Astronomy in the Inland Northwest

ALCON Banquet and Awards

Saturday Evening, July 17, 1999

Cindy Pasich, president of the Spokane Astronomical Society, addressed the attendees on behalf of the SAS, and thanked everyone for a successful event.

Chuck Allen thanked Cindy and the SAS for the many sacrifices they made to make this convention such a successful event. As a result of their efforts, the AL is a stronger organization. The range of speakers and programs at the convention was impressive, and it was especially heartening to see the large amount of family participation that went in to make this event a success. The AL is proud to have such a healthy club in Spokane.

The AL is continuing to grow like a weed. Our new and expanded MAL program and AL Sales on the Internet will do nothing but increase this growth.

There was a moment of remembrance for AL members who plassed away recently, including Ken Willcox in February, Ton Ponjee in June, and Oscar Monning.

The dinner menu for the annual banquet was Salmon and Prime Rib. The meal was served in the Multi-purpose Room in the Pense Union Building on the campus of Eastern Washington University, in Cheney, WA.

Prizes and Awards

J. Kelley Beatty of Sky Publishing Corporation announced that La Sociedad de Astronomia de Puerto Rico was the winner of this year’s Astronomy Day Award. There were no members from that club in attendance, but Kelly gave certificates to representatives of some of the runner up clubs who were in attendance.

The Second Annual Mabel Sterns Award for Newsletter Editors was awarded to Peter A. Leavens, editor of the Celestial Observer, the newsletter of the Amateur Observers Society of New York. Peter, who epitomizes "service to astronomy," began public service over 50 years ago. His first Sky & Telescope article was published in 1943.

The Jack Horkheimer award for Excellence by a Young Astronomer was presented to Adam Forte, Vice-President of the Back Bay Amateur Astronomers in Norfolk, VA. This $1000 award was presented by Don Parker for Jack Horkheimer, who was ill. Darin Stephens of Bushnell Sports Optics presented Adam with a 6-inch Voyager Telescope as part of his prize. Adam will take two new telescopes back home, since he also won an 8-inch Dobsonian Bushnell Telescope as a door prize

The National Young Astronomer Award was presented to Elizabeth Fernandez. John C. Deibel presented a plaque and Scott Roberts of Meade presented a Meade 10-inch LX 200 telescope to Beth as her prize. She was also given a lifetime pass to McDonald Observatory, in Ft. Davis, TX, as part of her prize.

The Bob Wright Service Award was presented to Marion Bachtell for her work of many years with Astronomical League Sales.

The Leslie Peltier Award was presented to William Albrecht, of Hawaii, and accepted by Barry Beaman.

The Astronomical League Award was presented to Don Trombino, and accepted by Don Parker.

The ALPO Walter A. Haas Award was presented by Don Parker to Rik Hill, and accepted by Derald Nye.

The AL President’s Award was presented by Chuck Allen to John C. Diebel, founder and CEO of Meade Instruments Corporation, as a way to give back to Meade what Meade has given to the Astronomical League and the astronomical community through their support of AL programs for many years. Meade Instruments was founded by John Diebel in 1962, and in 1999 now has 340 employees distributing optical instruments all over the world.

The prize for convention attendee from the farthest distance was give to Ben Austin, of Christ Church, New Zealand.

Ed Flaspoehler
Vice-President, AAAA