Supporting Remote Members - Revision history

BethWeiss: /* Online Engagement */

2026-06-04T00:45:09Z

Online Engagement

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:45, 4 June 2026
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	* Schedule some events on weekends		* Schedule some events on weekends
	* Avoid late-night end times for long-distance travelers		* Avoid late-night end times for long-distance travelers
	* Announce events well in advance (at least 1–2 months) \		* Announce events well in advance (at least 1–2 months)

	=== Bring Events to Them ===		=== Bring Events to Them ===
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	* Keep your website current		* Keep your website current
	* Help members find online communities:		* Help members find online communities:
	** [[~~Mensa Connect~~]]		** Mensa Connect (See [[National Tools and Resources]])
	** Facebook groups		** Facebook groups
	** Special Interest Groups (SIGs)		** Special Interest Groups (SIGs) (See [[National Tools and Resources]])
	** Virtual events and programs		** Virtual events and programs

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	If a member is closer to another Local Group:		If a member is closer to another Local Group:

	* Share that group’s newsletter and website		* Share that group’s newsletter and website
	* Connect them with nearby contacts		* Connect them with nearby contacts
	* Inform them about preferencing options		* Inform them about preferencing options
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	== Long-Term Strategy ==		== Long-Term Strategy ==

	Supporting remote members benefits both the members and the Local Group. Today's remote area can become tomorrow's active cluster, Area Coordinator region, or event location.		Supporting remote members benefits both the members and the Local Group. Today's remote area can become tomorrow's active cluster, [[Area Coordinators\|Area Coordinator]] region, or event location.

	* Build local density over time		* Build local density over time
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	* [[Member Engagement]]		* [[Member Engagement]]
	* [[Area Coordinators]]		* [[Area Coordinators]]
	* [[Events and Activities]]		* [[Local Group Events and Activities]]
	* [[Supporting Virtual Engagement]]		* [[Supporting Virtual Engagement]]

BethWeiss: /* Core Strategies */

2026-06-03T23:44:29Z

Core Strategies

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:44, 3 June 2026
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	== Core Strategies ==		== Core Strategies ==
	Membership Officers are often the primary point of contact for remote members and can play an important role in helping them feel connected and supported.		[[Membership Officer\|Membership Officers]] are often the primary point of contact for remote members and can play an important role in helping them feel connected and supported.

	=== Stay in Contact ===		=== Stay in Contact ===

BethWeiss: /* Provide Ways to Engage */

2026-06-03T06:12:51Z

Provide Ways to Engage

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:12, 3 June 2026
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	* Email updates		* Email updates
	* Online communities		* Online communities
	* [[~~Get Involved Virtually~~]]		* [[Supporting Virtual Engagement]]
	* Intellectual or written content		* Intellectual or written content
	* Volunteer opportunities that can be done remotely		* Volunteer opportunities that can be done remotely
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	* [[Area Coordinators]]		* [[Area Coordinators]]
	* [[Events and Activities]]		* [[Events and Activities]]
	* [[~~Get Involved Virtually~~]]		* [[Supporting Virtual Engagement]]

BethWeiss: Formatting

2026-06-01T05:30:22Z

Formatting

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:30, 1 June 2026
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	* Treating remote members as secondary to local attendees		* Treating remote members as secondary to local attendees
	}}		}}

	== Purpose ==		== Purpose ==
	This page provides guidance on how to support, engage, and retain members who are not able or choose not to participate in person, recognizing that serving them well is essential to long-term success.		This page provides guidance on how to support, engage, and retain members who are not able or choose not to participate in person, recognizing that serving them well is essential to long-term success.

BethWeiss: /* Area Coordinators */ Cleaned up

2026-06-01T05:29:59Z

Area Coordinators: Cleaned up

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:29, 1 June 2026
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	* Forgetting to include outlying areas in newsletters and outreach		* Forgetting to include outlying areas in newsletters and outreach
	* Treating remote members as secondary to local attendees		* Treating remote members as secondary to local attendees
	}}~~== Purpose ==~~		}}
	~~Remote members are often a significant — sometimes majority — portion of a Local Group. Engagement is not limited to event attendance.~~

			== Purpose ==
	This page provides guidance on how to support, engage, and retain members who are not able or choose not to participate in person, recognizing that serving them well is essential to long-term success.		This page provides guidance on how to support, engage, and retain members who are not able or choose not to participate in person, recognizing that serving them well is essential to long-term success.

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	== Core Strategies ==		== Core Strategies ==
			Membership Officers are often the primary point of contact for remote members and can play an important role in helping them feel connected and supported.

	=== Stay in Contact ===		=== Stay in Contact ===
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	* [[Get Involved Virtually]]		* [[Get Involved Virtually]]
	* Intellectual or written content		* Intellectual or written content
			* Volunteer opportunities that can be done remotely
			* Newsletter contributions
			* Committee or task force participation
			* Website or social media support

	Not all engagement needs to be in person.		Not all engagement needs to be in person.
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	== Supporting Remote Connections ==		== Supporting Remote Connections ==

	=== ~~Area Coordinators~~ ===		=== Building Local Connections ===
	~~Area Coordinators help connect~~ members ~~in outlying areas~~.		Remote members often benefit from connecting with other Mensans who live nearby. Even a small number of members can form a meaningful local community.

