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 an online evaluation. Admission to ASP is by no means automatic: you must demonstrate that your BBS meets ASP standards; and you must guarantee that if it is accepted as an ASP member, 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. Please note that your failure to read and follow these instructions fully may result in your application being rejected. 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 optionally 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 bulletin (SHAREW.TXT) is "What is Shareware", and the 2nd (optional) bulletin (BBS-BLTS.TXT) could be titled "ASP/Shareware". Or, you can combine the two into a single bulletin, with a suggested title "What is Shareware & ASP" 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 the instructions carefully (beginning with Section 8). Also please note that we do not recommend posting the entire document 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 mentioned above, as opposed to posting the Ombudsman statement as a separate bulletin. Either way, the required text *MUST* be in place on your system prior to the ASP online evaluation. BYLAWSxx.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. 3 to 6 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. Please allow 3-6 weeks before you become concerned about the application process. 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. Some of them leave out their phone number. Others forget to include 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 application to make sure there are no obvious problems. Then the BBSMC will assign your application to one of the ASP BBS Membership Committee members to perform the online evaluation. There are five common hang-ups at this point: 1. Your system has not been setup with the required logon account for the ASP 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 bulletins regarding Shareware and the ASP were not found on your system for users to read. This included the required BBS Ombudsman statement (even tho your system isn't technically approved yet, the BBS Ombudsman statement must be in place). 4. There was no evidence that the required file library maintenance routines are in place. (see BBSSTD.TXT for details, begining with section 4.4). 5. 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, but it is obvious that you have at least made an effort to prepare your system, 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. HOWEVER ..... If the ASP reviewer judges that too many of the above requirements are lacking (indicating that you have not read or followed these instructions), your application MAY BE REJECTED. If this happens, you will be asked to submit a new application once you have prepared your system according to the requirements. Once your BBS is 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 credit card information) 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 that your application is approved. 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 OnLine 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. =============== 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 on the BBSAPP.FRM. Fill out the BBSAPP.FRM application form electronically, and then print out a copy. We MUST have both a printed copy and an electronic of the BBSAPP.FRM file, properly completed, in order to process your application. C) An electronic copy of the completed BBSAPP.FRM application form should be placed on a blank floppy 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 BBS evaluator 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 high enough security setting so that the BBSMC evaluator 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 cause 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 underscore character (i.e. [_______] ) on the application form, your answer *MUST* fit within the defined bounds. In the above example, the input field is defined by the square brackets [], and the field allows for 7 characters of text. Set your word processor or text editor to "Overstrike" and simply type over the underscore characters. If you go beyond the defined areas 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 international postal delivery. If you have access to CompuServe, we strongly urge you to note your CompuServe ID number; we will try to contact you via 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. Don't be tempted to include "quantity" information, such as hard drive space, number of CD-ROMs, etc. This information is often quickly out-of-date. We would rather know the "qualities" of your system, rather than the "quantities". ================ 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 9am-5pm Eastern Time) Or FAX: (616) 788-2765 (FAX - 24hrs/day) Thanks! We all look forward to seeing your application.... Rev 30-Aug-94 Richard Holler BBS Membership Committee Chairman