1/Thurs­day

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

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

  • 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!!


Golden Ticket

October 29 – November 1, 2026

Only 114 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

3/Satur­day

  • New Zealand Sunday Seminars: TBA 6 PM (Sunday Noon NZDT ). Save the date. The list of the upcoming seminars and any details can be viewed on their website.
    Time Change Due to Daylight Saving Time Difference!!
    Virtual Event!!

  • Newberry Library Tour & Lunch 9 AM. Join Dewey B. and Beth W. for an exciting outing to the Newberry Library, followed by lunch nearby! Why the Newberry Library? It's not just a library—it's an adventure into the past! Whether you're into uncovering your family's history, curious about unique exhibits, or looking to learn something totally unexpected, the Newberry has something for everyone. With a collection that spans over six centuries of human experience, you'll be transported through time with the help of expert staff and engaging programs. As Dewey led a tour at the AG, Beth missed out, so now she's teaming up with him to bring a special tour for CAM members! Expect an interactive day full of learning, exploration, and maybe even some "wow" moments!

    Here’s the plan for the day:

    • 9 – 9:15 AM: Meet at the Newberry Library (60 W. Walton St. in Chicago)
    • 9:30 – 10:30 AM: Newberry 101: An orientation to research at the library
    • 10:30 – 11:30 AM: Guided tour of the Newberry building
    • 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Peek into a fascinating collection
    • 12:45-ish PM: Enjoy a delicious lunch at Seoul Taco (only a short walk away!)

    Seoul Taco – a fun, casual spot with a fusion of Korean and Mexican street food! There are vegetarian options, and while we can't reserve, there's plenty of seating available. Located at 738 N. Clark St. in Chicago.

    Cost? We’ve got you covered! This is a GOBS-subsidized. GOBS will cover:

    • ½ the Newberry Library fee of $150 ($6.25 per person)
    • ½ your lunch cost (up to $10, including tax & tip)

    Important:

    • The total cost for each CAM member and their guest is $6.25 for the library experience + your portion of the lunch.
    • RSVP by contacting Beth W. to get payment details. Your spot is reserved once the $6.25 library fee is paid.

    Limited to 12 people, so don’t wait! History, books, food—what more could a Mensa outing possibly offer?
    RSVPS Closed—Maximum Number of People Have Signed Up!!

8/Thurs­day

  • 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!!

  • WeeM 50: Golden Ticket Hotel Discount Deadline! Today is the last day you can book a hotel room at the WeeM discount rate of $132 at the Chicago North Shore Westin in Wheeling. So book now while this great rate is still available.

9/Fri­day

  • Rock­ford-Area Lunch Noon. Join Dave and other Rockford-Area Mensans for lunch at the Thunder Bay Grille lo­cated at 7652 Potawatomi Trail in Rockford (NE corner of State St. and Bell School Rd., in front of the Holiday Inn). 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!!

Poetry SIG

  • Poetry Dis­cus­sion 7 PM. Our poetry group is using Zoom for meetings. Please send a poem or two to Joe D. by Monday, October 5th. 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!!

  • Windycon 52: Sanctuary Among the Stars 3 PM through Sunday. Windycon is Chicagoland’s oldest science fiction convention. It will be held in the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Rosemont. For all the details, visit their website.
    Public Event!!

11/Sun­day

  • Ethnic Dining 1 PM. Join us for a buffet or prix fixe lunch at a venue TBA. This is GOBS-subsidized event. Each CAM member and only one guest qualify for the subsidy; additional guests will be charged the full price; cash only, payable upon arrival. Save the date. 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/Mon­day

  • columbus

    Indigenous People Day
    Columbus Day
    (Federal Holiday).
    The actual day that Columbus reached land in North America was the 12th.

13/Tues­day

15/Thurs­day

16/Fri­day

  • WeeM 50: Golden Ticket Preregistration Deadline Alert! Join the fun at WeeM at the Chicago North Shore Westin in Wheeling starting Thursday, October 29th through Sunday, November 1st. Friday, October 16th (just over a week from today (Monday)) is the last day you can preregister for WeeM and qualify for a discount. Preregistering means you won’t have to fill out any forms at registration, you’ll get a pre-printed badge, and you can pay via credit card . And best of all, it’ll be much quicker to get your registration packet when you arrive. Also, if you’re paying by check, it must be received no later than today or any discount for which you qualified at the time of registration will not be honored.

17/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.

18/Sun­day


Vance Mitchell Gloster

  • SFRM: Promoting Your Book 4:30 PM. Once your book is published, whether you are signed to a book deal with a major publisher or self-publish, promoting and marketing your book will largely be your responsibility. Here, he will provide an introduction to how books are promoted, the resources available to promote your book, and how to avoid being scammed.

    For more details, visit the SFRM List of Presentations, where you can register.
    Virtual Event!!

19/Mon­day

  • Irish Mensa Lecture and Discussion: TBA 1 PM. Irish Mensa meets virtually on the third Monday of each month at 7 PM IT; a discussion then follows the lecture.

