Requires 16 state merits through service on committees and continued membership.

You will receive service merits for serving on various committees (eg. image committee, registration, party, membership, fundraising, etc.).
You will receive Service Merits for serving on the Board of Governors or holding an executive office.
Service merits are awarded as either full points or fractions of points depending upon the decision of the committee chairman as to how much you contributed to the committee work.
You also are entitled to a .5 point for each year you are a member in good standing.
After receiving 16 service merits, you will receive the silver Service Award medallion at the next awards banquet.

For every 16 additional merits in competition after receiving the medallion, you receive a gold bar.

In order to receive credit for any service merits (even membership merits) you must complete and return the application for service merits form that comes out in October.

Requires 16 state merits through image and album competitions.

Each blue-ribbon print, album or digital image in photographic open at our Annual Image Competition receives 1 merit or any other image competition that the Board of Governors deems worthy of merits.
An additional merit is awarded for each trophy won at the annual Image Competition.
After you receive 16 competition merits (including a minimum of those being 5 membership merits), you will receive the gold Degree Award medallion with a pale blue ribbon at the next convention.
For every 16 additional merits in competition after receiving the medallion, you receive a gold bar.

Requires 16 state merits through image and album competitions.

Each blue-ribbon print, album or digital image in the artist category at our Annual Image Competition receives 1 merit or any other image competition that the Board of Governors deems worthy of merits.
An additional merit is awarded for each trophy won at the annual Image Competition.
After you receive 16 competition merits (including a minimum of those being 5 membership merits), you will receive the gold Degree Award medallion with a pale blue ribbon at the next convention.
For every 16 additional merits in competition after receiving the medallion, you receive a gold bar.

Requires 16 state merits through image and album competitions.

Each blue-ribbon print, album or digital image in the wedding category at our Annual Image Competition receives 1 merit or any other image competition that the Board of Governors deems worthy of merits.
An additional merit is awarded for each trophy won at the annual Image Competition.
After you receive 16 competition merits (including a minimum of those being 5 membership merits), you will receive the gold Degree Award medallion with a pale blue ribbon at the next convention.
For every 16 additional merits in competition after receiving the medallion, you receive a gold bar.

For every 16 additional merits in competition after receiving the medallion, you receive a gold bar.