Supporting Remote Members

• Why remote members join (and why they leave)
• Staying in contact - proactive outreach, disaster check-ins, enlisting remote members as local advocates
• Area Coordinators - what they do, when to appoint one, how to support them, pointing to the Area Coordinator Handbook (note: this handbook is under revision)
• Event scheduling to accommodate remote attendance (timing, traveling events, carpooling)
• Newsletter design for remote inclusion (area columns, maps, coordinator contact in every issue)
• Online engagement - keeping the website current, helping remote members find Mensa Connect, Facebook, etc.
• National/International/Other LG virtual events

Characteristics of Remote Members

“Remote” members are those who feel that they are too far away from the population center(s) of a local group to participate in person at events, meetings, and activities. There is no magic mile indicator that makes a member remote, it is based on whether they feel that their geographical location is a detriment to their local group participation. A remote member could be someone who lives hundreds of miles from the nearest Mensa member, or someone who is separated from the population center of the local group by a large geographical element, like a lake or a mountain. A remote member may also be one who lives in a good-sized city that doesn’t happen to have any other current Mensa members living there. It’s the feeling of remoteness that creates the issues associated with these members. They often feel disenfranchised by a lack of opportunities to connect in person with other Mensans, or by reading about other members having fun together. They may consider leaving the organization because they don’t feel they are getting the same amount of attention as members closer to the local group’s population center.

A member can also be remote because they are homebound for whatever reason.

Why Remote Members Join Mensa

Remote members join for the same reason that many other members do. They want to be a part of an organization that celebrates intelligence. They want intellectual stimulation, camaraderie, improved career opportunities, or perhaps to meet a life partner. Many join while they live in a geographically dense location, but move to a more rural area. Some members believe that with 1 in 50 people qualifying for Mensa, there is a good chance that even though they live in a remote area, there will be many Mensa members living around them. Just because they live far away from a concentration of your members, and they do not attend events, do not assume that they are not socially inclined. They may just be waiting and wishing for the opportunity to meet local members in person. Show Remote Members They are Important It’s important to make consistent contact with remote members, even more important than it is to keep in touch with members who live nearby but do not attend anything. While members who live close to events feel like they can choose to attend any time, remote members often feel that they do not have a choice. When new members join your local group, contact them and let them know up front if any Mensa members live in their immediate area, even if it is just a couple. In addition, contact those other remote members and let them know that a new Mensa member is in their area. If there is an Area Coordinator or another active member that is close, encourage them to schedule an event to get those members to meet each other. Contact them by phone or email periodically, even to just ask how they are all doing. Let them know that the local group is thinking about them. Ask them where they think the good marketing opportunities are in their town, and enlist them to help with marketing and testing in those areas. If you hear of a flood, tornado, fire or other disaster in those areas, reach out and make sure they are doing well. Appoint a committee to keep in touch with remote members.

Scheduling Local Events to Encourage Remote Member Attendance

There are many remote members who would love to attend local events, but find it prohibitive by distance or time. Local events held on weeknights or late on weekends often discourage remote members who work or don’t want to drive long distances late at night. In order to encourage event participation by people who have to drive long distances, schedule them on weekends, starting later in the day and ending early in the evening. While this is not practical for all events, it would be quite easy for a local group picnic or games day to be scheduled in this way. Also, consider remote member travel time when scheduling meetings. Many times, remote members need to plan ahead to be able to travel and attend an event that may take an entire day out of their schedule. Be cognizant and respectful of their time, and schedule main events at least two months in advance. Another obvious idea is to schedule events in their area, and encourage carpooling and local officer attendance. Even one event a year where several people travel to remote areas is often appreciated by the members who live there. Some local groups have a travelling SIG that schedules an event in a different remote area every month. Do not feel that one member alone needs to coordinate this kind of traveling event, as it might also be difficult for any one person to travel around that much. Ask your local active members and officers to consider scheduling local events in remote areas when they travel that direction on business or for pleasure. If you are passing through an area at mealtime, contact those local members and ask them to meet you – even if you don’t have the lead time to schedule an official event.

Design Your Newsletter to Include Remote Members

If you have one or more Area Coordinators, encourage them to write a regular column about events in their area. If they don’t hold events every month, ask them to interview an area member, or feature local community events that may attract all members. Be sure to have your Area Coordinator’s contact information in every issue. For areas that do not have official coordinators, officers or members can take turns writing about various areas. If you do a travelling or remote event, be sure to write it up in your newsletter and print lots of photos. Print a map of your local group’s service area in the newsletter or put it on the website. Keep those outlying areas in the minds of all officers and non-remote members, and let the remote members know that they are always part of the group.

Engaging Remote Members Online

First and foremost, keep your website updated. It’s easy to disenfranchise a remote member if their only regular contact outside of the monthly newsletter is out-of-date. Mention all areas, and show your full-service area map. You’d like your remote members to see that if they suddenly have a reason to travel close to your geographic center, that they can check the calendar and attend an event if there is one. Let remote members know that if they do happen to be in town sometime, that you will help them schedule an event or round up local members at the last minute. There are many venues where Mensa members congregate online. Currently, main services include Mensa Connect (http://connect.us.mensa.org), Facebook, and X. Help your remote members, especially new ones, find a Mensa home online to keep them involved on a regular basis. Visit these locations yourself, then recommend your favorites to your remote members. Set up a Facebook page, online group, or another congregation venue online for your local group, send them a personal invitation, and help them introduce themselves to the group. If your group has a Facebook page, look the new member up in the Facebook directory and invite them directly.

What About Remote Members on the Boundaries of Other Groups?

If your remote member is near the boundary of another local group, show them how to look up the newsletter of that local group, as well as find their web page. If there is an Area Coordinator for the other group that is near them, contact that Area Coordinator to let them know about the new member. Also, let the remote member know that they can preference into another local group if they are closer to an active area. Our primary purpose is service to the member, even if it means transferring a member out of our own local group.

Are There Other Ways to Get Remote Members Involved?

The best way to serve remote members is to market and test in that area, and help build a healthy member list in what was formerly a “remote” area. This can be done a number of ways outlined in the membership manual, but member retention in remote areas is the best way to start that core of growth.