From: shapiro@cfsctc.enet.dec.com (Steve Shapiro)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Membership Renewal ??
Date: 21 Jan 93 12:34:56 GMT
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation - Marlboro, MA
Organisation: SKS Computer Consulting, Inc.


In article <1993Jan19.205357.16959@ttinews.tti.com>, hollombe@polymath.tti.com
(The Polymath) writes...

>After reading all your posts on this subject, I can only conclude
>what you're really asking is for Mensa to do something to retain _your_
>membership.  Frankly, I don't see why we should bother. 

Neither do I. 

If yours is the representative opinion of the majority of the Mensa membership,
then I, and members like myself, who, through current circumstances are unable
to participate as fully as they would like, and who expect a certain value for
their dues money, can now put to rest that anyone truly cares about retaining
our membership.

>If I have any complaints at all they're at the local level,
>which is where I make them heard.

I have no complaints at the local level. I think that Mensa IS (emphasized) the
local groups. If it weren't for the local groups, I believe that Mensa would be
non-existant. 

However, if national is going to get the biggest bulk of my money, I would like
to see some sort of return of value for that money. It is not a matter of
affordability. It is a matter of VALUE. Sure, the cost of membership is nominal
and I probably wast more money on the vending machine than I spend on
membership. However, I am questioning the VALUE I receive for that money.

>I've been a member since 1976 and I've
>sponsored and participated in more events than I care to count. 

Oh, so now its a contest. Well, I've been a member since 1983 and have sponsord
and participated in more events than I can count, in 3 different local groups.
I have also been guest speaker at several non-local meetings. I was official
photographer at the Dallas AG. I was an elected officer of North Texas Mensa. I
have participated in a variety of membership drives when a member of NTM
including supporting/sponsoring Mensa at several Talented and Gifted childrens
events at a variety of schools. I sponsored weekly 'lunch bunches' and 'Beer
Gardens' and supported, sponsored and encouraged a 'Mensans for Mensa' drive
(an effort to reduce the drop out rate of existing members). The list goes on
and on and on. 

>IMHO Mensa can't be all things to all people, or even all potential
>members.  It would be foolhardy to try.  At some point we must say, "This
>is what we are.  Sorry if it doesn't suit you.  Good luck finding an
>organization that does."  I'd far rather see my dues donated to MERF, or
>some other worthy cause, than frittered away trying to retain the
>membership of every last non-participating malcontent.

I agree with this. All I was trying to get to was where the tradeoff occurs.

At what point do we achieve a point of diminishing returns where retaining
EXISTING membership is not useful, and at the other end, at what point do we
achieve a point of diminishing returns where recruiting NEW members is not
useful?

Apparently you don't find it worth the effort to keep ME as a member because at
this point in time I don't have the opportunity to participate. 

So, ignore/devalue the time and effort I have put into Mensa in the past. Kiss
it off. 'What have you done for me lately, Steve?'. Never mind that there will
come a time in a few years when the kids are more grown and I will again have
the time to participate. Heck, kiss me off now and see if I'll even WANT to
participate again in the future.

Its easy to call me a 'malcontent', categorize me and then write me off. 

But what have I actually asked YOU (or anyone) to do to keep me as a member?

Do you even remember?

Is it all that difficult? Would it take any more time, effort or money?

>You missed my point.  I, for one, _didn't_ join Mensa out of "... a need
>or desire for belonging to a group."  My reasons at the time were entirely
>other (and none of your business).  That's why I took exception to your
>all-inclusive "we."  Speak for yourself.

Tell your song and dance all you want. Sounds to me like you are in denial.
Your 'secret' reasons are irrelevant. Your actions are relevant. You joined a
group. Period. You therefore felt a reason, need or desire to become a member
of that group. 

Hmmm. I guess I could be wrong. There is the case where someone puts a gun to
your head and threatens to kill you unless you join. But I am willing to bet
that this is not the case.

Regards,
Steve.

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Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa