Team Organization & Fund Raising Poll

[MailmanDelivers]

Originally Posted by Michael Corsetto

Very similar on 1678.

Students/Mentors can nominate any student for any position, including themselves. All nominees are interviewed by Outgoing Captain/Vice Captain and Lead Mentors. That group decides who to offer which roles.

Job application is a good way to put it.

-Mike

This is actually closer definition to how my team chooses it's Exec Board from what I said earlier as a "student election."

It's similar to the 'Job Application' as stated by Code Orange but there is also a recommendation vote from the students on who they think should get the position.

[DonRotolo]

On 832 we have a student fee, but this is waived if necessary. Students don't "need" to participate, but we are a small team (<20) so most do, at varying levels. Really anyone is welcome, and last year the 'core' group made everything happen that needed to.

We have a few sponsors, but IMHO (and I am new to the team) we need a few more. Next season (the team meets the whole school year) I will explain fundraising, and we hope to recruit a few more students. Fundraising is a task for students, but Mentors cannot expect they know how to.

<$200 also == $200, for you programmers out there <sheesh>

[Mark Sheridan]

Originally Posted by MailmanDelivers

It's similar to the 'Job Application' as stated by Code Orange but there is also a recommendation vote from the students on who they think should get the position.

Since its a job application, an applicant can choose to have references or letter of reference. References can from anyone, students, teacher, mentors, alumni and etc. We don't reject applicants if they don't have references, some of the students are very shy but we help them out. This helps avoid campaigning for a leadership position, we try to be a meritocracy.

[wireties]

<hanging head in shame> how do I edit poll to clarify choices?

[wireties]

Originally Posted by Allison K

You may consider a poll option around how travel costs (transportation, hotel, food) are covered - Team covers travel, Students/families cover travel, Team subsidizes travel, etc. Maybe just a line of "students pay to attend travel events" would cover it? Travel costs make up such a large portion of overall expenses there's a big difference between a team with a 20K budget where the team is covering travel costs vs. a team with a 20K budget where students are paying for each trip.

That would have been a good question to include! Our students generally pay travel costs though last year we were able to subsidize one trip and pay the hotel. Plus our school pays for trips to Worlds (but not off the wait list). Another good one would be the same question for mentors. We try to pay for mentor travel since they are giving up vacation days already.

[wireties]

Originally Posted by ArtemusMaximus

Also "IRS 501(c)(3) entity" is US specific. Perhaps it'd be better to generalize/categorize this selection

Excellent point, it should say something about a status that allows tax free donations. Not sure how to change it though...

[wireties]

Originally Posted by Monochron

What about fees that are neither > $200 nor < $200 eh!? Is there no love for the exactly $200 fee!!

Doh, sorry. Till I figure out how to change it, just use the first option.

[Monochron]

I'm not sure sure about the accuracy of the question "We have scholarships available so money is NOT a barrier". I expected much more than 30% of respondents to check that box. Are there really that many teams out there who will not offer financial leniency or help to their students who can't afford the full cost of participation? Are that many students denied participation due to socio-economic class?

Perhaps people saw the world "scholarship" and assumed it only refereed to having some sort of named dollar amount that students can "win".

[GreyingJay]

Originally Posted by EDesbiens

Technically, I would not check any of the boxes since nothing applies... This is why I think this option could be there... I can't submit the poll if nothing is checked.

Also, the lack of a poll response is hidden by the other poll responses.

For example, 2706 is not associated with a school, as we are a community based team. So I didn't check any of the "associated with school" responses. But when you look at the total responses, the combined "associated with school" responses add up to more than 100%. Some teams are associated with more than one of these, but can you determine from this data that at least one team is associated with none of these?

[MailmanDelivers]

Originally Posted by Monochron

I'm not sure sure about the accuracy of the question "We have scholarships available so money is NOT a barrier". I expected much more than 30% of respondents to check that box. Are there really that many teams out there who will not offer financial leniency or help to their students who can't afford the full cost of participation? Are that many students denied participation due to socio-economic class?

