Too late for 2004?

[BandChick]

It can be really tough to get all the kinks worked out so to speak, but if you're adamant about doing it, I say go for it. Put up posters around the high school to interest kids. We did this at my high school and our first meeting had about 30-40 students. But First i suggest you find an advisor, if you can't find one then wait until next year. We had to wait about 5 years to finally get a team started at Hightstown.

The next thing is sponsorship. Go around to local companies and tell them about your program, etc. Let them now about actual FIRST, the website, some general information, and give them some contact information. We found 3 or so sponsors this way, and raised about half the registration fee before the deadline.

If you still can't find enough money, like we weren't able to, try contacting sponsors around you that already help fund teams, because they, like Bristol-Myers Squibb, might be willing to help start out another team. (it looks good for them, and it's better for FIRST).

While you're doing all this sponsor stuff, make sure you get your kids started on fundraising (like carwashes) and simple stuff.

I KNOW it sounds like a lot of work, but if you're really set on getting it done, I'm sure you can. Enlist in the help of your parents and friends if you need to. I know that last year my mom spent a lot of time looking into sponsorship for my team and at the last minute pulled through with our $5000 entrance fee.

That's the other thing, FIRST will generally work with you if you are having money deadline issues. They were overly helpful with us and we did not turn in our money until around Winter Break. They understand that sometimes it's hard for companies to cut checks if it's outside of their book deadlines and stuff like that, and they also understand that there is a lot going into starting out a team.

Good Luck and Best Wishes!
Sara