The first issue is, where are you so we can see if there is a chapter in your area. If there isn't, I usually suggest that people interested in starting a chapter post on the state board. Once you get some interest, and that will probably happen, you can get togther and submit a chapter application, it is on our website, www.freerepublic.net. This is so that we can set up a private forum for your chapter. In this process we ask for an executive and up to four leaders so we have people we can contact. The leaders and executives are members of the Leadership Council. The LC has its own forum and meets regularly. Every chapter has representation there and we form committees to work on different things. Since the Network is new, we have a committe working on a chapter manual that will contain suggestions for starting and running a chapter. We have a committe that just presented nominations for the Eagle awards (Announcement coming soon on FR!)
As for expenses, they do crop up. In the past the chapters buy their own freeping materials. If there are other expenses, members usually pitch in and cover them. (For instance the Chicagoland Chapter did that to pay for an exhibit booth at the Chicago Conservative Conference last year.)
The Network also fundraises. We don't have a big push on the Forum although anyone can donate to us through our website. We have and are hoping to acquire more tools for the chapters to use, so the Network fundraises and has fundraisers in DC.
I hope that answered your question.
(Nobody returns from ZAHADOOM. I like your screen name. I am a big B5 fan.)