>I hereby announce the formation of the Visual FoxPro Developers Association.
>
>All interested parties please respond to this thread and let's let the red-headed step child DIE.
>
>Wanted:
>Sincere, hard working, FoxPro Professionals who desire to give a positive light on the use of Visual FoxPro in the media, local trade shows and where ever possible.
>
>This group will be a non profit entity based in the United States, unless someone else can convince us of a better location. Membership will be fee based and will be determined in the near future. Please await notice of the fee.
>
>We are looking currently for Marketing Managers with experience in Non Profit Fund Raising, Legal Council to set up Non Profit Status, Local Account Reps that push the message of the VFPDA to local businesses and government, Web developers and VFP developers that have created fantastic systems.
>
>Membership will get you the ability to use membership in the VFPDA on your business card and in all correspondence.
>
>McGivers need only apply. ;-)


I have a question about the purpose of the VFPDA:

Is the thrust of this organization primarily a user group and VFP mutual appreciation society, much like the local user groups in several cities throughout the nation/world?

Is it, instead, a clearinghouse for VFP information, and designed to counter much of the misinformation being posted on this forum and from the less-informed members of the Microsoft community?

Is it an on-line based development community, performing many of the same functions and providing many of the same services as this forum, the VFUG, the FoxPro Advisor magazine, and a half-dozen other websites? (From the description Steven wrote, I don't think that is the idea, but I wanted to present it anyway)

Or perhaps, is it a web-based resource for current and prospective VFP devleopers and corporate decision-makers to be reassured that VFP is the correct tool for the job, a sort of non-profit consulting company who has as much concern with self-preservation as with the interests of their clients?

I know it's kind of early to ask for specifics, but that's exactly what I'm doing. Please understand that I fully support the IDEA of a developer association, but it is the IMPLEMENTATION which I am curious about.

Declaring the VFPDA as one or more of the above organizations is not a bad thing, even though the tone of the descriptions sound a little accusatory, even to me as the author. Any successful project begins with defining the scope of the project, the objectives and goals, and with being brutally honest with ourselves as to what we are trying to accomplish, and why.

So far, there has been several people (myself included) who have posted thier support for the VFPDA. I just want to know what it is I am supporting before I commit my time and resources.

Bill Yater
MCP, VFP 3.0