I am one of the former freecycle list owners that have decided to go my own way along with another local list owner.  We could no longer tolerate the way freecycle was being run.  At one point I believed that freecycle was an environmental group.  I now have another opinion on this whole freecycle organization.   Freecycle started out to be a great thing, but the greed and need for control is spoiling freecycle.  

I've seen so many complaints about Freecycle seeking sponsors and can't imagine what the problem is. Someone please show me an organization that can run on no money because I don't believe there are any. Waste Mgmt might not have had a wonderful image but it's been legally punished with fines and such and is working on cleaning up it's image. If they want to clean it up by associating with Freecycle so be it.

 How many organizations do you know that give as much freedom of choice as Freecycle does? Freecycle puts the least amount of restrictions on it's mods and members than any other non-profit group. I do think though that Freecycle would do best to get it's own website and leave those complaining yahoos behind.

Freecycle is a great concept and if it continues to grow it can become a way of life for millions of people. Imagine how that will impact the world.

 I do, however, feel compelled to set the record straight on some of the issues addressed in your Grist article "Waste Lines" of May 19th, 2005 on The Freecycle Network.

You claimed that groups are "are crying 'hypocrisy' and leaving by the score" as a result of our receiving our first ever substantial funding of any kind --aside from my own personal savings-- from our first ever underwriter of any kind, Waste Management and the Recycle America Alliance.

That I weighed carefully the decision to accept any external underwriting funds is very true. But, that groups are "leaving by the score" couldn't be further from the case. I can count the groups on one hand out that have left "in scores" of our several thousand local groups in over 50 countries worldwide.

Any local moderator would confirm this as local moderators are all members of a worldwide moderator group which we use to trade thoughts and ideas with each other -- no secrets here, believe me. Also, in your interview with me you yourself stated that the fact that groups actually were not leaving was also reflected by your own research and is certainly reflected by the exuberant growth in groups across the globe.

Finallly, the former Freecycle moderator you chose to quote as an example of the same, Eric, was actually asked to leave because he wasn't following the rules in his local group (rules voted on and agreed to by all moderators worldwide). He wished to stay and when told he either has to follow the rules or go, he asked if his wife could still moderate the local group (we declined his offer). His statement that he left of his own volition was not the case.

It is true that he is attempting to promote his own "copycat" network which, unlike The Freecycle Network, is not incorporated as a nonprofit organization. Consider this when reading his quotes. You make a plug for his site and even link to it later in the article as "a refuge for disillusioned Freecyclers". This refuge is a site that he pasted together with every single former Freecycle site that was no longer allowed to use the name because they don't follow the basic rules voted on by all. This "refuge" has received a sum total of 1729 total hits ever per his own counter -- most as a result of your own article. This compares to our nonprofit site with tens of thousands of hits a day and over a million members. This "refuge" is a collection of links to unaffiliated groups from former moderators who were asked to step down for not following the basic rules, and most certainly not a link to those who are pure of heart, I assure you.

So he didn't follow the rules that all mods voted on, he was asked to leave by fellow volunteer group-outreach moderators and he responded by setting up a competing copycat network which is not nonprofit. This is what one might consider to be a questionable journalistic source. I pride myself in being straight and having no profit motives whatsoever. The effort you plug as an alternative can most certainly not claim the same. It is important to question why someone says what they say -- follow the facts not the hearsay.

In regards to our having a trademark, you say that "Success in that endeavor has been elusive: an unrelated Florida company beat Beal to the trademark office by just a few months." This is an "almost truth" but tainted by misinformation from your interviewees. Actually we have a trademark whether or not another company applies a couple months before us for "future use."  Had you viewed the publically viewable uspto.gov site, you could have verified this by reading the actual documents to this effect. We have this trademark in the US, Canada and the European Union. A "TM" only maintains its value when defended in court regardless of any other TM's out there and an "R" only is given once pending cases are settled. In all fairness you could have stated that a) we have been using our TM "in commerce" for over two years and that the very much for-profit corporation has never used it at all, and that b) this company in Florida that applied for future use has a snowball's chance in Miami of being registered, based on any competent copyright and trademark lawyer's opinion. So, actually, we are in very good shape trademark-wise and success is not at all "elusive" but rather all but assured.

You then base your next comment on the actions of 2-3 mods -- mods who did not take their groups and leave out of polictical inspiration but rather were asked to leave by other volunteer mods in The Freecycle Network for not following the basic rules that all groups vote on. The comment you then make is "Has Freecycle run its course?" I am proud to say that we are growing by 100,000+ members a month. If you are doing a good thing, people know it. The Freecycle is still very much a grassroots wildfire. Your comment would seem to imply otherwise.  

You indeed say that I have organized this organization or 1,250,000 good-hearted & nonprofit members as a volunteer for nearly two years. That's quite true, with the help of literally thousands of volunteers moderators locally, 70-80 volunteers who approve new groups, 30 volunteers who help existing groups another 10 or so who administer the database or help with general inquiries to the website. We are creating a worldwide gift economy with a paid staff of one. That is awesome. You neglected to mention that point in your article. However, you did mention that my previous day job was in "recycling and job training, run by Rise, Inc., a Minnesota-based nonprofit." The nonprofit is called RISE, but, last time I checked it was a nice, little local recycling group right here in Tucson, Arizona, not Minnesota...

You refer to past legal issues that WM has had. Also true. And indeed which every single major multinational corporation has on an ongoing basis. This is where I believe the article could have sprouted some interesting wings. It's a dilemma that I feel both multinationals and nonprofits face together. A multinational like WM knows it will be labelled "green washer" by supporting a cause which eliminates waste from their own landfills and reducing their own bottom line. And a nonprofit knows that such report will inevitably lead to articles such as your own. What does it mean for a multinational corporation to be willing to take such a huge risk and to promote something that reduces their own bottom line. This would have been an interesting article on corporate civic responsiblity versus the risk which the same holds for them.

What, however, is key is not to simply claim that corporations are taking over a grassroots movement, but rather to ascertain for the reader whether or not this is actually the case. Journalistic questions such as: What does WM get in return from the support? Partial ownership? Control of decisions? Board position? Logos on all brochures? The reader needs this information in order to decide for him- or herself.

In this case they received none of the above. What WM does receive is the satisfaction of knowing they are keeping good stuff out of landfills and --drumroll please-- they are noted on our sponsor page which can be found by clicking on "sponsors" at freecycle.org. That's it.

