New Regional in Europe in 2006

[Kyle Love]

I think that would be really cool to see happen. However, there would be one huge problem...I doubt many teams have the time or funds to go overseas for a regional. But if the money was available, I would push for us to go to it. But then again, I am a student and I can't speak for the team. Although sometimes I wish I could. Start some German teams and you wouldn't even needs us Americans to come to your regional. Hope you get it!

[unapiedra]

Originally Posted by RoboMom

Christoph, your energy and idealism are to be commended. Just a caution on timing. From now until after the Championship, everyone on the very small staff at FIRST is out in the field or working frantically dealing with millions of details. (As I write this I am watching the VCU feed and they are having some major problems with the field.) I have a new appreciation this year of how challenging it is to run a regional, let alone plan one. You could not possibly imagine all the details. This would be a major undertaking that would need FIRST sanctioning and there is a process to be followed.

So keep organizing your ideas, funding sources (think in the $50,000 range) and after the Championship, we can help you get your ideas heard.

I know that the timing is bad, however there is still a lot to do. And starting now doesn't do any harm except that FIRST doesn't have time at the moment.
And I am encouraging everyone, to send me information and help.

Anyway I am already waiting for FIRST to have time for my ideas.

[unapiedra]

I still don't have any info how much a regional would cost!

So if someone has any idea on what costs how much... Please let me know!

Please, Please, Please
my email is: firsteurope@gmail.com

[Cory]

Originally Posted by unapiedra

I still didn't any info how much a regional would cost!

So if someone has any idea on what costs how much... Please let me know!

Please, Please, Please
my email is: firsteurope@gmail.com

I've seen $125,000 as a bse price

[Kevin Sevcik]

US$125,000 is definitely a base cost. I have access to a regional director (my mom) so this is a definitive number. The exchange rate and VAR (maybe?) could up the cost as well. This is also a basic AV system and no real team party. I can probably give you a more itemized kind of budget if you're willing to wait a few days for me to get home.

[Matt Leese]

Also, I believe the $125,000 assumes that the facility hosting the regional comes at no cost. This is significant as renting out a facility large enough for a regional for four days can be highly expensive (I believe I've heard as high as $100,000).

Matt

[Doug G]

I worked on the Sacramento Regional Planning Committee this year, and yes $125,000 is an absolute bare minimum, some very successful regionals operate on a budget closer to $200,000 (just look at those regionals with team socials and lots of AV production). Examples of costs MIGHT BE: Venue fee ($25,000-$75,000), AV Production ($40,000-$80,000), Catering ($7,500 - $15,000), Local Services and Personnel ($10,000 - $20,000), Equipment Rentals ($7,500 - $15,000), Signage and Promotional Items ($2,500-$5,000), Administrative and Support Costs ($30,000-$50,000). Of course - how this translates to Euro's, I don't know. Plus also factor in additional support costs to help with different languages and long distance support and shipping. I imagine FIRST would need a small HQ in Europe to provide efficient and effective support.

But to develop sponsorships for a Europe Regional, you must go through FIRST first! They have sponsorship levels that start at $5000 and go up to >$100,000. Those packages includes certain items like speaking opportunities, judging, and of course signage. So before you start taking checks on behalf of FIRST - get in touch with them as soon as the Championships conclude. They have a regional directors meeting in May I believe, make sure you get your comments through to Bob Hammond by then. http://www.usfirst.org/about/contactus.htm

I don't think it's too late to get something started for 2006, but they would have to line up a venue and take care of some serious logistics issues by summer time. Perhaps if we knew more about the experiences in the Isreal Regional to gauge the viability of FIRST competitions overseas.

A dedicated planning committee is a must. You need a dozen or so professionals to help keeps things on track and to ensure it has the local flavor to make it special. A good regional also needs to have sponsorships that are long lasting relationships to ensure the regional continues. A regional started in Sacramento in 2003, because a major funder was going to move some business to that area and sponsored the competition outright that first year. Unfortunately in 2004, the funder pulled the plug, and we've been scrambling to find and build relationships with local businesses ever since. Unfortunately that takes years to do. Having many different sponsors, will help the regional survive for the long haul.

Keep up the energy, and I'm sure we'll see some FIRST comps overseas in the near future.

