Quote:
Originally Posted by PayneTrain
Money is an odd complaint. There are startup costs, sure (like buying your own field perimeter, I think FIRST sells the electronics to you directly??? I need to read up) but regionals aren't what one would call a low cost solution.
|
The bigger issue right now is not only the actual money, but the fiduciary responsibility. Currently, even though RPCs are responsible for paying their own bills, all the cash runs through FIRST's bank accounts, and FIRST takes all of the legal responsibility. FIRST is a large and established organization financially that if something was to go south at a regional, they have the ability to sustain hits.
When you move to districts, its the local legal entity, spearheaded and ran by the local leadership, that is entirely responsible for the entire operation of FRC in your area. This includes not only raising the money, but having your own bank accounts, being legally responsible for the events instead of HQ, and all the issues arising from that responsibility (insurance, legal protection and fees, etc.) It's a lot of extra overhead and responsibility for local volunteers to take up.
It is understandable that local leaders are scared to take on that responsibility. In New England, we're lucky we have a great board who did what they had to to make the creation of ingenuityNE happen. Other regions already in districts have had the same luck. Not every region is in those positions though.