Membership

Creative women draw on the inspiration of one other. There is nothing quite like the power of encouragement from fellow creatives to spawn new ideas and artistic development!

Getting Involved

Eligibility and Qualifications

Upon invitation by a current member to join The League, the candidate completes an application for membership which is then signed by a sponsor who is an active member in good standing. The application, with accompanying credentials qualifying the candidate for membership in Letters, Art, or Music, is presented, along with the required fees, to the Branch Membership Committee. After acceptance of the applicant at a branch meeting, the Committee forwards the application packet to the designated National Membership Chair by category for consideration.The following are brief summaries of eligibility and qualification requirements. The application form contains detailed information that should be read and followed.

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.  If you are interested in this designation, see the APPLICATION FOR LETTERS MEMBER. It is classified as Active 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.  You would use the same application form as Letters, but would check “Associate” where indicated on the standard form: APPLICATION FOR LETTERS MEMBER.

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). If you are interested in this designation, see the APPLICATION FOR LETTERS MEMBER, ALLIED PROFESSION. Allied Professionals enjoy all the benefits of Active Letters members, except they may not enter National competitions limited to Active and Associate Members.

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, or craftswomen) the artist must show proof of payment for work, accepted in at least three juried exhibitions.If you are interested in this designation, see the APPLICATION FOR ARTS MEMBER.  It is classified as Active 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.  You would use the same application form as Art’s, but would check “Associate” where indicated: APPLICATION FOR ARTS MEMBER

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).  If you are interested in this designation, see the APPLICATION FOR ARTS MEMBER, ALLIED PROFESSIONAL. 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, musicologistsarrangers, 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.  If you are interested in this designation, see the APPLICATION FOR MUSIC MEMBER. It is classified as Active 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.  You would use the same application form as Music, but would check “Associate” where indicated: APPLICATION FOR MUSIC MEMBER

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 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. This 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.  If you are interested in this designation, see the APPLICATION FOR MUSIC MEMBER, ALLIED PROFESSIONAL.  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.

TRANSFER FOR ACTIVE MEMBERS

Are you already a member and need to change your status or add a classification? Get the TRANSFER FORM.

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. For application form, Go to the Arts, Letters or Music/Dance Active application. It has a section to indicate your wish to apply as an Associate, Member At Large or International Associate on each.

STUDENT MEMBERSHIP

A woman who is a citizen of the United States, currently obtaining an undergraduate or post-graduate 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.  Download the STUDENT MEMBER APPLICATION and instruction sheet.

Questions? 

Refer to the instructions and “Frequently Asked Questions” on the applications, first, to see if your question is addressed.  If not, e-mail a message to our Branch Membership Chair, Barbara Clarke at [email protected].

Cost of Membership

Annual membership is $100.00 ($65 National, $5 State, $30 Atlanta Branch, payable to NLAPW-Atlanta in April of each year). The meeting year runs September – May and annual dues are payable each year by May 1st. New Members also pay a one-time application processing fee of $15.

Application Instructions

Download the appropriate application for the category that you are applying for, complete it, and give it and all supporting materials to your sponsor (who can deliver it to the Membership Chair at the next regular meeting). Don’t forget to enclose one check made out to “NLAPW” for $80.00 (first year national dues and processing fee) and a second check made out to “NLAPW-Atlanta Branch” for $35.00 (first year branch and state dues). Also, enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you want your materials returned to you. Otherwise, they will be discarded.

Your application will then be reviewed by our branch board at its next board meeting, then voted on by the general membership at the next membership meeting, and then sent to the national organization where a certificate of membership is issued. This process can take up to three months, but prospective members are welcome to attend regular monthly meetings and be involved in our branch during this period. Email Barbara Clarke with questions about membership.