Inside ASI-AP

MEDIA RELEASE

July 22, 2008

Second Birthday Celebrated With Gift Giving Spree
Biggest round yet for ASI SMART Company Scholarship Fund

The ASI SMART Company Scholarship Fund has celebrated its second birthday by awarding nine more non profit professionals from across the not for profit sector and across the country grants worth $11,000. This round of funding was one of the most competitive on record with $40,000 worth of funding requested, resulting in some tough decisions for the review panel.

“Demand is increasing so we must be doing something right,” says Paul Ramsbottom, managing director ASI Asia Pacific and instigator of the scholarship fund that aims to strengthen non profit sector professionals. “More not for profit professionals are seeking ongoing professional development than ever before and that’s good news.”

The Fund received applications requesting more than $40,000 in funding in the June round. We are pleased to confirm nine Scholarships were awarded with a total value of more than $11,000. Approximately $9,000 will now be made available for the final two rounds of funding for 2008.

Congratulations to the following Scholarship recipients:

Part A – Fully Funded Education Scholarships

Claire Black - The Wilderness Society
FIA Madison Down Under

Tarnya Van Driel - Asthma Foundation of SA
FIA Madison Down Under

Elaine Young - Australian Red Cross
Diploma of Business (Volunteer Management)

We're pleased to announce details of the 2008 ASI Asia-Pacific iMIS Business Excellence Framework (iBEF) IT Round Table.

This biannual forum brings together a select group of iMIS customers that represent the largest organisations in the iMIS Community. It will be an opportunity to examine in detail the issues facing IT Executives and their organisations.

Details are:

Dates: Thursday 24th July 2008
Venue: ASI Melbourne Office
Level 22, 459 Collins Street
Melbourne, Victoria
Times: 9.30 am till late

The forum will be hosted by ASI Senior Management and will include a special presentation on the iMIS Product Development Outlook.

MEDIA RELEASE

June 17, 2008

iMIS Customers Preview the Future
at Business Excellence Framework Forum

The annual iMIS Business Excellence Framework (iBEF) Forum held on May 20 and 21 brought together 10 not-for-profit leaders - representing the largest users of the iMIS software solution in the Asia-Pacific region - for two days of intensive review and knowledge sharing, with the focus on achieving business excellence. Mobile phones were off, thinking caps on and best practice firmly fixed in the spotlight.

Held at historic Mansion Hotel at Werribee Park just outside Melbourne, the forum was hosted by Advanced Solutions International (ASI), the developers of iMIS. In attendance was US based chairman and CEO Bob Alves, ASI Asia-Pacific senior management and leaders from:

This week we kicked off a new campaign to promote Friendraising. A direct mail campaign inviting prospects to attend seminars in Melbourne (29th April in ASI office) and Sydney (30th April at the Grace Hotel) began and will be followed up with emails and phone contact.

This seminar series will focus on the concept of friendraising (rather than the product). Attached is a copy of the postcard invite and below is copy of the letter that has been posted to contacts.

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Wednesday 9 April 2008

The Fund received applications requesting approximately $9,000 in funding in the March round. We are pleased to confirm six Scholarships were awarded with a total value of more than $5,000. Approximately $19,000 will now be made available for the three further rounds of funding for 2008.

Congratulations to the following Scholarship recipients:

Part A – Fully Funded Education Scholarships

Kennie Ward - OBJECT
FIA Skills 1 (NSW)

Judith Williams – Australian Breastfeeding Association
FIA Skills 1 (VIC)

Part B – Education Subsidies for ASI Customers

Janita Suter - Caritas Australia

I was interviewed recently for an article that has now been published in the February issue of Business Community Intelligence (BCI). The article, "Small Investment - Big Change: making a difference as a small to medium enterprise", discusses corporate responsibility and specifically our efforts in establishing a program including the ASI SMART Company Scholarship Fund.

A copy of the article in full is available to ASI staff at this private link.

