1/Wednes­day

  • August ChiMe Activ­ity Bulletin Dead­line. Last day for these submissions to the August 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.
    Earlier Deadline of Sunday, June 28th!!

  • August ChiMe Editorial and Ad­vertising Dead­lines. Last day for editorial submissions to the August 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) in downtown Fort Worth, Texas in the Omni Fort Worth Hotel. See the AML 2026 AG website for details about the AG held Wednesday, July 1st through Sunday, July 5th.

2/Thurs­day

3/Fri­day

  • Anime Midwest today through Sunday, July 5th at the Donald E. Stephens (DES) Convention Center at 5555 N. River Rd. in Rosemont (accessible via CTA Blue Line). Visit their website for more information. (Check online for discounted tickets on sites like Groupon or LivingSocial.)
    Public Event!!

4/Satur­day

  • fourth

    Inde­pend­ence Day
    (Federal Holiday is Friday, July 3rd)

7/Tues­day

8/Wednes­day

  • Dinner Out West: Mediterranean in Elgin 6:30 PM. Cafe Zaytun,, 90 Tyler Creek Plaza in Elgin, is a new Mediterranean restaurant in Elgin—let's check it out! GOBS will cover ½ of your meal cost, including tax and tip (rounded up to the nearest dollar), up to a maximum subsidy of $20, for each CAM member and their guest. Cash, Zelle, or PayPal for your portion. Limit 15 people. Reservations are required so Beth knows how big of a table to reserve. RSVP via Meetup (strongly preferred) or directly to Beth W. by Monday, July 6th.

9/Thurs­day

10/Fri­day

  • Poetry Dis­cus­sion 7 PM. Our poetry group is using Zoom for meetings. Please send a poem or two to Joe D. by Monday, July 6th. Interested persons who are not currently members of the poetry group can contact Joe D. , and he will email the poems to be discussed. Do NOT RSVP via Meetup. This event is usually held on the evening of the second Friday of the month.
    Virtual Event!!

11/Satur­day

  • Rockford-Area Pool Party 2 PM. Bring your own drinks and munchies to pass around to Ted K.’s. We’ll order out for pizza or something. Guests and family (children and grandchildren) welcome! To RSVP and for Ted’s address, for more information, or to get on our email list, contact Dave L., our Rockford-Area Coordinator . Do not RSVP via Meetup. Rain date is Sunday, July 12th at 2 PM.
    Schedule Change!!

12/Sun­day

  • Ethnic Dining Cancelled. For Ethnic Dining notifications, updates, and all the details, join the Mensa Connect Ethnic Dining Group, but do not respond using Mensa Connect. This event usually recurs on the 2nd Sunday of the month.
    Event Cancelled!!

14/Tues­day

  • bastille

    Bastille Day

15/Wednes­day

  • GOBS Request Deadline Noon. Today is the last day to submit a request for GOBS funds to be approved at this Tuesday’s virtual Business Meeting for any planned, eligible event, activity, or class taking place after Tuesday, July 21st through Tuesday, August 18th 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 September. September event details need to be submitted by the 1st of August to the activities editor to be included in the September ChiMe. An article must be featured in the September ChiMe for GOBS-subsidized October events with an RSVP deadline in September (1st of August deadline and article emailed to the editor; see editorial deadline).

  • MWW: Nonfiction Book Discussion 4:30 PM CDT. Join us for a lively chat on Book Lust by Nancy Pearl. We'll compare notes on what resonated, what raised eyebrows, and how we each tackled the read—because a good book gets even better when you talk it through. 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 Crying in H Mart: A Memoir by Michelle Zauner (August 19), 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History—and How It Shattered a Nation by Andrew Ross Sorkin (September 16), and The Seven Sins of Memory: How the Mind Forgets and Remembers by Daniel L. Schacter (October 21). See the full write-up and find contact info on the American Mensa Event.
    Virtual Event!!

  • Chicago Area Mensa Annual Picnic Reg­istration. The picnic will be held at 11 AM on Sunday, July 19th in Elmhurst. Find out the details and/or register in advance so there’s an accurate count ensuring there’ll be enough food for everyone. This event is free for the first 100 registrants. Register by Saturday, July 18th. Join us for a fun time outdoors.


