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[Organization] Announces Activities for Math Awareness Month

"Mathematics and Voting" is Theme for Mathematics Awareness Month April 2008

CITY, STATE, DATE, 2008 -- [School/organization] will be participating in the annual observance of Math Awareness Month through [a number of activities - give general statement of participation, to be elaborated on below]. MAM is sponsored by the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics (JPBM), which has selected "Mathematics and Voting" as the theme for MAM 2008.

In a presidential election year, the term "voting" brings to mind national elections. Candidates are vying for attention in debates and primaries, polls are taking the pulse of the electorate, blogs are offering opinions on everything candidates say, and, ultimately, a general election leads to the selection of the next President of the United States. Many citizens are deeply engaged in these processes; others pay varying degrees of attention.

Voting is not just about electoral politics, however; it's part of everyday life. "Voting" is something that happens in many contexts not related to politics. In any situation in which preferences are expressed--where to have dinner, how to raise money for a charity, who makes the team, etc.-voting in some way occurs. Surprisingly, different voting systems often yield different outcomes.

[Your organization] has scheduled the following [events/programs/lectures/etc.] to be held during the month:

- Event, date: give a sentence or so about each item - ditto

Resources for this year's Mathematics Awareness Month are designed to help explain what makes these votes matter, as well as how the voting system used affects the outcome, regardless of the context of the voting. At www.mathaware.org, you can download these articles and essays, as well as an 8.5 x 11" copy of the 2008 poster, "What Makes My Vote Matter?" You may order full-size copies of the poster by mail or online. Cost is $5 for the first poster and $1 for each additional poster. Mail orders may be sent to: ASA Marketplace, American Statistical Association, 732 North Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Order online at: http://www.amstat.org/ASAStore/2008_Mathematics_Awareness_Mon_P212C104.cfm

About Math Awareness Month and JPBM

Mathematics Awareness Month, held each year in April, was created to increase public understanding of and appreciation for mathematics. It began in 1986, when President Reagan issued a proclamation establishing National Mathematics Awareness Week. Activities for Mathematics Awareness Month generally are organized on local, state and regional levels by college and university departments, institutional public information offices, student groups, and related associations and interest groups.

The JPBM is a collaborative effort of the American Mathematical Society (AMS), the American Statistical Association (ASA), the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), and the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM).

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