Increasing Member Participation

 I was recently asked "What would you do to increase member participation?"

Here is my answer:

For decades, I’ve heard Mensa leaders express concerns about low member-participation. However, having done quite a few in-depth research projects on the topic, I have come to the conclusion that “participation” levels are not nearly as bad as they might seem. 

Mensa has members of all ages and interests. At each stage of life, free time and resources vary; young people may be busy with school, establishing careers, or raising children and older members may have limited finances or mobility. Some members live far from the urban areas that offer many in-person activities. Some members are introverts and don’t particularly enjoy large gatherings.The extroverted members who attend big events simply don’t see the quiet, introverted members who are participating in their own ways.

“Participation" in Mensa includes much more than just physically showing up at large  gatherings. Members participate when they attend a small monthly games night in their home town. They participate when they read a newsletter or silently lurk on a Mensa social media platform. They participate when they encourage a friend to join. They participate when they vote in elections. They participate when they socialize online with fellow SIG members. They participate when they connect with a SIGHT host while traveling. They participate when they send a link to a Mensa scholarship opportunity to a friend’s child. They participate when they encourage a frustrated gifted child to keep going because there really are people in the world who think the same way and there are communities where they can find acceptance. They participate when they carry their membership card as a token of pride.

So how would I increase member participation? Adding more ways to connect online, obviously, but more importantly, getting the message out to all members— we see you and your choice of how you participate in Mensa is valid... and valued.