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!!

[William McKinley]

Rotti- not just 308,000 created in March. They revised up the two previous month's estimates as well. We now have 518,000 new jobs in 2004!

[Mo1]

Thank You rrrod for your support !!

[RottiBiz]

Good morning, Mo!

10% Woo! Hoo!

[Mo1]

Pennsylvania is beating Texas ?!?!?!
Neener .. Neener .. Neener

[MozartLover]

Nope; same thing happened.

[MozartLover]

I have Roadrunner also....still not working........

[RottiBiz]

10% is outstanding!

All the monthly donors who were bumping the threads were a tremendous help and had a lot to do with attaining that 10%, too.

We can't thank them enough.

[steveegg]

I have Roadrunner also....still not working........

Very odd; must be the local RR server (perhaps fallout from the ICANN-led banishment last week?).

Try this - IP-based donation point and ping JohnRob to the results.

[MozartLover]

No. Still getting "The page cannot be displayed."

[RottiBiz]

Wow! Thanks. I didn't read the article, just the headline.

This is the best news I've heard this year. The major weakness I could see for our President was the drumbeat of the "jobless recovery."

I will continue to pray for jobs and more jobs for those who need them and for President Bush, too.

[steveegg]

No. Still getting "The page cannot be displayed."

Ouch (a small donation made it through for me using the IP route). Best thing I can suggest is FReepmailing John with your system specs.

[RottiBiz]

Jim lives in CA and was up very late, so he's not here yet.

I'll alert him to your problem later, and he'll get back to you.

[bmwcyle]

Let's go VA!!!!

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Good morning.

And thanks for all of the work you do.

I changed by tagline, for the duration.

[Molly Pitcher]

I don't know how you managed to sneak by me carrying all that food.

He, he....you'll never know....!!

[Molly Pitcher]

I don't know how you managed to sneak by me carrying all that food.

He, he....you'll never know....!!

[RottiBiz]

Thank you, bmwcyle!

[RottiBiz]

Thank you, Pan_Yans Wife!

Love your tagline, too!

[Fiddlstix]

Good Morning Everybody.

You Know The Drill
Click the Pics

Coffee & Donuts J

[steveegg]

Good morning, PYM. I like the tagline.