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!!

[Jim Robinson]

Thank you mystery-ak!

[justshe]

"Cozy" and "spa" in the same sentence.....sounds (eyebrows wiggling up and down)........nice.

[Fawnn]

3%!!!

[Mo1]

Oh My :0)

[Jim Robinson]

Yes, and with a great moon roof just above. Moon, stars, bubbly spa. We got it all. Can't wait to hit the interstate.

[Mo1]

Thank You Mystery-ak

[RottiBiz]

Thank you, SamAdams76, for being a longtime monthly donor and for your inspirational post!

[justshe]

ENJOY!!!!!!! LOL! Who says seasoned citizens can't have fun? (usually our kids!)

[Jim Robinson]

Woo hoo!

Just in:

$50 from Massachusetts
$25 from Panama

Thank you Massachusetts and Panama!!

[RottiBiz]

Just in:

$10 from District of Columbia
$10 from Kansas
$100 from Virginia

Thank you DC, Kansas and Virginia!!

[dansangel]

A *You're Welcome* BUMP from .45MAN and dansangel

.45MAN sez, "Support Free Republic ~ Donate, Donate, ***DONATE***!!!" (and donate some more!)

:-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

[RottiBiz]

Thank you, LuigiBasco!

[justshe]

Has this already been posted today....ad nauseum?

April Fool's Day or All Fool's Day occurs annually on April 1. The day is generally observed by playing a practical joke on a "victim" who soon becomes known as an April Fool. This custom is thought to have started in France during the 16th century but the British are credited with bringing it to the United States.

The commonly accepted origin of April Fool's Day involves changes in the calendar. At one time, the New Year celebration began on March 25 and ended on April 1. However, in 1582, King Charles IX adopted the Gregorian calendar and accepted the beginning of the new year as
January 1. Those who refused to acknowledge the new date or simply forgot received foolish gifts and invitations to nonexistent parties. The butt of such a prank was known as a "poisson d'avril" or "April fish."
___________________________________________

This is the day upon which we are reminded of what we are on the other three hundred and sixty-four. ~Mark Twain, Pudd'nhead Wilson,
1894

April fool, n. The March fool with another month added to his folly. ~Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

[RottiBiz]

   Q2 2004 Scoreboard -- ranked by total receipts   

Rank	Location	Receipts	Donors/Avg		Freepers/Avg		Monthlies
1	Virginia	$150.00	4	$37.50		$	$444.50	21
2	Connecticut	100.00	1	100.00			35.00	3
3	Colorado	100.00	1	100.00			125.00	9
4	Sweden	100.00	1	100.00
5	Arkansas	100.00	1	100.00			35.00	4
6	Texas	75.00	2	37.50			733.00	51
7	Michigan	60.00	2	30.00			100.00	10
8	South Carolina	50.00	2	25.00			68.50	8
9	Georgia	50.00	1	50.00			235.00	14
10	Florida	50.00	1	50.00			503.00	34
11	California	20.00	1	20.00			1,465.06	101
12	Indiana	20.00	1	20.00			55.00	5
13	New Jersey	10.00	1	10.00			150.00	8
14	Maryland	10.00	1	10.00			278.00	15
15	Kansas	10.00	1	10.00			90.00	5
	Minnesota						100.00	7
	Mississippi						57.00	5
	Missouri						173.00	14
	Tennessee						51.00	8
	Hawaii						45.00	3
	Utah						90.00	4
	Nebraska						3.00	1
	Vermont						46.00	4
	Nevada						60.00	3
	Washington						290.00	17
	New Mexico						50.00	3
	Wisconsin						173.00	11
	West Virginia						30.00	2
	Wyoming						30.00	1
	District of Columbia						10.00	1
	Kenya						20.00	1
	South Korea						10.00	1
	Idaho						35.00	1
	Illinois						338.00	20
	Iowa						35.00	2
	New York						343.00	20
	Alabama						338.00	18
	Kentucky						10.00	1
	North Carolina						377.00	23
	Louisiana						38.00	5
	Maine						10.00	1
	Ohio						567.25	18
	Oklahoma						121.00	8
	Massachusetts						135.00	9
	Oregon						85.00	5
	Pennsylvania						235.00	16
	South Dakota						30.00	2
	Armed Forces - Europe						35.00	3
	Armed Forces - Pacific						10.00	1
	Canada						20.00	1
	Alaska						150.00	3
	Arizona						135.50	11
Never Never Land		50.00	3	16.67			248.00	20
16 locations total		$955	24	$39.79		$0.00	$8,850.81	562

[Jim Robinson]

Thank you, Luigi!!

[RottiBiz]

Thank you, BulletBobCo!

[Ditter]

Jim,
Thanks for FreeRepublic. Your check is in the mail. Really, it is, I just dropped it in there. ;9)
Your freeper friend, Ditter

[William McKinley]

I declare a fair funkle.

[RottiBiz]

Thank you, LowOiL!

[PA Engineer]

Donated and Bumped.