Welcoming New Members: Local Group Approaches - Revision history

BethWeiss: put into table

2026-06-02T21:27:48Z

put into table

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:27, 2 June 2026
Line 24:		Line 24:
	* Newsletter introduction		* Newsletter introduction
	* New Member Orientation before the Monthly Gathering		* New Member Orientation before the Monthly Gathering
	\|}
			\|-
	We send out a welcome letter tailored to the circumstances of being new to the group – new Mensa member, move-in, rejoined, member by preference. I’ve attached generic version of the email version for new Mensa members. Along with the letter is a New Member Profile that requests info that we then publish in a Welcome column in our newsletter. Check out the November 2025 ISSUE of our newsletter, the ''San Diego MENSAN'' online to see a typical column. The USPS version doesn’t have the ''Mensa Speak'' info.		\|Approach
			\|We send out a welcome letter tailored to the circumstances of being new to the group – new Mensa member, move-in, rejoined, member by preference. I’ve attached generic version of the email version for new Mensa members. Along with the letter is a New Member Profile that requests info that we then publish in a Welcome column in our newsletter. Check out the November 2025 ISSUE of our newsletter, the ''San Diego MENSAN'' online to see a typical column. The USPS version doesn’t have the ''Mensa Speak'' info.
	There is an invitation to the Monthly New Members Orientation, which is held 30 minutes before the Monthly Gathering. Someone from the MS team gives the orientation, which includes info about the local group – number of members, geographic area, board composition and other appointed positions, activities, publications, and online resources, among others. We also discuss the idea that they as new members, can start new events or SIGs that interest them, and possibly other members.		There is an invitation to the Monthly New Members Orientation, which is held 30 minutes before the Monthly Gathering. Someone from the MS team gives the orientation, which includes info about the local group – number of members, geographic area, board composition and other appointed positions, activities, publications, and online resources, among others. We also discuss the idea that they as new members, can start new events or SIGs that interest them, and possibly other members.
			\|}

	== Western New York Mensa ==		== Western New York Mensa ==
Line 49:		Line 50:
	* Follow-up when appropriate		* Follow-up when appropriate
	* Encouragement after first event attendance		* Encouragement after first event attendance
			\|-
			\|Approach
			\|I'm the Membership Chair for Western New York Mensa. I'm the one who sends a welcome email to or calls new members. We're a relatively small group; as stated in the sample email below, the editor of our newsletter and Test Coordinator sends me names of new members as they come in, sometimes waiting until she has several names. The medium I use depends on what information the newbie has provided. If I have a phone number, I usually start with a call, to make it more personal, and leave a message if I get voicemail. If there's no email or phone number given, just a street address, I print this email out as a letter, personalized with their name, and mail it. Some new members respond by calling or emailing me; alas, many don't reply at all. I'm not adverse to calling back if I haven't heard from someone, but I don't push if they're clearly not interested in attending an event. If they have attended an event, I might tell them that we enjoyed meeting them and hope to see them at another event soon.
			Jan Sandberg
	\|}		\|}
	I'm the Membership Chair for Western New York Mensa. I'm the one who sends a welcome email to or calls new members. We're a relatively small group; as stated in the sample email below, the editor of our newsletter and Test Coordinator sends me names of new members as they come in, sometimes waiting until she has several names. The medium I use depends on what information the newbie has provided. If I have a phone number, I usually start with a call, to make it more personal, and leave a message if I get voicemail. If there's no email or phone number given, just a street address, I print this email out as a letter, personalized with their name, and mail it. Some new members respond by calling or emailing me; alas, many don't reply at all. I'm not adverse to calling back if I haven't heard from someone, but I don't push if they're clearly not interested in attending an event. If they have attended an event, I might tell them that we enjoyed meeting them and hope to see them at another event soon.

	~~Jan Sandberg~~

	== Related ==		== Related ==

BethWeiss: /* Related */

2026-06-02T05:50:16Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:50, 2 June 2026
Line 57:		Line 57:

	* [[Welcoming New Members]]		* [[Welcoming New Members]]
			* [[Welcoming New Members: Local Group Outreach Examples]]
	* [[Member Contact Methods]]		* [[Member Contact Methods]]

	* [[Making It Personal]]		* [[Making It Personal]]

	* [[Responding to Members]]

BethWeiss: BethWeiss moved page Welcoming New Members: Examples from Local Groups to Welcoming New Members: Local Group Approaches: Consistency

2026-06-02T05:48:53Z

BethWeiss moved page Welcoming New Members: Examples from Local Groups to Welcoming New Members: Local Group Approaches: Consistency

← Older revision	Revision as of 05:48, 2 June 2026
(No difference)

BethWeiss: /* Purpose */

2026-06-02T05:31:17Z

Purpose

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:31, 2 June 2026
Line 2:		Line 2:
	Share approaches that Local Groups have found effective when welcoming and connecting with new members.		Share approaches that Local Groups have found effective when welcoming and connecting with new members.

	~~These~~ examples ~~illustrate a variety of approaches used by Local Groups of different sizes~~ and ~~styles~~.		Use these examples for inspiration, ideas, and practical techniques that may work well in your own group.

