[nick reynolds]

Its been a long year and I have been very busy, hense the reason I have not been posting.
I have just taken a look at the "NEW" rules and frankly I have come these conclutions.
1. Dean is now steping back from his announcements that he makes each year at the Nationals on how we have grown from the prior year.
This year he can announce how the Nationals have decreased by 35%.
2. Mentoring will end as there is now a distinct disadvantage of introducing other teams and Schools to FIRST.
3. The "G-P" has gone out the window and its now a Dog eat Dog competition, why would any member of another team want to help themselves be beaten in a regional. infact can we now expect to see a little sabotage in the pits?
4. I have said this before that the competition is "bent" towards the wealthy teams and that a team thats struggling with money and experience is now going to suffer even more. Teams like #38 could not afford the Disney package so they stayed out side to save funds and we all know how well this amazing team did. but because they tried to save funds and get as many of the team there as possible they will be penalized this year so "Disney" can squeeze every stinking cent they can. Like they dont make a HUGE profit from us all ready.
5. If FIRST has grown beyond the capacity of Disney then rather than change the format and make teams suffer maybe we should look at a new venue. If this became an option you can bet your speed controlers that Disney would have a change of heart.
6. If cost has become an issue then why not increase the entry fee's, our budget last year was $54.000 whats an extra $500.