[archiver]

Posted by Samuel Lindhorst.

Engineer on team #240, Mach Vee, from Jefferson High School and Visteon.

Posted on 10/19/2000 6:32 PM MST


In Reply to: Disney is a mixed bag posted by Joe Johnson on 10/18/2000 6:36 PM MST:



: Nate & Bill,

: You both make a lot of good points. I am really torn about this one.

: I know that Disney is a big draw for a lot of kids that otherwise wouldn't have anything to do with a robotic competition.

I really believe this is the main reason FIRST stays there.

: But at the same time, Disney is a net negative for the participants who are serious about competing or for even a fan intent on watching the event.

Amen to that.

: As to where to host the event if not at Disney, I have stated often on this forum that I believe that there are easily 10 and perhaps as many as 50 cities in the USA with the facilities to host the FIRST Nationals without hardly breaking a sweat. Transportation, hotels, compition venue, etc. Believe me, all these issues are difficult but nowhere near impossible to solve.

Exactly true. Orlando's only plus is cheap airfare from everywhere. But then again, that's a plus for Chicago, too.

: To my way of thinking, the only issue is whether FIRST WANTS to stay in a parking lot at Disney not that it HAS to stay there.

Wants to, I'm sure.

: This is for Dean, Woodie, David Brown & the FIRST Board to decide.

: Joe J.

They can't have any input on this decision? Organizations like that eventually fail, and none of us wants that. There are alternatives, and they need to revisit what they are doing occasionally, as we all do. To have a vibrant, dynamic program, no change should be excluded, and nothing should be taken for granted.

As for Disney, I am a member of the loyal opposition. I'm repeating myself here, but the Orange County Convention Center is a mile or two from Disney's entrance, is a huge building that could hold the whole competion. As a plus, proximity to Disney (and OTHER fun places like KSC) is still there.

Sam