I’ve been reading some discussion about Local Group funding
and how to improve the members’ experience in Mensa. I’ve watched as membership
numbers slip downward, and as testing numbers continue to drop, despite all
sorts of massive efforts and incentives to Groups to promote testing.
Even in Chicago, widely-admired as an active and
high-functioning group, there is a sense of… staleness. I know that despite
being quite committed to Mensa, and proud of my chapter, even I find myself
feeling rather “meh” about most offerings. Another party with the same people
and same types of food and entertainment. Another dinner out with the same
crowd. Another spread of pictures of the same people playing games in our
newsletter. I like the folks here
just fine. I enjoy the beer selection and some of the speakers at meetings and
gatherings are quite entertaining. No complaints, really. Just… nothing that really grabs me any more
enough to put on my shoes and drive an hour.
If the group had even more money, what would I get? Another
page or two of the newsletter, perhaps with some puzzles, which I can get
online for free. Maybe some well-written an thought-provoking articles and
essays, which I can find all over the Web whenever I sit down to catch up on
the 37 blogs I follow. Perhaps two more parties a year, with some good wine and
some nice hot hors d’oeuvres and the same smart people standing around talking
and playing games. It’s even possible that we might hire a famous professional
speaker to give a really great lecture, much like I can watch on TED. All quite
nice. Might even get me to drag myself out to a meeting. But might not.
The other day, I was fantasizing about winning the lottery
and what all I might do with a bazillion dollars. One of the things I
daydreamed about was writing a check for a million dollars made out to American
Mensa (not the Foundation, since as a bazillionaire, I was not really concerned
about getting the tax deduction, but what the heck, I also dashed off a check for two million to the Foundation just because I could). In my fantasy, I arranged a meeting with Pam,
Nick, and Elissa, and quite enjoyed their eye-popping gasps when I presented
the check.
But there was a catch.
I challenged them to come up with an answer to this
question: Since Mensa already excels at offering acceptance and succor to very
smart and socially awkward people, how could they use a million dollars to
provide very smart, socially adept people something they cannot easily find
anywhere else?
The daydream trailed off at that point, but the emails I’ve
been reading lately made me think about it again. Obviously, since I don’t buy
lottery tickets, my bazillionairehood is still far in the future. But still…
I challenge the leaders and other members of Mensa to:
Think of what Mensa could offer smart and
socially skilled people that they cannot easily and cheaply find elsewhere.
Develop and implement a massive fundraising
campaign (hell yeah, I’ll kick in $100 for something novel and wonderful).
Make it happen.
