pic: Districts in Minnesota Flyer

[Monochron]

Maybe I'm taking crazy pills, but the "intent behind the flyer" seems perfectly clear to me and, actually, no one has really stated it yet. It looks like the intent is to

"Educate those familiar with FRC on the benefits to them in the District model in order to drum up grassroots support for a move to Districts."

That last part seems to be what people are overlooking (and perhaps forgetting to say in their anger?). I am guessing that the writers are looking to use an attractive flying to hook more people into the conversation about districts. They won't enter that conversation fully informed because the writers of the flyer know that that is now how people enter into public forums. I would love it if people entered all public forums fully informed of the nuances of issues, but that is unfortunately a very rare thing.
Their intent is to draw more people into the conversation. A flyer that details the arguments and counterarguments of either side isn't going to hold the attention of the masses like the one they created has.

Let's imagine someone reads the full flyer and believes it all as presented, assuming there are no downsides (similar to what people have suggested here). What is the last thing that the flyer asks them to do? To join the discussion! I am unfamiliar with how far "the discussion" has gotten in MN, but contacting the RPC about it seems like a good first step if that discussion hasn't started yet. And if it really hasn't started yet (not agreeing to transition, but earnestly discussing what it would take / pros and cons), then contacting the RPC may be the best way to start it.

No one believes that a bunch of people wanting Districts will just make it happen, but if enough people join the conversation, progress could be made.

[gblake]

Originally Posted by Monochron

...
"Educate those familiar with FRC on the benefits to them in the District model in order to drum up grassroots support for a move to Districts."
...

Your assessment seems to include an assumption that "drumming up grassroots support" is needed, and that without it MN folks might not begin carrying out a plan to implement "Districts".

If what you read in this thread led you make that assumption, that's understandable, but it shouldn't have. That's a wrong assumption.

Certainly any region's FRC teams will want to be educated consumers of, participants in , and/or contributors to their region's overall FRC program; but from what I hear, neither actual or hydroponic grassroots urging is needed to get this ball rolling. It's already rolling.

Blake

[cadandcookies]

Originally Posted by gblake

Your assessment seems to include an assumption that "drumming up grassroots support" is needed, and that without it MN folks might not begin carrying out a plan to implement "Districts".

If what you read in this thread led you make that assumption, it shouldn't have. It's a wrong assumption.

Certainly any region's FRC teams will want to be educated consumers of, participants in , and/or contributors to their region's overall FRC program; but from what I hear, neither actual or astroturf grassroots urging is needed to get this ball rolling. It's already rolling.

Blake

I promised myself I wouldn't get heated in here again, but I want to be clear: the majority of Minnesota is not aware if the ball is rolling. I would actually hazard a guess that most people don't even know there is a ball. We had a lovely chat about related topics privately, but the lack of communication regarding districts is a large part of why people think that flyers like this are necessary. You can claim that the ball is already rolling, but the fact is, as far as most people from MN are concerned, you're just some guy in Virginia making unsubstantiated claims about the state of districts here (which directly conflict with their experience). The people who most need convincing are the people who are least likely to believe you.

[gblake]

Originally Posted by cadandcookies

I promised myself I wouldn't get heated in here again, but I want to be clear: the majority of Minnesota is not aware if the ball is rolling. I would actually hazard a guess that most people don't even know there is a ball. We had a lovely chat about related topics privately, but the lack of communication regarding districts is a large part of why people think that flyers like this are necessary. You can claim that the ball is already rolling, but the fact is, as far as most people from MN are concerned, you're just some guy in Virginia making unsubstantiated claims about the state of districts here (which directly conflict with their experience). The people who most need convincing are the people who are least likely to believe you.

I'm repeating what I have been told, because I believe it is true; and because I hope that anyone in MN who is interested will check to see if I'm right.

Checking to see if I'm right should be an easy thing to do, if people are willing to communicate with each other.

