Posted on 10/29/2002 10:18:08 AM PST by FR Network
Earlier this month, the Free Republic Network held its annual Board meeting. In addition to electing new officers, we have decided to rework our Board and operational structure a bit. The new FRN Board of Directors consists of nine members: Interesting Times (Chairman), Skeet (Executive Director), Diotima, Bob J, MinuteGal, DoughtyOne, Nick Danger, Seeking the Truth and Abner.
We are also forming a new FRN Executive Team to help plan and organize events, design and implement services for FR Chapters, and to work with FRN Strategic partners such as the ACU and the Leadership Institute. Upcoming FRN-hosted events include CPAC 2003 in Washington DC, a Freeps Ahoy cruise to be announced shortly, and our yearly conference next fall. We're also looking for volunteer writers and fundraisers. Naturally, all members of the Executive Team will learn the secret FRN handshake and be given their own decoder ring. If you'd like to help us support conservative activism, drop us a line at frn@freeper.org.
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. There are currently 49 local and issue-based Chapters affiliated with the FRN.
We have a few other things in progress as well. Look for an announcement shortly on Freeps Ahoy! our second Caribbean cruise, followed by posts about FRN and FR activities at CPAC.
FRN seriously needs to beef up intra-chapter communications.
I'm assuming you meant "inter-chapter" (between chapters). Communications within a chapter is somebody else's job. :)>
Well, Diotima's weekly Leadership Council meeting of chapter leaders is one good way for chapters to communicate. I'd also suggest using the Activism Central forum at www.freerepublic.net to compare notes and lessons learned with members of other chapters.
A reasonable point of view.
Still, I'm afraid you'll have to roll your own...
A place to park the rig for the weekend. I know there isn't parking at the hotel.
A place to set up and or launch. If we don't take-off, it is not an aircraft. If we take off, we would have to be very careful about wind directions.
The Marriotts parking lot would probably be too small eh?
Probably.
The fact that it's an underground parking garage might also present some problems...
Regards,
TS
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.
At the moment, I'm not prepared to argue the point.
And from what you've told me, FRN is hardly a blue-print for activists yet.
We're don't position ourselves as models of conservative activism. For example, rather than offering advice ourselves to activists at our recent conference in Las Vegas, we contracted with the Leadership Institute. They worked with us to build an excellent, professional presentation that was well received by those who attended. We see the FRN as a provider of services.
If Buckley no longer has anything to do with FRN, what is the new address of the corporation and who is its agent?
The Free Republic Network
PO Box 785
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
The registered agent is Bob J's attorney. I don't have his name, and Bob is out of town, but that will be part of the public record once we get the paperwork cleared up.
Also, while I'm not in any position to offer you advice (due to your top down organization)...
The FRN isn't a top-down organization, it's a network. We provide services and connectivity. We don't control the activities of affiliated chapters in any way.
...you might start straigtening things up by having your board switch from screen names to real names...
Our real names are available to Network members. Here we use screen names, like everybody else.
...taking actual rather than virtual control of your California corporation
Agreed.
...and bouncing one or two of the goofier members off your board.
Well, they say one man's bozo is another man's freedom fighter...
Yes, of course.
For example, if I ask you for the name and address of your President, secretary, and chief financial officer you are obligated to tell me. Otherwise you are operating outside of the parameters set for your organization by the law under which FRN is incorporated (501C4). The names and addresses of these people are required to be public.
You're confusing two different things. 501(c)4 is an IRS-granted tax status, not "the law under which FRN is incorporated."
We'll be listing the names of Network directors on the FRN web site shortly. There is no requirement to provide individual addresses.
And that's just starters. If someone, that is ANYONE, should ask to see your tax returns for the last three years could and would you produce them?
Non-profits that have more than $25,000 in gross revenues are required to make public their IRS Form 990s. The Free Republic Institute had neither non-profit status nor revenues in 1999 and 2000, so no public documentation is required for those years. The Free Republic Network did file a Form 990 for 2001, though we were not required to do so, and we will be placing a copy of that document on the FRN web site in the near future.
If your answers are "no" and "no," then you should seriously think about starting this whole enterprise over from scratch.
Your opinion is noted.
TRS, Managing Editor, The American Partisan
It's been about a week. In that time you've thrown up over two dozen posts including a vanity.
Perhaps you get back to representing FRN and we could continue?
Thanks.
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