	~~See~~:		Ways to support these connections include:
	* [[Area Coordinators]]

	~~They can:~~		* Identifying members in the same geographic area
	* ~~Organize~~ local meetups		* Introducing nearby members to one another
	* ~~Serve as~~ a point of contact		* Encouraging small, informal gatherings
	* Help build local momentum		* Supporting local meetups and activities
			* Providing a local point of contact when possible

	~~=== Connecting Nearby Members ===~~		[[Area Coordinators]] can be particularly helpful in regions with multiple members by:
	* Identify members ~~in the same geographic area~~
	* Introduce them to each other
	* Encourage small, informal gatherings

	~~Even~~ a ~~few members can form a meaningful connection.~~		* Serving as a local contact
			* Organizing occasional gatherings
			* Sharing information about Local Group activities
			* Helping build momentum for future activities

	== Events and Accessibility ==		== Events and Accessibility ==
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	* Schedule some events on weekends		* Schedule some events on weekends
	* Avoid late-night end times for long-distance travelers		* Avoid late-night end times for long-distance travelers
	* Announce events well in advance (at least 1–2 months)		* Announce events well in advance (at least 1–2 months) \

	=== Bring Events to Them ===		=== Bring Events to Them ===
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	Even occasional effort has a strong impact.		Even occasional effort has a strong impact.

	~~=== Support Travel ===~~
	* Encourage carpooling
	* Help coordinate meet-ups
	* Offer to personally meet and introduce new attendees

	== Communication and Visibility ==		== Communication and Visibility ==
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	* Keep your website current		* Keep your website current
	* Help members find online communities:		* Help members find online communities:
	* Mensa Connect		** [[Mensa Connect]]
	* Facebook groups		** Facebook groups
	* ~~Other platforms~~		** Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
			** Virtual events and programs

	* Personally invite new members to join		* Personally invite new members to join
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	== Long-Term Strategy ==		== Long-Term Strategy ==

	~~One of~~ the ~~most effective ways to support geographically~~ remote ~~members:~~		Supporting remote members benefits both the members and the Local Group. Today's remote area can become tomorrow's active cluster, Area Coordinator region, or event location.

	* Build local density over time		* Build local density over time
	* Encourage testing in remote areas		* Encourage testing in remote areas
	* Support local outreach		* Support local outreach
	* Retain existing remote members		* Retain existing remote members

	~~Today’s remote area can become tomorrow’s active cluster.~~

	== Related Topics ==		== Related Topics ==
	* [[Welcoming New Members]]		* [[Welcoming New Members]]

BethWeiss: /* Guiding Principle */ now in wow

2026-06-01T05:20:39Z

Guiding Principle: now in wow

@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 * Community
 * Personal or professional growth
 == Core Strategies ==

BethWeiss: Added WoW

2026-06-01T05:20:03Z

Added WoW

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:20, 1 June 2026
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	== Purpose ==		{{Words of Wisdom
			\| wisdom =
			Remote members are not less engaged—they are differently situated. A member who never attends an event can still be a successful, connected, and valuable part of the Local Group.
			\| success =
			* Remote members renew at rates comparable to other members
			* Members report feeling informed and included
			* Members engage through communication, online participation, volunteering, or local connections
			* Remote members know how to connect with the group when they choose to do so
			\| best =
			* Focus on inclusion rather than attendance
			* Reach out proactively
			* Provide multiple ways to participate
			* Connect members with nearby Mensans and opportunities
			* Recognize that engagement looks different for different members
			\| pitfalls =
			* Measuring engagement only by event attendance
			* Assuming remote members are uninterested
			* Communicating only about in-person activities
			* Forgetting to include outlying areas in newsletters and outreach
			* Treating remote members as secondary to local attendees
			}}== Purpose ==
	Remote members are often a significant — sometimes majority — portion of a Local Group. Engagement is not limited to event attendance.		Remote members are often a significant — sometimes majority — portion of a Local Group. Engagement is not limited to event attendance.

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	== Long-Term Strategy ==		== Long-Term Strategy ==

	One of the most effective ways to support remote members:		One of the most effective ways to support geographically remote members:

	* Build local density over time		* Build local density over time
	* Encourage testing in remote areas		* Encourage testing in remote areas
	* Support local outreach		* Support local outreach
	* Retain existing remote members		* Retain existing remote members

	Today’s remote area can become tomorrow’s active cluster.		Today’s remote area can become tomorrow’s active cluster.

BethWeiss: /* Related Topics */ Added Related link

2026-03-28T05:07:22Z

BethWeiss: /* Provide Ways to Engage */ Get involved virtually

2026-03-25T23:53:59Z

Provide Ways to Engage: Get involved virtually

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:53, 25 March 2026
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	* Email updates		* Email updates
	* Online communities		* Online communities
			* [[Get Involved Virtually]]
	* Intellectual or written content		* Intellectual or written content

BethWeiss: Updated purpose

2026-03-25T05:27:46Z

Updated purpose

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:27, 25 March 2026
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	== Purpose ==		== Purpose ==
	Remote members are often a significant — sometimes majority — portion of a Local Group.		Remote members are often a significant — sometimes majority — portion of a Local Group. Engagement is not limited to event attendance.

	This page provides guidance on how to support, engage, and retain members who are not able to participate in person.		This page provides guidance on how to support, engage, and retain members who are not able or choose not to participate in person, recognizing that serving them well is essential to long-term success.

	~~Many Local Groups have more remote members than active attendees. Serving~~ them well is essential to long-term success.

	== What Is a Remote Member? ==		== What Is a Remote Member? ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:07, 28 March 2026
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	* [[Area Coordinators]]		* [[Area Coordinators]]
	* [[Events and Activities]]		* [[Events and Activities]]
			* [[Get Involved Virtually]]