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(With his winning of the Chant Medal, David Levy joins a select group. To my knowledge only two other members of the Kingston Centre have won major awards of the R.A.S.C. In 1963, Dr. Douglas was the winner of the Service Award, and in 1979 Warren Morrison was awarded the Ken Chilton Prize. In recognition of David's truly significant achievement, I [Leo Enright] wish to reprint here the citation which I prepared for the occasion and which Dr. Percy read when the award was presented at the Society Banquet on Saturday, June 28, 1980.)

A long-time member of the R.A.S.C. and currently a Life Member of the Kingston Centre, Mr. David H. Levy has been nominated for the Chant Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.

For a considerable time, David has been an avid observer of variable stars and his current rate of observations makes him one of the most remarkable variable star observers anywhere. His regular consistent program of variable star observing has increased to the point where since last August he has been observing and recording variables at the rate of over 2000 per month. This is the continuation of a personal program that has extended over decades. David's observations have been submitted to the A.A.V.S.O., whose director, Janet Mattei, has paid tribute to both the number and the quality of his observations. His variable observing program spanning many years has covered many kinds of variable stars and one of his particular current interests is the very rapidly fluctuating Orion variables which few amateurs have observed as carefully as he has. David is now known to many astronomers throughout the continent as a regular contributor to Star and Sky magazine. His column on variable stars is sure to encourage many more amateurs to become involved in this special field. In the near future we can look forward to the publication of a book by David on these stars which many people regard as the most interesting of all. An observer par excellence, David has spent countless hours in comet hunting, nova searching, sunspot observing and recording. He has, as well, passed along to many others his enthusiasm for these programs. He has also observed all the Messier objects, and also all the planets of the solar system in a single night. Few lovers of astronomy can claim such an acquaintance with the night sky. It is little wonder that he very narrowly missed in the discovery of at least one nova.

Even though at present the aim is to mention the massive contribution to observational astronomy which David has made by his variable programs, those who know him can scarcely mention his work without thinking of his telescopes, that collection of "tools of the trade," which he has assembled over the years and which he so much enjoys using. It is a collection of well over 50 working tele- scopes including many that he made himself and some that are rare antiques. One of his homemade instruments was a prize winner at Stellafane last summer. Whether he is observing the stars of the endless night sky, accurately recording an observed variation of a tenth of a magnitude, presenting his ideas for a new telescope design, teaching a course in Basic Astronomy, or sharing his enthusiasm with a group of small children, David Levy presents a picture of an astronomer we are proud of and one to whom we are thrilled to award the Chant Medal.

References:
JRASC Vol.74, pp. 308-309 ; Regulus Jul-Aug 1980, page 2 .

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This honour was bestowed on Sunday evening, June 29, 1986, during the General Assembly in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Warren C. Morrison became interested in astronomy at a very early age and through the years has observed regularly with binoculars and small telescopes. He joined the R.A.S.C. in 1973 as an unattached member and, since 1979, has been associated with the Kingston Centre. He joined the American Association of Variable Star Observers in 1974, having developed a particular interest in the observation of variable stars. He is a graduate in Physics from Trent University, Peterborough.

In 1979, he was awarded the Ken Chilton Prize of the R.A.S.C., primarily for his discovery of Nova Cygni 1978 on September 9 of that year. Since that time, he has continued to make substantial contributions to variable star astronomy. Since 1979 his output has risen to more than four thousand observations each year, an achievement which places him among the top few A.A.V.S.O. observers worldwide. Furthermore, he observes a variety of variable star types and produces observations which are regarded by the A.A.V.S.O. Headquarters as being of consistently high quality. On January 26, 1985, he made yet another notable contribution to astronomy by discovering an outburst of the recurrent Nova RS Ophiuchi. He also serves as a coordinator in the International Halley Watch.

