View Single Post
  #23   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 18-12-2013, 20:25
TikiTech's Avatar
TikiTech TikiTech is offline
Mr. H
FRC #3880 (Tiki Techs)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Rookie Year: 2011
Location: Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Posts: 252
TikiTech is just really niceTikiTech is just really niceTikiTech is just really niceTikiTech is just really niceTikiTech is just really nice
Re: Workaround for Non-local Transportation of Robots to Competitions

Howzit!

Yes our fine DOE has many interesting approaches to spending as of late. Even the school's procurement credit card has a 2500 limit. Which used to be a work around for limited PO acceptance.

We are obviously in the same situation, sadly. Many times we end up using our hard earned fundraising cash to compete. This needs to be addressed promptly!

Also it was very hard for us to get into some of the mainland regionals this year. We try to compete during our spring break to keep the students from missing school which limits our choices of events as it is. Seems that the regional competitions are trying to keep the events more for local teams.
I guess this is a prelude to their district changeover.

Big question, how do we keep non mainland teams in FRC?
Dealing with higher costs across the board keeps many teams back.
Look what some of the Australian teams do, many just register to get a KOP and never attend a regional. They run a local non sanctioned event to compete but cannot qualify. Hopefully they will get their own regional next year. Let alone all the new teams coming in from abroad.

Our island can only support so much in sponsorships and donations since there are 6 teams here competing for the same dollars out of a rural island population of less than 130k island wide.

I find that the travel and interaction with teams outside our state inspire quite a bit. Many of my students here on the Big Island never leave the state. FRC is our best reason to get off the rock and show the students the bigger world.. It truly is inspiring to them and many have changed their college plans because of this.

Perhaps more shipping companies could become sponsors?
DHL, UPS, etc... Is FedEx the exclusive shipper for FIRST?
Maybe they can get the big shipping companies involved like Matson, Bekins, Sealine, etc. I know our robot cannot ever chance the 11+ day boat ride from here to the mainland but those companies must have a need for good PR or a tax write off.. Well maybe Matson doesn't at the moment due to the molasses spill on Oahu but surely there has to be more than FedEx..

Aloha,
Mike
__________________
Team 3880 - "Tiki Techs" "Mr. H" - Tiki Technologies Coach / Mentor
Kealakehe High School Robotics - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
__________________________________________________ _____________________________
2016 Hopper Division | Orlando Regional Engineering Inspiration Award | Hawaii Regional Chairman's Award & Finalist & Woodie Flowers Finalist
2015 Carson Division | Silicon Valley Regional Engineering Inspiration Award | HI Regional Regional Winners & Engineering Inspiration & Deans List Finalist
2014 Newton Division | Hawaii Regional Engineering Inspiration Award & Deans List Finalist
2013 Newton Division | Inland Empire Regional Regional Chairman's & Creativity Award | Los Angles Regional Engineering Inspiration Award | | HI Regional
2012 Curie Division | Hawaii Regional Engineering Inspiration Award
2011 Newton Division | Hawaii Regional Regional Winners & Industrial Design Award
.
__________________________________________________ _____________________________
Reply With Quote