Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

Yes, I agree that building teams already in Europe would be a good idea. Have you yet thought about these issues?


Possible headaches of having a Regional in Europe:

-Shipping & Customs: the field, team's robots, & team's "extra stuff"... and how long will it take for everything to get over there and will the country allow inport?

-Video & Media: FIRST uses one production company for all the regionals (Sergeant Productions). Somebody will have to figure out the requirements for regionals and coordinate with an A/V company over there.

-Passports: for the teams that travel every student will need a passport. Who's going to pay for them and how much lead-time will they need?

-Airfare: lets face it, plane rides cost a lot.

-American Teams (sponsorship): Why would an American company want to spend three times as much to send a team oversees where they might not be able to get as much corporate recognition as they would here at an American regional?

-Cost: Regional will cost somewhere around $300K because you have to factor in the shipping and personnel relocation costs (yea, you'll need experienced people from the US to help run the event). Most regionals here in the US operate on a 200K - 250K budget. Going down to $150 (I hear) is really a stretch and probably only happens when somebody makes an in-kind donation (like the venue).

-Labor Cost: Also, whether the Regional Planning Committee wanted to or not, people at FIRST will have to be involved. Who will they charge their work-time to and are there enough people at Headquarters to support the event?



Sorry to sound pessimistic here, but I think your one BIG chance of getting a regional in Europe is to befriend a rich/influential guy who could convince the FIRST BoD that the event is necessary to have.


Start teams instead.

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

Yes we have (we, because there are three other people working directly on this, thanks!). We have at least ten teams in the next year and are working on more new teams in europe.

I agree that is a big problem. But Israel did it succesful (even though they had some obstacles) as the two British teams did.

We need some help here. I looked at the AV in Las Vegas and Atlanta, so I know that it is a lot. So if anybody could help, send me an email: firsteurope@gmail.com

Are you refering to the American teams, because that was one of the reasons to have a regional in Europe, so that the teams don't need to go through all this.

In Europe (exactly the Schengen countries) you do not need a visa for traveling.

You are right. But I think it is possible to get sponsors.

Thank you for giving us the input. I like the idea of the "rich/influential guy", if anybody has the right dad/mom or any better ideas who to contact, please post, PM me or email me (at firsteurope@gmail.com).

The only word I don't like here is the word instead, because it makes the existence of teams much harder with out the local support. Just think about the flight costs you were talking about or the passports and visa.

So we are starting teams.

I think that a Regional is necessary for new teams to exist in another country. I am not talking about the few teams which would exist anyway but about the possible teams of students, schools and mentors who wish to participate but will never without the right support.

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

And i'll tell you, it is much harder to get in the usa from here than vice versa ... we have to fill in forms on the plane and depending on length of stay, visas etc... here you just need a passport for usa for 90 days visit or something

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

I believe that by 2006, if the big name teams and the Chairman Award winning teams take action, there will be plenty of European FIRST teams to go around.

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

Santosh, you guys look like one of those teams ;-) !

I would take your help! I also take other people's help. Email me or PM me at firsteurope at gmail dot com