Over the last three years, ASMP National policy has shifted to require that local chapters of ASMP raise their own funds for chapter sponsored events and seminars, without financial support from the ASMP National office. Consequently, it has become each chapters responsibility to make seminars and events pay for themselves in their entirety. Fortunately, we have been able rely on the generous support of our sponsors.

Up until now, however, we have tended to approach our vendor/supporters on a somewhat random basis, such as when we have needed help to pay for the food or venue for a program. It was not uncommon for us to feel that we were inconveniencing our sponsors by going back more than once to request contributions. And, despite their best intentions, it was not uncommon to hear: "Gee, we would love to help out but there is no more money in the budget -- try us again in a month..."

Conceived as the brainchild of past AZ ASMP chapter president Paul Markow, the recently launched "Friends of AZ ASMP" Program is designed to allow supporters of ASMP to plan their contributions to ASMP on an annual basis. Different levels of sponsorship clearly spell out what AZ ASMP offers in return. Sponsors receive ad space in the newly revived newsletter, as well as links on the AZ ASMP webpage that link to the sponsors' own web sites. Other promotional benefits are listed here.

The program committee gains by being able to better budget and plan a meaningful schedule because it has advance knowledge of the money available for programming. The Board of AZ ASMP thanks its sponsors for their continuing generous support. We sincerely hope that this new program will help to promote our vendor's interests, while supporting our own educational programs. We look forward to all comments and suggestions as to how we can make it better.

For further information about sponsoring or advertising with AZ ASMP, please contact: Dan Delaney, AZ ASMP Sponsorship Program Coordinator Tel: (480) 732-0016.