Mabel Sterns Award

Every month, amateur astronomers all over the United States sit down and wrestle with the task of putting out the local astronomical society's monthly newsletter. Some of these hard-working editors write their own material in addition to what they can coax their fellow society members to write, draw, or photograph for them. Others select something of interest from the Internet or other newsletters to which they have access.

No matter what the source of the material, they must format it, lay it out, and often reproduce and distribute it. It is a great deal of work that seldom earns them any reward, yet it is the society newsletter that keeps the organization going and informs, entertains, and keeps members interested in the activities of the group.

To try to recognize some of the best of the editors, the Astronomical League in 1998 created the Mabel Sterns Award. This award is named after the League's first newsletter editor, Mabel Sterns (1948-1952) (above).

Purpose

The first placed winner will receive a Sterns Award plaque at the national banquet each year.. Institutional members of the League, such as planetariums, museums, boards and star parties, are not eligible. Member-at-Large editors in non-League societies are not eligible.

The Sterns Award is chaired by the Astronomical League Vice-President pursuant to our Standing Resolutions. The Reflector editor will present a League plaque to the Sterns Award winner at the national banquet each year.

Procedure for Nomination

A winner will be selected by journalism professionals and/or committee members. The judges' rankings will be added using Zipf's Law (first place vote = 1 point, second = 1/2 point, third = 1/3 point, fourth = 1/4 point etc.). No editor will be eligible for the Sterns Award more than once during any five year period.

For information about the 2007 Mabel Sterns Award program, please contact Mr. Carroll Iorg, A.L. Awards Coordinator Carroll-Iorg@kc.rr.com (816-444-4878) or visit the League's website http://www.astroleague.org. The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2007. The president of the club should send four paper copies of a recent newsletter, along with four copies of a letter of recommendation to the Awards Coordinator, 7241 Jarboe, Kansas City MO 64114. A photo of the newsletter editor, preferably taken in an astronomical type setting should also be submitted in the packet.

It is strongly recommended that A.L. member club newsletters display the League's logo prominently in the publication, preferably on the front cover.

Previous Winners of the Mabel Sterns Award