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Letter from the National President Sheila M. Byrnes, Fall 2024

Opportunities for Members, Nonmembers Alike

As I write this message, the long, hot days of summer are quickly fading, and cool nights are a welcome relief. Like the summer of 2023, much of the United States has experienced unusual weather, with multiple warnings of harsh weather. Many areas have experienced heavy rain and flooding, while others have had a severe shortage of rainwater and drought. Once again, hurricanes, tornadoes, and fires have caused havoc across our land. Thankfully, warnings of Canadian smoke occurred only briefly at the beginning of summer.

The National League of American Pen Women continues to thrive! We are receiving new applications regularly. As we go to press, submissions are being accepted for the DMV Women Poets Competition for nonmembers. The contest will introduce non-Pen Women to the League and encourage them to become members.

Also, as part of our D.C. area outreach, the League continues to participate in the Dupont Circle First Friday Art Walk. Over 200 people attended the August First Friday, which featured nationally and internationally known pianist and accordionist Simone Baron and wellknown vocalist and dancer Malcom Malachi Banks.

Plans are being made for the 2024 DC Art All Night on Sept. 28. DC Art All Night is a free arts festival where artists and local businesses come together to celebrate the diversity of the District of Columbus. The Pen Arts Gallery will join other art galleries, embassies, and restaurants from 7 p.m. to midnight to bring together the heart and soul of D.C.’s creative community. Pen Arts will be featuring works by local artists and entertainment by Banks and Murphy.

The details of the new cross-genre competition for all NLAPW members are available on our website. This exciting competition (in the off years from the Biennial) will help foster new friendships and relationships between members working in different genres and, in many cases, in different parts of the country, in other branches. Competition teams may be made up of Pen Women within one branch, multiple branches, or members-at-large. Each team must be made up of at least two and up to four Pen Women.

All entries will be anonymously judged by professionals in their respective areas of concentration. Judges will not be NLAPW members. The intent behind the competition is to inspire new creative and collaborative projects across genres (not ones repurposed for this competition). All project submissions must be original creations made within one year before or after competition launch (two-year window).

A writing retreat is planned at Pen Arts for a small group of Pen Women this coming spring. This retreat, led by a professional writing instructor, offers private and group instruction, private writing coaching, unique quiet spaces to write, and tours for the small group of Pen Women. Cost includes two nights’ stay at Pen Arts, all tour fees, breakfasts, bag lunches, and professional instruction. D.C. health protocols at the time will be strictly enforced. Learn more about the writing retreat and download an application form at nlapw.org/writersretreat. Watch the website for the dates announcement while you get your application ready.

The 2026 Biennial committee is in the process of planning for the next conference in Washington, D.C., in April 2026. The Central New York Branch is excited to host the Biennial at our National capital as part of its 100 years celebration. The CNY Branch, which I’m a proud member of, was chartered in October 1926!

See President’s Letters Archive for past letters.