1/Sun­day

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

  • Mind Games® 2026 Judge Registration. Join American Mensa members for Mind Games Thursday, April 16th through Sunday, April 19th, at the Hilton Washington Dulles Airport located at 13869 Park Center Rd. in Herndon, Virginia. Visit the website for all the details.

  • 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.

2/Mon­day

  • pulaski

    Casimir (Kazimierz) Pulaski Day
    Observed in Chicago & Cook County
    City offices closed.

3/Tues­day

  • 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!!

4/Wednes­day

  • AML Leadership Workshop: Level Up! Lead With Relationship 7 PM. We all experience work like a relationship. That means we crave the same things from work that we do any important relationship in our lives: acceptance, appreciation, and commitment. Through this eye-opening talk, Jason Lauritsen delivers an experience that helps leaders put an end to any outdated ways of managing people, so they can instead liberate employees to deliver their best.

    A dynamic keynote speaker, Jason Lauritsen is a true thought leader in the world of work and employee engagement who is dedicated to revolutionizing the way we Lead With RelationshipTM. He fearlessly challenges traditional norms to reshape the employee experience by consistently placing authentic human connection at the heart of leadership. Jason is the author of two books, Unlocking High Performance and Social Gravity. His thought leadership has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Talent Management magazine, HR Executive magazine, and SHRM publications.

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

5/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!!

6/Fri­day

  • Cincinnati Mensa RG held today through Sunday, March 8th at the Doubletree Suites Cincinnati - Blue Ash lo­cated at 6300 E. Kemper Rd. in Cincinnati, OH. Join the Cincinnati Mensans for their 3 day RG. For more information, see their Zinzinnati Porkolopolis RG website, which will have their most up-to-date information.

8/Sun­day

  • clock

    Daylight Saving Time starts. Remember to change your clocks by adding an hour so you’re not late.

  • Ethnic Dining 1 PM. Join us at Chicken Ati-Atihan located at 7649 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Niles. More details to come. Save the date—the RSVP window will open at 1 PM, Sunday, February 15th. 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.

12/Thurs­day

  • Conversation with London Mensans 9 AM. See Thursday, March 5th.
    Time Change Due to Daylight Saving Time Change Difference!!

13/Fri­day

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

  • Rock­ford-Area Lunch Noon. Join Dave and other Rockford-Area Mensans for lunch at the Tavern on Clark, lo­cated at 755 Clark Dr. in Rockford (just east of Bell School Rd., three blocks north of State St.). 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.
    Time Change!!

14/Satur­day

  • pi day

    π Day

  • SEMM: Because Science IS Funny!: TV’s The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, AND YOU! 6 PM CDT. Even in re-runs, something astonishing keeps cropping up on TV’s The Big Bang Theory and its highly successful spinoff, Young Sheldon—namely, actual science! What’s so hilarious about Schrodinger’s cat, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, and glow-in-the-dark jellyfish? Though both shows are comedies, they’re peppered with real-life scientific references: Characters chat about cutting-edge and classical experiments; historic formulae adorn living room whiteboards; and famous techno luminaries and science educators guest-star as themselves. The Big Bang Theory, which is still watched regularly on at least ten different local stations, cable channels, and streaming services around the world, features an assortment of very smart characters wisecracking about these and other real-life high-IQ concepts—and now you’ll be able to, too.

    Join us to learn why CBS became PBS… sort of. This month’s guest speaker, science humorist Dave Zobel argues that the two hugely popular “funny nerd” shows still fill a vital (if nontraditional) role in popularizing science: Their subtle celebration of scientific inquiry draws viewers into conversation about science, technology, math—even philosophy. And that’s a gift to every science geek … or science denier. Part one-man colloquium, part comedy routine, Mr. Zobel's talk just might show you enough of what’s fun and funny about science to earn you a spot on Sheldon’s couch!

    Dave Zobel has appeared on the TV channels G4 and Discovery and has penned segments for the radio shows StarDate, Day to Day, Says You!, and The Loh Down on Science. For the LA nonprofit “T4T” (Trash for Teaching), he designs STEM teaching kits out of rescued and repurposed manufacturers’ discards.

    See the full write-up and find contact info on the American Mensa Events website. All attendees must preregister by visiting the SEMM Monthly Gathering page and choosing "March 15, 2025 5:30 pm" from the dropdown. Due to rising Zoom costs, SEMM asks for a $5 donation, if you can afford it.
    Virtual Event!!

