ChiMe Activity Bulletin Deadline. 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.

ChiMe Editorial and Ad­ver­tising Deadlines. 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.

Annual Gathering (AG): Online Registration Rate Increase Alert! Register for the AG, held Wednesday, July 1st through Sunday, July 5th in Fort Worth, Texas, in the Omni Fort Worth Hotel, before midnight EST, Saturday, January 31st, before the next rate increase.

Imparting Truths That No One Wants to Hear 1:30 PM. Inspired by Helen Moulinos's Talking Point article Imparting Truths That No One Wants to Hear (Jan/Feb 2026 IQ, pp36-37), this discussion will explore how to effectively communicate difficult or uncomfortable truths to those in powerful positions.

Helen will draw on her experience as a changemaker and on case studies of historical challengers to argue that courage alone isn't enough. She will speak about techniques and effectiveness in influencing, which require strategy, credibility, and emotional intelligence. She will cover six key principles for challengers and what every changemaker needs in their toolkit to deliver inconvenient truths in their daily lives. The talk will emphasize the balance between honesty and diplomacy, prospects of fighting or fleeing, showing that successful truth-telling depends on preparation, timing, self-care and understanding human psychology as much as on conviction.

For the full write-up, registration instructions and how to become a guest on the British Mensa website, visit the American Mensa event.
Virtual Event!!

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 14th through the end of March and, optionally, 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).

Armchair Conversation: Kindness 6 PM. Northern New Jersey Mensa's Armchair Conversations are a friendly environment for serious conversations. This conversation will be about kindness. Visit their website, to view their House Rules, other Armchair Conversations, and for the Zoom link.
Virtual Event!!

MWW: Nonfiction Book Discussion 4:30 PM CDT. Please join us in discussing The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness by Morgan Housel. We generally discuss what we liked about the book or found challenging. We also discuss what we would like more or less of, what format we read the book in, and whether it was a recent read. Can't make it this month? The next books will be March (Omnibus edition) by John Lewis (March 18), The Technological Republic by Alexander Karp (April 15), and Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity by Peter Attia (May 20).

See the full write-up and find contact info on the American Mensa Events website.
Virtual Event!!

SFRM: Wormholes, Spacewarps, and Tunnels to Otherwheres 4:30 PM. The advent of general relativity transformed our understanding of gravity and introduced us to the idea that the underlying fabric of the universe is a tapestry we call “spacetime.” That fabric is a dynamic entity, constantly evolving and changing. It can be bent, twisted, warped—and perhaps ripped. In the hundred years that we have been aware of spacetime, our understanding of it has been informed by astronomical observations, detailed mathematical calculations, vast computer simulations, and wild speculation. Some ideas and predictions, though exotic, have been found to be wholly true; others we are skeptical of, but cannot disprove; of others, we still have no idea what to think. This talk, will discuss the nature of spacetime and our measurements of it, and examine some of the most remarkable predictions we have made about it: black holes, wormholes, and time warps.

Shane Larson was a research professor at Northwestern University, serving as Associate Director of CIERA (Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics) for more than a decade. He joined Clarkson University in the summer of 2025 as a Professor of Physics and the Director of Integrated Engineering and Applied Science Projects. He works in gravitational wave astrophysics, studying compact binary stars and the galaxy with the forthcoming space-based observatory LISA. He is an award-winning teacher and a Fellow of the American Physical Society. He contributes regularly to a public science blog at writescience.wordpress.com and posts at Bluesky with the handle @sciencejedi. Dr. Larson received a BS in Physics from Oregon State University (1991), an MS in Physics from Montana State University (1993), and his PhD in Physics from Montana State University (1999).

For more details or to register, visit the SFRM List of Presentations.
Virtual Event!!

Theodore Talk: Munich and the Rise of the Nazi Party 2:30 PM. Adolf Hitler once referred to Munich as the “capital of the Nazi movement,” a title he officially conferred on the city in 1935.

Dr. Shelly Cline, Historian and Director of Education at the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education, will explore Munich's central role in the rise of National Socialism—from its roots in the aftermath of World War I, through Hitler&aos;s transformation of the Nazi Party, to the city's function within the broader machinery of the Third Reich. The presentation will also examine how Munich has since reckoned with this complex and troubling legacy.

The list of all the Theodore talks will be on the American Mensa Events website. Provided you register for the live talk, you will receive a link to a recording of the event. Closed captioning enabled.
Virtual Event!!

AML Leadership Workshop: Level Up! Permission to be Human: Rewriting the Gifted Identity to Prevent Burnout 7 PM. Many gifted people will recognize the weight of high expectations and how it can shape an identity rooted in achievement, perfectionism, and over-functioning. In leadership roles, this identity can drive excellence, and also makes burnout more likely. This talk explores how the early formation of a “gifted identity” can become a double-edged sword, especially when adult realities don't match childhood projections of exceptionalism. We'll examine how reframing identity to include the core of being human can open the door to self-compassion, sustainable self-care, and more effective and inclusive leadership. By understanding limits, imperfections, and vulnerability in a new way, gifted leaders can protect their well-being and lead others with greater empathy and authenticity.

Dr. Rebecca Hubbard is a licensed clinical psychologist, TEDx Speaker, and certified Kemetic yoga instructor based in Chicago. With personal experience navigating hustle culture, she understands the toll that burnout and chronic overworking can take on mental health, especially for high-achieving individuals. Since earning her doctorate in Counseling Psychology in 2014, she has provided therapy in private practice to athletes, graduate and professional students, and people with immigrant backgrounds. She uses both clinical tools and holistic practices to help clients reconnect with themselves and avoid burnout. Dr. Hubbard is deeply committed to helping others redefine success, reclaim rest, and thrive beyond the demands of constant productivity.

For more details, visit the AML Event which includes the Zoom link for this event.
Virtual Event!!

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 a person TBD.

New Zealand Sunday Seminars: Topic TBA 5 PM (Sunday Noon NZT ). Save the date.
Virtual Event!!

ChiMe Activ­ity Bulletin Dead­line. 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.

ChiMe Editorial and Ad­vertising Dead­lines. 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.

Annual Gathering (AG): Online Registration Rate Increase Alert! Register for the AG, held Wednesday, July 1st through Sunday, July 5th in Fort Worth, Texas, in the Omni Fort Worth Hotel, before midnight EST, Saturday, January 31st, before the next rate increase.