In making the difficult decision as to whether or not to accept underwriter funding, please note that I also consulted a nonprofit ethicist who does contract work for green mutual funds, and he stated that WM and the Recycle America Alliance were appropriate as funders (relevant but omitted fact in your interview with me).  So, my response would be that there money is well spent with us. They have no interest in owning us or controlling us and are choosing to help give back to communities where they haul our waste in this fashion. I applaud this support.

You noted accounting/legal issues of concern with WM, but you didn't note that upper management was replaced as a result about a year ago. This does not mean that we whitewash our concerns -- indeed we must always proceed with the caution and care that so many dedicated members deserve. But not noting the new management is disregarding an extremely relevant ethical fact in your article.  

I was misquoted as saying that there wasn't time to ask the moderators if they would vote for or against such support. The quote:
"Beal said there wasn't time, and that it wouldn't be appropriate to have moderators vote on such 'binding' matters." The fact is that like all other fiduciary issues with all major conservation nonprofits, including your own (Grist), those liable for the results must vote for or against binding contracts: this means The Freecycle Network's board. All the time in the world doesn't change that situation. What was unfortunate was that the announcement of WM's support came out in the press without my knowledge before I was able to talk to the moderators. This was not fair to the moderators that they didn't know what was coming.

As regards "control" you stated:
"But last summer, Beal required every local moderator to add him as an 'owner' with full moderator powers. Beal said this was essential, because some moderators had abandoned their groups, or failed to control spammers."

Here again, consider your source: ex mod promoting copycat concept which isn't a nonprofit. In reality I didn't require this of anyone nor am I an owner of any group but my own local group. Moderators saw an issue, discussed it in the main moderator group and they voted on it there: the poll still exists in the group. They felt it made sense to have this backup address as a co-owner of every real "Freecycle" group worldwide and, in fact, it does. Otherwise there would be countless citites with overlapping groups or moderatorless groups all claiming to be the real McCoy. They aren't adding me as a co-owner at all, but rather a backup address for which there is an automated program that deletes all incoming mail automatically.  

A further quote from you:
"Freecycle, on the other hand, basically said, 'Take the name, but drive your own train.' Those who refuse to add Beal as moderator have been told to stop using the Freecycle name, and in some cases, he has convinced Yahoo! to shut down groups that don't comply."

This is simply not correct. The only local group I am a moderator of is my own local group as explained above. There is a detailed new group approval process run by other volunteer mods and there have always been rules which are required of all groups like "Keep it free, legal and appropriate for all ages." If the moderators vote on a new rule, this then applies to all groups as well, not just the new ones. They voted on the backup address and it makes darned good sense. Other moderators are volunteering to make sure everyone follows the rules. It can't work without a bare minimum of rules we all agree to. I'm tickled to say the process is working quite well.

And finallly, a nice parting quote from you:
"And though many former boosters are now feeling down in the dumps about Freecycle, Beal tries to remain positive."
Well, duh! As we continue to grow by leaps and bounds as we continue to keep 50 tons a day out of landfills and as the humblest among us becomes a philanthropist/gifter, I find strength in these countless acts of beauty. But in every program must come a little static. But I'm hearing lots of beautiful music, I assure you, no "trying" required. All you have to do is tune in a little closer...

By the way, I still think Grist is very cool and urge you to reference other articles by Grist itself about Freecycle that present a much different picture...

Sincerely,
Deron Beal
Founder & Executive Director
The Freecycle Network

First, regarding the hit counter that he refers to in an attempt to make my site seem less than worthy. There were 1625 on the counter before the story hit, it has now, thankfully hit 1773 due to the publicity of this article. The counter on my site is a Visitor counter, not a hit counter like FreeCycles. If the same user reloads my site the counter will not increase, which gives a far more accurate number of unique visitors than a hit counter.
Second, no FreeSharing.org is not a registered non-profit organization, nor do I have any desire to hire lawyers or fill out a bunch of paperwork to be one. FreeSharing.org also has no desire to seek a trademark or other legal protection for the name, again no lawyers, no massive legal fees, and no need for shady corporate sponcers.
The operating expence of FreeSharing.org is in the neighborhood of $100 a year, which comes out of my own pocket. Unlike FreeCycle I have never asked for donations, sponcers, or tried to sell FreeCycle T-Shirts for $17 each. FreeSharing.org is a true Grass Roots network where the local moderators have total control over their groups.
Deron consistantly uses the hypocritical line that because I am not a registered non-profit I must be out to make money on my site. Seeing how FreeCycle is NOT an IRS recognized non-profit organization and Deron now makes enough money to quit his day job, I see no logic to his statements.
By the way, I work about 50 hours a week in a factory and update the site in my spare time. Unless I hit the lottery I have no plans on quitting my day job any time soon.

Quote Deron: But, that groups are "leaving by the score" couldn't be further from the case. I can count the groups on one hand out that have left "in scores"

I can also only guess that Deron must have the most deformed hands on the planet. 7 groups in Florida alone left as a result of the WMI issue, and 4 groups in South Carolina have left, and thats just the tip of the ice burg. There are over 120 groups listed on FreeSharing.org, so Deron, how many fingers do you have??? Or are you counting the hairs on the back of your hand to make such a laughable statement.

Regarding my exit from FreeCycle. I was following every rule, and even had Deron as a co owner as required. I started FreeSharing.org PRIOR to leaving FreeCycle and was told that I would have too choose between giving up FreeSharing.org or turn my group over to FreeCycle Administrative control. I refused to surrender my group and did offer to have my wife take over control, which was denied by Deron. No published rule was broken by my FreeCycle group. Because there was some discussion prior to my leaving FreeCycle, Deron's staff took the time to download my membership list of over 900 members. Once I changed my groups name to FreeShare the freecycle staff used that membership list to invite all of my members to the newly created FreeCycle group. Even my test/backup account recieved an invite to join the new group.
Even with their massive campaign to recruit my members, my group still has over double the number of members than the replacement group.

The most common comment from new groups entering the FreeSharing.org directory is that they feel an enormous weight off of their shoulders now that they are free of the FreeCycle network. Too much petty bickering in the Mod Squad, fears of FreeCycle phasing them out once the "new site" is online and local mods become obsolete, tired of the TM BS, with having to have official FreeCycle logos with 3 lines of legal text below the logo, and not being able to use FreeCycle as a verb because it might damage the legal battle to win an official Trademark, just way too much hassle to keep in line with the growing burocracy.

If there was a single point when FreeCycle started to go downhill it was when Deron decided that the name needed to be Trademarked. From there the legal costs started to rack up, and the beurocracy started to grow.
FreeSharing.org will never seek a trademark, and will survive and grow by keeping it simple, 100% locally controlled, and lawyer free.