Blake
PS: Any of those folks you are referring to, who wants to ask me any question, is welcome to send me a PM.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Jon,
It is easy to lump teams together into one group but the reasons behind teams that are no longer in FRC is varied. One of the biggest is the reduction of money for anything but essential programs in school districts that are strapped for money. I can point to Chief Delphi and Huskie Brigade as one of those examples. Several Chicago Public School teams have disbanded as staff were reduced and schools closed. In many of these schools/school districts programs like band and orchestra have been eliminated as well. In smaller schools, getting a faculty member to take the team is also an issue as administrators are required to make decisions regarding what programs benefit the greatest number of students. Some schools that had multiple teams went down to just one. Some schools closed.
Money is also a factor, but considering the economic times we have weathered, I am actually surprised at the retention. The downturn in 2009 really hurt but we still kept a surprising number of teams.

[Knufire]

Originally Posted by gblake

Your assessment seems to include an assumption that "drumming up grassroots support" is needed, and that without it MN folks might not begin carrying out a plan to implement "Districts".

Given my knowledge prior to the regional, based on acquaintances experiences with the MN RPC, and my firsthand experience with the RPC during the event, this was my assessment.

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

It is easy to lump teams together into one group but the reasons behind teams that are no longer in FRC is varied.

I agree Al. Slide six of this presentation has a breakdown of major reasons why the 10 teams in Indiana that did not reregister in 2014-2015 left the program: http://indianafirst.rarebirdinc.com/...esentation.pdf

[gblake]

Originally Posted by Knufire

Given my knowledge prior to the regional, based on acquaintances experiences with the MN RPC, and my firsthand experience with the RPC during the event, this was my assessment.
...

OK - For many reasons that's understandable.

Getting confusion like that sorted out is good for everyone involved.

Blake

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by Knufire

Given my knowledge prior to the regional, based on acquaintances experiences with the MN RPC, and my firsthand experience with the RPC during the event, this was my assessment.



I agree Al. Slide six of this presentation has a breakdown of major reasons why the 10 teams in Indiana that did not reregister in 2014-2015 left the program: http://indianafirst.rarebirdinc.com/...esentation.pdf

Thanks for posting that. I'd like to point out page 8 of that presentation and the costs.

Under the Regional System they spent $245,000 producing 2 Regionals. Presumably all of that money was raised locally and FIRST did not have to step in to cover any short fall, but I do not know that for certain.

Under their first year in the District System they spent $90,000 producing 3 District events and the DCMP. They did also spend $23,000 on capitol expenditures and $40,000 on administrative costs for a grand total of $154,000 but $49,000 of that came from FIRST via their $1000 per team that the district serves.

So for this season it looks as though they only had to raise aprox $100,000 to cover the cost of the events and the administrative costs. Now some of that was likely due to the fact that the great people of AndyMark provided the use of a field perimeter and their facility for the shipping and recieving of the field elements, game pieces, awards, FMS, spare parts ect. I'm guessing that they also acted as the storage point for between events and in the off season, however they typically stored a field or two complete with the FMS so that those that want to have an off season event have a closer place to ship it from and back too.

So to recap even with the capitol expenditures in their first year they reduced their costs to ~43% of what was spent in the Regional system. Most of those capitol items will last for many seasons, some maybe in excess of 10 years. Yes there will be some replacements along the way but however you cut it in the long run it will be much cheaper than all the rental equipment that would have been required and of course were a part of the Regional budget.

Under the District System they spent

[maxnz]

Originally Posted by cadandcookies

The majority of Minnesota is not aware if the ball is rolling. I would actually hazard a guess that most people don't even know there is a ball. We had a lovely chat about related topics privately, but the lack of communication regarding districts is a large part of why people think that flyers like this are necessary. You can claim that the ball is already rolling

I 100% agree with this. If we could make the process public, then people would know what to do to help get to the goal. Not trying to say that the RPC and MNFIRST are doing a bad job or anything, but it would be nice if it was more like how Frank has made FIRST.

[Monochron]

Originally Posted by gblake

Your assessment seems to include an assumption that "drumming up grassroots support" is needed, and that without it MN folks might not begin carrying out a plan to implement "Districts".

If what you read in this thread led you make that assumption, that's understandable, but it shouldn't have. That's a wrong assumption.

It does not include that assumption. I was trying to describe the intent of the flyer makers. As I am in the NC District, I fully understand that grassroots support is not needed (it was nearly sprung on most of us in the 2015 build season). I do, however, think that it could be useful. Especially if there is a sizable group who oppose Districts in MN, or if no public discussion is happening there. If the state as a whole is already well underway discussing if and how it could be done, the people in this thread have hid that fact pretty well.