[Pierson]

It sounds like some of you have some animosity towards the increase in the entry fee. This would be understandable if it were a month prior to the payment due date and it would be very understandable if it were less than a month to the due date. However as Cory and Jessica and many others have said, we have over 5 months, which is plenty of time.

While I am now an alum, there are so many businesses that my team has not tapped and this is because we haven't had the financial need nor the student participation required to bring more sponsors on board. I would bet that there are many teams who are in this position.

Would it be great if FIRST could raise enough money to support a staff of 200 people, support 50 regionals, a major Championship event, along with 2,000 teams all without an entry fee? Yes. But is that possible? No. So let’s take this in stride work a little bit harder to raise more money and I will bet that everything will be better in the long run!