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Page 1 of 2 Murray Miller - 2009 Meritorious Service Award Recipient
The following is the speech given by Immediate Past International President - Clif Litvak introducing the 2009 AO Meritorious Service Award recipient - the highest honor AO bestows on a member.
 Mr. Speaker---As chairperson of the Meritorious Service Award Committee, I'm privileged to present to you the committee's selection for Alpha Omega's highest award presented to a frater who has demonstrated outstanding and exemplary service to AO over at least a ten year period.
This frater's love affair with Alpha Omega began when he was a dental student, more than four decades ago. He immediately realized the value of an affiliation with an organization fully committed to professionalism, philanthropy, social justice, and camaraderie. He was active in his dental school chapter and quickly got the taste of AO's international scope. Through all his years of professional practice he has remained committed to his beloved organization at both the local and international levels. Alpha Omega, whether it is in meetings, conventions or phone conversations, gives him an adrenaline rush.
At the AO international level, he has served as regent, international trustee, and member-at-large of the AO foundation. He has received a presidential citation and a certificate of merit. He has attended leadership seminars and a HUGE number of conventions. At each convention, he participates one hundred percent, is always available to help in any way needed, and so he doesn't get much sleep. Over the years he has served on many committees, such as achievement medal, certificate of merit, constitution, credentials, student affairs, meritorious service award, and others.
At the local chapter level, this frater has been president, chairman and member of many committees, trustee, and indispensable to the AO international convention held in his host city. This frater probably does even more work behind the scenes. His attention to detail, reminders, idea planting, and rallying others to attend AO events proves his unwavering concern for the welfare of AO. He has boundless energy and is the kind of person who "makes things happen". Every chapter needs someone like this frater--- that force that never gives up.
One of the most endearing qualities of this frater is his connection with and concern for his fellow Alpha Omegans. He can always be counted on to be of assistance to anyone for any reason. He is warm and friendly and welcoming and funny. He is incredibly intelligent and caring. His loyalty is beyond description as is his love for his family. And speaking of family, his family also has an on-going love affair with Alpha Omega and has become part of the greater AO family. They have attended convention after convention, while his daughters have grown up with AO. Even his granddaughter has already attended her first convention and will probably attend more.
This frater has remained committed to Alpha Omega as a student and as a practitioner, as a bachelor and as a married man, as a Montrealer and as a Bostonian, as a general dentist and as an orthodontist, as a father and as a grandfather. His devotion to this organization and his efforts on its behalf have been evident to us all. Many, many students of dentistry in the Boston area and elsewhere have been very lucky to be convinced by this frater to become acquainted with AO. The organization could not have a better PR spokesman. In Boston, he is known as Mr. AO.
This frater does not do the work he does for accolades, recognition or awards. He does it out of love. And now it is my great honor and privilege to introduce my main meritorious man, Dr. Murray Miller.
Barbara, would you please accompany your best friend Murray to the stage.
Mr. Speaker, I proudly make the motion for the Int'l council to approve the nomination of Murray Miller as the 2009 recipient of the Meritorious Service Award.
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