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.

Know more about by clicking here. 2020 Awards and Incentives

The ASAP membership year runs from October 1 — September 30. Membership dues are $50 per year and are not prorated.

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Member Benefits Overview

Training/Educational Program Discounts

Members receive discounted prices on our training programs.

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.

National Training Conference (NTC)

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 throughout the nation with the program typically held the first week in March.

Food-For-Thought Training

ASAP sponsors three to four 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.

Job Vacancy Notifications

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 are opted in for the distribution list.

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.

Scholarship

The Diane Flores Korwin Scholarship is intended to provide financial assistance for undergraduate and/or graduate students.

1980

United States

asap@accesspro.org

www.accesspro.org/

1120 20th St., NW, Suite 750

Washington, D.C. 20036