The River FAQ THE RIVER January 1996 Info Sheet

The River

Conferencing System

Info Sheet

The River is a service mark of The River Cooperative Corporation

Thanks for your interest in our computer conferencing system, The River, aka river.org.

Thanks for your interest in The River, aka river.org, a computer conferencing system that opened its doors on January 15, 1996.

This message will attempt to tell you a little about what The River is and how you may become a user or member. We also have a more detailed Frequently Asked Questions available.

BACKGROUND

For the past year, several hundred persons experienced in computer conferencing have been conferring electronically to discuss the past and imagine the future of online communities and commercial communications services.

Our goal has been to share what we have learned online and then apply our collective wisdom to design that which will be in the future.

As a result of those discussions we've decided to join together to create a new member-owned virtual community and commercial online service, The River, which will take form now. Details are enumerated in the River Planning Committee's Final Report. A copy is also available from report@river.org

OUR MISSION

The River is an open, self-governing, uncensored, economically sustainable, computer conferencing system. The central missions of the River are to maintain a medium for conversations among a group of diverse people, and to foster virtual communities which control their own destiny. The River Community is owned and governed by the people who create the high-quality conversations which are the source of the River's value. The River is dedicated to experimentation, and welcomes newcomers.

SERVICES AND ACCESS

Initially The River provides, in this priority: conferencing, email, and shell access. The River is co-housed with an existing concern which offers net access. The River is initially available only via the network. There is no direct dialin access at this time. We may provide modem access at some future time.

FEES

The River charges $10/month for an account, with no hourly fee.

MEMBERSHIP

The River is a member-owned, member-governed co-op. Any River account holder can become a member by paying the annual membership fee of $50. Initially, membership fees will be paid in one lump sum of $50. The Board of Directors may decide to make membership fees payable over the course of a year. Members can pay more than one year's membership fee in advance if they wish to do so.

Persons wishing to join The River now -- as a member or as a user --may sign up by telnet to "river.org", logging in as "newuser", with a password of "guest".

SERVICES AND ACCESS

Initially The River will provide, in this priority: conferencing, email, and shell access. The River will be co-housed with an existing concern which offers net access during its startup phase. To facilitate startup, the River will be initially available via the network. There will be no direct dialin access at the outset. We hope to provide modem access at some future time.

CONTACT INFO

The River is in the process of incorporating. There is no phone, no address, no fax, as yet. Expect those in the near future. In the meantime, the board of directors is available by email:

David Hawkins dhawk@river.org
Andrew Trottdruid@river.org
Earl Crabb esoft@river.org
Eric Rawlins woodman@river.org
Libby Lepow paris@river.org

In addition, the following will return additional information:

info@river.org -- returns this document

press@river.org -- for press inquiries. Please leave email and phone addresses. We'll get back to you quickly.

v.100
January 2, 1996 Updated: August 7, 1999