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-   -   FIRST Competition Entry Fee Increases for 2005 (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28828)

Max Lobovsky 30-05-2004 18:46

Re: FIRST Competition Entry Fee Increases for 2005
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessica Boucher
Honestly, this increase is way overdue. Especially with how last year's financials worked out.

But fear not. $2000 extra is only 2 $1000 donations, 4 $500, 8 $250, 20 $100, 40 $50, or 80 $20 donations. With 13 weeks from now until September, you have 6.5 weeks to get both $1000 donations, 3.25 weeks for the $500 ones, and 1.625 weeks for the $250 donations.

If you can build an entire robot in 6 weeks from start to finish, a $1000 donation should be no sweat. So, hop to it! :D

PS. $2000 = 40,000 returned cans. I suggest hitting up some companies. :)etting a garbage truck

Jessica, your logic is a bit flawed. You are assuming teams already have the money that would cover last year's entry fee. Those that don't, have 13 weeks to raise $11,000, or as you put it, 11 $1000 donations, 22 $500, 44 $250, 110 $100, 220 $50, or 550 $20 donations. With 13 weeks from now until September, you have ~1.2 weeks for each $1000 donation, ~0.6 weeks for the $500 ones, and ~0.3 weeks for the $250 donations. Or as I'd put it, you should be getting a $20 donation every 4 hours from now 'till September


$11,000 = 220,000 returned cans. I suggest getting a garbage truck.

Billfred 30-05-2004 18:47

Re: FIRST Competition Entry Fee Increases for 2005
 
Actually, I think the idea of breaking up the fees over time might be an idea, especially for additional regionals. Two grand when you register, two more when you ship? I don't think not paying would be a problem, given that you've already put in two thousand bucks.

I'm not saying it's THE solution, just an idea. If someone who knows more can show how it'd be a bad thing, I'll gladly eat my words--with ketchup, even!

Max Lobovsky 30-05-2004 18:49

Re: FIRST Competition Entry Fee Increases for 2005
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Billfred
Actually, I think the idea of breaking up the fees over time might be an idea, especially for additional regionals. Two grand when you register, two more when you ship? I don't think not paying would be a problem, given that you've already put in two thousand bucks.

I'm not saying it's THE solution, just an idea. If someone who knows more can show how it'd be a bad thing, I'll gladly eat my words--with ketchup, even!

Interesting idea. Maybe FIRST can get some financial company to sponsor them by providing the multiple payment solution.

dez250 30-05-2004 18:55

Re: FIRST Competition Entry Fee Increases for 2005
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by maxlobovsky
Interesting idea. Maybe FIRST can get some financial company to sponsor them by providing the multiple payment solution.

I think by giving teams the oppertunity to send in multiple payments and break it up over time, might not be the best idea. What happens when a team wont pay up on one of their payments but have all ready competed?

Ryan F. 30-05-2004 18:57

Re: FIRST Competition Entry Fee Increases for 2005
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by dez250
I think by giving teams the oppertunity to send in multiple payments and break it up over time, might not be the best idea. What happens when a team wont pay up on one of their payments but have all ready competed?

Very good point. As long as FIRST waits for payment until close to the kickoff, then that's the best way to go. Making a payment scedule before the kickoff would make no sense, and just complicate the system already in place.

Pierson 30-05-2004 20:57

Re: FIRST Competition Entry Fee Increases for 2005
 
I think it can be said that those teams who are driven, who are motivated, and who work really hard will come up with the money to compete. They will have the money to FIRST by the time FIRST needs the money.

And as for having a multiple payment plan, just have all payments due before the competition for which you are paying!

Astronouth7303 30-05-2004 21:06

Re: FIRST Competition Entry Fee Increases for 2005
 
Yeah, but by then you already made off w/ the expensive stuff.

Billfred 30-05-2004 21:15

Re: FIRST Competition Entry Fee Increases for 2005
 
Tis true--you couldn't do this for the "first play" as they put it. It's just not good business sense to give to a group (even a FIRST team) to give teams thousands of dollars' worth of items without getting the cash first.

However, when you deal with additional regionals (including the championship), there is no tangible thing given to a team. If a team pulls out, you yank their sign off of the pole, take them out of the computer, and put in another team. Therefore, it is a financially safer thing to do at this stage, especially if you make a sizable chunk (a couple hundred dollars) non-refundable.

Max Lobovsky 30-05-2004 23:09

Re: FIRST Competition Entry Fee Increases for 2005
 
It's not like i suggested something completely crazy and out of the ordinary. Loans? Mortgages? These aren't new problems and there are ways to deal with them. I doubt that a financial company might actually provide a special service for FIRST, but it definitley isn't ridiculous to imagine a payment plan for FIRST.

Pierson 30-05-2004 23:38

Re: FIRST Competition Entry Fee Increases for 2005
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by maxlobovsky
It's not like i suggested something completely crazy and out of the ordinary. Loans? Mortgages?

Not to be negative, but the first thing that jumped into my mind was: What kind of bad publicity would FIRST get if teams started defaulting on their loans or declaring bankrupcy??? :ahh:

I think the current method of pay up front to play will probably work for another couple of years!