Golden Ticket

October 29 – November 1, 2026

Only 106 more days! Join us for a fun, long weekend with hundreds of Mensans, their families, and friends at the Westin in Wheeling including a multi-track program plus games as well as beverages, snacks, and most meals. And of course there will be chocolate! Register Now! (Rates increase after Friday, July 17th.) Book your room by October 8th to take advantage of our group discount.
Learn More

  • SFRM: Spy School 4:30 PM. Have you ever wondered what “Spy School” was like during the age of the Cold War? Find out from someone who was there.

    Don Grayson has a BS in Physics and obtained an MS in engineering at Purdue in 1972. He had 30-year career as a civilian engineer for the U.S. Navy in engineering management at the Naval Avionics Center Indianapolis. His assignments included U.S. NATO rep to Sweden, classified courier, project manager and technical analysis to various military radar and weapon guidance systems. Don is a sailboat hobbyist.

    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!!

  • Inquiring Minds: Neurodiversity Around the World: Respect, Responsibility and Resilience 2 PM. What if autism is the key to bridging the communication gap between dynamic societies and individuals? Felicia M. L. Davis, a Mensan with a master’s in organizational management, utilizes her autism to unlock the world of communication creating bridges to communicate fluidly.

    In this talk, Felicia will encourage discussion and questions about Autism Spectrum Disorder and will discuss attitudes towards ASD and resources available to people with ASD in various countries.

    See the full write-up and find contact info on the American Mensa Event. All attendees must preregister.
    Virtual Event!!

16/Thurs­day

  • Conversation with London Mensans 8 AM. Join a video chat with our kin from across the big pond in London at 2 PM BT. 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 Mensa's longest running event anywhere, Chicago’s Downtown Lunch is now on Zoom and open to Mensa members everywhere. It's held every week, alternating between Tuesday and Thursday. Join us for conversation, laughs, and whimsical solutions to the world's problems past and present. 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!!

18/Satur­day

  • 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 coor­di­na­tor. You may also RSVP via Meetup. Open to non-Mensans; bring a curious friend.

  • 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 Coordinator , 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.

  • Chicago Area Mensa Annual Picnic Reg­istration Deadline. The picnic will be held at 11 AM on Sunday, July 19th in Elmhurst. Find out the details and/or register in advance so there’s an accurate count ensuring there’ll be enough food for everyone. This event is free for the first 100 registrants. Today is the last day you can register and qualify for the discount. Join us for a fun time outdoors.

19/Sun­day

  • Chicago Area Mensa Annual Summer Picnic 11 AM. Held at Salt Creek Park in Elmhurst (just east of Rt. 83 & south of 2nd St.). Covered pavilion, grills, and food. Find out the details and/or register in advance so there’s an accurate count ensuring there’ll be enough food for everyone. This event is free for the first 100 registrants. Register by Saturday, July 18th. Join us for a fun time outdoors.


Dr. Daniel John Doyle

  • SFRM : Medical AI - Examples, Opportunities, and Cautionary Tales 4:30 PM. This talk is an exploration of the state of artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of medicine aimed at the intelligent public. By highlighting real-world examples, discussing potential opportunities, and examining cautionary tales, the talk aims to provide a balanced perspective on the role of AI in healthcare. The presentation will introduce the audience to the types of AI and its applications in medicine and showcase notable examples where AI has already demonstrated its value, such as in medical imaging interpretation, early disease detection, precision medicine, and robotic surgery. Through these examples, attendees will witness the potential transformative power of AI in improving patient outcomes, enhancing diagnostics, and optimizing treatment plans.

    Dr. Daniel John Doyle is a Professor Emeritus at Case Western Reserve University. Trained as an electrical engineer and an anesthesiologist, he holds M.D., Ph.D., and D.Phil. degrees and has edited or written several books, the latest being What Does It Mean to be Human? Life, Death, Personhood and the Transhumanist Movement.

    For more details, visit the SFRM Zoom RSVPs FB Group or the SFRM List of Presentations.
    Virtual Event!!

  • EMSC 2026 - European Mensa Science Camp. Registration is now open for European Mensa Science Camp 2026 (July 19–26 in Milow, Germany)! Designed for curious youth ages 12–19, this international camp blends science, technology, hands-on projects, and fun—bringing together Mensa friends from around the world for a week of learning, teamwork, and adventure. See the full write-up and find contact info on the American Mensa Event.

