Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack Jones
Consider that Michigan events have never been propped up; we have always turned a profit; we have never relied on NASA grants to pay out of state teams to come here and fill our events; we’ve never had NASA grants go toward enabling our rookies to play here. But you’ve probably never heard us complain about our entry fees subsidizing new regionals in places where there weren’t enough teams to fill their events, and/or were way beyond practical places for most teams to go. We’ve been willing to sacrifice until now.
Of those 105 teams, 35 attended only one event. As you may have read here, their season ended just about the time they got up to speed. That is no longer acceptable!
Our rich and powerful will still dominate. What really matters for many of us is that dozens of our teams will finally be getting an ample return on the investment they put into the program. We wish the same for the entire community, and expect that our pilot will show them a way to make that happen.
But it will not happen for you, unless you make it happen, which won’t be by trying to rain on our parade. Ask not what FIRST in Michigan is getting that you are not; ask instead what you can do to earn the same for yourselves.
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Jack, I've never posted here before, but you really pushed a button, so here goes.
Are you kidding? I didn't have a strong opinion on this either way, but now I do, it's unfair and wrong. Let me get this straight, according to you:
You have a problem with areas helped sponsorship and team grants from NASA, but not areas getting help from GM, Delphi and Board Members? Regions with help from NASA, BAE, Raytheon and others have it made, they don't deserve discounts or support? But somehow your state with years of support from big sponsors has it tougher and deserves special attention?
According to you Michigan teams deserve to finally get ample return for the high prices they pay in FIRST, but before the rest of the the teams around the country get a better return? Michigan teams already have the cream of the crop and dominate in FIRST, as you say, but at the same time you say Michigan teams need a better return on their $ than all other teams?
You say don't rain on your parade? What gives you and Michigan teams the right to have a parade that the rest of the community paying MORE to participate doesn't get to have? Seems it's all the teams OUTSIDE of Michigan that deserve a better return on their investment. You think 1/3 of your teams only getting to play once is unacceptable? How do you think that's any different for hundreds of teams around the country in other states? Why is it unacceptable for your teams but not everyone else?
My daughter does FLL here in St.Louis and my nephew is on an FRC team. The reason I think so highly of FIRST is because of our local volunteers and supporters, and all they do. They show us all that it's truly a community. But you say we shouldn't worry about one state getting a better deal than everyone else, that we should just do what you do, splinter off and only worry about our own? I hope most states don't feel the message of FIRST is to worry about themselves first and the good of community later. I hope most states want to find a solution for everyone at the same time instead of a "better return", "more plays" and an advantage for one state first.
I think FIRST is better than that, and I think this pilot is exactly what you have exposed it to be: a quest for one group to get a better return on their investment than all other areas, because according to you it's about time and you deserve it - as you clearly state. If this is to help teams who need a better return, then do this pilot in Alaska or Montana or somewhere that didn't have 3 events already.
I find your post to be hypocritical, arrogant and ignorant about what all teams around the country are facing (yours are no different and don't have it any tougher). Sorry to disagree with you so much, but I don't think you have a healthy respect for what all teams and regions in the country experience, all the hard work they dedicate and the better return on investment that they ALL deserve. Special treatment, huge discounts or experiments like this should be for all teams or no teams, other wise they shouldn't be on the same playing field.