Today is Join Some Kind of an Organization Day

Nah, not really.  I’m just too lazy to write up a review, a publisher preview, or a Fusenews.  Instead, let’s look at two worthy organizations you can join for fun.

Creative types (authors/illustrators) might be interested in learning just a little bit about the organization PEN.  It describes itself as, "An association of writers working to advance literature, defend free expression, and foster international literary fellowship."  Not enough for you?  Then read this statement from their charter:

PEN DECLARES for a free press and opposes arbitrary censorship in time of peace. It believes that the necessary advance of the world toward a more highly organized political and economic order renders free criticism of governments, administrations, and institutions imperative. And since freedom implies voluntary restraint, members pledge themselves to oppose such evils of a free press as mendacious publication, deliberate falsehood, and distortion of facts for political and personal ends.

Of course PEN has a Children’s/Young Adult Authors Committee that does super cool things like support schools and libraries hit by Hurricane Katrina, organize readings, etc.  Best of all, if you become an Associate Member like me then you can spend your Tuesday evenings hanging out with the newest Children’s Poet Laureate Mary Ann Hoberman or catching glimpses of first time YA author Nick Burd of the upcoming title Vast Fields of Ordinary.  Now doesn’t that sound like fun?  Anyone anywhere can join since PEN is a vast international community.

But if libraries are more your speed and you happen to live in New York, why not help out your local public library?  If you have kids, perhaps the Library Cubs program would be your speed.  Here’s what they have to say about themselves.

The Library Cubs membership program promotes the importance of reading and libraries for families.  Funds raised help ensure the availability of children’s resources and services in the neighborhood branch libraries. An annual membership gift of $1,000 will help provide more books, more programs, and more opportunities to explore, learn, and grow for children throughout New York City and beyond.  In return members receive the following benefits:

• Invitations to exclusive family-oriented, library-themed events
• Subscription to children’s programming magazine, Roar, and member magazine, Bookmark
• Monthly e-newsletter highlighting Cubs activities and Library event e-alerts
• Children’s reading lists and branch library materials
• 33% savings on LIVE from the NYPL tickets, and waived services fees on those tickets when you use discount code FRAUJ9
• 10% savings at The Library Shop and online at www.libraryshop.org

I love copying the information others have taken so much time and energy to write.  That’s the upside of blogging, it is. 

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