	== San Diego Mensa ==		== San Diego Mensa ==

BethWeiss: BethWeiss moved page Best Practices Shared from Local Groups to Welcoming New Members: Examples from Local Groups: clarify

2026-06-02T05:30:09Z

BethWeiss moved page Best Practices Shared from Local Groups to Welcoming New Members: Examples from Local Groups: clarify

← Older revision	Revision as of 05:30, 2 June 2026
(No difference)

BethWeiss: purpose

2026-06-02T05:27:27Z

purpose

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:27, 2 June 2026
Line 2:		Line 2:
	Share approaches that Local Groups have found effective when welcoming and connecting with new members.		Share approaches that Local Groups have found effective when welcoming and connecting with new members.

	These examples ~~are not recommendations or requirements. They~~ illustrate ~~different ways~~ Local Groups ~~adapt their outreach to fit their size, culture,~~ and ~~volunteer resources~~.		These examples illustrate a variety of approaches used by Local Groups of different sizes and styles.

	== San Diego Mensa ==		== San Diego Mensa ==

BethWeiss: /* San Diego Mensa */ tables

2026-06-02T05:26:06Z

San Diego Mensa: tables

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:26, 2 June 2026
Line 5:		Line 5:

	== San Diego Mensa ==		== San Diego Mensa ==
	~~=== San Diego Mensa ===~~
	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"
	! ~~Item~~		! Aspect
	! ~~Details~~		! San Diego Mensa Approach
	\|-		\|-
	\| Who contacts members?		\| Who contacts members?
Line 26:		Line 25:
	* New Member Orientation before the Monthly Gathering		* New Member Orientation before the Monthly Gathering
	\|}		\|}

	~~'''Who contacts members?'''~~

	~~Member Services Officer or assistant~~

	~~'''How often?'''~~

	~~Monthly or whenever new members appear on the report~~

	~~'''Method'''~~

	~~Email when possible; USPS otherwise~~

	~~'''Highlights'''~~

	* Tailored welcome message

	* New Member Profile

	* Newsletter introduction

	* New Member Orientation before Monthly Gathering

	We send out a welcome letter tailored to the circumstances of being new to the group – new Mensa member, move-in, rejoined, member by preference. I’ve attached generic version of the email version for new Mensa members. Along with the letter is a New Member Profile that requests info that we then publish in a Welcome column in our newsletter. Check out the November 2025 ISSUE of our newsletter, the ''San Diego MENSAN'' online to see a typical column. The USPS version doesn’t have the ''Mensa Speak'' info.		We send out a welcome letter tailored to the circumstances of being new to the group – new Mensa member, move-in, rejoined, member by preference. I’ve attached generic version of the email version for new Mensa members. Along with the letter is a New Member Profile that requests info that we then publish in a Welcome column in our newsletter. Check out the November 2025 ISSUE of our newsletter, the ''San Diego MENSAN'' online to see a typical column. The USPS version doesn’t have the ''Mensa Speak'' info.
Line 54:		Line 31:

	== Western New York Mensa ==		== Western New York Mensa ==
	~~'''~~Who contacts members?~~'''~~		{\| class="wikitable"
			! Aspect
	Membership Chair		! Western New York Mensa Approach
			\|-
	~~'''How often?'''~~		\| Who contacts members?
			\| Membership Chair
	As new members are identified		\|-
			\| Frequency
	~~'''~~Method~~'''~~		\| As new members are identified
			\|-
	Phone, email, or mail depending on available contact information		\| Method
			\| Phone, email, or mail depending on available contact information
	~~'''Highlights'''~~		\|-
			\| Notable practices
			\|
	* Personal phone calls when possible		* Personal phone calls when possible

	* Follow-up when appropriate		* Follow-up when appropriate
			* Encouragement after first event attendance
	* Encouragement after first event attendance		\|}

	I'm the Membership Chair for Western New York Mensa. I'm the one who sends a welcome email to or calls new members. We're a relatively small group; as stated in the sample email below, the editor of our newsletter and Test Coordinator sends me names of new members as they come in, sometimes waiting until she has several names. The medium I use depends on what information the newbie has provided. If I have a phone number, I usually start with a call, to make it more personal, and leave a message if I get voicemail. If there's no email or phone number given, just a street address, I print this email out as a letter, personalized with their name, and mail it. Some new members respond by calling or emailing me; alas, many don't reply at all. I'm not adverse to calling back if I haven't heard from someone, but I don't push if they're clearly not interested in attending an event. If they have attended an event, I might tell them that we enjoyed meeting them and hope to see them at another event soon.		I'm the Membership Chair for Western New York Mensa. I'm the one who sends a welcome email to or calls new members. We're a relatively small group; as stated in the sample email below, the editor of our newsletter and Test Coordinator sends me names of new members as they come in, sometimes waiting until she has several names. The medium I use depends on what information the newbie has provided. If I have a phone number, I usually start with a call, to make it more personal, and leave a message if I get voicemail. If there's no email or phone number given, just a street address, I print this email out as a letter, personalized with their name, and mail it. Some new members respond by calling or emailing me; alas, many don't reply at all. I'm not adverse to calling back if I haven't heard from someone, but I don't push if they're clearly not interested in attending an event. If they have attended an event, I might tell them that we enjoyed meeting them and hope to see them at another event soon.

