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!!

[Fawnn]

Okay: I declare a Fair Funkle. ;)

[Fawnn]

4

[Fawnn]

3

[Fawnn]

2

[fatima]

Fawnn,Are you talking to yourself ,and answering yourself:)

[Fawnn]

Nope. Despite how it may have appeared, I technically wasn't talking to myself. You just messed up my "Fair Funkle." And I was only a minute away from winning it! LOL

Great news re Karen's homecoming on Monday, btw!!!

[Mo1]

unless I'm too late, you have FRmail.

You're not .. but I was

Dang couch .. I feel asleep on it again

[fatima]

Sorry I messed up "Fair Funkle'Thanks about Karen,can't sleep,I am slapping you now to stay awake and win.

[Fawnn]

The object of the "Fair Funkle" is to bump the thread so that people show up -- which you did.

Now that Mo1 woke up, I doubt she'll let me win. ;)

[fatima]

How can she win if I bump your post?

[Fledermaus]

Yeah, right...blame the couch!

[Fawnn]

A "Fair Funkle" is something we all TRY to win, but it isn't really losing if we don't win because that means it kept the fundraising thread active. It's confusing. LOL

You can read the "Fair Funkle" rules here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1109539/posts?page=452#452

[Mo1]

Yeah, right...blame the couch!

Well .. I had to laid down and get rid of my headache from dealing with my daughter's Girl Scout Troop Leader

It's a long story ... but the short of it is ? ... This is the LAST year I'm doing this

[Mo1]

HAHAHAHAHA ... You were sooooooooooo close too

[fatima]

Fawnn,I got you at 2,will never mess up a fair funkle again,if I see it .Why am I always in trouble?:)

[Mo1]

LOL ... Good One

Check out the dude's with the cameras

[Fawnn]

You're not in trouble!

(Did you notice that Mo1 isn't crying? LOL ... I wonder where I go to sign her up as a Girl Scout leader for next year?)

[Mo1]

LOL ... you're mean

[Fawnn]

It's a skill. ;)

[Mo1]

*L* ... Well .. mean I can handle .. it's the ditzy ones that drives me nuts