[Mike Martus]

This subject has been debated over and over for years. Please search out some of the posts regarding this.

Summary in my words and my opinions:
There are many types of FIRST teams with their own unique way of organization, building, engineering, fund-raising and yes participation levels of students and engineers.

The true focus must remain the I in FIRST - Inspiration. How a team desires to inspire can run the full range from 100% student designed robots to the robots that have significant professional engineering. In both cases the Inspiration can be either weak or strong. It is how the team leadership decides to make their team run.

Dean has said many times that Engineers and Teachers Inspiring youth to get involved in careers involving Science Engineering and math is the real mission. How it is done is up to the team. There are no magic formulas for we are all from different schools, different socio economic situations and have different levels of engineering/corp support.

Is this unfair - YES. Would it not be great if we were all from wealthy communities and had corporate partners that could support teams without budget restrictions and all had students that were all college bound with scores of 35 on the ACT. And all students getting a free ride to a college of their choice.

That (above) is not true and yet can be unfair.

Is it unfair for a student not to know where their next meal is coming from - YES
Is it unfair for a student to have a terminal illness - YES
Is it unfair for a team to make their robot from used metal - YES
Is it unfair for a team not to have an engineer on their team - YES

Look, life is not fair. FIRST competitions are not fair. This is life. We make the best path we can and do everything possible to stay on it.

Instead of focusing on what other teams have look at the INSPIRATION. Were you inspired by the experience. If so, FIRST has accomplished its mission as well as your team mentor. If you are NOT inspired take a close look at why. Please do not use the lack of resources as the excuse....I am sure there are others.

Sorry for the long answer but I hold the INSPIRATION in FIRST as the most important mission. As a team leader if I do not INSPIRE I have failed, and I do not like to fail.

Mike Martus Team #47
I have been with FIRST for 10 years and see the inspiration.