58: Thanks again for bringing us into your alliance -- great job seeding #1 !! Awesome autonomous mode!
As far as Houston goes.... this is the fourth time that Buzz has won a regional with a team that could not afford to get to Nationals... and in all other cases, the team ended up there...... so here's some advice:
1) Do not touch/fix/repair/drive your robot -- all the other teams will trust your Gracious Professionalism to ship your robot in the exact state it was in when you left Manchester, if you get to go.
2) Houston is four weeks away... that is a long time -- a well organized fund-raising campaign can get you there -- you just need to start right now. You may not be able to get the whole team there, but the robot, drive team and human player is all that you need to win a National Championship! FIRST will be accomodating to any Regional Champion needing to get there... even if it is down to the wire.
3) Lastly -- Call FIRST Tuesday (before they head out to the next regionals) -- they may have some sponsors with cash who are looking to get involved and would send a Regional Champion to the Championship -- it has happened before!
Keep in touch and let us know how it's going -- if you need any details on fundraising ideas, don't hesitate to give a shout!
Houston won't be the same without ya!
