[Chief Hedgehog]

I am not certain how FIRST as a world-wide organization can do better. It is the premier Robotics organization for high school/prep students. The formula is working wonders. There are concerns moving forward with a dual champs in the near future - but I believe that FIRST has a greater plan in the works (dual champs evolving into super-regionals with districts and regionals feeding into these super-regionals) with a return of a singular championship in the coming years.

My concern is within Minnesota. Not the Regional vs. Districts model (lets not go there...), but how outstate Minnesota is relatively untapped in terms of FTC. Many of the schools that 4607 reaches out to comes back with 'we already offer robotics'. It should not be surprising - for those that know Minnesota recognize that BEST and VRC have already made great inroads into Central and Western Minnesota.

This does not mean that I have any issues with BEST or VRC (I am in the process of creating two courses that revolve around VRC/VexEDR), but if FRC and MNFIRST want to continue their growth in the state, we need to make certain that the administrations of outstate schools understand the difference between BEST, VRC, and FIRST. However, most of the administrators see that they have robotics programs and just rubber-stamp 'STEM initiative' on them.

We also need at least one more regional that can stand on its own legs - not propped up by the MPLS regionals.

The addition of the MSHSL State Tournament has definitely opened many doors to our local schools - and more are becoming aware of the advantages of FIRST and FRC. However, FIRST lacks in curriculum - and VEX EDR has a strong presence in this area. In fact, the local Tech College based in St Cloud hosts the MN State VEX Robotics Championships, and many in my own community and school mistake this for my own team's work and affiliation with FRC.

My concern is the follow through from High Tech Kids in Minnesota. We have a strong FLL following, but it seems that without great communication and common goals between HTK and MNFIRST, we are struggling to tie up loose ends. Even last summer, when we were trying to secure a space for a fall training event, the people at St Cloud State University were trying to include VEX teams - and even expressed the want to include VEX in the MSHSL State Tournament. Most of the common public see robot program = robot program and do not distinguish between FIRST, VEX, and BEST.

This is what I hope to change in Central and Western MN in the coming years - a true understanding and appreciation for VRC and FRC and the differences they hold.

I will state this - and I know that many in our CD community are strong proponents/supporters of VEX and VRC - but when I try to talk about FIRST in local circles, VRC folks do try to discredit FRC with the cost issues, organization in Minnesota, and 'VEX has a State Tournament', etc. It is within these circles, with potential sponsors listening in, it makes it difficult to state that FRC has the backing of the MSHSL and is the only Robotics program with this authority behind it without coming across as arrogant or off-putting. I do not want to create a dust up (in the presence of these sponsors) as we should be working towards the same goals. Instead of stripping sponsors from the other organization, we should be working to create opportunities for both. It can be very disheartening at times - especially knowing that these sponsors already work with teams that we value so much.