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!!

[Indy Pendance]

A fool sees not the same tree that a wise man sees.
-- William Blake

[glock rocks]

Ooops. Buffalo skull. (of course).

[Mo1]

Interesting site there

[Brad’s Gramma]

THANKS Ciexyz!!!!

[glock rocks]

Thank you Ciexyz !!

[Mo1]

Thank You Doohickey !!

[McGavin999]

A lot of high energy in here tonight. Just thought I'd drop in a minute and see what you all were doing.

[glock rocks]

Thank you AJ504 !!

[Brad’s Gramma]

Thanks AJ504!

[Mo1]

Thank You CholeraJoe !!

[CholeraJoe]

Thanks.

Cj

[Brad’s Gramma]

We were waiting for YOU! NOW the party's begun!!! :-)

[Brad’s Gramma]

Thank you, Ciexyz!!

Just in:

$10 from Pennsylvania
$10 from Texas

Thank you Pennsylvania and Texas!!

[glock rocks]

Just in:

$10 from Pennsylvania
$10 from Texas

Thank you Pennsylvania and Texas!!

[Mo1]

Just in:

$50 from Never Never Land
$15 from Never Never Land
$750 from Montana
$10 from Tennessee
$25 from Never Never Land
$20 from Pennsylvania

Thank you all very much!!

[McGavin999]

Hey, did I tell you guys that all my boys are home from Iraq? YAHOOOOOOO!

[Brad’s Gramma]

I MISSED that! Well, CONGRATULATIONS all around!

Tell us more!

[Indy Pendance]

French Sumo Magizine

new French sumo magazine !

This is a message to inform you of the first issue of "Le Monde du SUmo", the first magazine about sumo in French. It is available (PDF of 2,9 Mo) at http://perso.wanadoo.fr/lemondedusumo/ . But, we're sorry, it's only in French...
However, don't hesitate to give your opinion about it : we still have probably a lot of things to improve with it !

[glock rocks]

Sending a Huge Thanks and Welcome Home to your boys !!

[McGavin999]

They arrived home a few days ago. I really wish I could have been there. I heard they were really surprised when they didn't have to unload their own stuff! They marched into a big hanger area and had no idea what to expect. They were totally shocked by the reception they got. They said it was absolutely overwhelming!