[Joe Menassa]

Well, I have to say that I agree with you about the economy and the problems that will be faced causing FIRST to steady out for a while but here is what I have always imagined.

The way I see it is there have been many many graduates of FIRST who have gone onto college and have been studying engineering. I myself am one of them and I know of many others. These alumni are the ones that will make FIRST grow extremly rapidly in the coming years. What I see is these addicted students that went to college 1 or 2 years ago and even the ones that went 4 years ago, graduating and going to work right away. Most of these kids will go work for big and small engineering companies. These kids will make sure to promote FIRST at their places of work and I can certainly see the companies listening and responding. And all the companies that will be started by FIRST alumni in a few years... good God.. I see no reason why they wouldnt help out.

I know that wherever I work or whatever company I work for I will absolutly make sure that they sponser at least one team.. if not.. then thats not the job I'm looking for.

And to think, FIRST sent so many kids off to college over the years that I am just waiting for all those guys to start raking in the doh so FIRST can reap the benifits.