Which statement best describes eligibility vs membership?

• A. Eligibility is the active process of joining; membership is meeting basic criteria.
• B. Eligibility refers to meeting basic criteria; membership is the active process of joining and participating.
• C. Membership requires no action; eligibility is meaningless.
• D. Eligibility and membership are unrelated.

Answer: (B)

Eligibility means meeting basic criteria that allow you to pursue a role, while membership requires taking action to join and actively participate. This distinction matters because you can qualify on paper and be eligible to pursue membership, but you don’t become a member until you complete the joining steps and start engaging in the group’s activities. For Arnold Air Society, you might meet the eligibility requirements—such as student status and certain qualifications—but you only become a member after submitting an application, going through the induction process, paying any dues, and regularly attending meetings and projects. That active participation is what defines membership, beyond merely meeting the initial criteria. Other descriptions that imply no action is needed, or that eligibility and membership are the same or unrelated, miss this important separation between qualification and active involvement.