We recognize the educational importance of non-profit User Groups and
invites them to join the ASP.

Here's the rules in detail with commentary:

- Traditional Non-Profit User Groups are eligible to join the ASP.

  In some areas, such as Britain, the term User Group implies a buying
  co-op or retail sales organization. These are not eligible.

  At the minimum, the User Group must be a non-profit educational
  organization with members, regular meetings, and a newsletter. It
  must actively inform its members about the shareware concept and
  the necessity for registration.

- Even though the User Group as a whole will be a member of the ASP, one
  person such as the librarian, president, or other officer will be the
  contact person to the ASP.

- All applicants and Associate Members must be, and continue to be, people
  or organizations dedicated to the advancement of the shareware principle
  and the supportive of the aims and goals of the ASP.

- All Associate Members will receive a subscription to the ASPects
  monthly newsletter and have access to the members only Sections and
  Libraries 10, 11, and 12 of the ASPFORUM on CompuServe. They will also
  receive the back issues of ASPects on disk.

  10 is for Member-to-Member communication of business and programming
  questions, offers, and general discussion.

  11 is for Policy and ASP Political topics. The ASP is an evolving
  organization and there is always lively discussion here.

  12 is for Official Business. ASP Membership meetings are conducted here.
  Election of officers and all rules are debated here before voting. As
  Associate members, you are invited to take part in these talks.

- User Group Members will be included as a choice in the monthly Group
  Mailing. This mailing of disks from authors to Vendor, BBS, Press, and
  User Group members is funded by the authors involved. This has become a
  principle method for ASP member Authors to distribute their software.

- Press Members will be able to use the ASP logo to describe themselves as
  Associate Members.

- A list of Associate Members will be kept current and made available to
  ASP Members and the public.

- All Associate Member applications will be reviewed by a committee that
  will judge whether the minimum requirements are met. If there is a
  negative disposition, the Board of Directors will automatically review
  the committee's actions.



- $50/year dues - prorated 1/2 for members joining after September 1.
  Dues billing is done in January of each year. The ASP realizes that
  User Groups are also often strapped for cash but the ASP is also
  member-funded and composed of many small businesspeople. The dues for
  User Group Members is aimed to cover the cost of ASPects and
  administrative costs.

- In case of a rejection for Associate Membership, the submitted dues will
  be returned minus a $15 processing fee.

- The Membership Committee will receive samples of your newsletter (if
  you have one) to help its process.

- A subscription to your newsletter must be made, free of charge, to the
  Executive Director for the ASP's files. We will use this to educate our
  members about your work and help suggest which Author Members should
  send you software directly.

- Associate Members are Non-Voting members of the ASP.

Other items of interest:

At the time of this writing, the ASP is working on two major projects, a
printed catalog and a CD-ROM of all ASP Authors works. It is expected that
both of these source materials will be available to Associate Members at
reduced cost. Both are expected to suitable for resale by User Groups as
fund-raising items and they will certainly simplify the task of
maintaining a shareware library. (Hopefully the profits from these
activities will more than offset the cost of ASP Membership).




            ASP User Group (Associate) Member Application Form

User Group Name _____________________________________________________

Contact Name    _____________________________________________________

Address         _____________________________________________________

                _____________________________________________________

City            ____________________________ ST ______ ZIP __________

Voice Phone   __________________________

Email Address __________________________ (CIS if possible)


We apply for Associate Membership in the Association of Shareware
Professionals as a User Group Member.


 _
|_| Enclosed is a check for $50 first year dues
 _
|_| Bill my Visa/MasterCard # _______ _______ _______ _______ Exp ___/___
 _
|_| Also enclosed are sample(s) of our newsletter.



Signed __________________________________

Position ________________________________



Send to:        Association of Shareware Professionals
                545 Grover Rd
                Muskegon MI 49442-9427

     or FAX to: 616-788-2765