What is it?
The RISCOS Foundation ("Foundation") is the new organisation which has been set up by RISCOS Ltd to replace the suspended Acorn Clan.

It will be run on a yearly subscription basis with the primary aim of being a means of disseminating information to end-users about the activities of RISCOS Ltd and other companies developing hardware and software for use with RISC OS.

It will also provide (for an additional fee) email access for developer support for non-commercial software developers and those wishing to learn more about RISC OS.
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What will it cost?
The yearly membership fee will be £30 + VAT = £35.25
Original Clan members can join the Foundation for £25 + VAT = £29.37
for the first year of membership. Membership will be £30 + VAT = £35.25 for everyone from January 2000.
Semi-commercial developer support will be available for an additional £25 + VAT = £29.37 per annum.
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What will I get from the Foundation?
The Foundation will produce a colour newsletter every three months to be direct mailed to members. It will also produce a CD twice per year to showcase the latest products from the active commercial RISC OS hardware and software developers, as well as the best of the PD software releases. Other features of the CD will be the latest contact details of all active Risc OS developers and dealers as well as a comprehensive product database of Risc OS related products and possibly an archive of all the related Comp.Sys.Acorn... newsgroups for that period. There will also be an area on the RISCOS Ltd web-site with access limited to members of the Foundation and of course Foundation members will be the first to be able to order future products from RISCOS Ltd.
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What about freebies?
Sweatshirts, Mugs, Lapel badges etc will be produced once membership reaches suitable levels and will be available at the same costs as the Clan equivalents but are not be with the membership fee.
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Why should I join?
If you want to show your support for future of RISC OS this will be your first chance to make a positive contribution to the efforts being made to ensure that the old Acorn community doesn't die. The Foundation is not just another magazine with a CD thrown in for good measure every couple of months.
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Who or what is RISCOS Ltd?
RISCOS Ltd is a new company that has been set up to negotiate with Acorn / Element 14 to secure a future for the ongoing development of RISC OS. If RISCOS Ltd is unsuccessful the continued development of RISC OS and new computers is very un-certain.
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Where can I meet the Foundation organisers?
The Foundation hopes to be represented at all possible RISC OS related events. It will act as a feedback path for RISC OS related problems and queries, but please don't expect immediate answers to queries at this stage. A final agreement with Element 14 is still be negotiated and none of the other plans of RISCOS Ltd can be discussed until the appropriate time. If you need commercial help then RISCOS Ltd will be offering commercial developer support very shortly.
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Will there be a Foundation Website?
Of course. But Foundation members will get a Private Area which will give them advance information over non-members. Keep checking http://www.riscos.com for further news.
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Competitions?
There are no immediate plans to have any competitions to win a new Risc PC etc, but we would be happy to receive suggestions for a logo for the RISCOS Foundation either by post or email to foundation@riscos.com
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Will the Foundation be trying to replace the Acorn User Groups?
Not at all. The Foundation will not try to compete with the local and national activities of the ARM Club and other user groups. Its aim is to act as a promotion vehicle for RISCOS Ltd and its licensees and to help support the ongoing development of RISC OS.
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How do I join?
Send the following details :-

Name
Address
Credit Card Details or Cheque made out to RISCOS Ltd.
Clan membership number (to claim membership at £25 + VAT)

to the following address:-

The RISCOS Foundation
3 Clarendon Road
Cardiff
CF23 9JD

or by email to:- foundation@riscos.com

or fill in the application form available from our stand at this show.

You will then receive your Foundation Membership Number within 28 days and our thanks that you want to help provide a future for RISC OS development.

Paul Middleton
Managing Director
RISCOS Ltd

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