Objectives:
There were three primary purposes for conducting these surveys: (1) to assess the demographic distribution of members and their reasons for joining Mensa; (2) to ascertain the perceived strengths and opportunities for improvement; (3) to determine why former members have not renewed their membership .

Method:
For this latter reason, two very similar surveys were designed--one for present and the other for former members. In April 1986, questionnaires were mailed to 900 former and 500 present members. A total of 355 former members and 280 present members returned their surveys for response rates of 39 and 56 percent, respectively. Six general areas of interest were covered: Local group meetings and activities, local group publications, the Mensa Bulletin, elections and politics, dues and services, perceptions of former and present members, and non-Mensans' opinions.

First, a summary description of the modal responses of present members will be covered. This will be followed by a review of former member responses with emphasis on those items on which former members differ significantly from present members. Then, the factors that influenced the decision of former members to not renew their membership will be presented. A series of tables are included which display the percentages of present and former members who chose certain responses for each question. These will be presented topic by topic .

Three criteria are used to focus on the significant differences between present and former members. First, the statistical significance level for chi-square tests was set at p < .005, i.e., the probability of a difference by chance being less than one out of two-hundred. This level was set because there are well over 100 questions on the survey. The second criterion was that at least a 10% difference occur between the two groups. This is a matter of "practical" significance, since it is possible for a relatively trivial difference of 3-4% to be statistically significant. Third, items on which less than one-third of the respondents expressed an opinion were omitted from the report since these opinions would lack the precision necessary to generalize to the larger populations.
 
 

Demographics:
The majority of present members have been in Mensa for over three years and are over 40 years of age. Most are married, salaried professionals with a graduate degree. Just over half of present members are male.

Members learned about Mensa primarily from a published article. Most frequently cited reasons for joining are (in order): intellectual stimulation, to prove they could qualify, to meet others with similar interests, and to seek friends. The perceptions of the primary purpose of Mensa were to be (again, in order): an intellectual society, a social group, a research organization with feedback to members, and a support group. Half of the present members felt that Mensa has "sometimes" fulfilled that purpose (the other half split between "yes" and "no").

Local Groups:
Most of the respondents' local groups offered meetings and social activities regularly, yet few went to these more than once or twice. Over half feel isolated at these gatherings. They learn about these activities from their local newsletter; generally the activities are without charge (beyond that for food), and are held at convenient times and locations. Of those who attend frequently, they find them interesting. Local SlGs of interest are generally not available. Only half indicated that they were welcomed when they joined Mensa, and half of these by letter or phone.

Publications:
Virtually everyone receives a local newsletter and the Mensa Bulletin by mail, without an extra fee for their newsletter. The majority read most of the newsletter and half read most of the Bulletin. Most like the content of both--local information in the newsletter and the Bulletin for being well-balanced. For those who didn't like either publication, the newsletter was seen as shallow, the Bulletin as too political.

Elections:
The majority never vote in any of the elections (local, national, or international), although most members perceive these as conducted fairly. Most are unaware of "too much politicking." One out of seven members have held an elective office.

Dues and Services:
Most members feel the dues are "just right," but would also favor reduced fees for students, retirees, and others on fixed incomes. Most are familiar with the allocation of dues and feel that these allocations are "O.K." They also feel that they receive full value from these allocations. Most members do not use the individual services or the Mensa Boutique.

Members' Perceptions:
Most members have met less than ten other members and have mixed evaluations of these other members. Few have found significant friendships and like only "some" of the other members. The majority stated that their membership in Mensa has had no significant influence on their lives.

Non-Mensans' Opinions:
Most members have revealed their membership to "some" friends and to "nearly every" family member. Their membership was perceived by others as expected and their reactions were encouraging.
 
 

Demographics:
In contrast to present members, half of the former members were in Mensa for only one or two years and 30% are 30 years old and under. The majority are married, salaried professionals with a graduate degree, although there were more students than in the present member group.

Their reasons for joining and the perceived primary purpose of the organization were similar to those of present members; However, there were many more who said that Mensa did not fulfill its primary purpose.

Local Groups:
Regular Board/Group meetings and social activities were offered, and again, few went to more than one or two. Among former members, there were more who felt isolated at these functions. The causes of this felt isolation were similar among the two groups: feelings of not belonging, distance, age differences, accessibility, lack of transportation, local politics, and financial difficulties. Only "ethnic differences" was cited more frequently among former members.

Again, most learned about these events through the local newsletter. There were generally no extra charges (beyond food), and if there were, these were regarded as "O.K." The times were not inconvenient nor were the locations, although there were more former members who thought the locations were inconvenient. Of those who attended more than once or twice, twice as many found them to be "dull" as found them "interesting."

In both groups, the events attended most frequently were: parties, group meetings, luncheons/dinners, RGs, and SlGs. Former members found these activities to be less stimulating, friendly and fun than present members. There were more people who felt that local SlGs of interest were unavailable. Proportionately, there was only a few more former members who did not feel welcomed when they first joined.

Publications:
Almost everyone received a local newsletter and the Mensa Bulletin, via mail and without extra fee for their newsletter. Most read the newsletter and over half read most of the Bulletin; Most liked the content of each, although the percentage was significantly lower among former members. Reasons for liking or not liking these were similar to present members.

Elections:
A much larger proportion of former members never voted in local or national elections, although their perception of their fairness was similar to present members and positive. As with present members, of those who expressed an opinion, most felt generally informed on the issues and candidates involved. Also, most were unaware of "too much politicking." Only six percent of former members had held an elective office, compared to 14 percent of present members. This suggests that decisions to not renew membership were not due to "burnout."

