Working on becoming better
There’s a weird dichotomy in being a Mensa volunteer. I’m a member and want to have all the things that members have — fun, friends, exciting opportunities for different events — but as a leader, I’m called to look at the big picture for the health and the future of the organization. As are all the AMC members. Our membership numbers were up slightly this year, but most recent years have seen small declines. Because we are listening to both members and those who did not renew, we know there are many reasons for that.
We have numerous online opportunities for fellowship that haven’t been available in the past. Some members don’t feel they are getting the value for their membership. Some have decided not to renew because Mensa wasn’t what they thought it was going to be. (Honestly, did any of us know what Mensa was going to be?) Others felt sidelined or ignored, especially newer members, and were not inclined to return. Quite a few members complained of mistreatment or harassment in a variety of forms. Many have flat out stated they will not return until things change. We know these things because we have sent out surveys to lapsed members, and they’ve told us why they’re not renewing.
What do we do with this information? We need to focus on where the issues lie and determine how we can repair things to make Mensa safer and more open and welcoming for every-one. That is something your AMC is working on now. Please be patient as we take care and time with this. We are working on better, not perfection. Perfection will take longer.
Please stay safe; please take care. If you have ideas to share, I’m always listening.