Astronomical League Mid-States Region
AR, KS, MO, NE, Northern OK
ALCon 2026
August 12-16
Cincinnati Marriott River Center
10 W. Rivercenter Blvd
Covington, KY 41011
DOBSONFEST
A free invitational to work on, clean and build Dobsonian telescopes held in September - John's birthday month
MSRAL OBSERVATORY NETWORK
LIVE
MSRAL 2026
June 26-28, 2026
Hosted by
Astronomical Society of Eastern Missouri
Chair: Don Ladwig
75 YEARS STRONG
The Mid-States Region celebrated its 75th year of coming together at Little Rock, Arkansas on June 13 - 15 at the University of AR. The Central Arkansas Astronomical Society hosted the event and had arranged for college and youth to be in attendance. However, with the changing political scene, funding that would have secured 16 students was pulled and 5 others did get to take advantage of the generosity of some officers and others who donated toward scholarships.
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This was the first time since 2003, that all the officer slots were filled and working together and in tandem with the hosting club. Just like the League designed it to be back in 1947.
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This year, several had commented when they started coming to this annual event, John Reed from CAAS said he came in 1980. Others had similar long standing first visit to to a MSRAL Convention. It was great to see the enduring friendships that have happened over decades of convening.
The officers decided that an anniversary cake would make the event memorable. One side was vanilla with raspberry cream filling and the other side was chocolate cake with chocolate ganache filling.
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The newly designed logo from Fred Gassert and Diana Bell, the 1949 image and the list of clubs were front and center on the cake.​
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Cake cutting done by From left to right:
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Jackie Beucheur - ASKC,
Betty Iorg - ASKC,
Past President, Carroll Iorg - ASKC,
Clare Heschmeyer - AAL and Regional Chair Rick Heschmeyer - AAL.
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Awards and Certificates were also planned to recognize the clubs and the volunteers, that have all been pivotal to the success of the longevity of the region.
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The first one was in recognition of the Founding Club - Central Missouri Amateur Astronomers for their assembling of the very first event with ASKC in 1949. The photo in the history was given by Val Germann of CMAA.
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No member from CMAA was available to receive the award so it was sent to them.
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The second one was in recognition of Astronomical Society of Kansas City who partnered with CMAA back in 1949 at the Morrison Observatory, at Central Missouri. They too received Founding Club Award.
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ASKC along with SLAS have hosted conventions in the region the most. These clubs are the backbone of the Mid-States Region and we are appreciative of all their dedication for over 7 decades.
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The Award was received by attendees: from Left to Right. Jackie Beucher, Gil and Kathy Machin, Betty and Carroll Iorg with Presenter Chairman Heschmeyer.
The second Legacy Club was to the Astronomical Society of Tulsa who early on, partnered with the Wichitia Astronomical Society in the early 1950s.
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Unfortunately, no on from ACT was in attendance to receive this award. It will be delivered to them by Regional Representative, Peggy Walker from Broken Arrow Sidewalk Astronomer when they start back with their club schedule in August.
The next pair of awards were called Legacy Clubs which describes clubs who immediately saw the vision of the Astronomical League and started to host conventions either by themselves, or with other clubs.
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The first one was presented to St. Louis Astronomical Society who hosted 14 conventions thus far in our greatly revered tradition.
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The Award was received by attendees: from Left to Right. Larry Campbell, Cook "Yoda" Feldman, Mark Jones, and President - Jim Small, with Chair Rick Heschmeyer.
The other clubs who hosted a convention were awarded a certificate as well. All certificates were signed by Chairman Rick Heschmeyer and Carroll Iorg. The certificates read, "For support of the vision of MSRAL."
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Hosting Clubs ASEM, top left, Chuck Simms received the award at their club meeting presented by Stacey Thater. Photo to right is CAAS, bottom left photo, ASNWAR, and OAS.
Several clubs who have hosted did not have any members present to receive their award so neighboring clubs received them on their behalf.
A couple had them sent directly to them.
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Not present were, Prairie Astronomy Club, Springfield Astronomical Society, Sugar Creek Astronomy Club and lastly, Arkansas Oklahoma Astronomical Society.
Another Regional grouping of awards were given to those who had spent many years volunteering in the Mid-Sates or at the National level or both.
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Currently, the only service award MSRAL offers is the Amateur of the Year Award started in the early 50’s. In light of the 75th celebration, and based on review of countless archives of National, MSRAL, and various regional club minutes, there were a few names that seemed to be in the limelight for over thirty years.
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With a gap in MSRAL minutes from 1975 to 1992, the first recipient stepped in as a regional chair in 1994 to 1996, became Regional Vice Chair in 1999, Regional Chair in 2000 and Convention Chair in 2005, all the while serving as an executive officer either Vice President or President of the Astronomical League.
