As promised, the LymeNet Board met over the weekend to discuss our plans for resolving our financial crisis and the many Lyme Flash issues.

Your response to our ``Subscription Plan'' for LymeNet was overwhelming and intense. The suggestions were all good and many were well thought out. But, in reality, no one was really in love with the subscription plan.

Therefore, we have decided to put the subscription plan on the shelf and have accepted Lou Bachmann's offer to once again run the LymeNet Fund Raiser. It begins tonight and will run through the end of September. He has also graciously offered to come out of retirement and moderate the Flash Boards. In his words, `` I`ll straighten things out, train a couple of moderators (many of you volunteered to do it, we have your e-mails) and gladly go back into retirement.''

LymeNet has been and always will be a place to express your opinion and listen to those of other's. I have not been listening. For this I sincerely apologize. As for the promised upgrades and improvements, which have as yet not been implemented, our dedicated team of volunteer system engineers have told me that all of them will be completed by the end of September, with the new faster server connection in place by the end of August.

We ask for your patience and forgiveness. We ask that you consider sticking with us, supporting us, and continue to meet and learn on the LymeNet site.

Like you, we are Lyme victims. We do know the stress this disease causes. We have the same physical, emotional, and financial woes that you have. We, too, want LymeNet to be a place where people feel comfortable and safe. LymeNet and the Lyme Disease Network began fifteen years ago as our way of paying back for the help we received when Lyme changed our lives in 1989. It has always been our intention that LymeNet would serve that purpose for others. People can come, learn, get support, and then do the same for the next person.

I have placed below our budget for 2005-06, which includes an explanation of how your donations are spent and why we have set a $7,500 goal.

I wish all of you Good Health.

Bill Stolow

Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey, Inc.

Operating Budget - 2005-06

Server Connection - $3,000/yr
Cable Modem LymeNet Office - $600/yr
Office Supplies - $400/yr
Gov't Fees - $100/yr
Domain Name (5) Fees - $100/yr
Donations/Ads - $500

Total Operating Budget - $4,700/yr

Capital Reserves - $2,800*

* In 2004 prior year reserves were depleted due to aging equipment replacement and shortfall of fund raising goals.

2004-05 Expenses not included in operating budget:
Equipment Replacement - $1,000 for DSL Modem replacement and onsite service call by NetCarrier.
New Server Purchase - $1,000
Software for New Server - $300

Total Funding Goal 2005-06 Campaign - $7,500*