The Award of Merit was established in 1954 and is the highest award the association can bestow. This award recognizes lifetime achievement to the association and to the industry.

No more than one (1) such award will be made in any one year. The Award of Merit is not necessarily awarded annually.

To be eligible to receive the Award of Merit, each nominee must:

• Have been enrolled in the Company of Fellows for at least five (5) years prior to nomination; and
• Have been an exemplary Fellow and have demonstrated exceptional leadership and contribution to the Association; and
• Have made widely recognized contributions which have materially benefitted the growth of the ECM industry, such as through new fields of applications, publications, education, or volunterism.

No member of the Board of Directors can receive an Association award during his/her tenure on the Board (with the exception of the Best Practices Awards, which are voted on by the membership). Members of the Board cannot make nominations for the Awards.

Nominations shall be made by a member of the Company of Fellows.

Recipients will be selected by the AIIM Awards Committee and approved by the Board of Directors.

To nominate an AIIM Professional Member, please send a letter of nomination detailing their lifetime of service to the industry. Letters should include both the nominee's and nominator's full contact information. Letters of nomination should be emailed to Betsy Fanning, Director, Standards and Chapter Relations, at bfanning@aiim.org, with the header, "Award of Merit Nomination" no later than January 22, 2013. Questions? Please call Betsy at 301-755-2682.