SWG Memberships

On Top Of The World by Luree Miller

Does SWG offer more than one kind of membership?

Indeed it does!

Active Members carry out research and field activities in their disciplines and have developed specialized competence in a geographic area. They are making a demonstrable impact on their fields and have recorded their work in a permanent form - written, photographic, or artistic - which adds to the world's store of knowledge.

Associate Members are serious travelers who are dedicated to furthering geographical education, exploration, or research, but have not made a permanent record of their findings.

Active and Associate Members are mostly affiliated with SWG Groups (currently in Chicago, Florida, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC). Members not affiliated with Groups are considered to be "At Large." Women of similar achievements who live outside the United States are Corresponding Members.

In addition, the Society has established a category of Student Membership for women who are full- or part-time students with a demonstrated interest in geography or related fields at accredited colleges or universities.

How does one join the Society of Woman Geographers?

Membership is by election only.  Membership forms and instructions are provided for your convenience on this site, for Active and Associate Membership and for Student Membership.

All categories of membership are by election.

• Prospective Active or Associate members are nominated by one or preferably two current members, so women who are interested in membership and who live near any of the SWG Groups, should be in touch with the appropriate Group Chair to arrange a meeting with one or two nearby members. Women living elsewhere can contact the SWG international headquarters in Washington, DC for information about members who may be near them.



• A prospective student member should complete her part of the form and ask her advisor to fill in and sign her or his section. If the advisor is not a member of SWG, then the next step is, as above, to contact a nearby Group Chair or contact the SWG office for information about members who may be nearby and could serve as the SWG Liaison.

After the completed forms are received at SWG headquarters, they are reviewed and voted on by the SWG Executive Council, which meets five times each year. Notification of election follows, and once dues are received, new members receive the SWG newsletter, the annual Bulletin, and announcements of relevant Group meetings and the SWG Triennial meetings (the next to be held in 2008 in Chicago).

What does SWG Membership Cost?

SWG's annual dues are relatively modest - but vitally important to cover the organization's expenses. For 2006, the membership dues are:

For Existing Members Proposing New Candidates:

Guidelines on Proposing New Members

Primary Proposer Form

Secondary Proposer Form

For more information, please write:
The Society of Woman Geographers
415 East Capitol Street SE
Washington DC 20003
e-mail: swghq@verizon.net
telephone: (202) 546-9228