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Letter from the National President Sheila M. Byrnes, Winter 2025
Spreading Awareness about NLAPW
The National League of American Pen Women, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports and promotes professional women in arts, letters, music, and allied professions. It is a sisterhood of talented and creative women who are dedicated to their craft and to sharing their passion for arts with others. As part of the League’s neighborhood outreach programs, we participate in DC Dupont Art All Night, a free arts festival where artists and local businesses come together to celebrate the diversity of the District of Columbia and Dupont First Friday Art Walks.
We hosted the 2024 DC Art All Night on Sept. 28, 7 p.m. – midnight. Participating in Dupont Circle Art All Night was an opportunity to showcase the Pen Arts Building and tell attendees about the League. Over 500 people attended the performances and art exhibition at Pen Arts. Several took information on how to join Pen Women.
In early November, Pen Women and guests gathered at Pen Arts to honor the winners of the first poetry contest for nonmembers in the District of Columbus, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV).
First-place winner Joanna S. Lee is the current poet laureate for the city of Richmond, the founder of River City Poets community, and the Central Region vice president for the Poetry Society of Virginia. Second-place winner Cherrie Amour Woods is a Baltimore-based, award-winning poet and author who writes about love, life, and relationships. The two women read several of their outstanding poems to attendees. A reception followed to honor the winners. Plans are being made for a national poetry contest for nonmembers in 2026. The goal is to spread the word about the League and increase membership.
The 2026 Biennial will take place in D.C. in April 2026. The Central New York Branch will host the event in our nation’s capital in recognition of the branch’s 100th anniversary. The theme, One Hundred Reasons to Celebrate, will commemorate the League’s history and future. Guest speakers, sessions, walking tours, and other exciting events in D.C. are in the planning stages. National Second Vice President Nancy Dafoe will cochair the conference with me.
Lorna Kohler, Santa Clara County Branch, has been appointed music credentials officer. She is a musician, composer, performance artist, and poet.
Entries are being accepted for the Vinnie Ream competition and the spring writers retreat. New membership applications have been received and are being processed.
My goals for the next two years include creating new networking and educational opportunities for members, recording the history of the League and Pen Women, and creating new avenues of revenue growth.
See President’s Letters Archive for past letters.