[Qbot2640]

Sorry for my longest CD post to date:

What inspires our team?
This certainly has many different answers even on the same team. In 2012 we went to Championship after captaining the winning alliance in Palmetto...first time...still only time. It was incredibly inspiring for our team:
(1) On Newton, we were in awe of 1717's machine, and found it incredibly inspiring to be in matches with them...even more so when our drive-team had strategy discussions with them and interacted as "colleagues".
(2) Our robot was particularly good at climbing the bridges, so we gained inspiration by being able to make a positive contribution to our alliances and finishing in 14th place on Newton. We "double-balanced" with some great teams!
(3) We let a team from Israel borrow a flash drive for their Chairman's video...we kept that file on the flash drive to this day. Inspired by the opportunity to help someone from so far away and so different, but yet the same.
(4) Many of our students were inspired by the sheer enormity, the different programs (we had no FLL or FTC teams in our system and had never seen those programs live) and by all the vendors displays.
(5) I personally was inspired by visiting the other divisions and seeing some of those teams I had watched videos of...Team 1986 comes immediately to mind - loved their robot!

In 2012 we did not stay for the Einstein matches...that is not what it was about for us, and we had a 14 hour drive home. We would stay now - we're a different team today, helped by the experience in 2012. I suppose I would feel differently if I was affiliated with 1114, 254, 148, or another super-team...but I am not at all worked up by the two champions...just by the two championship events.

Today - we have several team members who have watched the elite teams all year. We've helped get some other teams started, and have our first FLL team that we mentor. We host an off-season, and have a bunch of good friends on other teams that we correspond with and share experiences with.

WHEN we go back to championship, I hate that my team is not going to get to see all of those elite teams that they have been following all season. That they are only going to have half as much of a chance to be in those strategy discussions with their favorite elite team. That the team from far away that may need to borrow a flash drive might be at the other championship. As long as it's plural, it feels like something has been taken away that can't be given back.

I understand we all weigh priorities and objectives differently. For me, based on my experiences as a one-time championship attendee, and hopeful to return soon, I personally consider having everyone together in one place at one time much more important than making the experience more accessible....even with the understanding that my team would be eligible to return under the new arrangement. I like the feeling that it is hard to qualify - and that when we did...and do again, it represents a significant achievement.