The President gets it !!!!

[laurenlacy]

Originally Posted by Kims Robot

Now Im not against FIRST getting governement funding, but seeing this country fall into a recession and take the whole world with it, Ive got my fingers crossed that we hit the low point already and we dont see anything worse. ... the first thing on our President's mind wont and shouldnt be funding the FIRST program.

I agree with this completely... I also think that while some of you have said that FIRST deserves more government funding or all of that, yes, perhaps they do but they have also at the same time created for themselves a somewhat cost prohibitive program. I am speaking mostly on an FRC level--I do a lot with trying to raise money for teams and a regional, and at least for the regional I speak of we are spending almost 170 dollars for every student attending the regional or 75 for every single person who attends. That doesn't even get to the teams part, the cost of running and funding a team. I firmly believe that a lot of the inspiration comes from the FRC program, I am a product of that. However when people are saying that FIRST deserves this money etc etc, it has to be backed up with fact. I know I am someone who would have never considered a career in engineering without the program, but as far as those I've talked to go (and I've made many friends through FIRST), it seems that many FRC participants are students who would already be pursuing a technical career.

Then, perhaps, we need to focus on what FIRST truly stands for -- For Inspiration and Recognition of science and technology. And I think that part is definitely working. It's not all about churning out scientists and engineers, and while yes that is great I think many of us are losing sight of what FIRST really is about--changing a culture, celebrating science and technology. To that end is where I think you can really justify the costs associated with the program--because that's where I think you are seeing the change. And it can be backed up... politicians, influential media figures, former presidents are coming to our competitions. Little by little people are "getting it". And president Obama's acknowledgment of our need for more scientists and engineers is a great example of this. I would challenge FIRST to come up with ways to keep the inspiration, but maybe cut down on the cost. It's only if programs like FRC are available to everyone that we'll really see change. I'm happy we have a president who "gets it", and as a FIRST community we need to continue to show those like president Obama how awesome our program is, and what it does for our communities and our culture. It's not just about becoming a scientist or an engineer--it's about celebrating science and engineering, no matter what career you choose to pursue.

[Molten]

Jane and all: I was by no means trying to discourage such conversation. I was just suggesting that perhaps it would be better suited in a thread specifically for that situation.

Afterall, there's a thread for everything and everything in it's thread.

[cheesehead97]

Has anybody invited someone else to nationals?