Upcoming APICS Partner Webinar: 2012-2014 Strategic Prioritiesreview
You're invited to join APICS Chair Eric Schaudt, CPIM, CSCP, for a webinar reviewing the 2012-2014 Strategic Priorities as approved by the APICS Board of Directors July 31, 2011.

The webinar will review the approved priorities, the most significant of whichis to the APICS district structure. There now are four non-North American Districts:

• Asia-Pacific
• Central-South America
• Europe
• Middle East-Africa

This change enables APICS to provide additional resources to each of the new regions and allows new opportunities for APICS partners to recommend individuals to the Director Nominating Committee for their consideration as candidates for the APICS Board of Directors.

On August 31, 2011, APICS will conduct two webinars to review the 2012–2014 Strategic Priorities and the related governance changes. APICS also will be scheduling a meeting during the 2011 APICS International Conference & Expo to discuss how these changes will be implemented and to answer any questions.

Webinar schedule

August 31, 2011 | 8:00 a.m. CT
Register now. (what time is this in my time zone?)

August 31, 2011 | 2:00 p.m. CT
Register now. (what time is this in my time zone?)

Update to APICS member benefits: Aberdeen Research Vaultaccess
Effective immediately, APICS members no longer will receive access to theAberdeen Research Vault.

APICS members who currently are signed up on the Aberdeen website will not be impacted and willhave continued access to Aberdeen research through the duration of their two-year access.

Reminder: APICS CSCPprogram and pricingupdates

APICS CSCP program update
As we informed you in April, to support APICS' strategic priority to implement a process to regularly update APICS courseware and ensure APICS certification programs reflect current professional practice, the APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) program will be updated for the 2012 educational year. This update will enable APICS to maintain the credibility and high quality standards of the certification.

North American chapters: Read the notice now.
International partners: Read the notice now.

APICS CSCP pricing update
The APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) program was released in late 2005, with the first exam administered in March 2006. Due to the changing nature of supply chain management, APICS conducted a job task analysis in 2010 to ensure that the body of knowledge being tested by the APICS CSCP exam matched the tasks that industry professionals are engaged in today. The job task analysis resulted in a significant update to the APICS CSCP exam for 2012. Although it was clear a considerable investment was required to fully update the APICS CSCP Learning System to match the new exam, the changes were necessary to ensure APICS core products retain their leadership position in the market.

Further review prompted APICS to review pricing of the APICS CSCP product line. In order to continue to offer members a high-quality educational experience, prices for the APICS CSCP Learning System and exam must be adjusted.

Please remember: Prices have not changed for the APICS CSCP Learning System since the program began more than five years ago, not even to keep pace with inflation.

• Because of the current economic environment, APICS will increase the price gradually to recover the investment of the updates.
• Pricing for the APICS CSCP exam has been adjusted to below the inflation rate for the last five years and does not include significant operational cost increases of the computer-based testing migration.
• The APICS CSCP Learning System pricing has been aligned to half of the inflation rate for the last five years.
• Effective January 1, 2012, APICS will have new prices for these APICS CSCP products.
  APICS channel partners were notified of the price changes July 21—please see that email for an overview of the price changes.

APICS CSCP Instructor Guides, the APICS CPIM materials, and the Fundamentals/Principles program prices will not change in 2012; however, as planned updates are completed in future years, the price will be adjusted to reflect the investment in those products. APICS will review pricing on all products at regular intervals to ensure the pricing structure aligns with investment recovery objectives, inflation, and the organization's strategic priorities. The price changes ensure that APICS can continue to bring you the high-quality materials you rely on.

Questions? Contact APICS Customer Service at 1-800-444-2742 or +1-773- 867-1777 or service@apics.org.

Notice: APICS CFPIM price update
Please note that, beginning January 1, 2012, the APICS CFPIM application price will increase from $30 to $50.

Reminder: Updates toBasics of Supply Chain Management and Detailed Scheduling and Planning
The APICS Basics of Supply Chain Management (BSCM) and Detailed Scheduling and Planning (DSP) modules will be updated to a new version in 2012. The changes will require purchasing new APICS Instructor Kits for these two courses in 2012. To ensure our chapters, international partners, and instructors have adequate time to plan and budget for the new materials, we are notifying you now. As we have done the last four years, we will offer these new instructor kits for $150 to those partners and instructors who already own a current version of the APICS Instructor Kit through March 31, 2012.

The new materials will be available for preorder December 1, 2011, and will ship beginning December 16, 2011. The 2012 edition of the APICS BSCM will move to version 4.0 and the 2012 edition of the DSP will move to version 5.0. The APICS upgrade kit includes the net change document, updated instructor guide pages, and updated or new PowerPoint slides will be available for download through the APICS Instructor Center on December 16, 2011.

The APICS upgrade packet includes printed copies of the detailed change document, updated instructor pages, and the complete PowerPoint visuals CD-ROM is available for preorder starting December 1, 2011, through APICS Customer Service, for shipment beginning December 16, 2011. The cost of the packet is $25. Contact APICS Customer Service at 1-800-444-2742 or +1-773-867-1777 or service@apics.org.

Returning APICS CPIM Participant Guides
APICS partners (chapters and international associates) that have unused APICS CPIM Participant workbooks that were purchased after September 1, 2011, will be able to return them for replacement until February 28, 2012. When sending a return, please include the front cover only, original purchaser's name, address, and approximate date of purchase. A receipt is not mandatory but appreciated. Please send the covers to the following address:

Attention: APICS Customer Service
APICS The Association for Operations Management
8430 West Bryn Mawr Avenue
Suite 1000
Chicago, IL 60631 USA

NOTE: Do not send the covers to Gilmore Global. This will create additional expense for you and will delay the replacement of your books. For more information, contact APICS Customer Service at 1-800-444-2742 or +1-773-867-1777.

If you have any questions or need of further information, please contact us.

Chapters: pdadmin@apics.org
International associates: globalservices@apics.org

James Greathouse Certification Scholarship program donations and applications
The scholarship supports individuals who are seeking the APICS CPIM designation or the APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) designation. Because of your involvement with volunteerism and leadership, we hope you will consider expressing your support for future APICS certification designees by making a donation.

Make a contribution
Please make checks payable to the APICS Educational & Research Foundation with a note on the check memo that the funds are for the James Greathouse APICS Certification Professional Scholarship Fund. Donations should be sent to:

APICS Educational and Research Foundation
Attn: James Greathouse APICS Certification Professional Scholarship Fund
8430 West Bryn Mawr Ave, Suite 1000
Chicago, IL 60631 USA

Learn more about the James Greathouse APICS Certification Professional Scholarship and find the application and eligibility information at apics.org/greathouse.

APICS membership update
APICS membership grew again in July to 35,706 members.

2011 year-to-date highlights

• APICS added 768 new members in July and 7,238 new members for the year. This is 21 percent more new members that this first seven months of 2010.
• Through July, APICS has decreased the member lapses by 414 members compared to the same period in 2010.
• Overall, APICS is 4 percent ahead of the 2010 year end membership total.