Best Regards,
Eric Burke
web guy - FreeSharing.org

An excellent editorial you wrote portraying Freecycle to a tee.  Deron Beal did not get the write-up that he wanted and is now furious.  That is what makes this article so important for those who need to know the real Freecycle.  Asking questions instead of spreading Derons doctrine will now be the mainstay.  Thank you so much for finally allowing the world to read the truth behind a movement that has finally been pulled out of it's grass roots for all to see what is underneath.

http://freecycleanonymous.blogspot.com
http://freecycletm.blogspot.com

Freecycle Anonymous

I found it interesting that you indicated "scores" of scorned Freecycle^TM moderators had left the network on their own accord.  This is truly not accurate.  In reality there has been a handful which were removed for the good of Freecycle^TM and its members.  For example there was a board moderator that belonged to a state group, moderated a board, and belonged to several of the complaint boards.  He had never had a problem with Freecycle^TM, was more than content to have his board listed as an authorized group for his area, and would continually bash Deron Beal, the New Group Approvers, and the Group Outreach Assistants.  He spoke in generalizations in these groups and when asked to give examples he never could.  He absolutely refused to join the International Board for moderators, yet he was more than content to continue to bash without foundation or supporting documentation.  After all this bashing he was doing he felt he had been wronged when he was asked to remove Freecycle^TM from his group and all of its materials.  

Yet another example would be another board moderator who scooped up boards in her state and her neighboring state.  She would go from board to board and swipe the membership lists and email everyone on the list to join her rogue groups.  She too spoke in generalizations and referred to Deron Beal as a Nazi.  She would create boards and bogus profiles to attempt to infiltrate the Freecycle^TM Moderators groups.  She would then take portions of material out of context and spread vicious lies about Deron Beal, the New Group Approvers, and the Group Outreach Assistants.  Her practices to get into the Freecycle^TM organization were at best deceptive.  On one of her Yahoo groups she actually allowed a post with the name, address, and phone number of one of the Freecycle^TM volunteers to remain.   In my personal opinion she was placing this volunteer who spends endless hours making Freecycle^TM a better place in harms way.  

These are two expanded examples of two of the most active individuals that are most active on these anti-freecycle board. One of these examples owns most of the boards that have been designed to hurt this profound movement that is saving our environment and helping others in our communities.  These are the type of individuals that you took at face value for the foundation of your article without finding out the real reasons they have been removed from the network.

Perhaps there is another side to Freecycle^TM that was not to be expected.  However the other side is a handful of moderators that were opportunists who were disgruntled because they could no longer misuse this system, harvest thousands of email addresses to spam and flame, and misrepresented themselves to access and use unauthorized copyrighted materials in a malicious and deceptive way.

I feel this article should have included a balance of happy board moderators as well as feedback from Group Outreach Assistants and New Group Approvers.  For example, did you interview board moderators to find out what is entailed and how many hours a day they volunteer absolutely free of charge?  Or did it occur to you to talk to some of the New Group Approvers to find out the process they go through before they are able to approve a group.  Many hours are tied into each approval if it is done properly.  Did you think to research and include in your article the reality of what it costs to maintain a server, much less the reality of fees incurred with bandwidth?

Finally I will say this; It has been my experience the individuals belonging to these flaming groups would have found something wrong if Bette Midler, the Presbyterian Church, or Walgreen's Drug Stores had decided to sponsor Freecycle^TM.  They would have dug until they found derogatory material on each one of them.   What I don't understand is if Freecycle^TM is so horrible why they would spend endless hours obsessing.  At which point is this healthy or compulsive?  Apparently Freecycle^TM is doing something right. --If these individuals spent half as much time being involved in environmental outreach they would make a wonderful impact on the world.  Unless of course the word "free" is what they are really about.  At one time I was sympathetic to these few scorned individuals until I began to realize how they operated and the blatent lies they told.  I walked away and never looked back.

Please consider writing a follow-up article containing a less biased approach and research the rest of the facts.  These corrections and further research will help us continue to keep usable items out of the landfill and will have a great impact on our society for generations to come.  

I am proud to be a Volunteer for Freecycle.org!


Hand in hand with others helping the environment one gift at a time.

I actually post polls on my groups and they voted to leave Freecycle. We do not believe in offering animals on a recycling site, we do not think that it is right that Deron is receiving donations and sponsorship when he is running a FREE site and websites are dirt cheap these days, you can get web space for as little as $50 a year. And with all of the people who worship him, I'm sure someone would design one for him for free. So, he got to quit his job and live high on the hog while everyone else runs this organization for him.

Also, on the more local level, he has these henchwomen, many of them are the same person running several groups (a big no-no) under different names, who run other mods (usually women) out of town by bullying them. Deron and the mods force the group owners to put Deron on as a "co-mod" and then take their groups away without even a thank you for all of their hard work. Of course, I was not stupid enough to let them do that to me.

It is very interesting to see how some of the group owners (oops, they are not allowed to say that they "own" a group, that is forbidden) anyway, it's interesting to see how so many treat Deron like a god. They never question him, and if you do, no matter how legitimate the question, they will attack you. Never question him about the money.

Telling one person one thing and another person another.  He leaves the general populous not knowing the truth.

Hey all,
We got our first bad press. Not too bad for two years and several hundred articles, I guess. Still though it got my goat a bit in a very un-zenlike way, I'm afraid to say. Bad, Deron, bad! It's one thing for a mod we've asked to leave to spout off. It's another to have a respected/cool online mag like Grist to do a poorly written
and poorly researched article that makes us look bad for no good reason.

I hope he was paid well for his work. Mumble, growl, mumble.

Anyway, for what it's worth, here is what I responded with to the journalist and to the editor of Grist.

Enjoy the read!
Deron

Dear Owner of the Yahoo group

This is your second and final notification to cease and desist using the trademark-protected Freecycle name and logo, any confusingly similar derivations thereof, and The Freecycle Network's copyrighted texts/rules/guidelines in your Yahoo group, including in the title/name of the group. Please do make the necessary changes to your group name, group URL, and applicable texts to avoid any confusion with Freecycle services or delete the group immediately.

Realize that unauthorized use of these protected materials is confusing to the public and may be damaging the Freecycle Network's reputation and goodwill. Moreover, your unauthorized use is a violation of the Yahoo Terms of Service, and a trademark and copyright infringement report will be filed with Yahoo if we cannot verify that these materials have been removed with 48 hours of the sending of this notice.

As we noted in our first letter to you, you are welcomed to continue the operation of a gifting or exchange-oriented site similar to that operated by our organization. However, any Freecycle mark, logo or name, as well as any and all materials copyrighted by The Freecycle Network, must be removed before the end of the 48-hour period.

