[Jim Robinson]

I've received quite a bit of email from banned posters in the last day or so, plus several anonymous complaints and remarks. Seems the bannees are taking great delight in their perceived belief that the current fundraiser is not doing so well. Well, we're not quite a full four days into the fundraiser and we're at 20% from credit card donations. Not bad. And, when you roll in the $21,000 in monthlies, plus the 8,000 to 9,000 that we usually receive in checks and through PayPal, we'll be over 60%. That's fantastic!

Also, receiving a lot of snickering remarks about the 84,000 FReeper number. Yes, that's the number of registrations we've had, but obviously we do not have 84,000 active FReepers (at least not registered active FReepers). The server stats show 65 to 75 thousand unique visits per day and I know that during big news events that number goes a lot higher, so I wouldn't doubt that we do approach 80,000 FReepers and LURKERS.

Also, receiving many nasty remarks about how can it cost $300,000 per year to run this website. Well, the short answer is, it doesn't. Our budget totals a little over $20,000 per month in regular recurring expenses. That includes 6,000 for management, 1,000 for admin, 3,000 for programming, 5,800 for bandwidth, 3,000 for legal and the remainder is for office expenses, travel, lodging and misc. Plus there's usually repairs, maintenance, improvements, projects, events, etc., that are budgeted and funds raised separately. Our bandwidth price this year is a couple thousand less than last year, but some of the other expenses are higher so I expect we'll probably need about the same amount overall.

Thanks for all your hard work and thanks to all who are helping you. You're doing a great job and a great service. And special thanks to all who are donating. Without your support there would be no Free Republic.

Regards,

Jim Robinson

[Mo1]

ANYTIME

SUPPORT FREE REPUBLIC

Donate Here By Secure Server

Or mail checks to
FreeRepublic , LLC
PO BOX 9771
FRESNO, CA 93794

or you can use

PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com

[BADJOE]

Thank you Jim. Now how about a prominent Hot Link on the top of the home page so I can get Lodwick's 500 bucks for us? : )

[don-o]

I've received quite a bit of email from banned posters in the last day or so, plus several anonymous complaints and remarks.

I am glad that you made that known, Jim.

Every Freepathon has this crap about financial corruption. Best tactic I have seen yet, (it shamed me into getting back on board) is the actual number of givers to the best site on the net.

Maybe I bumped it to 201.

[WIMom]

Thanks Jim! This site is worth all the effort.

[WIMom]

And, the fundraiser is doing fabulous! Sure, December's fundraiser we were able to get done in 4 days, 8 hours. That smashed every fundraiser record EVER! March's fundraiser was a little longer, but still the second fastest with 8 days. All the other fundraisers I've worked they lasted 3 to 4 weeks. So, we are right on track, and doing just fine!

[HairOfTheDog]

Spend it any way you like! - I support it because the product is good.

[Great Dane]

Summertime is always a little slower....... fundraiser going well just the same.

[anniegetyourgun]

What is it with those jerks who pray to their little gods that FR will see its demise? AGYG will jest never git it!

[PhiKapMom]

Thanks for all that you have done by providing us this site for activism and getting our news without spin!

Encourage each poster on here to sign up for a monthly donation then Free Republic knows what to expect every month. If we are going to use Free Republic, then we need to donate! So get out your credit cards/check books and donate tonight!

All you Bush supporters -- dig in your pockets and let's support Free Republic and not let the bashers get their way. We are in this for the long haul!

TAKE BACK THE SENATE and KEEP THE HOUSE in 2002!

BUSH/CHENEY 2004!

Now you all know my Agenda!

[EdReform]

Bump!

5,000 Freepers who care are needed now!

Bumping for new $5 monthlies! Please join Grampa Dave's team!! Your $5 per month donation will be greatly appreciated!

An excerpt from Grampa Dave's Free Republic Lifeform post:

"This is a wonderful description of what Free Republic really is. It is a living and evolving Life Form to battle the left wingers and those who would destroy this country!...

Free Republic needs a constant infusion of cash to keep the Free Republic Life Form alive, viable and to grow. If we believe in Free Republic, we must donate each month or quarterly to keep this incredible life form alive... Good stewardship is what this world needs, not good intentions. Good conservative stewards will insure that the Free Republic Life Form continues to grow, be viable and thrives!"

The Free Republic Life Form continues to grow -- A $5 per month "infusion" will make a difference!!

To Freep or not to Freep

[McGavin999]

Yeah, really? I've been on these fundraisers since 1998. They ALWAYS start out this way, especially in the summer. The last two were flukes. Well, that makes me want to send in just a little more.

JOE, you've got incomming!

[VA Advogado]

Anonymous complaints = 2 cents

Snickering remarks = 5 loonies

Jim Robinson and FR = PRICELESS

[RobFromGa]

Jim, You are a great American, and I love your creation, Free Republic. Long live Free Republic. WE ARE ALL MAKING A DIFFERENCE, EVERY DAY. NEVER FORGET IT.

[mafree]

Thank YOU for FRee Republic!

[The Mayor]

BUMP!

[Snow Bunny]

I love Free Republic so much and I cannot understand anyone that asks or says things like that about why the FReepathon.

How anyone could come here day after day and not give just out of being grateful amazes me.There is NO place like this anywhere else. It is the best!!!!!!!

Thank you for all you offered to us and all your hard work JimRob.

[Dakmar]

I guess you deserve a liitle credit, too, so here goes: Thanks for all you and FR are doing!

[Illbay]

So, does the number on the bar graph include people like me who are already on monthly credit card payment?

[sweetliberty]

Pay no attention to the whiners Jim. I think one of the most offensive posts I have seen on this forum was one poster attacking another suggesting that the person didn't donate enough to the site to be entitled to voice a contrary opinion. The poster intimated that the size of a donation "bought" influence and entitlement. I am glad that you don't operate that way. No one is indispensible although many would like to believe that they are. Keep up the good work.

[Howlin]

I've received quite a bit of email from banned posters in the last day or so, plus several anonymous complaints and remarks. Seems the bannees are taking great delight in their perceived belief that the current fundraiser is not doing so well

Also, receiving a lot of snickering remarks about the 84,000 FReeper number.

Also, receiving many nasty remarks about how can it cost $300,000 per year to run this website.

I feel like we're having a flashback, do you? I have this feeling that while the good people at FR are preparing for the fund raisers each time, emails and message boards are "preparing," too.