In Beijing, the internet is obviously a trickier tool to utilize fully. The most notable wrench in the system was when Facebook was blocked earlier this year. We had, and still have, a pretty large Moishe House Beijing Facebook group, with people constantly requesting to join, and all of our events (aside from smaller shabbat dinners) were posted as Facebook events.
At the end of this summer, with so much programming coming up with the High Holidays, we regrouped and discussed how to address the fact that the Facebook hiatus was feeling permanent. We decided to create a Googlegroup listserve, and by now this is our primary means of internet communication with our regulars. The list has over 70 people, and the best part is that housemates and other people use it to share articles and other events (like a regular participant's art opening). I think ultimately the Googlegroup is a more successful combined discussion/notification tool than Facebook for our community, especially but not only because of Great Firewall issues.
As far as bringing in new faces, MHBeijing is an expat entity, so there is always new blood flowing through our community veins. Often through word of mouth, or meeting newcomers at the egalitarian minyan, people find their way to our house. Also, I think the far-flung factor works in our favor to attract attention from people outside of Beijing. I am the contact person on the Moishe House website, and I get several emails a month from people who are going to move to China, or just passing through, or even have a curious question about our somewhat surprising existence. We almost always get a mention in any article about Moishe House, whether it's written in England or New Jersey. The interest in China keeps us on many people's radars.
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