[ahartnet]

We are also similar to above. I ask for students to pay for t-shirts, travel and food. This comes out to:

-$10 for our thursday shirt (used every year)
-~$10 for our friday shirt (changes every year)
-~$35 for our Sat shirt (a polo, used every year)

-travel changes, but basically 1/4 of a hotel room * 3 nights + some money towards bus + food. Usually in the neighborhood of $200-250 for away regionals, and $50 for our home regional. I am hoping this year that we can do a car wash fundraiser that will go "in the bank" towards future travel funds for team members.

It's an unspoken rule, but if a team member can't pay, I usually have them do something like a 150 word "essay" about something and then the team covers them. It might be why FIRST is important to them or it may be tailored to them specifically that I'd like to see improve, something like how to stay positive, how to communicate effectively, how to manage time, or whatever.