2013 Lessons Learned: The Negative

[Carolyn_Grace]

Originally Posted by Sam390250

I actually think this is a terrible idea. When funds were getting low at the Wisconsin Regional and there were ideas of downsizing it to a college gym, I shuddered at the thought! There is something so awe inspiring about being in a huge arena, running robots instead of watching someone playing sports. Seeing the huge event just for robotics was so inspiring to me when I was a young freshman, something that could only be topped by attending the World Championship in Atlanta.

Since so few teams get to attend the World Championship, (and everyone seems to want to continue downsizing that number) if you start just holding events in dinky gymnasiums, all that inspiration goes away. While attending more events like the district system for a lower cost is a really great idea, I think bringing down the magnitude also reduces the impact of FIRST around you. Instead of helping it to grow, I think you are impeding growth by having FIRST events wither away from large, very public venues to small high schools that are in all probability off the beaten path and not nearly as inviting to outsiders who we are supposed to be attracting to FIRST.

I want to invite you to do two big things:
1. Read this link, provided by Jim Zondag, that explains the district model. http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...postid=1253411
Zondag likes to say that districts are like watching your favorite band in a small venue. It's more compact, but the excitement is higher because it's more intimate. It's also already proven to help FIRST grow.

2. Come to Michigan and check out a district event! I suggest the Grand Blanc, Waterford or Troy events. All three of them are amazing examples of how exciting Districts are.

This year, I attended a Regional for the first time in three years. It was great, but I much preferred the Districts.

/derailing this thread.