[archiver]

Posted by Yu Jin at 04/10/2001 4:16 AM EST


Student on team #22, Double Deuce, from Chatsworth High School and Boeing-Rocketdyne, Computer Associates.


In Reply to: Re: Chairman's Award Disadvantages
Posted by Wayne Cokeley on 04/09/2001 10:18 PM EST:



I'm from Team #22 and I'd like to respond by saying that we're a team that consists of about 60 some people. We have been one of the first pioneers of FIRST being number 22. We are 5 years old and one of the first teams to form on the west coast. We mentored 11 new rookie teams and helped 22 teams with workshops and advice. I would like to point out that we have no money. There is this connotation you have that we have money but we fundraised a lot. A lot of teams have huge companies such as team 8 (Palo Alto) that has Compaq as a sponsor. The get I believe 15,000. Team #22 had 3 major sponsors but recieve no more than 5,000 from each. Boeing-Rocketdyne divison, Computer Associate, and California State University. Since it is not actually Boeing but Rocketdyne (with limited access to funds) we get little money and we gave CSUN to one of our teams that we mentored last year, Granada Hills High School (Robodox). We fundraised by going around to local merchants asking for small donations around 25 to 100 dollars. Our shirt is filled with these small businesses. We held fundraisers such as Monte Carlo nights and hosted silent auctions and the like. This hard earned funds also were not used for us. We paid for other team's registrations, robots, shipping, and any other costs. This left us no money. To add to this we hold two competitions-a sectional competition before the Southern California regionals and another one in June. We require no registration fees and we also house the teams ourselves. 39 out of the 60 some members went and had to pay for everything. Also about the FLL teams, I think that is really important because many of our new freshmen members were part of the FLL teams we mentored last year. I think Jason Morrella of Cheesy Poofs, who attend our sectionals and are good friends along with Team 60 Kingman High School and the BeachBot Team, summed it up quite nicely but I must add that...our robots are infact not as good as many other teams but I still think its decent =). We were unable to get beyond normal competition at the Nations this year but we got in the playoffs last year and ranked 8th in co-opetition or 16th in regular terms =). I would like to thank Mr Morrella for the touching post. Its nice to know that others are seeing the impact we have caused. I would also like congratulate the teams in Pontiac as I know how bad schools are since Chatsworth High is located in LA. I don't think we're much better than you. I just thought I'd point that out and I would like to congradulate the other finalists and wish the other teams luck. All the teams-whether they be small or big-should all attempt to share the passion For Inpiration and Recognition of Science and Technology and pick us for your alliance in the upcoming years! =)