[Patrick Wang]

Speaking of having a wide financial base, if anybody would remember, one of requirements for receiving a Kleiner Perkins Grant this year was a wide base of sponsership.

Our team is headed into it's 5th year. I suppose if 4-5 is truly the average then next year will be fun. What I do notice however, it that there is a definate gap between 5 year teams and 10 year teams. A large number of teams seem to have 3-5 years, but few have 6-9 while there are a few VERY well established teams that can claim 10 years.

Does anyone else follow this sort of trend? If your team can establish itself it usually has to do so within 4-5 years?

Or do you think that it is simply the probablilty of encounter a devastating problem after 5 years of running a team.

The people are the team, when there is a will there is a way. Ultimately I think it boils down to the ability and will of the constiuents of the team.

I remember several things said about a strong organization.

One thing that stands out to me is that is should not be based on one pivotal person. Basically the team should function if it loses any one person.

I realize now that this post have very little direction, but the complexities of running an organization cannot be summed up to merely politics.

That is what makes FIRST. The Students and Mentors. The Robot is merely what sticks them together.