Council Heard You & Changed the BSA Membership Year

July 11, 2022

At the May meeting of the Council, members voted unanimously in favor of a revision to our bylaws changing our membership year from the current, January through December year, to a new, October through September.

Why?

Asking members to renew in December and January put a crunch on everyone because the Society elects the Council at the Annual Meeting at the end of January. Only active members of the BSA are entitled to a vote, and we must have a quorum of 100 active members to achieve a valid election. Members of the BSA should not feel harried in renewing their membership at any time of the year and most especially not at the start of the calendar year, which is a financially complicated time for many people.

The new BSA membership year will begin on October 1 for everyone and expire on September 30. The Membership Committee and other volunteers involved with planning around this decision chose this as an ideal time for renewals because it does not coincide with membership renewal periods for peer organizations and it preceeds the year-end fund drive for most non-profit organizations. The BSA Office is also changing its fiscal year to align with the membership year, giving leadership a stronger sense of the BSA’s financial position (relative to year-end fundraising) at the start of the fiscal year, rather than its end.

As part of an ongoing overhaul of our digital presence, the Society is also ending its MemberPlanet subscription and moving to a new membership management system, Little Green Light. Our new system costs less, offers more robust administrative tools, and provides members with a more secure experience for processing dues payments online via Stripe.

Changes to Membership Benefits Access
BSA members will now access their membership benefits through a password-protected page on the BSA website. All active members received an email with instructions for accessing membership benefits on June 27, 2022.

What Does This Mean for Renewals in 2022/2023?

Active members of the BSA will receive an email with detailed instructions for renewing with a discount code that will allow them to access a prorated dues rate for 2023 between September 1, 2022 and December 1, 2022. Prorating renewals will ensure that members who have already paid dues for October, November, and December 2022 will not do so again when they renew for 2023. Because the dues rates at the Emerging and Latin American memberships are already heavily discounted, members renewing at those levels will not receive a discounted rate for renewing before December 1, 2022.

In an effort to lower overhead costs and devote more funding to our growing programs, active members who typically renew online will receive a postcard in September with renewal instructions and a QR code. Members who renew by mail will receive a full mailing complete with an instruction letter, renewal form, and return envelope.

Prorated dues amounts will be calculated based on the base dues payment of $80 per year. Prorated renewals apply only to Partner, Sustaining, Leadership, or Advancing Levels memberships.

If you have not received an email with instructions from bsa@bibsocamer.org by September 1 check your spam folder or reach out to the BSA office at that email address.

Prorated Dues Schedule

Prorated dues amounts will be calculated based on the base dues payment of $80 per year. Prorated renewals apply only to Partner, Sustaining, Leadership, or Advancing Levels memberships.

Dues payments for renewals made by October 1, 2022:

  • Partner Level: $60 dues
  • Sustaining Level: $105 ($60 dues, $45 tax-deductible contribution)
  • Leadership Level: $230 ($60 dues, $170 tax-deductible contribution)
  • Advancing Level: $480 ($60 dues, $420 tax-deductible contribution)

Dues payments for renewals made by November 1, 2022:

  • Partner Level: $70 dues
  • Sustaining Level: $115 ($70 dues, $45 tax-deductible contribution)
  • Leadership Level: $240 ($70 dues, $170 tax-deductible contribution)
  • Advancing Level: $490 ($70 dues, $420 tax-deductible contribution)

Dues payments for renewals made by December 1, 2022:

  • Partner Level: $75 dues
  • Sustaining Level: $120 ($75 dues, $45 tax-deductible contribution)
  • Leadership Level: $245 ($75 dues, $170 tax-deductible contribution)
  • Advancing Level: $495 ($75 dues, $420 tax-deductible contribution)

Questions? Concerns?

Consult our list of Frequently Asked Questions (“FAQ”) online, or email the BSA office at bsa@bibsocamer.org.

Thanks in advance for your patience.

The Bibliographical Society of America is a small organization primarily lead by volunteers, with one full-time staff person, Executive Director Erin McGuirl. We are working tirelessly to make this a smooth transition, but all of us are human beings balancing competing demands on our time and attention. If you experience any snags in your renewal, we thank you in advance for your patience and kindness: rest assured that Director McGuirl will be attentive to your questions and concerns and resolve any issues as soon as possible.