Kevin Sevcik 31-05-2004 01:02

Re: FIRST Competition Entry Fee Increases for 2005
 
I'm slightly offended by the posters that are accusing people of not being motivated if they can't raise the extra $1000. I'm quite certain that there are teams out there that are working incredibly hard as it is to secure their current level of funding. It's especially hard for teams in rural areas to get funding as there aren't businesses nearby or a large population base to draw on. And despite some improvement, the economy still isn't in the greatest shape, and corporations are still running with tight budgets. So, I think that the price increase will definitely cause problems for rookie teams and teams that are already strapped for cash. Any arguments about teams simply not trying hard enough ignore the real issues that these teams face and that this increase causes.

Jessica Boucher 31-05-2004 17:46

Re: FIRST Competition Entry Fee Increases for 2005
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by maxlobovsky
Jessica, your logic is a bit flawed. You are assuming teams already have the money that would cover last year's entry fee.

I wasn't counting out the rest of it. I was showing how marginally, it's not much more than what you're already fundraising. Sometimes big numbers like $2000 initially scare people (like me), and they can take it easier when it's broken down.

"Power of the supplier" happens all the time....so much so that it's a textbook term (it's part of Porter's Five Forces). What's great about FIRST as opposed to a normal company is that we will actually see the difference this extra cash makes, whether it be in better service, nicer regionals, or whatever...they know that this increase means a lot of extra blood, sweat & tears to us and FIRST will make sure that we know that they appreciate it and that it is making the difference that they needed it to make.

I think a payment plan would be a great idea. In my sorority our finance person is required by HQ to offer at least three different payment plans per semester. Late payments are dealt with through late fees that add up per week late.

Face it, fundraising is part of the game challenge. There are some teams out there who just have it easier than other teams, just like there are some teams who have an easier time putting out a robot. I know it's hard, but just like putting a robot out on the field, fundraising can be accomplished with a little extra elbow grease from everyone, no matter what kind of team you hail from.

So, let's start being proactive about this. Can anyone put together something with past threads that concern fundraising techniques?

Max Lobovsky 31-05-2004 17:57

Re: FIRST Competition Entry Fee Increases for 2005
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessica Boucher
"Power of the supplier" happens all the time....so much so that it's a textbook term (it's part of Porter's Five Forces). What's great about FIRST as opposed to a normal company is that we will actually see the difference this extra cash makes, whether it be in better service, nicer regionals, or whatever...they know that this increase means a lot of extra blood, sweat & tears to us and FIRST will make sure that we know that they appreciate it and that it is making the difference that they needed it to make.

I don't mean to be the pessimist, and I am not actually complaining, but considering the "streamlining" of regionals, as someone put it above, its more likely to believe that this increase is just to maintain the level then to raise it. Wether it be inflation or greater overheads due to a greater number of teams, costs are definitley rising.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessica Boucher
So, let's start being proactive about this. Can anyone put together something with past threads that concern fundraising techniques?

And feel free to put it in the how-to fund raise article on FIRSTwiki.

Bharat Nain 31-05-2004 18:45

Re: FIRST Competition Entry Fee Increases for 2005
 
With us discussing over here, I dont think FIRST is going to reduce the prices. Therefore, However incredibly hard some teams need to work to secure the money they need, they just need to do. It is unfortunate for some if they cannot participate just because of financial concerns, but I guess working hard and giving it a shot isnt too bad. Sometimes I wish it were that easy to get sponsors, but no. If teams can organize a fund-raising game-plan for the next 5 months, I think its possible for them to gain enough.

Here is my idea:
1) Gather all ideas for fund-raising
2) Separate the team into two groups. One being small.
3) The smaller group goes full-force searching for sponsors and working with that matter.
4) The other group sets up weekly schedules for things and ways to fund-raise.

So 5 months = about 22 weeks = 154 days.

I feel in 22 weeks a team could pull together a good amount of money to satisfy the teams needs. I know talking is easy, but doing is hard, but lets just accept the fact and work towards it. You could also mantain a notebook or something and update it weekly, so that it tells you how much more to your goal... I can just wish good luck to all teams :)
-Bharat

mtaman02 31-05-2004 18:48

Re: FIRST Competition Entry Fee Increases for 2005
 
Ok Ok..... FIRST has increased the prices nobody in their right state of mind can go up to FIRST and ask for a lenient solution. So like I and a few others have stated. Instead of this fee being paid up front. Can it be broken down into monthly payments with the end date being before Nationals. So From opening time which would be generally around End of August / Beginning of September and have a date that it has to be in by no later then at least 1 week or more before Nationals. The only flaw I see with this is a team Participating and Paying after!.

FundRaising Solutions:

Bake Sales
Car Washes
If your in NYC You can help with the cleanup for the Marathon
Yard Sales
Garage Sales
Candy Sales
Bagging at Supermarkets
Emailing and visiting with robot in hand to every Company in ure area Big and Small.
Advertise and do a Demonstration of the game. Charge those who are coming a 25$ fee (from the audience) . maybe have a few teams get in on this as well and split the proceeds.

Any other ideas !!!


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