How does someone become a member of SMBAA?
By attending St. Mark’s as a Black Marksman, you are automatically a member of SMBAA. If you are looking to be more involved with SMBAA, reach out to us at Support@SMBAA.info and provide us with your basic information on the New Member Intake page.
Is SMBAA affiliated with St. Mark's School of Texas?
SMBAA is NOT affiliated with St. Mark's School of Texas. We are an independent organization created and operated by the Black alumni.
Do I need to be a graduate to be a part of SMBAA?
No, we are welcoming of all past Black Marksmen.
How can I be a part of SMBAA if I’m still a student?
If you are a current Black Marksman interested in being a part of SMBAA, you are more than welcome to reach out to us.
Our primary focus is to engage with the Black alumni, but Black students and parents alike have expressed an interest in connecting with SMBAA or particular members of our organization. We are here to support the students, but we believe in giving the current students the space to be able to focus on their pursuits while attending St. Mark’s.
Does SMBAA have a formal mentorship program for current Black students at St. Mark's?
SMBAA currently does NOT offer a formal mentorship program for current Black Marksmen.
In the past, we have experimented with several iterations of a mentorship program. Unfortunately, with the demanding schedules that often accompany the St. Mark's experience, we have found that Black Marksmen often do not have the time to commit to and benefit from a formalized mentorship program.
While SMBAA does not formally facilitate a mentorship program between current Black students and the alumni, we do encourage interested Black students to reach out to our members to establish a relationship organically.
Where does SMBAA stand on LGBTQIA+ rights and issues?
SMBAA supports all peoples and their civil rights. We support the LGBTQIA+ community. We support Black, White, Latinx, Asian, Indian, and Native American peoples and their civil rights. If we have missed a particular group, know that we support you too. Also, inform us of this oversight so we may add your identity group to this response. We are a non-discriminatory organization that chooses to focus our energies on the Black alumni of St. Mark's School of Texas.
Do I need to pay dues to participate in SMBAA events?
We do not yet require fees to be a SMBAA member. There are costs associated with operating the official SMBAA website, maintaining login credentials, and hosting events (e.g., SMBAA Alumni Weekend Kickback). Since its inception, a small group of SMBAA members have been paying out of pocket to create our network.
Eventually, the costs will grow to be unsustainable to for only a couple of members to pay, at which point, we will need to collect a small annual fee.