[Tonya Scott 476]

I have been sending letters from various Oklahoma Teams to FIRST regarding details to missing worktime at the beginning of build season.

I would hope that they would express sympathy to teams that invest so much time and $$$$ to participate in this program. I also feel that the "real" world does evolve around weather---just try to order robot parts during snow storms---it will not be delivered on time. That is very real.

Here is the reply I rec'd from FIRST after sending numerous letters from schools that missed a lot of time building robots.

Hi Tonya:

I have discussed your request for a robot ship extension with Bill
Miller, Director of Robotics.

First let me state Bill is sympathetic to your team's (and the other
teams whose letters you forwarded) situation. He understands your
concern, and appreciates the extra lengths your team and the others
must now go through to complete robot build. Bill does feel,
however, that this winter-storm situation is a "real life" example of
a challenge under which one must regroup and carry on, and hopes this
will provide a valuable learning experience for the team(s).

We have seen great accomplishments from our teams time and time again
under the most trying of circumstances - be it mid-stream change of
leadership, mentors dropping out, loss of funds etc...and,
historically, time lost due to winter storms during the build
period. We recognize the severe weather has created a set-back for
your team and the others, but do not feel it has created
insurmountable conditions (conditions such as those created when
Hurricane Katrina struck with homes, jobs and sadly lives lost.)

We know this isn't the answer for which you were hoping, and we are
sorry. We do have confidence your team will rise to the challenge
and successfully complete the six-week build period. We will also
contact each of the teams for whom you have forwarded a letter to
inform them of our decision.

Please feel free to contact us if you have additional concerns. We
wish your team the best of luck this season.

FRC team.