Membership
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We invite you to join Aspen Words, Colorado’s oldest literary center and a program of the Aspen Institute. By becoming an Aspen Words member at any level, you join a community built around a shared love of reading, writing and storytelling. Your annual tax-deductible membership helps sustain programs for writers and readers of all ages. Through well over thirty annual events taking place virtually and in-person, we serve several thousand literary enthusiasts. The majority of our youth programming is offered free-of-charge, and we provide scholarships and fellowships for emerging writers to participate in workshops and other programs. Your membership support makes all of this possible!
How Your Support Helps
Your membership dues provide vital funds for our seven year-round programs that annually serve several thousand literary enthusiasts., including workshops for middle and high school students, scholarships for aspiring writers, community talks with Pulitzer Prize winners and more!
National Council
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National Council members make up our most engaged community of supporters nationwide. Membership dues provide vital funds for our seven year-round programs that annually serve several thousand literary enthusiasts. Through an annual donation of $2,500 or more, National Council members have a direct impact on all of our programs. Members receive unparalleled access to the greatest contemporary writers of our time, including best-of-house reserved seating, along with invitations to private dinners and events with our award-winning and bestselling authors.
Join the National Council and feel the immediate impact of your giving.
As a token of thanks for your support, we are pleased to offer:
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Special access to Winter Words, a series of author talks taking place virtually and in the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado, including reserved seating at Paepcke Auditorium.
- Opportunity to attend dinners with authors in private Aspen homes.
- Premier reserved seating at all events held in Paepcke Auditorium.
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Invitation to a private dinner for the Aspen Words Literary Prize in New York City.
- Invitation to a private dinner preceding the Aspen Words Literary Prize in New York City.
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Early access to ticket and pass sales for the Aspen Literary Festival.
- Access to the Summer Words panels featuring authors and publishing experts.
- 20% discount on Aspen Words-promoted books at Explore Booksellers
- Advance registration for Book Ball, the annual gala in Aspen, CO.
- Recognition in select AW marketing materials.
Join the National Council and feel the immediate impact of your giving.
Our Members
Member list last updated 1/31/2025
Platinum Quill – $50,000+
| Anonymous |
| Sallie and Thomas Bernard |
| Isa Catto and Daniel Shaw | Catto Shaw Foundation in honor of Bailey Catto Shaw |
| Lauren Johnson and Marissa Mandel |
| Arnold and Anne Porath | in memory of Denny Vaughn |
Golden Quill – $25,000
| Austin Memorial Foundation |
| City of Aspen |
| Edie Barvin |
| Soledad Hurst |
| Melony and Adam Lewis |
| Brent and Belinda Johnson |
| Peter and Lynne Rigby |
| Stephen Kahn and Suzanne Bober |
Silver Quill – $10,000+
| Erin and Doug Becker |
| Lisa and Michael Cader |
| Laurel & John Catto, Alpenglow Foundation |
| Ruth Turnquist Carver and Jim Schmidt |
| Terena Eisner |
| Garfield & Hecht |
| Harry Gruner and Rebecca Henry |
| Joshua and Elizabeth Mondry |
| Helen Obermeyer |
| Maria and David B. Rosenfield, M.D. |
| Lisa See and Richard Kendall |
| Donna and Elliott Slade |
| Serena Koenig and Mark Tompkins |
| Linda Vaughn |
Laureate – $5,000+
| Abby Anderson |
| Claudia and Richard Balderston |
| Richard and Jennifer Carr |
| Lauren and John Driscoll |
| Alice and David Elgart |
| Rich Garvin |
| Les Dames d’Aspen |
| William and Diane Hunckler |
| David Jones and Mary Gwen Wheeler |
| Marcella Larsen |
| Suzanne Leydecker |
| Dave and Sian Oberman |
| Alpine Bank |
| Mary and Patrick Scanlan |
| Patsy Tisch |
| Vivian Wise |
Publisher – $2,500+
| Stuart Brafman |
| Christopher and Andrea Bryan |
| Margot Bush |
| Tara Carson |
| Gretchen Cole |
| Julie Comins and Gregory Pickrell |
| Chris and Sarah Daniels |
| Jessica and Barry Dubin |
| Sarah Frech |
