Conversation with London Mensans 8 AM. Join a video chat with our kin from across the big pond in London at 2 PM BDT. 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!!

Ethnic Dining: Nepalese/Indian 1 PM. Join us at the Himalayan Restaurant, lo­cated at 8265 W Golf Road in Niles. This is a varied and vegan-friendly Nepalese and Indian buffet. The prix fixe meal will be only $20/person after the GOBS subsidy is applied; limited to Chicago Mensa members and one guest per member; a maximum of 15 people will be subsidized. RSVP by 1 PM, Saturday, June 7th via Meetup (strongly preferred) or by emailing Carey S. directly and, for each person in your party, include 1) their full name and 2) their CAM membership status. If you need to cancel, let Carey know ASAP since your fellow CAM Ms may be waitlisted and would love your spot. Please try to avoid cancelling after the RSVP deadline, but if you must, contact Carey by mobile phone, which you may 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, but do not use it to RSVP. This event usually recurs on the 2nd Sunday of the month.

Zoom Lunch 1 PM. See Thursday, June 5th.

NNW Dinner: Thai 6 PM. Join us for a subsidized dinner at Gumrai Thai, lo­cated at 170 N. Arlington Heights Rd. in Arlington Heights (northwest corner of Arlington Heights Rd. and Route 14 (Northwest Highway)). There is a parking lot on the south side of the restaurant. This is a GOBS-subsidized event where ½ the total cost (including tax plus a 20% tip, rounded up to the nearest dollar) of a CAM member’s, and up to one guest’s, dinner will be covered for a maximum of fifteen people—for a maximum subsidy of $20/person; cash (no coins) or PayPal only for your portion. RSVP (and get more details) on Meetup, but if not on Meetup, email Ken L. at least 3 days in advance. If you RSVP by email, your reservation is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation email.

Conversation with London Mensans 8 AM. See Thursday, June 5th.
Virtual Event!!

Rock­ford-Area Dinner 6:30 PM. Join Dave and other Rockford-Area Mensans for dinner at Thai Hut Restaurant, lo­cated at 701 Highgrove Pl. in Rockford (next to Cosmetology & Spa Academy). To RSVP , for more information, or to get on our email list, contact Dave L., our Rockford-Area Coordinator. 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.

Poetry Dis­cus­sion 7 PM. Our poetry group is using Zoom for meetings. Please send a poem or two to Joe D. by Monday, June 9th. 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!!

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.

South Suburbs Ms Outdoors 4 PM. Join us for a unique, half-year South Suburbs meetings celebration in the natural beauty of Camp Bullfrog Lake, 9600 Wolf Rd. in Willow Springs! This gathering promises more than just a few hours of camaraderie—it’s an opportunity to unwind and connect with fellow Mensans amidst a serene outdoor setting, while offering a variety of activities to suit every interest. Enjoy fishing, kayaking, exploring scenic trails, sharing stories around a crackling campfire, or indulging in the delights of campfire cooking in a cauldron. For those wishing to extend the experience, an overnight option is available. A maximum of 10 attendees may stay overnight (check-in at 9 PM) for a nominal cabin rental fee of $7 (a rate generously subsidized by GOBS). The accommodation is an Accessible Bullfrog Large Cabin, allocated on a first-come (& paid), first-served basis. All attendees are expected to familiarize themselves with and adhere to Camp Bullfrog Lake’s Rules & Policies. Please note that the security deposit has been paid, and all individuals are responsible for their own safety and well-being. To secure your spot, please RSVP by Saturday, June 7th to Dorin R., our South Suburbs Area Coordinator. Kindly indicate the total number of attendees in your party and whether you would like to reserve a spot in the overnight cabin. Come immerse yourself in nature! Whether you choose to cook over a fire ring, hike or bike along the trails, fish or kayak on the lake, study the celestial wonders, or simply enjoy the company of intelligent and engaging individuals, this event offers a memorable experience for all.

