Arizona gets half million to create new teams!

[Ken Loyd]

I am excited that Arizona has received a grant for new FIRST teams. I would like to see a FRC team in every high school. There is another side to the grant. We lost two of our sponsors this year. Both of them told us that they were shifting the funds to other activities since the grant money is available. The grant money is available only to new teams. Veteran teams are left to fend for themselves. Each year it gets a little harder to raise the funds necessary to not only compete but also assist the new teams. Once again, I am all in favor of growth, but not at the expense of losing the foundation of FIRST, the veteran teams. Publicity that is good for some teams, may not be as good for others.

Ken

[robostangs548]

nice job, keep up the good work!

[chelznkim]

If anybody has any other ideas on how to go about a letter to the government, please ket me know.

[falconmaster]

Originally Posted by Ken Loyd

I am excited that Arizona has received a grant for new FIRST teams. I would like to see a FRC team in every high school. There is another side to the grant. We lost two of our sponsors this year. Both of them told us that they were shifting the funds to other activities since the grant money is available. The grant money is available only to new teams. Veteran teams are left to fend for themselves. Each year it gets a little harder to raise the funds necessary to not only compete but also assist the new teams. Once again, I am all in favor of growth, but not at the expense of losing the foundation of FIRST, the veteran teams. Publicity that is good for some teams, may not be as good for others.

Ken

We lost sponsors too. We have to go out and get new ones, Yes is it hard. We also have an immigration stigma to contend with because of our school, some sponsors pulled out because they did not wanted to be associated with a school that in known for its undocumented students doing well. Some potential sponsors don't want to even considering sponsoring us. You just have to keep on fighting. I understand your frustration, but growing FIRST is important too.

[chelznkim]

If you guys have any tips on how to start a letter to our legislature then please give us some pointers!

[kE7JLM]

I am part of Team 842 and I think we had 3500, more than all the other states add together. We wound not have been able to without many hours of work. But it was all worth it!