[KathieK]

Networking. It's a huge thing. If you can expand your team to include more adult mentors, they in turn can reach out to more companies. Many companies still make matching donations. Adults know other adults who own businesses. It can spread from there.

You might want to meet year-round and focus on fundraising in the off-season. We do car washes in the summer months and other fundraisers when other school clubs and teams are not fundraising. Contact your local civic groups, elementary school PTOs and Cub scout/boy scout/browine/girl scout troops to schedule demonstrations of the robots for the early fall months (they are booking these NOW). We usually ask for donations for our demonstrations.

As for immediate fundraising that's harder. Is anyone on your team considering pursuing a career in fire science? See if your local firefighters can help you out by doing a "fill the boot" campaign one evening or Saturday. Get the word out into the community via an article in the Newspaper or on TV. Contact your Chamber of Commerce. Don't forget your local cable channel -we're always amazed at how many people watch that. Stand in front of the local grocery store, with a robot that is MOVING. A robot standing still doesn't look like anything to anyone outside of FIRST. Remember, most people think of R2D2 when they think "robot". Look in the paper to see what is happening in town this weekend. Contact the organizers, explain your situation, and see if you can piggyback onto their event.