Our 2nd Quarter FReepathon is Underway!

Click to donate via FR secure server ^ | April 1, 2004 | Jim Robinson

[Jim Robinson]

Woo hoo!! Are you ready for another FReepathon!?

It's time once more for us to raise the funds that are necessary to keep Free Republic on the air.

People have asked me if the $60,000 settlement with the City of Fresno means we won't have to have a fundraiser this time. Well, I wish it could be so, but, unfortunately, it's not.

First of all, we did not actually receive $60,000. After legal fees, mediation fees and other expenses directly related to the suit, we netted approximately $34,000. Of that, we distributed over $10,000 to the members of the Fresno Chapter who were in business and their businesses suffered due to the city's libel and also to the members who met with us regularly on a weekly basis. Then, due to the fact that the city was late with their press release and no media picked it up, we paid approximately $2,000 to run ads in several valley papers announcing the city's retraction.

The approximately $22,000 left over will be used in our operations. We plan to use about $4,000 to upgrade our equipment and $10,000 or more will go for taxes. I plan to use part of the balance to beef up our insurance coverage and also will look into a health insurance plan. The remainder will be used for travel and other expenses. I still hope to visit as many chapters as I possibly can over the next year or so, but obviously won't be doing so in a motor home (you had to have been there to get the inside joke). We'll be traveling in our trusty old FReepermobile van. She's an 11 year old Mercury Villager with 150,000 miles, but she's got good rubber, purrs like a kitten and is pretty good on gas.

So, as it turns out, the settlement has strengthened Free Republic and also has strengthened the conservative position in the City of Fresno. As a result of our suit, the controversial loony peacenik chair person of the Fresno City Human Relations Commission who committed the libel against us and has also caused much turmoil within the city and the city council has resigned "to pursue other interests." Also, the loony liberal President of the Fresno City Council who made some ridiculous comments belittling the suit and the settlement in the Fresno Bee was voted out of office just a couple months later.

So, as I've said before, the settlement is a win, win, win position. It's a win for Free Republic, a win for the City of Fresno, and, ultimately, a win for the taxpayers.

At any rate, we thank all of you who participate on Free Republic and support our efforts and we look forward to another exciting election cycle.

Hope to see y'all either on our road trip and or at the Free Republic George W. Bush Inaugural Ball II in January!!

Go GWB!!

[RottiBiz]

Thank you, CholeraJoe!

[LuigiBasco]

I know Mississippi can do better than a mere 7 Monthly doners!

(Fingers crossed!)

Luigi

[BulletBobCo]

Wow, I put Colorado at the top of the pile!

[RottiBiz]

Thank you, dakine!

[LowOiL]

Bama Bump and Pledge.

[RottiBiz]

Just in:

$10 from Never Never Land
$10 from New Jersey
$100 from Colorado
$100 from Connecticut

Also, here are a few donations that came in during the last couple days of the prior quarter:

$50 from Ohio
$100 from California
$50 from Virginia

Thank you all Very Much!!

[HairOfTheDog]

Thank you for your hospitality Mr. Robinson
and all who keep FR working every day!
Good luck on a speedy'thon
from the folks at The Hobbit Hole ^

ecurbh and I will gladly continue our $1/day this quarter!

[RottiBiz]

And just in:

$50 from Texas
$30 from South Carolina
$10 from Maryland
$50 from Michigan

Thank you all very much!!

[prairiebreeze]

Extra Freepathon $$ will be included in the monthly snail-mail donation Jim.

FR ROCKS!

Prairie

[RottiBiz]

Thank you, GailA!

[glock rocks]

Wow, I put Colorado at the top of the pile!

Very cool. I've never seen my state on the top.

In fact, I try very diligently to keep Utah ahead of Tunisia and France :o)

[RottiBiz]

Thank you, Monthly Donors!

[Tamzee]

Monthly donations are LO-CARB? Double-yummy! :-)

Tick off a liberal, DONATE MONTHLY!

[ValerieUSA]

Oh, I didn't see that one.

Thank You
Texas
South Carolina
Maryland
Michigan

[CyberAnt]

AS A MONTHLY DONOR - IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO GO PEOPLE!!

[Mo1]

Thank You Eureka!

[Mo1]

Thank You Dakine!

[Mo1]

Thank You Cripplecreek for all your support!

[Just another Joe]

Por Nada
It's the LEAST I can do.

[Jim Robinson]

I think so. Thank you very much, BulletBobCo!!

Just in:

$30 from Montana
$50 from Never Never Land
$10 monthly from Alabama
$10 monthly from Minnesota
$25 from Colorado
$50 from Colorado
$40 from Alabama
$20 from Ohio

Thank you all very much!!