Attn. Michigan Teams: $2,000,000 FIRST Pledge Cancelled
 

edit: see this post for updates.

I received the following e-mail this morning:

Re: Attn: Michigan Teams
 

I've sent it along. Hopefully we can make a difference.

Re: Attn: Michigan Teams
 

Like wise. My wife and I both fired off emails.

Re: Attn: Michigan Teams
 

Got it forwarded from our team server, already sent my email

Re: Attn: Michigan Teams
 

For those who missed it the first time around, here's an article I found the other day that discusses Granholm's proposal:

Re: Attn: Michigan Teams
 

Here's my letter that I sent off. I hope it helps!

Dear Legislators from my District:

I am an engineer at Visteon Corporation and mentor for the FIRST robotics team from the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park. I feel very strongly that FIRST Robotics is making a difference in the future success of our state and our country.

I am giving back to my community because there was no program like this when I was in high school. It is a tremendous opportunity for our children to learn about science and technology. I became an engineer because I was inspired by my father who was an engineer at Ford and because he encouraged me to learn about 'how things work' and 'why is it made that way?'. Many children today may want to learn these things but do not have the opportunity.

I believe that two things are happening simultaneously that are challenging the ability for the people of United States of America to remain the innovators of technology in the world. First, children are inundated constantly by television, the Internet, and media that the greatest role models in life are sports stars and celebrities and becoming one of these should be their goal. Second, the technology in world around us is constantly evolving and becoming more complex even as it improves our quality of life. The FIRST Robotics program addresses both of these issues.

Today's children need to be able to not only use technology but they also need to understand how it works. The students that get involved in FIRST Robotics and similar programs can actually answer the question that all science and math students face at some time, "What good is learning this? When am I ever going to use this stuff anyway?" And they get these answers while they are still in high school. Critical thinking and problem solving are not classes taught in school, they can only be learned by applying knowledge. The students that I work on my FIRST team genuinely look up to me. They are learning concepts and applying knowledge that I was only first exposed to in upper level college courses. They see that a career in engineering is rewarding and being called a 'geek' or 'nerd' can be a compliment!

Please reconsider reinstating Sec 99 (C) of the State School Aid Act. As you are no doubt aware many companies in Michigan are struggling to stay afloat. Many times support of these valuable programs is one of the first items cut because in the companies' budget it is 'low-hanging fruit'. This state funding would be taxpayer money that would be very well spent. Please do the right thing to keep our children ahead of the curve.

Regards,
Patrick Murphy
Product Design Engineer, Visteon Corporation
Mentor, Lighting Robotics, Team #862 - Plymouth-Canton High Schools

Re: Attn. Michigan Teams: $2,000,000 FIRST Pledge Cancelled
 

That's rediculous to pull that out of the budget. In terms of government spending, 2 million is pocket change. They recently spent that on one artificial football field at one local high school here. And I'm willing to bet it won't even last. They are already concerned about cars driving on it, lawn chairs sitting on it, and drinks being held over it. Real grass would never complain about that. And they go and spend 2 million dollars on this thing.

The crazy thing is that you could double the size/impact of FIRST (20,000 more students) for only like 7 million dollars ($6,000 grant to ~1150 teams). And they spend just about 2 million on a single football field. Pathetic.

Re: Attn. Michigan Teams: $2,000,000 FIRST Pledge Cancelled
 

Thats ridiculous, something like this is atrocious and shouldn't be stood for, I'm not sure how many people from Michigan are actively on CD, but I'm sure there are enough that if all of them sent emails, they would have to take notice.

Re: Attn. Michigan Teams: $2,000,000 FIRST Pledge Cancelled
 

If any of you have the time, especially if you are over 18/a registered voter, give their office a call. Or, convince your parents, if you are able to. You won't reach them, but someone in the office should take your message. I'd think that 10 well-composed, independent phone calls over a two-day period will turn a few more heads than form emails. But if you can't, emails will be better than nothing.

