Dear SysOp, Thank you for your interest in becoming a an Approved BBS of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). We are a group of Shareware Authors, Disk Vendors, BBSs, User Groups and others who are working to improve the image of Shareware as high quality software. We take the "ASP" mark as a symbol of distinction, and work zealously to maintain the highest possible standards for the benefit of all our members. Because of that commitment to quality, your BBS will be subjected to evaluation. Admission to ASP is by no means automatic: you must demonstrate that your BBS meets ASP standards; and you must guarantee that, if you are accepted, it will maintain those high standards. Here is a brief explanation of the files you have just received, a look at what ASP is all about, and how your application will be processed. ====================================== THE FILES FROM THE APPLICATION PACKAGE ====================================== The file that you are reading now (BBSAPP.TXT), contains all of the information you will need to become an ASP Approved BBS. BBSAPP.FRM is an application form. Detailed instructions for filling it out and submitting it are here in BBSAPP.TXT. Although the instructions in this document are complete, you will need to refer to the "BBS Standards". BBS Standards are detailed in BBSSTD.TXT. SHAREW.TXT and BBS-BLTS.TXT are suggested texts for use in constructing the required bulletins for your BBS. An online readable text file explaining the ASP and Shareware is required for membership. We recommend that such file(s) be posted on your "Bulletins" menu, and should be available to callers at ALL security levels. A suggested title for the first (SHAREW.TXT) is "What is Shareware", and the 2nd (BBS-BLTS.TXT) could be titled "ASP/Shareware". Or, you can combine the two into a single bulletin, with a suggested title "What is ASP & Shareware" ASPOMB.TXT is the entire ASP Ombudsman Policy, and contains specific instructions for posting the required portion of the Ombudsman Policy as it pertains to BBS members. Please follow these instructions carefully (beginning at Section 8). Also please note that the entire document does *not* need to be posted as a bulletin - only the single paragraph from section 8, edited to include the name of your BBs, is required. The required paragraph may also be appended to the "ASP/Shareware" bulletin, as opposed to posting the Ombudsman statement as a separate bulletin. BYLAW7.TXT is the current bylaws of the ASP. It is highly recommended that all applicants read this document. BBSLOGO.TXT contains various ASP logos for use on your BBS. BBSLOGO.ANS contains an ANSI version of the ASP BBS logo. (These logos are to be used *ONLY* after your BBS had been approved!) ================ WHAT IS THE ASP? ================ The ASP is an internationally recognized association for Shareware Authors, Disk Vendors, BBSs, User Groups and others striving to produce and distribute high quality shareware products. Our goals are to educate the general public on what shareware is and promote professionalism within the shareware community. We strive to set forth standards that guide shareware authors, distributors, User Group and BBS operators into a more professional means of distributing shareware software. We promote the sharing of resources and information among other members. ============= THE MECHANICS ============= How long will it take to become get approved? That's the question we hear most often. The answer? Well, it depends. Three to six weeks is typical, but if your system is difficult to get access to, if there are questions, or if there are changes that need to be made to your system, it could take longer. Keep in mind that the ASP is a "volunteer" organization, and all of the work is performed by volunteers as time permits. Your application must go through several steps. Here's what happens: The ASP Executive Director ("ED") receives your application and checks it for completeness. I know YOU wouldn't do this, but believe it or not, some folks don't read the application directions carefully enough and fail to send in what is required. Funny, huh? Some of them leave out their phone number. Others forget the check. When that happens, the ED has to send you a letter, then you have to go back over all the instructions and apply again. Once your application is complete, the ED sends sends your application to the BBS Membership Committee Chairman ("BBSMC"). The BBSMC reviews your app to make sure there are no obvious problems. The BBSMC at that point will either 1) call your BBS to perform the investigation, or 2) assign your application to one of the other committee members for investigation. There are four common hang-ups at this point: 1. Your system has not been setup with the required logon account for the BBSMC to perform the evaluation. You SHOULD set this up while filling in your application. 2. During the review process commercial software (most notably games) or commercial software documentation (in violation of copyrights) are found on your system. 3. The required text files regarding Shareware and the ASP were not found/posted on your system for users to read. 4. There was no evidence of an effort to mark your existing file libraries with an "" marker (or something similar). While we don't expect any sysop to go through their entire library of files, we do like to see that at least a minimal effort has already been done in this area. If your application fails any of these requirements, you will be notified of the problem. We will work with you to bring your BBS into compliance. Once it meets ASP standards, a full check out of your system will be performed again to insure compliance with the standards setforth. If you are approved, a message will be left on your BBS to that effect. At that point, you are allowed to add the ASP Logo to your BBS screens. The BBSMC will also post your BBS information in the in the membership and public sections of the ASP Forum on CompuServe, as well as in various other message networks dealing with Shareware and the ASP (i.e. FidoNet, RIME, etc). You will receive a full membership package in the mail shortly thereafter. If your BBS does not meet ASP standards, and you refuse to bring it in line with the standards, your application for membership in the ASP will be rejected. If you disagree with the action of the BBSMC, you may appeal directly to the Board of Directors, by writing to the Executive Director (address below). When you start feeling frustrated about the delays (and if