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EnglishBSI Membership: Benefits, Joining, and Renewing
Updated
BSI (The Bromeliad Society International) is a society established in 1950 for people interested in bromeliads. Its website provides a members area with "Member Only Content," an online renewal/update path, a page describing membership benefits, and a separate page to join. If you want member-only material, the BSI Journal, or access to society programs such as the Seed Bank, membership is the route; if you only need public reference material like taxonomy lists or the cultivar register, you can use those sections without joining.
What BSI membership gives you
The site organizes member-related material under a MEMBERS section. The concrete items visible in the site navigation are:
- Member Only Content — a gated area of the website.
- Renew / Update Online — a path for existing members to renew or update their details.
- Renewal Information — guidance on the renewal process.
- Membership Benefits — the society's own description of what membership includes.
- BSI Store — a store section reachable from the member area.
- Seed Bank — listed under the members section.
Publications are handled separately under PUBLICATIONS, which includes About the BSI Journal, Subscriptions & Advertising, Submitting Journal Material, and the BSI Journal Archive. Note that the Journal has its own subscription and advertising information, so journal access and membership are related but presented as distinct topics on the site.
Member vs. non-member content
| Area | Where it sits on the site | Practical meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Member Only Content | MEMBERS | Requires membership to view |
| Renew / Update Online, Renewal Information | MEMBERS | For current members managing their membership |
| Membership Benefits | MEMBERS | Describes what you get |
| BSI Store, Seed Bank | MEMBERS section | Member-facing services |
| About the BSI Journal, Subscriptions & Advertising | PUBLICATIONS | Journal subscription is described separately from membership |
| BSI Journal Archive | PUBLICATIONS | Journal archive section |
| Taxonomy, Accepted Name List, Natural Hybrid List, Cultivar Register, FloraPix Gallery | BROMELIADS | Public reference material |
| Affiliates, Affiliated Societies, Society Webpages, Newsletters | AFFILIATES | Society network information |
The site does not state that all publications are free, and it does not state that membership is free. Treat the member-only area as gated unless the site says otherwise.
How to join BSI
The navigation includes a JOIN THE BSI entry, which is the starting point for new members. The site's structure suggests this flow:
- Go to the JOIN THE BSI page from the main menu.
- Review Membership Benefits if you want to confirm what is included before committing.
- Complete the join process as presented on that page.
The excerpt available does not include the join form fields, dues amounts, or payment methods, so those details should be read directly on the JOIN THE BSI page rather than assumed. The site does contain a pricing-related signal in the form of the word "subscription," which appears in connection with the Journal's subscriptions and advertising section — not as a stated membership price.
How to renew or update your membership
For existing members, BSI provides two related entries:
- Renew / Update Online — the online path for renewal and for updating member information.
- Renewal Information — background on how renewal works.
A practical sequence:
- Open Renew / Update Online from the MEMBERS menu.
- Follow the on-screen steps to renew or to correct your details.
- If something is unclear, check Renewal Information first, then use Contact if needed.
Because the site requires JavaScript to render ("Please enable JavaScript to view this website"), if the member pages do not load properly, enabling JavaScript in your browser is the first thing to check.
What else the site offers members and visitors
Beyond membership administration, BSI's navigation shows a broad set of programs and resources:
- Awards — Cultivar Registration Awards, Cultivar Exhibitor/Breeder Awards, and the Wally Berg Award of Excellence.
- Judging and Shows — BSI Standard Show and BSI Judged Bromeliad Show.
- Research, Conservation, and Education — the Harry E. Luther & Victoria Padilla fund.
- Library and General Archives.
- Bromeliad reference — What Are Bromeliads?, Taxonomy (introduction, Accepted Name List, new Bromeliad Taxon list, Natural Hybrid List), the Bromeliad Cultivar Register, and the BSI FloraPix Gallery.
- Affiliates — affiliated societies, a schedule of affiliate events, society webpages, newsletters, and rules for affiliation.
- WBC 2026 — a world bromeliad conference entry.
- Donations — a "Make a Donation" option.
If your goal is purely taxonomic or cultivar reference, those sections are listed outside the member area. If your goal is the Journal, member content, the Seed Bank, or the Store, plan on joining or renewing first.
Common sticking points
- JavaScript required. The site explicitly asks visitors to enable JavaScript; member pages may appear blank otherwise.
- Journal vs. membership. The Journal has its own "Subscriptions & Advertising" page, so don't assume journal access and membership are the same thing — check both.
- Renewal vs. joining. New members use JOIN THE BSI; existing members use Renew / Update Online. Using the wrong one can send you in circles.
- Unstated details. Dues, payment methods, and login requirements are not specified in the available site excerpt; confirm them on the relevant BSI page before relying on any assumption.