Who can join the Junior League of Washington?
To be eligible to join the Junior League of Washington as a New Member, a woman must be at least 20 years of age by the application deadline (March 15, 2010) and live in the greater Washington, DC area. All prospective members must have a sponsor; if you do not currently know a member of the Junior League of Washington, a sponsor will be assigned to you from our pool of active and sustaining Members.
How do I join?
Women interested in joining the Junior League of Washington are required to attend one Recruitment Orientation Session for which a space must be reserved online. These formal orientation sessions will give prospective members the opportunity to learn more about the JLW. At the sessions, each attendee will also receive a New Member contract, which must be submitted by March 15, 2010.
Registration for our 5 Recruitment Orientation Sessions in January and February 2010 has closed. All sessions are full. You may click here to view the registration page and access details of a session to which you are already registered.
The New Member class will be selected by a lottery system of applicants who submit their completed contracts by March 15, 2010. If your contract is selected, you will be invited to join the 2010-2011 New Member class and must pay your New Member dues and the New Member course fee of approximately $300 by May 1, 2010.
We will also offer informal "Getting to Know the JLW" open houses that will allow you to meet members of the Junior League of Washington who will share their experiences, offer information about the JLW, and answer your questions. These open houses are optional and will be held on the following dates, click one to register if you wish to attend:
November 13, 2009 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
November 19, 2009 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
November 21, 2009 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
December 11, 2009 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
January 6, 2010 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
What is the enrollment process?
New Member training begins in September and continues through the following May. During the New Member year, a robust program of training courses is offered that allows women to learn more about their community, experience the various League-sponsored avenues for volunteerism, and develop leadership skills.
What can I expect during my New Member year?
New Members must meet requirements in order to attain Active Member status. Every year, the requirements are subject to minor changes. However, the 2009-2010 requirements are listed to give you an idea of the commitment.
New Members of the Junior League of Washington must:
- Attend the required number of meetings with a New Member Advisor. The 2009-2010 class members are required to attend 4 Advisor Meetings (approximately 1-2 hours each).
- Attend the New Member events, including: (a) Saturday Session, generally held in September (approximately 4 hours); (b) Course Session 1, held in the fall (approximately 2 hours); (c) Mid-Year Event, generally held in January/February (approximately 4 hours); (d) Course Session 2, held in the spring (approximately 2 hours); and (e) End-of-Year event, generally held in May (approximately 3 hours).
- Complete three Membership Credits (approximately 2-5 hours each).
- Volunteer for one shift at the JLW's A Capital Collection, a holiday shopping fundraising event generally held in November (approximately 3-4 hours).
- Volunteer for one shift at the JLW's Tossed and Found fundraiser, generally held in March or April (approximately 3-4 hours).
- Complete additional requirements, including: (a) one Mini-Placement with an Active committee (approximately 15-20 hours); (b) National Book Festival training (approximately 2 hours); (c) one volunteer shift at the National Book Festival in Fall 2010 (approximately 4 hours); and (d) one Community Experience, a volunteer activity with an existing JLW committee (approximately 2-3 hours in a single day).
All requirements must be completed within the New Member year, which will begin between late August and early September. The requirements will not end until May of the following year.
Transferring from another Junior League?
If you are already a Junior League member in another city and are planning to move or have recently moved to the Washington, DC area, please click here to learn how to transfer your Junior League membership.
