[erica812]

Oooh...Lots of good questions.
First, the degrees are dependent upon years of membership. After your pledge period, you will earn the Ritual of Jewels. You will hold that degree for 4 years (of ACTIVE membership...not member-at-large status) before earning the Exemplar degree. I don't have my Book of Beta Sigma Phi right here, but I think you hold Exemplar for 6, Preceptor for 8, and Laureate for 10 before earning the highest degree, Master. It works sort of like Girl Scouts...you start as a Daisy, work to Brownie, to Junior, to Cadet, to Senior Girl Scout. A chapter of any degree may take new pledges. The name should reflect the majority of its members. If a Ritual of Jewels chapter (like yours) has a large number of Exemplar members, they can request a "progression" from International.

Diamond Circle, Golden Circle, etc. are special honors also based on years of membership. Some of them are dependent upon ACTIVE years, others are based on pledge date. The Order of the Rose is the highest honor in Beta Sigma Phi.

Envoy membership is how we honor the special men in our lives. There is a pin, certificate, and ritual. Any man can be awarded Envoy status, but most Envoys are husbands of Beta Sigma Phis.

Since the Installation Tea is in May, I would assume that it is the event at which your new officers are installed. New Executive Boards take over in May, and there is an installation ceremony to mark the occasion.

Hope that helps!
Erica