Quote:
Originally Posted by EricLeifermann
Though it seems that most of your questions that have an answer involving HQ paints HQ into a bad light. The question talking about making state free, but HQ saying no is ridiculous. I can see how they didn't want teams outside of the district model to get in an uproar that teams are getting a free competition, but now they could use that model as an incentive for more areas/states going to a district model.
I also don't understand why HQ cares how you dictate what awards are worth and what they earn you in terms of points to the state championship.
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I don't think Jim intended to paint HQ in a bad light. He was just stating the facts. In the last 4 years, people were upset with FiM thinking it was FiM that made up all these seemingly ridiculous rules when in fact it was HQ that dictates what Michigan can or cannot do. Most people don't know that none of the money teams pay to enter an event goes to pay for running the event. All the money goes to HQ. It is not hard to understand why they don't want the State Championship to be free.
In terms of why they dictate some awards do not earn any points, FIRST is a brand and like any other brand, you need to protect what it stands for. They cannot let people change the importance of certain awards. I think they have the right to do so.
I don't have a problem with what HQ does. They are a business, even if it is a non profit organizaion. They need to plan for growth and sustainability just like any other business. It costs money to run and expand. I guess they are using the FRC money to subsidize FTC and FLL, but if that is true I am okay with that since many of the FRC members come from FLL teams. If you look at their financial statement, they have a very healthy cash reserve. I agree with Jim that the price of entry for FRC should come down now that we have so many more teams comparing to many years ago.