Thank you for your attention to this matter,

Database Admin
Freecycle.org
database@freecycle.org

Here is all the information for you on the Freecycle Trade Name

http://tinyurl.com/9k5nf

"Deron Beal"

*OK, here we go again: we are registered in AZ as a nonprofit -- we have showed her this directly numerous times. The IRS bit is pending. So tax deductible gifts are not yet assured. This doesn't make us any less of a nonprofit. It does make us a particularly poor anddisadvantaged nonprofit because who wants to donate if they can't deduct it from their taxes. Particularly foundations and individuals want to see this tax deductible status.*

"Deron Beal" December 2, 2003

Hey all,

I've got a request for you all. I've put together the attached letter to ask for money from freecycle members. I've already used it in Tucson and have gotten about $425 total in donations. I would like to ask that those of you more gifted than I proof read it and e-mail me your improvement suggestions. I would then update the letter and will in the coming days ask that you consider forwarding this letter to your groups to ask for donations.

THE CSM Article...Mr. Kaufman, they called us an online junkyard! I feel so violated...Deron

http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1027/p13s01-stin.html

"Deron Beal"

I'm afraid the answer is no, we aren't even close to having nonprofit status in Canada and haven't even begun the process.

"Deron Beal"

The Freecycle Network receives $10K per month and a $10K on signing or $130K total for the year. Either WM or we can end the contract at any time with 60 days notice. If something egregious is done, then immediately. The contract is limited to one year and they in no way limit what we do as an organization.

The whole idea of two strikes is more psychological. If someone is being a pain, you want a way to stay, "Stop it, please." And you want them to be thinking that if they do it again that they might be booted from the group. It's like telling a child that if they are bad again they will have to go to their room. Well, a child suddenly
perceives the potential penalty as an awful thing (going to their room) and it's a great little preventive measure.

"Deron Beal"

PS: Folks, could ya cut me a little slack here? Why don't you ask me this stuff instead of announcing it to the board? You are not making the Freecycle Network stronger or better nor are you making my life any easier.... Fer cryin' out loud. Some woman is mean and rants and you believe her, but don't even bother asking me off board. Or you don't even bother reading the old posts on this exact topic from this exact same person. Thanks a lot. I'm gettin just a little ticked and will not be looking at the board again for a while so don't expect any further comments on this topic from me. Don't allow yourself to be suckered is all I can say. Sheesh.

"Deron Beal"

We of course are not giving away the rights at all. We are sending letters to non-Freecycle approved groups to cease and desist on an ongoing basis and are working closely with Yahoo, Inc. to keep this enforced. This is important that we continue to defend the name and its use, not because of these whiner types, but because if we don't, money interests could use the name to do their own big whoppin
website.

He also states that he never had control over Freecycle. Like what was his first clue. But then why does he force people to have ersatzfriend@freecycle.org as co-owner of each and every Freecycle group that is created. Oh yes he is charitable alright. Like unto himself. So ego driven as to only need these interviews to fuel his narcissism. What can we expect from someone who use to pick garbage and now is picking the pockets of each Freecycle member who joins.

Being non-profit, he adds, is both the beauty and the challenge. "Quite frankly we could use a stack of cash to design a website that's not dependent on Yahoo Groups. And we will definitely do that one day, but we need more sponsorship first."

So does he mind losing control of Freecycle to the individual communities, and not being able to cash in after all his hard work? "The thing is, I never had ownership in the first place, so I don't mind losing it," comes his charitable answer.

Taken from an interview done May 12, 2005

http://tinyurl.com/c99bv

Word Mark
FREECYCLE
Goods and Services
IC 042. US 100 101. G & S: An online service where users are able to give items away for free that they no longer need
Mark Drawing Code
(5) WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS IN STYLIZED FORM
Serial Number
78415420
Filing Date
May 7, 2004
Current Filing Basis
1B
Original Filing Basis
1B
Owner
(APPLICANT) New Media Worlds, Inc. CORPORATION FLORIDA P.O. Box 21382 St. Petersburg FLORIDA 33742
Type of Mark
SERVICE MARK
Register
PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator
LIVE

Deron Beals Filing for a Freecycle (tm)

Word Mark
FREECYCLE
Goods and Services
IC 042. US 100 101. G & S: DESIGN, CREATION, HOSTING AND MAINTENANCE OF A FREE WEBSITE THAT PROVIDES OTHERS WITH A GLOBAL INTERNET BASED SYSTEM OF GIVING AND RECEIVING PERSONAL PROPERTY FOR FREE. FIRST USE: 20030501. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20030501
Mark Drawing Code
(3) DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS
Design Search Code
180301 220106 270305
Serial Number
78475113
Filing Date
August 27, 2004
Current Filing Basis
1A
Original Filing Basis
1A
Owner
(APPLICANT) THE FREECYCLE NETWORK CORPORATION ARIZONA 901 NORTH PERRY AVENUE TUCSON ARIZONA 85705
Attorney of Record
JOHN C. LACY
Description of Mark
The color(s) GREEN, TAN, BLACK, ORANGE, YELLOW is/are claimed as a feature of the mark. The mark consists of The word "freecycle" is in lower case Ravie (Open Type) font in green with a slight black shadow. The double "ee" is superimposed over the spokes of the wheels of an old fashioned bicycle facing to the left. The wheels of the bicycle project below the "ee" to a level even with the bottom of the "y" and slightly above the "f." The wheels and frame of the bicyle are tan outlined in black. The letter "l" within the "freecycle" name has been replaced with the fretboard facing downward. The headstock and fretboard are black with two white stripes suggesting strings running along its length. The headstock with six tuning pegs is reflexed to the left and is level with the bottom of the letter "y." The body of the guitar is shaded in black around the edge with an insertion of a white and orange line running from the top left corner of the body to the neck of the guitar. The interior of the body is orange with an image of a gold reflection surrounding the left side of the bridge and completely surrounding the strings. Four black lines, suggesting strings, begin above the sound hole and stop below the bridge. The body of the guitar projects above the name approximately the same width as the type face for the name..
Type of Mark
SERVICE MARK
Register
PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator
LIVE

Go to this url http://www.uspto.gov and on the left hand side click on search where it says Trademarks. Then click on New User Form Search (Basic) Where it says Search Term: Key in the word Freecycle. Then click on Submit Query. And you will see these two records for yourself.

