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Originally Posted by ChrisCook
Disclaimer: I love first if I didn't have to go off to college and leave this all behind. I would do this for another 50 years. I love the opportunity that FIRST has given me, and I hope I can return next year as an Alumni.
Prompt: I feel that FIRST has lost its objectivity. There is no room for the smaller and almost more devoted teams. These teams make up the 75% that don't go to Nationals or has mass funding or really devoted mentors. This thread was written in response to the " when do mentors go too far" and the "Worst call ever..." Teams that can afford more regionals, manpower and special interests, seem to always 'stamp-out' the other teams. Plus FIRST is not about the people, its about the robot and how well it does in competition, because no ones asks your team for advice, if your the last seed on a list; they ask the team first seed.
People can give me all the heat they want because I am merely stating the obvious. Teams with the most funding, mentors, and special interests do well and that’s how the program robotics programs continue. But for team like mine, the program is now nothing because we are losing our Head mechanic, head software and hardware, and team president.
Remember don't hold anything back. I want to know your real opinion.
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Chris,
I can sympathize and empathize with your feelings and the situation your team is in. It is where I found myself just after the 2001 season back on The Sea Dawgs (Team 258). My team’s teacher advisor moved to Washington State, and roughly 1/3 of our team graduated as seniors, including myself. I was lucky enough to be able to come back and lead the team 2002-2004 as a college student, and keep the team alive and for the most part competitive on just the money I put into the team from my personal savings, but I have seen many more teams fall. You’d be mistaken if you claimed that 258’s eventual demise was as a result of the big teams squashing the little teams. 258 fell because of an apathetic administration and their disdain for programs other than football or performing arts.
Homestead doesn’t have to be one of those schools whose team drops out in situations like this. Ask for assistance on their behalf, or tell them to ask for themselves. There are many other teams in the area who would be more than happy to accept Homestead students onto their team indefinitely, or until there’s enough support at Homestead to sustain a team. If it’s mechanical, electrical, or programming guidance that the team needs, and not recruitment of students then your problem is even easier to solve. There are many former and current mentors on teams all over the country (many in the San Jose Bay Area like myself) who are more than willing to aid any team who asks for their help. Last year alone I mainly mentored 254, but I helped more than 10 teams in California, and gave advice to a few from out of state and even outside of the country.
You aren’t alone, Chris. We’re here to help. Please let me know via CD, PM, IM, Email if I can help you out in any way. Good luck.
-Bill