Here's another twist to the discussion...
What are YOU willing to pay to stay involved in FIRST Robotics? What if the $2000 came out of the pockets of the team members and not from corporate sponsors? If you've got 40 members (students AND mentors) that would amount to $50 per person. How many of you would be willing to forego a movie or dinner out every once a month to save the $50 per YEAR to stay involved in FIRST. In the tradition of Jessica Boucher, that's $4.17 per month, or $.96 per week or $.14 per day. $.14 PER DAY!! I toss at least that much change into my change jar every day!
With 3 kids, 1 wife, two cars, a mortgage, miscellaneous other bills too numerous to mention and a single income, I would still find a way to save the $50 so my students could still participate in FIRST. I believe so strongly in what FIRST has to offer my students that I am willing to dig into my OWN very shallow pockets to help pay the way.
Am I suggesting that every team should personally absorb this additional cost? Of course not. But when push comes to shove, you've got to do what you've got to do. Sometimes corporate sponsorship and fundraising help to ease costs. But if it's crunch time and you don't have the funds are any of you seriously going to drop involvement in FIRST for $.14 a day?
Not me.
Just my .14 cents!
Sean