New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

I am a German foreign exchange student and this year I participated in FIRST.

Now I plan to organize a European Regional in 2006 and I would like to know what teams are interested in attending a regional in Europe. I don't have a location yet, but I would still like to know if there are any teams who would like to go to Europe for a regional next year. Please send me an e-mail or post if you want to come to Europe in 2006. Please write only if you can afford to come.

This will give me some information on how many to expect and it will also help me find sponsors.

Further I am pleased with any information (e-mail) which might help me with a regional. Especially an exact listing of how much money it will cost.
The more the better.

Thanks a lot

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

I am sure 25 would be interested...price might be a problem. Well not might, would be a problem. We are always interested in new experiences though. Would definitely be a lot of fun.

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

that sounds great! i would recommend email FIRST and some people within the FIRST empire to see what they can do to help you and such. It would look great if there was a Europe Regional! that'd be so cool i just might have to come and visit.

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

While that is a noble goal, and I hate to dampen your enthusiasm, it's not as easy as just "starting" a regional. I would go so far as to say that if you're starting now, you won't be doing it until at least 2007. And correct me if I'm wrong, but there is also usually someone from FIRST involved in the planning aspects of such a regional.

You definitely don't want to undertake this by yourself, and without FIRST's support.

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

FIRST is definitely involved in planning regionals, but they also depend greatly on local volunteers to fundraise and often organize and run the regional. I will say that starting from scratch now with no contacts or fundraising network is going to make a 2006 regional extremely difficult to pull off. A US/North American regional costs upwards of US$125,000 at a minimum. This is disregarding the exchange rate and extra costs associated with shipping a field overseas and flying regional staff out to support the event. This is also assuming there's enough staff to go around to support a European regional....

I don't mean to discourage you, a European regional would be a great way to get more teams in Europe, as their travel costs would be a lot less. I just mean to point out that you have a long ways to go here and probably without the kind of help that NASA usually gives to start new regionals here in the States.

Your best bet is to first and foremost gather up a nice group of like minded individuals and formulate a plan on how to raise money near the order of magnitude above. If you have a decent plan, then approach FIRST with it, Bob Hammond in particular.

Good luck in your endeavours.

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

We are seeing in North America the problems associated with the growth of the quantity of regional events. Certain events remain unfilled, others cut costs dramatically in order to even exist--this is not desirable. With that in mind, certain things are necessary, including a strong base of committed teams--this usually takes the form of local teams with nowhere else to go easily--and a number of corporate sponsors.

Currently, there are very few European teams; a first priority might be to ensure that there will be enough local teams to meet the demand for a regional, both now, and in the future (teams don't always return--that's too often overlooked). Of course, it is easier to form teams if they know that there will be a regional event locally--which is a rather circular problem. The current lower limit for a sustainable regional is (arguably) about 30; there are a couple of exceptions this year (Israel due to special arrangements, and Waterloo due to an unfortunately-timed religious holiday), but this is approximately the minimum.

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

Yes, I know it will be very hard.
But I realised this before, so I already have plans on fundraising and I covered hopefully all necessary things to consider.

A question I have: Do you have an e-mail address from Bob Hammond? I am still looking for the right person to contact at FIRST. (please don't post his e-mail if you have, but write me an e-mail with it)

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

I think of starting around 30 teams in the first year, with the hope that 10 might survise and than have American teams fill up the rest (see special Israel arrangements).
A reason for this is that all European teams will be rookies (except the two british teams), so it might be good to have mentoring American teams.

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

our team likes to travel and visit new places so add team 233 to the list of "want to attend".

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

I'm going to send you an email, a prior mentor to our team is working with Infineon Germany and he is interested in starting a German team, so you might want to get ahold of him. I'll send out that info soon.

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

Well, you would obviously be able to count the only europe first team already around in :P
It might also mean we would be able to afford atlanta if we got through...
The choice of country would be key obviously. if you picked somewhere central european say france, you have language barrier... I
m thinking the uk would be the only place to do it in the eu...

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

Christoph, your energy and idealism are to be commended. Just a caution on timing. From now until after the Championship, everyone on the very small staff at FIRST is out in the field or working frantically dealing with millions of details. (As I write this I am watching the VCU feed and they are having some major problems with the field.) I have a new appreciation this year of how challenging it is to run a regional, let alone plan one. You could not possibly imagine all the details. This would be a major undertaking that would need FIRST sanctioning and there is a process to be followed.

