[gvarndell]

With respect only to the matter of _helping_ ensure the viability of new FRC teams, and not in response to any particular post in this thread...

Perhaps a decentralization is in order?
Maybe FIRST has reached critical mass and it's time to think in terms of establishing regional counsels -- composed of members from multiple veteran teams.
They would (and should) have no specific authority over individual teams.
Just a willingness and ability to help rookie teams understand and embody the guiding principles of FIRST while also helping them survive and thrive as a competing entity?.

This seems more sustainable than individual veterans striking out alone and unsupported.
While the willingness of any one person to take on that burden is laudable, it just might not be realistic. The demands on that one person's time might easily become too much.

I don't view it as a tragedy that teams fail -- some must.
I _would_ view as a tragedy (just about) any effort to make it more difficult than it already is for new teams to form.
I believe being denied the opportunity to fail is far more disappointing than failure itself -- because an opportunity to fail is equally an opportunity to succeed.