[BB 08/17/2011] Do you have a better name for it?

[rsisk]

I find this very disappointing. Please i.am.FIRST production team, get us a legit copy ASAP. This is too important of a tool to let time lapse.

If you didn’t see will.i.am’s show about FIRST, I’d point you towards an online link for the video, but the i.am.FIRST production team has made it very clear that an official copy has not been posted yet. All copies of i.am.FIRST Science is Rock and Roll currently on line are unauthorized. When I can point you towards the official version, you can be sure I will.

[thefro526]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

I don't care what the heck they're called as long as we get new information ASAP from FIRST.

Teams need to know what's going on so we can plan travel, plan budgets, plan fund raising, and we need to know if NASA will give funding to the new district area or if we'll be cut off like Michigan is.

I'm not too happy about the level of information we've been getting. I know it hasn't been finalized yet, but at least keep us updated and at least tell us more about your plans NOW during the summer while teams are fundraising.

We better be seeing new information when registration opens on the 26th.

I'm with Akash. Ideally, we would've laid out our fundraising goals by now, but until we know exactly what's going on with Districts and or Regionals, we won't be able to do that. A $5k difference in registration is HUGE to my team, along with whether or not we'll NEED to travel to an event this year. I'm hoping that information (even tentative, or just saying what region is going to the district mode) will be out soon...

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by thefro526

I'm hoping that information (even tentative, or just saying what region is going to the district mode) will be out soon...

I just don't understand why information like this needs to be kept secret until the "big reveal." It makes more sense to me to just keep us updated on things like where the plan is for, how many events they're looking at, possible borders for the district, etc. We've been in the dark about this since 2009 when we first heard rumors, with zero factual updates. Whatever happened to keeping us in the loop?

[Taylor]

If we're "tearing a page out of the sports book" why not say "Regular Season" and "World Championship Qualifier"?

[PayneTrain]

Can we still pre-qualify for CMP?
Can you start trickling out dates for confirmed events so we can start planning?
Are any costs set to change?

And I don't even have to deal with the "maybe we're going to the district system, but don't worry about that yet..."

Not knowing things makes my team look disorganized.

[Andrew Schuetze]

Taking cues from the University Interscholastic League or UIL which oversees both sports and academic level competitions here in Texas.
District - Area - Region leading to the State Event.
Since not all top level events will be confined to geographic boundries of a single state. I vote for using terms such as Area Qualifier and Regional Championship

[JohnBoucher]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

I just don't understand why information like this needs to be kept secret until the "big reveal." It makes more sense to me to just keep us updated on things like where the plan is for, how many events they're looking at, possible borders for the district, etc. We've been in the dark about this since 2009 when we first heard rumors, with zero factual updates. Whatever happened to keeping us in the loop?

The best thing FIRST could do is to be run like a business.

[JesseK]

Originally Posted by Taylor

If we're "tearing a page out of the sports book" why not say "Regular Season" and "World Championship Qualifier"?

+1

[Madison]

For as long as traditional "regionals" continue to exist, events that are part of a new qualifying structure should avoid using that term to avoid confusion between the scope and quality of the events.

[P.J.]

I agree with Gary, Regional and District have the same "exclusionary" feel to them, so that is a moot point.

I simply suggest keeping the name "districts" and then State (or Regional, as the situation requires) Championship. Nobody in Michigan ever thought that we would be locked into a certain district when the system was announced, since I believe they stated that we wouldn't be. That automatically removes that concern of people thinking they are locked in to a certain district, connotations of the word "district" are irrelevant when there is a strict definition. (I think that makes sense, I know what I mean in my head but I can't form a sentence that seems to make total sense. )

[Karibou]

Originally Posted by P.J.

I agree with Gary, Regional and District have the same "exclusionary" feel to them, so that is a moot point.

I simply suggest keeping the name "districts" and then State (or Regional, as the situation requires) Championship. Nobody in Michigan ever thought that we would be locked into a certain district when the system was announced, since I believe they stated that we wouldn't be. That automatically removes that concern of people thinking they are locked in to a certain district, connotations of the word "district" are irrelevant when there is a strict definition. (I think that makes sense, I know what I mean in my head but I can't form a sentence that seems to make total sense. )

I think that the concern about thinking that we are locked to a certain district comes from explaining the system to those outside of FIRST. High school athletic systems, which is what most people are used to, usually seem to lock everyone into a certain district, class, division, etc. At least, that's how I think of it.

[Steven Donow]

Originally Posted by Karibou

I think that the concern about thinking that we are locked to a certain district comes from explaining the system to those outside of FIRST. High school athletic systems, which is what most people are used to, usually seem to lock everyone into a certain district, class, division, etc. At least, that's how I think of it.

That's basically a better way of saying what I was trying to say before, calling it a district can give the impression that you're locked to that one specific area.

Also, for those who aren't reading the comments, Bill posted this response:

So that looks to me like "District" is in the lead followed by a change of Qualification to "Qualifier" plus some suggestions for sectional, county, community, neighborhood, local & geographical.

What interests me is the unexpected discussion about confusing MSC for CMP. There "Regional" is in the lead and a suggestion has been made for "Conference".

Thanks for the input. I'll check in again later today to see if there are any more updates, then take the suggestions with me to talk to the rest of the team that will make a decision.