**Fundraising: The Traveling Segway
 

I was inspiried by hearing that some teams were making big bucks giving Segway rides to the public. For some amount (I heard $20) people were given the basic Segway training (a good length of riding). The operating cost: $1.00 of electricity and the time of a few people to run the event. Investment: $4500 in a Segway (although $4000 for the new p series would work as well).

My idea is simply for a bunch of teams to chip in and buy a Segway. Then send the Segway from team to team and each will have an amount of time with it to generate some travel and parts funds.

This would work out best if areas with high concentrations of teams worked together. Shipping 70 pounds around the country can be expensive - however if that's they way it was to go, it would barely cut into the money we could raise.

Eventually the money could be reinvested in more Segways if the demand for it was high enough. Otherwise, it could continually generate a large amount of money for teams (Segways last for many years and it will be a long time before everyone and their friends has one).

This idea needs some tweeking and I'm sure there are many great spins everyone can put on it - so get posting. If you want to talk about this more and actually start working on it (yes, I want to do it now, as in this month), then AIM me at BostonRobot.

First and foremost let me say I like the idea. It could work on many levels, team recruitment, fund raising, sponsor attraction (Imagine it at a large mall attracting people. The conversation turns to "why are you guys doing this.." "Well let me tell you..."

Potential. Not sure if my teams funding situation could allow for such a capital outlay but I am thinking now.

Now for a possible problem area. And I HATE to mention it.
Liability. Someone may get hurt. Who is liable? The school system who school has it at that time? The group of schools that own it? Etc.

I think the solution would be insurance against this type of accident.

But I still like the idea, just aware of the litigious nature of American society these days

Good point. If anyone has any information on that, post it.

My own solution would be for anyone who wanted to ride to sign a simple form that says we aren't liable for injury, death, etc. I don't know exactly what it would have to include, but I'm sure someone out there in the community knows, right?

Well, Us here on 71 are doing the whole 20 dollar Segway ride thing, and it is working pretty good, the $$$ goes right to the team, and people are actually willing to pay 20 dollars, the only thing you need to make this idea a success in the 4500, (The 4500 dollar one looks more like a Segway to me). I think that nearly 50 teams would be willing to do a Segway "chip-in" idea. Having some sort of carpool can also work out. You will have to insure the segway also, as well as the rider (or make a disclaimer). I like the idea Brandon, keep me posted.

-Greg The Great

Re: **Fundraising: The Traveling Segway
 

I'd like to know, if any teams out there did this idea, did you break profit from it, and how willing was the general public to give their money out for Segway use? Were they doing it because they wanted to support the team, or because they genuinely wanted to ride a Segway?

Aignam: Team Hammond is doing it.

Greg: Could you post more information? Are you saying that you guys insurred the riders? Also, as Aignam asked, how interested were people in it? How much was that? Was it a hard sale for $20 or were people lining up?

As for how many people chip in and getting it from one team to the next: that's something that I think will be worked out between the teams that want to go in on one. For instance, I would love to convince my team, NU-Trons, and MIT to do this. If that happened, we could ride the Segway from one college to the other (we're extrememly close!). However, if say the Prank Monkeys, and a bunch of those teams down there wanted to do this (hint, hint, Amanda M), they could probably use a car to take it between them or even ship it. So really, my idea wasn't to have a central organization for all teams who want to do this: however I'd be more than happy to do something like that if there's enough interest (post here or PM me if you're interested). In that scenario, a small group of Segways could be made available upon request to teams who pitch in and all they would have to pay in addition is shipping. That would reduce the price per team (maybe $500?) Both ideas are feasible.

Do you know of any other teams participating in the Segway fundraiser? It sounds like a good idea, though the insurance and liability can get icky..

The one thing I like about it is that it is a long term investment, and once you break even, it is almost pure profit. We could even bring it to the town carnivals and such and offer it for $2 or something. Kids would be lining up. The only problem I see with that is the state laws. In New Jersey, the rider would have to be of age (16) and wear a helmet, which isn't too big of an issue, but still a consideration. What other environments do teams bring the Segway to? How do you go about setting the rides up?

Nope. I haven't heard of other teams doing it yet. I did however send a message to Segway to ask for help. Since we'll be promoting the Segway and purchasing their product, I hope they'll be willing to just lay out all the information we need (they spent years researching and fighting for the policies on Segways, so I'm sure they know it all).

Yes, that is the great thing about this if it works: it can generate a lot of money quick. If each team puts in $500 - they should be able to get that back in a weekend event. That's just 25 rides, right?

Segway has laid some information out on PDF cards here.

Beat ya Greg
 

I talked to someone from Team Hammond about their event. So far they've done it twice with just advertising on a local sign for Mrs. Beatty's store "School Stuff" - and they had 12 and 10 riders for the two events. They told them how to ride, demonstrated, then let them on with a couple of spotters to make sure they were safe - then eventually let them roam free. They had a helmet and some pads. They took a picture of them on the Segway and printed it on a full sheet of photo paper. They got to ride about 10-15 minutes. The cost was $20 and the Segway belongs to Mr. Beatty, who donated its use for the day.

