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!!

[ValerieUSA]

BUMP
San Antonio River Walk

[Fawnn]

Re Technocrat's Utah challenge:

Somebody send me mail at 4 and let me know if we have to go to round 2

Could you see that "the power that be" in charge of tracking Utah let Techno know the appropriate details?

Thanks! ;)

[Jim Robinson]

Just in:

$20 from Massachusetts
$20 from Illinois
$100 from Oregon

Thank you Massachusetts, Illinois and Oregon!!

Now approaching 15 percent!! Way to go FReepers and Lurkers!!

[Fawnn]

14%!!!

[Fiddlstix]

I am thinking...This Thread Needs a...

Big
Bump!

Just Bumping thru... Be back later J
P.S.Click the PicJ

[Fawnn]

I guess there's nothing left for me to do but to declare a Fair Funkle. ;)

[WhiteyAppleseed]

I'm a registered Democrat and if I can donate $50.00, I reckon the Republicans ought to do much better, just don't tell my wife--she'll find out when the credit card statement comes.

[clyde260]

(Hmmmm, slowing down a bit? Let's bump this baby up to the top^)

BUMP!

[Jim Robinson]

Thank you, WhiteyAppleseed!

And just in:

$20 from Ohio
$10 monthly from Virginia
$10 from California

Thank you Ohio, Virginia and California!!

[ValerieUSA]

Thank You
Massachusetts
Illinois
Oregon

[ValerieUSA]

Thank You
Ohio
Virginia
California

[ValerieUSA]

[Ligeia]

BTW...good to see ya, Ligeia!!

Good to see you, too!

OldDominion FReepers ROCK!!

Yes, we do!

[Jim Robinson]

Just in:

$20 from New York
$20 from Pennsylvania

Thank you New York and Pennsylvania!!

[zip]

ping - see 626

[steveegg]

I will be off the board for the most part until Monday. My honey do list is about as long as GW's enemy's list.

Hi Grampa. Considering the above, looks like I'll end up seeing you again Monday.

[ValerieUSA]

Thank You
New York
Pennsylvania

[Jim Robinson]

And another $100 just in from Kentucky!

Thank you Kentucky!!

[Budge]

I'm gonna have to bump my monthly up a tad.

How I do this?

[steveegg]

Overnight/midday thank yous to:

Mudboy Slim
Texas⁴
Kenya
New Jersey³
New York⁵
Never Never Land¹⁰
California³
Massachussetts³
Virginia⁴
Washington
Arkansas
Pennsylvania⁵
Connecticut
Utah
Georgia³
Ohio²
Oregon³
South Dakota for the monthly
Canada
New Hampshire
Florida
North Carolina for the monthly
Missouri
Maryland for the monthly
Maryland
Louisiana
Alabama
Wyoming
North Carolina
Michigan
MozartLover (wish the server would work, but snail mail works too)
Nevada
Arizona
South Carolina
Illinois
WhiteyAppleseed
Virginia for the monthly
Kentucky

It's Fish Fry Friday, so I won't be around much more today.