[keenanmolner]

Thanks! Our team is looking forward to the Oregon Regional and I can't wait to connect with your team there! Yesterday, we budgeted out the year and we have very little to spend. That estimate contained some fundraisers that we would do but there is little room for change. We estimated the robot to cost no more than it did last year (which means that we have to get a lot of the materials donated) and we would have the students pay a little more for travel. If it works correctly, we should have enough money to go but I don't want to say that quite yet.

With the economy the way it is, I also don't see us getting very much money out of our sponsors. Bend Research, our main sponsor, would probably give us another 1000 and the school board might pay for the students airfare. That is about it for the money so you can see how it important for us to know if the registration fee for the Championship Event is refundable. If it fills up (can it?), could we drop out and get our money back or did we just throw away $5000? That is a scary thought for us and we really need to know before we commit to the event.

I would really like to go but if it doesn't work out, then we will still have a great time at the Oregon Regional and be ready for next year! Hope to see you soon!