I. Purpose
The Awards Committee has five major purposes:
II. Committee Selection, Size, and Length of Terms
The Awards Committee is composed of two committee co-chairs and the chairs of each of the awards subcommittees.
Annually the vice president/president-elect appoints one Awards Committee co-chair, who serves for one year as junior co-chair and one year as senior co-chair.
The selection, size, and length of term of each subcommittee is determined by the Council upon adoption of a new award and may be modified by the Council. Generally subcommittees comprise three members, each of whom serves for three years and as subcommittee chair in her/his third year. To ensure that appropriate expertise is represented on certain awards subcommittees, however, the Council has determined the following exceptions:
III. Reporting Procedures
Awards are announced during the SAA Annual Meeting, and on the SAA website and in the newsletter following the Annual Meeting. The co-chairs represent the Committee when meeting with other SAA committees and with the SAA Council and staff.
IV. Duties and Responsibilities
The Awards Committee publicizes SAA awards through announcements in the SAA newsletter and in other publications as appropriate. It also may publicize the awards during SAA Annual Meetings or conduct other activities to make archivists more aware of SAA awards. The Committee also solicits nominations for SAA awards by contacting individuals, archives organizations, and other groups that may be aware of worthy nominees.
The Committee establishes a deadline for awards nominations to be sent to the committee chair. The Awards co-chairs distribute nominations to the appropriate subcommittee. Each subcommittee evaluates nominations it receives on the basis of written criteria and selects award winner(s) as appropriate. Policy questions regarding criteria or eligibility for an award may be directed to the Awards co-chairs, the SAA Executive Director, or the Council for clarification.
The Awards co-chairs, in conjunction with the Awards Committee and the SAA Executive Director, plan an appropriate awards ceremony for the SAA Annual Meeting. Typically the ceremony is led by the Awards Committee senior co-chair, with each subcommittee chair presenting the award for which he/she is responsible. In addition to presenting the award, the subcommittee chair prepares an awards citation that may be read at the ceremony.
From time to time, the Committee reviews awards criteria and procedures and recommends any revisions that may be appropriate. The Committee may recommend new awards for the Council's consideration. The Committee also evaluates awards and changes to guidelines proposed by members of the Society and makes recommendations to the Council concerning the proposals. Should new awards be approved, the Awards Committee is responsible for drafting appropriate award criteria and procedures.
V. Meetings
The Committee meets at the Society's Annual Meeting.
Approved by the SAA Council: June 1988
Revised: January 1993, January 2007, August 2011
See also