BGS 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 well as Supply Orders. As you know, the old New Member system required 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. The old Supply Order system was similar, requiring faculty advisors to download, fill out and return the Collection Supply Order Form.

We’re now very excited to announce the development of the new BGS Online Ordering System, which will be rolled out and used by chapters as they submit Supply and Membership orders this spring. 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 website.

In addition, those invited will fill 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 and a step-by-step checklist can be found at http://www.betagammasigma.org/Forms/OOS-0107.pdf

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.

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 Donna Binek at dbinek@betagammasigma.org if you have questions or need assistance with our new ordering system, or to get assistance with any other chapter related inquiry.

Collegiate Chapter Workshops

Beta Gamma Sigma holds Collegiate Chapter Workshops to help its faculty advisors and other chapter contacts as they prepare for, invite, and induct new members each year. The Society normally recommends that each chapter send a representative to one of these workshops every few years, and it's a great idea for new chapters to see how others have succeeded. This year we are requesting that a representative from each chapter attend a workshop this spring.

This year it's even more important, as Beta Gamma Sigma is kicking off its new Online Ordering System. Instructions on using this new system can be found at http://www.betagammasigma.org/Forms/OOS-0107.pdf. Because of the new Online Ordering System, Beta Gamma Sigma is prepared to add more workshops this spring if the ones scheduled fill up. We are requesting that a representative from every chapter attend a workshop this year, so please consider your options now. The new order system is a very big change, and those chapters able to attend a workshop will be at a very large advantage. Don’t let your chapter miss out on this valuable opportunity! Try to find a representative from your chapter who can attend one of our workshops this spring!

Our next workshop is scheduled for February 23-24, 2007 in St. Louis, Missouri. There is a $100 registration fee, but the Central Office waives that fee if you register by January 25. Don't wait, register today for this event. To download the registration form, go to http://www.betagammasigma.org/Forms/col_workshop_stl.doc

Other Collegiate Chapter Workshops scheduled for spring 2007 include:

• March 15-16, 2007 - San Diego, California - (http://www.betagammasigma.org/Forms/col_workshop_stl.doc). If your chapter registers by February 23, 2007, BGS will waive the $100 registration fee.

May 31-June 1, 2007 - Leipzig, Germany (European Chapter Seminar) – (http://www.betagammasigma.org/Forms/workshopeurope07.doc). Please email the Central Office at bgshonors@betagammasigma.org to let BGS know you are interested in attending this event. This is a great chance for our European chapter representatives to get a first-hand look at the best ways to run a BGS chapter.