Join the Circle

Join an active community of over 200 poets, readers, and artists dedicated to nurturing the ever-widening circle of California’s literary heritage. By becoming a member, you help sustain a century-long tradition of promoting the poetic arts and preserving the unique stories of the Golden State.

We’re currently in the process of upgrading our  membership system from mail in forms to online payments — for now, please join or renew using our mail-in form below.

Membership benefits and dues

Benefits
  • Poetry Gatherings: Full access to our signature monthly programs and other special events.
  • News of the Circle: Receive ongoing communications about events.
  • Anthology: Members are eligible to have their work included in our bi-annual Poetry Anthology.
  • Archival Legacy: Members can send their published books for inclusion in the ICC archives at the California State Library.
  • Contest Participation: Free entry into our annual poetry contests.
  • Online Publicity: Members can have their websites featured and linked directly from our Member Website’s page.
  • Priceless literary companionship.
Membership types
  • Active Membership: $25.00 per year
  • Sustaining Membership: $35.00 per year (Sustaining dues help us attract higher-caliber speakers and cover administrative costs)
  • Life Membership: $350.00 one-time payment
  • Junior (under 18): $10 per year
Annual dues

  • Deadline: Dues are due by August 31.

  • Membership Cycle: The membership year runs from September 1 through August 31 of the following year.

Mail in membership & dues

Prefer to pay by mail? Download our printable membership form 

Join or renew memberships

Whether you’re joining the Circle for the first time or renewing your annual dues, we currently process memberships by mail.

  1. Download and print the membership form below.
  2. Fill it out, selecting your membership tier and whether you’re joining or renewing.
  3. Mail the completed form with your payment to the address provided on the form.
  4. New members will receive a welcome packet; renewing members are all set for the year!
Join & renew membership

Renew your membership

Already a member? Renew your annual dues here. Membership renewals are due by August 31st each year.

Pay annual dues

Membership enrollment

Member website application

Ownership: All links must point to a website primarily owned or managed by the ICC member.

Content Standards: The Circle reserves the right to decline or remove links to websites containing hate speech, illegal material, or content that directly conflicts with the Circle’s mission of fostering the art of poetry and literature.

Maintenance: Members are responsible for ensuring their links remain active. The Circle conducts periodic audits; links that remain “broken” for more than 30 days will be moved to a “pending” status and removed from the public showcase.