Online Ordering System

Beta Gamma Sigma has been working for the past year to develop a new, more efficient way to handle New Member Orders – memberships, certificates and keys. As you know, the current system calls for faculty advisors to download the order form from BetaNet, fill out and attach the list of eligible student names, and return the information (by email) to the BGS Central Office.

We’re now very excited to announce the development of the new BGS On-Line Membership Order System, which will be rolled out and used by chapters as they submit chapter (membership) orders this fall. This new system should prove to be much simpler and efficient to use, as all the chapter functions can be managed from a single, password-protected web page.

In addition, those invited will now begin filling out MDPs (Membership Data Profiles) online as well. This will eliminate the paperwork involved for chapter representatives as they encourage those invited to accept the invitation. Instead of providing them a paper form to fill out and return, which then had to be sent on to the Central Office, new members can fill out an online form after they have paid the lifetime membership fee. All the chapter representative must do is provide the proper web address to those who have paid the fee, and the student takes care of the rest.

Specific instructions will be sent to chapters that held fall 2005 ceremonies in the next two weeks. Additionally, any other chapters that are planning fall 2006 ceremonies will be invited to utilize the system, which should prove more efficient to the chapters and the Central Office in a number of ways. For those chapters that have already started the ordering process with the old paper forms from the website, you will have the option of continuing with the paper forms this fall or switching over to the On-Line System.

The development of this new system was initiated by the many requests we have received over the last few years from collegiate chapter representatives. At chapter workshops and in everyday phone and email communications, our staff members have fielded repeated questions from chapter representatives regarding our lack of an on-line system for chapter orders. This roll-out is our first, initial step in making our processes easier for chapter representatives by getting them online.

We won’t be stopping here, however. In spring 2007, we will be adding the ability to order Invitation Packets to our On-Line Ordering System. All chapters will begin using the system in spring 2007 to order both Invitation and Membership materials. We will be doing away with the paper (downloadable) forms at that time.

Beta Gamma Sigma is sensitive to the fact that this development will cause chapters to significantly alter some of their invitation and membership processes. However, we believe these changes will (eventually) lead to reduced time spent on the paperwork of running the chapter, and free up time to communicate the value of membership to your top students.

Additionally, we look forward to working with the chapters to increase membership acceptance rates and significantly reduce the time it currently takes for us to enter members’ data into our database. With this new system, your members will often have access to BGS benefits and the BGS On-Line Membership Directory BEFORE they go through the induction ceremony. In the past, it could take up to four months before new members, who had paid their lifetime membership dues, entered the system. We believe this will provide a more lasting relationship between the student member, the business school and Beta Gamma Sigma.

Beta Gamma Sigma thanks you in advance for your patience and assistance as we implement this new system. We look forward to helping you do an even better job of recognizing your top students with lifetime membership in the Society. Members of our staff are trained and ready to assist you as you utilize this new system. Don’t hesitate to call our office at 314-432-5650 or email us at bgshonors@betagammasigma.org if you have questions or need assistance with our new ordering system, or to get assistance with any other chapter related inquiry.