MEMBERSHIP

What is PMAP and what is their mission?
PMAP is a non-profit association of professionals in supply management. It is the Philadelphia affiliate of the Institute of Supply Management (ISM), formerly known as NAPM.
PMAP is open to supply professionals of any type of business and is not industry-specialized.
PMAP is best known for its role in promoting educational or networking opportunities for supply professionals, in the Tri-State area. See our summary and mission statement in About PMAP

What are the benefits of membership?
Preferential access to locally organized seminars and workshops, to help maintain and develop your professional skills, or assist in your preparation for professional certifications.
Discounts on exams and applications for professional certifications like A.P.P. or C.P.M. or CPSM
Discounts on materials and courses available from ISM for professional certifications.
Access to the ISM catalogue of courses, seminars and other educational material at discounted prices (see also 17 reasons to be part of the Institute of Supply Management through PMAP).
Access to an updated list of positions available locally, to provide members an additional tool in their job searches
Access to the Online career center of ISM, and a database of employment listings across the country.
Join a network of hundreds of local supply management professionals, and the ability to exchange on work practices and business opportunities with them.
Regularly meet with other professionals in our monthly meetings & dinners, expand your contacts and broaden your experience.
Participate to special interest committees and connect with your peers on various common interest areas.
Volunteer in recognized initiatives within the Association, and professionally promote yourself and your ideas.

Are there different types of membership, what are their costs?

Regular Membership - Includes National and Local benefits*
District/Affiliate Code: 05/505
Annual ISM & PMAP Dues: $ 247.00
National Administrative Fee: $ 20.00
Affiliate Initiation Fee: $ 15.00
TOTAL: $ 282.00

*Dues include 10 FREE Dinner Meeting with pre-registration required. Inside Supply Management magazine as a $12 portion and ISM InfoEdge as a $12 portion of the membership fee.
* Regular membership is when an individual chooses to join PMAP and National. PMAP will set the annual dues for its local membership, which will include National dues. Any individual that chooses this type of membership will receive discounts on both National and Affiliate levels.

Associate Membership - Does not include National benefits**
Annual PMAP dues: $ 137.00
Affiliate Initiation Fee: $ 15.00
TOTAL: $ 152.00

*Dues include 10 FREE Dinner Meeting with pre-registration required.
**Associate Membership is available to those persons who meet eligibility standards of PMAP, provided that at least one other person of the same company division holds a regular (full) membership in the Purchasing Management Association of Philadelphia. Application for Associate Membership must be in writing and endorsed by the person in his company holding Regular Membership. Certain other restrictions may apply, consult PMAP website for details at Membership Application
ISM members receive

How long does it take to become a member?
A new applicant can expect to wait up to 4 weeks for their application to be processed. The Board of PMAP must approve all new applicants. Board meetings are held on Thursdays in the fourth week of each month. An applicant that joins through ISM directly will take longer. ISM will process the application and then send it to the PMAP office. Once the PMAP office receives the application, it will then be presented to the Board for approval.

How can I transfer my membership from one affiliate to another?
Current member: The member must inform their current affiliate in writing or by e-mail that they would like to transfer their membership to another affiliate.
The member must notify the affiliate he wants to transfer his membership to and provide them with his contact information.
Past member: You must complete an application and indicate on the application that you are transferring from __________ affiliate.

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS

First determine whether you are eligible for the C.P.M. or the CPSM. There are no prerequisites to take the Exam.
The current requirements for the A.P.P.:
1. Successful completion of Module 1 and Module 2 of the A.P.P. Exam (or Modules 1 & 2 of the C.P.M. Exam).
2. Two years of professional (non-clerical, non-support) experience, of which purchasing and supply can be a secondary component
OR have an associate's degree from an accredited institution and one-year of professional (non-clerical, non-support) experience.

IMPORTANT ADVICE :
ISM has announced a change to the Accredited Purchasing Practitioner (A.P.P.) designation. After February 28, 2005, ISM will no longer accept new exam
registrations for the A.P.P. designation. Those individuals who have registered prior to March 1, 2005, will have up to one year to take their exams. If they are interested in securing A.P.P. Original/Original Lifetime accreditation, they will need to apply by February 28, 2007. Individuals already holding the A.P.P. designation may still apply for reaccreditation. For more information, click here.

The current requirements for the C.P.M./CPSM:
1. Pass all four modules of the C.P.M./CPSM Exam.
2. Five years of full time professional (non-clerical, non-support) supply management experience OR three years of full time professional supply management experience and a four-year degree from an accredited institution.
Once you determine what designation(s) you wish to achieve the next step is to plan a course of study and take the A.P.P. or C.P.M. or CPSM Exam.
For details on the study material available through ISM and the testing process please refer to the appropriate Exam Registration Brochure by using this link: http://www.ism.ws/Certification/Onlineforms.cfm. The exam registration brochure outlines the process to take the exam and contains valuable information on the exam format.

Certification: Where do I begin? Who offers the C.P.M. Course, are there local institutions?

Bucks County Community College
Newtown, PA
215-504-8578

Penn State University, Abington Campus
Abington, PA
215-881-7388

Penn State University, Great Valley Campus
Malvern, PA
610-648-3281

EMPLOYMENT

How can I post a job on the PMAP Web site?
We accept advertisements for opened positions from both members and non-members.
There is no charge to place an ad but it must be e-mailed to the PMAP office. Not more than 150 words, include reply information, indicate if you are an employment agency, and submit it by e-mail to PMAP office.

PARTICIPATE IN EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

What are the regular activities of PMAP, how to participate?
We organize monthly dinners, to provide an opportunity for networking and attend conferences on purchasing related topics, traditionally through two pre-dinner presentations and an after-dinner speaker. We organize seminars, often on the same day and place as the monthly dinner, to allow participants to combine both in a single day educational opportunity. Occasionally, dinners combine with visits of enterprise sites, and an occasion for members to widen their knowledge of organizations and business.
Participation to these events is by registration. Registrations can be made by fax, email or an online form available on the PMAP website.
From time to time, there are organized networking events, to allow acquaintances to be made in a more social setting. They work by the same registration process.

Are there specialized committees, how to participate, who do I contact?
We also have have member volunteer committees: Professional Development, Website Development, E-newsletter, Public Relations, Membership, Supplier Relations, Minority Business. Participation to these committees allows members to volunteer in certain professional initiatives with PMAP and expand their experience in various topics.
Joining these committees can be made as a regular or affiliate member. Volunteer details and ongoing projects are available from the respective Board Officers & Directors.