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
I find ignoring the pissing contests and lobotomy cases and fed shills (that Robinson for some reason doesn't send packing) and concentrating on the research done here makes the site worthwhile.
If any of you have taken my post to insinuate that any of you are crooks or dishonest, I truly sincerely apoligise to each of you. That was not my intent in any way shape or form. My only concern was one of appearence to the public FR fourm, and the lending of my name to something that didn't feel quite right to me. I stand by my feelings and cannot take them back. I wish nothing but the best for all of you and for FR. I wish things could change but sadly I'm afraid it's too late. I have informed JimRob that as of last night, of my own accord, I will not be posting to any web-site to discuss the workings of FR. I did reserve the right to correct any information when/if my name is used on any web-site. I would hope that some of you might re-read post #1840 and try to understand some of my concerns. Feel free to mail me and I will respond privately.
Again, apologies sent, hopfully accepted.
Best Wishes and Happy Holidays to All
chuck allen
Somebody back up the thread was right about you -- you have NO class, except LOW class. You, Harry, are a bottom feeder.
Warmest Regards,
Callahan
I don't think that's a Welcome Wagon Howlin is driving, Harry. Look again. Look closer, and I think you'll see it's a HEARSE! I think she's hauling the latest Guild victim out to toss on the mounting FReeper body pile just outside the forum walls. LOL.
Are you still getting your marching orders from Eschoir?
Sounds like a plan to me!
And I didn't say they did have to disclose tax info to the public.
My question to Jim had to do with whether or not FR is in compliance with laws in the state of California (and other states from which he receives donations) regulating charities. I'm not a lawyer, so I haven't studied what disclosures are necessary. It is my understanding that a California charity must register with the state and conform to applicable state laws.
One of the "notorious antifreepers", Jusinianist, has done considerable research on the subject and concluded that FR was a charity under California law, and therefore subject to its provisions.
I'm interested in knowing whether Jim agrees, and whether he believes he is in compliance.
Then you call me out to this cesspool of a thread.
I don't know what else to say, but if I should think of something, you can bet I won't say it privately without witnesses.
From some of the posts on this thread, a videocamera might be a good idea.
I did forget to add that he's obsessed with Jim and FR; he might need shock therapy.
Yep...I'm one of them, so is BobJ, JimRob, Deb, JohnRob, Harrowup, etc...
What are you talking about, Howlin? Many of my favorite FReepers are all women:
Mercuria
incindiary
AnnaZ
diotima
Aviator
donna
Torie?
That Poppin's Woman
MissAmericanPie
Miss Antiwar
...and the list goes on and on.
Now, if you really want to know where my antipathy with "the Guild" began, it all goes back to Miss Marple. She made our political disagreements personal, sought, and got my first permanent banishment last year. I can't tell you how frustrating it was for me to be on a thread with her enjoying a vigorous debate when, just after posting a brilliant reply, the thread goes dark before she can even read it. That was her style. She never really wanted to debate, only to suppress.
I really dislike folks who seek to bind and gag their political opponents rather than defeat them with good argument. And that's why I dislike many of the ladies of the Guild. Their first impulse is to suppress dissenting views and, as such, I think they have been a destructive force on this forum.
Need I even say that that is YOUR side of the story. And around here at least, just because you type it doesn't mean anybody believes it.
Also, I do not sneak around, and made no secret of the fact I had reported you. I did not ask to have you banned....merely pointed out what you had done, and I TOLD people I had done so (unlike many who file abuse reports anonymously).
Whether you are here or not is up to Jim. Sorry you don't like me, but as President Bush says, "Too bad."
Goldi, perhaps my ommission was providential just so you'd have this post dedicated just to you. ;^)
6. How is FR's revenue reported for state and federal tax purposes?
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