
I'd like to take a few minutes of your time if I could, and
render a short description of the new Shareware Trade
Association and Resources (STAR) - as I see it.


What STAR Was:
------------------------------
STAR was founded over two years ago at the 1992 Summer
Shareware Seminar, its first meeting hosted by a panel
including Scott Miller, Diana Gruber, Mike Callahan, and
Charles Kramer.  STAR's initial purpose was to serve
shareware authors, vendors, online services, and users in an
alternative capacity to the Association of Shareware
Professionals (ASP).  A lot of water has passed under the
bridge since STAR's founding in '92. There were spirited
debates with ASP members on subjects ranging from
shareware rack royalties to the effectiveness of the PoNC.
Feelings ran high and cries of STAR being an ASP-bashing
organization were heard.  Yet progress was made
nevertheless.


What STAR Is Today:
------------------------------
Things have mellowed since that time.  STAR was incorporated
on June 1, 1993.  The STAR COMDEX Media Event (Press Party)
now has two very successful years under its belt.  Under the
guidance of industry leaders like Scott, Diana, Glen
Tippetts, G.L. Alston, Dave Snyder, Gary Elfring, and
others, STAR has matured over the last year and a half into
a full-fledged trade association.

What is STAR now?  A snippet of STAR's Articles of
Incorporation can best explain that.  According to them,
STAR's purpose is to:

A)   Educate past and prospective customers of shareware as
to its availability and legal nature;

B)   Gather and disseminate information to shareware
vendors, publishers, authors and distributors to enable them
to better evaluate and improve their business methods as
they deem best;

C)   Assist the improvement and evolution of the entire
shareware industry by fostering open communication of ideas,
common problems and news relating to shareware marketing
methods by means of computer bulletin boards, a newsletter,
and otherwise; and

D)  Do any other lawful act or thing incidental to or to
further the advancement of the foregoing purposes by using
the general corporate powers enumerated in NRS Nonprofit
Corporation law Chapter 82, as it may be amended and in
effect from time-to-time.


Such is STAR's mission.  Aside from the procedural dictates
of our by-laws, the above are the only rules STAR members
must follow.

On December 1, 1994, a new STAR Board of Directors took
office.  Since that time we've been endeavoring to create
not rules - but a _structure_ through which the membership
can act on its own behalf.  STAR has always been unique in
its acceptance and open encouragement of creative shareware
marketing ideas.  The structure that STAR is currently
putting in place will allow us to _build_ on these ideas and
thus advance the cause of the average member - and the
industry as a whole.


What STAR Will Be In The Future:
----------------------------------------------
What do _you_ want STAR to be?  We are a young organization
with no other agenda than the advancement of the industry.
Aside from the RoNR ("Rule on No Rules"), STAR is an
instrument for your use - as you see fit.  What do you need,
Shareware?

Currently in the works and open for input:

1.   The STAR Distribution Network.  Based on a STAR
Shareware Internet ftp (File Trasfer Protocol) Site, STAR is
currently working on a three-pronged shareware distribution
system:

A.  A STAR "Home Page" on the Internet's FAST growing World
Wide Web (WWW), an Internet browsing system whose functions
resemble that of a Windows Help document.  This Page will be
"linked" with Sites that contain STAR member files around
the world, as well as supporting an ftp capability of its
own.  Click on a WWW hyperlink and you are taken to an
author's "Home Page" or a listing of STAR files.  Click on a
file name and that file is effortlessly downloaded to your
machine.

B.  A contracted, quarterly subscription CDROM of the STAR
Page contents for distribution to BBSs and Vendors.  The ROM
currently under discussion would be distributed _free_ to
the top 200 Vendors and Bulletin Boards.

C.  For those who wish to participate, a CDROM taken from
the Site made available for retail review.  A one stop
convenience for Retail Publishers looking for new products.

2.   Enhancements to the STAR COMDEX Media Event.  Authors
who cannot attend personally will be represented this year
by their products displayed from the STAR Table here.

3.  A central CIS Library of Member's software located in
the UKSHARE:STAR Library.

4.  A quarterly newsletter, the already well-known
STARgazer.

5.  More... in my opinion, our only limit is our
membership's requirements.


STAR And The ASP
---------------------------
As I said earlier, IMO, a lot of water has passed under the
bridge.  STAR will not replace the ASP and certainly poses
no threat to it.  We are both dedicated to improving the
industry as a whole, and, in my opinion again, each should
augment the other and avoid the duplication of services.  At
the same time, however, STAR has a responsibility to the
industry to jump in where possible and provide those
services for its members that, for one reason or another,
can't be accessed elsewhere.

We believe that our current plans are unique, and that they
can benefit everyone in the industry without open
competition or the type of friction that took place in the
past between our two organizations.


Bottom Line
------------------
Please think about joining STAR.  Your participation will
determine the type of organization STAR eventually becomes.
We want your ideas and we're ready to listen and help.

Besides, we need you to help us too!


STAR Info
--------------

Our new Board:

Jim Green (President), Vendor Member, Shareware Testing
Laboratories Jeff Woods (Vice-President), Author Member,
deltaComm Development Rosemary West (Treasurer), Author
Member Casey Butler (Secretary), Author Member, Viable
Software Alternatives Scott Stanley, User Member, MicroStar
Author Relations Manager

Our contact info:

STAR (Shareware Trade Assotiocation and Resources)
3315 East Russell Road
Suite H-272
Las Vegas, NV  89120

CIS Online: UKSHARE Forum, STAR Section 11 (GO UKSHARE).
Open discussion on any topic!

Phone:  800 Information number soon to be announced!

For a Membership Application (dues are only $30.00 now - but
act fast because a raise is inevitable as we add benefits)
please email me at the address above, 72043,46.

Thanks for your time!

Casey Butler
