Dear Dr. Barber,

I thank you for your help as a referee for the American Physical Society. To express our appreciation for the essential work that anonymous peer reviewers do for our journals, we are starting an annual program to recognize a small number of our 42,000 referees each year as "Outstanding Referees".

I am pleased to inform you that the editors of the APS journals have chosen you as one of the inaugural group of 534 Outstanding Referees. We intend to choose an additional 130 or so referees each subsequent year for this lifetime award. Your reports and advice have helped to advance and diffuse the knowledge of physics, while creating a resource that is invaluable to authors, researchers, students, and readers.
Although most scientists understand that participation as a referee is necessary for maintaining the integrity of the scientific enterprise, not all have given of their time and wisdom as generously as you have. Thank you and congratulations!

You will be receiving a personalized certificate and an Outstanding Referee lapel pin by postal mail later this year.

In order for us to recognize you properly etc etc…

We thank you, again, and please know how deeply we appreciate your contributions. You are truly an outstanding referee. We shall be glad to hear from you if you have any comments or suggestions regarding this program.

Sincerely,

Gene D. Sprouse
Editor-in-Chief, American Physical Society