V., where he lives with his wife, three dogs, a cat, and a flock of chickens known as the Co-Hens.
For more details, visit the SFRM Zoom RSVPs FB Group or the SFRM List of Presentations. To register, visit San Francisco Regional Mensa (SFRM)’s registration signup for this event.
Virtual Event!!
17/ Monday
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Presidents Day
Federal Holiday
18/ Tuesday
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Zoom Lunch 1 PM. See Tuesday, February 4th.
19/ Wednesday
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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, February 15th and through Saturday, March 22nd 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 April. April events need to be submitted by the 1st of March to the activities editor to be included in the April ChiMe. An article must be featured in the April ChiMe for GOBS-subsidized May events with an RSVP deadline in April (same 1st of March deadline but article emailed to the editor; see editorial deadline).
20/ Thursday
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Conversation with London Mensans 8 AM. See Thursday, February 6th.
Virtual Event!!
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George Washington’s Birthday
25/ 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.
27/ Thursday
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Conversation with London Mensans 8 AM. See Thursday, February 6th.
Virtual Event!!
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Zoom Lunch 1 PM. See Tuesday, February 4th.
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Deadline for Nomination Statements. 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 Deb J., our Elections Procedures Chair, via email .
28/ Friday
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1 March/ Saturday
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ChiMe Activity Bulletin and Advertising Deadlines. Last day for these submissions to the April 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.
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ChiMe Editorial Deadline. Last day for editorial submissions to the April 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.
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Annual Gathering (AG): All Fired Up Rate Increase Alert!
Register for the AG, held Wednesday, July 2nd through Sunday, July 6th in Chicago, Illinois, in the Hilton Chicago on south Michigan Avenue, before midnight EST Friday, January 31st, before the next rate increase. Due to all the 4th of July and weekend festivities in the area, it may be best to book a room.
Activities Bulletin
February 2025 (Tentative)
Already a CAM Discord member?
Simply open up the Discord app, look for the
CAM 
icon on the very left, and tap/click on it. You’ll often find fellow gamers online
even when no official CAM event is taking place.
New?
A few days before the event, check out the Introductory Guide to Discord as well as our CAM Discord FAQ for instructions about downloading the Discord app on the device you’ll be using, and registering yourself. Read the doc and/or peruse the various questions and answers to familiarize yourself with our customized version.
About three days prior to the event, the Invitation Link, needed only by new CAM Discord users, will be available as part of the event host’s contact info as a button. Tap/click on the button, then tap/click on the Invitation Link, and it will open the Discord app you installed. You must acknowledge the displayed Code of Conduct to see all the rooms (aka channels). Do this by tapping/clicking on the emoji symbol at the bottom that best describes Your membership category. Once you’ve done that, you’re in and won’t need an Invitation Link again.
When you join a Discord event you won’t automatically see all the participants like in Zoom when the host lets you in or you join a meeting in progress. Instead you’ll scroll down and find the channel specified as part of the event info. You get to see the list of names indicating who is in the channel before you tap/click on it to join. And if there is someone presenting, you’ll need to tap/click on the presenter’s feed or double-click the Live button next to the presenter’s name to enlarge the feed.
It may feel weird at first but the learning curve is pretty short and chances are you’ll like it better than Zoom and choose to use it to video call a fellow Mensa member/group who is part of the CAM Discord community and definitely to play online games while chatting with everyone participating.
RSVPs - Always contact the CAM event host as specified in the event details — email , phone , text , or Meetup .
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
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
Come & play at AGoG!
Feb. 14th – 16th
Add AGoG @ Westin North Shore Hotel