Should Sponsors ask to be recognized?

[Joe Johnson]

they would likely not be involved if they were not gaining profit in some way. I don't know how else to say this... but in every way it seems wrong.

Example #1:
I am sure that Radio Shack is of 2 minds. I think that they probably support the general idea of folks in their main market getting inspired to go into science and technology careers. BUT... ... I am also confident that they think that selling VEX stuff is likely to make them more money in the long run.

Example #2:
Bob and Tony from IFI are great guys. They put in tons of work for Team 148 before deciding to try to make the Victor 883. Making the Victor 883 was good for FIRST, but the profits they made from FIRST teams essentially jump started their company. A company that I suppose has well over 10 million dollars (US) in annual sales (much of it outside of FIRST to be sure).

Example #3:
Andy Baker and Mark Coors are awesome individuals. AndyMark provides great stuff to FIRST teams as a supplier to the kit and as a maker of COTS parts for FIRST robots. Here is a secret. AndyMark is not a charitable institution. They make money from FIRST teams (Zounds!)

Future Example #(N+1):
Robotic Amusements, Inc. will make products that (I hope) FIRST participants will love to use. While they are not target customers, the demographics of FIRST participants is almost a perfect image of our target end users. If we are successful, sponsoring FIRST teams, regionals, and championships Robotic Amusements, Inc. will not be charity but just plain good marketing.

they would likely not be involved if they were not gaining profit in some way. I don't know how else to say this... but in every way it seems wrong.

Is it your position that FIRST should turn away support from these folks because the money is somehow tainted?

From my point of view, these examples are examples to try to duplicate not denegrate.

Think about it, I have never heard a single NCAA basketball team complain that they qualified for the NCAA tourney but could not go because hotels, travel, etc. were going to cost too much. Know why? Because Corp. America has found it in their interest to pay the travel bills for the teams (and then some).

they would likely not be involved if they were not gaining profit in some way. I don't know how else to say this... but in every way it seems wrong.

I look forward to the day when Nike, McDonalds and Coke are paying big bucks to have their logo on every T-shirt at the Championships because it probably means that they are paying the bills for us to inspire kids.

Joe J.