Policies & Procedures
Important policies and procedures for participation in on-line events of the Foundation follow.
Policies
Access
Unless otherwise stated on this Website for a specific event, registration is required for the events publicized on this site, including the payment of specified registration fees.
Once an order is placed, registrants receive notice by email of the information they need to gain access to their event.
NOTE: Using access information that is a product of commerce without paying the required fee for that product is a violation of the law. Arranging for others to access an event where paid registration or ticket purchase is required without making such payment (including using a ticket or pass paid for by a registrant who also attends or uses his/her ticket or pass) is a violation of the law.
The above actions are comparable to gaining unauthorized access to an on-site event (seminar, conference, sporting event, concert, movie, etc.) where payment is required to gain access.
Parties who ignore the registration requirements will be precluded from attending future events and any logged onto a live event will be removed. By such actions, said parties also forfeit any rights to a refund for payments they have made.
Prohibitions
In addition to the requirement that attendees pay any required registration fees as addressed above, the following are also strictly prohibited:
-- Recording of any of our programs without written permission
-- On-line or media-based broadcasting of any of our programs
-- Altering, disseminating or otherwise using in an unauthorized manner slides or other materials provided by speakers or sponsors as part of our programs, other than for the review and learning experience intended for the registrant.
Discounts
Depending on the events or series of events, discounts are made available for multiple purchase on a “package” basis whereby the per unit rate is less if more sessions are purchased. In some instances group rates are also offered. Special rates also sometimes apply for non-profit organizations and public agencies. Decisions on discounts depend in part on underwriting sources to the Foundation for such purposes. If no discounts are indicated on the Website or in promotional mailers or invitations, they do not apply.
CM Credits
The Foundation is a continuing education provider for AICP CM credits. Providers must apply and pay a fee to AICP for each program where authorization to offer credits is sought. This has been done for some events to-date and will in the future for others. See end of this page for further details. Some courses will also apply for CE credits of other professions and organizations.
Emergencies
Weather related and other serious emergencies can necessitate the rescheduling of an event. Were this to occur due to severe weather, power outage, phone/DSL outage or other emergency, registrants will be contacted as soon as possible for rescheduling purposes. The Foundation cannot guarantee that all speakers will agree to a rebooking. If this is not possible, or if a registrant cannot attend at the rescheduled time, a refund will be issued.
Refunds
On-line learning sessions are classified as consumables whereby the customer uses and benefits from the purchased service upon receiving the link and attending the live event or replay. Refunds are not provided once the customer receives such access – i.e., once the link for an event(s) is distributed to them.
Refunds are also not provided where a registrant decided to not attend a particular event. Consider the analogy of a concert where the consumer attends, or receives the tickets to attend, and requests a refund after the fact.
Service Charges
Where a cancellation occurs, a minimum $20 cancellation fee applies given the fee charged to the Foundation by the credit card processor and the time required by the Foundation to handle such requests. A higher fee may be published where the Foundation books events based on a required minimum attendance.
Procedures
Confirmation
Upon signing up for an event, registrants are sent an email with initial event information (to the address they provided in registering) and are asked to confirm receipt of this email to ensure that emails from the Foundation email address are reaching them (and not being blocked by spam filters) for purposes of event links and related information.
Event Access
Several days prior to each of the events registrant’s are sent an email with a Web link providing event access.
• These links are for use and access by registrants only. Others employed by your office may listen in and watch via a single computer. Use of the link on multiple computers is not allowed. Nor is providing access to others not on your staff.
• If more than one or two people on your staff will be taking part in an event, or if groups are assembled for this purpose, discounted rates are available on this Website -- under a small group plan – and required for this purpose.
• The name of each person signed in will appear on our screen during the events as a tool for monitoring attendance for continuing education and general purposes. If the party who paid for the registration is different than the individual who will attend, please let us know (by email) as we will be blocking access to non-registrants for future sessions and will disconnect non-registrants during a live session.
Sign-In
The link that Registrants will receive for each event requires a separate sign-in process. Registrants are encouraged to sign-in early (preferably prior to the day of the event) and to allow up to 10 minutes for this process. You will need to download software and enter brief registration information in order to move forward to the live event screen. You can sign in as much in advance as you like then return to the link just before the live event.
Taking care of this in advance will help ensure avoidance of any problems using the system (as we will not be able to assist you once the event is underway or about to start). A help line phone number is provided in the unlikely event that you experience technical difficulties (but we cannot guarantee the response time if you wait until the time of the event).
On Arrival
When you arrive at the access page (using the mentioned link) you will be in a “Waiting Room” briefly, then the event will go live. You will see and hear some introductory information of importance to your participation beginning at about 5 minutes before the official start time. You will then hear the welcome and presenters plus see their presentation materials.
Questions of Presenters
A console will appear at the upper right of your screen through which you may ask questions. You may also submit questions via the mentioned link once you receive it -- up until four hours before the live session.
• Submitting questions in advance will help ensure that your questions are answered if there are many from the attendees for that session.
• The moderator will ask the questions of the speakers. Our practice is to not identify the source of the question unless the individual submitting it does so within their typed-in question.
• A dial-in phone number will also be made available and a code personalized to your phone will be provided as you go through the registration sign-in process. Use of the phone is optional.
Sound
Most computers have built in speakers and if yours does not, check to see if your office has external speakers (or you may have your own that can simply be plugged in to your computer). Also be sure that the volume is on and sufficiently up for you to hear, but not so loud as to reduce sound quality. Note that sound quality varies from computer to computer and you may want to choose a computer that you know to be of high quality.
Replays
On-demand replays have not been included as part of the series registration price, unless otherwise noted on the Website.
Exception: if you signed up for the Hot Topics series since the August 24, 2009 DRI session, you will be given access to the replay on either of the dates noted on the Web and will receive a personal pass-code once production of the video modules is complete and the program is on-line.
Speaker Bios
Presenter background and credentials are added to the Website on an ongoing basis. Refer to the event description for the link that applies.
Updates
Updates are posted to this Website on an ongoing basis.
We trust that the event(s) you have signed up for will be well worthwhile for you and thank you for your interest and participation.
The Future Is Now Foundation
CreatingtheFutureNow.com
850.997.2837, 251.0760
CM Credits for Planning & Growth Series
Credit hours have been applied for with AICP for some of our sessions and will be for others. Approval for those already in is expected soon and will be noted on the Website. Paid registration is required for each individual to qualify for CM credit.
In addition:
a) Those taking the program for credit will want to be in attendance for the entire program (which our on-line records will show)
b) It is important per the AICP process that you complete the Evaluation form provided on the registration Web page.
c) If the credit card used for event registration was not in the name of the person seeking CM credit and your office has not provided us with that person’s name, we will not be able to indicate in our records required by AICP that you completed the program.
d) If more than one staff member from your office is watching/listening from the same computer, and the additional staff is desiring AICP credit, your office will need to assume responsibility for assuring that those seeking credit attended and for the entirety of the program; and, upon conclusion of the event you will need to forward us the names of those staff members with a note to that effect. Registration requirements apply as noted above.