    When the event details are available on the American Mensa Event Calendar, we'll update this 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 Saturday, October 17th).
    Virtual Event!!

21/Wednes­day

  • MWW: Nonfiction Book Discussion 4:30 PM CDT. Join us for a lively chat on The Seven Sins of Memory: How the Mind Forgets and Remembers by Daniel L. Schacter . 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 Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures, by Merlin Sheldrake (November 18) and Tasting History: Explore the Past Through 4,000 Years of Recipes by Max Miller & Ann Volkwein (December 16). See the full write-up and find contact info on the American Mensa Event.
    Virtual Event!!

  • Best Orionids Meteor Shower Viewing will reach its maximum rate of activity tonight, although this year, a bright waxing gibbous moon will make it difficult to see them all. Some shooting stars associated with the shower are expected to be visible each night during the week before and after. For more information, see the space.com website.

22/Thurs­day

23/Fri­day

  • Mole Day
    Avogadro’s Number (6.02 × 1023)

25/Sun­day

  • Inquiring Minds: Thinking About Money Does Not Have to Be Hard: Evidence-Based Financial Wellness for Professionals 1 PM. Are you a professional working independently as an entrepreneur? Have you focused on your professional training and career? Are you unsure about how to plan for financial wellness? Are you someone who has not wanted to bother with money management? Hayley Gates and Dr. Ketan Kulkarni will get you past the financial jargon and talk about their combined years of research and work that enabled them to feel comfortable about managing their finances.

    Hayley Gates is a medical student with a background in physiotherapy. She previously earned both undergraduate and master's degrees before working as a licenced physiotherapist. Faced with a growing burden of student debt, Hayley became increasingly interested in financial planning and was motivated to take control of her financial future. This personal journey sparked the idea to develop a public resource that would help others, particularly students and early-career professionals, to access clear, practical information on financial literacy.

    Dr. Ketan Kulkarni is a physician, a prolific researcher, a full professor, a social entrepreneur, a SELF (success entrepreneurship leadership finance) coach, a humanitarian, and a proponent of diversity, equity, and inclusion. He has received over 40 national and international awards to date for his work, in addition to academic recognition. He is the author of international award winning books, including the Legendary Quest and Soar: A Soul's Quest. As an ardent advocate of professional and financial wellbeing, Ketan truly believes that his evidence-based national, collaborative, immersive, and interactive work on financial wellbeing for professionals will assist all physicians and professionals in mastering their finances.

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

  • Theodore Talk: Saving the World with Cheap, Generic Toys 2:30 PM. For his War-Toys photo series, photographer Brian McCarty has spent years sourcing toy-props in war zones. After finding the exact same inexpensive toys everywhere from Beirut to Baltimore, he discovered that there are just a handful of factories churning out these cheap toys for the entire global market. With support from Fulbright, the US Department of State, and PolyU Design Hong Kong, Brian conducted research on these factories and developed a simple strategy for improving the play and developmental value of these extremely-low-cost toys: give manufacturers better designs and subsidize their startup production costs.

    The War Toys® organization is working to positively influence children's play on a global scale by partnering with generic toy makers; developing new, extremely-low-cost toy lines; and allowing factories to keep all of the revenue. In exchange, War Toys is harnessing existing markets to impact millions upon millions of children for relatively little cost. As pilot and proof of concept, they've started with the ubiquitous army man and are fostering a small-but-important addition to sets of plastic soldiers still being sold worldwide—photojournalists, aid workers, and frontline rescuers. The presence of these “humanitarian heroes” changes the inherent play pattern of the toys, giving children more options than “us versus them,” while quietly promoting more peaceful ideals, somewhat ironically, to kids playing war. There are endless opportunities to foster similar changes to enduringly popular, generic toy lines. War Toys will bridge the play gap for disadvantaged children and create ripple effects that will span generations. After all, at this level of the market, the same toy designs are sold for decades.

    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!!

27/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.

28/Wednes­day

  • GOBS Request Deadline Noon. Today is the last day to submit a request for GOBS funds to be approved at this Sunday’s Business Meeting for any planned, eligible event, activity, or class taking place after Sunday, November 1st through Tuesday, December 15th 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 January. January event details need to be submitted by the 1st of November to the activities editor to be included in the January ChiMe. An article must be featured in the January ChiMe for GOBS-subsidized February events with an RSVP deadline in January (1st of November deadline and article emailed to the editor; see editorial deadline).

29/Thurs­day

  • Conversation with London Mensans 9 AM. See Thursday, October 1st.
    Time Change Due to Daylight Saving Time Change Difference!!

