Beta Gamma Sigma Emergency Membership Fund

Guidelines for Emergency Membership Fund (EMF)
2011-12

1. Several Collegiate Chapters have created a special fund (or have access to funds) to assist students invited to BGS who cannot afford the membership fee. Some of these chapters indicate they pay the fee for the student(s) but ask the student to repay them in the future when they are established in their job and can afford to do so.
   
2. We hope that other Collegiate Chapters will consider creating a similar type of fund.
   
   
3. For any additional students invited to membership who cannot afford the membership fee and the chapter cannot cover the fee locally, BGS has also created an emergency membership fund that is available to assist eligible students to become members when they cannot afford the membership fee.
   
   
4. The fund was originally seeded through contributions from BGS staff. Subsequently, members have given generously to this fund.
   
   
5. Funds are available to chapters for Spring 2013 as follows:
   
   1. 1-2 per chapter
   2. First come – first served basis

   We are counting on the chapters and chapter advisors to utilize university/chapter resources first when available so that those who truly would not have the opportunity for membership otherwise can be recipients of this fund.

6. Chapters who wish to access these funds for deserving students should do the following:
   1. Contact Donna Binek at dbinek@betagammasigma.org requesting that the fund be used to pay the $65 membership fee + $2 Shipping cost for (provide student’s full name, school and class level info, mailing and email addresses and cell phone number). Name must also show up on the Online Order System in the chapter’s unpaid (or eligible) list.
   2. Explain to the student that the funds are provided as a loan with the anticipation that the new member will repay the money through a contribution to BGS when established in his/her career – so that the fund can be continued for future students as well – The Pay It Forward plan.
   3. Once BGS approves the student(s) for the funds (first request, first approved), the BGS Central Office staff will mark the student paid online and credit the funds to the chapter account for that student’s membership.

7. In the spirit of this Emergency Membership Fund, chapters are encouraged to waive or find a contribution to cover any local chapter fee which may be associated with this membership.
   

8. The BGS Development Director will make contact with these fund recipients once they are established in their career encouraging them to make a contribution to BGS so that the fund can be continued for future students as well – the Pay It Forward Plan.
9. BGS will notify all chapters through a B-Mail and Twitter when the designated funds for that semester have been expended.
   
10. If all funds for a given semester are not utilized, they will roll over to be used in the next semester.
    

Phone: 314.432.5650
Fax: 314.432.7083
Email: bgshonors@betagammasigma.org