  • Odd Outing to Tour a Viking Ship Reg­istration Reminder. Join us on Saturday, September 19th for a fun time in Geneva touring the Chicago 1893 World's Fair Viking Ship! Any Chicago Mensan, one guest, and dependent kids are invited. You must register in advance to attend. Check out the event for details and to register.

20/Mon­day

  • Irish Mensa Lecture and Discussion: The Ground We Stand On 1 PM. This discussion explores The Ground We Stand On, a fascinating look at the land beneath our feet—from rocks and soil to the forces shaping Earth over both short and vast timescales. After the lecture by physicist and science communicator Helen Czerski, attendees will discuss how we think about land, resources, and the future of the planet itself.

    For the full write-up and to join, visit the American Mensa Event. One does not have to register early for the event—simply click on the Zoom link before the session starts (check back here for that link on Monday, July 20th). Irish Mensa meets virtually on the third Monday of each month at 7 PM Irish Time; a discussion then follows the lecture.
    Virtual Event!!

21/Tues­day

  • Broadway Sings America at Millennium Park 5:30 PM. Come sit with your fellow Mensans and revel in the iconic music of Broadway with the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus and stars from Broadway. Led by conductor Jason Seber, this concert features beloved showstoppers from Ragtime, Hamilton, Hair, South Pacific, and more! Join the Rainbow SIG at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park (201 E. Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60601) for this concert in the Grant Park Music Festival. Look for us in row EE in section 206 (back half of the bowl seating, far right/east section closest to restrooms).

    The concert begins at 6:30 PM. There is a pre-concert talk (30 min) in the nearby Chase Promenade North Tent, hosted by Robbie Ellis at 5:30 PM. It is best to arrive earlier, go through security and claim your seats if you want to attend the talk. You may get a wristband from the Patron Services table in order to bypass security and return to your seats promptly before the concert starts.

    Admission to the concert is free for seating in the back half of the bowl but they fill up fast, so arrive early—then lawn seats are your only option! You are allowed to bring your own food and drink (including alcohol) to this event. However, there are also concessions within Millennium Park (expect to pay $8 for a Chicago hotdog). No need to RSVP.

    A security perimeter and bag check will be in place for this event. Here's the complete list of prohibited items & map. The best entrance we have found is the one located on Randolph Street between the Chase Promenade and the Harris Theater. If you are walking east and you are in front of the Harris Theater, you've walked a bit too far. New Event Not in ChiMe!!!

The August Bi-Monthly Gathering has been cancelled.

21
Jul

Add CAM ExComm Business Meeting via Zoom

CAM ExComm Business Meeting via Zoom
[p]CAM’s ExComm Business Meeting is usually an hour covering various topics related to our group, including GOBS requests, volunteer positions, the budget, and upcoming events like AGOG, WeeM, Odd Outings, etc.[/p][p]Join Zoom meeting: [url]https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84286333832?pwd=yBAC8AE2Fbof7ZFBOfd6bYjSFdCIlb.1[/url][/p][p]Meeting ID: 842 8633 3832[br]Passcode: 223536[br]Zoom instructions: [url]https://chicago.us.mensa.org/mensacal/pdf/CAMZoomInstructions.pdf[/url][/p][p]The form for GOBS funds must be submitted the Wednesday prior to this meeting. The GOBS liaison will have it added to the agenda.[/p][p]You may submit an issue to be added to the agenda for the ExComm's consideration or request the pdf version of the agenda a few days prior to the meeting by emailing our Recording Secretary. ([url]mailto:Secretary@chicago.us.mensa.org?subject=ExComm Business Meeting on Tuesday, July 21st[/url]).[/p]
2026-07-21
18:00
19:00
https://us02webzoomus/j/84286333832?pwd=yBAC8AE2Fbof7ZFBOfd6bYjSFdCIlb1

  • Monthly ExComm Virtual Business Meeting 6 PM. Held via Zoom. Our ExComm and any other interested members discuss various topics and issues as well as GOBS requests. Members are welcome to attend and voice their opinions, but only the five elected members of the Executive Committee can vote. The Zoom login info can be found on our Contacts webpage. The business meetings recur on the third Tuesday of the month.
    Virtual Event!!