A Lifetime MSRAL Service Award and Certificate of Appreciation went to Past President, Carroll Iorg.
The second Lifetime MSRAL Service Award and Certificate of Appreciation went to a long standing member of the Astronomical Society of Kansas City. Starting in the 1990’s Jackie Beucher served as National Executive Secretary for several years, served as President of ASKC several times, became Regional Chair in 1992, and then served as MSRAL’s Secretary-Treasurer for 7-years was replaced in 2019, so she could dedicate more time on National’s Board of Trustees.
The main project that she worked on in the 90’s that the Astronomical League is still a benefactor, was receiving all the data and information of the clubs and individual members from former Executive Secretary, Janet Stevens. All memberships were entered into the MS Access Data Base software which was the genesis of the current files used by Mitch Glaze today. Along with a few others, this team received the League’s Service Award for all their hard work. Great Woman, Great Legacy.
The next three awardees had multiple years of service to National and since they are from the Astronomical Society of Kansas City and work out of the League's headquarters located in the Mid-States we needed to thank them as well.
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None were available in person as they were preparing for ALCon in Bryce Canyon, so Past President Carroll Iorg presented these awards at the headquarters after ALCon.
They are photo on left: Denise Moser - former League Store Manager for over 20 years, and current League Historian. The next awardee was Mike Stokes, center photo, for his over 10 years in the headquarters and League Store service. And Judith Riley, photo on right, who also is in the headquarters and the League Store for 5 years.
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75th Anniversary pins and totes were created for attendees and they received a pin attached to their certificate and they also received a 75th Anniversary tote. All three truly are the unsung heroes of the Astronomical League.
In addition, there are several Observing Program Coordinators in this region but before the coordinators were recognized, an award went out to the Omaha Astronomical Society on behalf of the Junior Society group back in 1963. This group generated their Messier Observing Program that issued pins and certificates to their student astronomers. It was Bob Wright, Jr. the National Activities Coordinator who mentioned to AL President, Gene Tandy, that this youth program should be extended to adult members. OAS had kick started the observing program backbone of the Astronomical League and they were recognized for it.
The first coordinator to be recognized was Brad Young from Astronomy Club of Tulsa, who developed and manages the Alternate Constellations Observing Program, Solar Eclipse Observing Program, and Earth Orbiting Satellites Observing Program. He was not present so his will be delivered at their first fall meeting.
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Steve Boerner, Member-at-Large, is responsible for Astronomy Before the Telescope Program, Spectroscopy Observing Program and Radio Astronomy Program. He too was not present and received his at ASEMs club meeting.
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The Master Imaging Observing Program, Comet Observing Program, Meteor Observing Program, Sun Spotter Observing Program, and Messier Observing Programs are managed by Scott Kranz of ASKC. He was not present so, Carroll Iorg received it on his behalf and presented the award to him.
Robert Togni from Central Arkansas Astronomical Society oversees the Carbon Star, Variable Star and Variable Star Binocular Observing Programs. In addition, he proposed and wrote the Lunar Evolution Observing Program which is managed by Chuck Allen III
Kathy Machin from the Astronomical Society of Kansas City coordinates the Dark Nebula and the Southern Skies Observing Programs.
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Dan Crowson from ASEM developed Foundations of imagingsince he was not present at MSRAL, his award of recognition was given to him at their club meeting.
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Mike Modrcin took over the Astronomy Day Coordination for the Astronomical League.
A long time member of the St. Louis Astronomical Society and Mid-States attendee, Cook Feldman has been sparking change in the region from behind the scenes. First he helped assist the only officer in 2018, Peggy Walker, who was very green along with Carroll Iorg and Jackie Beucher. Together they guided Peggy in this endeavor. The first job of updating the Bylaws was afoot and Cook suggested to bring on Bruce McMath from CAAS.
Peggy researched the guidelines/policies that were verbal and really needed to be added as Standing Resolutions so he provided minutes from 1993 onward. She ferreted out policies and he provided the verbiage for the bylaws standing resolutions.
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Soon afterwards a Convention Planning Guide was generated with Peggy to give all hosting clubs a great reference especially with his budget template and instructions placed inside. As a CPA of over 30 years, his ability to convey financial workings to several hosting clubs was a great benefit.
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In 2024 he volunteered for the empty Vice Chair seat and quickly assisted in the developing of a regional budget and securing funds for the 75th Anniversary.
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Cook has attended regional conventions for over 30 years and his wisdom of operations yielded him the name "Yoda." He did volunteer as the MSRAL Secretary Treasurer for a few years as well.
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THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR TIME INVESTMENT - THE REGION IS BACK ON TRACK AND MOVING FORWARD AS IT SHOULD. ANOTHER GREAT LEGACY.
