If they're not into the message of FIRST, then maybe FIRST isn't the right competition for them. There ARE other options.

Keep in mind that I'm in no way saying that your team should leave, nor advising any course of action at all. Instead, I suggest you spend some time looking outside of just FIRST. GP is wonderful, it's a great idea that FIRST seems to carry uniquely. However, GP isn't everywhere in the world. There's a big wide world out there, and it might be time to listen to that nagging voice in the back of your head that says "What the crap am I doing?!" (am I the only one that gets this every now and then? and for things totally unrelated to first, too!)

Back to the chainsaws on the robot thing: if combat robotics is really their thing, don't dissuade them. Lay down what FIRST is, what it's about, and let them decide.

But if you're not in a position of authority, I suggest you let them design a sponsorship request, then you do one WITH GP included. It might serve as a little example on the benefits of GP.

That being said, I don't think we need to bring back the dreaded GP is not a flag discussion, so I REALLY hope this thread doesn't turn into that.

EDIT: I'm probably going to recieve some flack for this. I suggest PMing me if you disagree, maybe I can better phrase my ideas here for you before you feel the need to rip my head off in open threads.