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Unread 25-10-2001, 19:21
Unsung FIRST Hero
Matt Leese Matt Leese is offline
Been-In-FIRST-Too-Long
FRC #1438 (The Aztechs)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: May 2001
Rookie Year: 1998
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 937
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I don't think there's any need to go into the mentor bit suffice to say that we've managed to get some last minute funding here. But as far as raising enough money to travel to nationals in a short period of time, I've been there, done that. In 1999, team 7 (which was my team in high school) decided to attend nationals at the Philadelphia Regional. I believe there was approximately a month between that regional and nationals. We did not have any single large sponsor that year; instead, we had many smaller ones. So how you raise enough money to attend nationals quickly? You ask your sponsors to give whatever they can. You realize that everyone will have to pay part of their way. You fundraise as much as possible (we sold candy and each student raised about $200). As far as adults taking off work, it didn't seem to be a major problem but I guess it was helped by the fact that our adults either worked for the school or for our sponsors. I believe needing more than 3 weeks notice to take off work is an exception rather than the rule. Now, I'll be the first to admit that it wasn't easy and wasn't the preferred method of operation. But it is doable and more than anything, it also helped to bring the team together, which is even more important in my opinion.

So it is possible to attend nationals even if you haven't prequalified. Personally, I don't expect to attend nationals this year except if through some amazing fate. And I don't plan to participate on the FIRST team here next year (I'm supposed to be on coop winter quarter next year so there's a fair chance I won't be in the Rochester area) so I don't really intend to go next year. But I also don't think it's unfair that they limit who can go to nationals. You should remember that the important part of FIRST is the six-weeks of construction. While regionals and nationals are fun and a good experience, the really important parts are during construction.

Matt