The Beacon Society
  • Home
  • First Time Visitor
    • I am a Student
    • I am a Librarian
    • I am a Sherlockian
    • I am a Teacher, Librarian, or Part of a Children's Musem or Theater
  • About the Beacon Society (Newsletters, Bylaws, Meeting Minutes)
  • Sherlock's Spotlight Gazette
  • How to Support the Society
  • The Jan Stauber Grant
    • Apply for a Grant
    • Past Grant Awards
  • The Beacon Award
    • Apply for an Award
    • Past Award Winners
  • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Novels
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Return of Sherlock Holmes
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- His Last Bow
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes
  • Junior Sherlockian Society
    • JSS Explore
    • JSS Experience
    • JSS Extend
    • JSS ‘B’ Recognized
  • Joel Senter Essay Contest
    • Essay Contest -- Introduction & Copyright
    • Essay Contest -- Age Levels
      • Essay Contest -- 4th-6th Grade Form
      • Essay Contest -- 7th-9th Grade Form
      • Essay Contest -- 10th-12th Grade Form
    • Essay Contest -- Rules & Prizes
    • Essay Contest -- Resources
    • Essay Contest -- Submit
    • More about R. Joel Senter
    • Past Senter Essay Contest Winners
    • Who Was Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes
  • Library Display Project
  • Additional Resources for Educators/ Students by Age Group
    • Holmes for the Holidays
    • Beacon Booklist
    • Elementary School
    • Middle (Junior) School
    • High School
    • College / University
    • Library Programs
    • Any Age Group
  • Fortescue Scholarship Exams
  • Important Links for Sherlockians
  • Contact Our Officers / Committees
  • The Life & Times in Victorian London
  • The Puzzles of Sherlock Holmes
  • The 60 Stories of the Canon
  • Sherlockian E-Times Archives
  • Sherlockian Societies
    • Learn About Sherlockian Societies
    • Locating a Sherlockian Society Map
    • Spotlight on Societies
    • Scuttlebutt from the Spermacetti Press
  • Home
  • First Time Visitor
    • I am a Student
    • I am a Librarian
    • I am a Sherlockian
    • I am a Teacher, Librarian, or Part of a Children's Musem or Theater
  • About the Beacon Society (Newsletters, Bylaws, Meeting Minutes)
  • Sherlock's Spotlight Gazette
  • How to Support the Society
  • The Jan Stauber Grant
    • Apply for a Grant
    • Past Grant Awards
  • The Beacon Award
    • Apply for an Award
    • Past Award Winners
  • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Novels
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Return of Sherlock Holmes
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- His Last Bow
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes
  • Junior Sherlockian Society
    • JSS Explore
    • JSS Experience
    • JSS Extend
    • JSS ‘B’ Recognized
  • Joel Senter Essay Contest
    • Essay Contest -- Introduction & Copyright
    • Essay Contest -- Age Levels
      • Essay Contest -- 4th-6th Grade Form
      • Essay Contest -- 7th-9th Grade Form
      • Essay Contest -- 10th-12th Grade Form
    • Essay Contest -- Rules & Prizes
    • Essay Contest -- Resources
    • Essay Contest -- Submit
    • More about R. Joel Senter
    • Past Senter Essay Contest Winners
    • Who Was Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes
  • Library Display Project
  • Additional Resources for Educators/ Students by Age Group
    • Holmes for the Holidays
    • Beacon Booklist
    • Elementary School
    • Middle (Junior) School
    • High School
    • College / University
    • Library Programs
    • Any Age Group
  • Fortescue Scholarship Exams
  • Important Links for Sherlockians
  • Contact Our Officers / Committees
  • The Life & Times in Victorian London
  • The Puzzles of Sherlock Holmes
  • The 60 Stories of the Canon
  • Sherlockian E-Times Archives
  • Sherlockian Societies
    • Learn About Sherlockian Societies
    • Locating a Sherlockian Society Map
    • Spotlight on Societies
    • Scuttlebutt from the Spermacetti Press

About the Beacon Society


In 2003, New York Sherlockian Maribeau Briggs developed the idea of creating a society to teach Sherlock Holmes to young people.  Briggs’ idea was overwhelming embraced by other Sherlockians as a means to support educational experiences which introduce young people to the Canon.  The Beacon Society is a scion society of The Baker Street Irregulars (BSI), and serves as a link to other scion societies, providing educators with local resources to bring the magic of Sherlock Holmes to life in the classroom, library, museum, or theater.
Picture
Maribeau Briggs

The name “The Beacon Society,” is based on a quote from “The Adventure of the Naval Treaty” in the Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, in which Holmes says to Watson,  “Look at those big, isolated clumps of buildings rising up above the slates, like brick islands in a lead-coloured sea.” “The board-schools.” “Light-houses, my boy! Beacons of the future! Capsules with hundreds of bright little seeds in each, out of which will spring the wiser, better England of the future.”
Members of the Beacon Society come from all over the U.S., with most of our members belonging to scion societies in their home areas. 

