I was surprised when I received the email blast regarding the price increases. Not so much that they raised the entry fee but because there was no hint that this was in the works. Usually there are rumblings throughout the FIRST commnity that give us an idea that something is coming. I certainly didn't see it coming but was not surprised with what I read.
I, too, feel for the teams that are hanging on by a financial thread. It makes me cringe when I hear/read that teams have folded for lack of funding. Why aren't more companies stepping up and supporting our teams? Especially in a country where 7 years and $750 million dollars (yes, three-quarters of a billion dollars!) was spent on R & D for a men's shaving razor! Priorities?!
Our team will adjust our strategies to stetch our dollars and find new ways to raise funds. Fortunately we have a sponsor (Plexus Corporation) and a school district (Appleton Area School District) that are both EXTREMELY supportive of what we are doing and they see the "big picture" value that it has. $2,000 will make us rethink how we spend our money but that isn't such a bad exercise every once in a while.
I look forward to discussion on CD regarding which fundraising ideas/methods work the best. The silver lining is that this is just another obstacle to overcome, another opportunity to seek new sponsors while at the same time spreading the message of FIRST. Sort of like having to develop a strategy, design a robot, build a robot, test a robot, and ship a robot...all in 6 short weeks!
Our two options: throw our hands in the air and say "Ugh. It's not worth the cost!" or develop more real-life skills in finding the extra $2,000 to support a team. Choose, but choose wisely!
Sean