2006 KOP Wish List

[Stu Bloom]

Originally Posted by dlavery

Not to be a buzzkill, but where was all this discussion when we needed it back in the early summer? Anyone remember this thread and it's companions? At this point, the Kit Of Parts is locked and sealed, and there will not be any more change this year. Ideas about the KOP content, if you are serious about the suggestions, should be collected and provided as feedback after the upcoming season - after you have a chance to see what is in the 2006 KOP and have a chance to react to it appropriately. Then you can provide them via any similar threads that are started next summer or - more appropriately - at the summer team forums.

-dave

Thanks Dave, I completely understand. I did not mean to suggest that any of my thoughts could be implemented for this year (I believe I saw somewhere that the kits were already packed and palletized for shipment). In fact I have no clue about the costs associated with putting the kit together (purchases, donations, packing, storage, shipping ... etc). And I won't pretend to understand any of the financial details of FIRST.

But when it was suggested that we should consider the financial impact of the additional items we were asking for in this thread it seemed to follow that the reverse was worthy of discussion. I would think that every dollar that is taken out of the kit could be transferred directly back to the teams via an equal reduction of registration fees .... NET change in overall cost to FIRST = ZERO. Savings to teams would come from the fact that we are not "paying for" 10 different size sprockets (or gears, bearings, widgets, whatever ...) while only using one or two ... or NONE. Actually FIRST could potentially realize a small savings in administrative costs from managing (procurement, storage, packing, shipping, etc...) a smaller and simpler kit.

I am frustrated that every year my team struggles financially just to be able to participate at all. I believe this program is SO good for everyone involved that it shouldn't be this difficult. Each year there are many veteran teams unable to return, and I am sure a significant number of those are due to the difficulty in sustaining the level of financial support needed to continue. I feel anything that can be done to reduce that burden should be pursued.

I know we will all be very happy with the kit contents this year, as usual. My comments are meant for future consideration in search of ways we might improve. I will definitely make sure that I bring this up at the "team forum" session I attend.

Sorry to continue this thread off-topic , so to get back on topic ...
What I would like to add to the KOP wish list is a pile of cash equal to the reduced cost to FIRST resulting from the elimination of any non-FIRST-required/specific parts.