Second, the Association will provide training programs for clients. Such educational efforts may involve governments (e.g., technical translations), agencies (e.g., workshops or manuals in particular management methods and strategies), agriculturalists (e.g., decision support software or advisory tools), and companies (e.g., seminars or reviews on recent advances in application and operational tactics). Association training programs will create rich opportunities for development of effective, customized, high-quality training programs for a wide range of clients in the native languages of the participants. The Association is also able to fill gaps in training programs offered by local agencies and Institutional Partners.

Third, the Association will provide expertise related to applied research ventures, with the possibility of conducting year-round testing of new products and strategies by utilizing Associates and Institutional Partners in both hemispheres. The classic context of this service would be contracts with agrochemical industries with respect to efficacy and environmental testing, and such work will undoubtedly continue and expand. However, the development of new methods for particular conditions, the refinement or adaptation of approaches for individual countries, and the comparison of various management strategies for agencies may all provide significant opportunities for the Associates and Institutional Partners. The potential for creative and supportive collaboration among Associates in large and complex research projects demanding the skills and experience of multiple experts will make the Association a very attractive source of services to a wide range of clients.

Second, the Associates and Institutional Partners will represent a broad range of geographical, cultural, philosophical, and professional perspectives. Associates from 20 nations, including experts in chemical and biological control, integrated pest management, applied ecology, environmental toxicology, and agricultural economics will assure that Association’s consultation, training, and research are derived from both a rich depth of knowledge and a wide breadth of views. Rather than the client having to seek alternative perspectives, the Association will assure that competing views have been taken into account with regard to all of its products.

Third, the Association is committed to assuring that under no circumstances will the results of its work be influenced by the sources of funding, the biases of the Associates and Institutional Partners, or the interests of the Sponsoring Partners. This last source of potential conflict-of-interest is a matter of particular concern. In this regard, the acceptance of sponsorships requires the absolute and complete absence of conditions related to the economic and political interests of the Sponsoring Partners.

Fourth, the Association will pursue a diversification of sponsorship, including a range of industries and various international agencies. By acquiring support from multiple – even competing – Sponsoring Partners, objectivity (or at least multiplicity of perspectives) will be enhanced.

Fifth, to guarantee unbiased and objective work, all reports and programs developed for the Association will undergo an internal, peer review process by other members of the Association specifically chosen for their expertise and potentially alternative views. This process will assure the client that the work of Association meets the highest possible professional standards. In effect, a client receives not only the expertise of the selected Associate(s), but the Association’s assurance that the results are as reliable and credible as possible.

Second, there will be marketing meetings with existing and potential clients. Such discussions will be particularly important early in the Association’s development, but continued marketing of services will be necessary to maintain and expand the number of clients and Sponsoring Partners.

Third, there will be one or two workshops for Associates each year. These workshops will provide continuing opportunities to enhance skills, expand capabilities, explore new methods, and learn emerging technologies, while building trust and camaraderie among participants. Such continuing education of Associates by Associates will strengthen the credibility of the Association by assuring clients that the best, newest, and most effective approaches are always available.

Fourth, the University of Wyoming will provide in-kind support of the Association in the form of bookkeeping services, office space, and communications (phone/fax line, email account, Website), and overhead waivers (for sponsorships).
 
 

Second, the Associates and Institutional Partners will gain regular access to one another through a system of ongoing communications and workshops. Expanding one’s professional contacts through meeting and working with the world’s finest acridologists and supporting scientists will provide an unparalleled opportunity for professional development through the exchange of new ideas and approaches.

Third, the Association will provide annual workshops to give Associates access to new regions, emerging technologies, novel management practices, unique ecological conditions, varied economic perspectives, diverse cultures, and varied political contexts. The chance to learn from other experts is an unprecedented system of continuing education in acridology, and this strategy assures that Associates will be highly sought-after for their knowledge and experience.

Fourth, the Associates and Institutional Partners will form an elite core of applied acridology – a community of scientists that has no parallel in other pest management systems. As such, it is the explicit intent of the Association to build and foster an organization that is truly prestigious, so that its Associates will be recognized and respected around the world. While an invitation to become and Associate is, in itself, a high honor, the Association is not designed to be or become a "paper lion" or honorary club. The Associates are expected to continually develop and demonstrate their skills and knowledge in a supportive and cohesive partnership of outstanding and demanding scientific colleagues.
 
 

Second, each Associate will be expected to engage in Association-related projects as they become available. Such activities will include work with the Association’s sponsors (full or supporting) or services to clients who direct their request through the Association. The hosting of an Association workshop will also constitute having conducted an Association project. The size, intensity, or profitability of a project will not be a qualifying factor. The purpose of this expectation is to simply assure that the Associates are active and productive in acridology and are contributing to the wellbeing of the Association.

Third, every Associate is expected to contribute a regional summary to the Semi-annual Report on Acridid Infestations. The Associates will receive a copy of this Report with the understanding that its contents are for their exclusive and confidential use.

Fourth, every Associate is expected to contribute to The Annual Report on the State of Applied Acridology. This report will include: 1) an Executive summary, 2) short summaries of Associates’ projects conducted through the Association, and 3) reviews of recent advances and innovations relevant to applied acridology. This report will be provided to all Sponsoring Partners and clients.

Fifth, all Associates will provide their professional, objective, critical, and constructive review of Association-related projects upon request. It is the intent of the Association that all consultancy reports, training programs, and applied research reports will undergo the review of at least two Associates not involved with, but having particular expertise in, the specific project. This is another mechanism to assure communication within the Association, to build professional expertise, and to assure the credibility of the Association’s work.