Council & Chapter Information
How to pay chapter fees to International
Send an email to: [email protected]
- list your Chapter name and number (ensure you make it clear that this is an Australian chapter)
- list your member's names and their membership numbers
- provide one of your member's personal credit card details including the name on the card, the number on the card, the expiry date, the code number and the amount to be credited (number of members x $48.00 US dollars).
- From June 1, 2024, International fees will increase to $55.00 US dollars per year going forward.
Membership Categories
Active Members
Traditional, career and sustaining chapters are all considered active chapters. Their members are considered active members of BSP as they regularly attend and participate in activities and pay fees to International, Council and their chapter in accordance with the format of chapter they belong to and whether or not they are life members.
Sustaining Chapter Status
A sustaining chapter format may be offered to members in long standing with BSP, who typically hold the Master or Torchbearer degrees and belong to a Chapter of that degree. These members have 'been there - done that' for many years, however, due to age, and or health, they have slowed down.
Any Chapter interested in a Sustaining format must contact BSP International, to be offered that format, as it is not offered to just any chapter.
Contact: Vivian Iddings [email protected]
This form of Chapter permits members to remain active members of BSP, but they no longer have the structure of having officers, programs, submitting minutes, etc. They now become more of a 'social' chapter; meeting as little or as often as they desire, for lunches or dinners as a social group.
Sustaining chapters continue to belong to BSP Victorian Council, as they are still active members of BSP in good standing. It is noted that sustaining chapters are not required to pay annual Victorian Council fees (Ratified at Victorian Council meeting 25 August 2018).
Member at Large
Any member in good standing may request that her membership be transferred to a member-at-large status. In summary:
A ‘Change of Status Form’ should be completed and sent to International requesting change of status to member-at-large. It is important to be clear that the request is for member-at-large status.
International should also be notified if a member requests to cancel her membership or become inactive from the organisation. This also needs to be stated clearly. It is not sufficient to say that a member is ‘no longer active in the chapter’ as this may lead International to place her on member-at-large status instead of the intended cancellation from the organisation.
In most situations International will place a member on member-at-large status rather than cancel their membership without the express consent of the member. An exception to that rule is when a member is delinquent in payment of International fees despite ample opportunity to do so; or when a member is in violation of her sorority promises, in which International has been consulted and approved the cancellation.
Please inform Victorian Council when a member moves to member-at-large status.
Leave of Absence
Leave of absence may be granted by the executive of any chapter to a member who requests that she be excused from regular attendance at chapter meetings and participation in chapter activities for a temporary period of time up to one year. Such a member is referred to as an active member on leave of absence.
She remains as an active member of the chapter and of International. Her leave of absence should be noted on chapter minutes. She is obligated to pay International fees.
Members requesting leave for more than one year should be referred to International for transfer to member-at-large status or special status in cases of long illness.
Shut-ins and Permanent Leave of Absence
The concept and term ‘shut-ins’ was first used in the 1930’s for those members who were no longer able to attend meeting and participate in chapter activities due to health reasons. They were placed on a ‘card list’ to receive cards and messages from their chapter and International to maintain a connection when they could no longer attend.
Today there are 2 categories for members who are considered ‘home bound’ as they can no longer be active due to their health and/or being in residential care:
Chapters should inform International and Victorian Council when members fall into these categories.
Inactive Member
An inactive member is not active in a chapter or with International. She may not attend chapter meetings or affairs. She does not pay International, Council or chapter fees. She does not receive credit toward higher degrees during the years she is inactive. She may be re-instated into a chapter after a two-thirds vote of approval of the chapter and after payment of reinstatement fees to International.
A member may choose to be inactive or cancel her membership of BSP through notification to International.
A member may be declared inactive by the executive of a chapter:
This information has been sourced from:
Compiled by Meredith Swaby
March 10, 2022
Active Members
Traditional, career and sustaining chapters are all considered active chapters. Their members are considered active members of BSP as they regularly attend and participate in activities and pay fees to International, Council and their chapter in accordance with the format of chapter they belong to and whether or not they are life members.
