Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need to send the full subscription with my application form?
No – the only money you need to send in with your form is the £15 registration fee. This is deducted from whatever initial subscription needs to be paid once you have been elected to membership. At that point, you will be told about the various ways in which you can pay your subscription.
- Does the time of year at which I join affect how much I pay?
The subscription year runs from the beginning October to the end of September; but you can join whenever you want, and the subscription is calculated accordingly. As the year goes on, the initial subscription for new members is reduced by 25% every three months, depending on the date election to membership takes place; so you will only pay a proportion of the entire subscription, depending when you join. For example, a Full member elected in January 08 would pay:
Current Subscription £135
LESS:
Registration Fee -£15
One quarter’s reduction (Oct-Dec) -£33.75Balance due on election: £86.25
Because of these reductions, the £15 Registration Fee may be in certain cases greater than the initial subscription itself. If so, the balance will be carried forward to reduce the subscription due in the next membership year.- Can I pay for my membership by Direct Debit?
There are several ways in which you can pay for your membership. Full Members can choose to pay their subscriptions as a single direct debit, or by monthly instalments. Details will be sent once you have been elected to membership.
- Do Associate, Corporate and Student members get Public Liability Insurance?
No – Full membership is the only category that offers Public Liability Insurance.
- Do you have a membership category for couples?
No. ISM membership is in effect a contract between the Society and the member, so couples both need to join as individuals.
- How long will it take for my application to be processed?
All applications have to be checked and approved by the ISM's governing body. This process takes 2-4 weeks from the date we receive your completed application form. You will be told about the outcome of your application as soon as possible.
- I am a member of a group and we need Public Liability Insurance - can just one of us join or can we join as Corporate members?
ISM membership is for individuals, so the insurances we offer cover only individuals. If you are part of a group or a band, every member of the group must join in order to get the cover provided. Corporate membership does not offer any professional or legal services: it is intended mainly as a promotional relationship for larger businesses and organisations who want to support us and our members while receiving a range of benefits (eg, publicity opportunities) specially suited to their activities.
- I am a Student and am not sure which category is more suitable for me.
The answer really depends on which benefits you want from your membership. Student membership does not include professional benefits, but is a very useful way for people who are training to stay in touch with the profession and to receive ISM publications and careers advice. If, however, you are doing any professional work while a student (eg, teaching or performing engagements), you might want to consider Full membership and the extra benefits that it offers (e.g. Public Liability Insurance, contract and legal advice, 24-hour legal & tax helpline etc.).
- I am retired from professional work, do you have a retired membership category?
We do have a retired rate; but this is only for members who are retired from full professional work, are 65 or over, and have been Full ISM members for at least five years. Certain membership benefits, including legal and professional advice, will not be available.
- I don’t think I know any current Full members to sign my form - is there any way round this?
Getting current members to sign your application form is one of the ways we regulate membership of the Society – a process akin to professional accreditation. Since there are around 5,000 ISM members in the UK, this is usually not too difficult; though some applicants can have problems. In your membership pack we will enclose a list of Full members in your area. Check this list carefully and see if there is anyone you know on it – we can provide lists of members in other areas, if that would help. You might also show the list to colleagues or teachers, as they might know someone who could assist. Another way of finding possible signatories is by checking with places where you were trained or educated – former teachers may be members, or may know members. If all else fails, you could go to some ISM events (often you do not have to be a member to attend), details of which can be found on the ISM website at www.ism.org. Alternatively, you could join as an Associate member and upgrade your membership once you have made more contacts. If you have any further queries relating to this then please get in touch – membership@ism.org.
