Welcome to the latest and greatest SVAS program! Submitted articles will be reviewed and published as a resource for all aquarium keepers. The articles will be published on the SVAS website and/or newsletter. Participation is easy! The rules are listed below. Email your articles to AAP Admin. Any appropriate word processor works.

PURPOSES
A. To encourage the writing of articles for website and the development of      writing skills by SVAS members.
B. To acknowledge the accomplishment of SVAS members contributions to the      hobby through their writing and artistic efforts.
C. To encourage a spirit of competition for the annual Pulitzer Prize award.
D. To increase information about the tropical fish hobby to SVAS members.

ELIGIBILITY
Participation is open to all SVAS members. Articles by non-members will not qualify retroactively upon joining SVAS. Articles required by SVAS officers and committee chairs are not eligible.

Procedure

1. Points will be awarded based on the following schedule for articles first published on the website, from June of one year through May of the following year.
2. All point awards are at the sole discretion of the committee.
3. Articles and/or artwork not published within the time-frame, for any reason, will be included in the year's competition in which they occur.
4. Co-authored articles will have the points split evenly.
5. If any member should not renew his/her membership, accumulated points will be kept on an inactive list until such time as membership is renewed.

Award Levels
Level 1 - 50 points, at least 30 of which are from the basic point rules.

Level 2 - Level 1 Award and accumulate 100 points, at least 60 of which are from the basic point rules.

Level 3 - Level 2 and accumulate 200 points, at least 120 of which are from the basic point rules. Participants must have at least (2) articles reprinted in another club's publication.

Level 4 - Level 3 Award and accumulate 400 points, at least 240 of which are from the basic point rules. Participants must also receive one award from any hobby publication awards program.

AQUATIC AUTHOR AWARD: This will be given to the SVAS member who accumulates the highest number of points for original articles and/or artwork published on the SVAS website or newsletter from June of one year through May of the next. Points for this award will include bonus points earned for previously published articles earned during the same time frame. This award will consist of a plaque and four plates for inscribed levels achieved.

PROFESSIONAL AWARD: This separate award requires that the participant achieve at least the Level 4 award level and have a previously unpublished article published in a national or international, for-profit publication. It shall consist of a plate that hangs from the bottom of the basic awards plaque.

Classifications

BASIC POINTS:
10 - Required BAP or HAP articles.
10 - Short articles (less than 50 words) such as Tips, etc.
20 - Not required articles on any hobby related subject, including letters to the        editor, of more than 50 words.
20 - Original hand-drawn artwork of fish or plants.
10 - Other original drawings or cartoons, hand-drawn, or computer assisted.

BONUS POINTS: For reprinted items appearing in publications that the Exchange Editor does not receive, it will be the responsibility of the author to provide proof to the committee by June 1 of the contest year.

20 - A continuing column of six or more editions within the time-frame of the        contest. Awarded upon publication of the sixth (6th) edition.
10 - Articles reprinted in another club's publication (each reprinting).
  6 - Articles reviewed in another club's "Exchanges Column", each review.
10 - Any artwork reprinted in another club's publication (each reprinting).
10 - Articles mentioned or reviewed in a "for profit" hobby publications.
30 - Articles reprinted (with permission of the author) in a "for-profit" hobby        publication. These may be edited by the publication or the author but must        be substantially the same. These points will be awarded only if SVAS is        credited.

Articles receiving awards in hobby publication award programs will be awarded bonus points based on the following schedule;
50 - Article/Author of the Year
40 - First in category
30 - Second in category
20 - Third in category
10 - Fourth in category or honorable mention.