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!!

[glock rocks]

It's big. Oh, and it has a really big sky.

[Mo1]

Off to put the kiddies to bed ... BBL

[Fiddlstix]

LOL

I just post 'em J

FReeper Nick Danger did those 3-4 years ago for the Freepathons J

[dixie sass]

My itty bitty bit is on the way!

[Brad’s Gramma]

DID I MISS THE PICK ON GRAMMY NIGHT MEMO? (hehe)

[glock rocks]

Thank you dixie sass !!

[Jim Robinson]

Big City

by Merle Haggard

I'm tired of this dirty old city.
Entirely too much work and never enough play.
And I'm tired of these dirty old sidewalks.
Think I'll walk off my steady job today.

Turn me loose, set me free, somewhere in the middle of Montana.
And gimme all I got comin' to me,
And keep your retirement and your so called social security.
Big City turn me loose and set me free.

Been working everyday since I was twenty.
Haven't got a thing to show for anything I've done.
There's folks who never work and they've got plenty.
Think it's time some guys like me had some fun.

Turn me loose, set me free, somewhere in the middle of Montana.
And gimme all I got comin' to me,
And keep your retirement and your so called social security.
Big City turn me loose and set me free.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Hey there! Now you STOP that! We've got BEEEEUTIFUL land.

Filled with all SORTS of nice and some REALLY STRANGE, Embarrassing people!

[Jim Robinson]

Thank you, dixie sass!!

[Brad’s Gramma]

We have big!

We have a big sky!

Oh my....I think I must be lost. Am I in Montana now?

[Brad’s Gramma]

Well, I should HOPE so! :-)

[Brad’s Gramma]

Itty bitty bit's are GREAT! Thank you dixie sass!!

[glock rocks]

We have a big sky!

Oh my....I think I must be lost. Am I in Montana now?

No, I mean BIG sky... standing at the summit of Going to the Sun Road big.

[don-o]

FReeper Nick Danger did those 3-4 years ago for the Freepathons

Well remembered.

There is a place
To get the scoop
Free Republic
No lamestream poop.

Not very good, but maybe a start,

[Fiddlstix]

Click the Graphic

[Brad’s Gramma]

Well, when I look UP the sky doesn't seem to end. How much bigger can it get?

[Fiddlstix]

Not very good, but maybe a start

LOL
Looks okay to me J

[CholeraJoe]

I was going to post some Big Sky photos but my ftp program crapped out. I can see miles and miles in every direction from my decks on a clear day.

[Jim Robinson]

Just in:

$100 from Pennsylvania
$30 from Texas
$50 from Arizona
$10 from Never Never Land
$20 from New Jersey

Thank you all very much!!

[Mo1]

Yep :0)