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| Betty Schultz is director of meetings in the ASTM International Technical Committee Operations Division.
ASTM Members: How to Preregister Online
If you are an ASTM member, meeting and registration information is available on the ASTM Web site at http://myastm.astm.org.
To locate your meeting:
• Select the “Login Here” button; you will be prompted for your e-mail address (or use your nine-digit member number and your password).
• On your “My Committees” page, go to the “Meetings and Symposia” link (listed by committee). Follow this link for meeting information and online registration.
If you enter the site through “My ASTM,” the preregistration form will already contain your name and address, along with meeting information specific to your committee affiliation. You also have the ability to choose other committee meetings you would like to attend. //
Non-ASTM Members: How to Preregister Online
First select the “Meetings” navigation bar at the ASTM home page. Next, select the committee you are interested in and a list of their future meetings will appear. When the meeting information is available, you will find a link to the meeting and registration information and you may register at that time. This information is generally posted and available for viewing 10 to 12 weeks prior to each meeting.
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 Online Preregistration Makes Participation in ASTM International Meetings Even Easier
by Betty Schultz
Last autumn, ASTM International launched a new online preregistration system, beginning with the fall Committee Weeks in Washington, D.C. The customized system, which had been in the planning process for several years, features functions that will give ASTM meeting attendees the ability to:
• See customized views of specific committee meeting information;
• Preregister for multiple committee meetings, symposia and other special events;
• Receive an automated electronic confirmation that registration has been accepted;
• Pay committee activity, symposia or social event fees in advance using a credit card and receive an electronic receipt;
• Easily navigate to the meeting schedule as well as general meeting and hotel information; and
• See meeting and registration information for independent committee meetings, information that had previously only been available for Committee Week meetings.
Other Benefits
There are many other benefits associated with the new system. When meeting and registration information becomes available online, an e-mail is sent to all ASTM members informing them that it is now posted, with a convenient link to that Web page. When attendees preregister for a meeting, their name badges and meeting handouts are available for pickup at the meeting’s registration desk, thus eliminating the need to complete forms on-site and stand in potentially long lines to register and receive a badge and handouts.
The new system also provides data collection capabilities that assist the ASTM Meetings Department in its planning efforts. The system provides reports on how many attendees are preregistered for each committee, which helps us ensure adequate meeting room arrangements. During the course of the meeting, staff can also obtain attendance information (for both members and non-members), the amount of money collected for voluntary activity fees, and how many tickets have been sold for a special banquet event.
Register Online!
Because of the benefits to both meeting attendees and the ASTM staff, our goal is to significantly increase our online preregistration. Both members and nonmembers can preregister for ASTM meetings (see sidebars). ASTM members will see several notices and reminders accompanying upcoming meeting announcements asking you to preregister. The staff appreciates your support in this area so that we can do everything possible to ensure a productive and pleasant meeting experience.
While positive feedback has been received on the system since its launch, it was designed with flexibility in mind so that enhancements can be easily accommodated. Plans are already under way for improvements. In the months to come, we look forward to posting meeting schedules with room names and hotel floor plans.
Please give the new online meeting information and preregistration system a try. I hope that you find it informative and easy to navigate. If you encounter any problems, our help desk is eager to assist. Contact them at 800/262-1373 (USA and Canada) or 01 610/832-9578 (international), 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. U.S. eastern standard time, Monday through Friday. //
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