IAM MISSION The mission of the International Academy of Mediators is to define standards and qualifications for the professional mediator of commercial disputes and to promote the mediation process as the preferred means of resolving disputes.
IAM VISION The Academy fosters the highest standards of integrity and competence in the mediation of
commercial disputes. Promoting the study and understanding of the mediation process, and educating the public, courts and legislative bodies on effective and appropriate uses of mediation are at the core of IAM's mission. The Academy also encourages friendly association among the members of the profession and cooperation with other organizations, institutions and societies interested in mediation.
IAM GOAL An Academy goal is the general acceptance of the concept of mediation as a separate discipline and profession, distinct from other fields. This aspect of the mission achieves recognition of high qualifications and standards for IAM Membership.

MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA, CATEGORIES, AND PROCESS

I. MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA
Membership in the Academy is by invitation only. Status as a Fellow in the Academy is indicative of
recognition by peers and by the marketplace of the Fellow’s stature as a preeminent, highly skilled, ethical and respected commercial mediator in the Fellow’s state, region or nation. The Academy recognizes innovators,
pioneers and leaders in the field. It is the organization for premier active practitioners of commercial mediation anywhere in the world. Qualifications, standards and procedures for membership as a Distinguished Fellow or Fellow are established by the Board of Governors, which reserves the right to revise them from time to time in its sole discretion.

II. CATEGORIES OF MEMBERSHIP

FELLOWS are those individuals “ascending” in the profession who may not have yet reached the status and
prominence as a Distinguished Fellow, and/or may be from geographic regions where the utilization of
mediation is in its developmental stages. Fellows have all rights, privileges and obligations of membership,
including service as a Governor or on Committees, but are not eligible as an officer.
DISTINGUISHED FELLOWS are active as mediators of commercial disputes for at least 250 days (a day is six (6) hours or more and includes preparation time.) Distinguished Fellows have also have served the majority of their professional time over the last three (3) years as neutrals in commercial dispute resolution activities such as mediation, facilitation, conciliation, training or system design. Distinguished Fellows are full time professionals in the mediation field and may, in addition to mediating, teach, write train or promote mediation as part of their professional activities. The Membership Chair in consultation with the Board of Governors may waive certain requirements, in their discretion.
DISTINGUISHED LIFE FELLOWS are former Fellows who are retired or semi-retired and were, at the time of
retirement or the significant decrease in his/her practice, in good standing with the IAM as a Fellow, and who
remain in good standing during the term as Life Fellows. These persons continue to pay dues and are given this classification at the discretion of the Board of Governors.
HONORARY FELLOWS are persons honored by the Academy with honorary membership in a non-dues
paying status as recognition for their outstanding achievements in the field of mediation. These
persons are not subject to the requirement to attend one Academy meeting every two years.

III. MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS
1. The Candidate obtains two sponsors both of whom are Distinguished Fellows or Distinguished Life
Fellows in good standing in the Academy. Upon request, the Membership Chair or the Executive
Director will provide the Candidate with a Candidate Membership Application Form and materials
describing the membership requirements, the membership categories, and the membership process
which may include information regarding the dues structure, identification of the current members
and other relevant materials.

2. In collaboration with the sponsors, the Candidate will complete the Candidate Membership
Application Form and other requested information, which may include the biography, CV,
background and training of the Candidate as well as a description of the Candidate’s past and current
practice, and other information as requested in the application.

3. The Candidate will also provide the names of four (4) references from persons who are not members
of the Academy who have utilized the Candidate in the past year in a commercial mediation or are
otherwise very familiar with the Candidate’s commercial mediator qualifications and work
performance.

4. The Candidate will forward the application and application fee along with other required information
to the Executive Director. The Executive Director will forward the information to the Membership
Chair who will review same for completeness and not pass judgment on the Candidate’s application.

5. After the Membership Chair has determined the Candidate’s application information is complete, the
sponsors will be asked to invite the Candidate to an Academy conference, unless this requirement is
waived. The sponsors will advise the Board of Governors and the Executive Director which future
conference the Candidate will attend. The purpose of attendance at a conference is for existing
Fellows to meet and evaluate the Candidate and for the Candidate to meet and evaluate the Academy.

6. After attendance at a conference and full completion of the membership application process, the
Membership Chair will report to the Board of Governors and to the two sponsors, the Membership
Committee’s recommendation as to the Candidate’s request for membership.

7. At the next scheduled meeting of the Board of Governors, the Board will, in executive session,
review the recommendation of the Membership Committee and vote on the Candidate’s request for
membership. The sponsors may attend the Board meeting for purposes of discussing the Candidate,
either in person or via telephone or other method.

8. The Membership Chair will advise the sponsors of the Board’s decision. If the Board declines the
Candidate’s application, the Secretary/Treasurer, Membership Chair or other Officer of the Academy
will give notice to the Candidate. If the Board accepts the Candidate’s application, the President, on
behalf of the Board of Governors, will extend a written invitation to the Candidate inviting the
Candidate into membership as a Fellow. This invitation will go out promptly following the Board’s
decision so that the Candidate will have opportunity to plan to attend the next conference of the
Academy. If the Candidate accepts the invitation into membership, a dues notice will be sent. Upon
receipt of the Candidate’s dues, he or she will be entitled to participate in the Academy activities as a
member, including listing on the Academy web site.

9. The Candidate will be formally introduced to the membership and inducted into the Academy,
presumably at the Friday evening dinner banquet and ceremony.

10. The membership requirements may be waived by the Membership Chair as the Board of Governors
may direct.