MEMBERSHIP

Membership Benefits:

SGGS membership privileges include regular meeting lectures and programs, study groups; the quarterly journal, Der Blumenbaum, with free queries; access to German language classes; surname/locality files and pedigree charts; and reduced fees for some special events. Occasionally a workshop is scheduled after the regular meeting. There may be a small fee ($3 to $5).

SGGS members receive four issues of Der Blumenbaum per year. When one joins after the beginning of the membership year, all previous issues of the journal published for that year are sent to the new member.

Our membership year runs from 01 July through 30 June of the following year. Members joining after April 1 will receive the 4th issue (April / May / June issue) of Der Blumenbaum for that year and their membership will be good for the following year. Renewal notices are sent out during the month of May. Those not renewing by June 30 need to pay a $5.00 surcharge to pay for the increased first class postage, as individual issues cannot be sent by bulk mail. New members are not responsible for this surcharge.

To ensure prompt delivery, members with seasonal address changes are strongly encouraged to use First Class mail, the fee for which is $8.00 paid at renewal time.

Membership Dues:  We have not had to increase dues for several years. Last summer, following a considerable discussion, your Board proposed a $5.00 per category increase in membership rates, effective 01 January 2005. This increase was approved by the membership.

Almost our entire operating budget comes from membership dues. Your Board works hard to provide quality programs, but many are presented at significant cost including travel, lodging, as well as a speaker honorarium. We must also pay St. Mark's Church for the use of their facilities for meetings. It is not easy to find a site large enough to accommodate our usual meeting attendance. We hope that you understand.

Membership Dues (effective 01 January 2005)  for membership from 01 July to 30 June):

                                    Individual   /   Couple

        U.S.A. Bulk Mail         US$25.00    US$30.00

        Canadian surface mail    US$30.00    US$35.00

        Overseas surface mail   US$30.00    US$35.00