Starting New Teams

[Wayne C.]

Here's a point for consideration:

Last spring our team was asked by our corporate sponsor to look into forming other teams in the towns of their regional facilities. The offer was for major funding, a technical crew- the whole shebang. As the teacher advisor and central person on the educational side of our team it was put to me to find a school to become this new team. I called the administrations of several local HS in the appropriate areas and made the offer expecting that they would jump at the deal. My team made presentations at a local college seminar for starting tech teams which included schools in the area. It would literally mean tens of thousands of dollars of support for their schools.
Imagine my surprise when not one of these districts followed up with a call back.
So my question is- do other FIRST teams out there have such problems with schools and school personnel turning down these offers? Out here it looks like people with the motivation to get involved are few and far between!

I would be interested in hearing your views on how to start new teams or how your team originated. And if anybody in the Trenton, NJ/Lawrenceville area is looking to get started......

WC