Weekly Events:
T.G.I.F. Thank Goodness It’s Friday
After 34 years, COVID-19 put TGIF on hiatus. Now we just need a new coordinator. Contact our Local Secretary if it sounds like something you’d like to do
Slacker SIG – 10AM Thursdays – Location Infor in the OMEN
Trivia PORTLAND – 5:00 TO 8:00 PM – NTN TRIVIA at a pub somewhere in the Portland Metro Area. If curious who all has been playing, just look at the Old Barn’s Showdown game history:
https://www.buzztime.com/site/2605/gamehistory/gameid/29
To join us, come in the front door and look to your left for the long, high-top tables and the people with blue trivia boxes. The staff also knows where the “Tuesday trivia team” sits. Happy H until 6:30pm offers appetizer discounts. The automated trivia system runs all day; our team filters in from 4pm onward. Peak attendance is for the “Showdown” game, which runs from 5:29 to 6:30pm. People start drifting out after that, and we’re usually all gone by 8:00pm. Contact your event host, Jeff Fisher, if you have questions or want more information (contact info always in the OMEN).
Monthly Events
First Saturday House Party at the home of a member. BYO beverage and finger food to share. Our most popular monthly event in the Portland area. First Saturday parties elsewhere in the state are irregular. Normal turnout: 25-60
First Thurs PDX Art Explore Portland Art Galleries.
– currently on hiatus, needs coordinator.
Omen Deadline The 10th of each month is our deadline for submissions to the newsletter.
New Members Events: Sometimes First Saturday before the main Party, sometimes Third Saturday evening. Sometimes scheduled ad-hoc. A chance for people who are new, or who have not attended Mensa events to gently get acquainted with our culture and our members. Hosted in the home of a member.
Games, Board and other games at the home of a member.
Central Coast Third Sunday: Lunch at a local restaurant
Corvallis First Wed Dinner: Group meal at a restaurant in the Albany/Corvallis area.
Corvallis Third Wed Lunch: Group meal at a restaurant in the Albany/Corvallis area.
Eugene Third Thursday: Group meal at a local restaurant
Portland Early Bird Coffee Klatch: second Wednesday at 8 am at a local coffee shop
Portland Card Games: Bridge, Euchre, and more at the home of a member
Portland Third Saturday Movie: Movie and dinner in St. Johns/Vancouver
Portland Fourth Wednesday: Dining Out Club, meets at a different restaurant each month
Portland Game Day: Fourth Saturday, at the home of a member
South Coast Third Monday: Dinner at a local restaurant
Southern Oregon Social Discussion: Second Friday, hosted in the home of a member.
Roseburg First Wednesday Lunch: Group meal at a restaurant in the Greater Roseburg area
Roseburg Third Wednesday: Group dinner at a restaurant in the Greater Roseburg area
Vancouver Second Saturday: at the home of a member
Annual Events
Regional Gathering (RG)
RGs are weekend “campout” parties that take place in a hotel or resort and last all weekend. Several RG’s take place almost every weekend, in different cities all over America. Most local Mensa groups host an RG every year or two. Mensans from all over the world come to party.
Imagine if you dare, a hotel, 100-300 Mensans from all over the world, and lots of things to talk about.
There is always a hospitality suite full of food and beverages and interesting people. Elsewhere at the RG are games, puzzles, movies, and somewhere between 6-20 presentations by interesting and learned persons. There is often & Hot Tub, and no curfew!
If you have never attended an RG you are simply not getting full value from your Mensa Membership. All RG’s have one-day admission rates, if you only have time to stick your toe in and/or sample the event. But for the full experience you’ll want the full weekend package.
At an RG you can just pay your money and show up and have fun. However for the best RG experience you will want to volunteer. RG’s are about participation, and there is no better way to get to know your fellow Mensans. You can contribute in small or large ways by helping to plan or execute a part of the event.
If the RG occurs close enough to your house to commute, you can save on the hotel expense – you won’t have to rent or share a room. Still, there are those who argue that the experience is always better if you do.
Oregon’s Regional Gathering is in Late April or Early May of each year.
Annual Gathering (AG)
American Mensa’s Annual Convention brings 1,500-2,500 Mensans from around the world together in a large convention hotel. As with Regional Gatherings, there is a Hospitality suite but instead of 10-20 presentations by learned experts there are more like 50-90, plus a big sit down dinner and lots and lots of interesting people.
The American Mensa AG usually happens on or near the July 4th weekend. American Mensa’s AG is only one of the National AG’s that happen each year all over the world. Other nations with a major Mensa presence also host an AG.