[JaneYoung]

I've worked with different FIRST staff members over the past couple of years and they care. Very much.

Bashing FIRST or making demands for FIRST staff to respond in the CD fora is not a great way to expect a response.

There are fora set up in the FIRST website. That might be a place for consideration when addressing FIRST concerns/questions in general.

Or create a different thread to address FIRST concerns, separate from this Michigan initiative, for discussion among the CD members. It doesn't make any sense to me for Michigan to be drug through needless mud or fire when folks can air or vent their general views regarding FIRST somewhere else without causing harm or hurt feelings with the folks of Michigan.

As to this thread, Michigan has created a process and a plan. They apparently have a strong basis/foundation of support in order to implement this plan. It is not perfected but it has a solid beginning or these community leaders would not be moving forth with it.

Maybe/perhaps other regional areas/states/countries are ready today, August 14, 2008, to implement a similar plan. My bet would be it takes some time to make something like this happen, getting organized and ready to move forward.