Corporate World Comes Courting Beal's baby has gotten so big it's taking over most of the space in his home, and most of his spare time."We've got nearly a million members now," he says. "We've grown 2,300 per cent in the past six months, so you can figure that eight months down the line, we're going to have eight to 10 million people who are doing this."So he's a tad enthusiastic. But there's no doubt Freecycle is growing, and fast. Which means the inevitable is happening: the corporate world wants a piece of the Freecycle action - and it's willing to pay for it.

Beal's negotiating a sponsorship deal with Waste Management Inc. (WMI), which Beal says is "one of the largest recyclers in the world." Beal hopes the deal will bring in enough cash that he can quit his day job: "and my dream, of course, is to have enough money so that I can hire somebody to be doing the programming for the new web page."So Beal's happy, but what do the members think of a corporate sponsor for Freecycle?

For Oshawa Freecycler Nancy Daniels, it all depends on the details: "If they leave it the way it is right now, it's going to be an awesome tool for a lot of people. If they start wanting to make money off of it, then I think we've got problems. "Beal agrees that Freecycle can only survive if it keeps its grassroots appeal: "There is absolutely no way I could find enough sponsors to pay for all the volunteers that are required in every city worldwide. It just would be a mind-boggling sum. So there's no doubt that this is and will remain a grassroots movement, or it'll just disintegrate."Wes Muir is director of communications for Waste Management of Canada, the Canadian division of WMI.

Headquartered in Burlington, Ontario, it's Canada's largest garbage collection, recycling and disposal company. Muir says that for about $130,000 a year, the Freecycle website will feature a link to WMI. "We jumped on to this program was because a lot of our commercial customers, we help them with waste reduction and how to reduce their waste in the plant before it gets disposed of," says Muir. "And we do a lot of that work on the recycling and we thought this is a nice service offering we can offer our customers. "But could there be another incentive - a little recycling of the company's image, perhaps?

After all, Waste Management of Canada is the same company that wanted to open a huge landfill in northern Ontario that would have taken some of Toronto's garbage. Part of the debate surrounding the "Adams Mine" proposal focused on WMI's environmental record - in particular, fines for environmental violations at its landfills in the United States. Wes Muir says he can't speculate on whether Freecycle's environmentally sensitive members will strike up against his company's sponsorship of the Freecycle movement. And he insists the company's not motivated to polish its image by making a connection with Freecycle.

Muir says WMI is merely "trying to raise awareness among the public about the waste we generate. And to think beyond just dropping it off at the curb and walking away and saying, `Well, my job is done.'"Deron Beal insists on focussing on the positive too: "It's a beautiful thing to have a company step forward --that's into recycling-- and say, `don't give us your recyclables, reuse it. 'That's a pretty inspiring thing for a company to step forward and do."

http://tinyurl.com/3qyzd

Waste Management supporting 'Freecycle'

Waste Management announced its support of Freecycle this week.

Waste Management, which handles trash collection in Woodland, has signed a one-year sponsorship agreement through which it has agreed to contribute $130,000 to help Freecycle manage its rapidly growing membership, while promoting the benefits of reuse among Waste Management customers and employees.

Everything posted to Freecycle groups has to be free, legal, and appropriate for all ages. All groups are listed on http:/www.Freecycle.org.

"Waste Management is pleased to be the "Founding" corporate sponsor of the Freecycle Network," said David Steiner, Waste Management CEO. "This online community's commitment to waste reduction, mirrors Waste Management's commitment to helping our customers with their waste reduction and recycling needs."

Founded in May of 2003, by Deron Beal of Tucson, Ariz., Freecycle groups have sprung up in more than 2,500 cities throughout the U.S., Canada and 45 other countries.

Freecycle groups around the world provide individuals and nonprofits an electronic forum to "recycle" used appliances, clothing, furniture, toys, and other household goods.

"Freecycle's goals are consistent with our commitment to environmental stewardship and the communities we serve. In less than two years more than one million people have joined the Freecycle movement," Steiner stated.

"Their commitment to reuse and recycling is important and should be supported. Moreover, reuse and recycling really matter to public sector customers and we look forward to supporting their recycling and reuse objectives, through Freecycle programs," he added.

Deron Beal, the founder and Executive Director for The Freecycle Network, said, "I am so thankful that Waste Management saw our needs and offered to help us in these vital ways."

All Moderators of Freecycle groups are being told to place this (TM) a pending "trademark" on their groups i.e. Freecycle(TM).

and at the bottom of home page as follows:-

Copyright © 2003-2005 The Freecycle Network (http://www.Freecycle.org. All rights reserved. Freecycle and the Freecycle logo are trademarks of The Freecycle Network in the United States and/orother countries.

According to Yahoo in their TOS (Terms of Service)

Yahoo! Groups Guidelines
http://groups.yahoo.com/local/guidelines.html

6. You may not use Yahoo! Groups for commercial or advertising purposes.

If you would like to contact Yahoo about this violation send an e-mail to egroups-feedback@yahoo-inc.com

http://www.waste.ky.gov/recycling

At least everybody will know where to go should there be more environmental violations by Waste Management they can always contact Deron Beal.

The Free Recycling Movement Comes to Ontario TORONTO, Aug. 9 CNW - The recycling movement took a step forward today with the launch of Freecycle.ca - Ontario's first Canadian-based online clearinghouse for the recycling of free goods. The Freecycle(TM) web site, www.freecycle.ca, uses the power of the Internet to enable donors to donate their unwanted goods to a database that is searchable by anyone looking for free goods."Freecycling is a simple model with tremendous potential," said Freecycle.ca founder David Goyette. "People have things they want to get rid of. Other people are searching for those same things.

We bring them together online. Donors list the goods they have. Searchers find the goods they want. They contact each other. All goods are free." The primary purpose of Freecycle.ca is to demonstrate innovation and leadership in the recycling movement in order to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill sites, incinerators and dumps. It has particular application in Toronto, where less than a third of the City's waste is diverted from the waste stream, and where the daily trucking of waste to Port Huron, Michigan is a constant reminder of our City's failure to find local solutions to locally generated waste.

Said Goyette: "Freecycle.ca is cheaper than want ads and truck disposal services. It's less trouble than a garage sale. It's universally available. And it improves our ability to perceive solid waste as a resource - something
that still has value even after it has served its primary purpose."

Inspired by the growing freecycle chat group movement in the United States, Freecycle.ca is currently active in Ontario. Our initial Ontario donors include Toronto City Councillor Michael Walker and TVO Studio 2 host Steve Paikin. A British Columbia service is expected to be online this year. Freecycle(TM) is the subject of a registered trademark in Canada.

