[John Gutmann]

OK here are my thoughts,

1 Start a VEX team, I know, I know, don't say it. I know it isn't as fun, etc, especially since you can't ride a VEX robot (Lets just Hope JVN doesn't prove me wrong on this one)

2 Yes you can certainly build a robot in that time frame. You could ship you robot the day of build if you wanted to. They have ktibots for a reason.

3 For power tools, the least you need is a drill and hacksaw. For other tools, just get a screwdriver, socket, and allen wrench kit.

4 For a teacher, try a science teacher, and sit him down and say look all i need is your signature, well you know what I mean, he needs to be the school person involved you really have all the brains about how everything is run etc.

5 For money do can drives, etc other small things. You should beable to pull up enough money. WIth a good can drive or just going from nieghborhood to neighborhood you should be able to get a couple thousand dollars. From just half my neighborhood me and my friend got like 130$ for our team.

Anything else just shoot me a PM and I can try to find people to give you more ideas to help

-John