Chartered March 18, 1907, the American Federation of Musicians, Local 21, Inc. is the local union of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada for Delaware and parts of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. The AFM is the world's largest union of performing artists. The territorial jurisdiction of Local 21 is the State of Delaware, its three counties, New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, and all its municipalities, towns and unincorporated areas. In Maryland, all of the following counties: Caroline, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's, Talbot, Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset, and Worcester including Ocean City. In Virginia, all of Accomac and Northampton counties. In Chester County, Pennsylvania, the following townships: Pocopson, East Marlboro, Pennsbury, Kennett Square, Kennett and New Garden. Also, Chester, PA, east eight miles, north to Delaware County line, south to Delaware River and the following in Chester County: Coatesville, South Coatesville, West Caln Twp., West Bradford, Newlin, East Fallowfield, Sadsbury, West Sadsbury, Atglen, Valley, Paperville, Parksburg, Highland, West Fallowfield, Londonderry, West Marlboro, Upper Oxford, Lower Oxford, Penn West Grove, London Grove, Avondale, Oxford, East Nottingham, West Nottingham, Elk, New London, Franklin, London, Britain, West Whiteland, Downingtown, East Whiteland, West Goshen, Malvern, Willistown, East Town, West Chester, Westtown, Thornbury, East Bradford and Birmingham. Also the establishment known as the RedFox Inn, in new Garden Twp. Click here for the complete Local 21 Bylaws

Who is eligible to join?

Membership is open to all qualified musicians - Professionals who work part-time or full-time in pop, rock, country, jazz, classical, folk, or other areas of music making.

How do I join?

Return a completed AFM application, along with your dues.

Local 21 Initiation Fee (one-time): $40.00
Federation Initiation Fee (one-time): $65.00
Regular members - $140/year $36.25/quarter
*** New members must join for a 12-month period ($140.00). After one year, they may pay quarterly.
Life members - $69.00/year $18.50/quarter
Inactive Life members* - $63.00/year $17.00/quarter

Yearly dues must be paid by January 31.

*Life members who wish to become inactive life members may do so by notifying the local in writing. Inactive Life Members shall have all the rights and privileges of active members except that they shall not perform any professional engagements, vote or hold office.

Late Payment and Suspension Policy
Effective January 1, 2010: Quarterly dues payments are due during the first month of each quarter (January, April, July and October). Any member who is suspended or expelled due to nonpayment of membership dues will be assessed a $40.00 reinstatement fee in order to rejoin the Local in good standing, in addition to the maximum six months outstanding dues (see AFM Bylaws 9:27-28).

Members failing to pay dues by the end of a quarter shall be suspended and reinstatement fees will be imposed (consult Article 6 Section 2 of the bylaws). Failure to pay dues by the end of six months will result in termination of membership.

RESIGNATION PROCEDURE
A member wishing to resign in good standing from Local 21 or any other Local of the AFM must do the following:
· Send a letter of resignation to the local
· Pay all financial obligations to that local, including the current quarter’s dues.

Failure to follow this procedure will result in the member being dropped for non-payment of dues. This will jeopardize membership in all other locals of the AFM.

Click here for AFM application in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format.