About 8 years ago I had a lapse in judgement (and a home) and because of these circumstances I let my dues and membership slide. Before this I had been a member for 7 years.

What do I need to do to become an active member again? Do I need to go through the application process again?

There is not a local ring were I am, the Ring in Branson, MO is the closest to me (about 2 hours).

Welcome back, Marlo. Just log onto www.Magician.org and rejoin. If you remember your I.B.M. member number, include it ... But, chances are that you'll be issued a new number after so long a lapse. You will need to pay the $15 new member admin fee, as well.

I got the same number after 20 years away

If you had a membership number they will look it up and apply it, but you still have to wait 3 months after you're published in the Linking Ring for your membership to become active again...I questioned the waiting period nonsense because I'd been a member on and off for about 4-1/2 decades, but they said since my membership had lapsed more than 7 years ago, I had to go through the new member waiting period...and no, you don't have to pay the $15 new member admin fee...just pay your dues...

"...and no, you don't have to pay the $15 new member admin fee...just pay your dues..."

That may be so, I'm not sure. Section 3, Para. 5 of the Standing Rules simply state:

"5. Members in arrears shall forfeit the right to receive The Linking Ring, during the period of such arrearage. Any member whose dues are three years in arrears shall be automatically suspended. A member who reinstates his membership status at any time following a lapse of no more than three years will be considered to have uninterrupted membership upon the payment of all back dues owed for the period of such lapse. Only one such reinstatement will be considered for the purpose of adjusting Order of Merlin award eligibility. A member, whose dues are unpaid at the time of the Annual Meeting or Annual Election, shall not be in good standing, may not vote, hold office or be admitted to a business meeting, until such time as the unpaid dues are paid to the Executive Secretary."

Since more than three years has passed, this is considered dropped membership and the lost years cannot be recovered. Therefore, as I interpret the standing rule, the 3-year-plus reinstatement applicant must go through the New Member admission process again. Unless something has changed recently, I am certain that a suspended member reinstating his or her membership will not receive a member certificate or lapel pin without the $15.00 admin fee.

Skip

I don't know for sure, but I just reinstated my membership...$70 for "Active Member (with the print edition of The Linking Ring and unlimited digital access)"...was there a $15 charge built in to that?

PS - Answer "yes"...just checked my bank statement and discovered they charged me $85...doh...