ABOUT OUR REGION
The inception of the ten regions of the Astronomical League started back in the early years of the League’s founding in 1939 and formally in 1947. At the time, there were large amounts of amateur societies in the mid-west and Edward A. Halbach and Dr. Harlow Shapley, the Director of Harvard College Observatory combined efforts to form a national amateur astronomy organization. Along the way, Charles Federer, Jr. who ran the Hayden Planetarium joined these two men and started the Astronomical League. Harlow Shapley and Charles Federer agreed to combine their two respective bulletins, "The Sky" from the Hayden and "The Telescope" from the Harvard Observatory resulting in Sky and Telescope Magazine which has been intricately involved in the communication of the new organization, the formation, and printed the reports and articles from all the regional conventions.
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At the first meeting at the World's Faire in Cushing, NY at the meeting with the three week exhibits, it was decided that regions in the nation need to be formed so the clubs would have a local contact and support network.
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MSRAL's specific formation was the result of Dr. Floyd Helton Director of the almost 100 year old, Morrision Observatory and Central College in Fayette, MO inviting Dr. Gene Waters the Director of the Laws Observatory to have an astronomy gathering in May of 1949.
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The members of ASKC are not known at this time, but they and the club that had been formed back in 1920, was also key in the success of the region by partnering with CMAA, SLAS for hosting conventions. ASKC members also have held regional and national offices in the 75 years of its founding.
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Currently, this group now called Central Missouri Amateur Astronomers, formed an astronomy club tied to two colleges and became the back bone of the convention meetings that have now continued for the past 75 years.
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The Sky & Telescope article from November 1949, (to the right), was the follow-up to the October 28, 1949 meeting after the May event to show the official formation of not only the Mid-States Region, but also the club CMAA. They two share the same anniversary date as the region.
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The key players were Dr. Helton, professor of astrophysics, Gene Waters another professor and director of the Laws Observatory, John Reed and Russell Maag, who held regional office, and chair positions off and on for the first decade. In fact, Russell C. Maag was the reporter of all the convention and meetings which are now part of the Sky & Telescope archives of the early formation of the League and their regions.
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Russell Maag's name is shown on the MSRAL Hosting/AOY recipient list to 1974. During this time Russell Maag also held national offices of Secretary and was elected as President of the League as the 9th president from 1957-1958. He continued to lead CMAA for many years for more information contact CMAA for their historical archives like these.
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Without any historical archives to review from the Astronomical Society of Kansas City (AKA Kansas City Astronomy Club) those attendees and co-founders of the Mid-States Region are not known at this point in time but happy to add as information comes in.
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This photo did not have the attendees listed like in 1950 Sky & Telescope Magazine but the faces of several are there from 1949 and 1951. Other clubs who were in attendance at this meeting are not only CMAA and ASKC, but Wichita Astronomical Society, Tulsa Astronomical Society (AKA ACT), St. Louis Astronomical Society which supported this effort early on and became a major hosting club for the region with leaders holding regional offices. The article also stated that 75 attendees were present well over half as many that came in 1949.
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W. Hughes, M, Kinney, Dr. Edmonds, Dr. E. Brooks, S. O’Byrne, C. Brown, K. Adams, (MO) C. Brown, (IL) Dr. Helton, F. Adams, (MO) J. Reed, R. Maag, (MO)
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Mrs. Hughes, E. Tarbell, (MO) Dr. R. Dulford, (MO) Dr. H. Bulger, Dr. E. Haynes, Dr. C. Wylie (IA) F. Friton, W. Magruder, R. Follett, (KS) J. Boyd, M. Ridder (IL) H. Sassenberg, F. Keysor, (IL) R. Millier (KS)
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Mrs. Judd, (OK) Mrs. Kinsey, Mrs. Follett, (KS) Ms. Chenowith, Mrs. Magruder, Mrs. Helton, Ms, Tydeman (England) Mrs. Wylie (IA) Dr. S. Hughes, T. Bedford, O. Anderson (IA) C. Miller (MO) R. Hyman.
Children: Jimmie Hughes, Jerry Friton & Phillip Helton
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Central Missouri Amateur Astronomers and Astronomical Society of Kansas City would plan the annual conventions for the first couple of years until Saint Louis Astronomical Society came on board and partnered with ASKC countless times and a few with CMAA. The Astronomy Club of Tulsa hosted in the early fifties with the Wichita Astronomical Society who no longer existed after 1991.
McDonell -Douglas Astronomical Society partnered with SLAS as well as the Amateur Astronomical Society of Emerson Electric. Another club that hosted were the Christian Association of Sky Explorers out of Siloam Springs Arkansas who hosted in 2002.
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