The primary mission of the Faulkner Society is two-fold:

  • To provide realistic assistance and continuing education for writers of all ages in improving their work, getting manuscripts published, and helping in the promotion of debut works by writers we work with in our programs;
  • To provide high quality literary programming combined with the unique cuisine and music of New Orleans for the general public of our region and our visitors.

Secondary goals are to help preserve the storytelling heritage of the region and call positive national attention to New Orleans as an intellectually and culturally stimulating destination.

To join, click here to print a membership form if you prefer to mail your check or money order. We look forward to you joining us!

 Membership Statistics 

Current membership is approximately 5,000, including a large relatively passive group of writers, academics, and other professionals who support Society goals and occasionally contribute time and talent or money to the organization. Active members who consistently contribute time, talent, cash or in-kind services/products total about 2,000.

The Society has members in every American state as well as Australia, Canada, England, France, Latin America, and Japan. Its members are about equally divided between men and women and ranging in age from 15 to 92. Membership encompasses every profession and is open to all regardless of ethnic origin, race, religion or political persuasion.

The Society’s success with its major projects, such as its national William Faulkner – William Creative Writing Competition, its literary journal, The Double Dealer, and its educational outreach efforts, is due entirely to the quality of its active membership, its board and its Advisory Council, all heavily weighted with dedicated professional men and women and volunteer activists. We could not produce the high quality Society services we provide, for instance, without the pro bono contributions of professional writers, public relations and advertising personnel, graphic designers, typesetters, printers, journalists, attorneys and teachers, who are important factions in our support network. Board membership requires annual donations of $2,500 in cash or in-kind services; Advisory Council membership requires annual donations of
$1,000 or more of cash or in-kind services.

Governance 

The Society is governed by a small Executive Board and a larger Advisory Council. Co-Founders of the Society were Joseph J. DeSalvo, Jr., W. Kenneth Holditch, and Rosemary James. Messrs. DeSalvo and Holditch have passed away.  Ms. James is Managing Director. Other Executive Board members include Executive Board Chair, Dr. E. Quinn Peeper, Chairman Emeritus Anne Simms Pincus, Jack Davis, Susan and Charles Schadt, Jana Napoli, Shari Jean Stauch, Ann Fitzgerald, and Ashley Adams, and Co-Chairs of the Advisory Council Angela Bowlin and Michael Harold.  Members of the Advisory Council are writers and other literary professionals, community leaders, and patrons of the arts who give the Society the benefit of their wisdom, experience, and talent in such areas as revenue development, business organization, project planning, and event coordination. Current members include Jeff Kleinman, Cindy Speigel, Michael Signorelli, Lee and Jim Meehan, Rodger Kamenetz, Moira Crone, George Bishop, Jr., Dalt Wonk, Josephine Sacabo, Ellis Anderson, Robert Olen Butler,  Lolis Eric Elie, Randy Fertel, Ronald Pincus, Bertie Deming Smith, David Speights, Garner Robinson,  Robby Moss, Katheleen Waring, Michael Wilkinson, Michael Carter. 

Financial goals for each project are established and evaluated. Records of revenues and expenditures are maintained. Up-to-date lists of members and potential members are on computer. Positive relationships are maintained with necessary suppliers. Cash revenues, which took a nose-dive due to COVID are improving since public events were rebooted in 2023.

Planning is done by the Executive Board and key members of the Advisory Council and various committee chairs. Primary planning is done in quarterly sessions. Projects are presented in concept to the Executive Board for approval or suggested changes or refinements. Basically, we consider ourselves successful if we meet an established goal. So far, we are meeting all of the goals established at founding. Ultimately, of course, as a non-profit organization recognized in the 501 (c) (3) category by the IRS, the Society is accountable to the Internal Revenue Service from the standpoint of fiscal integrity. Professional assistance is provided for appropriate filings.

The Executive Board of Directors is the decision-making body responsible for recording revenues and expenses, filing tax returns and reports, dispersing funds, and providing continuity of management. Executive Board membership is available to interested men and women who contribute in excess of $2,000 per year in cash or documented in-kind goods or services and who are nominated for board membership by directors. The Executive Board meets as needed and much of the business is conducted electronically.  

Advisory Council membership is open to those contribute in excess of $1,000 per year in cash or in-kind goods or services. The Advisory Council was created for men and women with experience in business, the arts and volunteer activism, men and women who want to participate on a less demanding basis than the Executive Board. Members of the Council are nominated by board members. The Society also receives advice and patronage from arts and education activists in Faulkner’s native state, Mississippi. Advisors have included Willy Morris, Noel Polk, Lynn Crosby Gammill, Dr. Robert Barnes and Dr. Bettina Barnes, Peyton Prospere, and the Hon. Grady Jolly, Elizabeth Simms Hise, Beth Ann Fennelly, Tom
Franklin.
Please join us and enjoy our 2026 Events
The Society welcomes new member patrons and volunteers.
Contact us at faulkhouse@aol.com for a membership form or volunteer information. For membership levels and perks,
Click Here!