Reference: JRASC Vol.80, No.5, page 294

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Mr. Warrent Morrison became interested in astronomy at a very early eage and through the years has observed regularly with binoculars and small telescopes. He became intrigued with variable star observing and joined the A.A.V.S.O. in 1974 and, after becoming an unattached member of our Society in 1973, he became interested in deep-sky objects. The summer of 1977 was spent as a temporary staff assistant at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory. He obtained his B.Sc. in Physics from Trent University in 1977 and his Honours degree in 1978.

On the night of September 9, 1978, Mr. Morrison discovered a nova in the constellation of Cygnus and although his telegram was unfortunately delayed in transit to the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Communications Center, he has been acknowledged as the original discoverer of this exploding star.

The Society is happy to award to Mr. Morrison the Ken Chilton Prize for 1979 for his outstanding achievement.

Reference: JRASC Vol.73, No.4, page 230.

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From the minutes of the March 2008 RASC National Council meeting:

Moved by Peter Jedicke, seconded by James Edgar, that, whereas supernovae are used as probes of the universe in leading edge astronomical research, and whereas the Puckett Supernova Search Team has been very competitive with professional search programs in making these valuable discoveries, the Chilton Prize be awarded to Society members who have found supernovae as part of the Puckett Supernova Search Team. The list of honourees is in the Appendix [listed below]. It should be noted that five members included in the list have already won a Chilton Prize.

For the Chilton Prize, to RASC members who have found supernovae as part of the Puckett Supernova Search Team, the honourees are:

• Eric Briggs (Toronto Centre)
• Debra Ceravolo (Ottawa Centre)
• Lou Cox (Ottawa Centre)
• Steve Gauthier (London Centre)
• Walter MacDonald (Kingston Centre)
• Ajai Sehgal (Ottawa Centre)
• Jennifer Tigner (Victoria Centre)
• Dave Toth (London Centre)
• Dave Lane (Halifax Centre)
• Paul Gray (New Brunswick Centre)
• Jack Newton (Victoria Centre)
• Peter Ceravolo (Ottawa Centre)
• Doug George (Ottawa Centre)

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A. Vibert Douglas, M.B.E., Ph.D., LL.D., nominated by the Kingston centre. Dr. Douglas was a driving force in the Montreal Centre until her departure from McGill to become Dean of Women and later Professor of Astronomy at Queen's University. Shortly thereafter, in 1943 and 1944, she became the first woman to hold the office of National President of the R.A.S.C. Through her efforts, the Kingston Centre of the Society was founded in 1960. Few individuals have served their profession as well as Dr. Douglas, as a distinguished author and as an outstanding lecturer on astronomical topics. Her enthusiasm, her encouragement to students, her concern for the welfare of individuals in this and other lands are endearing qualities. Her services to our Society are recognized by this award.

Reference: JRASC Vol. 57, p.124

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Leo was honoured on Sunday, June 29, 1986, during the General Assembly in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Leo Enright has been an active member of the Kingston Centre and of the R.A.S.C. for more than 10 yeras. During this time he has acted with energy, enthusiasm and great distinction in each and every post on the Centre's Executive. He is particularly appreciated for his excellent editing skills on Regulus, the Centre's bimonthly newsletter. Leo has built his own observatory and is a keen observer and astrophotographer, sharing at every meeting the results of long hours of observing. He is indefatigable in sharing his wide knowledge and observing skills with beginners and experienced observers alike. His work as National Recorder is familiar to members of the Society. He travels to local Provincial parks, the Scout camp and youth groups to give talks and share his large collection of slides to reveal the splendour of the heavens with binocular and telescope. This sustained and selfless service to astronomy is recognized by the presentation of this Service Award.

Reference: JRASC Vol.80, No.5, page 294

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Kevin Kell has been a member of the Kingston Centre since 1990, serving in many capacities -- as KC librarian (1994-96), KC Webmaster (1996-03), Regulus editor (1996-03), and the main force behind all other publications created by the Centre, he participated in the assembly of more than thirty barn-door trackers, a telescope-grinding machine, and several large mirrors.

