All muggles suck.

What's a muggle?

A non-magical human being (haven't you ever read Harry Potter?) ;)

- Katie

Nope, Never.

Some of us are not affiliated with teams because there simply are none close enough. Go look at the interactive map on the FIRST website and you will notice that there are no teams in the entire state of Utah.
I got on CD because it is one of the best resources available for getting to know the FIRST community and culture. I find it manditory to know a subject inside and out as much as possible before I write about it. I think it greatly improves the quality of a book if the author knows the subject better. You probably don't know this because you're new Mark, but I'm here and have contact with various FIRSTers because I am writing a young adult mystery novel based around a ficticious group of FIRST students (there's a serial killer in town and their mentor is the next victim if they don't stop it in time).

I have been thoroughly looking at everything to make sure it is accurate. I even downloaded the new manual and competition rules Saturday evening when I got back in town (You think this is bad; I spent four months just researching the Oakland hills fire of 1991 for the last book I wrote).

Sigh; what started out as a harmless novel has turned into an addiction. I (snif!) am a FIRST aholic!

Believe me, if I had a team to volunteer for, I'd be there.
Maybe next year when I am more settled here, I'll start one.

Do it. One person can change the flow of history.

I visited a friend of our who is a minister who went to Wilson Magnet back when FIRST and the X-Cats started out and was very shocked to hear that he thought the X-Cats were elitist. It seems there are kids at the school who also see the team in that light as well. It should never be that way!
FIRST isn't just for the kid getting straight A's, getting ready to go to a prestigious college, participating in PRISM, Masterminds and the Chess club. It's for the kid who's struggling with their grades and absenteism looking for a reason why they should even bother to stay in school anymore.

If we want FIRST to expand, and grow, and mature, and become even more of a success, then we MUST welcome non-FIRSTers into our "family" with open arms.

If they are on this website, it is probably because they have an interest in FIRST (or just robotics in general), so why would we ever want to turn them away just because they aren't on a team?

'nuff said

[Edit] Ms Tree! Best of luck on the book! [/Edit]