American Federation of Mineralogical Societies
Club News Articles and Bulletins, Contests for 2026

To find all artilces regarding any Club articles, Bulletins, and Contects click Here for the update forms at the AFMS Web Site!

What’s a BEAC?

Every AFMS Federation has a BEAC, (pronounced just like a bird’s beak). The initialsstand for Bulletin Editors Advisory Committee. This year we have an Ad Hoc NFMS BEAC to get the ball rolling, so as editors of clubs, you can have fun preparing your club for the 2027 NFMS & AFMS bulletin contests.

The NFMS contest is the first contest you send your club’s entries to. After the NFMS judging, the entries are forwarded to the national contest of the AFMS. There are new contests for club editors and club members to enter, and more are on their way! The AFMS will be updating those descriptions soon.

 

New Contest Just for NFMS Club Editors!

NFMS “Illustrious Bulletin Editors” Contest

We wanted to celebrate what you do as club editors throughout the year, by creating a contest just for you. The word, illustrious, means to “light up,” and that’s exactly what you create as editors for your members to enjoy.

 

1. This contest is only for NFMS Editors, for NFMS Awards.
2. Eligible entries are for an editor’s original: Written Feature, Drawn Feature, Poetry, Adult Article.
3. Editors may enter the NFMS “Illustrious Bulletin Editors” Contest, every year.
4. Editors may enter up to one category in each category.
5. Entry Forms and Rules will be posted on the NFMS website soon. You can also email or write to Jennifer Haley or Judi Allison for more information.
6. Due date for entries is Dec 7, 2026

“Editors, get ready to dive into acknowledging your club members wonderful work.”

It’s time to prepare for the 2027 Bulletin Contests!

This year the NFMS is using an Ad Hoc committee to organize the various bulletin contests.  Entry due dates for all the contests, is December 7, 2026. Important- Please email all entries to both Jennifer Haley and Judi Allison. If you can only send hardcopies, please mail them to Judi Alisonn.

 

This due date is set, so there is time to judge and create the physical awards for the Annual NFMS Awards Banquet, hosted by the Lakeside Gem & Mineral Club, Kennewick, WA in April 2027. Also, so there is enough time to forward entries to the AFMS Judges for the national contest.

The time of year the AFMS announces their Bulletin Contest awards, depends on which month they have their annual show and convention. The month for the AFMS awards doesn’t always line up in time for our banquet, as is the case for 2027, but all AFMS-NFMS Bulletin Contest awardees will receive their beautiful awards either mailed or presented at the Mid -Year event next year. All awardees will be mentioned in the NFMS and AFMS newsletters. The NFMS Bulletin contest awards for our members and editors only, will be presented at the Annual NFMS Awards Banquet in Kennewick-April 2027.

 

 

 Links to forms for the contest

NFMS announcement of the Illustrious Editors contest
NFMS Illustrious Bulletin Editors Contest- Rules
NFMS Illustrious Editor's Contest-Drawn Features
NFMS Illustrious Editor's Contest-Poetry
NFMS Illustrious Editors- Score Sheet-Adult Articles
NFMS Illustrious Editor's- Written Features