Quote:
Originally Posted by gblake
Well then - Don't affiliate with a school!
Teams need one or more students and one or more adult mentors. School affiliation is not required. Just ask MOE or all the other teams that are not a part of a single school or school system.
I feel that far too many of the posts in this thread assume that affiliation with a school, and that school's faculty and facilities, is the one and only way an FRC team starts or survives. Well, an affiliation of that sort simply is not necessary (It usually helps, but it certainly isn't necessary; and lack of one should not be a show-stopper).
If a lack of school support, faculty support, or school facilities has been stopping you or your team from moving forward - I suggest taking a step back and re-assessing your situation - Maybe that particular type of support isn't really necessary after all, and the path forward is more clear than you realized....
Blake
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Affiliation with a school is certainly not required. I have great respect for teams who are able to function well without one; my only experience has been with Jupiter High School's MARS team. Although MARS Team 1523 recently considered leaving its school-based roots (to become a 4H group or to incorporate as a 501c3, etc.), many factors made the team work hard to remain affiliated with a high school.
Reasons included:
- Difficulty finding a business sponsor willing to provide work space & particularly tool/machine access due to insurance/liability issues.
- Some sponsors reporting that their financial support was contingent on affiliation with a school group.
- The perceived effort & knowledge deemed necessary to become a 501c3 (we use the school's tax ID #).
- The team's rapid growth due to inclusion in the school's yearly new student orientation, yearbook exposure, classroom announcements, School Advisory Council agenda, etc.
Sure there are many barriers working within the bureaucracy of a school, but there are also some great resources when the partnership works. My opinion is that parental involvement & support are hugely valuable when promoting FIRST with School Boards, principals, & teachers.