Money Money Money..
 

Hello All,

What's up guy's, my team is frantically trying to attend the Philidelphia Regional next week. After our fun run in Washington DC, we are in a FIRST frenzy. We were granted permission from FIRST to register for the regional, although registration is closed. Okay so now to the point of this, We have basically no money left in our Team Account, and our Registration fee is due tomorrow by the end of the day. I'm not asking for support from another team, I'm just asking if there's any way possible to come up with that much money that fast? We currently have students "Tagging" (Collecting Money out side of local businesses). We have also pretty much went to every single local business asking for their support, and are school district cannot afford to fund our team. We want another shot at going to St.Louis, are students are trying veryhard to make it there; does anyone find this problem "Do-Able"?

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What we have done in the past is float it on one of the mentor's credit cards. While this isn't the best solution but for our team it works out since we bring in more money during the season and get it payed off.

Something to consider, if you don't have money to pay for a second regional, how are you getting the money to pay for St. Louis? I might opt to go to a couple offseason events instead.

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Thanks for the Advice,
We are more than likly going to attend an Offseason event; becasue the mear fact that we need the money by tomorrow. Our team has alot of dedication for trying to get this done, as for the St.Louis question that would be a whole nother ball game.

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Why did you ask to attend an event you cannot pay for?

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Especially so far into the season?

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If you have 30 kids, its about 135 bucks each. If each kid can convince a business, or relatives business to donate 200 dollars, you will be fine.

With a day to go, you probably shouldn't be wasting your time here on CD though...

You now need to collect 2 cents less.

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I'm kind of surprised FIRST agreed to this, but I suppose if there are spots at the event its really no harm to letting you try.

Do you have any sponsors that will float you the fee? As I recall a 'letter of commitment' from a sponsor is considered a valid form of payment.

Matt

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We asked FIRST for permission in case we were able to come up with the fee's involved with going. It's better late than never, and the reason I brought this up on CD is to help get some answer's from some teams who could have possibly been in this situation before, I really do appreciate this advice from everyone I will pass it along to my team.

-1708

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FIRST allowed us to attend VCU this past Monday. We just won EI in DC, so the money we had for St. Louis in our account would have been returned ... so we opted for a 2nd regional instead.

Permission from the school, organizing travel, and rearranging my work schedule are all much more difficult to deal with than FIRST is in that regard. Whew!

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Thanks for the Reply Matt,

Could you elaborate "Letter of Commitment" please, I'm not sure I understand what exactly that would mean.

Thanks a ton,
1708

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Congrats on Winning EI,
We were in DC also this year, we made it to the Finals and ended up getting diagnosed with CRio Failure, we have a backup; we are ready fro another regional event were just working on getting the entry fee arranged. Our team account is pretty low, around $1,000. The traveling cost's can be covered by each kid, and end's up being around 300$ per person, which isn't bad at all.

Thanks,
1708

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I'm surprised you got in to Philadelphia. We were trying to get into the regional a few weeks ago, but all of the spots were taken.

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My team in 2007 raised 5000$ in a few days mostly from parents donating (and our teacher who donated 1000$) to go to Atlanta after winning a regional for the first time ever. We managed to get a company to sponsor us 5000$ for travel about a week before the event.

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yeah, there's like three spot's open as of right now. Hopefully if my team can figure out this money situation, there will only be two after tomorrow.

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That's exactly the new's I was looking for, my team has done the same in the past. In 2005 after winning the Pittsburgh Regional, they raised the money to travel to Atl. there is hope.

Thanks,
1708

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Credit card. Although I would say spend your money on offseasons instead.

Immediately after that, work your butts off to pay the mentor back.

This is why your team should always be raising money.

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I totally agree with this statement, I'm going to see what we can do. That is great advice; thank you.
I hope to see you in Philly next week, It would be awesome.

-Eddie

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Things like that happen all the time with spots opening at the last second. Team 1772 from Brazil had to drop out of GSR at the last second due to visa issues.

I would recommend charging it on a credit card if you can as it allows for payment down the road especially if you decide to sell light bulbs in the next month with the proceeds going to the payment. Having the students go out to business is great along with giving each of them a target goal so they can understand how much each of them needs to raise in order to go.

Good luck!

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Thanks, it's much needed at this point.

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If you haven't already, you could try the FIRST LED lightbulb fundraiser. The returns on that are over 50%. Now, of course you wouldn't be able to get the lightbulbs in time, but if you floated the fee on a card in the mean time, you could finish the fundraiser after you get back.

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Thanks again everyone for the suggestions, We really apprecviate it.

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Thanks again everyone,
I have good new's.. We did it!

Super excited to be attending another Regional, hope to see everyone is St.Louis!

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Congratulations. You had a great run in Washington DC. Wish you great succcess in Philadelphia !!!

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Good to hear, look forward to playing with you then. I'll be at the regional on Saturday only unfortunately, but be sure to stop by.

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I am glad you guys are going to Philly... You had a great robot and great drivers. Sorry we couldnt get you the St. Louis bid in DC :P We tried but I am sure you will do good in Philly.

I will c ya there next weekend. Good luck from all of 2016.

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Congrats on making everything work!
We've been in the same place when we've unexpectedly qualified for championships and I know how stressful it can be to scramble for the money.

See you in Philly!

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I wish I could come to Philly :(

I'll be watching on the webcast! Go moe!

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Thanks KS, we will be going to Buckeye instead. Last minute donation by a SUPER sponsor, Duqusne Light, and the perseverance of the students.

I personally want to thank you and all of 2016 and 63, looked like the planets had aligned till the gremlins raised their ugly head. Hope we get another shot to play with you guys, say on Einstien. Mr. Roboto can do defense with any 'bot, but hey, that's just my opinion. lol

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I know this is too late, but what a team in our area did to get their Michigan State Championship entry fee last year was put an ad in the local paper asking for donations. Sorry I lack the specifics on it, but I know that they raised quite a bit of money from it.

P.S. congrats for making it