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]

We have incoming:

$10 from Florida
$100 from Never Never Land
$25 from Montana
$50 from Kansas

Thank you all very much!!

[CholeraJoe]

On Tuesday it was 74 degrees here. I took the boys(my labs, see above) swimming in the Lake across the road. This morning it was 30 with blowing wet snow. We needed the moisture. No pollen to speak of yet. My tulips have just broken through the ground.

[ValerieUSA]

Thank You
Florida
Never Never Land
Montana
Kansas

[Brad’s Gramma]

Nite Rotti! Sleep well!!

[RottiBiz]

Hey, glock!

I'm out of here. Spirit is willing, but flesh is weak.

Husband is threatening to call my doctors (I'm not allowed at the computer). LOL!

[RottiBiz]

Goodnight, BG! See you tomorrow.

[Mo1]

You can fool some of the people all the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on.

Good point :0)

[glock rocks]

Husband is threatening to call my doctors (I'm not allowed at the computer). LOL!

I have a similar situation, except my wife is threatening to call an attorney :o|

[Fiddlstix]

Click the Graphic

[Brad’s Gramma]

Yup! You will!

Sure hope you're feeling better.

[Jim Robinson]

Goodnight RottiBiz.

[Jim Robinson]

LOL

[CholeraJoe]

MONTANA'S #2

[Brad’s Gramma]

California ISN'T!

[Jim Robinson]

Thank you, Montana!!

[glock rocks]

California isn't Montana?

[Brad’s Gramma]

Uhhhhhh.......let me go check.

BRB.

[Brad’s Gramma]

glock? I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be checking for. What's Montana LOOK like?

[CholeraJoe]

California isn't Montana?

Thank goodness.

[Mo1]

<i>What? Do you think I'm NUTS? </i><P>

Well ... Yea .. Duh??