Raspberry Pi (Trading) Ltd. finally announced

Eben Upton responded to my question "why were you terminated as a director of the Raspberry Pi Foundation?" here: http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=4148983&cid=44722739

I like the part about resigning in order to separate the control of the two entities,

"though I continue to run the Foundation on a day-to-day basis".  I think the whole point

of requiring charities to publicly declare their trustees is so that the public is clear about

who is running the charity on a day-to-day basis.

I wonder what title he may have used since resigning when signing RPF contracts, if any?

JUST leave it alone and let us R-pi users have fun,,, let the politics go their way... Don't F**k up a good thing,,, ok ?    Thanks.. Chuck Smith

Just let it be

I enjoy the advent of the Raspberry Pi and I have given it to four other people to play with and develop.   I have been involved with computers since the 1970's.   Just let it evolve for god's sake.

But I do enjoy children bickering about who gets what credit and for what ??   It's entertaining !!   

If you do not like the game,  pick up your marbles and leave it alone !!

Otherwise, help develop it for the users!!!

Chuck Smith

Every project needs a front man/woman,,, so Eben is ok.   He is a human and seems to have good morals about a project that he knows takes hundreds if not thousands of good people.  Leave it alone,,, let the R-Pi project grow and grow !!

Chuck smith

some very nice men and women put together this Raspberry- Pi expedition,, and I think they have done a very nice job of it so far !!!  Congratulations !!  Now all the lawyers and anti- R-pi people are coming out like rats looking to destroy all they can .... WHY ?  I ask Why ?    Why not join up and get on the bandwagon and make it bigger and cheaper and of course smarter !!   Other developers can get their Kudos too,,, just hook up and show users cool projects,   

Chuck Smith

I believe the R-Pi is attractive to kids,, and it makes them learn,,, only because it is a challenge to them,,,!!

It's not a Given Box of what to do,,, it's a Box presented to them asking  " what do you  think you can do with this Kid ?  "  .. and kids love that,, not just our generation but for millennium.   Kids are curious and don't want to conform to what is given,, they want to put their own stamp on it !!

Chuck Smith

Every project needs a front man/woman,,, so Eben is ok.

Why not join up and get on the bandwagon

I think the point you missed is that there is not just one project, there are two.

There is not just one bandwagon, there are two.

There is not just one board of directors, there are two.

There is not just one charter, there are two.

There is not just one CEO, there are two.

There is not just one bank account, there are two.

One project involves an educational charity which is lobbying the UK govt

regarding educational policies, and is developing educational videos and other

materials.  The other project involves making and selling inexpensive small

computers for a variety of purposes, many of which have nothing to do with education.

You only see one spokesman, one website, one FAQ, one "about us", etc., and for over a year

did not hear the RPi Trading company's charter or operations explained, even though it had

the majority of the employees and activity.  You may think the resulting confusion is

a good thing, or at least par for the course, but I respectfully disagree.

I believe all charitable organizations have to also make money on the side in some form of legality.  It only makes sense,  you have to bring in money to accomplish certain things,,, charity may not cut it    The laws make it difficult,, and lawyers make it almost impossible,,, but there has to be a median.  What is the big problem if some money is made for future developments ??    If 80 percent is all charity,  then i would still call it a charitable organization,,, not worth splitting hairs about.

Chuck Smith

coder27,   This is Chuck Smith responding.

I love the Raspberry-pi and what it is doing for kids and adults.

I realize I do not get involved with all the politics and laws and trading and money.

All I am trying to get across is .. Why not let it run,,, support it,, make it work,, set up classes for kids to program on it,,, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,  just keep the thing going !!!!     Stay the Course !!!!   I was even thinking of organizing a class at the local school for kids to learn R-pi.  It is catching on !!!!

The competitors can jump on too.

Why Not ??   You guys got a good thing going,, why let some lawyers , politicians and greedy people ruin it ??

Chuck Smith

Most charities rely on donations.  Some charities have separate for-profit subsidiaries that

conduct trading, the profits of which go to the charity.  But in those cases, there is a very

clear separation between the charity's activities and those of the for-profit subsidiary, and

the for-profit trading is not done under the banner or auspices of the charity.

In contrast, the RPi trading for the past year has been done under the banner of the charity,

and very few people had even the slightest inkling that there was any for-profit company involved.

What is the big problem if some money is made for future developments ??

There is no problem whatsoever of a for-profit company operating as a subsidiary of a charity

and donating its profits to the charity, provided of course that it is clear that that's what's going on.

Most charities rely on donations.  Some charities have separate for-profit subsidiaries that

conduct trading, the profits of which go to the charity.  But in those cases, there is a very

clear separation between the charity's activities and those of the for-profit subsidiary, and

the for-profit trading is not done under the banner or auspices of the charity.

In contrast, the RPi trading for the past year has been done under the banner of the charity,

and very few people had even the slightest inkling that there was any for-profit company involved.

What is the big problem if some money is made for future developments ??

There is no problem whatsoever of a for-profit company operating as a subsidiary of a charity

and donating its profits to the charity, provided of course that it is clear that that's what's going on.

Coder27 :  I imagine it gets very sticky on the legal side of things,,, especially with taxes and such,,,  And if one bad apple in the bushel breaks a law,, all the other apples fall with him.  I understand