First, Beta Sigma Phi
is unlike any other Greek organization that I have encountered.
Membership in Beta Sigma Phi is by invitation only. The online enrollment option is available, but it is to be used by women who have been extended an invitation by a chapter. When using the online system, a chapter number must be submitted for the enrollment to be complete. In some circumstances, International will allow a woman to join as a "member-at-large" unaffiliated with a chapter. In those cases, the invitation is presented directly from International, rather than from a specific chapter. This is usually only done when the member has an interest in establishing a new chapter, or no appropriate chapter is available in the woman's geographic area. It is always International's first desire to pair a woman with a chapter.
A woman can also join an online chapter, and she must be extended an invitation from the chapter. Not all of our online chapters allow non-members to apply for online membership as new pledges. My chapter only recently allowed this practice. In my online chapter, a potential member must visit two monthly meetings and participate in the "chapter chatter" for both months. The whole membership then examines her application, considers her participation over the two months, and then casts a ballot for or against extending an invitation. (Beta Sigma Phi is not a secret society, so I am not revealing anything confidential is saying so.)
We still call our "new members" pledges
, and yes, we have a six month education program. We have two books called
The Book of Beta Sigma Phi and
Invitation to Life. A member is only ready for The Ritual of Jewels (sort of like our "initiation") when she has completed the study of these two books under the guidance of the chapter's Vice President
and has participated in a full six months of cultural programming. That is usually a total of 9 programs conducted by her chapter. I say usually because every BSP chapter is supposed to have 18 programs per year, so in six months, a chapter would cover approximately 9 programs. The stucture of the pledge training, as we call it, is clearly defined, but chapters can have some freedom to add in games and other activities to make the process fun.
The International website has a chapter locator, but chapter contact doesn't happen through the website. You can contact International to say that you are interested in membership. International then gives your contact information to the Vice Presidents of the chapters near you. It is up to them to contact you when they are rushing. Some chapters rush year round, so it is never a "bad time" to get in touch!
I hope that helps. I'm happy to answer any other questions.