Time to get rid of the FReepathons!

FR | 10-16-03 | Bob J

[Bob J]

The latest quarterly FReepathon was a success and is over now. However, these events are a pain in the butt for those that run and operate them and for two to three weeks they dominate the sidebar and each thread. It is time we work to eliminate them once and for all.

Monthly Donations!

Many FReepers of good will are signed up for a monthly donation to FR as opposed to making a quarterly contribution. There are advantages to this system for both the site and the donor. FR can operate on a sounder fiscal basis by having money coming in monthly and as a donor you can spread your contributions out in smaller increments over an entire year.

Currently FR gets about 7k in monthly revenue. If we could get this up to 25k, there would be no need for the FReepathons. You can sign up for a painless $5-$10 a month (more if you are inclined, several people are at $50-$100!), which would be processed through a secure server by Jim and his family. Plus, running bulk CC donations on a monthly basis is less expensive than using PayPal. Even if you can only afford $2-$3, it would be a tremendous help!

It's time we help put FR onto a more secure and professional revenue plan! Please, bump this thread and use your ping lists to encourage your friends and family to GO MONTHLY!

We need to get 1800 FReepers who would be willing to donate an average of $10 once a month!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR A MONTHLY DONATION!

[ArneFufkin]

I recognize Scott Thorson, but who's the guy on the left?

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Oh, you are BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD. LOL

[ArneFufkin]

Bob, I was a monthly donor for 10 months or so in 2001, and I withdrew my commitment when I became fed up with what I saw as the anti-Bush, anti-GOP agendas here.

I sent JimRob a note stating my grievance, and he sent a note back to the effect: "I understand your concern, but I can't, and won't, stifle discussion and criticism of George W. Bush, the GOP, or any politician or party in this forum. Your past financial support, and ongoing involvement, are greatly appreciated." Righteous.

That's how Jim runs this place. The metal skull plated molemen who accuse Jim of selling out "true conservatives" for the RINOs, Bushbots and NeoCons" are liars and dolts. FR is not a haven for Third Party malcontents either.

It's none of that, all of that, and often a mystery best left unsolved.

I've always advocated a $20-$30 "cover charge" to post here. That'll weed out the dipshits, trolls and leakers. It'll allow Jim and John to plan and deploy the bandwidth commensurate with their predictable user base as well. I want to know everybody here has an investment in the forum's ongoing success, regardless of their politics or ideology.

[RottiBiz]

   Q4 2003 Scoreboard -- ranked by total receipts   

Rank	Location	Receipts	Donors/Avg		Freepers/Avg		Monthlies
1	California	$6,527.93	186	$35.10	1,716	$3.80	$1,214.56	85
2	Florida	6,163.00	81	76.09	740	8.33	408.00	28
3	Texas	3,567.00	98	36.40	1,493	2.39	698.00	48
4	Virginia	2,402.00	48	50.04	559	4.30	457.00	21
5	Washington	1,771.00	48	36.90	429	4.13	230.00	16
6	Pennsylvania	1,578.00	48	32.88	483	3.27	235.00	15
7	Michigan	1,535.00	21	73.10	337	4.55	135.00	10
8	New York	1,511.00	49	30.84	612	2.47	268.00	16
9	Massachusetts	1,311.00	30	43.70	249	5.27	145.00	10
10	Ohio	1,235.00	34	36.32	402	3.07	552.25	14
11	Tennessee	1,180.00	28	42.14	304	3.88	76.00	8
12	Maryland	1,120.00	29	38.62	318	3.52	180.00	11
13	Montana	1,105.00	6	184.17	31	35.65
14	Illinois	991.00	31	31.97	401	2.47	258.00	18
15	Missouri	971.00	27	35.96	308	3.15	138.00	12
16	New Jersey	951.00	25	38.04	321	2.96	170.00	8
17	Alabama	844.50	24	35.19	188	4.49	259.50	16
18	Georgia	830.00	32	25.94	403	2.06	130.00	11
19	Arizona	818.00	27	30.30	318	2.57	95.00	9
20	Idaho	765.00	7	109.29	80	9.56	45.00	2
21	North Carolina	764.23	27	28.30	404	1.89	342.00	21
22	Colorado	675.00	21	32.14	278	2.43	165.00	11
23	Connecticut	575.00	17	33.82	174	3.30	35.00	3
24	Wisconsin	545.00	20	27.25	232	2.35	140.00	9
25	Indiana	535.00	22	24.32	251	2.13	80.00	6
26	Nevada	535.00	9	59.44	108	4.95	40.00	2
27	South Carolina	407.50	13	31.35	185	2.20	13.50	3
28	Minnesota	390.00	16	24.38	228	1.71	90.00	6
29	Kansas	377.00	13	29.00	148	2.55	110.00	5
30	Kentucky	365.00	10	36.50	169	2.16	10.00	1
31	Arkansas	355.00	10	35.50	112	3.17	55.00	5
32	Louisiana	353.00	10	35.30	163	2.17	33.00	4
33	Oregon	305.00	10	30.50	203	1.50	68.00	5
34	Hawaii	295.00	8	36.88	39	7.56	35.00	2
35	Utah	285.00	11	25.91	77	3.70	90.00	4
36	New Mexico	270.00	5	54.00	88	3.07	50.00	3
37	United Kingdom	185.00	4	46.25	115	1.61	30.00	1
38	Mississippi	180.00	5	36.00	96	1.88	30.00	3
39	Delaware	150.00	2	75.00	24	6.25
40	Canada	140.00	6	23.33	158	0.89	20.00	1
41	Maine	137.00	4	34.25	76	1.80	10.00	1
42	North Dakota	125.00	2	62.50	24	5.21
43	Nebraska	123.00	6	20.50	71	1.73	3.00	1
44	Iowa	115.00	4	28.75	126	0.91	15.00	1
45	Oklahoma	108.00	7	15.43	188	0.57	60.00	6
46	Chile	100.00	2	50.00	5	20.00
47	West Virginia	70.00	3	23.33	61	1.15	30.00	2
48	South Dakota	70.00	2	35.00	41	1.71	10.00	1
49	Norway	60.00	2	30.00	11	5.45
50	New Hampshire	60.00	3	20.00	89	0.67	30.00	1
51	Latvia	50.00	1	50.00	1	50.00
52	Ireland	50.00	1	50.00	22	2.27
53	Alaska	50.00	2	25.00	71	0.70	181.00	4
54	Vermont	40.00	3	13.33	27	1.48	43.00	4
55	Armed Forces - Europe	40.00	3	13.33			35.00	3
56	Rhode Island	25.00	1	25.00	26	0.96
57	Panama	25.00	1	25.00	5	5.00
58	Mexico	20.00	1	20.00	8	2.50
59	Kenya	20.00	1	20.00	3	6.67	20.00	1
60	Wyoming	20.00	1	20.00	25	0.80	30.00	1
61	District of Columbia	15.00	2	7.50	37	0.41	10.00	1
62	Albania	10.00	1	10.00	1	10.00
63	Armed Forces - Pacific	10.00	1	10.00			10.00	1
64	South Korea	10.00	1	10.00	5	2.00	10.00	1
Never Never Land		1,526.50	66	23.13			220.00	16
65 locations total		$47,742.66	1,239	$38.53	16,058	$2.97	$7,847.81	498