Perhaps people saw the world "scholarship" and assumed it only refereed to having some sort of named dollar amount that students can "win".

It did confuse me too, but I said yes anyway as my team and school help out kids who cannot afford field trips to ensure socio-economic class is not a hindrance on whether they can do school activities or not.

We do not have an entry fee either, but we do have a fundraising requirement that can be either be filled by either writing a grant, a certain amount of fundraising hours, or fundraising money for the team. I'll try and upload a document later today that has my teams policies.

[z_beeblebrox]

Originally Posted by GreyingJay

Also, the lack of a poll response is hidden by the other poll responses.

For example, 2706 is not associated with a school, as we are a community based team. So I didn't check any of the "associated with school" responses. But when you look at the total responses, the combined "associated with school" responses add up to more than 100%. Some teams are associated with more than one of these, but can you determine from this data that at least one team is associated with none of these?

One could look at the team numbers of the users that respond. But that's annoying and would take a while.

[wireties]

Originally Posted by Monochron

I'm not sure sure about the accuracy of the question "We have scholarships available so money is NOT a barrier". I expected much more than 30% of respondents to check that box. Are there really that many teams out there who will not offer financial leniency or help to their students who can't afford the full cost of participation? Are that many students denied participation due to socio-economic class?

Perhaps people saw the world "scholarship" and assumed it only refereed to having some sort of named dollar amount that students can "win".

I apologize for the verbiage. That is what how we phrase it when we offer assistance. I grew up in Appalachia, 5 kids and my mother in a small trailer home. I remember well not being able to participate in activities that required $$$. Any team I'm involved with WILL offer assistance so $$ is never a barrier and I'm sure most teams do this. The question was poorly worded.

[smitikshah]

Originally Posted by Monochron

I'm not sure sure about the accuracy of the question "We have scholarships available so money is NOT a barrier". I expected much more than 30% of respondents to check that box. Are there really that many teams out there who will not offer financial leniency or help to their students who can't afford the full cost of participation? Are that many students denied participation due to socio-economic class?

Perhaps people saw the world "scholarship" and assumed it only refereed to having some sort of named dollar amount that students can "win".

Our team personally doesn't offer scholarships, only because we are associated with a public school. If a student would like to participate in any educational field trips (including competitions), and their socio-economic standing is a hindrance, the student can talk to the administration and make sure their participation is payed for by the school. I wouldn't call that a scholarship though, just financial assistance or aid.

[Monochron]

Originally Posted by smitikshah

If a student would like to participate in any educational field trips (including competitions), and their socio-economic standing is a hindrance, the student can talk to the administration and make sure their participation is payed for by the school. I wouldn't call that a scholarship though, just financial assistance or aid.

I think, based on the context of the questions, that your situation would fall under the heading of "scholarship" even though you don't have a named fund that you allocate to students.

I'm interested though, do students on your team have other financial requirements and would assistance be offered for that as well? I am curious about how other teams handle payments and their funds.

[smitikshah]

Originally Posted by Monochron

I think, based on the context of the questions, that your situation would fall under the heading of "scholarship" even though you don't have a named fund that you allocate to students.

I'm interested though, do students on your team have other financial requirements and would assistance be offered for that as well? I am curious about how other teams handle payments and their funds.

We don't have any other financial requirements like a participation . It is asked that you purchase a t-shirt if you plan on attending a competition - but it's not required. Either way our team funds allow us to significantly subsidize them (almost $25 per t-shirt to net $0 for the club sold for $10).

Even competitions never cost money to benefit the team. Say we go to NYC Regional, you'd be required to pay for the train tickets (they are reduced because of a group package and if you still can't afford them the school helps out). Also you are told to bring money to buy food at the location (or bring your own). I don't think the school reimburses food, but I'm sure if you really need them to you'd be able to work something out (or a mentor/peer/student's parent would help out if necessary).

Other offseason competitions (as long as they are school affiliated) the school gives us buses - so no transportation cost to worry about.

Overall, if you really can't afford any part of a trip, the school will work it out with you and a student by student basis.