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]

Wow, the only time someone has a chance to win a fair funkel is in the wee hours, maybe. Is there a list of previous winners?

[Fiddlstix]

Click the Graphic

[Jim Robinson]

Well, thank you very much!! And thank the boys very much for their service!! All nine of them! Wow!!

Just in:

$90 from Arizona

Thank you, Arizona!!

[Lady Jag]

What about Ed? Don't you support Ed?

[Tamzee]

DONATE MONTHLY...

[Mo1]

OK .. just don't pick on me *L*

Email joke from dad inlaw

In the back woods of Scotland, Mr. Stewart's wife went into labor in the middle of the night, and the doctor was called out to assist in the delivery.

To keep the nervous father-to-be busy, the doctor handed him a lantern and said, "Here, you hold this high so I can see what I'm doing." Soon, a wee baby boy was brought into the world.

"Whoa there Scotty!" said the doctor. "Don't be in a rush to put the lantern down... I think there's yet another wee one to come." Sure enough, within minutes he had delivered another little baby.

"No, no, don't be in a great hurry to be putting down that lantern, young man... It seems there's yet another one besides!" cried the doctor.

The new father scratched his head in bewilderment, and asked the doctor. "Do ye think it's the light that's attractin' them?"

[Mo1]

Just in:

$90 from Arizona

Thank you, Arizona!!

[Mo1]

[Tamzee]

I bookmarked it, too, for a less busy moment LOL

I'm so busy, in fact, it never occurred to me to look for Kerry's file... what a moron! I mean me.... well, him, too, actually. He's worse even...

Never mind ;-)

[Fawnn]

9%!!!

[ValerieUSA]

Thank You
South Carolina
California
South Carolina
Michigan

[Brad’s Gramma]

Thanks Zip!!!

[Indy Pendance]

LOL! I'm looking for 'fools' quotes, to honor the day. It keeps the thread bumped as well...

[Brad’s Gramma]

NINE? Wow! Thanksgiving must be a HOOT at your house!

[Indy Pendance]

Ed is sooooooo 2002 :o)

[Mo1]

I'm game! Who do you want to pick on? Mo1?

Glock already does that *L*

[Brad’s Gramma]

Hi i lovew!!!

[NYTexan]

Are you sleepy yet?

[Brad’s Gramma]

LOL!!!!!!

[Mo1]

I'm so busy, in fact, it never occurred to me to look for Kerry's file... what a moron! I mean me.... well, him, too, actually. He's worse even...

I'm still trying to figure out how he got elected to the Senate all these years