[Dan Richardson]

With all this debate fuming about who has the strongest region why don't we approach FIRST in breaking up the divisions at nationals wrather than the traditional 1,2,3,4 method, but by Region.

Break up the Country into 4 Divisions, North East, South, MidWest, and West and assign them each a division at nationals. Teams would compete amongst themselves and then the finals would be the finalists from each region.

This would bring a tremendous amount more pride to regions ( As if there isn't enough already ) It would encourage every team to build up their region as much as possible and would IMO increase outreach 10 fold. Teams would concentrate on strengthening not only their own team, but the teams around them. You would have teams more closely working with rookies and underprivledged teams in order to try to build a better and winning region. And other teams that have usually just taken the stance of trying to compete and win and not outreach, would be forced to outreach inorder to win. It would also settle the dispute every year " What region is the best? "

I think it would also make nationals more exciting, teams might have more relation to teams in the finals. Wrather than it being all from one area ( ie this year midwest ) Everyone would be able to feel more of an alliance, or a nearly a regionalism to one alliance. All the teams would have someone to cheer for, if its not them, someone from their division.

It would deff. bring a new dimension to nationals, and in my oppinion make the competition even more exciting. ( if thats possible )