Business Community Intelligence is an initiative of Our Community (www.ourcommunity.com.au). BCI is Australia's Premier Corporate Responsibility Newsletter designed specifically for the Australian business scene, with an eye to best practices and cutting-edge corporate responsibility thought leadership from this country and abroad. Issued quarterly, it provides case studies, community engagement ideas, insights, tools, and information on what works and what doesn't.

The March round of the ASI SMART Company Scholarship Fund has now closed. We received a total of 9 eligible applications for a range of funding with some very impressive applications coming through.

Joining Paul and Julie on the review panel for March is Leo.

As you may be aware, a different member of staff is selected to join the review panel for each funding round.

Previous guest panelists have included:

December 07 - Greg
September 07 - Jay
June 07 - Jason
March 07 - Jana

December 06 - Kevin B
September 06 - Mick
June 06 - Lindsay

This year the following staff have been selected to participate:

Since engaging our new US PR firm late last year, ASI is gaining media coverage around the various news wires. Here is a summary of recent activity:

ASI Press Releases
ASI Reports Record Revenue in 2007 - Feb 19 2008
Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Best Practices Outlined by ASI - Feb 15 2008
ASI Launches Tool for Peer-to-Peer Fundraising - Jan 30 2008

Many of you will remember the 'core values' PowerPoint and Enya music that I regularly play at staff meetings. It has been replaced by a new video that includes not just our core values, but staff from around the world talking about life at ASI. Included is our own Colin Bryant! Also featured is Niroo (Europe), Linda (Canada) and Sarah (US). Watch below, or visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/asicommunity.

Lehman Associates in the US recently completed a study on Association Management Systems, which showed that iMIS holds 37% market share in the US, that iMIS ranks highest among major AMS vendors in implementation experience, and iMIS ranks higher than the combined average ratings of other major AMS vendors in product satisfaction.

We put out a press release summarising the results, which I have copied in below. Edward has a full copy of the report for anyone wanting the specific details.

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Lehman Associates Study Shows iMIS is the Market Leading Association Management System

On Tuesday, Sue-Anne Wallace (CEO of the FIA) and I attended the Sydney luncheon to announce the state finalists of The Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships. ASI and FIA jointly submitted a nomination for this award, which I had posted about a few months ago.

Unfortunately, we did not win the state award, so that's it for us for this year. But it was really a good thing to be part of, and already Sue-Anne and I have started to make notes on how we can improve our community partnership so that we can nominate again next year.

July 16: Advanced Solutions International Honoured with Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership Award Nomination

Advanced Solutions International (Asia Pacific) has been honoured with a nomination for a 2007 Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership Award by the Fundraising Institute Australia.

The nomination recognises the fruitful relationship between ASI, which provides software to the non-profit sector and the FIA, which represents the sector’s fundraisers. At the heart of the partnership is the innovative ASI SMART Company Scholarship Fund which funds training courses, conference attendance and professional development for individuals working in the non-profit sector.

July 16: Winter Suddenly a Little Warmer for ASI SMART Company Scholarship Winners - Seven more winners announced

Seven non profit professionals have reason to feel a little warmer this winter courtesy of the latest round of the ASI SMART Company Scholarships. The winners, who come from New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria will share in more than $6000 of funding to develop their professional skills and strengthen the non profit organisations for which they work.

The latest round attracted more than $20,000 of funding applications from Australian and New Zealand non profit professionals. The magnificent seven who most impressed the selection panel are professionals from Monash University Medical Foundation, The Mary Potter Foundation, Bush Heritage Australia, Australian College of Health Service Executives, YHA Victoria and two individuals from Diabetes Australia - Victoria.

July 13: From Sleepless Nights To A Dream Future - ASI’s New Strategic Partner Program Drives Non Profits Further

An innovative new partnership program by Advanced Solutions International Asia Pacific (ASI) will help some of Australia’s leading non profit organisations including the Australian Medical Association and the Australian Institute of Company Directors, get a better night’s sleep and wake to a brighter future.

The ASI Strategic Partner Program offers non profits such as associations and membership-based organisations, charities and fundraisers, the opportunity to build an ongoing plan based on the seven key non profit business drivers for high performance non-profits. They are: