The Humble Award

AKA: The Joe Humble Newsletter Editor of the Year Award

History

The ABANA Board of Directors initiated the Joe Humble Newsletter Editor of the Year Award in 1994 to give recognition to the workers who publish Affiliate Newsletters. It was named in honor of the first Affiliate Newsletter editor who published a monthly edition for over 14 years.

Joe Humble was on the ABANA Board, served as president, and established the first affiliate. The editors will vote so his/her peers select the winner. Many Editors exchange Newsletters with other Affiliates so they know what all the other editors are publishing.

Purpose

The purpose of the Committee is to select and give recognition to the editors who publish the Affiliate Newsletters

The Board of Directors uses the services of the ABANA Joe Humble Award Committee to seek out qualified candidates to serve on this Committee. The responsibility for the approval of Joe Humble Award Committee members resides solely with the members of the Committee. The ABANA Board of Directors shall, to the extent possible, give 100% support to the efforts of this Committee, including an annual budget authorized each year, for the purchase of the plaque and an engraved nameplate. An invoice for the Committee expenses shall be submitted to the ABANA Central Office and the ABANA Treasurer for reimbursement.

Committee Member Criteria

The Committee shall be comprised of past or Affiliate Newsletter Editors who are ABANA members in good standing. These should be the best-qualified individuals as set forth by standards developed by the Committee members. These individuals shall be representative of a large cross-section of Affiliate Newsletter Editors.

The Committee

The Committee is composed of the last five living award winners. The Committee may appoint a Chairperson, if so desired, to act as primary point of contact for the Committee.

The ABANA Joe Humble Award Committee member may not be an ABANA Board member. This committee’s responsibility is to present the ABANA  Awards Chair, the committee’s choice for that year’s award recipient.

Program Description

The responsibility for the approval of the Joe Humble Award program resides solely with the members of the Committee.

The ABANA Awards Committee Chair will act as liaison to the committee. A request for nominations will be sent out by ABANA to all past and present editors and will include the requirements and conditions for nomination. The ABANA Awards Committee Chairperson will receive the ballots by mail, email, or through the Johnstown Office. The Awards Committee Chair will then give the ballots to the Humble Award Committee to be voted on.

Editors, associate editors, or the president can submit the nomination of any current or former Affiliate Newsletter editor. The winner must be an ABANA member (or spouse) in good standing. Anyone who has won the award will not be eligible to win for the next 5 years. The winner must make the handmade metal quill for the next award winner. If the winner is not skilled in the making of a forged metal quill, they may select another individual to forge the quill. The plaque shall be funded from the Awards Committee’s annual budget.

The Joe Humble award committee will vote on the nominations to decide on the final recipient. In the event that the committee casts a tie vote, the ABANA Awards Committee Chair shall be asked to cast the deciding vote.

Joe Humble Evaluation Form

All nominations need to be accompanied by a single newsletter edition that you believe reflects the Editor’s best work.

Amy Mook, 2018 Humble Award winner.

Blacksmith Mark Teece holding the 2020 Joe Humble Newsletter Editor of the Year Award from ABANA.

Mark Teecee, 2020 Humble Award winner.

Mike McLaughlin holding the 2022 Joe Humble Newsletter Editor of the Year Award from ABANA.

Mike McLaughlin, 2022 Humble Award winner.

Committee Members

  • Dave Smucker
  • Steve and Carol Spoerre
  • Jenny Plummer-Welker
  • Amy Mook
  • Mark Teece

Recipients

  • 1994 – Clay Spencer – Alabama
  • 1995 – Jim McCarthy – Missouri
  • 1995 – Donnie Fullwood – Georgia
  • 1996 – Gene and Peg Chapman – Washington
  • 1997 – Kim Harris – North Carolina
  • 1998 – Bob Thompson – California
  • 2000 – Marcia McEacheron – Minnesota
  • 2002 – Jerry Kagele – Washington
  • 2002 – Julie Pickett – Colorado
  • 2004 – Dave Smucker – North Carolina
  • 2006 – Bill Clemens – Blacksmith Guild of Central Maryland – Hammer and Tong
  • 2012 – Chris Holt – Pittsburgh Area Artist Blacksmith Association – Newsletter
  • 2014 – Steven and Carol Spoerre – Michigan Artist Blacksmith Association – The Upsetter
  • 2016 – Jenny Plummer-Welker Mid-Atlantic Smiths Association – Hammer Notes
  • 2018 – Amy Mook – Northwest Blacksmith Association – Hot Iron News
  • 2021 – Mark Teece – New York State Designer Blacksmiths – Anvil Chorus
  • 2022 – Mike McLaughlin – Blacksmith Association of Missouri