Junior Membership
Purpose and Eligibility
The Constitution of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, Article III, Section 6 states:
A member in good standing in any State Society may make an application for Junior Membership on behalf of any person under eighteen (18) years of age who has a Prima Facie proven lineage. The applicant must be a blood or adopted relative of the sponsor with the same Mayflower lineage.
Children can become Junior Members of the SMDNC from age birth – 18 years by having a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle who is an Active member of the SMDNC (Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of North Carolina) in good standing. Sponsoring a Junior Member in the North Carolina Mayflower Society is a simple process that allows us to introduce our children to their Mayflower ancestry and encourage pride in this remarkable heritage. We hope that Junior Membership will encourage them to join our society in the future.
The Benefits of Junior Membership
All newly enrolled Juniors receive a certificate of Junior Membership, a pin and a bio of their Pilgrim Ancestor. When a Junior Member is 18-years old, we send them information about how to join as Full Members. Upon turning 18 years of age the Junior will remain on Junior roll until turning 25 years of age.
TO APPLY FOR A JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP:
Junior Membership does not require "proof" that the Junior is a descendant. Once the child becomes 18 years of age, he/she will need to fill out a Membership application, pay the application fees current at the time of processing and submit all primary source documentation to prove the Mayflower lineage from his/her self to the last well proven generation.
COSTS:
As of August 1, 2021, the Junior Membership Fee is $35.00 per child. This is a one-time registration fee which includes the cost of the pin and certificate. Junior Members pay no annual dues and are not considered full members of the Society for voting purposes at any Membership Meeting.
HOW TO SPONSOR A JUNIOR TO "JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP":
Sponsors, simply download the Junior Membership application. Please fill out the form completely, sign and date it.
All Sponsors must be a current member in good standing of the North Carolina Mayflower Society and General Society of Mayflower Descendants. Your GSMD number and North Carolina State Number must be on the Junior Application form. You, as the "Sponsor", must have direct blood-lineage or adoption with the Junior(s) you sponsor. Typically, we expect a parent or grandparent to sponsor the child. All information must be completely filled out, signed, and dated before sending the application to the Junior Membership Chair.
Once the Junior Application is approved, the sponsor will be notified and asked to send payment to the State Treasurer. Once this step is complete and the Junior Membership Chair is notified that payment has been received, the Junior Membership Chair will send the Welcome Packet to the sponsored Junior. Within the packet will include a Welcome Letter, a JUNIOR CERTIFICATE with their name, Ancestor Bio and North Carolina pin.
Apply Today!
Junior Membership is valid from age birth – 18 years. Upon turning 18 years of age the Junior will remain on Junior roll until turning 25 years of age. It is our hope that the Junior will apply as an adult to become a full member (please note that adopted juniors who do not have a direct blood connection to the Mayflower ancestor will not be able to become full members at age 18 due to the lineage qualifications.) by providing the same rigorous documentation adults are required to provide for application to The Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of North Carolina and General Society of Mayflower Descendants in Plymouth, MA.
Please remember, Junior Membership is not Full Membership in The General Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of North Carolina, nor a prerequisite for Full Membership.
For additional information, please contact:
Laurel Siviglia- Junior Membership Chairwoman
