Downtown Lunch: Virtual 1 PM. See Tuesday, November 30th.

Conversation with London Mensans 8 AM. Join a video chat with our kin from across the big pond in London at 2 PM BDT. I [Carey] participated previously, along with a few other CAM members, and had a very nice chat with some of our “siblings” in the London area. RSVP to local host Carey S. to receive the Zoom sign-in information. The London host is Ian David Moseley.
Virtual Event!!

Rock­ford Mensa Dinner 6:30 PM. Join Dave and other Rockford-Area Mensans for dinner at Chavez Mexican Restaurante lo­cated at 5494 E. State St. in Rockford (on the north side of State Street just west of St. Anthony Hospital). To RSVP , for more information, or to get on our e‑mail list, contact Dave L., our Rockford-Area Coördinator. RSVP required in case of cancellation, time, or venue change. This event is usually recurs on the second Friday of the month.

Poetry Dis­cus­sion 7:30 PM. Our poetry group is now using Zoom for meetings. Please send a poem or two to Joe D. by Monday, September 4th. Interested persons who are not currently members of the poetry group can contact Joe D. , and he will e-mail the poems to be discussed. This event is usually held on the evening of the second Friday of the month.
Virtual Event!!

Saturday Movie & Dinner 2:10 PM. We’ll see Golda, a movie not about an Italian precious metal, at the AMC Randhurst 12 Theaters located at 200 Randhurst Village Dr. in Mount Prospect. Lisa and I usually opt for seats on the aisle, closest to the theater entrance, and the first row up. You, of course, can sit anywhere you like. After the movie we’ll hike across the street to the Blackfinn Randhurst Grill located at 157 Randhurst Village Dr., for dinner and debriefing. To RSVP (welcome, but optional), send an e-mail Bill S.. If you show up and can’t find us, text Lisa S.. We hope to see you there!

Futures & Fantasies 2 PM. F&F will discuss the novel Hydrogen Sonata, by Iain Banks. Some authors can be very interesting, but Iain M. Banks is incredible. Theater, radio, and television have taken up his works; The Times (of London) included him in its “The 50 Greatest British Writers” since 1945. Hydrogen Sonata is a lively, fast moving novel containing all the elements that have made Banks’ Culture novels an SF reader’s delight. …[R]ichly peopled with sentient beings, from energy people to ship Minds to all kinds of humanoids, insectoids, and what have you. No matter how exotic a detail, as Banks describes it, its “credib[ility] is reinforced by first rate prose and a well drawn plot.” The gzilt are a people associated with The Culture, and young gzilt musician Vyr Cossont, with 2 arms added to her body to achieve mastery of the famously demanding elevenstring, lives in Girdlecity, sculpted to encompass an entire planet. The gzilt holy book has never been wrong (count on atheist Banks to devise an infallible divine text) and promises that in just 3 days all the gzilt will achieve the Sublime — a transformation during which they will depart the universe en masse and enter a body-free plane of existence. But some of the Culture’s self-aware AI spacecraft have discovered indications that the Sublimation may be a hoax, inflicted on the gzilt by alien trickery. As the ships and their avatars probe the matter, Vir finds herself tasked with finding the 9800-year-old man who could know the truth. See Steve’s complete ar­ticle in our August ChiMe. The discussion will take place in Conference Room G on the 3rd floor of the Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake St. in Oak Park. Water, soda and light snacks are acceptable. Parking is available under the building. To RSVP , or for more information about this event and/or SIG, contact Steve M., the SIG coördinator. The number of in-person attendees is limited, so you must RSVP. F&F usually meets on the second Sunday of most odd-numbered months.

Mensa Testing 6 PM. The location is in the River North neighborhood of downtown Chicago. You must prereg­ister and prepay — very limited seating. Parking is very expensive; public transit is strongly recommended! Latecomers and anyone without a reserved spot will not be admitted. If you are or someone you know is interested in joining Mensa, see our Testing Information for contact details and additional dates/lo­ca­tions.
Event Not in ChiMe!!

Northern Ex­po­sure Dinner 6:45 PM. Snowblower already in use? Then you should have dinner with us. Join us at Jameson’s Charhouse, in Vernon Hills for burgers, steaks, chops, fish, ribs, salads, and more. Lo­cated at 151 E. Townline Rd. in Vernon Hills. Please RSVP on Meetup or via Janice’s email, jesser@chicago.us.mensa.org  , so she can reserve a big enough table.

