Membership

Members of SWG carry out research and field activities in their disciplines or have developed specialized competence in a particular area. They have made a demonstrable impact in their field and recorded their work in a permanent form — written, photographic, or artistic – that adds to the world’s store of knowledge. Members travel to study, research, or carry out other activities consistent with their regional or topical interest.

Criteria for Membership

Members are elected to SWG and are either invited to join or may nominate themselves. The five criteria upon which election to membership is based are:

• Demonstrated expertise in a geographic region or in a physical, cultural, or topical aspect of the world;
• Research and field activities in a particular discipline;
• Having made a permanent impact in a field of work or published or produced, in some  permanent form, a record of her work that adds to the world’s store of knowledge;
• Contributing to the spread of knowledge in geography and related arts and sciences;
• Travel to study, research or carry out other activities consistent with her regional or topical interests.

Membership Categories

Members will have fulfilled at least three of the above criteria and Associate Members will have fulfilled at least two.

Student Members are full- or part-time students with a demonstrated interest in geography or related fields at accredited colleges or universities.

Affiliations

SWG has groups in Chicago, South Florida, New York, San Francisco, Southern California, and Washington, DC. Members who do not live near a group are At-Large, and members who live outside the United States are Corresponding.

Benefits of Membership

Being elected to membership in the SWG is an honor recognizing professional accomplishment and experiences in international travel or expeditions. Each member’s dossier, including publication and biographical data, is transferred to the Library of Congress upon her death.

Members are invited to stimulating lectures and events sponsored by each Group, receive the Newsletter three times a year and the Bulletin, a directory of members, annually.  In addition we hold a Society-wide meeting every three years, called the Triennial.

Annual Dues