BETHEL – December is membership month at the Bethel Historical Society, and gift memberships are available at a variety of levels. There are now nearly 1,400 members in the society in 45 states and several foreign nations.

Membership entitles one to free admission to the Dr. Moses Mason House Museum, a 10 percent discount on purchases of $10 or more in the museum shop, special research library privileges, including reduced photocopying fees, a free subscription to the society’s quarterly, the Courier, and e-news announcements, voting rights at meetings, reduced course fees and special invitations to society events.

Categories include student, $3 for those under 18; senior, $5 for those over age 55; sustaining, $10 individual; contributing, $20 individual; patron, $30 individual; benefactor, $40 individual; life over 55 years, $100 individual, $150 couple; life under 55 years, $200 individual, $250 couple; individual preference, any amount over $10; corporate/business, $50.

Anyone wishing to become a member or to gain membership information should call the society at 824-2908 or 1-800-824-2910, write to P.O. Box 12, Bethel, ME 04217 or go on line at www.bethelhistorical.org.

While the supply lasts, those shopping in the society’s museum shop can obtain a free “Age of Barns, Bethel, Maine” poster (a $10 value) with a purchase of $50 or more (after any discounts).

The 18- by 24-inch poster is printed in color on heavy quality stock and is suitable for framing. Conceived and published by the Bethel Bicentennial Committee in 1996, the poster features a dozen images of some of Bethel’s most historic barns. Museum shop hours are 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday throughout the year and 1 to 4 p.m. weekend during July, August and December.