We, like all good trade associations, recognize the importance of the
press. Writers from major book authors to newsletter columnists are
invited to join the ASP.

Here's the rules in detail with commentary:

- All applicants and Associate Members must be, and continue to be, people
  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.

- Press 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. Some might ask why the
  ASP has the "nerve" to ask dues of the press. There are 2 reasons for
  this:

  - The ASP is member-funded and composed of many small businesspeople.
    The dues for Press Members is aimed to cover the cost of ASPects and
    administrative costs.

  - There are many ersatz press people. By charging a support fee we hope
    to eliminate the many who would join the ASP simply in order to get
    the monthly Group Mailing from authors.

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

- At the minimum, the applicant must have published works (books or major
  magazine articles) that have explained the shareware concept and the
  necessity for registration.

  Sporadic articles in newsletters and the like are generally not
  considered to be sufficient for membership but regular columns
  are sufficient.

- The Membership Committee will receive sample published works to
  help its process. Applicants need to send original or copies of some of
  their work for us to look at.

- The Member must continue to be an active writer (generally considered
  to write at least one major item per year).

- One copy of each article or book must be forwarded, 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.



              ASP Press (Associate) Member Application Form

Name    _____________________________________________________

Address _____________________________________________________

        _____________________________________________________

City    ____________________________ ST ______ ZIP __________

Voice Phone   __________________________

Email Address __________________________ (CIS if possible)

I apply for Associate Membership in the Association of Shareware
Professionals as a Press Member.

 _
|_| Enclosed is a check for $50 first year dues
 _
|_| Bill my Visa/MasterCard # _______ _______ _______ _______ Exp ___/___

    Also enclosed are sample(s) of my work.


Signed __________________________________



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

     or FAX to: 616-788-2765