pic: Districts in Minnesota Flyer

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by gblake

Hmmm.

You do know that you can contact the folks who currently are doing their best to guide MN FRC into an improved future, right? They can tell you what is underway, etc. What you wrote seems to convey that you haven't spoken to them yet about these topics.

After a conversation, you probably won't have to characterize any official statements as excuses (you might disagree with their conclusions, but that is different from labeling something an "excuse"); and you probably won't have guess about their relationship with FIRST HQ; and you can probably get answers to replace assumptions.

Doesn't that sound like a useful thing to do?

Blake

Yes I think it would be extremely useful for those that can benefit from going to the district system in MN to pressure the leadership into giving them some answers as to what is going on.

No I have not contacted the MN leadership and have zero intention of doing so. That is for the people who will benefit to do on their own behalf.

From what I've heard from those in the know that are in MN or who have moved from MN the leadership keeps giving them excuses as to why they can't do districts, with the most popular being lack of volunteers. I have not heard anything regarding what they are doing to make it happen. In fact the few things I've heard indicate that they are more interested in adding more Regionals than making the switch.

I've also heard from people in MN who have told me they have been told to stop talking about the District system on CD and other social media, and I know and trust those people as giving me the truth.

So it doesn't sound like the leadership is working to move MN to the future at all and it certainly doesn't sound like they are willing to give honest answers as to what they are doing to make the switch or any plans to make the switch.

I'm already in the District system and I'm one of the people who worked to make the transition as smooth as possible. That includes stepping up to be a LRI and field supervisor, being the person that helps load the trucks at the warehouse, unload and reload them at the venue, and then repeat for the next weeks event. It also includes uncounted hours building the road cases to carry everything, figuring out a system to store it all, and how to pack the trucks efficiently.

Why did I do those things? Because presented with the full knowledge of what the District System is, I saw the benefits and was willing to be part of the solution instead of coming up with excuses as to why it wouldn't work. Of course I'm not the only one who saw the benefits and stepped up to make it happen. For much of the early road case building we had people from a number of teams give up their weekend, including a large portion of a team that made a 4+hr drive to come to the Fieldhouse to do whatever was required.

Making the switch to the district system requires a lot of work and making sure those that will benefit know the benefits and recruiting some of them to help is required for a successful switch.

I can not for an instant believe that there are not enough people on teams willing to step up to the plate and make it happen, IF they know how much it will benefit them.

So I believe that someone needs to make sure that every single team in the state knows ALL the details about the district system, makes their own decisions based on FULL knowledge. Then if they feel it is in their best interest let the leadership know that is what they want and that at least some of them are willing to be a part of the solution.

You made a lot of implications that I'm giving excuses but it seems like you are the one that keeps giving excuses as why informing teams is non-productive at the best and you seem to imply that it might actually be counter productive.

Again I agree that the teams of MN should do their best, no demand, a true open dialog as to the future on FIRST in their state, with a large focus on the District system.