  • Best Night for Meteor Shower Viewing . Both the Southern Delta Aquariid shower will be hitting its peaks with as many as 20 meteors per hour. After midnight the moonlight is less likely to be an issue.

23/Thurs­day

  • pythagorean

    Pythagorean Theorem Day
    a2 + b2 = c2
    72 + 242 = 252

26/Sun­day

  • Theodore Talk: Born Smart or Built Smart? The Truth About Intelligence and Effort 2:30 PM. In this talk, Alexander Puutio, Adjunct Professor at Columbia University and author of the upcoming book AI for MBAs, will explore the critical distinction between being “born smart” and being “built smart.” He will also examine how curiosity, metacognition, resilience, and deliberate practice shape effective intelligence, often outweighing genetic endowment. By looking at how individuals and organizations foster, or sabotage, their own cognitive performance, we can identify the tools and environments that maximize human potential. For Mensa members in particular, the opportunity lies in shifting the conversation from static measures of IQ to dynamic strategies for making intelligence count in the world.

    To register for this Theodore Talk, visit the American Mensa Event or, on or after Friday, July 24th, tap/click on the Zoom link that will be available here on our website. See a list of all the Theodore talks on the American Mensa Event Calendar. Even if you can’t attend the live talk, provided you register, you will receive a link to a recording of the event. Closed captioning enabled.
    Virtual Event!!

28/Tues­day

  • 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. Dining might be indoors or outdoors, depending on conditions. 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.

  • 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.

  • Theodore Talk: A Horological Discourse: Mechanism, Risk and Wonder 2:30 PM. With ingenuity and design came reflection on our place in the universe, the tilt of the earth’s axis, precision and predictability, and the limits of our cognitive capacities. We engineered mechanisms to navigate our oceans and map the cosmos, explore metaphysical realms by animating the dead and rendering forms from the golden mean. We generated machines of wonder that could play music, make magic and conjure bird song. We made devices for detonating the first manifestation of manmade existential risk, destroying living organisms by the millions.

    Through examining the connections between this diverse set of objects, we will trace the story of craft and the science of horology, demonstrating its pivotal role in design through the ages and why their preservation is vital to our future.

    Brittany Nicole Cox, a horological conservator based in Seattle Washington, has a Masters in the Conservation of Clocks and Related Dynamic Objects from West Dean College, UK. She founded Memoria Technical in 2015 where she teaches, makes original work, and operates her conservation studio. Her work has been shown at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York and was featured in National Geographic and two feature-length documentaries. She has written for Vanity Fair and is working on a manuscript to be published by Penguin Press. See the full write-up and find contact info on the American Mensa Event. Even if you can’t attend the live talk, provided you register, you will receive a link to a recording of the event. Closed captioning enabled.
    Virtual Event!!

30/Thurs­day


* * * * *

1 August/Satur­day

  • September ChiMe Activ­ity Bulletin Dead­line. Last day for these submissions to the September 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.

  • September ChiMe Editorial and Ad­vertising Dead­lines. Last day for editorial submissions to the September 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.

  • New Zealand Sunday Seminars: Understanding Online Harm and False Information in Aotearoa 7 PM (Sunday Noon NZT ). This seminar will provide an overview of the key events, themes and tactics of coordinated online harm that have led to our current crisis of information integrity. Nicole Skews-Poole will also discuss the impact this landscape has on different sectors and the challenges it creates for institutions, organisations and society as a whole. While Nicole can't promise to have all the answers for solving this issue, the talk will provide a clear framework for understanding a complex and multi-layered problem which impacts us all, and the factors which make it so difficult to solve. The list of the upcoming seminars and any details can be viewed on their website.
    Virtual Event!!

  • Odd Outing to Tour a Viking Ship Reg­istration Reminder. Join us on Saturday, September 19th for a fun time in Geneva touring the Chicago 1893 World's Fair Viking Ship! Any Chicago Mensan, one guest, and dependent kids are invited. You must register in advance to attend. Check out the event for details and to register.

Activities Bulletin
July 2026

July
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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 July 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 July calendar

All August Events
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