Northern Ex­po­sure Dinner 6:45 PM. Twenty-four hours of daylight? 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. Recurs on the third Tuesday of the month.

Conversation with London Mensans 8 AM. See Thursday, June 5th.
Virtual Event!!

Zoom Lunch 1 PM. See Thursday, June 5th.

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.

Monthly Gath­ering
It’s the 60th Anniversary of Chicago Area Mensa!! The location of our June 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.

Monthly Gathering

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.
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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

Theodore Talk: How Corn Changed Itself and Then Changed Everything Else: The Role Agriculture Played in the Early Days of Chicago 2:30 PM. About 10,000 years ago, a weedy grass growing in Mexico possessed of a strange trait, known as a“jumping gene”, transformed itself into a larger and more useful grass—the cereal grass that we would come to know as maize and then corn. Nurtured by Native Americans, this grain would transform the Americas even before First Contact. After First Contact, it spanned the globe, but it also drove westward expansion in North America, building cities and inspiring innovators and entrepreneurs.

Thanks to corn, the Midwest was settled faster than any other region in history, and Chicago became immensely influential. From the Chicago Stock Yards to the Chicago Board of Trade, the city changed the way the world did business. However, vampires, whiskey, Henry Ford, time zones, Fritos, and the Chicago Bears are also part of this remarkable story. As Margaret Visser noted in Much Depends on Dinner, “Without corn, North America—and most particularly modern, technological North America—is inconceivable.”

Cynthia Clampitt, author of The Midwest Maize: How Corn Shaped the U.S. Heartland, will present what may prove to be the corniest Theodore Talk ever! To register, visit the American Mensa Event or, on or after Friday, June 20th, 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 Events website. 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!!

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.

Zoom Lunch 1 PM. See Thursday, June 5th.

Dinner Out West: Italian in St. Charles 6:30 PM. Join us for Italian food at Salerno’s On the Fox, 320 N 2nd St. in St. Charles. This is a GOBS-subsidized event. GOBS will cover ½ of your meal cost, including tax and tip (rounded up to the nearest dollar), up to a maximum subsidy of $15, for each CAM member and their guest. Cash, Zelle, or PayPal for your portion. Limit 20 people. Reservations are required so Beth knows how big of a table to reserve. RSVP via Meetup (strongly preferred) or directly to Beth W. no later than Sunday, June 22nd.

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.

Conversation with London Mensans 8 AM. See Thursday, June 5th.
Virtual Event!!

Downtown Musicians Meetup 11 AM. See Saturday, June 14th.

54th Chicago Annual Pride Parade ~10 AM. The CAM contingent is sponsored by the Rainbow SIG. The Rainbow SIG will be marching and riding on their float again this year in the Chicago Annual Pride parade. Although it started out as gays marching down Broadway to display their pride after decades of discrimination, it has evolved into a million people, gay, straight and everything in between supporting equal rights for everyone and celebrating the diversity that was once frowned upon. The interaction with the crowd is exhilarating. And spreading the idea that Mensans are everywhere and come in all shapes, sizes, sexual preferences, and gender identities sends an important message. Participants who sign up will be notified of the exact time and lo­ca­tion (along W. Sheridan or N. Broadway, near the intersection of N. Broadway and W. Sheridan Rd. in Chicago) once that information is known, about a week before. After completing the 2 mile route, it’s about a ½ mile walk southwest to enjoy an optional, private, late luncheon (see below). For all details, visit the Parade Info webpage or see the ar­ticles in the April ChiMe, May ChiMe, or June ChiMe (when it becomes available). Register by Thursday, May 29th.

Rainbow SIG Late Luncheon no earlier than 2:30 PM (immediately following the Parade)—a more precise time will be announced one week before the parade. It will be held at Basil Leaf Café located at 2465 N. Clark St., Chicago. Visit the Parade Info webpage to sign up or for more details.