1. A presence system comprising: a computer processor; and a memory in communication with the computer processor storing instructions that when executed by the computer processor cause the computer processor to: associate a plurality of users in a distributed community of users with a presence server, where each user communicates across a network using a computer processing device; identify subsets of users from said plurality of users; select a set of mediators used to communicate presence information between said presence server and said plurality of users; assign each mediator to an identified subset of users; a module to communicate presence information from said presence server to select mediators in said set of mediators to service said subset of users assigned to the selected mediator, where each selected mediator receives presence information regarding subscribed-to presence information for users in said subset of users assigned to the selected mediators; and communicate subscribed-to presence information from each selected mediator in said set of mediators to associated ones of said users in said subset of users assigned to the selected mediator to keep said users in said subset of users up to date with their subscribed-to presence information.