Membership with MSSPI
Mississippi Society of Paranormal Investigators currently has two positions for Paranormal Investigators open. If you would like to apply, we will keep your application on file for the next available opening if the positions are already filled. Or we may be able to refer you to another group in the area who may have positions available. Please review the information below regarding membership and then submit the short app at the bottom of this page. Thank you for your interest in MSSPI membership.
Please be advised that we are based in Batesville and Potts Camp in Central North Mississippi, if there is a problem with traveling to either for group meetings you may want to consider a group closer to your area..if you are not aware of one please let us know and we will refer you to a group closer to your residence..
The submission form is a short interview form and is used by the case managers for contact information and a general place to start.
You will be contacted by one of our case managers for an initial phone interview. Please be patient..we will get back to you asap
If you have trouble with our submission form below you can send your application request to mississippi.spi@gmail.com with your name , email, phone number and home address, please provide your phone number & contact information so we may respond to you promptly. Please include a brief description about any experience you may have in research and investigating and your reasons for wanting to join our team..... Any request not providing the above mentioned will not be responded too.
Please note: you must be 18 yrs of age or older and provide valid proof of ID, to apply.
MSSPI does not discriminate and will accept and consider all applications regardless of race, creed , color, gender or religious preference...
If your application is considered for membership you will be notified by a Founding Member and invited to attend a group meeting.
Please note : submission of an application for membership does not guarantee acceptence.
Please be aware of the following terms and conditions you can expect by submitting your application with MSSPI....
All applications for membership must be approved by the Founding Members and Applicants will be considered for full time status when the following obligations have been completed and a vote is taken by the Full time members of the group. All applicants must complete, provide or meet the following obligations:
Application for Membership
Valid Drivers License or Id
Be 18 yrs. of age or older
Must not have a felony record
(Be advised we reserve the right to do a background check if necessary)
Be available for monthly group meetings and investigations as per rules below.
Please note that submission of application for membership with MSSPI does not guarantee membership acceptance.
All membership applicants who are accepted for training status will be required to sign waivers of liability. MSSPI does not assume responsibility for injury, lost, stolen or damaged equipment or physical and mental safety while on investigations. If you have concerns about safety issues please address them with a Founder or your mentor.
New Applications for membership will be reviewed by the Founders. If you are invited to attend a group meeting you will then be assigned a training status and a mentor. New trainees must complete the following to be eligible for Full Time Membership.
Monthly dues of $10.00 per person per month must be paid at the group meeting each month.If you are unable to attend for that month your membership dues may be mailed in to the addresses in the front of the MSSPI Handbook which will be provided to you at the meeting, to either David Beard or Angela Lucius . Failure to pay group dues will result in your not being eligible for investigations. If you are behind 2 months or 60 days on dues your membership may be terminated at the Founders discretion. 1/2 of dues collected goes to the group equipment fund and 1/2 to the expenses fund and may be used only for travel expenses , office supplies , web site maintenance or group activities. Any equipment purchased with group funds becomes the property of MSSPI. If you leave the group...there are no refunds and you forfeit your rights to any equipment that has been donated by you for group use or purchased with group funds and any money you may have paid in for membership dues.
Budget balances will be presented at each group meeting and voted on by the group before any equipment is purchased or funds used from these accounts. Membership dues are subject to change and you will be notified if such an event should occur.The Founders reserve the right to make expense account transfers prior to meetings should the necessity arise but all expenses will be submitted in the monthly budget report. Normally this will only happen if office and printing expenses are required and will have been approved by the Founders prior to withdrawal.
Each new prospective member will be required to provide the following mandatory equipment for their own use on investigations and this equipment remains the property of the applicant/member:
Flashlights, batteries and bulbs... red lens filter.
Digital or 35mm camera--always have extra batteries and /or film
Digital Audio Recorder---always have extra batteries
External Memory Stick - these can be purchased at walmart for around 15-20 dollars depending on gig size and will be used to download data on investigations.
Any other equipment you may have will always be appreciated especially since the group is new and it may be some time before we have acquired all the necessary equipment. Your personal equipment is yours and you are responsible for who you let use it. MSSPI assumes no responsibility for your personal equipment at any time including use on MSSPI Investigations and outings.
All other equipment owned by MSSPI will be available to full time members for temporary loan per approval by Founders. If you borrow group equipment you assume liability for its repair or replacement should it become damaged or broken while in your possession. All equipment is your responsibility and should be returned ASAP or no later than 2 weeks. Failure to return equipment or loss of equipment will result in your not having access to loans in the future and could mean forfeiture of your membership status as well as replacement cost will be required. All equipment loaned will be signed out with a loan slip and kept on record with the Equipment Manager.
New Prospects or trainees will be required to complete the following activities prior to being considered for full time membership status or any position of leadership.
1. Cemetery Investigation- outdoor training, basic protocols and procedures, and policies as well as a complete report on one investigation. you will be assigned a mentor and an investigation time and site.
2. Indoor Training- an indoor training session or low profile investigation with a complete report.
3. Research project- these will be assigned by your mentor.
4. Read the Ghost Hunters Guidebook by Troy Taylor.
Trainees have 6 months to complete these assignments . Founders and mentors will make exceptions if necessary on a case by case basis. And your input in group meetings will be considered but you will not have a valid vote until full time membership status is achieved.
When you have completed your training assignments your mentor will make a recommendation to the group for your membership acceptance and a group vote will be taken to determine your acceptance as a full time active member. In the event of a tie vote the final decision will be determined by the Founders.
Monthly meetings
MSSPI will hold at least one group meeting per month.The purpose of these meetings will be to discuss upcoming or pending cases, training sessions, and classes and discuss and vote on group issues and concerns. A calendar will be provided with dates and times and locations. Locations will rotate between Potts Camp and Batesville due to the distance some of our members must travel and to make it more fair. Emergency meetings may be scheduled at the discretion of the founding members for issues or problems that require immediate attention and also for case data reviews. Monthly Meeting Minutes and Announcements will be posted on the group forum so you must register with the forum if you are accepted regardless of training status or full time membership. It is in your best interest to participate in the forum discussions and check the board frequently for updates to group activities.
All members whether full time or trainee status must attend the following in order to remain on the full time active list.
1. 50% of all investigations
2. 75% of all group meetings
3. 25% of Special Events
If a member has a problem with meeting these requirements, please discuss with a Founding member. Exceptions will be made on a case by case basis.
Each member will be required to sign up for a monthly presentation topic that is related to the field of the paranormal and will be required to present their verbal report or presentation to the group at the meeting they are assigned to .you will be given 20 -30 minutes of floor time to present your presentation. A list of topics and sign up sheet will be made available or you can contact your mentor or founder to schedule you for a special presentation. There are no exception..everyone must participate.
full time members
Once you have been approved for Full Time Membership status, you will be entitled to have a full vote on all decisions presented to the group for consideration. You will also be eligible for leadership roles and mentorship of new applicants. And may be asked to participate in training sessions for new applicants.
Full time members receive first consideration for new investigations and outings. If there are still available slots, new training members may sign up on a first come first serve basis. however you will be assigned investigations in order to complete your training so don't despair.
Full time members will still be required to do meeting presentations as the schedule rotates. You may have to do more than one in a year...The only way we learn is by doing and sharing and discussing information together as a team.
We want our group to have fun..but we do take this seriously, so if you are just out to thrill seek, your barking up the wrong tree.