Hoermann says the mix of women make the Beesuccessful as a resource for their members.

"The attitude right now in the Bee is to form asupport network for each other, to learn about thelives of others we wouldn't have met were it notfor this group," Hoermann says. "We're trying todo something positive."

And Bee members also laud the more tangiblebenefits that come with being a member of theorganization.

"It's an opportunity to meet each other, makeconnections and network for the future," says onesophomore who recently joined the Bee. "They don'tusually accept people that don't look like theyare going someplace."

Lipson says she is always willing to helpcurrent and former Bee members, explaining thatannual dinners and luncheons help her stay intouch with the organization.

"I've helped people get jobs on Wall Streetthrough Bee connections," Lipson says.

A greater number of club members emphasize thesocial benefits of being a member of the Bee.

"It's a social club--there's no question aboutthat," Stewart says.

Bee members meet weekly for Friday afternoonlunches at Sandrine's, a French bistro on HolyokeSt. The club also sponsors a private formal everysemester, punch events and dinners and luncheonsfor past and current club members, according toHoermann and other Bee members.

Members pay dues to the organization whichseveral inductees estimated to be about $300 persemester. Hoermann would not disclose the specificamount.

According to Bross, the initiation process,which occurred in early December, included a dayon which members-to-be were asked to wear yellowoutfits and another day on which a black outfitwith touches of yellow was suggested. Those beinginitiated participated in a scavenger hunt andeach donated her favorite book to the club'scollection. The initiation concluded with acelebratory dinner in the North End.

Hoermann says events such as these could notdevelop a sense of closeness among members if theclub had a larger membership.

"Part of the reason why it's such a wonderfulexperience is because you get to know everyone. Ifthe club had 150 members that would be harder toaccomplish," Hoermann says.

"The ambition of the club is not be elitist,"she adds. "It's ambition is to be the exactopposite."

Lipson says other women interested in the clubslike the Bee should form other organizationsmodeled after it.