Kevin is an avid promoter of responsible lighting, and an indefatigable member of planning committees for public events and star parties. One of his key projects has been the introduction of the Observational Astronomy for the Novice program to Kingston, with help from the Prince George Centre.

Members of other Centres have also benefited from Kevin's enthusiasm and energy. He is a member of RASC's Information Technology Committee and the National Webmaster since 2000. He has opened the history of the RASC to all members by working with others to archive past RASC reports and minutes electronically. This richly deserved Service Award is in recognition of Kevin's dedication over the past 15 years and a vote of thanks from the members of the Kingston Centre.

Reference: JRASC Vol.100, No.4, page 184

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Mark's Service Award was for his work with the Hamilton Centre of which he is also a member.

References: JRASC Vol.100, No.4, page 184

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Many of us, no most of us, join clubs, associations, or societies for what they can give us or where they can take us. Few of us join to give as Kim Hay has to RASC National, RASC Kingston Centre, and her fellow members. Joining any association for benefit is what they are there for, to guide, teach, and enrich the interests of its members. Kim however is one of those individuals in life that join to give first and receive later.

Since 1989 through two decades of membership, Kim has been a constant volunteer, served on numerous committees, and held many executive positions at both the Kingston Centre and National level. It only took Kim two years after joining the RASC to become an executive, holding positions of Secretary, Treasurer, National Council Rep., President, and Treasurer 2008-2010. In 1997, when Kingston Centre hosted the General Assembly, Kim was the never-tiring Treasurer and Registrar for the event (with the aid of "Barbarian") that helped make it such a success. Apart from all of these positions Kim has volunteered for every public event and instructional/education course that the Kingston Centre has had in the past 20 years.

Kim's involvement at the National level makes one wonder how she had the time for most of her Centre work. Serving on eight committees since 1994, Kim has contributed greatly not just to this Society, but the hobby and interest of Astronomy as a whole. Her National level service is as follows: Membership & Promotion Committee 1994-2002 (Chair 1998-2001), Computer Use Committee 1998-2001, National Secretary 1999-2005, National Executive Committee 1999-2005, Light Pollution Abatement Committee 2001-2002 and 2006-2008, Education Committee 2005, 2007-2008 (Chair 2007-2008), Library Committee 2007, Historical Committee 2007, Board Pilot Committee 2007 and Executive Advisory Committee (2008-2009).

An avid and infectious solar observer, Kim has published her first contribution to the 2009 Observer's Handbook. Kim is dedicated to sketching and tracking solar phenomenon (soon to be expanding into H-alpha), never taking the shortcut of digital imaging for her statistical work. She has been the ALPO Solar Coordinator since 2005 and serves as Computing Section Coordinator since 2004. Other outside interests include membership in the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO ) and being a Committee member (Canada level) for the International Year of Astronomy (2007-2009).

Her most recent contributions in 2008 to members across Canada were the creation of the RASC Astrosketchers web page and e-mail discussion group and her work on the web presentation of Canada and the Stars. She deserves all the credit for bringing together the RASC's astronomical sketching community, and putting its resources on the Web.

The last point to mention is the over 100 hours of time committed to preparing for the International Year of Astronomy in 2008 alone, not counting participating in all of the events that will happen in 2009. The Awards Committee and the Board of the RASC Kingston Centre wholly endorse Kim Hay's nomination for the RASC Service award based on the documentation put forward here.

Reference: Regulus Apr 2009, page 10 .

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2009, most notably The International Year of Astronomy, will also mark the 30th year of Walter MacDonald's involvement with the RASC. Walter was an active member of the Toronto Centre from 1979 till 1987, and from 1987 to the present he has been energetically involved with the Kingston Centre. In a local sense it is undeniable that Toronto's loss is Kingston's gain, yet wherever Walter has been, the nature of his many ongoing contributions to the Society has benefited the RASC as a whole, and through the RASC, astronomy at large.

