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All Posts by Faye Peterson

George Van Biesbroeck Prize Committee

History: Established in 1979 by the Van Biesbroeck Award, Inc., as an Arizona area award. Beginning in 1988, individuals from throughout the United States were eligible. The AAS assumed responsibility for the Prize from June 1997.

Members: The Prize Committee has nine members, including the Chair. No member of the Committee may receive the Prize during his or her tenure on the Committee.

Term: The staggered terms on the Committee are of three years duration, from annual business meeting to annual business meeting.

Education Prize Committee

History: After being discussed for a number of months, the AAS
Education Prize was established by the AAS Council in the autumn of
2000.

Members: The Education Prize Committee shall be composed of six
members, including a Chair.

Term: The terms shall be staggered, of three years duration, and
running from January to January Council meetings.

Chair: Appointed by Council. Serves a one year term from one
January Council meeting to the following January, Council meeting.

Dannie Heineman Prize Committee

History: The American Astronomical Society joined with the American Institute of Physics in 1978 to award a prize to recognize an individual who had made a series of major contributions to astronomy and/or astrophysics.

Members: Six members, each serving for three years

.
Two new members are nominated by the Appointments Committee for Council
approval each January. The chair of the Russell Lectureship Committee is a non-voting,
Ex-Officio member.

Annie J. Cannon Award Committee

History: First established in June 1933 as Cannon Committee. Became Advisory Committee
when the Prize's administration turned over to the AAUW in 1974. The Prize is now (2005) being administered by the AAS and is being restructured.

Members: Originally, three members with one new member nominated every two years by the Appointments Committee for approval by the Council in January. With the amendment shortening the term to three years and awarding the prize annually, one new member is nominated and approved annually.

Chambliss Amateur Achievement Award Committee

History: Rules for the Amateur Achievement Awards were approved at the 208th AAS Meeting in Calgary, Alberta, June 2006.

Members: Five members with staged terms. It will include three members of the WGPAC and initially one member of the AAS Council. Members will be proposed to the Council by the Committee on Appointments.

Term:. Initially, there will be two persons (including a chair) serving for two years, and three serving for three years. After the initial appointments, members will be appointed for three year terms.

Working Group on the Preservation of Astronomical Heritage (WGPAH)

History: Established at the 209th Meeting, January 2007 in Seattle, in response to a report from the Historical Astronomy Division (HAD).

Members: Twelve members nominated by the HAD Executive Committee on the basis of their professional qualifications relating to the preservation of sites, astronomical instruments, and historical documents. Two additional members will represent the concerns of active research observatories.

Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy (CSWA)

Website: http://www.aas.org/cswa/

History: Established June 1, 1979.

Members: Originally five members - two men and three women - appointed by Council in June, preferably from a list of volunteers. Enlarged to 10 members in 2009.

Term: Three years, June to June; staggered; from the close of one Annual Members' Meeting to the close of the next Annual Members' Meeting.

Publications Board

History: AAS ByLaws Article VI, Sec. 3, Approved Jan. 1, 1979.

Members:
Chair and six members. Individuals are nominated for positions on the Board
by the Nominating Committee, in consultation with Journal editors. The Board
member is elected by the Council at the June Meeting. Written consent to
serve is required before nomination. The Board meets annually.

Obituary Committee

History: Established in 1991 with first obituaries published in BAAS Vol. 23, No. 4.

Members: One member appointed by HAD; one by the AAS President; one appointed by the AAS Executive Officer.

Terms: Two years, Jan. - Dec.

Chair: Vice-Chair of Historical Astronomy Division (HAD).

Nominating Committee

History: Established ByLaws, Article VI., Sec. 1

Members:
(From AAS ByLaws, Art. VI): Five full Members of the AAS except voting members
of the AAS Council (Sec.1(a)); two names for each vacancy nominated from
the floor at the annual business meeting (Sec.1(c).); additional nominations
may be made in writing to the Secretary signed by five AAS Members who have
not nominated any other candidate for the Committee by this method (Sec.
1(d)); elected by the membership.

Committee on Meetings

History:

Members: Three Vice-Presidents, and the Executive Officer. The President is Ex-Officio.

Term: One year, June to June, from the close of one Annual Members' Meeting to the close of the next Annual Members' Meeting.

Chair: AAS Senior Vice-President.

Charge: This committee will advise Council on the scientific content of all Society meetings. The committee will select the invited speakers, any special speakers and special sessions.

Committee on Light Pollution, Radio Interference, and Space Debris

Website: http://aas.org/light/

History: Name changed (January 1988, Austin)

Members: Appointed by the Council.

Term: Three years, June - June, from the close of one Annual Members' Meeting to the close of the next Annual Members' Meeting.

Chair: One year, June to June, from the close of one Annual Members' Meeting to the close of the next Annual Members' Meeting.

Charge: Acts as a clearinghouse for information on these topics and, whenever possible, helps those who are attempting to combat the problem.

AAS Investment Advisory Committee

History: Established June 1989, Ann Arbor.

Members: Nominated by the Appointments Committee and appointed by the Council. May be reappointed.

Terms: Three year terms, June to June, staggered, from the close of one Annual
Members' Meeting to the close of the next Annual Members' Meeting.

Chair: The AAS Treasurer.

Charge: To advise the Treasurer regarding the investment of the Society's funds, including the reserve funds for the journals.

Committee on Employment

History: Name changed to present name by Executive Committee action, June 1988 (172nd meeting, Kansas City).

Members: Appointed by Council. Select Council members appointed by President, with approval of Council, to serve as Council Liaisons in ex officio capacity.

Term: Three years, June - June, from the close of one Annual Members' Meeting to the close of the next Annual Members' Meeting.

Chair: One year.

Audit Committee

History: Established May, 2005.

Members:

Term:

Chair:

Charge: The Audit Committee reviews the results of the independent financial audit of the Society and communicates independently with the auditors as needed.  The committee provides its opinion on the audit directly to the Council at each summer meeting of the Society.  The Audit committee may be called upon for other duties by the Treasurer as needed.

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Monthly Job Register

Job announcements must be received by the 15th and paid for by the 25th of each month for publication in the subsequent issue of the Job Register.