Posted on 11/28/2001 7:31:29 PM PST by Jim Robinson
Free Republic has had one helluva run over the last five years or so. We helped impeach one president and helped get another into office. We've been active in demonstrations and protests in nearly every city across the nation. We've participated in conventions, petition drives, activism campaigns and projects for dozens of conservative causes.
We've grown from a tiny web site with a few hundred posters and readers from the time of inception in 1996, to one with tens of thousands of participants today. Along the way we've made lots of great friends and, unfortunately, also made lots of bitter enemies.
We've grown from a small web site that I could manage myself on a part-time basis to a huge monster that has totally consumed all of my time and resources plus nearly all of John's time, plus the time and resources of many dedicated FReepers who volunteer or contribute large amounts of their own time and money.
The site is now consuming all of a 10 mbps dedicated line with two servers and we're still growing, and it consumes large amounts of money to keep all this running. In the early years, it only took a few thousand dollars per month to keep Free Republic on the air, but it is now costing over $20,000 per month to cover all expenses.
The major costs include approximately $8,000 per month for bandwidth, 3,000 for systems management and programming services, 7,000 for management, operating and administrative services, plus two or three thousand per month for miscellaneous office expenses, telephone, communications, repairs & maintenance, travel & lodging, postage, rentals, insurance, legal fees, accounting fees, etc., etc.
We anticipate a reduction in bandwidth costs next year as we renegotiate our contract (the market price for bandwidth has fallen recently), however, that will be more than offset by an expected increase in costs of our legal expenses. As most of you know, our pro bono attorney has left us and we've hired a new attorney to continue with our case, plus we have the suit against eschoir to pay for. My projections are that our regular monthly expenses for next year will be running in the neighborhood of $22,000 per month, or approximately $264,000 total for the year. This means we will need to raise approximately $66,000 per quarter.
Talking about making enemies, we've got several ex-FReepers and other detractors who are claiming on their anti-freeper web sites that I am ripping off the donors and that Free Republic is a fraud. Now, Free Republic is what it is, and it is definitely not a fraud. It is a conservative news discussion forum that encourages participation in politics and activism projects. It is not being billed as anything else. We are not selling or promising anything. And I am being up front about our operating costs. The costs of running Free Republic are what I've stated above and they are necessary to keep FR on the air. I do not have the financial wherewithal to operate this site without your help. If the majority of the FReepers feel that these costs are out of line or too much to bear or that Free Republic is no longer wanted or needed, then we will either cut it back or shut it down or do something altogether different.
I've also been criticized about not making our financials public. Well, the reason I do not want to do this is that I have been sued, both personally and as Free Republic, LLC. The people suing us want to bankrupt us and shut us down. They subpoenaed our financial records, but we refused to turn them over. The judge agreed that the plaintiffs have no right to the information, thus I have no intention of making any more of it public than I absolutely have to, until this lawsuit is resolved. You all know the amounts of money we raise if you follow the fundraising threads. It is all above board and out in the open. The totals posted by BadJoe are usually pretty close to the actual cash received and the amounts expended are pretty close to the amounts projected. No one is getting rich here and no one is being ripped off. The funds raised are being used for the purposes stated, and that is keeping this website on the air and that's it. Nothing fraudulent about it. Those who want to help fund us freely do so with nothing expected in return. Those who do not want to contribute do not have to.
There was a thread running this morning where people were making all kinds of accusations about Free Republic "hiding the truth" or whatever. These accusations are being made by Chuck Allan and others and fall along the same line with the accusations being made by some of the earlier banees or AFers including Mojo, Inspector Harry Callahan, Arator, keep U.S. Sovereign, TKEman and others. Some of these people are existing FReepers and some are banned. I am going to reinstate Mojo, Inspector Harry Callahan and Arator's accounts so they can join Chuck Allan, TKEman, K.U.S.S. and whomever else wants to get involved, and I invite them to come onto this thread and make their accusations public. As long as they do not go onto other threads and make a nuisance of themselves, I will let them have their say.
Like I said above, if it is time for Free Republic to go away so be it. Those who want to keep it going speak up. Those who want it to go away, tell us why. But if those who want it to be gone lose out in the debate, then I'd say they should just go away themselves, or, in the very least, shut up and quit whining about it.
Thanks,
Jim
He said he went there at TKE's urging; of course, YOU would assume he meant he went there to read your pearls of wisdom; after all, doesn't everybody?
We have received $5,195.00 in credit card donations which includes an amazing $400.00 in new monthlies.
If I count them for three months , we are at $6,000.00 from 98 Freepers and Lurkers. With Million Freeper Math (1.2) this time, we are over $6,700.00 towards are goal of $80,000
The official quarterly fundraiser will begin Saturday morning. WIMom will put up the thread.
I am one out of gas puppy this evening. Thank you all very much. I'll see you tomorrow.
Wow, this reminds me of the old days. Remember all those funny threads we used to post late at night? I wonder if any of them are still in existence... I doubt it. Anyway, I miss the old days... Its more fun when there is actual, lively debate around here instead of all the preaching to the choir!
You've been hitting the sauce again? 105 million? Get a grip; better yet, get lost.
Your titular responsibilities are calling. Your ilk need your leadership. How will they manage without your attention and nurturing?
What would make it absolutely perfect, is if you could find a way to sell something to Democrats - and make a lot of money off it. Having them fund FR indirectly would be hilarious....
Or playing the role of the wounded deer or victim of the ill of the day...
The energy of the Real meaning of We The People has found a home, hence the tremendous growth. Since we are dealing with the truth, there seem to likewise be a growing number of dissenters and also people who always envy the success of someone with a simple premise. I would suggest that upon joining, new members posts be monitored for a specified period, maybe have their nicks in another color, until they pass the muster. I will be glad to contribute what I can to see it continue.
Thank you Jim Robinson.
What, and tear myself away from this thread? But I could be banned at any moment! I gotta FReep while I can, don't ya know. LOL.
OK, I'll check. ;^)
Cindy, with you posting again, it IS just like the old days. Go get em, girl. Howlin, I know, is just starving for some attention. You might direct your fire her way. LOL.
As to whether this is the real Howlin or not, I don't have the slightest idea.
I don't even remember what threads I was referring to, but I do remember that I didn't know whether the Howlin there was an impostor or not and specifically said so in this sentence.
Not everyone is out to get you, I promise that. I just think the Guild is bad writing, for example.
I also have nothing against or for any of the members personally, unless I know them. Then I might.
Can you explain why it is that there's only about three of you that have a problem like that with Jim, and the other 49,997 registered users get along fine?
What if it were free just to lurk and read article/posts, but to register and post it cost $5/10/20 or whatever a year? Then, people could still get thier news here free of charge but to actually participate in the discussions it would cost a little bit. Maybe there could be different levels of membership with different benifits for each level. Anything from just being able to post and have FReep mail all the way up to having a Free Republic mail address (retrokitten@freerepublic.com for example). It's just a thought.
• Arator Nov-28
• Eschoir Nov-28
• Sam Spade Nov-26
So, let me understand this, only those who think like you are "free thinkers", and anyone who doesn't is a monkey with a computer?
Maybe, just maybe, it's your incredible arrogance, and total despise for anyone who isn't in line with your particular brand of group think that is to blame for the bannishments.
Free thinkers=those whose thoughts mirror yours.
ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!
Howlin! deport! Check out FR's own Borg!
Good to see you around.. :-)
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