Forward, Four
By Matt Crawford, RVC4
An idea has been brought up in other regions, and that is regional media infrastructure. Some regions have had a regional web site for some time, most seem to have a regional Facebook group, and all have a regional area in Mensa Connect. In the “Coffee with the AMC” meeting here at HalloweeM, someone put forth the notion of a regional newsletter. Would this add any value for members? I imagine it containing mostly events and articles from local group newsletters, selected on the basis of probable wider interest. I also imagine it being delivered electronically only, because printing and postage are quite a cost challenge. (You can help your local group’s budget by opting for electronic delivery of its newsletter. All newsletters are uploaded to the national web site and digital subscribers receive email with a link.)
Getting back to the regional web site idea, I think a regional webmaster or web team could also be a resource for local groups who haven’t found a volunteer with the time to maintain their web site, or who want to take their site to a higher level. Having a web presence with the right metadata is a good passive recruitment tool to catch prospects who search for a local Mensa presence, or high-IQ societies in general. Perhaps a regional resource would help? Contact me directly or open a discussion thread in the Facebook group “American Mensa - Region 4” or the Mensa Connect community “Region 4 Member Communities,” or join in if you find one already in progress.
While I’m thinking about volunteerism, let me draw your attention to the “Volunteer Marketplace” on the national website. The openings change often, and are well-described, including the duration and magnitude of the time commitment they ask for. You can find the Volunteer Marketplace from the main website through VOLUNTEER→Volunteer Marketplace or from Mensa Connect under VOLUNTEER→VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES . If a regional web team turns out to be something we do, you’ll find it posted there early next year. As I write this, there are five other openings listed, plus two that are specifically for other local groups or regions.
The hibernal holiday cluster is coming. There will probably be another ‘round the world New Year’s Eve zoom. This lasts around 26 hours and you can drop in and out at will. When I find out the details, I’ll post them to Mensa Connect and our Facebook group.
Finally, let me ask you to watch your inbox after the new year for an invitation to take the membership satisfaction survey. We may do all we can to control for for selection effects like satisfied members, active members, cranky members and so on, but we haven’t yet eliminated the bias toward members who like doing surveys. Please, if you are disinclined to answer surveys, answer this one and help remove that bias!