Welcoming New Members: Local Group Outreach Examples

Western New York Mensa

Hi, ​_________

I'm the Membership Chair for WNY Mensa. Welcome to the group!

I got your name and information from Serena Tabor, the editor of our monthly newsletter, the Mensana (men-SAHNA). Serena sends me info for new members when she's gotten a few accumulated, and yours was one of those in her last list. I'm so glad you've joined us in the WNY chapter.

Have you started receiving the Mensana yet? You should be receiving it via either email or mail (whatever you listed as your preference when you joined) by now. If you haven't, please let me know so that I can make sure you get it. It has our monthly calendar of events and a number of enjoyable regular features, as well as Board Meeting minutes.

We have a variety of monthly events at which one can meet and chat with other members. Casual dress is the norm, although some members spiff it up a little for the annual Holiday Party. Games nights are usually well-attended, as are potlucks and ice cream socials. Currently, there are also monthly pub nights, a speaker series at The Buffalo History Museum, a monthly brunch, dinners, traditional "Jewish Christmas" (Chinese food and a movie), and visits to places of interest. Here's a list of upcoming events for this month:

[Calendar entries in chronological order inserted here. I usually add comments about the brunch I organize every month, especially if it's going to take place near where they live or has in the past]

There's no scheduling committee, however; any member can think up an event and get help creating a calendar entry for it, if they like. New ideas are always welcome! One thing we local Ms have learned (especially post-pandemic, as it were), is that even if an event has a small turnout, it can be just as - if not more - enjoyable than if it had had a large turnout.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. I hope that I'll get to meet you, soon!

Jan Sandberg

 

San Diego Mensa

[return address]

[auto-fill date]

Dear ,

Welcome to San Diego Mensa (SD Mensa). We look forward to seeing you at our activities. All the events listed in our newsletter, San Diego MENSAN, are open to you and there is contact information for each event for additional information. Also, our calendar is online at: http://sandiegomensa.org/events/calendar.html, which requires your American Mensa website login. If you haven’t done it yet, go to http://us.mensa.org to create your login. Be sure to check out the other cool stuff on our website also. You don’t need to wait for an orientation to start attending events. Also, be sure to go to www.mensa.org and create an account for yourself on the International Mensa website, so you can vote in elections for the International Board of Directors.

We have four private Facebook groups: for adults, GenX, GenY/Young Adult, and Gifted Youth. The Gen X group is for members born between 1965 and 1980. The Gen Y/Young Adult group is for members born during or after 1981 and who are at least 18 years old. The Gifted Youth group is for members who are not 18 years old yet, and their parents. The adult Facebook group is open to all members world-wide, though some posts might not be appropriate for children. All four groups can be accessed through their links on the San Diego Mensa website main page.

Our next New Member Orientation is on:

[day/date]

New Member Orientation, [time]

Monthly Gathering, [time]

[event details – location, contact info, description]

Admission to the party is FREE for you and a guest if you attend the orientation. If you plan to attend, please also RSVP to memberservices@sandiegomensa.org. The one-time free admission to a monthly gathering will expire in six months, in case you can’t make it to the orientation this soon.

We would appreciate a thumbnail sketch to print in our newsletter, to introduce you to our group. Please return the enclosed New Member Profile info to the email below if possible. List your hobbies, interests, accomplishments, employment, how you learned about Mensa, and/or anything else you think we might find interesting. You can also include a photo if you reply by email (.jpg is best). Regular mail is fine if you prefer.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact our Member Services Team at sdm.ms.team@gmail.com.

Again, welcome to SD Mensa!

[sender’s name]

San Diego Mensa Member Services Team

Southern Connecticut Mensa

I am the Membership Officer for Southern Connecticut Mensa. Joe Lee, our Loc Sec, forwarded your request to me.

I am the one who welcomes new members to the group. I check for new members every month or two. I either call them or email them asking them to call me.

When we connect, I tell them about some of my top experiences as a nearly 40-year member of Mensa.

Then I inform them of some of the following Mensa Activities and Benefits:

===========Local & Regional ============

• Southern CT Mensa Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/SCM066 (our chapter is one of 124 chapters)
• Region 1 Facebook group – (there are 10 regions) NY to ME https://www.facebook.com/groups/188180494045
• Local newsletter -- The Chronicle (quarterly)
• Access to other chapters newsletters such as CWM, Greater NY, and Mid Hudson
• Chapter parties
• Monthly Game Night
• Monthly Trivia Night
• Book Discussion
• Annual chapter picnic
• Joint events and reciprocity with CWM Mensa -- see our website & newsletter
• Local scholarship essay judging
• Opportunity to be a local officer or volunteer - learn and practice leadership and community service
• Opportunity to be a regional officer or volunteer - plan an RG for example

===========National & International ============

• National Special Interest Groups (SIGs) (n=154)
• International SIGs
• Serve on the National Mensa Board
• SIGHT (Service of Information, Guidance and Hospitality to Travelers): meet new people out of town or overseas, stay free (us.mensa.org/connect/sight)
• M-Hospitality Facebook group - moderated
• M-Firehouse Facebook group - unmoderated
• M-Available dating Facebook group - free
• Mensa Match dating service
• The Bulletin magazine (10 times per year)
• International online discussion forums
• Mensa Language Exchange - https://languagexchange.club/
• National member directory - find old friends and meet new ones
• International member directory - make an international connection
• Weekly BrainWave email newsletter with items of special interest to Mensans
• MensaConnect online forums
• Regional Gatherings (RGs)
• Annual Gathering (AG) July 4th weekend
• World Gathering (International)
• CultureQuest national trivia contest (end of April)
• MindGames (gaming gathering) mensamindgames.com
• Discounts (hotels, rental cars, insurance) see us.mensa.org/shop/benefits-and-services
• Mensa Educational Research Foundation (MERF) - scholarships and enrichment
• Mensa World Journal – monthly international magazine free online (us.mensa.org/read/mensa-world-journal)
• Mensa Marketing Research Panel (“Rated M”) - get paid for surveys
• MensaWorks career service
• Mensa Research Journal - quarterly, separate paid subscription
• Mensa Store
• Mensa Colloquium ag.us.mensa.org
• Mensa PhotoCup photography contest
• Mensa poetry contest
• Publishing opportunities
• Mensa for Kids mensaforkids.org
• Young Mensan Magazine
• Mensa Honor Society (grades 10-12)
• Junior Mensa Honor Society (grades 5-9)
• Vanity email address: jane.doe.us@member.mensa.org
• Mensa Badge

-Larry Schwartz

Membership Officer

Southern CT Mensa