Sustaining Chapter Status
A sustaining chapter format may be offered to members in long standing with BSP, who typically hold the Master or Torchbearer degrees and belong to a Chapter of that degree. These members have 'been there - done that' for many years, however, due to age, and or health, they have slowed down.
Any Chapter interested in a Sustaining format must contact BSP International, to be offered that format, as it is not offered to just any chapter.
Contact: Vivian Iddings [email protected]
This form of Chapter permits members to remain active members of BSP, but they no longer have the structure of having officers, programs, submitting minutes, etc. They now become more of a 'social' chapter; meeting as little or as often as they desire, for lunches or dinners as a social group.
Sustaining chapters continue to belong to BSP Victorian Council, as they are still active members of BSP in good standing. It is noted that sustaining chapters are not required to pay annual Victorian Council fees (Ratified at Victorian Council meeting 25 August 2018).
Member at Large
Any member in good standing may request that her membership be transferred to a member-at-large status. In summary:
- A member-at-large is still considered an active member of Beta Sigma Phi International.
- All members-at-large are required to pay annual International fees, unless they are a paid for life member.
- Members-at-large are not affiliated with any chapter.
- They do not pay chapter or Victorian Council fees.
- She may enjoy the right of guest privileges whenever she is invited to attend chapter activities.
- Members-at-large may be invited to Council events.
- She may access The Torch online and/or by subscription and will receive all other mailings sent to all members by BSP International.
- An active member may remain a member-at-large for any length of time.
- Members-at-large are able to apply for transfer to any chapter, preferably in the degree she holds.
A ‘Change of Status Form’ should be completed and sent to International requesting change of status to member-at-large. It is important to be clear that the request is for member-at-large status.
International should also be notified if a member requests to cancel her membership or become inactive from the organisation. This also needs to be stated clearly. It is not sufficient to say that a member is ‘no longer active in the chapter’ as this may lead International to place her on member-at-large status instead of the intended cancellation from the organisation.
In most situations International will place a member on member-at-large status rather than cancel their membership without the express consent of the member. An exception to that rule is when a member is delinquent in payment of International fees despite ample opportunity to do so; or when a member is in violation of her sorority promises, in which International has been consulted and approved the cancellation.
Please inform Victorian Council when a member moves to member-at-large status.
Leave of Absence
Leave of absence may be granted by the executive of any chapter to a member who requests that she be excused from regular attendance at chapter meetings and participation in chapter activities for a temporary period of time up to one year. Such a member is referred to as an active member on leave of absence.
She remains as an active member of the chapter and of International. Her leave of absence should be noted on chapter minutes. She is obligated to pay International fees.
Members requesting leave for more than one year should be referred to International for transfer to member-at-large status or special status in cases of long illness.
Shut-ins and Permanent Leave of Absence
The concept and term ‘shut-ins’ was first used in the 1930’s for those members who were no longer able to attend meeting and participate in chapter activities due to health reasons. They were placed on a ‘card list’ to receive cards and messages from their chapter and International to maintain a connection when they could no longer attend.
Today there are 2 categories for members who are considered ‘home bound’ as they can no longer be active due to their health and/or being in residential care:
- Permanent leave of absence (LOAP) is the term applied to those that are paid for life members.
- Shut-ins refers to those who are not paid for life members. As a shut-in they are no longer required to pay International fees.
Chapters should inform International and Victorian Council when members fall into these categories.
Inactive Member
An inactive member is not active in a chapter or with International. She may not attend chapter meetings or affairs. She does not pay International, Council or chapter fees. She does not receive credit toward higher degrees during the years she is inactive. She may be re-instated into a chapter after a two-thirds vote of approval of the chapter and after payment of reinstatement fees to International.
A member may choose to be inactive or cancel her membership of BSP through notification to International.
A member may be declared inactive by the executive of a chapter:
- When absent from three consecutive meetings without sufficient excuse (she may become a member-at-large if requirements of that status are met).
- Upon official notice of withdrawal of membership privileges because of delinquency in payment of International fees.
- Upon violation of her sorority promises.
This information has been sourced from:
- BSP International website https://bspinternational.org
- BSP Victoria website http://www.betasigmaphivic.org.au/
- Book of Beta Sigma Phi
Compiled by Meredith Swaby
March 10, 2022