I think what we are hearing about in these conversations is common in 'district holes' throughout the world - regions where they said there would be districts right now. The following applies to areas like Minnesota, Ohio/Western PA/WV, Texas, and Northern California and Southern California.
I think what it comes down to is the area leadership. The leadership hears frequently from HQ and other districts about the requirements to move to a region to a district, but what we don't hear about publicly are the road maps and decisive plans to get there. Yes acquiring the memorandum of understanding is a big landmark, but what about the rest of the steps. Moving a region is a massive undertaking, but there is a model to it now. Early districts lead the way and now I think there are clear operating steps to getting other locations online.
I've been to MN events, NJ districts and MI districts as well as various others throughout the US. The enthusiasm is there, I just believe that some people that sit at the district table for a region raise concerns louder than other people (squeaky wheels gets the grease).
More robots are happening. I think not everyone is asking
how they can help make that possible, rather than
if it is possible.
To all those voices that are asking these questions about how they can help transition their area? HOST AN OFF SEASON. Its a critical step to introducing the local flavor of events. If you build it they will come.
You will gain a seat at the tables that have the authority to move a region to districts.
You will better understand the situation and challenges.
You will make it happen. Get in touch with AndyMark, the venue, everything around you. It will fall into place, you get to control the destiny, if you act quickly I bet you can pull an event off before schools out for the summer. What is stopping you?
In 2005, a couple of high school students joked around and said we should host an off season event at our school. Then we thought we should make it real. 12 months later the first Monty Madness appeared. After years of putting off taking the plunge to hosting an actual district event, the first official event is week 6. Looking back, it was a pivotal local event in spreading the district model, its where volunteers got trained, teams gained experienced, district meetings were had and robots happened.
Facilitate it.