[RottiBiz]

From the the Scoreboard this morning, there are now 498 monthly donors for $7,847 per month.

That's an increase of 30 donors and $348 per month since this thread began less than two days ago.

Thank you, Monthly Donors!

[RottiBiz]

Well said, ArneFufkin!

[Grampa Dave]

Welcome to the new monthly donors!

Thanks for the good news, Rottibiz!

[Tijeras_Slim]

I've always advocated a $20-$30 "cover charge" to post here.

It was the 2 drink minimum that always tripped up A+Bert. :)

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for sharing your excellent insight re the perpetual bashers of our President. You posted:

The metal skull plated molemen who accuse Jim of selling out "true conservatives" for the RINOs, Bushbots and NeoCons" are liars and dolts. FR is not a haven for Third Party malcontents either.

It's none of that, all of that, and often a mystery best left unsolved.

I've always advocated a $20-$30 "cover charge" to post here. That'll weed out the dipshits, trolls and leakers. It'll allow Jim and John to plan and deploy the bandwidth commensurate with their predictable user base as well. I want to know everybody here has an investment in the forum's ongoing success, regardless of their politics or ideology.

[Sally'sConcerns]

Jim,

I just edited my email account but I have a question.

It states the 'vanity email address' is valid for one year from my donation. I signed up as a monthly donor on 04/11/03 and it shows my vanity email address will expire 04/11/04 (one year from the date I initially started contributing).

How does this work since I haven't cancelled my monthly? I'm guessing it doesn't renew after each freepathon?

[Bob J]

Unfortunately, Jim cannot charge a fee, take advertising or sell merchandise as it may affect the fair use position he uses to allow full article posting. That leaves individual donations as a vehicle to pay for the site.

I remember when Jim was more critical of the Bush's and the pubs. However, 911 changed that and now he feels we are in a war situation and that reckless criticism and tin foiling is counter productive to that effort.

In addition, I believe Jim came to the conclusion, as I did many years ago, that the man in the office is only part of the problem/equation as to the direction of our country. The second part is judges. I think we can all agree that liberals have used legislating from the bench as a tool to advance their socialist agenda and addressing that issue means embracing less than ideal candidates that can win over political idealists who can't.

Some here would call that a sell out but I believe it is political reality and pragamatism. We didn't get into this situation overnight and there are those who are looking for a home run everytime we take a swing. We have to be patient and realize games are won by scratching out singles and taking the walk when offered.

Babe Ruth was the home run king but he also held the record for most strike outs. Those that advocate political purity in candidates, while noble in itself, do more harm than good in the long run.

[NormsRevenge]

what you said BumP to #311..

Thanks to All the Monthlies .. It really IS Painless ..

[Jim Robinson]

I think it will renew automatically, but I'll double check with John.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Welcome aboard to all the new monthly donors, and thanks a bunch to those who've remained!!!

WAY TO GO FREE REPUBLIC!

[HairOfTheDog]

"vanity email address."

Thank you for this! That is a nice feature!

[ArneFufkin]

What a weak reply.

[Senator Pardek]

That was SO "Richard Burton-ish!

If you're reference was to Julius Caesar, it was Marlon Brando - not Richard Burton. Burton played Marc Antony in the movies.

That was SO gay!

[LurkerNoMore!]

Pardek: That was SO gay!

That's why we keep him here.

[Howlin]

My reference was to a John Paragon special on Showtime years ago, when he played Burton to Margie McClung's Liz while they were on Broadway.

"Burton" mocked Liz by saying she got an Oscar for "Fat On a Hot Tin Roof," and she said, "Seven nomination and not one Oscar," to which he replied, "How can you say that -- TO ME!"

You had to be there.

[Senator Pardek]

Now that's REALLY gay.