Conversation with London Mensans 8 AM. See Thursday, September 7th.

Downtown Lunch: Virtual 1 PM. Perhaps the longest running Mensa event anywhere, Chicago’s 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 e-mail or call/text him. We’d love to have you join us!
Virtual Event!!

Dinner Out West 6:30 PM. Are you in the mood for Italian? Dinner Out West will be at Angeli's at 1478 E. Chicago Ave. in Naperville. 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 $25, for each CAM member and their guest. Cash, Venmo, or PayPal for your portion. Limit 20 people. Reservations are required so Beth knows how big of a table to reserve. RSVP via Meetup (preferred) or directly to Beth W. no later than Tuesday, September 12th. BTW, Angeli’s is within walking distance of DQ for those who want an after-dinner treat.

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, but the location changes and can’t always be determined in time to make the ChiMe schedule. If you’re curious about the location at this month’s meeting place, e-mail Jim Z. the event coör­di­na­tor. Open to non-Mensans; bring a conservative 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 Coördinator, for this month’s lo­ca­tion and the exact time as well as more information; if e‑mailing, put “BASS” in the subject line. This event usually recurs on the 3rd Saturday of the month, about midday.

SFRM: Everything You Wanted To Know About Sex and Gender 4:30 PM. Sex and gender are in the news, in the family, and on the ballot. There is so much new information, what does it all mean?

• Cis gender?
• Transgender?
• What is gender-affirming care?
• Is my co-worker a transman or a transwoman?
• My niece says they are using a surrogate, how does that work?
• Ultrasound for ED?
• Why should I call my granddaughter “they”?

Sex and reproduction expert and long time Mensa member Melody Lowman, M.A., AASECT Certified Sex Educator and Therapist for over 40 years, will present and answer questions. To preregister (this presentation is for adult Mensa members only; Mensa number required), visit the San Francisco Regional Mensa (SFRM) Zoom link for this event.
Virtual Event!!

Downtown Lunch: Virtual 1 PM. See Thursday, September 14th.

City Dinner at La Scarola 7 PM. Join us at La Scarola for dinner! Located at 721 W. Grand Ave. in Chicago (River North). This is a GOBS-subsidized event for which any CAM member and up to one guest qualifies; ½ of your tab will be compensated, including tax and tip, up to a maximum subsidy of $25/person. Subsidy limited to 15 people. RSVP by emailing (preferred) Hilarie C. by Monday, September 11th.

CAM Youth and Parents 7 PM. CAM Youth Members, Youth family members of CAM Members, and all of the parents, please come join us in this Zoom gathering to give everyone a chance to get together, chat, and set up some activities for our CAM youth—and find out about the ones already planned like those listed on our Youth Info webpage! For questions, contact Beth W.. The Zoom info is available as part of her contact info.
Virtual Event!!

Conversation with London Mensans 8 AM. See Thursday, September 7th.

HotTopics 7:15 PM. American Dream? Yes, The American Dream still exists, and many of us will attain some version of it. How has it changed, and why is it that some think of it as a false promise? Does hard work, merit, and common sense still matter? Listen to others and share your thoughts in a friendly & fun group discussion. Join us! Visit Chicago Mensa Meetup for the full write-up and for more information including links to articles and videos. The Zoom access info was provided to those who RSVP on Meetup (preferred) or e-mail Mike B.
Meetup Virtual Event Not in ChiMe!!

Theodore Talk: Citizen Science with SciStarter: People-Powered Science 2:30 PM. Can everyone be involved in scientific research? Should everyone be involved in real research? Citizen science, community science, neighborhood science, participatory science; these terms all mean the same thing: a collaboration between scientists and those of us who are curious, concerned, and motivated to make a difference. It is a method of community engagement that furthers our understanding of our world and the power of diverse and crowdsourced data. SciStarter.org is a digital gateway to a database of citizen science projects. This database connects and disseminates otherwise siloed citizen science activities and makes engagement trajectories explicitly visible in service to the public, organizers, and researchers. See the full write-up and find contact info on the American Mensa Events website. Even if you can’t attend the live Talk, as long as 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. RSVP to Ken L. via e‑mail. If you RSVP by e-mail, your reservation is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation e-mail.

Conversation with London Mensans 8 AM. See Thursday, September 7th.

Downtown Lunch: Virtual 1 PM. See Thursday, September 14th.