The goals of the Beacon Society include:
  • Recognize exemplary educational experiences that introduce young people to the Sherlock Holmes stories
  • Encourage teachers, librarians, museum activity directors, as well as children's theater directors, to use Sherlock Holmes to engage young people in the pleasure of reading
  • Enjoy reading and teaching people about Sherlock Holmes, Dr Watson and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

​The Beacon Society Website provides
  • Ideas for using Sherlock Holmes as a teaching aid in classrooms, libraries, theaters, and museums.
  • Examples of projects that have successfully introduced young people to the stories of Sherlock Holmes
  • Help for Sherlock Holmes societies who want to get involved with teaching in their communities
  • Information about the world of Sherlock Holmes for students and educators of all kinds
Officers and Committees (a more detailed description of each of these can be found in the By-Laws)​
​
  • Head Light (Chairperson).  Responsible for the overall leadership of the Society.
    • Those who have served as the Head Light:
      • Scott Monty
      • Joe Copolla
      • Susan Diamond
      • Bill Mason
      • Denny Dobry
      • ​Carla Coupe

  • Percy Phelps (Secretary).  Responsible for maintaining minutes of all Board Meetings, for providing notification to the General Membership of meetings, and for correspondence as necessary.
  • Bursar (Treasurer).  Responsible for developing and reviewing fiscal procedures and annual budget with other Board members.
  • Awards Committee.  Receives nominations for the Susan Z. Diamond Beacon Award.
  • Grants Committee.  Receives proposals for the Jan Stauber Grant.
  • Program Committee.  Proposes to the Board and implements Beacon Society education related initiatives; reviews and makes recommendations on proposals for programs and initiatives; and screens contributions or submissions for the website."
  • Communications Committee.  Conducts outreach on Society activities and maintains the Society’s website.
  • Fundraising Committee. Responsible for raising funds to support Society education-related initiatives and awards.
  • Junior Sherlockian Committee.  Oversees the Junior Sherlockian Society to introduce individual children and youth to Sherlock Holmes and recognize participants for their efforts.
Society Newsletter
Volume 7, Number 1 -- March, 2023
​Volume 6, Number 4 -- December, 2022
Volume 6, Number 3 -- July, 2022
Volume 6, Number 2 -- April, 2022
Volume 6, Number 1 -- January, 2022
Volume 5, Number 2 -- June, 2021

Volume 5, Number 1 -- April, 2021
Volume 4, Number 4 -- December, 2020
Volume 4, Number 3 -- September, 2020




Volume 4, Number 2 -- June, 2020​
Volume 4, Number 1
 -- February, 2020
Volume 3, Number 4 -- December, 2019

Volume 3, Number 3 -- August, 2019
Volume 3, Number 2 -- April, 2019
Volume 3, Number 1 -- February, 2019
Volume 2, Number 3 -- November, 2018
Volume 2, Number 2 -- May, 2018
Volume 2, Number 1 -- January, 2018
Volume 1, Number 1 -- October, 2017
Picture

The Beacon Society By-Laws (2019 edition)

The Beacon Society By-Laws (2016 edition)

The Beacon Society By-Laws (2013 edition)

​The Beacon Society By-Laws (2010 edition)
ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES

Meeting Minutes for Calendar Year 2022
Meeting Minutes for Calendar Year 2021
Meeting Minutes for Calendar Year 2020
Meeting Minutes for Calendar Year 2019
Meeting Minutes for Calendar Year 2018
Meeting Minutes for Calendar Year 2017
Meeting Minutes for Calendar Year 2016
Meeting Minutes for Calendar Year 2015
Meeting Minutes for Calendar Year 2014
Meeting Minutes for Calendar Year 2013
Meeting Minutes for Calendar Year 2012
Meeting Minutes for Calendar Year 2011
Meeting Minutes for Calendar Year 2010
Meeting Minutes for Calendar Year 2009
Meeting Minutes for Calendar Year 2008
Meeting Minutes for Calendar Year 2007
Meeting Minutes for Calendar Year 2006
Meeting Minutes for Calendar Year 2005
Meeting Minutes for Calendar Year 2004

Meeting Minutes for Calendar Year 2003 (Founding Meeting)

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  • Home
  • First Time Visitor
    • I am a Student
    • I am a Librarian
    • I am a Sherlockian
    • I am a Teacher, Librarian, or Part of a Children's Musem or Theater
  • About the Beacon Society (Newsletters, Bylaws, Meeting Minutes)
  • Sherlock's Spotlight Gazette
  • How to Support the Society
  • The Jan Stauber Grant
    • Apply for a Grant
    • Past Grant Awards
  • The Beacon Award
    • Apply for an Award
    • Past Award Winners
  • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Novels
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Return of Sherlock Holmes
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- His Last Bow
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes
  • Junior Sherlockian Society
    • JSS Explore
    • JSS Experience
    • JSS Extend
    • JSS ‘B’ Recognized
  • Joel Senter Essay Contest
    • Essay Contest -- Introduction & Copyright
    • Essay Contest -- Age Levels
      • Essay Contest -- 4th-6th Grade Form
      • Essay Contest -- 7th-9th Grade Form
      • Essay Contest -- 10th-12th Grade Form
    • Essay Contest -- Rules & Prizes
    • Essay Contest -- Resources
    • Essay Contest -- Submit
    • More about R. Joel Senter
    • Past Senter Essay Contest Winners
    • Who Was Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes
  • Library Display Project
  • Additional Resources for Educators/ Students by Age Group
    • Holmes for the Holidays
    • Beacon Booklist
    • Elementary School
    • Middle (Junior) School
    • High School
    • College / University
    • Library Programs
    • Any Age Group
  • Fortescue Scholarship Exams
  • Important Links for Sherlockians
  • Contact Our Officers / Committees
  • The Life & Times in Victorian London
  • The Puzzles of Sherlock Holmes
  • The 60 Stories of the Canon
  • Sherlockian E-Times Archives
  • Sherlockian Societies
    • Learn About Sherlockian Societies
    • Locating a Sherlockian Society Map
    • Spotlight on Societies
    • Scuttlebutt from the Spermacetti Press