[Steve W]

A quick note on funds. Ifyou spend any time with FIRST personel, you will see that they are overworked. They spend more hours than they are paid for and work on a tight budget. A price increase after 4 years, I believe, is not out of line.

As for having to explain to you the customer a break down of costs, why do they have to? When you go to the store to purchase a coat, do you ask for a breakdown of costs to find out if you are paying too much? Nope didn't think so. FIRST is producing a quality product. You are not forced to purchase or use it. Therewas an organization up in Canada that did basically the same as FIRST but charged more, gave less and seemed to be profit driven. The product that was produced did not even come close to what FIRST offors. They are no longer in business. We must stop looking at what the cost is, look at the quality of product and figure out a way to purchase. It may mean that we have to work that much harder to get the money but we will be better for it. No one ever said that it was a right to be part of FIRST. It is a privilege. It may mean that some teams have to join with others to afford the cost.

FIRST will continue to grow because of the leadership, quality and mission. I for one am glad to be part of it. I just wish that I had started sooner.