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Re: FiM is NOT FIRST
Some constructive Points:
Chairman's Award. One thing I have never liked about Chairman's award is the all or nothing approach. Teams can put a great deal of effort into it, and get very little feedback. Often, the runner's up will get the Engineering Inspiration award. What I would have loved for FiM to do is to grade a team's Chairman's effort. Give them a score that then gets used in the system. This promotes doing Chairmans. To put it frankly, I have seen a lot of really good submissions for Chairman's from my team, but only the greats win. Adding points to just the winner wouldn't make our team try any harder (or work any less). Now if we got a 75 out of 100, Next year we can push the kids to shoot for an 80 or better. For the Formual SAE competition the big award that all the engineers want to win is the Design competition. They score the design presentations relative to the merit of the design and the teams ability to present. Teams are then scored. 0-125. Typically most teams get rather generic scores ranging from 0 (DNF) to 70 pretty good. Semi-finalist (top 10) are typically 90-100 point range, and then the Design finals are held after the actual race (top 3). Design finals are also public!!! That way other teams get to be inspired.
As far as being concerned that a Chairman's level team will not get to compete at the State championship. I would say that it is highly unlikely (at least in Michigan and likely the Midwest). Seriously if you run the data, this Chairman's award level team would have to have a robot that is not playing Saturday afternoon at both Districts. I have a very hard time believing that a team organized enough to win a Chairman's in Michigan can't make a robot that drives well (which is all it usually takes to make it into the top 24 at a 40 team event).
If FiM is a good thing that should be spread, I would think the next step would be to erase the state borders and have districts and regional championships. You can go wherever you want, but I personally would look down on teams spending exhorbinant travel fees instead of using that capital to help sustain other teams. The best way to have good competition at home is to work with a local team. Yesterday, I talked to a leader from a Rookie Team that 217 has literally taken under their wing. Nice job Thunderchikens. 2337 was one of the Top qualifiers at nationals last year due to their hard work ethic, and the mentorship of the Mid-Michigan teams. If you don't have good competition in your area, then make it. If you raise the funds yourself, fine, fly to Vegas. If it is on a corporate grant. I personally think there is a better way to spend that money.
As I said before one of the major complaints from Rookie teams that I hear is that it is a ton of work and money just to get blown away as you are trying to get your machine going. Getting a second event, then they will actually have a chance to play. I know our team has helped many Rookies get their machines running at the Regionals (some even qualified ahead of us in 2007). There is a certain lansing team that I know I helped in 2005 & 2006 while they were having a hard time getting started. For me that is the most rewarding part of competition. I can't afford hotels, days off work, and fuel bills to travel across the country supporting regionals. I am looking forward this year because I can drive 2 hours early Saturday morning to help a team get their arm working, reset the fields, or run cables, or be a safety naz.. uh inspector.
For those that are close enough, and want to form an educated opinion, please come and volunteer at a Michigan District event near you. As JVN said, this model could get forced on the FIRST community and an Educated, Fact Based opinion will go a lot further than conjecture. You guys are smart, take a couple hours and run the numbers for yourself. If you find a better way please share.
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