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Originally Posted by Christopher149
So it's doable, though we're near the extreme edge of travel distance in Michigan.
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I do not doubt that it's doable and I applaud your team for being able to fundraise that well
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What we are really saying (or at least what I am saying) is that the discussion should happen in such a way that teams have time to start working on how to shift to the district system in regards to their own funding/travel issues and restrictions. The reason being is that we all keep talking about 'rumors' and 'I have heard from someone who'.
If Texas is planning the shift for the 2017 season (only put that year out there because several have said it needs to happen no later than that) I need to start planning now for changes in my funding structure, how we spend money, and team structure (to accommodate travel).
Michael:
I am not sure of your team structure in terms of school affiliation. My team is directly tied to my high school which for us changes the rules a little (remember each school district sets their own rules regarding certain things).
For instance, in order for the absence for competition to be excused we have to register it as student travel. Because we are a team recognized by our school this means we have to take yellow dogs or charter buses (charters we would have to pay for out of our budget) students are not allowed travel in personal vehicles. The yellow dog costs us $3.00/mile and the driver is $9.00/hr. The driver must be paid 24/7 for the time they are with us because that is considered 'on call' time in case of emergency. This is district policy and non-negotiable.
This is the first year we are not paying student meals and even that is being called into question by my district because we are required to pay for the bus driver's meals. As far as covering mentor's hotels we always saw it as our way of saying thank you to the people who dedicate significant amounts of time away from their families to help us succeed.
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The reason for this approach is that paying for the travel costs of attending FRC competitions produces students and mentors who are truly interested and vested in the team.
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And while I know you did not intend the comment the way I initially read it (I in fact had to reread it twice to appropriately understand what you were trying to convey) please know that my students and mentors are equally invested in what we do. If we required students to pay for their own travel, meals, etc. I would lose probably 2/3 my team due to financial issues and those are the very students we are trying hardest to reach.