It's fairly clear to me. Our mission statement reads:
The Free Republic Network organizes, trains and supports conservative activists, and connects other conservative organizations with grassroots groups across the country that share their goals.
In practice, that means we work with groups like the American Conservative Union and the Leadership Institute to bring services and information to FR chapters, in addition to hosting various events for freepers and others.
- Who exactly are you?
We're a California 501(c)4 (non-profit, political) corporation. When the FRN was set up a year ago, the decision was made to reuse the defunct corporation obtained by Brian Buckley for the Free Republic Institute. In retrospect it might have been wiser to start a new corporation instead, since it has been difficult to make the necessary changes with the state of California.
I brought up your other questions at last night's BOD meeting, and hope to be able to clarify matters a bit.
For example, it's public record that:
1) The original three FR domains (.com, .org, & .net) are owned by Jim Robinson and Free Republic LLC and not FRN.
I wasn't aware that freerepublic.net was still owned by Jim. While we certainly appreciate his letting us use it, we agreed last night that it makes more sense for the FRN to have its own domain. We have therefore acquired the rights to "www.FRNetwork.org", and will start using that url in the near future.
2) Freeper.Org is owned by Robert A. Hahn and not FRN.
3) Freeper.Org domain is redirected to Nick Danger's web (http://saturn.he.net/~danger/freepnet/) site and not a site owned by FRN.
True enough. Nick Danger created and maintains our website as part of his considerable contribution to the FRN. If it becomes useful to do so -- for example if we obtain outside funding to enhance the site -- he will transfer ownership to the FRN.
4) Free Republic Network was incorporated in the State of California in 1999 with its agent and address being one and the same as Brian L. Buckley.
We filed a change of agent request some time ago, and are now checking with the California Secretary of State as to its status. Mr. Buckley is not associated with the FRN, though as noted above he was the originator and agent of the Free Republic Institute.
5)The present status of this corporation is "Suspended."
We evidently missed the deadline for filing with the CA SOS a document called a "Statement by Domestic Non-Profit". That has now been filed, but the Secretary's office tells us that it takes a month to restore a corporation's status from suspension. I will put procedures in place to make sure this doesn't happen again.
6) Brian L. Buckley is no longer an "active" member.
That is correct.
Should you happen to run across anything else that seems peculiar, please let us know.
FRegards, I.T.
It's fairly clear to me. Our mission statement reads:
The Free Republic Network organizes, trains and supports conservative activists
Guys, it should be clear to you that you're not well organized yourself. And from what you've told me, FRN is hardly a blue-print for activists yet.
If Buckley no longer has anything to do with FRN, what is the new address of the corporation and who is its agent?
Also, while I'm not in any position to offer you advice (due to your top down organization) you might start straigtening things up by having your board switch from screen names to real names, taking actual rather than virtual control of your California corporation, and bouncing one or two of the goofier members off your board.