November 16 2016

Chapter Spotlight – Greensboro’s on the map and looking better than ever

Congratulations to BGS at North Carolina A&T University for helping put Greensboro on the map! Working with the City of Greensboro and Google, BGS made phone calls to local small businesses to encourage them to increase their online presence through Google Search and Google Maps.  Approximately 15 small business owners were contacted in all. 

BGS members at the university also participated in a spring beautification project facilitated by environmental engineer Michael Jacobs. Participants planted flowers around the BGS Bronze Key located in front of the college. BGS member Ryan Goulding shared the knowledge and expertise he developed while working with his father. The project will be maintained for years to come.

What impact has your chapter made on your local community? Make sure to share what you’ve done with your Chapter Manager. 

Join us for our 3^rd 30 Minute BGS Basics Refresher Series Focusing on BGS Programs:

The final webinar in our 2016 30-Minute BGS Basics Refresher Series covers various BGS programs for promoting your chapter and engaging your members throughout the academic year. The webinar will take place Wednesday, November 30^th at 1:00 pm Central Time. Register.

If you are unable to join the live sessions, we’ll post recorded sessions of the webinar on the BGS website for viewing at a later date. We understand your schedule may be a bit hectic this time of the year, but we hope you will make time to join the call or view the recording at your convenience.

Recognize BGS Members at Commencement

Commencement ceremonies provide visibility for your chapter and recognition for academic achievement. Here are a few ways to honor your BGS members as they graduate:

• List names of BGS members in the commencement program.
• Ask members to stand and be recognized.
• Purchase BGS cords, stoles or medallions for members to wear with their caps and gowns. (Academic regalia are available for purchase by the chapter at a volume discount).
• Note in your program that the BGS cords or stoles signify that a student was in the top 10% of their class in the College of Business.

Take advantage of honoring these students one final time before they advance to their next chapter in lives. And don’t forget… recognizing BGS members at commencement can earn you points toward your Chapter Honor Roll point total!

Connect with Alumni Chapters

A key opportunity for BGS collegiate chapters is to foster a connection and relationship with local alumni chapters. This allows student and alumni members to meet and network with one another. Chapters may contact the BGS Alumni Chapter in their area or reach out directly to Alumni from their institution. Either way, chapters earn points towards the Collegiate Chapter Honor Roll for hosting collaborative events with an Alumni Chapter. Below are some ways to connect:

• Invite alumni to your BGS recognition ceremony to share success stories and benefits of lifetime membership.
• Ask alumni to participate in mock interviews or resume reviews for BGS students.  Networking and mentoring may evolve naturally!
• Establish a BGS alumni scholarship to help pay new membership fees.
• Promote the events of a BGS Alumni Chapter in your area by posting flyers and forwarding event emails.  Encourage BGS faculty and students to attend.
• Offer university venue space to a local Alumni Chapter.
• Consider co-hosting an event with BGS alumni. You might try a career panel, speaker event, golf etiquette program, service project, or networking event.
• Keep tabs on your alumni.  Highlight BGS alumni members’ news on business school bulletin boards, your university website, and social media.

Be sure to share stories and photos of your Chapter’s activities with BGS Global Headquarters!

Review our Alumni Chapter Calendar for Local Alumni Events

To encourage the continued success of alumni members, Beta Gamma Sigma Alumni Networks offer a variety of opportunities for networking. As your students approach graduation, advise them to join the alumni network in their area. 

We also encourage you to remind your students and alumni to check the Alumni Network Events Calendar for events in their local area. Students need not have graduated to participate in alumni events. In fact, it’s a great way for them to learn more about their local alumni chapter! 

Submit Your Nominations for the 2017 Business Achievement Award and Medallion for Entrepreneurship

Beta Gamma Sigma is now accepting nominations for the Business Achievement and Medallion for Entrepreneurship Awards! Please note that the award criteria and nomination packet has changed. Be sure to review updates on our award pages prior to submitting your nominations.

The nomination forms are available below:

Business Achievement Award:

Medallion for Entrepreneurship:

The deadline for applications is January 20^th, 2017, so submit your nominations today!

Hong Kong CCTS Recap

On September 28^th and 29^th, BGS Staff members traveled to Hong Kong to host a Collegiate Chapter Training Seminar. The event, which was co-hosted by The University of Hong Kong, brought together a well-established chapter from Hong Kong Baptist University, the National University of Singapore’s chapter and the Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad, which is slated to become the first BGS chapter established in India! The day provided a forum for chapter contacts to interact with BGS staff members, share best practices and train on some of the newest chapter operations initiatives. Thank you to all who participated! We look forward to meeting more chapter contacts at our spring training seminars.

BGS Gives Back: What are Other Chapters Doing to Give Back

Has your chapter participated in BGS Gives Back? Here are some of the ways chapters are involving members in this important initiative: 

• University of Maryland Eastern Shore: BGS members visited the daycare on campus and read books to the children. The children loved it, and so did the BGS members! In addition to reading books, BGS members also participated in a Blood Drive. It made them feel great to give back!
• Boise State University: A food drive was held to benefit the Boise Women's and Children's Alliance. Many members participated, allowing the chapter to exceed their goal of 100 pounds of food!
• University of Dallas: BGS students participated in a week of giving back, helping charities with which they were already familiar, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, St Vincent De Paul Society, and local schools.
• Hofstra University: Winter coats were collected to support returning veterans who were returning from active duty. The chapter collected over 80 men’s and women’s winter jackets. The winter coat collection is part of a program that finds housing, gently used furniture, food, and other necessities to help re-establish veterans into the local community.
• James Madison University: The chapter hosted a bingo party at a local retirement home as part of the JMU College of Business Day of Service to recognize the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday.

Don’t forget to submit your form to let us know you participated in order to earn points towards the Collegiate Chapter Honor Roll!