| Mimi Polk Gitlin and Richard Gitlin |
| Sally Peters Holzinger |
| Sue and Ron Hopkinson |
| Michael Lipkin and Jody Guralnick |
| Pete McBride |
| Penny Meepos and Stuart Rosenberg |
| Ann O’Brien |
| Susan O’Bryan |
| Fred Venrick and Cathy O’Connell |
| Blanca and Cavanaugh O’Leary |
| Michael Onufrak |
| Sandy Osborne |
| Esther Pearlstone | in honor of Sue O’Bryan |
| Hensley and James Peterson |
| Lisanne and Jim Rogers |
| Sarah Rosenthal |
| Suzanne Siu and Sam Gellman |
| Adam Sztykiel and Ellie Knaus |
| Will Weathers |
| Wendy Wogan |
| Lauren Zimmerman |
| Thrift Shop of Aspen |
Literati– $1,000+
| Marsha and David Dowler |
| Carol and Mike Hundert |
| Kristin Koval |
| Sheila and Bill Lambert |
| Scott Lasser |
| Allison Mahoney |
| Cindy Kahn and Steve Marker |
| Carolyn and Charles Thornton |
Scribe – $250+
| Trish Aragon | |
| Lissa Ballinger | |
| Neil Siegel Ballinger | |
| Kathy and Carter Barger | |
| Cristina Bejan | |
| Marnie P. and John Bermingham Jr. | |
| Katherine Boone | |
| Laura Cherry | |
| David Cone | |
Pamela Cunningham
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| Mark Dancer | |
| Zena Shuber Dorsey and Ray Dorsey | |
| Ellen Dube | |
| Julie and Stephen Genender | |
| Jessica Herzstein and Elliot F. Gerson | |
| Sarah Girgis | |
| Carolyn and Bob Glah | |
| Annalise Grueter | |
Karen Hawkes
| Beth Klein |
| Avery Lieb |
| Dr. Sid Mandelbaum and Diane Oshin |
| Karen D. Maynard |
| Caroline McIntyre |
| Thomas Merrigan |
| Laura Modlin |
| Joanna Ossinger and Daniel Moss |
| Maureen and Greg Poschman |
| Sarah Simms Rosenthal |
| Mary Martin Ryerson |
| Joanna Stampfel Volpe |
| Jennifer Steele |
| Susie Steiner |
| Natalie and Andrew Travers |
| Lucy Tucker |
| Ellen Valentine |
Wordsmith – $100+
| Stephen Abelman |
| Sumaya Abuhaidar |
| Cameron Allan |
| Stacey Atkins |
| Carson Barnett |
| Jennifer Barth |
| Laurie Beach |
| Christine Benedetti |
| Nina Berman |
| Linda Binder |
| Brettne Bloom |
| Liz and John Bokram |
| Wendy and Grant Burcham |
| Marcia Butler |
| Margo Calvetti |
| Julie Case |
| Ziska Childs |
| Dakota Cloud |
| Sam Coleman |
| Melinda Conner |
| Patrice Conyers |
| Marion Couturier |
| Jesse Cowan |
| Andrea Cuene |
| Billy and Alex Boyd |
| Annie Denver |
| Tina DeSalvo |
| Deirdre DiBiaggio |
| Barbara Dills |
| Charlotte Rose Edwards |
| Julie Ernst |
| Sylvia Falk | |
| David Feinburg | |
| Deb Felio | |
| Debbie Fisher | |
| Sandra Flax | |
| Lynn Fletcher | |
| Mary Beth Fyda | |
| Caroline Gallegos | |
| Elizabeth Gates | |
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| Betsy Goldman | |
| Will Grandbois | |
| Katie Hake | |
| Karen Harvey | |
| Charlie Henderson | |
| Mary Jean Herzog | |
| Krista Horn | |
| Michele Howard | |
| Jan Jennings | |
| Asha John | |
| Sandy and Peter Johnson | |
| Jacqueline Kaplan | |
| Paige Kaptuch | |
| Annie Kelley |
| Jennifer Kelley |
| Kai Kelly |
| Carrie Knoblock |
| Michael Korda |
| Judy Kravitz |
| Kirsten B. Kuhn |
| Mark Larry |
| Jamie Larson |
| Alan Greenwald |
| Grace Lim |
| Pamela and Craig Mackey |
| Teresa Mallernee |
| Nancy R. Manderson |
| Madelon Maupin |
| Elizabeth Meador |
| Jean Campbell and Patrick Morrissy |
| Alyssa Mortell |
| Dan Moschet |
| Tiffany Nakagawa |
| Kirstin Neff |
| Peg O’Brien |
| Stacey Olcott |
| Monique Oliveaux |
| Sandy and Jerrold Parker |
| Andrea Wendel and Kevin Patrick |
| Robin Pauli |
| Patricia Peterson |
| Adria Peterson |
| Alina Pitman |
| Mitzi J. Rapkin |
| Marcy Rehberger |
| Barbara Reid and David Hyman |
| Marilee and Gregg Rippy |
| John Ristine |
| Matthew Roeser |
| Renee Rolke |
| Karen Sager |
| Roberta Sandeman |
| Clare and Marius Sanger |
| Chiara Santini and Dario Fusato |
| Colleen Schafer |
| Jennifer and Robin Schiller |
| Kerry Schmidt |
| Lucy and Marc Schneidman |
| Melinda Schuman |
| Linda A. Schuman |
| Madeleine Scott |
| Elyse Seidner-Joseph |
| May Selby |
| Nancy and Barry Shapiro |
| Dawn Shepard |
| Nancy and Mark J. Silverman |
| Erica Snow, ACF |
| Peter Snowden |
| Anna Speessen |
| Susan Steiner |
| Thomas A. Stevens |
| Hope Stewart |
| Sara Striefel |
| Francis Stuckens |
| Megan Tackett |
| Dave Teitler |
| Laura Thielen and George Eldred |
| Caroline Tory |
| Nicole and Jason Vandeboom |
| Ruth Wade |
| Bob Wade |
| Becky and Craig Ward |
| Shannon Webb |
| Duncan Wells |
| Gayle Wells |
| Karen and Soren West |
| Kristy Mora and Helen Whalen |
| Lara and Marc Whitley |
| Susan Yablonsky |
| Eilene Zimmerman |
