Steps to become a BSC member

We are glad to know you are interested in becoming a member of our Berkeley Ski Club! Here you will find the steps you need to follow to join our club. This process will offer both you and our club the opportunity to see if membership is a good fit. Please read this entire section, as all information is relevant.

Email
recruiting@berkeleyskiclub.org
with the subject line "Newsletter" to sign up for the monthly newsletters. The newsletter will help you get to know us and how our club operates and will also be the way that you will be notified when we are accepting new applicants (the application period usually begins in summertime).
Apply or re-apply by filling out our online form when the application period begins (the link will be in the newsletter). We will ask new applicants some questions to get to know you better. Returning applicants can just indicate their continued interest and give updates to any relevant personal info.
Attend social events so that club members can get to know you in person and you can get to know us (this can include attending a general meeting). Social events are listed here. General meetings are listed here. These events may also be mentioned in the newsletter. Please be sure to introduce yourself to the host of the event so that your attendance is recorded (larger events will often have a sign-in table and name tags). For 2026 and onward, attending at least two events is required and attending additional events is encouraged. Event participation is evaluated by quality, not quantity. Attending more events will not make you a more competitive candidate, but having high quality interactions with multiple members at an event will. If you haven't attended an event recently, you may not be top of mind for our members, so making sure you've attended recent social events is more important than just racking up the most social events.
Visit the lodge for at least a two-night stay (and email recruiting@berkeleyskiclub.org before your visit to make sure the visit meets the requirements of an applicant lodge visit). You will pay the guest fee until you become a member. Your host is responsible for giving you a tour of the lodge so you know how to sign in, choose your bunk bed, and become familiar with lodge protocol. You will need to find a member to host you on your visit. The best way to do this is attend events and get to know the members. Alternatively, if you have attended at least one social event and were not able to find a sponsor, the recruiter may be able to assist you in scheduling a lodge visit. You must be an active applicant at the time of your lodge visit. Prior experiences as guests of the lodge do not count towards the lodge visit requirement for applicants. As with social events, if you haven't had a recent lodge visit (or if there just weren't many members at the lodge when you visited) we encourage you to plan another to meet more members.
Interested current club members meet to review applicants and determine which candidates will be offered membership.
After the deadline for current member renewal has passed, we will know the approximate number of spots available to new members (usually around mid November) and will reach out to schedule a final candidate interview with two board members. Applicants who are not offered a spot may reapply the following year.
Upon being approved for membership, you will fill out the new member application, sign a Waiver and Release of Liability form, pay the refundable deposit, pay the annual dues, and pay the initiation fee (if applicable). You will also familiarize yourself with the requirements of membership located in the members-only section of the website.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

Prospective members are encouraged to attend as many general meetings and events as he or she wishes, and are welcome to be the guest of a current member at the lodge.
All members are required to do their part in the running of the Club, as a Board member or in an Appointed position. New members are required to begin this service within five years of joining the club. If a member doesn't fulfill this obligation, their annual dues will increase by the amount listed in the Dues and Fees section until this requirement is met.
All members are required to either attend a work weekend each year or pay an additional ‘in-lieu of’ fee.