Local Events Calendar
From casual dinners to escape rooms and museum tours, there's always something happening. We use Luma to manage our live schedule—sync it with your phone to never miss a gathering.
Open Luma CalendarSpecial Interest Groups (SIGs)
The heart of Mensa's social experience. SIGs are member-led groups focused on a shared passion. Join an existing group below or step up to lead your own!
Active Group Directory
Tap any group below to read its backstory and find out how to join.
Answers to Everything
Contact: Jonathan Elliott
This discussion group was started in 1996, with the allegedly-impossible mission to construct a single nonpartisan agenda comprising solutions to all the Political, Economic, and Social problems facing America today. It took over 20 years, and nearly 300 separate discussion sessions, but we finally completed our First Pass in 2019, and our Third Pass in 2022.
Our SIG is now operating on a correspondence-only basis, as we review our conclusions, consider possible enhancements, and discuss how best to spread the word that this model exists. Contact us through the e-mail address listed in the GLAAM newsletter if you are interested in participating in this process, or follow us on Twitter using the @a2e_project name or the A2E hashtag.
Contemporary Issues SIG
Contact: Jana Bickel (janabickel@earthlink.net)
Meets once a month on the second Thursday at the Horseless Carriage in Van Nuys. We meet in a private room and have our dinner around 5:30. Discussion starts at 6:30. During the year we select a general topic for each month. At the meeting we take turns giving our opinion, avoiding the subject of politics, trying to find common ground rather engage in a debate.
Inland Empire Mensa Zoom
Contact: Wilbert Woo (calwoow@aol.com)
Zoom discussion group for Mensans who live in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties that meets on second Saturday of the month from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. Discussions are serious and jocular, deep and shallow. Contact Wilbert for the Zoom link and passcode.
Investments and the Economy
Contact: Fran Shankle (franshankle@aol.com)
Meets on the first Saturday of the month at the home of Fran Shankle to discuss investment strategies and compare notes on investments.
Writers’ Workshop
Contact: Alan Stillson ((818) 884–4282)
The workshop meets at the home of Alan Stillson to critique each others’ work, mostly novel and short story fiction. For more information as to the exact time, see the Calendar entry.
Zoom Book Discussion
Contact: Jana Bickel (janabickel@earthlink.net)
Meets twice a month on Zoom on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. The second Tuesday’s meeting is “Bring Your Own Book”. On the second Thursday a specific book, author, or subject is selected for the group to read.
Dining Out & Cuisine Groups
International Dining
Contact: Kedem (kedem524@yahoo.com)
Dines out at different international restaurants throughout the City usually on the Third Sunday of the month.
Santa Monica Dinner Night
Contact: Perry (310-922-3422)
Meets on the third Thursday of the month at El Cholo Restaurant in Santa Monica on Wilshire Blvd. Strictly social event, no meeting or agenda.
South Bay Salon
Contact: Kedem (kedem524@yahoo.com)
Dines out at a different restaurant in the South Bay area usually on the 4th Sunday of the month.
Thursday at Sizzler’s
Contact: Jana Bickel (janabickel@earthlink.net)
Meets for dinner at Sizzler’s on Van Nuys, just south of Sherman Way, every fourth Thursday of the month for plenty of good food and conversation. We start eating at 5:30 PM and stay until 8 PM.
Folksong SIG
Contact: Alan Stillson ((818) 884–4282)
The SIG usually meets twice a month–the second Sunday of the month, which is in person, and the 4th Sunday which is a ZOOM meeting.
Gifted Youth Committee
We provide special activities within our calendar where minor children who are believed or have been diagnosed as ‘gifted’ may safely enjoy the company of intellectual peers within their age groups. Activities are supervised by specifically trained and evaluated parent volunteers.
StaRGazing
GLAAM’s Regional Gathering
Every year over Presidents’ Day weekend, we conduct a weekend-long convention for GLAAM members and our friends from neighboring Mensa chapters. Long tradition refers to these events as “Regional Gatherings” or “RGs”.
We take over a local hotel, rent out meeting rooms for speakers, games, and hospitality, and set up a multi-track schedule of fun activities to keep you amused and stimulated all weekend long!