General Information About Membership

Membership Categories
There are four categories of membership in the Society of Government Meeting Professionals. Upon submission, your application is presented to the SGMP Board of Directors for approval. In order to maintain the membership balance, a supplier applicant must join with a planner applicant.

Government Planner
Federal, state or local government employees who have the responsibility for planning or implementing any type of meeting, conference, or convention as part of their official duties. Employees of private organizations, a majority of whose membership is comprised of government employees, may also qualify as government planners if they plan and implement meetings as part of their official duties.

Contract Planner
Individuals, organizations or companies operating under contract to government planners to assist in the planning or implementing of meetings, conferences, or conventions. Contracting organizations may include fraternal and recreational groups, labor unions and professional associations. Companies that operate under contract or commission to planners and suppliers will be considered suppliers.

Supplier
Companies or individuals who solicit business from and/or who provide facilities and services to government planners outside of direct assistance in the planning and implementation of meetings. Suppliers include hotel representation firms, travel agencies, Convention & Visitors Bureaus, consulting firms, registration services, airlines, printers, exhibit managers, security services, etc.

Associate Supplier
Individuals, organizations or companies that are compensated through retainer or commission from suppliers (i.e., hotels, conference centers, cities, etc.) will be considered associate suppliers. This means that individuals, organizations or companies whose income in the planning or placement of government meetings, conferences or conventions is derived from suppliers are also considered suppliers

Educator/Student
Individuals who are educators or students who would not otherwise qualify for any other membership category. This category is not open to anyone who would be eligible for any one of the three other membership categories.

SGMP Annual Membership Fees
Membership fees cover a one-year period, based on the anniversary date of admission to SGMP. Effective April 15, 2003, the following rates are in effect. To obtain a membership application, download one here or contact SGMP NATCAP Membership. Note: If a person qualifies for membership in more than one category, he/she must join at the highest membership category for which they are eligible.

NAME/ADDRESS CHANGES
Changes in name, address, and telephone number must be submitted in writing to the SGMP Membership Office. You may download a Name Change Form (Adobe Acrobat file), or you may obtain the Name Change Form at any monthly meeting or by contacting SGMP NATCAP Membership. Please print or type the information on to the form. Be sure to sign your form! We are unable to process change requests without a member signature.

Mail or fax your form to:
SGMP Membership Office
6 Clouser Rd.
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Fax: 717/795-7552

NATCAP ENCOURAGES VISITORS
We invite visitors to visit us for our NATCAP monthly meetings. NATCAP meetings are held the 3rd Wednesday of the each month at 4:30 p.m., registration begins at 3:45 p.m. Locations vary among member hotels and other meeting venues in the DC Metro area. Sister SGMP Chapter members are welcome to attend NATCAP meetings For visiting SGMP supplier members presenting their SGMP membership card, the fee is just $15.00. All visiting SGMP Planners are free with membership card.

Non-member meeting planners may attend the first meeting free of charge. After two visits an application for membership must be submitted. On the second visit, non-members pay as follows:
Government Planner $5
Contract Planner $10
Supplier $25
All non-members attending a third meeting must submit an application with the appropriate dues. Supplier member applications are subject to approval upon pairing with a qualified government or contract planner.

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