[EricLeifermann]

I keep reading and hearing volunteers are the issue, we don't have enough volunteers, we don't have enough volunteers with experience in the key postilions, volunteers volunteers volunteers.

Going to districts is going to be a growing pain no matter how large a region is. I have said this many times of late but Michigan required each team at each of their events to provide at least 2 volunteers for the 1st 2+ years. There goes your argument that we don't have enough volunteers. (40 teams * 2 is 80 people)....

Now the argument of not having enough people trained in key positions, that might be but none of the volunteers positions are so terribly difficult* (except probably FTA) that they can't be trained fairly fast (1 year, 2 max if not going to enough events)

Ask Gary Voshol how many of the district events he Head Reffed back in 2009 and 2010? It was pretty much all of them, and that is what will probably be needed to start. 1 or 2 people who are trained in each position being shadowed/shadowing** the people at each district making sure they are getting trained. In fact if a region had a date set for working towards districts say 2018 for example Minnesota had 4 regionals worth of time to train people this year and those same 4 (maybe more from rumors) next year. That's more than enough time to get the people you need trained trained.

* I am not trying to belittle the amazing efforts all volunteers, especially key volunteer positions give to do what they do. But Head Ref needs to have the rules memorized students and mentors do this every year, LRI needs to know the robot rules front and back, again students and mentors do this every year. Yes I know there is more to it that just knowing the rules, but you'd be surprised how much just knowing the rules and enforcing them properly affects a regional for the positive.

** With the shear number of repeat robot inspectors and repeat refs that I see year after year at the same events, if they are not being trained to take those key volunteer positions should the need arise that is a fault of those in those lead positions. The 7 P's people the 7 P's.