  • SFRM: Beyond the Microscope: Identifying Microorganisms Then and Now 4:30 PM. Identifying microbes, especially human pathogens, is a primary function of the science of microbiology. In this session, you will learn about morphological and metabolic methods of identification, as well as newly discovered genetic-based methods, that enable us to effectively identify microorganisms.

    Brett McCutcheon-Vigil joined Mensa in high school, then went on to study microbiology at Ohio State University. He worked in the healthcare documentation industry for 20+ years as a trainer, education director, and project manager. He also served on the board of the industry’s professional association. He lives in North Dakota with his husband, Robert, and two cats. And this year, at 57 years old, he is returning to finish his bachelor’s degree in microbiology at The Ohio State University.

    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!!

  • Vitual St. Paddy’s Day Celebration 6 AM. Join this 12 hour celebration via Zoom featuring Mary Reilly from Ireland. Feel free to drop in and out anytime. Get the Zoom info on the AML website.
    Virtual Event!!

16/Mon­day

  • Irish Mensa Lecture and Discussion: Why Are Cities Going Bankrupt? 2 PM. Irish Mensa meets virtually on the third Monday of each month at 7 PM Irish Time; a discussion then follows the lecture. In the late nineteenth century, Joseph Chamberlain transformed Birmingham with municipal enterprise and urban improvement. However, in the last few years, it has faced the equivalent of bankruptcy, alongside other large British cities. This lecture asks, why have cities lost the confident civic pride of the Victorian era and now struggle to provide basic services from a limited financial base? Most importantly: what can be done to regenerate them?

    Professor Martin Daunton is Visiting Gresham Professor of Economic History. He is a British academic and historian. He was Master of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, between 2004 and 2014. He is Emeritus Professor of Economic History at the University of Cambridge. He has written two books on the history of taxation in Britain—Trusting Leviathan: The Politics of Taxation in Britain, 1799–1914 and Just Taxes: The Politics of Taxation in Britain, 1914–1979, and co-edited with colleagues in Berlin a volume of essays on the political economy of public finance in leading OECD countries since the 1970s. His book The Economic Government of the World, 1933 to 2023 was published by Allen Lane in 2023. 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, March 16th).
    Time Change Due to Daylight Saving Time Change Difference!!
    Virtual Event!!

17/Tues­day

Northern Exposure

  • Northern Ex­po­sure Dinner 6:45 PM. Celebrating the Ides of March… under ten feet of snow? Then you should have dinner with us. Join us for dinner at a venue TBD in Lake County. Recurs on the third Tuesday of the month.

  • leprechaun

    St. Patrick’s Day
    Sláinte!

18/Wednes­day

  • MWW: Nonfiction Book Discussion 4:30 PM CST. Please join us in discussing March (Omnibus edition) by John Lewis. 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 The Technological Republic by Alexander Karp (April 15), Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity by Peter Attia (May 20), and Fixing Fairness: 4 Tenets to Transform Diversity Backlash into Progress for All by Lily Zheng (June 17). See the full write-up and find contact info on the American Mensa Events website.
    Virtual Event!!

19/Thurs­day

  • Conversation with London Mensans 9 AM. See Thursday, March 5th.
    Time Change Due to Daylight Saving Time Change Difference!!

20/Fri­day

  • equinox

    Northward—Vernal in our hemisphere — Equinox

21/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.

  • SFRM: Unraveling Distant Worlds: From Cotton Candy Planets to Ocean Worlds and the Search for Life Among the Exoplanets 4:30 PM. The discovery of exoplanets has revealed a cosmos teeming with strange and diverse worlds—some scorched by their stars, others light as cotton candy, shrouded in thick atmospheres, and a few that might resemble Earth. From molten lava planets to giant super-puffs and water-rich mini-Neptunes, exoplanets defy expectations at every turn. Join us for a deep dive into the cutting-edge science of exoplanet exploration. How do we detect their atmospheres? Could they support life? And do they offer clues about Earth's own formation? With new data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and upcoming telescopes, we are beginning to piece together the story of planetary evolution—unlocking the chemistry of these distant worlds and rethinking the very definition of habitability.

