Quote:
we have only found enough $$ for two comps
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However, we haven't the money for two comps or to build a fancy robot
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Clarify a bit please, comps is an abbreviation for more than one word. COMPuterS and COMPetitionS which one?
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And on the topic at hand..
My old team, 247, has continuously been getting less financial and engineering support over it's past 5 years. We have had I think 3 engineers that have been with us since the start. 3 years ago we had 6, 2 years ago 5, last year 3, and this year I have no clue. Financially, our corporate sponsor, ComauPICO, has been having to make cutbacks within the company itself and us too. We've been able to consistently go to at least 2 competitions a year. Last year, we went to Great Lakes, Buckeye, and Canadian Regionals (didn't qualify for finals).
This year though, the team will be going to 3 regionals again even though financially it will be very hard. 247 is going to Great Lakes, Midwest, and Nat's (qualify based on odd number). The team is in bigtime financial trouble. The fundraising policy got changed bigtime which I'm pretty sure will make the travel team quite small and next year almost impossible.
Each member starts the year (in september) with $1200 to work off. Each fundraiser we do, 75% of the profits get split evenly amongst who worked the event, the remaining 25% goes to the "general fund" in which jerseys and materials are purchased for the team/class. (Robot materials are purchased by ComauPICO). If a team member drops the team, the money in their account goes to the "General Fund." At 4 'check-points' in the year, each member needs $300, 600, 900, 1200 in their account or they can not travel with the team. ex: If member A has $125 in their account at the first checkpoint, they must get a check for $175 (125+175=300) to balance their account, if member B has $350 in their account, then no check needs to be made.
Berkley is for the most part a mediocre community, financially. Most families can't afford $700+ for their student each year to do FIRST. In the past, the most we've ever had to pay is around $400 for the season. I started with 247 4 years ago, we had to make a $400 deposit which was expected to be returned in part. 2nd year I had to pay $50, and last year we had to pay $400 with no expectation of return.
I have left the team mostly due to the financial burden (my dad is on his 3rd job in 4 months) and was invited to join team 470, whom only pays if they go to nationals.
I'm making quite a few personal sacrifices to join 470 but FIRST to me is about experience and I didn't want to lose one of the biggest parts of my life so far.
Basically, to sum it all up, 247 is in a downsizing situation partly due to the economy, and partly due to decisions on fundraising.
I hope to see 247 around next year, but I honestly won't be surprised if it's gone.