Supporting Remote Members
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.
What Success Looks Like
- 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 Practices
- 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
Common 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.
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.
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
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
- Supporting Virtual Engagement
- 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 geographically 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.