POTENTIAL & NEW MEMBERS, ACTIVE MEMBERS, SUSTAINER MEMBERS

Potential and new member FAQ's

What is the Junior League?
The Junior League is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

How did the Junior League of Reading begin?
On August 6, 1923, ten young women met at the home of Mrs. John E. Barbey to organize the Reading Junior League. Forty candidates were proposed for membership and for the next three months these young women produced fifty layettes for needy organizations. On January 16, 1924, the Reading League was accepted into membership in the AJLI, the seventy-second League to be admitted into the Association.

Who is eligible to join the Junior League?
Prospective members must be eighteen years of age when they join the New Member class. Prospective members shall legally reside in Reading or within a twenty-five mile radius of Reading. An Active or Sustaining member may refer a prospective member, but it is not necessary to be referred for membership. Sponsors are not required.

Do I have to be asked to join the Junior League?
No, you do not have to be asked to join the Junior League. If you are interested in membership call our Headquarters at 610-374-9811, email us, or contact any known League member.

What are the criteria for membership?

• A belief in voluntarism
• An interest in the community
• A sense of responsibility and dependability
• A willingness to be trained as a New Member and as an Active member
• An availability of time for membership meetings, New Member course, volunteer work, and committee meetings.

What are the financial obligations of membership?

• New Member Training Fee $10.00
• New Member Dues $63.00
• Active Dues $83.00
• Sustaining Dues $78.00
• Non-Resident Dues $60.00
• Active Member responsibility includes to buy or sell $100 in fundraising raffle tickets.

What is a Prospective New Member?
A Prospective New Member is defined as those members who are engaged in attending training courses established to prepare them for effective community and League involvement. Prospective new members must be at least eighteen years of age when they seek membership in the League.

What is an Active Member?
Active members are those members who have completed New Member training and have been admitted to Active membership. They qualify for Active membership by demonstrating volunteer service to the community and to the League by fulfilling the requirements for Active membership.

What is a Sustainer Member?
Sustaining members are those members who have fulfilled the Active membership requirements of the League and who continue to support the League and the community. Sustaining members shall have all the privileges of membership except that they may not hold office or vote.

Can I take a leave of absence from the Junior League?
Leaves of absence are a privilege of membership granted to Active members who, for a valid reason and for a specific length of time, are unable to fulfill the obligation of Active membership placement. A member on leave must fulfill certain requirements to remain in good standing.

1. Request leave of absence in writing to the Placement Chair.
2. Pay annual dues.
3. Support the fundraising activity financially and/or actively.
4. Attend five general membership meetings.
5. Meet with Placement Advisor twice yearly.

When can an Active member become a Sustainer?
An Active member may elect to become a Sustaining member upon completion of seven years of Active service.

What happens if I move to another city?
Members in good standing shall be granted one of the following privileges upon application in writing to the Registrar. New, Active, and Sustaining members in good standing of a League shall have the privilege of transferring membership from one League to another League.

New, Active, and Sustaining members who transfer to other Leagues shall be granted the status consistent with the specifications of membership categories of the receiving League.

New members who transfer to other Leagues shall complete the training for effective community and League involvement as determined by receiving Leagues.

New members who transfer to other Leagues shall be granted Active status in the receiving Leagues after completing the New Member course unless they have reached the age limit for Active membership of the receiving League, in which case they shall be granted Sustaining status.

Active members may transfer to other Leagues only in a membership classification determined by the age restrictions of the receiving League. Active members who transfer shall be required to adhere to any such requirements for minimum years of service of the receiving League unless their age prohibits.

Sustaining members may transfer to other Leagues in the Sustaining category of membership.

New, Active, and Sustaining members pay dues to the League to which they belong on April 1st. Members whose written requests for transfer are postmarked between April 1st and October 1st will receive a refund of 50% of the annual dues of the sending League.

How do I resign from the Junior League?
Members of the League, who are current in dues payments, are current in other financial obligations, have completed the performance of League duties, and have fulfilled their Committee responsibilities, may resign in good standing. Resignations shall be made in writing to the Registrar of the League no later than March 31st of the current League year.