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]

Yellowfin Tuna Thunnus albacares This is the most valuable of all tunas worldwide. Schools of Yellowfin Tunas are pursued by fleets of fishing boats from around the world. Dolphins have been caught in large numbers with the tunas, and these large, expensive boats have had to modify their nets and fishing methods to fix this problem. Look For: A spindle-shaped fish with high second dorsal and anal fins; small yellow "finlets" along top length. Popular food fish.

[JohnHuang2]

Welcome ;-)
Bump!

[Brad’s Gramma]

Swimming by: A female Australian sea lion swims through the water in Sydney Aquarium's Seal Sanctuary. (AFP/Greg Wood)

[Mo1]

HELLO .. *L*

[Brad’s Gramma]

A tiger cub yawns next to its brothers as they play inside their cage at Selwo Aventura animal reserve in the southern Spanish town of Estepona March 31, 2004. The three Bengal cubs were born a month ago in this 250 acre reserve, home to around 200 different species from around the world. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante REUTERS

[Jim Robinson]

Woo hoo!! Happy Birthday Grammie!!

[Indy Pendance]

While intelligent people can often simplify the complex, a fool is more likely to complicate the simple.
-- Gerald W. Grumet

[glock rocks]

Thank youJohnHuang2 !!

[Brad’s Gramma]

Framed: A two-week elephant stands by his mother Kaylee at the Whipsnade Wild Animal Park, England. (AFP/Martyn Hayhow)

[Jim Robinson]

Thank you very much, JohnHuang2!!

[Mo1]

Geeezzzz ... please don't ever do that again .. I'm having a hard enough trouble typing the right keys as it is

Now I'm seeing spots

[NYTexan]

Hopefully this will not be me!

The clock is ticking! Fawnn- Tick- Tock

[Indy Pendance]

I'd love to see those photos.

[Mo1]

Go head and ask her how old she is .. I double dare ya *L*

[Brad’s Gramma]

ACK! I JUST SAW THAT!

[Mo1]

The clock is ticking! Fawnn- Tick- Tock

[glock rocks]

[Brad’s Gramma]

Sorry it took so long...WHAT a story! I can remember "being cool" too. Oh yea....NO boots for THIS chick!

What a dufus!

[Brad’s Gramma]

THANK YOU JohnHuang2 for your wonderful support to Free Republic!

[NYTexan]

29 and holding?




(ducking)