It is recommended that you join at least one professional society. Many have trainee membership categories that do not cost more than $50 per annum in dues. However, several offer additional sources of travel funding or funding that can be applied for travel to other labs to learn specific techniques. Additionally, several of these societies hold annual meetings you can attend to present your research to a wider audience within your chosen field of research.
Some of the more popular societies joined by M&I Graduate students are: