Questions about FIRST Future

[marshall]

I'd like to see FRC become more sustainable (financially and on the time commitment side as well) and my personal opinion is that an easy way to accomplish that is to get rid of bag day and make the season open ended.

Also, after talking to colleagues in Europe and elsewhere (not the US), it seems that the FRC season does not align well with their educational calendars so making the season more open ended and maybe even year long might help. It has the added benefit of helping with mentor/volunteer/student burnout. It also gives teams time to compete and iterate more (which we know works because districts).

Just my thoughts though. Like Dean, I don't have all the answers, just ideas.

[techhelpbb]

Originally Posted by marshall

I'd like to see FRC become more sustainable (financially and on the time commitment side as well) and my personal opinion is that an easy way to accomplish that is to get rid of bag day and make the season open ended.

I actually worry that if FIRST could double in size it might actually cause more harm than good if they don't get more sustainable to the people doing it.

Picture what happens when you take a body of people that large and put them in a situation where they get dragged, and sometimes must neglect, certain things like taxes and personal expenses because of the fiat situation FIRST creates.

What good is twice the number of teams with less quality and quantity of mentors?
I think we put too many eggs in one basket and if FIRST still won't change; the way people engage with it needs to change.
I am just not sure that FIRST is yet important and visible enough (since it's not in all 50 States) to make society change around it.

[BeardyMentor]

Originally Posted by techhelpbb

I actually worry that if FIRST could double in size it might actually cause more harm than good if they don't get more sustainable to the people doing it.

Picture what happens when you take a body of people that large and put them in a situation where they get dragged, and sometimes must neglect, certain things like taxes and personal expenses because of the fiat situation FIRST creates.

What good is twice the number of teams with less quality and quantity of mentors?
I think we put too many eggs in one basket and if FIRST still won't change; the way people engage with it needs to change.
I am just not sure that FIRST is yet important and visible enough (since it's not in all 50 States) to make society change around it.

I agree completely a lot more effort from the community and some organizing from FIRST is going to be needed for sustaining existing teams. Right now the rookie year support seems to drop away far too fast. We all talk a big game about helping other teams, but we need to make sure we extend this out beyond the pits. Making it easy to ask for help locally should be a big priority of better situated teams.