[unapiedra]

Originally Posted by Doug G

I worked on the Sacramento Regional Planning Committee this year, and yes $125,000 is an absolute bare minimum, some very successful regionals operate on a budget closer to $200,000 (just look at those regionals with team socials and lots of AV production). Examples of costs MIGHT BE: Venue fee ($25,000-$75,000), AV Production ($40,000-$80,000), Catering ($7,500 - $15,000), Local Services and Personnel ($10,000 - $20,000), Equipment Rentals ($7,500 - $15,000), Signage and Promotional Items ($2,500-$5,000), Administrative and Support Costs ($30,000-$50,000). Of course - how this translates to Euro's, I don't know. Plus also factor in additional support costs to help with different languages and long distance support and shipping. I imagine FIRST would need a small HQ in Europe to provide efficient and effective support.

But to develop sponsorships for a Europe Regional, you must go through FIRST first! They have sponsorship levels that start at $5000 and go up to >$100,000. Those packages includes certain items like speaking opportunities, judging, and of course signage. So before you start taking checks on behalf of FIRST - get in touch with them as soon as the Championships conclude. They have a regional directors meeting in May I believe, make sure you get your comments through to Bob Hammond by then. http://www.usfirst.org/about/contactus.htm

I don't think it's too late to get something started for 2006, but they would have to line up a venue and take care of some serious logistics issues by summer time. Perhaps if we knew more about the experiences in the Isreal Regional to gauge the viability of FIRST competitions overseas.

A dedicated planning committee is a must. You need a dozen or so professionals to help keeps things on track and to ensure it has the local flavor to make it special. A good regional also needs to have sponsorships that are long lasting relationships to ensure the regional continues. A regional started in Sacramento in 2003, because a major funder was going to move some business to that area and sponsored the competition outright that first year. Unfortunately in 2004, the funder pulled the plug, and we've been scrambling to find and build relationships with local businesses ever since. Unfortunately that takes years to do. Having many different sponsors, will help the regional survive for the long haul.

Keep up the energy, and I'm sure we'll see some FIRST comps overseas in the near future.

Hey! This is exactly what I've been waiting for. With this type of help we will see a European Regional in the very near future.

[unapiedra]

Is there any one willing, who already helped organizing a regional to send me some information?

I am basically looking for everything. Costs, number of people involved, different things to be careful about.

Please make shure to include your Name in everything you send to me, so that I can make shure you get noticed if you want to.

I like everything I can get... so don't be shy!

[the_undefined]

Hey Chris,

sry I didn't visit you're thread earlier but I'm amazed how commited you are to get the regional together. I'll give you all my support that I have avaible and I really hope it's going to happen. I think I could definitly get my school to start a team once I'm back in Germany so count us in : ).

Keep me up to date about what's going on, I can also help making a web plattform for foundraising/organization if you'd like and things like that.

Good Luck, Felix

[Denman]

Originally Posted by mrs. p

our team likes to travel and visit new places so add team 233 to the list of "want to attend".

233 in europe yay!

[unapiedra]

Originally Posted by the_undefined

Hey Chris,

sry I didn't visit you're thread earlier but I'm amazed how commited you are to get the regional together. I'll give you all my support that I have avaible and I really hope it's going to happen. I think I could definitly get my school to start a team once I'm back in Germany so count us in : ).

Keep me up to date about what's going on, I can also help making a web plattform for foundraising/organization if you'd like and things like that.

Good Luck, Felix

Thanks for your help I really appreciate this!

I might come back to you about the webside...

[Andy B]

WOW, that sounds awesome. One little piece of advice, people from our team have talked to the FIRST adviser for the Midwest region (about 7 states) and she said that it takes at least 18 months to plan for a new regional so my thinking is that 2006 is out of the question. However, this gives teams much better opportunity to plan for possibly going to an overseas regional in 2007.

I wish you the best of luck!!

[Steve W]

Something in your favor might be the fact that if there is another Israel regional then the field ship cost might be a bit lower. I wish you all the best in your endeavors.

[the_undefined]

Originally Posted by Andy B

WOW, that sounds awesome. One little piece of advice, people from our team have talked to the FIRST adviser for the Midwest region (about 7 states) and she said that it takes at least 18 months to plan for a new regional so my thinking is that 2006 is out of the question. However, this gives teams much better opportunity to plan for possibly going to an overseas regional in 2007.

I wish you the best of luck!!

In case that's true I'll have to figure out a way to come over to the US for the Competition next year before there is an european regional : ).