During his term as National Librarian (1994-1997), Walter created and distributed one of the first e-versions of the National Library's holdings of monographs and journals. It is in the spirit of that early effort to enhance access to RASC resources through electronic means, profiting members and non-members alike, that Walter has undertaken an immensely more significant enterprise. He has digitized the National Newsletter (1970-1990), and the early print incarnation of The Bulletin from 1991 to 1996, as well as the Annual Reports for 1966-1977 (when they were issued under separate cover), and provided links to the URLs of the earlier Annual Reports (1914-1960s) in The SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS). This has been a massive undertaking, and Walter conceived, implemented, and completed it virtually singlehandedly, and in record time. It is as if one man did a whole committee's worth of work, competently, congenially, and on-time. There are reports, reviews, and observations of real value in the Newsletter and early Bulletin which fully justify the effort spent on their digitization. The full significance of Walter's achievement in this project lies elsewhere, Service Award Citation for Walter MacDonald however; he has made readily available several key resources for the history of organized amateur astronomy in Canada, for charting the course of Canadian amateur science, for chronicling the changing relationship between amateur and professional astronomers, for gauging the reaction (or nonreaction) of Canadian amateurs to trends in the discipline, and for comparing our national astronomical culture with others. For this achievement alone he merits nomination for the Service Award.

More should, and can be said about Walter's work at the Centre level. While a member of the Toronto Centre, he served as Assistant Editor of 'Scope, the Centre's newsletter, as well as Chair of the Observational Activities Committee. As a member of the Kingston Centre, he was their representative on national council (1992-1994), centre president (1994- 1995), a member of their observatory committee, and centre webmaster. Prior to holding that last position he digitized nearly two decades of Regulus, the Kingston Centre's newsletter. In recognition of his contributions he received the A.V. Douglas Award for 2007, the Kingston Centre's most prestigious service award.

For Walter, as for many of us, whatever his other astronomical interests, observing is vitally important. His first projects were centred on DSOs, and by extension, astrophotography, first on film, then with CCD technology (1998-). He was the first Kingston Centre member to complete the RASC Finest NGC Certificate in 1995. Walter's love of observing has led him to complement his RASC membership with membership in other reputable astronomical societies: the AAVSO (since 1981), The Planetary Society (since 1983), the North York Astronomical Association (NYAA ), and the Durham Region Astronomical Society (DRAS ). For the AAVSO he has logged nearly 24,000 observations (some visual, but the majority with CCD). Walter has endeavoured to increase collaboration between the RASC and the AAVSO, notably through mentoring novice RASC variable star observers. He has been involved with the Kingston Centre's Robotic Telescope project since its inception in the fall of 2006, providing both technical assistance and major hardware. He also successfully designed and installed his own observatory structure as an integral part of his home (Winchester Observatory ). His interest in variable stars has led him to participate in the Puckett Supernova Search Team, work for which he received the Ken Chilton Prize for 2008, along with several RASC colleagues.

Walter approaches all of his astronomical projects with good humour, high motivation, and hard work. He has been generous in helping others with equipment, advice, and programmes. It speaks volumes that when the RASC Archivist suggested Walter be nominated for the Service Award, members of the RASC History Committee endorsed the nomination, as did the Kingston Centre's Awards Committee.

Reference: Regulus Apr 2009, page 11 .

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I would like to nominate David Levy for the Simon Newcomb award for 2002, under the category, "history of exemplary writing."

David's knowledge, enthusiasm and talent for telling a story has[sic] made him an ideal promoter of astronomy. He represents what many would consider the ideal amateur astronomer, and someone that our society should celebrate.

From observing guides and research papers to biographies, David's works are a pleasure to read.

[These remarks, prepared by Susan Gagnon of the Kingston Centre, prefaced an extensive list of books, magazine articles, and columns written by David Levy.]

Reference: JRASC Vol.96, page 212 .

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