ABOUT US

Houston Songwriters Association (HSA) is a Non-profit 501(c) (3), Tax-exempt, Public Charity Corporation serving Fort Bend County and the Greater Houston area. Originally started in Richmond, Texas in 1989, it was called Fort Bend Songwriters Association. In November 2000, the name was changed to Houston Fort Bend Songwriters Association to acknowledge the area wide demographics of the members. Again, on January 1, 2008, it was changed to its present name of Houston Songwriters Association. The Organization is governed by Articles of Incorporation put forth by the State of Texas and the Houston Songwriters Association Board of Directors. The mailing address is Houston Songwriters Association, P. O. Box 1471, Sugar Land, TX 77487-1471. The website address is www.houstonsongwriters.com and our email address is contact@houstonsongwriters.com.

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to support and encourage the art and craft of songwriting; to provide professional resources and educational opportunities to songwriters; and to nurture a positive environment in which songwriters may fully develop their potential as songwriters, musicians, performers and artists. We welcome all ages, all musical styles and all levels of experience to join Houston Songwriters Association and to meet new friends that share an interest in songwriting.

HSA EMAIL LISTING AND FACEBOOK

We encourage anyone interested to subscribe to our HSA Email Listing on the website where you will receive updates about what is going on at the meetings and throughout our organization. Look for the HSA Email Icon and click where indicated. In addition to subscribing to the Email listing you can also register in the Members Area of the website to be able to view, listen to and critique songs presented at the Monthly Meetings. We are also listed on Facebook under Houston Songwriters Association or Hsa Houston. If you are a Facebook member you can interact and communicate with other HSA Facebook members and friends. Even if you are not a Facebook member, you can still view our Houston Songwriters Association Facebook page and see photos, posting, videos, etc. Just click on the Facebook Icon on the website then click on Wall.

HSA MEMBERSHIP DUES

HSA is financially supported through voluntary donations (nonrefundable) received from Membership Dues and public support. All donations are tax deductible. New Members pay an initial fee of $35 that is applied to the initial month of registration through December 31 of that calendar year only. Thereafter, Renewing Members pay an annual fee of $25 due in January of each calendar year covering January through December of that year. There are no prorated fees. Lifetime Members pay a onetime fee of $250 that covers all years HSA is in operation. HSA welcomes and greatly appreciates any donations beyond the standard Membership Fees. Dues can be paid through PayPal (listed on the website), mailed to our mailing address at Houston Songwriters Association, P. O. Box 1471, Sugar Land, TX 77487-1471, or at any of the monthly meetings. Members who pay dues also have added benefits described in the Online Song Critiques and Song Contests caption below.

MONTHLY MEETINGS

In addition to HSA Members, all are welcome to attend our Monthly Meetings where we meet on the second Sunday of every month (except in May due to Mother's Day when we usually meet on the first Sunday) at J. P. Hops House, 2317 S. Highway 6, Houston, TX, 77077 (281) 496-0623, to critique songs and showcase talent. We start gathering around 1:30pm. The meeting starts at 2:00pm and ends at 6:00pm. Members who bring in a song (a song that is still in progress) for critiquing should also have about 25 copies of the lyric sheet to pass around. Songs can be performed live or played on our CD player. We have PC equipment available to also record live performances and will also provide an MP3 copy to the songwriter at their email address within a few days. We do not critique songs at the December Meeting but use this time (starting at 2:00pm) to have fun and party with members, family, friends and guests in celebration of the holidays. Awards, accomplishments and other recognitions are presented at the December Christmas Party.

ONLINE SONG CRITIQUES AND SONG CONTESTS

All HSA Members who register through the Members Area of the Website and are current in their Membership Dues may bring in one song for critiquing at the monthly meetings: have access to the entire Members Area on the website: and will be able to upload their songs on the website that were presented at the current meeting for additional critiquing and also critique other members' songs. These members will also be eligible to cast votes in the Song of the Month Contest, Song of the Year Contest and Songwriter of the Year Contest. Voting is done through the website and only songs that are uploaded to the website can be voted on. On the monthly song uploads, the two songs receiving the highest number of votes will win Song of the Month and be eligible for entry into the Song of the Year Contest. All monthly winning songs will be eligible for placement on HSA's Yearly CD Compilation. The CD will be ready for sale at the December Christmas Party. Awards for "Song of the Year" along with 1st Runner Up and 2nd Runner Up and "Songwriter of the Year" along with 1st Runner Up and 2nd Runner will be given out at the December Meeting.

We also welcome other guests/potential members to register through the Members Area of the Website who only wish to view and listen to the uploaded songs and offer constructive feedback to the songwriter. These guests/potential members can upgrade to full membership at any time by paying Membership Dues.