paper: Growth of FRC

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by nuggetsyl

Here the real question is when we lose a team, for whatever reason, what is the return rate? I think we are losing way too many teams because of the Chairman's award. The Chairman's award has started an arms race in FIRST. Who can start more teams (FRC, FTC, FLL).Give a man a fish and feed him for a day, teach him how to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Growth will take care of itself if FIRST keeps a good product.

I agree, a bit ... but not completely.

Starting teams is good (and should be encouraged), but the real work (and where the awards should really look into) is the sustainability of the started teams. If 75% of them fail after the first year, is that really what we want?

Creating fewer, but more sustainable, teams in the long run will provide FIRST with a far better base than starting 100s of unsustainable teams with no plan to become sustainable.

I'd love the Chairmans award judges to start asking about business plans for the teams that were started and how those plans will make the teams sustainable for the forseeable future.

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by Daniel_LaFleur

I'd love the Chairmans award judges to start asking about business plans for the teams that were started and how those plans will make the teams sustainable for the forseeable future.

This does happen and the existence of a comprehensive business plan was a feature in at least one Chairman's speech this year.

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

This does happen and the existence of a comprehensive business plan was a feature in at least one Chairman's speech this year.

I've heard from many veteran teams (we talked to many of them this year as it was our first year with a chairmans submission) and many stated that the number of FLL/FTC teams started was the most important aspect, not the quality/sustainability of said teams. This made me a bit concerned as to the motives for creating FLL/FTC teams.

It's good to hear that others are also concerned about sustainability.