Possible useful things to mention:
1. If you voted for them, say so.
2. State the legislation you want them to support.
3. Why it's important to you and the people (ie voters) you know (your parents?), your community.
4. If you have local sponsors, mention who supports your team, and why.
5. A few brief words about the potential benefits (show that you have some understanding about the bill).
6. Thank them for their time.

Re: Attn. Michigan Teams: $2,000,000 FIRST Pledge Cancelled
 

Its on our website. www.team66.com I have already sent my respectable reps an e-mail. We really need to send it like its Spam, and I mean REALLY! ;)

Anyone contact Dean Kamen about this yet?
I talked to him over at Nats and he commented how Michigan was a powerhouse and the possible $2 million. I think he needs to get a hold of the legislature there and give them a few words. :cool:

-Joe

Re: Attn. Michigan Teams: $2,000,000 FIRST Pledge Cancelled
 

For state/local government, $2 million is a lot of money. Local governments get by on what they can, while the federal government not so much.

Plus, what would you rather campaign on, getting the budget in with tax cuts, in with no tax cuts, or in but over? If that $2 million went to balancing the budget or tax cuts, that's money people will see. People don't get "FIRST" and see it's benefits, and most people now want to see instantaneous results, which such headlines as tax cuts and balancing the budget offers.

I'm not defending this at all, I wan $4 million in the budget for FIRST in EVERY state spending bill, but assumptions and hasty comparisons won't help anyone. Football field pay for themselves with tickets and concessions, robots don't.

Re: Attn. Michigan Teams: $2,000,000 FIRST Pledge Cancelled
 

As much as I hate to be the one to play devil's advocate, I'm going to.

Those of you who live in Michigan know what the economy is here right now. My father works for GM. I worry every day that when he goes to work, he won't have a job when he comes home. And we aren't the only family living that way. People with 30 years at the same place are getting fired because there's no money.

And we want to put 2 million into robotics teams? Seems a little bit like a trivial matter to me, when there are so many businesses going down the tubes.

Anyone who knows me, or has read my stuff on CD knows how passionate I am about this program, how much I've sacrificed. But in this case, I'm saying no. The house and senate made a choice. I hope that they use the money that would have been used for FIRST to revive these businesses so that we don't have to worry anymore about whether or not we will have a job. Jobs mean money, healthcare and a way of life. Right now, in this state, none of that is safe, no matter how many years you've had with a company, how much education you have or how respectable a company you work for. Frankly, I think money for robotics teams should not be at the top of the money list. We don't need future planning, we need the solve the problems now.

Re: Attn. Michigan Teams: $2,000,000 FIRST Pledge Cancelled
 

I understand your POV, but its a bit too late when Granholm was at GLR and announced to everyone there that she would put $2 million in the budget.

Not to be biased or anywhere near negative, but that's just me. Politicians should not announce one thing and then allow another.

And as far as people being fired, I know how it feels to fear it happening. I am quite frankly worried about my dad, who works at a Public Radio Station which is loosing money like crazy. Just today they were told they have to cut 10% of their budget. Hopefully my dad can retire before they fire. So I understand your situation completely.

Just remember, as Red always says on the Red and Green Show, "We are all in this together."

-Joe

Re: Attn. Michigan Teams: $2,000,000 FIRST Pledge Cancelled
 

Hey Joe, I don't mean to fire back, but FIRST is an investment in the future. It will not and doesn't pay off immedietly like a Tax Cut does, but in the long run it will make money. Listen to some of the Key Note speeches they have at regionals and in Atlanta, what FIRST provides to students is an opportunity to look at career paths that they wouldn't of considered otherwise.
/Tangent

Re: Attn. Michigan Teams: $2,000,000 FIRST Pledge Cancelled
 

I don't mean to be harsh to you Beth, I know how much you put into FIRST, but it is exactly that line of reasoning that has GM/Delphi and the rest of the Detroit auto industry in the situation it is currently in. Because of our situation we MUST invest in FIRST. It is the only program I can see that is putting the focus we need on innovation.