A Farewell to Florida: Time to Reorganize Florida Chapter

NA | November 17,2003 | Seeking the Truth

[Seeking the truth]

First of all, please accept my apology for posting this so late.

On October 1, my wife ("FRBI") and I closed on our house in Boca Raton and moved to Las Vegas, NV.

The new owners wanted a short closing (26 days!) and therefore, we had to do everything in a very short period of time.

We did a quick trip to Las Vegas for house hunting & job hunting, returned home to Boca, found a mover, fixed the roof (hey, it's Florida - all roofs leak!), packed up everything and headed west.

Immediately after arriving in "Sin City", we headed right back east to New Jersey for a surprise birthday party for my mom. After a few days there, we returned to our new home to start unpacking.

As many of you know, I have an online business - 0cents.com and that took time to set up here in Las Vegas; especially, after Earthlink dropped my DSL in Florida 4 days earlier than planned and then, to add insult to injury, did not initiate the new service in Las Vegas. Instead, they just deleted my entire account!

OK, OK...enough horror stories about the move!

I'm going to miss all youse guys in Florida. The Florida Freepers have Freeped so many times during the Clinton Impeachment Era and the Election 2000 Attempted Coup.

We had the Florida Free Republic Air Force flying all over the state for years and who can forget our skywriting pilot putting up "Impeach Clinton Now" over the skies of Washington DC and then being detained by the Secret Service!

Or the time the banner plane flew "Clinto is a Rapist" over one of his fund raisers Palm Beach...or the glorious moment at Willie Gary's mansion in Sewells Point, where the Free Republic Air Force, Navy and Army had a joint operation where hundreds showed up to Freep Chinton! I still remember how big his head was in the back seat of that lit limosene!

Then came Election 2000....Gonzo's party election night...our prayer circle...the 36 days...the day we ran Jesse Jackson out of West Palm Beach...the countless rallies around the state as the recounts dragged on.

Yes, those were unbelieveable memories...I'll never forget how well we Freeped (or the outrageously good times we all had!)

Now, I'm starting a new life here in Las Vegas. As soon as things get a little more settled (and we unpack some more boxes!) I'm going to check out the local Las Vegas Freepers and find out what's going on here.

I've asked MinuteGal to be temporary Chairperson for the reorganization of Florida. MinuteGal is one of the original Florida Freepers has been there from the first meeting in Orlando back in June 1998. It's been some time since the Chapter had a meeting and it is time to get going again. Election 2004 is right around the corner and you know that Florida is going to be a battleground again!

I wish my fellow Florida Freepers every success in the future.

Gene McDonald
"Seeking the Truth"
Former Chapter Leader

[BobFromNJ]

Gene--Good Luck to you --Stay with the Freepers which you do so much for! Say hi to your Dad for me!

[Fred Mertz]

My younger brother lives in Las Vegas. Next time I visit him I'll let you know. He's not a freeper only a Marine fighter pilot.

[My Favorite Headache]

Gene,

My mouth literally dropped when I read this. This is more than just someone moving...this is Florida losing its leader in my eyes as far as Republican/Conservative politics goes. You introduced me to FR in early 1999. We have been through "everything" together in Palm Beach. I am so shocked to see you moved so quickly without having a chance to give you a proper send off and good-bye.


I wish you the absolute best and hope to Christ we can have a leader like you again here in Florida. This is such a huge loss for Florida Freepers.


I will pick up with whatever is asked of me for the Florida Chapter....count on it.


Doug

[MinuteGal]

Oh, Bob....how great to hear from you. As soon as the Florida chapter re-organization is rolling, Bahama Mama will be getting Freeps Ahoy 3 plans together for a spring sailing. It'll be hard to top the last freeper cruise, but we'll do it, by golly.

You'd better be there! We can get together with Gene and Darlie again if they can make it. Great fun!

Leni/Bahama Mama

[Mustang]

Gene, you will be missed.

Just recall that famous taxi ride after the MFJ with Peter K. and me. Now that was a hoot!

Pat and I hope to visit you and Darlee in our next visit to LV.

Stay the course & God speed.

John & Pat.

[A Navy Vet]

Welcome to the West, Gene. VetsCoR's Executive Director, Neil E. Wright, is just down the river from you in Lake Havasu.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Always the voice of reason, aren't you my friend?

[Luis Gonzalez]

"I may now be the Southernmost Freeper in the USA."

Only if you live in the Keys.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Gene!

I can't believe this!

Well, my brother lives out there, and we go hang with him once in a while.

I'll drop you a FReemail next time I head out West.

[gonzo]

Well, Gene, kinda figured you'd wind up where they's gambling involved!

Best of luck, pally! The good-old-times and memories will still remain (Dave's ass-kiss on Jesse Pokechop still graces the TV), and now we'll make some new ones.

Our best to you and Darlee..............FRegards

[AGreatPer]

What the heck is going on? Look, Key West is great. Been there many times. Hell, I was there when that dude was singing Blue Swade Shoes BEFORE Elvis. I forget his name. Just got it, Gene Vincent. Now there is a name many won't remember.

Love Key West, just don't get to the end of the US that much. Best of luch my friend.

Elle Bee let me give you advice. The Hell with the South Beach Diet Book. Do the Key West Diet Book. You can make a fortune.

[Elle Bee]

hmmmm ..... a beer diet .... I've been on that one for years ... we could give out a KW dog tag (an Atocia coin on a gold chain) with each copy

hope you're well

.

[Elle Bee]

all the way down island ... up on the hill just east of the cemetary

.

[Luke FReeman]

The top ten reasons I would move from Floriduh to Lost Wages are...

There's nine reasons.....

And here's reason #10 !!!...

Miss Boca Raton, 2003

[MinuteGal]

LOL!

Leni

[DollyCali]

Wow talk about a whirlwind!

Good luck in your new locale.. It seems like you will "bloom where you are now planted"...

and just make enough money so that you can fly to Fla a few times a year to join your friends there & FReep away.

[JulieRNR21]

Pinging my FL Freepers list for you!

FL Freepers....our fearless leader, seeking the truth, has relocated to Las Vegas...our loss is Nevada's gain....please send Gene & Darlee your best wishes!

[MindBender26]

Gene, Gene, The Stampin Machine has moved.

This is NOT good!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thanks, Julie. Pinging my Florida list, as well. I know we're losing a leader.

Gene, thank you. My favorite Seeking the truth moment ~ you leading the "loafer-wearing" Republican mob that kept Miami Dems from counting creating Gore ballots in the back room during the attempted election theft of 2000.

Glad we buried our differences over election 2002.

Hope you both find life in Nevada rewarding.

Leni, thank you. If you ever need to get the word out about a Freep event ~ ping me.

[dennisw]

I remember the sky writing