    Caroline Piaulet-Ghorayeb is an astrophysicist specializing in exoplanet characterization and atmospheric studies. Her research explores the diversity of distant worlds, from super-puffs—enigmatic low-density planets to water-rich sub-Neptunes and temperate exo-Earths that challenge our understanding of planetary habitability. She has worked with cutting-edge space telescopes like JWST, TESS, and HST. Passionate about science communication, she founded a NPO, InitiaSciences, to open the doors of scientific research labs to high-school students. Caroline is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Chicago, contributing to the next generation of exoplanet discoveries. She received her PhD in Physics (Astrophysics subject) from the University of Montreal, Canada and is an E. Margaret Burbridge Prize Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Chicago.

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

  • Theodore Talk: Chicago’s Best Art Deco Skyscrapers 3 PM. Influenced by Cubism and the art and architecture of the ancient Middle East, Art Deco was a modern European style that was showcased to the world at the International Exposition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris in 1925. In the U.S., the new style ornamented tall office buildings, built to meet the needs of the post-war business boom, and reflected the optimism and prosperity associated with the Roaring 20s.

    This program, presented by the Chicago Architecture Center, will briefly describe Art Deco’s origins and characteristics, then explore in detail five of Chicago’s Art Deco skyscrapers, all of which are official city landmarks meticulously restored to their original glory.

    To register for this Theodore Talk, visit the American Mensa Events website or, on or after Thursday, March 19th, 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!!

22/Sun­day

  • Theodore Talk: TBA 2:30 PM. The list of all the Theodore talks will be 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!!

24/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. 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.

25/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, March 28th through Sunday, April 19th 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 May. May events need to be submitted by the 1st of April to the activities editor to be included in the May ChiMe. An article must be featured in the May ChiMe for GOBS-subsidized June events with an RSVP deadline in May (same 1st of April deadline but article emailed to the editor; see editorial deadline).

26/Thurs­day

  • Sip & Paint at Toast to Paint 7 PM. Join us for a Sip & Paint at Toast to Paint, located at 7185 W. Bloomingdale in Chicago (in the far west Galewood neighbor). Toast to Paint is a BYOB venue; we can bring our own beverages and snacks. Cost is $19 per person. GOBS is covering the other half of the cost for one CAM member and a guest. Limit 24 people. Reservations are required. Email Beth at locsec@chicago.us.mensa.org  for payment instructions (Zelle, PayPal, or check in the mail) and to RSVP no later than Sunday, March 24th. Payment is required to hold your spot.

  • Conversation with London Mensans 9 AM. See Thursday, March 5th.
    Time Change Due to Daylight Saving Time Change Difference!!

27/Fri­day

  • Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) through Sunday, March 29th. This event promotes the latest and greatest from the worlds of comics, movies, television, toys, anime, manga and video games, and is being held in the South Building of McCormick Place in Chicago. For more information, see the C2E2 website.
    Public Event!!

28/Satur­day

Our next Bi-Monthly Gathering occurs on February 14th.
AGOG will be held Feb. 13th – 15th. Both are at the
Westin North Shore Hotel
601 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, IL 60090

* * * * * *
The next ExComm Business Meeting is being held at 5 PM on Saturday, January 31st via Zoom.

  • Virtual Monthly ExComm Business Meeting 5 PM. 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.
    Tentative: Date & Time May Change!!
    Virtual Event!!

  • New Zealand Sunday Seminars: Topic TBA 6 PM (Sunday Noon NZDT ). Save the date.
    Time Change Due to Daylight Saving Time Change Difference!!
    Virtual Event!!

  • Westside Improv Studio 7 PM located at 125 W. Front St. in Wheaton. Show is from 8 – 9:30 PM. CAM’s own John C. is part of the opening act. Buy your tickets at https://westsideimprov.com in advance (it’s not unheard of for them to sell out). Email Beth at LocSec@chicago.us.mensa.org  or Chicago Mensa Meetup to let her know you’re going—we’ll plan dinner before for those who are interested.

31/Tues­day

  • 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, Tuesday, March 31st, before the next rate increase. Register before midnight EST, Saturday, January 31st to qualify for an even better rate.


* * * * *

1 April/Wednes­day

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

  • passover

    Pass­over begins

Activities Bulletin
March 2026 (Tentative)

March
1 2 3 4 5 6 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

Top Join Contact Members
Only