For further information: Detail: www.freecycle.ca; Contact: David Goyette: davidgoyette@bellnet.ca, (416) 484-8564

CANADIAN TRADE-MARK DATA*** Note : Data on trade-marks is shown in the official language in which it was submitted.
The database was last updated on: 2005-05-03
APPLICATION NUMBER: 1195275
REGISTRATION NUMBER: not registered
STATUS:
ABANDONED - VOLUNTARY
FILED:
2003-11-06
FORMALIZED:
2003-11-07
ADVERTISED:
2004-07-07
INACTIVATED:
2004-11-01
APPLICANT:
David Goyette 157 Banff Road Toronto M4P 2P8ONTARIO
INTERESTED PARTIES
OPPONENT (CASE CLOSED)
Eric Snyder owner Ottawa Freecycle Group 64 Thare Cr. NEPEAN ONTARIO K2J 2P6
TRADE-MARK:
Freecycle
INDEX HEADINGS:
FREECYCLE CYCLE, FREE
SERVICES:
(1) Operation of a URL and a website which serves as an online clearinghouse for the recycling of free goods among donors and searchers in Ontario.
CLAIMS:
Proposed Use in CANADA.
ACTION
DATE
BF
COMMENTS
Filed
06 November 2003
Created
07 November 2003
Formalized
07 November 2003
Search recorded
14 April 2004
Examiner's first report
14 April 2004
14 August 2004
Correspondence created
17 May 2004
17 September 2004
Approved
03 June 2004
Translation requested
08 June 2004
30 June 2004
20040622135713
Translation received
22 June 2004
Extracted for Advertisement
22 June 2004
Vol.51 Issue 2593 2004/07/07
Advertised
07 July 2004
Vol.51 Issue 2593
Opposition
10 September 2004
Opposition Filed.
Abandon - voluntary
01 November 2004

Here is the url as proof of this http://tinyurl.com/788m3

It appears that a company in Calagary, Alberta Canada owns the registered rights to "FREECYCLE" since 1995. So how is it that Freecycle.org is trying to get their FREECYCLE(TM) registered in Canada when it is already a registered trademark.

Below is the url to the Canadian Trademark Data Registration of FREECYCLE as proof:-

http://tinyurl.com/7e2g9

CANADIAN TRADE-MARK DATA*** Note : Data on trade-marks is shown in the official language in which it was submitted.
The database was last updated on: 2005-05-03
APPLICATION NUMBER: 0793126
REGISTRATION NUMBER: TMA465544
STATUS:
REGISTERED
FILED:
1995-09-21
FORMALIZED:
1995-10-12
ADVERTISED:
1996-04-24
REGISTERED:
1996-11-01
REGISTRANT:
SECURE OIL TOOLS LTD., 440, 2431-37 AVENUE N.E., CALGARY, T2E 6Y7 ALBERTA
REPRESENTATIVE FOR SERVICE:
DAWN H. GIEBELHAUS-MAINS
(BLAKE, CASSELS & GRAYDON LLP)
SUITE 3500, EAST TOWER, BANKERS HALL
855-2ND STREET S.W.
CALGARY
ALBERTA T2P 4J8
CURRENT OWNER:
Integrated Production Services Ltd. Suite 1500, 840 - 7th Avenue SW, Calgary, T2P 3G2 ALBERTA
REPRESENTATIVE FOR SERVICE:
TINA S. MCKAY
(GOODWIN MCKAY)
SUITE 360
237-8TH AVE SE
CALGARY
ALBERTA T2G 5C3
INTERESTED PARTIES
OLD OWNER
STELLARTON ENERGY CORPORATION, 440, 2431-37 AVENUE N.E., CALGARY, ALBERTA T2E 6Y7
OLD OWNER
Schlumberger Canada Limited 525 - 3rd Avenue, S.W. Calgary, ALBERTA T2P 0G4
TRADE-MARK:
FREECYCLE
INDEX HEADINGS:
FREECYCLE CYCLE, FREE
WARES:
(1) Fluid removal tools used in petroleum industry.
SERVICES:
(1) Business providing for sales, engineering and manufacture, supply,repair and custom assembly services of tools for removal of fluids from wells used in petroleum industry; provision of consultation and technical services, namely the on-site training for operation, maintenance and repair service of fluid removal tools.
CLAIMS:
Declaration of Use filed August 15, 1996.
ACTION
DATE
BF
COMMENTS
Filed
21 September 1995
Created
21 September 1995
Formalized
12 October 1995
Search recorded
11 December 1995
Approved
19 March 1996
Advertised
24 April 1996
Vol.43 Issue 2165
Allowed
19 July 1996
Allowance notice sent
19 July 1996
21 September 1998
Registered
01 November 1996
Change in title
18 February 1997
Assignment
Agent changed
01 November 1999
From: 2734 To: 9861
Rep for service changed
01 November 1999
From: 2734 To: 9861
Rep for service changed
31 August 2000
From: 9861 To: 12
Agent changed
31 August 2000
From: 9861 To: 12
Change in title
31 August 2000
Assignment
Assignment correspondence created
23 March 2001
23 September 2001
Assignment correspondence created
04 June 2001
04 December 2001
Rep for service changed
19 July 2001
From: 12 To: 11752 / Voir Preuve au dossier/See evidence on File No. 793126
Change in title
19 July 2001
Assignment / Voir Preuve au dossier/See evidence on File No. 793126
FOOTNOTES:
CHANGE IN TITLE/CHANGEMENT EN TITRE:
TYPE OF CHANGE/GENRE DE CHANGEMENT : Assignment/Cession
DATE REGISTERED/DATE DE L'ENREGISTREMENT : 18 fév/Feb 1997
DATE OF CHANGE/DATE DE CHANGEMENT : 26 sept/Sep 1996
COMMENTS/COMMENTAIRES: FROM : SECURE OIL TOOLS LTD., Voir Preuve au dossier/See evidence on File No. 793124
CHANGE IN TITLE/CHANGEMENT EN TITRE:
TYPE OF CHANGE/GENRE DE CHANGEMENT : Assignment/Cession
DATE REGISTERED/DATE DE L'ENREGISTREMENT : 31 août/Aug 2000
DATE OF CHANGE/DATE DE CHANGEMENT : 05 nov/Nov 1999
COMMENTS/COMMENTAIRES: FROM : STELLARTON ENERGY CORPORATION,
TO : Schlumberger Canada Limited Voir Preuve au dossier/See evidence on File No. 793124
CHANGE IN TITLE/CHANGEMENT EN TITRE:
TYPE OF CHANGE/GENRE DE CHANGEMENT : Assignment/Cession
DATE REGISTERED/DATE DE L'ENREGISTREMENT : 19 juil/Jul 2001
DATE OF CHANGE/DATE DE CHANGEMENT : 01 janv/Jan 2001
COMMENTS/COMMENTAIRES: FROM : Schlumberger Canada Limited
TO : Integrated Production Services Ltd. Voir Preuve au dossier/See evidence on File No. 793126

How can Deron Beal expect to get a Freecycle Registered Trademark in Canada when Freecycle(R) is already registered since 1995 and owned by Integrated Production Services Ltd. (Canada) as already posted below in this blog. As of this filing here it is obvious that he is trying to infringe on another companies Freecycle(R)

It is high time someone opposed this filing!

