BESS Reciprocity Program

BESS has instituted a reciprocity program to encourage BESS Contributors to participate in similar education and social groups.

Because BESS "screens" new Contributors through an orientation meeting, the BESS reciprocity program is limited to groups that perform similar screening of new members.

Members of reciprocal groups who wish to attend BESS events are encouraged to do the following:

For BESS Education meetings, simply show up and enjoy.
For BESS Socials, make a reservation by writing to: [email protected]. Explain that you are a member of a reciprocal group and that you will bring your membership card and ID (proof of age).
For BESS SIGs, contact the SIG coordinator (inclusion of non-BESS Contributors or reciprocal group members is up to the SIG coordinator and varies from SIG to SIG).

BESS Reciprocal Groups:

Bess and Black Rose now have a reciprocal agreement.

Black Rose members must bring both a Black Rose membership card and a Black Rose Party Card to attend BESS "contributors and guests only" events. Black Rose members, like BESS Contributors, must make reservations in advance for any BESS party and may bring guests of their own. Links to BESS reciprocal groups are listed on the "BESS Best Links" page

BESS Reciprocity Guidelines

At its discretion, the BESS Board of Directors may grant reciprocity to clubs or organizations that meet the following criteria:

Have officers or boards that are elected by the group members.
Have at least one regularly scheduled meeting per month.
Collect dues in some form.
Issue affiliation cards.
Perform some form of "screening" of new members (because BESS "screens" new Contributors through an orientation meeting, the BESS reciprocity program is limited to groups that perform similar screening of new members).
Extend reciprocity to BESS (see below).
Have met guidelines 1 through 5 for at least 6 months.

By "Extend reciprocity to BESS", we mean that card-carrying BESS Contributors will be admitted to regularly-scheduled educational events and parties put on by a reciprocal organization, without additional and onerous reservation procedures. Further, BESS Contributors will be admitted for the same fee that a reciprocal organization charges its own members.

Reciprocity is not expected to extend to special meetings, such as an annual business meeting, or subgroups (special-interest groups, etc.) of a reciprocal organization.

Also, Reciprocity is not expected to take precedent over any organization's minimum-age, gender, or sexual-orientation requirements.

Requesting Reciprocity with BESS

To request reciprocity with BESS please email [email protected] with the following information:

Primary Group Contact and Contact Information.
Web Site Address.
Snail Mail Address.
Phone Number.
Mission Statement.
Group Inception Date.
Geographic Area Served (if appropriate).
A statement explaining specifically how your group meets each of the above guidelines.

Page maintained by: tommyL at [email protected] and Jon at: [email protected] Copyright(c) BESS Inc. Created: Thursday, May 22, 2001 Updated: February 13 2002