Many of us are beginning to plan for the 2024 COA Convention in Melbourne, FL. One of the many events on the agenda will be the annual COA Neptunea Award(s), and it is my privilege at this time to call for nominations. The consensus of the COA Board is to reopen nominations with a "clean slate" annually. Nominees not selected in previous years are certainly welcome for consideration if renominated - in fact their renomination is encouraged. For the present cycle, nominations will close on April 15, 2024, to allow ample time for deliberation before the convention. Please note that members of the Board of Directors are not eligible to receive the Neptunea Award while actively serving on the Board.

By way of background, the Neptunea Award (Brunner, 2000; Lipe, 2000) was established at the midyear (1999-2000) meeting of the COA Board in order to recognize outstanding and distinguished service to conchologists and malacologists in recognition of:

1. Service to the Conchologists of America
AND/OR
2. Service to the scientific interests of Conchologists of America
AND/OR
3. Service to the science of Malacology as it applies to conchologists anywhere.

Although notable exceptions have been made, the COA Board, which serves as the jury for the Neptunea Award, has traditionally weighed its consideration for award recipients toward (1) amateurs, those not currently pursuing a principal career involving collection, study, or commerce of mollusks; (2) individuals "working behind the scenes" and relatively unrecognized in the COA world for their contributions; and (3) active members of the COA. Up to three awards have been made at our annual conventions beginning with the Houston event in 2000 (see below)

Nomination(s) for the Neptunea Award may be made by any COA member, and the format is simple:

Name of nominee:
This person deserves this award because (Here a somewhat detailed paragraph will suffice.)