[Shu Song]

Your first concern is shared by a lot of teams(ours included), especially those in not so heavily industrialized areas filled with auto companies and the like. Our team, due to lack of funding was only able to attend one regional last year, and for the same reason only planned to go to one this year. We are, however going to another regional and nationals because we got more community suuport after winning FLR. There is no simple solution to lack of funding, the best way to do it is to approach local companies one by one. One business probably won't be able to give you the 6k to go to one regional, but two or three put together probably will.

As for your second concern. Our team makes it very clear to anyone who wants to join, at the very first meeting, that when it comes time to work, you work. Those who can't do that usually leave within the first week or so. We ask each and every new member what they are interested in and put them into a build group where they will be of most help as well as learn from the verteran members. There are times when people get a little off track, but just a little reminder of what they are to be doing is all it should take to get them back to it.