So keep organizing your ideas, funding sources (think in the $50,000 range) and after the Championship, we can help you get your ideas heard.

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

Quite honestly I don't care! I would say language barrier is not a real problem in most european countries (France is special) so this isn't really the problem. But I would say let the Sponsor decide!
Also possible would be 2006 uk, 2007 Germany, 2008 ...

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

cool
im gunna brush up on my german!
Mein kubelwagen ist sehry kaputt! (hehe)
(:ahh:)
It would be good in international first, but it would most definately require a few american teams having to experience the jetlag of a 8 odd hour flight back 5 hours lol for at least the first year.
Anyway
keep 759 updated ;)

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

During this past season, I have had the opportunity to see Christoph's work in making this dream of a European Regional possible. I must say, he has put in a TON of work so far, and is really determined at making this a reality. Personally, I will be helping him as much as possible, and I encourage everyone who can to aid in this noble endeavor.

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

I think that would be really cool to see happen. However, there would be one huge problem...I doubt many teams have the time or funds to go overseas for a regional. But if the money was available, I would push for us to go to it. But then again, I am a student and I can't speak for the team. :rolleyes: Although sometimes I wish I could. :] Start some German teams and you wouldn't even needs us Americans to come to your regional. :p Hope you get it!

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

I know that the timing is bad, however there is still a lot to do. And starting now doesn't do any harm except that FIRST doesn't have time at the moment.
And I am encouraging everyone, to send me information and help.

Anyway I am already waiting for FIRST to have time for my ideas.

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

I still don't have any info how much a regional would cost!

So if someone has any idea on what costs how much... Please let me know!

Please, Please, Please
my email is: firsteurope@gmail.com

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

I've seen $125,000 as a bse price

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

US$125,000 is definitely a base cost. I have access to a regional director (my mom) so this is a definitive number. The exchange rate and VAR (maybe?) could up the cost as well. This is also a basic AV system and no real team party. I can probably give you a more itemized kind of budget if you're willing to wait a few days for me to get home.

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

Also, I believe the $125,000 assumes that the facility hosting the regional comes at no cost. This is significant as renting out a facility large enough for a regional for four days can be highly expensive (I believe I've heard as high as $100,000).

Matt

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

I worked on the Sacramento Regional Planning Committee this year, and yes $125,000 is an absolute bare minimum, some very successful regionals operate on a budget closer to $200,000 (just look at those regionals with team socials and lots of AV production). Examples of costs MIGHT BE: Venue fee ($25,000-$75,000), AV Production ($40,000-$80,000), Catering ($7,500 - $15,000), Local Services and Personnel ($10,000 - $20,000), Equipment Rentals ($7,500 - $15,000), Signage and Promotional Items ($2,500-$5,000), Administrative and Support Costs ($30,000-$50,000). Of course - how this translates to Euro's, I don't know. Plus also factor in additional support costs to help with different languages and long distance support and shipping. I imagine FIRST would need a small HQ in Europe to provide efficient and effective support.

But to develop sponsorships for a Europe Regional, you must go through FIRST first! They have sponsorship levels that start at $5000 and go up to >$100,000. Those packages includes certain items like speaking opportunities, judging, and of course signage. So before you start taking checks on behalf of FIRST - get in touch with them as soon as the Championships conclude. They have a regional directors meeting in May I believe, make sure you get your comments through to Bob Hammond by then. http://www.usfirst.org/about/contactus.htm

I don't think it's too late to get something started for 2006, but they would have to line up a venue and take care of some serious logistics issues by summer time. Perhaps if we knew more about the experiences in the Isreal Regional to gauge the viability of FIRST competitions overseas.

A dedicated planning committee is a must. You need a dozen or so professionals to help keeps things on track and to ensure it has the local flavor to make it special. A good regional also needs to have sponsorships that are long lasting relationships to ensure the regional continues. A regional started in Sacramento in 2003, because a major funder was going to move some business to that area and sponsored the competition outright that first year. Unfortunately in 2004, the funder pulled the plug, and we've been scrambling to find and build relationships with local businesses ever since. Unfortunately that takes years to do. Having many different sponsors, will help the regional survive for the long haul.

Keep up the energy, and I'm sure we'll see some FIRST comps overseas in the near future.

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

Hey! This is exactly what I've been waiting for. With this type of help we will see a European Regional in the very near future.

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

Is there any one willing, who already helped organizing a regional to send me some information?