I think that here in Boston on all these college campuses and with all these people *walking* everywhere, we can attrract more people. This location in Hammond is at a busy intersection, however people are in their cars for the most part (maybe a few walkers here and there). I would bet that I could get 10 people in a couple hours to take a ride at $20 for 10 minutes without the picture. Cost of living is higher here in Boston (a lot higher), so that's not an outrageous price. So that's $200 per event - I could do that two times a week, allowing other teams to have it in the off time, and make back my $2000 or less investment in just 5 weeks (remember, a Segway lasts for years!).

I keep pitching this hoping more people will want to do this - but if you see real problems with it or have suggestions - feel free to tear it apart.

Its a really inventive idea, but always remember in economics profit is a cost. If you could be gaining more money somewhere else, your techincally losing it. Just think is buy a $4500 segway the most profitable thing we could do with $4500. Now if someone already has a segway and are willing to donate it for a fundraiser that would be amazing. But just think how much time you would need to put in just to get back to 4500.. at $20 you would need 225 people to ride it. I personally think 20 is to much.. say you get $10 a ride. 450 people. Thats just to make the price back. Now granted if you make this a long term investment.. it may make some money for you.. but the problem is most teams don't either 1 have the money right away or by the time they get it, they don't want to lose it to a risky investment. Remember $4500 can be used to do many other things... like host team dinners which can easily get $15 a plate and you can sit 100 or more people at time. ( they often spawn off donations of $ 100 also )

I think the segway is a really cool idea, and if you had one for use already it would be amazing. However, I think more money can be generated other places w/ that money. More " pure profit " because your basis for profit could be covered.

I wish I had a seqway :-( lol

Dan

I found this article today.

Link:
http://www.thetimesonline.com/articl...d2000b55f5.txt

Article:

Fund-raiser rolling along

Hammond Robotics Team offers rides on Segway to raise money.

BY SHARON PORTA
Times Correspondent

HAMMOND -- Selling candy and wrapping paper is the old-fashioned way to earn money, now that the cutting edge of fund-raising has come to the Hammond Robotics Team. Instead of knocking on doors, the team is making money by providing rides on a Segway.

Bill Beatty, of Beatty Engineering, the team's mentor who helps engineer the robots, purchased a Segway three months ago, and then hit upon the idea of charging for rides to raise money for the team's expenses.

"They are so unique, not many people have ever seen one," Beatty said. "When I would take it for a ride, I'd get so many questions. So I figured, why not get people to give a donation and they could get a chance to ride." Segway is the self-balancing, two wheeled transportation device designed for short-distance travel. The cost of a Segway is between $4,000 and $5,000.

Beatty bought a Segway after reading about them.

"I'm a first guy on the block kind of guy," Beatty said. "I love things that are on the cutting edge of technology, something new and different."

The Hammond Robotics Team, which has won several national championships, needs about $60,000 to compete. To raise money, they are charging $20 a ride, and give the rides on Saturdays at Beatty's store, School Stuff, in Hammond. A photo on the Segway is included.

"We had one man come here, give me $50, and told us to keep it, he thought it was so worth it," Beatty said. "We're going to keep doing this as long as we need to raise money."

Matt Schaade, 15, a sophomore at Gavit, gave the Segway a try.

"I want one," he said. "I can't think of anything I don't like about it, it is so awesome."

Beatty said he wishes he had the Segway while attending Purdue University, walking long distances. He also sees other uses.

"The police at O'Hare Airport use them," he said. "I can also see lawyers use it for getting to the courthouse. Instead of taking a 8,000 cab, why not take this."

Brookstone has started selling Segways, and there are only five dealerships in the country, Beatty said. He's applied to become a dealer. The Segway travels at 12.5 miles per hour, about four times as fast as a fast walker.

"It's pretty cool," said Josie Villanueva, 16, a sophomore at Hammond High School. "I almost fell off the first time, but I like it."

The rides will continue, although not every Saturday. Beatty said he will provide the dates to those who call him at (219) 931-3000. Upcoming dates also will be on the marquee at School Stuff.

"Will this revolutionize mankind, I don't think so," Beatty said. "If it does, it will be a long, slow process. But I think it's neat and a lot of fun."

Stud Man Dan: You make good points. However, for many teams this would not be a risky investment. This doesn't apply to all teams, of course. However, if a group of teams spent $500 each, that would be just 50 rides in your $10 scenario (again, I would charge $20 because honestly, it seems like $20 means nothing around here). Also, for some teams this sort of thing will be a fitting fundraiser where other types such as a dinner aren't possible (1020, for instance, doesn't have the man power, time, or customer for most fundraisers). This probably won't be a main source of income for any team, but $200 a weekend (as Hammond has been doing) multiplied by let's say 10 weekends in the pre-season is $1500 after cost. $1500 was half of 1020's budget (not including the registration donated by NASA).

I suspect this fundraiser may work (and work well) for another year or so... But be prepared that soon, a good percentage of the population who would be interested in riding one will have already done so. If you look on Segway's site, you can see that Segways are now available at retail stores (Brookstone thus far). They are available to view, demo, and buy.

Again I think the fundraiser will still work for some time to come, but take this into consideration before making an investment.

- Patrick

They say that approximately four percent of the world's population owns an automobile.

Even with the amount of time that cars have been around, there are people all around the world that have not ridden in a vehicle, or even seen one.

Why is a Segway different?

Of course, invest wisely. But if the Segway was released about a year and a half ago and is still providing the mass hysteria it once caused (maybe at a slightly smaller level), I would say it's not quite a fad that is going to retire itself in the next few years.