American Society of Access Professionals http://www.accesspro.org/ About ASAP ASAP Members Programs & Benefits Membership Application ASAP Bylaws ASAP Newsletter About ASAP The American Society of Access Professionals (ASAP) is a nongovernmental, independent, educational, not-for-profit association. It was founded in 1980 by concerned federal government employees and private citizens working in the fields of information access through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Privacy Act (PA), and laws and regulations. ASAP was founded as a professional forum dedicated to bringing government FOIA and Privacy Act personnel in touch with the requester community. The requester community includes private citizens, law firms, businesses, media and nonprofit organizations; it is not a government agency. ASAP is the leading organization providing quality professional educational programs. ASAP draws upon the highest caliber of government FOIA and Privacy instructors along with known experts in the public requester field to teach and discuss common problems in an open-dialogue forum. Tremendous insight and education are attained by both sides as each learns from the perspective of the other. ASAP takes great pride in its programs, which have been cited consistently for their content excellence and for providing the opportunity to network with others across the United States and beyond. ASAP programs have something for everyone, from technical sessions to open forum discussions to informal gatherings where members and participants make some of their most important and long-lasting contacts. Learning - updating - enhancing skills - cost effective programs - these are just some of the reasons why our participants keep returning to ASAP programs year after year. Who are ASAP Members? ASAP members come from all walks of life. They are: * FOIA/PA and access professionals throughout the United States and Canada * Federal state, local, and foreign government officials concerned with FOIA releases, information privacy, and electronic records * Faculty and staff of colleges and universities * Attorneys and paralegals * Journalists * Not-for-profit public interest organization personnel * Government contractors * Businesses whose records are held by the Federal government * Librarians * Privacy advocates ASAP Programs & Benefits TRAINING SERIES - This "nuts & bolts" program is a series of one-day seminars on the FOIA and PA. The first day serves as an entry level program or refresher course, covering comprehensive overviews of each Act. The second and third days are designed to cover more advanced topics. The series is usually held in the Washington, D.C. area in late spring or summer. ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM - Assuming a basic familiarity with the FOIA and PA, the two-day Symposium addresses policy issues, airs current controversies, and explores information disclosure frontiers. This program is usually held in the Washington, D.C. area in late fall or early winter. BUSINESS INFORMATION DAY PROGRAM - Program content concentrates on business information - the issues and procedures associated with Exemption 4. There are lectures, panel discussions and even role-playing with a hypothetical. This program usually immediately precedes or follows the Annual Symposium. WESTERN REGIONAL TRAINING CONFERENCE (WRTC) - This program was created to bring educational opportunities beyond the Washington, D.C. area. The program combines "nuts & bolts" type training topics with the thought- provoking and practical issues associated with FOIA and Privacy Act processing and requesting. A special feature of the program is concurrent breakout sessions for individual agencies, thereby giving personnel a unique opportunity for Questions & Answers as they pertain to their own agency policies. The program is usually two or three days depending upon the venue. The venue is rotated in the western region of the country with the program typically held the first week in March. FOOD-FOR-THOUGHT LUNCHEON SEMINARS - ASAP sponsors four to six luncheon seminars each year highlighting a specific FOI or Privacy topic or issue. Speakers and topics vary according to interest levels and have included high profile members of the judicial branch, congressional staffers, journalists, new or proposed regulations, Web page content, appeal processes, etc. The program is designed to attract 20-50 people in an informal setting, conducive to questions and answers. ASAP underwrites the major costs of this program. NEWSLETTER - ASAP publishes a newsletter for its members that provides information about upcoming and recent ASAP events, insights, and information about changes in the laws, court decisions. JOB BANK - ASAP maintains an informal job bank. From time to time, ASAP receives job opening notices from federal agencies that are in turn distributed to members who have signed up to be on the distribution list. When time allows, job notices are also publicized in the newsletter and distributed at various events. DISCOUNTS - Members receive substantial discounts on ASAP educational programs. CREDIBILITY - Benefit by belonging. All members agree to abide by the Statement of Principles and help develop the vision and shape the future of information access and privacy. NETWORKING - Members take advantage of the relationships they build with other access professionals. About ASAP ASAP Members Programs & Benefits Membership Application ASAP Bylaws FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit http://www.accesspro.org or call ASAP at 202-712-9054 ext. 9029, Monday through Friday between the hours of 9am and 4pm eastern time. http://www.accesspro.org/ List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance