Supporting Remote Members
Purpose
Remote members are often a significant — sometimes majority — portion of a Local Group.
This page provides guidance on how to support, engage, and retain members who are not able to participate in person.
What Is a Remote Member?
A “remote” member is anyone who feels they are too far from the Local Group’s population center(s) to participate in person.
This may include:
- Members living long distances away
- Members separated by geography (lakes, mountains, etc.)
- Members in areas without other Mensans
- Members who are homebound
Remote status is defined by experience, not distance.
Why This Matters
Remote members often:
- Receive fewer opportunities for connection
- Feel overlooked or disconnected
- May leave if they do not feel included
At the same time, they join for the same reasons as any member:
- Intellectual connection
- Community
- Personal or professional growth
Guiding Principle
Remote members are not “less engaged” — they are differently situated.
Success means ensuring they feel:
- Informed
- Included
- Valued
—not just invited to events they cannot attend.
Core Strategies
Stay in Contact
- Reach out proactively — don’t wait for them to engage
- Periodically check in (email or phone)
- Reach out during major events or disruptions (e.g., disasters)
- Let them know they are part of the group
Make It Personal
- Inform new members if others live nearby
- Introduce remote members to each other
- Invite input on local opportunities (marketing, testing, events)
- Consider creating a small outreach team
Provide Ways to Engage
- Newsletters
- Email updates
- Online communities
- Intellectual or written content
Not all engagement needs to be in person.
Supporting Remote Connections
Area Coordinators
Area Coordinators help connect members in outlying areas.
See:
They can:
- Organize local meetups
- Serve as a point of contact
- Help build local momentum
Connecting Nearby Members
- 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.
Events and Accessibility
Make Events More Accessible
- Schedule some events on weekends
- Avoid late-night end times for long-distance travelers
- Announce events well in advance (at least 1–2 months)
Bring Events to Them
- Host occasional events in remote areas
- Encourage officers or members to host while traveling
- Consider rotating or “traveling” events
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
Newsletter Inclusion
- Include content from different geographic areas
- Feature remote members or communities
- Include Area Coordinator contact information
- Consider maps of your service area
Online Engagement
- Keep your website current
- Help members find online communities:
* Mensa Connect * Facebook groups * Other platforms
- Personally invite new members to join
Supporting Members Near Other Groups
If a member is closer to another Local Group:
- Share that group’s newsletter and website
- Connect them with nearby contacts
- Inform them about preferencing options
The goal is member experience — not ownership.
Long-Term Strategy
One of the most effective ways to support remote members:
- Build local density over time
* Encourage testing in remote areas * Support local outreach * Retain existing remote members
Today’s remote area can become tomorrow’s active cluster.