2026 Chapter Merit Awards
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The annual Chapter Merit Award Program is an opportunity for our chapters to recognize their chapter presidents, chapter executive directors and volunteers. Above all, a chapter will be recognized for excellence in each of the chapter size categories of small, medium, and large.

Winners will be acknowledged and presented their award during the Chapter Leadership & Legislative Retreat Feb. 2-4, 2026.

Award Categories Winners will be selected for small, medium and large chapters in all categories.
• Chapter of the Year
• Outstanding Leadership by a Chapter President
• Outstanding Contribution by a Chapter Executive or Administrator
• Volunteer of the Year

Due date for ALL entries – Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. No later entries will be accepted.

You can download the Chapter Merit Awards Entry Information and Criteria by clicking on the Downloads tab below.

GENERAL ENTRY INFORMATION
Due date for ALL entries – Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Chapter size (denotes size category under which all entries are to be submitted) calculates as of Nov. 1, 2023. Number of members for each chapter denoting chapter size category:
• Small Chapter 1-199 members
• Medium Chapter – 200-500 members
• Large Chapter – 501 and above members

Nominates for Chapter President of the Year will include their current term of office. Chapter of the Year achievements should coincide with the chapter president’s term of service.

Entries will be completed through the Chapter Merit Award application website.

• Applications should include supporting material that illustrates the work and outcome for the awards category. Any supporting materials will need to be uploaded to the online application as a PDF, Word, or Excel document. Please upload all supporting materials before you include your one page summary and visual.

Visuals required for display and slideshow at Chapter Leadership & Legislative Retreat (CL&LR).
• Display at CL&LR – In order for your entry to be displayed at the Chapter Leadership & Legislative Retreat, you will have the option to upload a one-page summary and a one-page visual to support your entry. Both documents will be printed on 8 ½” X 11” pages for display.
• Individual award entries (Outstanding Leadership by a Chapter President, Outstanding Contribution by a Chapter Executive or Administrator and Volunteer of the Year) should submit a nominee headshot as part of the application package.

All entries are complete when they include the following:
• Award category
• Chapter name and size
• Entry narrative
• Supporting materials
• One-page summary and one-page visual for display (Word format on 8 ½” X 11”)

Each criteria will be judged on a five (5) point scale, with five (5) being the highest and one (1) the lowest.