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!!

[MeekOneGOP]

Way to go !!!

[ValerieUSA]

YeeHaw Texas!
Thank You
Texas, Texas

[Jim Robinson]

Woo hoo!

More incoming:

$20 from Arkansas
$200 from Texas
$50 from Illinois

Thank you Arkansas, Texas and Illinois!!

[glock rocks]

Woo hoo!

More incoming:

$20 from Arkansas
$200 from Texas
$50 from Illinois

Thank you Arkansas, Texas and Illinois!!

[ValerieUSA]

Thank You
Arkansas, Texas, Illinois

[Jim Robinson]

Yeehaw!!

Looks like Fiddlstix's challenge and the Texas FReepers' response bumped Texas to the top!!

Go Texas!!

[hoosiermama]

[ValerieUSA]

Texas State Capitol, Austin

[Ditter]

My check should arrive early next week.

[Jim Robinson]

Thank you, Ditter!

Just in:

$50 from Wisconsin
$36 from New Jersey

Thank you Wisconsin and New Jersey!!

[ValerieUSA]

Thank You
Wisconsin, New Jersey

[MeekOneGOP]

[Brad’s Gramma]

WHOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOO FOR STARBUCKS!!!!

[Brad’s Gramma]

15%!!!

17%!!!

[NYTexan]

Ok Meek, I've been waiting to make my pledge but you have motivated me! So here goes:

I will match pledges from Texas (up to $100) and from New York (up to $100) for the next 1/2 hour ending at 10 PM EST.

Let me know what the damage is.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Thank you Ciexyz!! Thank you President Bush!

[Brad’s Gramma]

Thank you dogbrain!!

Woo hoo! We have incoming:

$10 from California
$500 from California

Thank you California FReepers!!

[Brad’s Gramma]

$500.00 From Texas is On It's Way! Thank you Fiddlstix!

[Jim Robinson]

Thank you, NYTexan!!

[Brad’s Gramma]

Wow! This time those 5 words brought in two (count 'em two) $500 amounts!!! (Am I good or what!? LOL)

LOL!!!!!!!