CANADIAN TRADE-MARK DATA*** Note : Data on trade-marks is shown in the official language in which it was submitted.
The database was last updated on: 2005-05-03
APPLICATION NUMBER: 1246124
REGISTRATION NUMBER: not registered
STATUS:
FORMALIZED
FILED:
2005-02-04
FORMALIZED:
2005-02-07
APPLICANT:
The Freecycle Network, Inc. 901 N. Perry Avenue, Tucson Arizona, 85705 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AGENT:
OYEN WIGGS GREEN & MUTALA LLP
SUITE 480 - THE STATION
601 WEST CORDOVA STREET
VANCOUVER
BRITISH COLUMBIA V6B 1G1
REPRESENTATIVE FOR SERVICE:
OYEN WIGGS GREEN & MUTALA LLP
SUITE 480 - THE STATION
601 WEST CORDOVA STREET
VANCOUVER
BRITISH COLUMBIA V6B 1G1
TRADE-MARK:
MARK DESCRIPTIVE REFERENCE:
FREECYCLE & Design
INDEX HEADINGS:
FREECYCLE CYCLE, FREE L
VIENNA INFORMATION:
Code
Description
18.1.5
Bicycles, motor cycles, motor scooters, tricycles
22.1.15
Stringed instruments
27.3.1
Letters or numerals representing a human being or a part of the human body, an animal or a part of an animal's body, a plant or an object
27.3.15
Letters or numerals representing an object
27.5.1
Letters presenting a special form of writing
27.5.17
Letters in heavy characters
SERVICES:
(1) Design, creation, hosting and maintenance of a free website that provides others with a global internet based system of giving and receiving personal property for free.
CLAIMS:
Priority Filing Date: August 27, 2004, Country: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Application No: 78475113 in association with the same kind ofservices.
Used in CANADA since at least as early as October 19, 2003.
Used in UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Filed in UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on August 27, 2004 under No. 13 7847.
ACTION
DATE
BF
COMMENTS
Filed
04 February 2005
Created
07 February 2005
Formalized
07 February 2005
Agent name changed
16 March 2005
Rep for service name changed
16 March 2005

Here is proof of the filing http://tinyurl.com/98c6d

According to this message from Eric Snyder International GOA for Freecycle. Waste Management will be providing the resources of their legal department to Freecycle. Oh now we are seeing the light. How long will it take before Waste Management who have environmental landfill violations runs Freecycle.

We have already started the process to get Freecycle an official status in Canada. Deron has tasked me to get this underway, and we have already had initial discussions with our sponsor, Waste Management, who are apparently going to provide the resources of their legal department to help us get set up. Once we have this in place, Canadian Freecycle groups will be able to apply for small amounts of funding for such things as booth signage, brochures, etc. from Canadian organizations like the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation http://www.fef.ca, etc. Unfortunately, a charitable organization registration number is required for applications at this time.

Eric Snyder

#10 Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranches contents might get posted.

#9 Your a Catholic and someone might post up an offer of condoms and you might take them up on it.

#8 Your lady is looking for clothes and won't admit to her real size.

#7 Your expecting twins and needing articles you do not know the sex of the children or their sexual orientation.

#6 Your mother in-law has a basement full of relics and wants you to be the one to deliver.

#5 Surfing on over to freecycle.org you find a dead link where your town is suppose to be.

#4 You found Deron Beal going through your garbage out front and gave him a swift kick.

#3 You want to post an offer first but you only have 2 minutes to get it before the garbage truck arrives.

#2 Every time you try to sign up that stupid Yahoo X7u3o keeps kicking you out.

#1 You want shares in freecycle before it goes public so that your items are of value to you too.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RECYCLE-YOURSELF-FROM-FREECYCLE

http://groups-beta.google.com/group/RECYCLE-YOURSELF-FROM-FREECYCLE

http://freecycleanonymous.blogspot.com
http://freecycletm.blogspot.com

Freecycle Anonymous

I would suggest that everyone take a click over to http://www.freecycle.org and see if there is a group in your area, if not, maybe set one up!

The Freecycle Network is changing the way that people think and do things.

The allure of saving the environment draws in those who want to find a place for all of those things that they would never dream of throwing out, and allowing them to procure "new" things without the added trash of packing materials or the pollution of making the new item.

On the other hand, the allure of free is opening people to seeing the positives of thinking environmentally, by those who may not have done so in the past.

Although the Freecycle Network is not an organization that was developed to assist people dealing with financial strain, it's members do regularly assist those who need assistance.

Recently I heard a great story of an elderly couple with health issues who offered items in their local group. A couple of members who arrived for the items realized that the couple was in need of tree removal, so they took care of it for the couple. How great is that?!

The Freecycle Network also allows other non profits to post what they need to the group, and members overwhelmingly are elated to give items to non profits that they know are needed and will be used. This is more wonderful than most may realize as people have heard of stories of donated items to non profits that have gone unused or worse (maybe even thrown out!) as the well meaning donations could not be used. Freecycle offers a way for non profits to procure the items that they need when they need them, meaning that more people are assisted in a more timely manner with less waste!

As far as problems go with the Freecycle organization... I cannot think of any group, organization, family, person, etc that runs completely and consitantly smooth. Can you?

It runs well enough for my involvement and enjoyment to continue.

It is my hope that the organization will continue to grow, so that everyone can experience the great feelings that come along with membership as well as the imediate and future environmental impact that is being made every single day.

I dare you to join.

http://www.freecycle.org

Freecycle(tm) changing the world... one gift at a time....

Yes they want you to tithe every day and keep their faith that freecycle is some gift that only those who spread it can have. A new Pentecost has arrived and with it a voice cries out each day. Changing the world one gift at a time.

That is the their whole vision. They want to totally control the world by changing it to their liking. By making sure that freecycle becomes a word that is ejaculated over and over again until there will be not one person who has not been touched and manipulated.