Dues and Services:
A far greater number of former members felt that dues were too high, and almost all were in favor of a reduced fee for students and others of limited income. Former members were also familiar with the allocation of dues, but were much less satisfied with it and did not feel that they received full value from these allocations. Similar to present members, most former members did not use the individual services.

Former Members' Perceptions:
Former members tended to meet fewer persons, had generally less favorable impressions, and had fewer significant friendships in their groups. Half of the former members said there were "few" members they liked. Less former members felt that their membership had an effect on their lives.

Non-Mensans' Opinions:
Revelations to and reactions from family and friends for former members were similar to present members.
 
 

These questionnaires were designed not only to yield data appropriate for statistical analysis (where respondents checked off the response which most closely corresponded to their own opinion/situation) but also provided ample opportunity in every section for respondents to comment on items they found particularly important, to elaborate where the questionnaires were insufficiently specific, or to introduce concerns not covered by the questionnaires.

To fully appreciate the level of committment demonstrated by respondents, it is important to keep in mind that writing comments, in general, requires more thought and more time than checking off appropriate boxes. For this reason the comments are particularly valuable indications of problem areas. Almost every returned questionnaire, whether from a former or a current member, contained written comments that appeared to be seriously and well thought out. In some cases, letters were attached to more fully explain the individual's concerns. However, because analysis of these comments also takes much longer, an overview of concerns that were mentioned most frequently, based on a sample of one fourth of respondents from each group (present and former members) is included below.

With both former and present members, 14% commented that Mensa should provide some kind of realistic (education-oriented) assistance to gifted children. Again, in both groups, 14% wanted a serious purpose for Mensa, e.g., think tanks/forums for the exchange of ideas or expertise. A recurring theme was that Mensa ought to get involved politically, put pressure on the government or else provide it with expert assistance.

Local Groups:
Among former Mensans, 17% commented on cliquishness as being a major factor in their feelings of not belonging, while among present Ms. the number was 12%. Almost 7% of both present and former Ms complained about the geographic distance from centers of activity. There seemed to be a difference in attitude, however, in that current Ms asked for help or were hopeful that alternative solutions might overcome. Two current members were actively seeking car-pools, while another lauded the old Isolated M and thought it should be expanded in size and distribution as a part of membership.

Alcohol and perceptions of anti-religious bias at local group level were also cited frequently enough by both former and present members to indicate that many local group members perhaps lack sensitivity to the feelings of new members in these and similar regards.

Publications:
15% of former members sampled were quite strong in their uncomplimentary remarks concerning their local newsletters. From present members, there were almost no derogatory comments, and 7% complimented their local publications. Even more of the former members (17%) made comments regarding their general dislike of the Mensa Bulletin. Only 1% of present members expressed a written unqualified liking for it. The comments related primarily to individual sections they liked/disliked, or items they would like to see in it, rather than general like or dislike.

Elections and Politics:
Of former members, 12% commented (some quite bitterly) about local politicking. Of current members, 8% complained. One younger M thought that under 25s should have a separate group. Another interesting suggestion was that a slate of issues should be announced prior to each national general election with each of the candidates speaking to those issues.

Dues and Services:
24% of former members criticized dues as being too high for what they got back from Mensa. Many simply couldn't afford it, as with the poignant response of an Iowa farmer who said "the farm crisis is REAL!" and continued with harsh words for the U.S. Government's farm policy. Others specifically objected to supporting National and International Mensa with portions of their dues. In contrast, only 10% of present members sampled expressed the opinion that dues were too high.

Among former Ms. 12% criticized the Mensa Boutique as too expensive, too slow to respond, or as being a bad idea. Of present Ms. 2% criticized, others made comments as to wanting more choice in clothing colors, improving service, improving quality of ad layouts, and wanted more detail in item descriptions.

Mensans' Perceptions:
Formers - although the comments were few with regard to the question regarding whether Mensa changed their lives, they were quite touching. Former Ms had met spouses through Mensa ("found a good woman"), and one commented it had helped him deal with his dyslexia. Another gained enough confidence from her membership to return to school and earn a degree. However, many former Ms apparently view other Mensans as insecure, self-preoccupied, and hard-drinking "good-time Charlies."

Interestingly, current Ms seemed even more critical of their fellow members. For example, words such as "neurotic," "Self-important," tend to crop up a lot. On the positive side, Mensa is seen as being even more important in changing the lives of present Ms by improving their self-esteem and self -confidence. One said that although it hadn't changed his life, it had enriched it.

Non-Mensans' Opinions:
20% of former and 40% of present members commented on the "threatened" reactions of non-Mensans to Mensans. With regard to close friends, present Ms had more positive statements while former Ms gave fewer but more negative views of close friends' reactions to their membership. Former members also had little or nothing to say about their families' reactions, while present Ms seemed to have families with a slightly more positive attitude toward their membership.

Ideas and Concerns:
These were so many and so varied they will take more analysis. A little back-patting is in order though. 12% of present Ms complimented Mensa on the questionnaire. A few said they are planning to drop their membership. On the other hand, of former members, compliments on the questionnaire came at a rate of 5% although 15% indicated they are strongly considering rejoining "because of your interest," and as one former member put it, because "this questionnaire is the best thing Mensa has done yet! "

There were 18 items on which former members were asked whether this was a factor in their decision to not renew their membership. Responses to this type of question were dependent upon the respondent having expressed dissatisfaction with the particular issue. The 18 factors are listed in Table 1, rank ordered by the percentage of the total number of survey participants, indicating this was a factor. In the right hand column are the percentages who answered the question, i.e., given some dissatisfaction, how many of these said the dissatisfaction was a factor in their decision.

For the most part, these factors centered around three issues: low perceived value for dues, feelings of social isolation, and low regard for meetings/social activities.