Scotch Tasting

  • HalloweeM 50: Golden Ticket Starts! WeeM officially starts at 5 PM when you can pick up your registration information (but please come earlier if you want to help out with the setup—we need you). You can still register at the door if you chose not to preregister. The Games room opens earlier than registration, usually ~4 PM, based upon availability. Enjoy dinner, our program, tournaments, and more. Check out the PAAG (when it becomes available) for the starting times of today’s events. Donate books and media to the book sale at WeeM. Also, please consider donating a couple hours of your valuable time—it’s the volunteers that make this RG so great. For those arriving early and interested in visiting some local sites—check out Things to Do Nearby. This year, all the bourgeois bohemians hang out at HalloweeM!

30/Fri­day

Kids Costumes

  • HalloweeM 50: Golden Ticket Continues! all day. It’s Halloween weekend and you want to dress up and go to a party tonight, or you just want to pretend to be someone else for the night. This is a fun opportunity to attend the largest Halloween party by coming to the RG today. See great costumes, participate in the contest (best & worst pun, traditional, best group, best theme-related, etc.), enjoy a delicious meal, imbibe if you like, meet Mensans from all over the world, and dance the night away. It’s the perfect party, so preregister today!

31/Satur­day

Pretentious Drinking

  • HalloweeM 50: Golden Ticket Continues! all day. The program offers something for everyone and there are always games and tournaments. Check out the PAAG (when it becomes available) for the starting times of today’s events. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to be stimulated by everything WeeM has to offer. Evening events include Pretentious Drinking, the Epicurean Experience, dancing and more. And please consider donating a couple hours of your valuable time especially in hospitality—it’s the volunteers that make this RG so great. Can’t decide where to go for dinner—there are a lot of dining options near the hotel.

  • New Zealand Sunday Seminars: Quantum Computing: How We Got Here, and Where We're Going Next 6 PM (Sunday Noon NZDT). The field of quantum computing has received increasing amounts of media attention in the last few years. In step with this, it's increasingly difficult to discriminate between fundamental scientific progress, and hype. As quantum computing becomes more prevalent, it's important for scientists and non-scientists alike to understand the core ideas and implications of society constructing a large-scale quantum computer. In this talk, we will review the history of quantum computation, the current state of affairs, and how things are shaping up for the future. Along the way, we'll dispel common myths around the industry, with the goal of providing a fair and balanced overview, and to highlight key differences with ‘classical’ computation.

    Dr. Jeffrey Marshall obtained a PhD in the field of quantum computation from the University of Southern California. After this he joined the NASA Quantum AI Lab (QuAIL), and more recently transitioned to Silicon Quantum Computing. His main research interests include: noisy quantum systems, classical simulation of quantum systems, quantum error correction, quantum computing with photons.

    For more details, including how to register, visit the American Mensa Event. All attendees must preregister.
    Time Change Due to Daylight Saving Time Difference!!
    Virtual Event!!


* * * * *

1 November/Sun­day

  • clock

    Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 AM. Remember to set your clocks back and sleep a bit longer.

  • HalloweeM 50: Golden Ticket Continues until 3 PM. Join us for breakfast, the program, games, awards and more. By participating in the fun, sometimes silly, tournament “Amazing Race: WeeM Style” scheduled in the morning, perhaps you can be the star. Attend the CAM ExComm Business Meeting. Find out which of the volunteers won monetary awards (it could be you!). And please consider donating an hour or two of your time to help pack up—we really need your help and it’s the volunteers that make this RG so great. For those interested in visiting some local sites—check out Things to Do Nearby.

The August Bi-Monthly Gathering has been cancelled.

* * * * * *
The next ExComm Business Meeting is being held at 6 PM on Tuesday, July 21st via Zoom.

1
Nov

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]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 Sunday, November 1st[/url]).[/p]
2026-11-01
10:00
11:00
https://us02webzoomus/j/84286333832?pwd=yBAC8AE2Fbof7ZFBOfd6bYjSFdCIlb1

  • CAM ExComm Business Meeting 10 AM at the Westin North Shore lo­cated at 601 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Wheeling. You do not have to be registered for WeeM to attendend.

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

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

Activities Bulletin
October 2026 (Tentative)

October
        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

Play & make Friends

Jan. 15th – 17th

15
Jan

Add AGOG Weekend @ Westin North Shore Hotel

AGOG Weekend @ Westin North Shore Hotel
A Gathering of Gamers (AGOG) is a Chicago Area Mensa Regional Gathering (RG) @ Westin North Shore Hotel. This is a fun, family-friendly event occurring over a long weekend. CAM brings all their games (over 375) & puzzles. Drinks, snacks, and most meals are included.[p]If you didn't sign up for the megagame [em]After the Throne[/em], you can still do so by contacting the Chairs.[/p][p]We encourage you to register and book your room in advance to qualify for any discounts, but you may register on-site.[/p][p]Please sign-up to host a tournament or to volunteer.[/p][p]Visit our AGOG website for the most up-to-date details by using this link: [url]https://chicago.us.mensa.org/agog/index.php[/url][/p]
2027-01-15
15:00
2027-01-17
15:00
601 N Milwaukee Ave, Wheeling, IL 60090
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