Deron Beal the vicar of freecycle and his God $ want you to believe that you cannot have something for free without him and his church.

$ 150,000 now and maybe millions later as freecycle grabs more control of the minds of innocent people.

freecycle can only prey.

RECYCLE YOURSELF FROM FREECYCLE $

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RECYCLE-YOURSELF-FROM-FREECYCLE

http://groups-beta.google.com/group/RECYCLE-YOURSELF-FROM-FREECYCLE

Ever wonder where they get some of those items that they post on Freecycle groups. Well you should because they could be a hazard to your children and you just do not know it. Many items come from other peoples garbage that were thrown out the night before and who knows what could of been sprayed on them or dropped.

Maybe you like the idea of having a cockroach infestation totally free at the hands of the next Freecycle pickup you make.

How about the fact that the item that you get might have been stolen from somebody else. It could happen. Nobody produces a bill of sale. In fact many times a person who offers will tell the person to just pick up the item off of the front porch but later on they find more than that missing.

There are chances of being stalked or sexually harassed which has happened on Freecycle groups where upon a predator coming upon a list of females who offer subjects them to sexually explicit spam.

Why would anyboby want to get involved with a group named FREECYCLE it is almost like anarchy rules and there is nothing that is not free. You yourself could become the object of someone's attention. I wonder what price you place on yourself. Or are you free for the taking.

There has to be a limit and well those Freeloading Freecyle Fanatics have no limit as to how far they will go to get something for free.

Better lock the silverware in a safe, cage your pet, and place bars on your bedroom windows because you could get a visit from a Freecycle Fanatic and be cleaned totally one item at a time out. Oh by the way don't worry about the garbage you place out front. Just make sure it is cans and bottles. After all they don't touch recyclables. Don't they place those Freecycle groups in the Recycling category? hmmmmm I wonder why.

Take Mr. Beals statement "rules voted on and agreed to by all moderators worldwide". This is an outragious lie that has been discussed many times on other groups. The fact is that NOT every freecycle moderator in the world is even aware of the modsquad group let alone belong to it to cast their vote. Out of a current 1888 moderators who belong to "the mod squad" (many of which are multiple moderators of a single area freecycle group and dozens of whom belong to that and other groups using more then one ID making the represented group, let lone the actual body count much lower) the current average number of "votes" on the last 10 polls to decide the "rules" is exactly 140. So, out of a claimed 2,723 freecycle groups in over 50 countries (1-10 moderators per group) and the count of 1888 moderators who may actually belong to the voting population Beal refers to (17 who joined just in the past 7 days) an average of 140 of them are actually "voting and agreeing" on the rules......I might also point out Mr. Beals repeated use of the words "local moderators" as if to convince you that all of the moderators are "local" when in fact they are not and in some cases they have absolutely no moderation AT ALL, just the soul ownership of "erzatsfriend" which is Deron Beal of Tucson Az himself.

Note Mr. Beals use of the words "substantial funding of any kind" leading you to ponder several things 1)if the extremely controversial WM is their "first underwriter" what does he classify all those who have been donating cash to freecycle via the donation button on the main website?  2) and what does he consider "substantial". I consider 49k a year a substantial income for his first years pay but to hear Mr. Beal talk he is dirt poor and begging on the street corner! Mr. Beal uses this same deceitful "play on words" constantly when he refers to such things as freecycle being a "non-profit organization" or FreeSharing not being a non-profit. Well of course FreeSharing.org is not a non-profit, because it is not a business, it is not taking in money, unlike freecycle. As for freecycle being a "non-profit", indeed it is a recognised non-profit corporation IN ARIZONA, however when the general public hears the words "non-profit" I am willing to bet 98% of them think this means it is a federally sanctioned 501 non-profit and donations are tax deductible, but freecycle is NOT that kind of non-profit, donations are NOT deductable and given the evidence I feel the IRS would be making a huge mistake to ever approve their application.

By any name the FreeSharing.org groups want to use (FreeShare, CurbCycle, GivingisReceiving etc) they are a far better alternative to corporate freecycle. Anyone who reads any of the information given on dozens of "anti-freecycle" web sites will soon notice the same general pattern> Those supporting freecycle almost always attack those speaking out against freecycle and falsley claim them to be disgruntled former freecycle moderators who "wouldn't follow the rules" and whom freecycle threw away or asked to leave and yet Deron is always claiming they have very few rules and they are all voted on by the moderators, kind of contradicts the entire "grass roots" run by the moderators thing if Deron is the final word and the one throwing moderators away left and right, don't it?

And YES their is evidence for every point I have made here and then some. Deron Beal is, at the very least, deceitful in his statements and for myself that makes him a liar and freecycle a fraudulant venture.

The fact is Matt was the first professional writer to dare release anything other then a freecycle puff peice or a phonied up blog (freecycle creates hundreds of them to toot their own horn, much like most of Mr. Beals response to this article). Matt should not only be praised for speaking out and covering "both sides" of the freecycle story but his example should be followed by other writers, and I for one am looking forward to seeing it!!

What is important to me are the 500+ people in my group, who are recycling their goods to one another.  The concept still works at the local level and that's what is important.  I've belonged to enough organizations from being on the board of the Texas National Organization for Women to being a member of the AFL-CIO when I worked in an industrial laundry, to a small writers' groups, that I know the larger the organization, the more infighting and outfighting there will be.  

And my attitude is still, if it works for you, it works for you.  If doesn't, leave.  And leave the rest of us to recycle our goods on Freecycle.

Victoria Rivas
Waterbury, CT

Those who believe that putting TM after a word makes it legally binding truly believe it, and that's ok, however it does not make it true.

The fact that these people are making the effort and going the extra mile makes what Mr. Beal even more sad. The people who believe his lies are good people who have no real business world experience but do have the good intentions that are needed to "Do The Right Thing".

A search at www.whois.org for any site that has FreeCycle in the name will show there are 300+ such sites.

What Waste Management "Bought" was an email list that Mr. Beal has gathered, a "list", nothing more, nothing less. What Mr. Beal sold was his soul.

Reading his response I see his fear of loosing something he never really had as he has stated himself. He was fortunate to be at the right place at the right time and I give him that.

I wish him the best in future endeavors and hope that when all is said and done those that do work hard to keep a good idea going are not left so disillusioned that they stop the good work they are doing.

Paul Hurteau
70 Quaker Street
Millville, MA 01529
www.FreecycleAmerica.org


Just Do The Right Thing!

This response has been posted on to the Texas and national moderators squad and I was asked to respond here publicly, so here goes.

As a former employee of a non-profit venue, good PR goes a long way, but naysayers will do and s