Membership

Join Us!

Download a membership application form here.

Members are eligible to compete in monthly writing contests. Other benefits include: e-newsletter, e-yearbook, and a link on our Bookshelf page. (To be included on the Bookshelf, please fill out and submit this form). Members will receive via email a copy of the meeting minutes and treasurer’s report before the next meeting.

Membership Contest Rules

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Contest Entries

September through April contests will be held for dues-paying members. Includes unpublished poetry and unpublished prose, fiction or non-fiction. Only one submission in each category per month. Entries must relate to the monthly prompts (listed below). Prose is limited to 500 words, double spaced; poetry is limited to two typed pages, single-spaced with double spacing between stanzas.

Entries are judged blind by the month’s guest speaker. Submit two documents. First is the entry with no author information. Second is a one-page cover sheet with author’s name, category noted as poetry or prose, title, first two lines, and word count for prose. NOTE: prose entry cannot be judged if the word count is not on the cover sheet or exceeds 500 words. Prizes awarded for both poetry and prose: $10 for first place, $5 for second place, no cash prize for Honorable Mention. All winners are asked to read their winning entry.

Three ways to submit entries:

1. Bring entry to the meeting and give to Rosanne Gulisano, Contest Chair, before the meeting starts.

2 or 3. Do this only if you do not intend to be at the meeting. Rosanne must receive the entry by the Friday before the meeting via mail to 20160 Pecan Trace, Fairhope, AL 36532 or email at 

NOTE: The Pensters and the Contest Chair assume no responsibility for lost, late, undelivered or misaddressed entries. Late entries will not be judged.

2020-2021 Monthly Contest Prompts

Due DatePromptJudge
Sept. 2022Right outside the window
Oct. 2022Desperate for cash
Nov. 2022That would be a perfect world
Dec. 2022No contest No speaker
Jan. 2023I promise; this is not dangerous
Feb. 2023The heirloom had been in the family for 200 years
Mar. 2023The day the debt was due
April 2023It was powerful to just say “No.”
May 2023No contestNo speaker