New FIRST competition structure in Michigan

[GaryVoshol]

In addition to what Jim said, Michigan had the experience of the Kettering Rookie event. This proved that a dedicated band of volunteers could put on a quality event. Maybe not all the bells and whistles that you get at a full-blown high-cost regional. But a quality experience.

I was not involved in any of the planning, but heard of it a few weeks before it was announced. It was not a state secret; I was not sworn to secrecy by those who I was talking to; no one said "If I tell you, I'll have to kill you." You just use your normal discretion, not blabbing it to the whole world until all the details have been finalized.

Because I was not part of the planning, I don't know this for sure: but those who took part in making this happen surely would not be so remiss to have not asked the Kettering participants what they thought. In fact, the mentors of at least two of those rookie teams have posted here. It wasn't done in a smoke-filled back room, by only the elite of the elite.

Also, if anyone paid attention, many of the aspects of this program were included in the survey that went out to all teams. Every team had an opportunity to put in some form of input.