IEEE: A Call to Action from Dean Kamen

[Erin Rapacki]

Originally Posted by rforystek

In order for FIRST to increase the prices such as they are, they need to justify it by showing the cost of the kit+ the realistic cost to them of one team at a regional. Its bad business not to be giving us anything like this, and business in the real world that did this would lose their contracts. The reason they FIRST will never is that they are a total monopoly. No-one else has anything like this, and that is completely understandable. FIRST must respect that, and act responsibly.

If you were running a business, and every year you went further & further into debt.... but didn't do anything about it because you had a lingering hope that help was on the way: would you go on forever without raising prices?

FIRST has grown into something wonderful, but direct funding towards the FIRST organization as a whole hasn't grown along with their need for new employees and Regional expenses. Sometimes, Regionals aren't able to raise all the funds they need... so FIRST steps in (they really have no choice on the matter). FIRST needs to pay off a few debts because of this, also... they'd like to improve customer service by hiring a few more people.

Everyone at FIRST works really hard, but they are all stretched thin and their computers are old. These additional funds will help the program in many ways.

ByE

erin

[Steve W]

A quick note on funds. Ifyou spend any time with FIRST personel, you will see that they are overworked. They spend more hours than they are paid for and work on a tight budget. A price increase after 4 years, I believe, is not out of line.

As for having to explain to you the customer a break down of costs, why do they have to? When you go to the store to purchase a coat, do you ask for a breakdown of costs to find out if you are paying too much? Nope didn't think so. FIRST is producing a quality product. You are not forced to purchase or use it. Therewas an organization up in Canada that did basically the same as FIRST but charged more, gave less and seemed to be profit driven. The product that was produced did not even come close to what FIRST offors. They are no longer in business. We must stop looking at what the cost is, look at the quality of product and figure out a way to purchase. It may mean that we have to work that much harder to get the money but we will be better for it. No one ever said that it was a right to be part of FIRST. It is a privilege. It may mean that some teams have to join with others to afford the cost.

FIRST will continue to grow because of the leadership, quality and mission. I for one am glad to be part of it. I just wish that I had started sooner.

Originally Posted by Steve W

A quick note on funds. Ifyou spend any time with FIRST personel, you will see that they are overworked. They spend more hours than they are paid for and work on a tight budget. A price increase after 4 years, I believe, is not out of line.

As for having to explain to you the customer a break down of costs, why do they have to? When you go to the store to purchase a coat, do you ask for a breakdown of costs to find out if you are paying too much? Nope didn't think so. FIRST is producing a quality product. You are not forced to purchase or use it. Therewas an organization up in Canada that did basically the same as FIRST but charged more, gave less and seemed to be profit driven. The product that was produced did not even come close to what FIRST offors. They are no longer in business. We must stop looking at what the cost is, look at the quality of product and figure out a way to purchase. It may mean that we have to work that much harder to get the money but we will be better for it. No one ever said that it was a right to be part of FIRST. It is a privilege. It may mean that some teams have to join with others to afford the cost.

FIRST will continue to grow because of the leadership, quality and mission. I for one am glad to be part of it. I just wish that I had started sooner.

Not asking for a cost breakdown seems reasonable ... for now. But blindly paying unreasonable prices for a product just because it is quality is not wise. Not to take away from FIRST, but money must go into other quality education also (and don't suggest that FIRST is the only quality education, it just might be one of the better ones ).