[Justin Montois]

I totally agree with Cory and Colin touched on this point as well. We should be striving towards sustainable teams. Not more teams just for the sake of having them.

If the goal of FIRST in this endeavor is to get more students involved, the experience they get on a so-so team that is struggling, is not as good as the experience they would get if they perhaps traveled down the road a bit to a school that already has a successful team. Our team currently has a few students from a neighboring district without a team and I know they are having a great experience.

As far as FiM is concerned, I guess I'm not totally clear about what their goal is. The Q&A says that this competition structure was determined to be the best way to bring a quality experience to as many students as possible. Yet they have also said that there are "so many teams" in Michigan that the three regional’s they host is not enough to support all the teams. Yet for some reason the answer is not another regional. Because they say, they don't have the money in sponsorship to start another regional. I find it interesting that all these new teams in Michigan seem to find money to start and be competitive yet the money is lacking for a regional.

I think if there true goal is a quality experience then robbing teams of an FRC Regional experience is not the answer. I love the Finger Lakes Regional. To me, that's what FIRST is. The build season is fun and everything don't get me wrong, but going to FLR is what it's all about. Over the years 340 has been lucky to meet teams like 365, 67, 65, 68, 217, 354, among others. That's the FIRST experience. Under the FiM model we wouldn't have a 365 shirt in our shop, or a 217 and 237 shirt.

Simply, if your state can't support another regional, then stop pushing for new teams. Look at the MOE Robotics group. How many high schools is that? And you can't tell me those kids haven't gotten an amazing experience. Between a great robot every year and a national Chairman's award, they are a team that should be emulated. Ask a kid on a struggling team in Michigan if he doesn’t wish his team could be like that.

Quality. Not Quantity.