From: deb@freebsdfoundation.org   
      
   Dear FreeBSD Community,   
      
   We would like to thank everyone who has donated to the FreeBSD   
   Foundation this year. We have raised $183,888 towards our 2009 goal of   
   $300,000! We are almost 2/3 of the way to reaching our goal! Oh, and   
   BTW, we have had 671 donors this year. This is compared to just over 300   
   this time last year. This is important not only to help us keep our   
   Public Charity Status, but it shows there are many users who are   
   passionate about FreeBSD and want to show their support.   
      
   With the weakened economy we have been very conservative with our   
   spending this year. But, like each previous year we have increased the   
   amount we have spent on the FreeBSD Project and community. We were blown   
   away with the number of project proposals we received this year. We were   
   able to fund 7 projects this year. Unfortunately we didn't have the   
   budget to fund all the proposals we received.   
      
   This coming year we want to double the amount we spend on project   
   development. In order to accomplish this, we need to meet our   
   fund-raising goal.   
      
   Why do we need donations?   
      
   The goal of the FreeBSD Project is to provide software that may be used   
   for any purpose -- and without strings attached.  Our mission is to   
   support the FreeBSD Project and community. Our funding comes from people   
   like you – those who are determined to keep FreeBSD free!   
      
   How have we spent the money this year?   
      
   •    Sponsored FreeBSD related conferences like BSDCan, EuroBSDCon,   
   AsiaBSDCon, KyivBSD, and DCBSDCon.   
      
   •    Provided 15 travel grants and funding to individuals to attend   
   these and other conferences this year.   
      
   •    Provided grants for projects that improve FreeBSD, like   
   wireless mesh support, FreeBSD TCP stack improvements, new console   
   driver, safe removal of disk devices, flattened device tree, and high   
   available storage projects.   
      
   •    Provided equipment for developers working to improve FreeBSD and   
   projects like the NetPerf cluster. We purchased servers, USB analyzers,   
   power controllers, and parts for computer repairs for the Project. We   
   also paid for shipping of equipment to various projects.   
      
   •    Provided legal support for the project on issues like understanding   
   the GPLv3 impact on FreeBSD, providing a privacy policy, trademark   
   ownership and permission, and other legal issues that come up.   
      
   How can you help?   
      
   Your financial support is critical for the FreeBSD Project. Please help   
   us keep FreeBSD free. Go to:   
      
   http://www.freebsdfoundation.org/donate/   
      
   to donate (any amount will help).  And thank you for your continued   
   support of the FreeBSD Foundation.   
      
      
   Thank You,   
      
   The FreeBSD Foundation   
      
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   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)