Decline of GTR Attendance

[Travis Hoffman]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

Don't forget 1511.
They won the regional in 2005.

Well heck let's add in Chuck 84 since we were finalists with them and 1503 that same year. Best use of our 2005 robot ever. Only use of our 2005 robot, ever. There were no other highlights for 48's robot that year save for the Karthik and Amanda Morrison all-star mentor drive team match from IRI, which as far as I know, does not exist on tape, unfortunately. That would have been a great IRI talent show comedy skit all by itself.

I already said 229, but I remember working with a really young mentor named JVN at the Canadian Regional back in 2002 - that was a fun time.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by Travis Hoffman

I believe bussed students on a trip can still get away with birth certificates alone (corroboration?), but most team advisors are reluctant to go through the passport application process.

Land/Sea Travel

Beginning June 1, 2009

* U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry are required to have documents that comply with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), most commonly a U.S. passport, a passport card, a trusted traveler card such as NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST, or an enhanced driver's license.

(taken from HERE)

Note that "Birth Certificate" is not listed.

As to why anyone wouldn't want to get a passport: I'm astounded. You can't go anywhere outside the US without one (well, you can't get back IN to the us without one... ), it's under $100, you can go to almost ANY Post Office to apply, and it's good for 10 years. Personally, I always use my passport for travel, even domestically, since it's almost unimpeachable.

When 1676 visited GTR 2 years ago, we had every kid get a passport (all the adults had one already) even though a birth certificate was adequate. We waited maybe 15 minutes at the border coming back in, no problems at all.

As for the OP, I think that some teams found their budgets a little bit shorter this year as well.

[Molten]

Originally Posted by Don Rotolo

As to why anyone wouldn't want to get a passport: I'm astounded. You can't go anywhere outside the US without one

I think I can explain this. I don't want to go anywhere outside the US. In all fairness, I don't care to go to most of the places within the US. It's not that there's anything wrong with those places. I just don't care to go to them. Partly laziness, partly because I like home too much. I've traveled a reasonable amount on family vacations. Saw the Niagara Falls once from both sides...got really wet...never care to go there again.(sorry, just don't like getting that wet)

My point: I really am not trying to insult any place in particular...it's just that none of them are home.

A question to any that can answer it: How do you explain that you can't take the robot out of the bag? I understand with VEX you can show them the robot(might be wrong), but with FRC you can't really do that. How do you prove to them there aren't explosives or something?

[Rick TYler]

Originally Posted by Molten

A question to any that can answer it: How do you explain that you can't take the robot out of the bag?

If the border security people say, "Take it out of the bag and show it to me" you take it out and show it to them. FIRST rules don't make any difference at all to law enforcement.