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!!

[Brad’s Gramma]

So? Didja get a Funkle overnight?

[NYTexan]

No, it was quite strange.
I must have fallen into a trance or feel asleep between my last post around 2AM and when i looked up at the clock at 4AM. Paid for it all day at work!

[ValerieUSA]

Thank You
Tennessee
Never Never Land
Michigan

[steveegg]

Stroh's? Do they still even brew that Detroit swill? I still can't forgive them for buying up Schlitz and destroying the company.

In NASCAR news, Bobby Labonte grabbed the pole for Sunday's race, Rocket Man (Ryan Newman for the unitiated) had a poor qualifying run (will roll off 15th), and the Busch race pole-sitter (Kyle Busch) missed the feature in "provisional favor" of the lone field-filler (Kirk Shelmerdine).

[Just another Joe]

In the words of Curt Angle, "Oh, it's true, it's true. It's Damn True". LOL

[Brad’s Gramma]

Well.....yes. You have me there.

:-)

[Brad’s Gramma]

Do you ever cruise on up to that tourist trap, Minocqua? I LOVE it there.

[Brad’s Gramma]

You slept for TWO HOURS???????????

[ValerieUSA]

Happy Birthday !!

[glock rocks]

It's twoo, it's twoo!

[NYTexan]

Sadly yes, somewhere between 2-4 hours total.
I'm going to take a Funkle nap to get ready for tonights fun and frivolity!

Hope you're enjoying YOUR day!

Meanwhile, have to write more notes for Mirror Mirror

[Brad’s Gramma]

Thanks, Valerie...your pictures are SOOOOOOOOOO nice.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Two free Starbucks coffee and a free Subway sandwich for lunch! Doesn't get much better!

AND I can get that cup refilled on the way home, now that I'm thinking of it....!!!!

[Fiddlstix]

You Know The Drill
Click the Pics J

Okay! All Y'all Texans! Lissun Up Now!
The Last I saw, We Texans ain't doin' Too Good in this here Freepathon!
Why, Ther's only $395.00 in here frum Texas!
We Shud Be Plum Ashamed uv ourselfs!
Y'all Knows thet WE can do better then thet!
This Here is an election year and FR needs sum money!
They's Depending on us, folks!
I ain't a sayin',"Give 'till it Hurts"!
What I'm a sayin' is, "Give Till It Helps!

Brother Meek Sir, Would you kindly hit that there "Texas Ping List" uv Yor'n an' Brang these here Texans over here? An Be a tellin' em to bring sum Munny with 'em too. Thanky Kindly!

[NYTexan]

hope Gramps & kids do right by you this evening!

[Brad’s Gramma]

They will suffer greatly, if not.











Oh for pete's sake. LOL!!!!

[Lady Jag]

That's the squirrels around here after they get done with my bird feeders :-)

That's cool, but my birdfeeders have brought hawks back from the brink of extinction.

As a matter of fact, the flock is now known as WMD, Wings of McDonald's Drive-thru.

[ValerieUSA]

[Chairman_December_19th_Society]

And now with my $100 in the kitty, the Commonwealth of Virginia moves into third!

[smokeyb]

$20.00
The check is in the mail (honest !)