Membership

Welcome to our new Wellesley Service League Membership section. In this area you will find all the necessary information about the membership process. We've included a timeline of important dates and deadlines, information on sponsoring a candidate as well as access to all the membership forms. While we hope we've included everything, please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions.

2007-2008 Membership Committee

Laura Heffernan and Susie White, Co-Chairs
Carleen Baer, Sue Berry, Lisa Markey, Andrea Ward, Nancy Williamson

Time Line of Events

November and December

The Membership committee will be accepting names of interested Women for the 2008-2009 Provisional class. Names will be collected at the November and December Barn Meetings. If you miss an opportunity at the Barn Meeting to submit a name, feel free to forward an email to lauraheffernan@verizion.net.

Important - Please provide a complete name, address and email for your candidate. We need accurate information and spelling for future mailings.

January

The Membership Committee will mail invitations in early January to all the interested women for an Informational Coffee to be held on January 28, 2008 at the home of Susie White, 44 Lowell Rd. The coffee is organized by the Membership Committee and is attended by the Committee, the prospective members and their sponsors as well as members from the Executive Committee. Please note that either a first or second sponsor can attend with the candidate.

At the conclusion of the Coffee we will distribute Membership Packets to all the interested women.

These packets will include six forms:
Information for Prospective Members
Sponsor's Responsibilities
Application for Membership
Sponsor's Form
Co-Sponsor's Form
Provisional Requirements
Please click here for our Membership Forms.

February

Completed membership applications can be delivered to Laura Heffernan, at 49 Falmouth Rd., on Friday, February 29 from 8:00am - 10:00am. Applications will be numbered in the order they are received.

March

The Membership Committee will offer the first 15-20 candidates a spot in the 2008-2009 Provisional Class. This will include women from last year's waiting list. The exact number of available spots will be determined by the Membership Committee and the Executive Board. All remaining women will be placed on a waiting list in the order their applications were received.

Note - If your candidate is placed on the waiting list please let her know that we often get to many of them between March and August. There is always movement due to relocations, leave of absences, resignations etc.

April/May

The Membership Committee will host a new member luncheon to welcome the new Provisional Class. Sponsors and their new member attend the luncheon. We ask that the sponsor contact the new member in advance of the lunch and offer to drive them. At the lunch we will also be taking pictures of each new member to be used during provisional week.

The date and location of the New Member Lunch have not yet been determined.

Sponsoring a Candidate

Who can Sponsor a New Member

All active and sustaining members can sponsor one new member, and with the permission of the Membership Committee can sponsor a second new member. Active and sustaining members can also be a co-sponsor to two candidates. Members of the Membership Committee may also be a sponsor.

Provisionals cannot be a primary sponsor but can be a co-sponsor.

Sponsor Responsibilities

The sponsor is responsible for informing their candidate about WSL, what we do, what groups we service, the commitment involved and the provisional requirements. A detailed list of sponsor responsibilities is included in the Membership Packet.

The sponsor is also responsible for attending the Informational Coffee and the New Member Lunch as well as completing the membership application with their perspective member.

If you have any questions about the Membership Process, please contact Laura Heffernan or Susie White.

The categories of membership in the Wellesley Service League are Provisional, Active, Sustaining, Non-Resident, Honorary and Life. The memberships are defined in the following manner:

Provisional - the first year of membership which requires completion of an orientation program, a minimum of hours of service, and attendance at all monthly meetings.

Active - members who have successfully completed the provisional year. Active members are required to attend all monthly meetings and to complete a minimum of hours of service annually on behalf of the League.

Sustaining - members who have completed the provisional year, at least four years of Active membership and who have submitted a written request to become a sustaining member.

Non-Resident - active members in good standing no longer residing in Wellesley, who are unable to participate in the League's program.

Honorary - members elected into the League by the Board of Directors by reason of distinctive service in the community, only upon written petition by 20 members of the League, none of whom shall be Board members.

Life - sustaining members who joined 50 or more years ago.

Sponsoring New Members
Active and Sustaining members in good standing may sponsor candidates for membership in the Service League. A candidate must be sponsored by two members and must have attained her 25th birthday the by final date for submitting completed applications. She must have resided in Wellesley for at least 12 months or have been known by a sponsor for at least twelve months prior to the final date for submitting applications. Instructions for sponsors are generally available from Jan 1st to March 15th of each year. The Wellesley Service League maintains a total membership of 75 Active and Provisional members for each service year.