BethWeiss: /* San Diego Mensa */ table

2026-06-02T05:23:37Z

San Diego Mensa: table

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:23, 2 June 2026
Line 5:		Line 5:

	== San Diego Mensa ==		== San Diego Mensa ==
			=== San Diego Mensa ===
			{\| class="wikitable"
			! Item
			! Details
			\|-
			\| Who contacts members?
			\| Member Services Officer or assistant
			\|-
			\| Frequency
			\| Monthly or whenever new members appear on the report
			\|-
			\| Method
			\| Email when possible; USPS otherwise
			\|-
			\| Notable practices
			\|
			* Tailored welcome message
			* New Member Profile
			* Newsletter introduction
			* New Member Orientation before the Monthly Gathering
			\|}

	'''Who contacts members?'''		'''Who contacts members?'''

BethWeiss at 05:22, 2 June 2026

2026-06-02T05:22:19Z

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''<u>New Member Contact San Diego</u>'''
+== Purpose ==
-Who? The Member Services (MS) Officer, or assistant.
+These examples are not recommendations or requirements. They illustrate different ways Local Groups adapt their outreach to fit their size, culture, and volunteer resources.
-Frequency? Monthly or whenever they show up in the New Member report.
+== San Diego Mensa ==
-Delivery method? Email when possible, USPS otherwise.
+Member Services Officer or assistant
 We send out a welcome letter tailored to the circumstances of being new to the group – new Mensa member, move-in, rejoined, member by preference. I’ve attached generic version of  the email version for new Mensa members. Along with the letter is a New Member Profile that requests info that we then publish in a Welcome column in our newsletter. Check out the November 2025 ISSUE of our newsletter, the ''San Diego MENSAN'' online to see a typical column. The USPS version doesn’t have the ''Mensa Speak'' info.
@@ Line 11: / Line 31: @@
 There is an invitation to the Monthly New Members Orientation, which is held 30 minutes before the Monthly Gathering. Someone from the MS team gives the orientation, which includes info about the local group – number of members, geographic area, board composition and other appointed positions, activities, publications, and online resources, among others. We also discuss the idea that they as new members, can start new events or SIGs that interest them, and possibly other members.
-'''<u>New Member Contact  Western New York</u>'''
+== Western New York Mensa ==
 I'm the Membership Chair for Western New York Mensa. I'm the one who sends a welcome email to or calls new members. We're a relatively small group; as stated in the sample email below, the editor of our newsletter and Test Coordinator sends me names of new members as they come in, sometimes waiting until she has several names. The medium I use depends on what information the newbie has provided. If I have a phone number, I usually start with a call, to make it more personal, and leave a message if I get voicemail. If there's no email or phone number given, just a street address, I print this email out as a letter, personalized with their name, and mail it. Some new members respond by calling or emailing me; alas, many don't reply at all. I'm not adverse to calling back if I haven't heard from someone, but I don't push if they're clearly not interested in attending an event. If they have attended an event, I might tell them that we enjoyed meeting them and hope to see them at another event soon.
 Jan Sandberg

LisaBlair at 11:19, 6 April 2026

2026-04-06T11:19:43Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:19, 6 April 2026
Line 10:		Line 10:

	There is an invitation to the Monthly New Members Orientation, which is held 30 minutes before the Monthly Gathering. Someone from the MS team gives the orientation, which includes info about the local group – number of members, geographic area, board composition and other appointed positions, activities, publications, and online resources, among others. We also discuss the idea that they as new members, can start new events or SIGs that interest them, and possibly other members.		There is an invitation to the Monthly New Members Orientation, which is held 30 minutes before the Monthly Gathering. Someone from the MS team gives the orientation, which includes info about the local group – number of members, geographic area, board composition and other appointed positions, activities, publications, and online resources, among others. We also discuss the idea that they as new members, can start new events or SIGs that interest them, and possibly other members.

			'''<u>New Member Contact Western New York</u>'''

			I'm the Membership Chair for Western New York Mensa. I'm the one who sends a welcome email to or calls new members. We're a relatively small group; as stated in the sample email below, the editor of our newsletter and Test Coordinator sends me names of new members as they come in, sometimes waiting until she has several names. The medium I use depends on what information the newbie has provided. If I have a phone number, I usually start with a call, to make it more personal, and leave a message if I get voicemail. If there's no email or phone number given, just a street address, I print this email out as a letter, personalized with their name, and mail it. Some new members respond by calling or emailing me; alas, many don't reply at all. I'm not adverse to calling back if I haven't heard from someone, but I don't push if they're clearly not interested in attending an event. If they have attended an event, I might tell them that we enjoyed meeting them and hope to see them at another event soon.

			Jan Sandberg