you're like most SysOps, you probably will!), keep one thing in mind: with the exception of the Executive Director", this entire process, beginning to end, is performed by volunteers -- volunteer Shareware folks just like you, who have a myriad of demands on their time. Please be patient. ====================== HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? ====================== When you apply, you will send in a check (or sign away your credit card) for $75. If a check is used, it must be in US dollars drawn on a USA bank. That amount covers your first years' dues. Technically, the yearly dues period is spread out over four calendar quarters, at $18.75 per quarter, starting in the quarter your application is submitted. However, regardless of when you actually submit your application, you must still submit the full $75; any excess will be credited toward your second year dues. The dues period for ASP membership runs from January 1 to December 31 of each year, and not from the time that you submit your application or from the time that you are approved for membership. The annual dues grants the member a subscription to the ASP Newsletter "ASPects", access to the CompuServe ASP FORUM "members only" sections, the right to use the ASP name and trademarked logo as a BBS member, and a listing in the ASP on disk and printed catalogs. ASP BBS and VENDOR members will receive any ASP-sponsored product distribution services, which currently includes a monthly-updated CD-ROM disk. ======================== WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO JOIN? ======================== ASP Membership is open to all SysOps of BBSs and On Line services which electronically distribute programs marketed and supported as shareware, who agree to abide by standards adopted by the association, and whose membership, in the judgment of the BBS Membership Committee, will not be detrimental to the goals or reputation of the ASP. (Don't be confused by the ASP jargon: an ASP Approved BBS is an Associate Member of ASP) =============== HOW DO I APPLY? =============== You must follow these instructions, precisely, in order. (Please! Follow the instructions! If your application is returned it only adds to the delay and the confusion....) A: Read the rest of this document. B: Follow the instructions in this document to answer all the questions in BBSAPP.FRM. Fill out the BBSAPP.FRM application form electronically, and then print out a copy. We MUST have a printed copy of the BBSAPP.FRM file, properly completed, in order to process your application. C: An electronic copy of the BBSAPP.FRM application form should be placed on a blank floppy disk (preferably at 5-1/4" 360k disk). This will allow the ASP "ED" to forward your application electronically to the BBSMC, and will speed up the process a bit. D: If you have extra information about your system, ie brochures, magazine reviews, etc. Send those too! It is your opportunity to show off your best side. E: Create a "user account" for the BBSMC to logon with. This should be a user account with the name and password that you have listed on the BBSAPP.FRM. It should have a high enough security setting so that the BBSMC investigator can fully evaluate your system. Please set this account up as "NO COLOR / ANSI / GRAPHICS" - if the investigator desires to use these features, he/she can turn them on after they logon. [NOTE: Many sysops *OFTEN* forget to actually set up this account (even after listing the logon name and password on the form), and thus causes delays in the approval process]. F: Add the necessary Bulletins to your system, and make any other changes necessary for approval. Remember, that all the files can be included now, EXCEPT the ASP Approved Logo. (NOTE: This is also a step that many sysops forget to do, and only adds to the delays.) G: Put ALL of the following into one package: 1) A signed and dated printout of the completed BBSAPP.FRM file. 2) An electronic copy of the completed BBSAPP.FRM on a floppy disk. 3) Any Additional information. 4) Either: a) A check for $75, in U.S. dollars, drawn on a U.S. bank; or, b) The completed credit card charge authorization located at the end of BBSAPP.FRM Note that $55 of the $75 fee will be refunded if your application is not accepted; $20 is a non-refundable processing fee. H: Mail the package to: Executive Director Association of Shareware Professionals 545 Grover Road Muskegon, MI 49442-9427 =================================================== HERE'S THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILLING OUT BBSAPP.FRM =================================================== At this point, you should take a look at the file BBSAPP.FRM, and follow along as we step you through the form. These instructions are very important, and must be followed precisely. If you don't follow the instructions, you will risk delaying the processing of your application by days -- possibly weeks! =============== THE APPLICATION =============== Wherever you see an underline (i.e. _______ ) in the application form, your answer *MUST* fit within the defined bounds. Set your word processor or text editor to "Overstrike" the underlines! If you go outside the confines of each field, your information WILL BE TRUNCATED TO FIT! (We would prefer that *YOU* determine where to place any necessary abbreviations). Fill in your name, address, etc. Be sure to list the address in proper mailing format, exactly as it should appear for postal delivery. If you have access to CompuServe, we strongly urge you to note your CompuServe PPN number; we will try to contact you through CompuServe whenever possible, and you should check your CompuServe mail every few days while your application is being processed. Please be sure to list your specialties in the "Description" area. This should include any network connections (i.e. FidoNet, RIME, NANet, etc) and be sure to include your network addresses. You should also list any local affiliations such as user groups, etc. Also list the main focus of your BBS. ================ HOW TO GET HELP! ================ If you have questions about your application, please contact the ASP Executive Director on CompuServe at 72050,1433. If you do not have access to CompuServe, try the U.S. Mail: Executive Director Association of Shareware Professionals 545 Grover Road Muskegon, MI 49442-9427 Or Call: (616) 788-5131 (Voice Mon-Fri 8am-5pm EST) Or FAX: (616) 788-2765 (FAX - 24hrs/day) Thanks! We all look forward to seeing your application.... Richard Holler BBS Membership Committee Chairman December 6, 1993