I am basically looking for everything. Costs, number of people involved, different things to be careful about.

Please make shure to include your Name in everything you send to me, so that I can make shure you get noticed if you want to.

I like everything I can get... so don't be shy!

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

Hey Chris,

sry I didn't visit you're thread earlier but I'm amazed how commited you are to get the regional together. I'll give you all my support that I have avaible and I really hope it's going to happen. I think I could definitly get my school to start a team once I'm back in Germany so count us in : ).

Keep me up to date about what's going on, I can also help making a web plattform for foundraising/organization if you'd like and things like that.

Good Luck, Felix

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

233 in europe yay! :p

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

Thanks for your help I really appreciate this!

I might come back to you about the webside...

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

WOW, that sounds awesome. One little piece of advice, people from our team have talked to the FIRST adviser for the Midwest region (about 7 states) and she said that it takes at least 18 months to plan for a new regional so my thinking is that 2006 is out of the question. However, this gives teams much better opportunity to plan for possibly going to an overseas regional in 2007.

I wish you the best of luck!!

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

Something in your favor might be the fact that if there is another Israel regional then the field ship cost might be a bit lower. I wish you all the best in your endeavors.

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

In case that's true I'll have to figure out a way to come over to the US for the Competition next year before there is an european regional : ).

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

Verraeter!

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

Hello Christoph,

I am following your thread from Cologne. It looks like, that you need some help. Shall I contact the "Deutsche Messe AG", which is the organization who performs the CEBIT. Another good address will be the "Heinz Nixdorf Museumsforum".

More ideas I write to your mail firsteurope[at]gmail[dot]com.

Best regards
Carsten

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

hows it going at the moment?
it might be an idea to try and get some of copies of the team in a box
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...light=team+box
to help get some other temas started
Anyway, we arn't abck yet so i havn't talked to anyone on 759 since the nyc regional. I believe we have one guy who wants to set up antoher uk team.
Good luck, and keep in contact if you need any help, you have my mail

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

Hi Denman,

thanks for the idea of the "team in a box". Sounds great to me, and I already contacted them.

Also I am in contact with some sponsors, but I am still looking for interested people who would like to start some teams over there.

Please contact me if you are interested in helping!

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

does it look possible for 2006

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

I am the Head Coach for Team 341.

If anyone in this thread needs "Team in a Box" and has not yet received it, please PM me directly or email me at aostrow1@comcast.net . We will make sure that you get a copy.

Hope you reach your goals!!

Al Ostrow

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

If you mean to get a Regional going for next year, it sure does. We got 6 times GB, one Poland, and a few German, but we'd probably have to fill up with some American teams.

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

still the question of where though....

Vote london! :p
Hmm

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

there is some good stuff about London, like flights and such, but Hotels are REALLY expensive. The last time I've been there I paid around 20 pound a night in a youth hospital with 17 other people in the room in the smallest bed I've ever seen.

So London is probably a good location, but keep thinking about Frankfurt, Berlin, Bruessel, or Cologne.

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

Sent you a PM.

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

thats about the smae we payed each in new york... 40 dollars

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

btw, found some for as little as £7 or $20


http://www.youth-hostels-in.com/london-hostels.htm

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

For anyone who doesn't know what he is talking about: Hotels/Room for the teams to stay at.

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

I think your endeavor is a noble one, and I certainly shall not hinder it, and I will offer what help I can give.
But before a regional, I think you should start teams in Germany, and the rest of Europe and start an off-season competition. The off-season can give you a smaller idea of what the work that goes into a regional is, and it can also show some indication of how many teams would be interested in coming to Europe from the US. The biggest problem with depending on US involvement would be rules. After 9/11, many counties either made stricter rules about long distance, particularly out of country, field trips, or even out-right banned them. Some of these have been lifted in the years after the tragedy, but many have not. So many teams would not even have the option of coming. And few that did attend would attend in full force. I know how much a trip to Europe costs, and it is no small fee.
So, in short, build a local support base and try not to depend on out of country travel to support your regional. Getting area teams is your first priority.

Re: New Regional in Europe in 2006
 

You are certainly right, it is hard, even impossible for many teams to attend a regional a little bit off the map. However under 1000 teams they will be one which doesn't have those limits.

On the other hand I think it would be nice to spice up all the rookie teams with some more advanced teams.

I'll post later this week on how many teams we have coming from European countries.
So thanks for the input I'll keep it in mind.

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