New Scheme for BCA Membership via Industrial Group NON MEMBER FEES

The Industrial Group has introduced an increase in meeting fees for NON BCA Members. Details follow:

• NON Members will now pay more than members to attend an Industrial Group meeting.
• However, anyone paying the higher NON MEMBER fee has an option to fund BCA Membership or even BCA Membership renewal.
• Anyone opting to take advantage of using the extra payment to buy membership will be enrolled for the NEXT full membership year (January to December).
• Existing BCA members can opt to pay the higher NON Member fee and use the extra payment to fund the following years membership RENEWAL.
• Concessions (Retired, Unemployed and Full time students) are also included in the scheme, but will find it less expensive to join or renew independently through the BCA.
• The extra cost payable by NON Members will be equivalent to the highest price BCA FULL membership fee.
• The meeting registration form includes all the details required to process the optional BCA membership application.
• All membership applications for a particular year will be processed after 30th September and NEW members may qualify for a complementary copy of that years December edition of Crystallography News.

Your questions answered:

Question: Why change from the old scheme of including free membership in the meeting fee?

Answer: The old scheme involved a significant administration burden and some mistakes were inevitable. Members attending more than one meeting in the year effectively subsidised other attendees. The costs of arranging meetings and supplying lunches are increasing and the updated scheme will allow the Industrial Group to keep its meeting fees as low as possible for BCA members but still include a route into BCA membership or renewal.

Question: Is it less expensive to independently join the BCA rather than pay the NON MEMBER FEE ?

Answer: IT CAN BE! The additional NON MEMBER cost levied by the Industrial Group is the same as the equivalent BCA FULL membership fees when paid by cheque or credit card. However, the BCA does offer lower fees to STUDENTS, RETIRED, UNEMPLOYED and some members of the Institute of Physics.

Question: I am not a BCA member and will be attending two IG meetings this year. Do I need to pay two NON MEMBER FEES?

Answer: If you want to become a BCA member then your best option is to independently enrol for BCA membership and allow a week before you register as a BCA member for the first IG meeting. To become a BCA member an online membership form is available.
If, for any reason, you don't want to become a BCA member, then you will have to pay the NON MEMBER FEE for ALL the meetings you plan to attend.

Question: How do I use the scheme to renew my membership?

Answer: Pay the higher NON MEMBER FEE for the meeting and tick the "Renew a current BCA Membership" Box .

Question: Why hold membership applications until the following year?

Answer: To keep things simple. Often our qualifying meetings are well into the year so you get the best value, a full years membership. It also gives the IG flexibility to administer the scheme more efficiently.

Question: I am attending an Autumn meeting in November 2008 what membership period will be covered?

Answer: Membership is for the next full year so in this case it will be January 2009 - December 2009.

Question: What happens if I join through the scheme at a meeting in 2008 but I don't attend a meeting in 2009 and miss the option of renewing my membership?

Answer: Your BCA membership will become due for renewal in January 2010. You will receive a membership renewal notice by post from the BCA and an appropriate payment form to use if you wish to renew your BCA membership for 2010.

Question: What is the difference between a current and lapsed member?

Answer: The only difference is that details of a lapsed member may still be available on our membership database and it may be possible to resurrect the old entry.

Question: What is the definition of "RETIRED"?

Answer: Someone who is no longer in full time employment.

Question: What is the definition of "STUDENT"?

Answer: Someone who is a FULL TIME STUDENT.

Question: What is the definition of "UNEMPLOYED"?

Answer: Someone who is no longer in full time employment but is actively seeking work.

Question: Why do I need to fill out all the information about BCA Groups?

Answer: The registration form combines all the information required for the meeting registration and for enrolling as a BCA member. The information on BCA groups helps to identify your specific interests and allows the Groups to keep you informed of their activities.

Question: I want to attend an Industrial Group meeting but don't want to become a BCA member what should I do?

Answer: Pay the NON MEMBER FEE and tick the box at the bottom of the form "Please tick this box if you have paid a NON MEMBER FEE but do NOT wish to take up BCA Membership".