How to Join
The National League of American Pen Women, Inc. offers memberships in several arts, letters, and music/dance categories (see descriptions and forms below). To become a member, contact the branch nearest you. A member will invite you to a branch event and see if you mutually feel the fit is right. The membership chair and a sponsor will then help you complete the application and eligibility credentials forms. She will also explain the benefits of local and national membership more fully.
If there is not a branch near you, you can join us and enjoy full membership benefits as a member-at-large (MAL). Once you have determined the classification in which you are qualified, access the application and apply as a member-at-large. (There is a check mark on each application, just for that.)
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International Affiliate
A woman who meets the qualifications for active or associate membership, but is not a citizen of the United States, is eligible to become an International affiliate member. To apply, go to the arts, letters, or music/dance active application. Each of these forms has a section to indicate your wish to apply as an associate, member-at-large, or international associate.
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Added Classification
Get FormIf you are already a member in good standing and wish to add a classification, complete the status change form. It will instruct you on how to proceed and tell necessary steps to fulfill the requirements.
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Transfer for Active Members
Get FormAre you already a member and need to change your status or add a classification? Complete the transfer form (includes instructions).
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National Life Member
Get FormNational life membership may be granted to an Active Member by a one-time gift of $2,500 to the NLAPW General Fund. (You must continue paying branch and state association dues as applicable.) If you are interested, download the national life member application.
ART, ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP
Professional women eligible for the art membership include, but are not limited to, architects, cartoonists, craftswomen, designers, graphic artists, illustrators, painters, photographers, costume and set designers, and sculptors. Credentials submitted must include proof of payment for works or services. For exhibiting artists (painters, sculptors, craftswomen) the artist must show proof of payment for work and proof of having been accepted into three juried exhibitions.
Application for active art membership
ART, ASSOCIATE
If you have met all of the requirements of an active member, except you have not been paid for your work, you may qualify for an associate membership. In the application where it states, “proof of payment,” you are required to prove that you are the creator of that work. It can be by contract, letter, byline, mention in a book, or other publication. Associate members have all the privileges of membership except they may not hold national office or that of branch president or vice president.
Application for associate art membership
ART, ALLIED PROFESSIONAL
Professional women in this classification include, but are not limited to, gallery or museum curators who create exhibitions of work by an artist or group of artists, video and film producers and directors; art, film, and art history instructors.
On the credentials form, verification of the applicant’s position title and proof of payment is required. Also needed are three examples of creative production (exhibitions of her students’ work, her own work, published articles, original programs designed for curriculum, organizations formed that promote the arts, and outreach programs in the arts). Allied professionals enjoy all the benefits of active art members, except they may not enter national competitions limited to active and associate members.
LETTERS, ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP
Professional women eligible for letters membership include, but are not limited to: authors, co-authors, advertising sales promoters, compilers, dramatists, editors, genealogists, lecturers, librettists, lyric writers, periodical writers, photo journalists, poets, press writers, and script writers for communication media or motion pictures. Required credentials must include proof of publication and payment.
Application for active letters membership
LETTERS, ASSOCIATE
If you have met all of the requirements of an active member, except you have not been paid for your work, you may qualify for an associate letters membership. In the application where it states, “proof of payment,” you are required to prove that you are the author of that work. It can be by contract, letter, byline, mention in a book, or other publications. Associate members have all the privileges of active membership, except they may not hold national office, or that of branch president or vice president.
Application for letters membership (select “associate” where indicated)
LETTERS, ALLIED PROFESSIONAL
Professional women eligible for this classification include, but are not limited to: directors of theater productions, television producers or directors, and film dramatists (actresses, impersonators, comediennes), lecturers, publicists, and teachers of journalism and creative writing.
On the credentials form, verification of the applicant’s position title and proof of payment is required. Also needed are three examples of creative production (published articles, original programs designed for curriculum, organizations formed that promote the arts, and outreach programs in the arts). Allied professionals enjoy all the benefits of active letters members, except they may not enter national competitions limited to active and associate members.
MUSIC AND DANCE, ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP
Professional women eligible for the music and dance membership include, but are not limited to, composers, lyricists, musicologists, arrangers, producers, engineers, and drill writers. They may present original compositions or original creative arrangements that have been professionally published or performed in a public forum. Choreographers shall present notated scores or video of filmed performances. Credentials shall be accompanied by proof of payment, or salary, for creating and directing the work submitted.
Application for active music and dance membership
MUSIC AND DANCE, ASSOCIATE
If you have met all of the requirements of an Active Member, except you have not been paid for your work, you may qualify for an associate membership. In the application where it states “proof of payment,” you are required to prove that you are the creator of that work. It can be by contract, letter, byline, mention in a book, or other publications. Associate members have all the privileges of membership except they may not hold national office or that of branch president or vice president.
Application for music and dance membership (check “associate” where indicated)
MUSIC AND DANCE, ALLIED PROFESSIONAL
Professional women in this classification include: conductors, music producers, and dance directors engaged in production and performance of works created by composers and choreographers. Professional vocalists, instrumentalists, and dancers who perform for a career must show proof of payment and three additional examples of professional creative ability beyond just performing. Examples of this include private teaching, arranging, being published, choreographing, writing curriculum, holding recitals for students, or artistic embellishment for their productions.
This category opens the door to professional performers in opera, ballet, symphony orchestra, bands, jazz, folk or ethnic dance troupes, choral groups, singers, dancers, and instrumentalists, as long as they show three examples of their craft beyond performing. The same also holds true for music and dance teachers.
On the credentials form, verification of the applicant’s position title and proof of payment is required. Also needed are three examples of creative production (published articles, original programs designed for curriculum, original artwork, organizations formed that promote the arts, and outreach programs in the arts). Self-employed performers are also asked for three verified proofs of paid performances. Allied professionals enjoy all the benefits of active music and dance members, except they may not enter national competitions limited to active and associate members.
STUDENT MEMBERSHIP
A woman who is a citizen of the United States, currently obtaining an undergraduate or postgraduate degree from a recognized college or university, may apply for student membership. A student member has not yet met active member or associate member qualifications. It is hoped that branch participation would assist her in meeting one of these standards. The cost of student dues is reduced. Students have branch voting privileges, and can assume committee chair and/or committee member positions.