[BandChick]

I guess technically 1089 is still a "club." By all means, we are seen as a TEAM rather than just a club. We do more work, require more dedication and get more funding.

Our student council gives out a $5000 grant every year, and the robotics team has been sucking it up every year. Our school board is very impressed with us and is doing everything they can to help us. We have 1 coach "on salary," but then, there are other club advisors that also get paid (I can't think of any off the top of my head, though).

We might not have a class offered at our school, and we might not get varsity letters, but we get recognized a lot.

We still get excused for trips and have our own "metal shop," we do school board presentations, curriculum expos and we're right up there with everyone else on "club night" (where all sports AND clubs set up tables to recruit 8th graders).

I know 1089 would LOVE to be considered a real club and get the same appreciation our sports get, but we're getting there. As part of our community/school outreach our team did an ad campaign, and, as one of my friends so subtlely put it, "Tetra is taking over my life!"

She has no idea...