Detroit Chapter
The Detroit Chapter was an active sponsor of the Metropolitan Detroit Children’s Book Fair from 1969 until its demise in 1986. The Chapter is currently a sponsoring organization of the Metropolitan Detroit Book and Author Society which hosts semi-annual author luncheons that fund library- and literacy-related grants. Two members represent the chapter on its on its board.
Since the 1990’s the Chapter has actively pursued charitable activities that benefit women and literacy. Those activities have included donating cash, books, and household goods to women’s and children’s shelters. The chapter has donated funds for Braille books for children, helped reestablish an elementary school library, supported a member-author’s comic book literacy initiative for urban youth, and contributed goods, cash, and books to a needy local library and to that library’s winter community outreach program.
The Detroit Chapter participates in the National WNBA, with the chapter president serving on the National Board. Over the years, members of the chapter have served as National WNBA officers in the positions of secretary, treasurer, vice president, and president.
The Detroit Chapter has presented its Bookwoman Award twelve times since 1991, honoring women in Michigan’s book world who have made significant contributions to libraries, reading, writing, or publishing. The chapter has bestowed its Distinguished Service Award to two members, over the chapter’s history, for their outstanding contributions to the organization.
The chapter traditionally has held three to five meetings per year with a wide variety of programs related to all areas of publishing, book selling, collecting, illustrating, writing, and marketing. WNBA Detroit’s members look forward to a future of activity and growth. The chapter’s roots are strong and the outlook bright with promise.