FIRST on decline in Massachusetts

[patrickrd]

I was looking at the list of teams in Massachusetts this year, and noticed that the number is much smaller than it used to be! There used to be close to 40 teams, now the number is down to 28.

Further, although I was never on this team, the team in my hometown of Charlton (#105 the Cowbots!) no longer exists

I am just wondering if anyone can explain this negative trend, or comment on why their team may not be signed up anymore.

- Patrick

[Gabriel]

I don't know. I think we'll probably pick up a few more teams before December 5th but we might lose some as well. I know Western Mass. has very few teams. We're the only team from Berkshire County and we still don't know if we'll be able to compete. Maybe its the economy - it has been very difficult raising money and some of the companies we've talked to have said that they're struggling. In our area there is very little engineering/manufacturing going on. Maybe its because the UTC Regional has shrunk (or thats a result). I'm new to the area so I can't offer too much insight but I definitely would like to know.

[Rpifirst]

Well as for the cowbots i know that they stopped fist to do battle bots IQ. But they have stayed involved by running their lego league tournament king of the hill.

[generalbrando]

BU can account for an extra team now. We merged with a rookie from last year (I'm sorry, I can't remember the number). Maybe there are other teams doing the same?

[David Kelly]

This is the exact trend we are trying to prevent in Indiana. A group of us (Amanda Morrison, Amanda Aldridge, Josh Hambright, and myself) are working to make IndianaFIRST a 501(c)3 organization to help to retain the teams in Indiana, start new teams, and bring more attention to the state. Its going to be a long and hard process, but it's defentally going to pay off. If you are interrested in seeing what we are trying to do you can check out this thread on the IndianaFIRST forums and some of the other treads.

We hope that this will help us to get big corporations behind us and FIRST to help out the less forturnate teams.

[Ken Leung]

Originally posted by David Kelly
This is the exact trend we are trying to prevent in Indiana. A group of us (Amanda Morrison, Amanda Aldridge, Josh Hambright, and myself) are working to make IndianaFIRST a 501(c)3 organization to help to retain the teams in Indiana, start new teams, and bring more attention to the state. Its going to be a long and hard process, but it's defentally going to pay off.

At the risk of making this off topic, I am going to respond to this.

You are right in that it takes a huge amount of work to get 501(c)3 status. I've witness the WRRF 501(c)3 application process, and it is not easy. The bylaws, structure of the organization, roles of officer, terms of office, and voting methods are part of the things you have to figure out. And it's not just an application you have to do. You really have to run an organization and run it well. It takes so much time you may have to give up some FIRST activities.

Having said that, it is helpful to have a non-profit organization, if you run it well. Although money won't rain out of the sky, you will be able to use the 501c3 status to accept donations for teams, among other benefits. However, you have to ask yourself these questions:

What do you aim to do with your organization?
What goals you aim to accomplish you can't do without 501c3 status?
What goals you aim to accomplish you CAN do without 501c3 status?
Do you have the necessary people to fill the officer slots all the time?

These are just some of the few questions you should think about.

My first suggestion is ask someone who has started a non-profit before to help with this process, so you don't have to reinvent the wheel.


Now that I think of this, maybe this really do belong in another thread.

[Jax88]

I would say the reason for such a decline is definitely the budget crisis. Not to be so negative, but money is being cut everywhere, and the state itself is crunched for money. If teams don't have a real stoic sponsor (who also happens to have really deep pockets) it can lead to a lot of trouble... a lot of schools that have never had a team also don't know about FIRST. It's okay though, Massachusetts will come back around and hopefully we'll see a rising trend soon!!!

-Jackie
Team 88

[Michael R. Lee]

Which is why we want to start MassFIRST to correct this problem of lack of funding amongst many others.

[bmurch2002]

Originally Posted by patrickrd

I was looking at the list of teams in Massachusetts this year, and noticed that the number is much smaller than it used to be! There used to be close to 40 teams, now the number is down to 28.

Further, although I was never on this team, the team in my hometown of Charlton (#105 the Cowbots!) no longer exists

I am just wondering if anyone can explain this negative trend, or comment on why their team may not be signed up anymore.

- Patrick

Hi,
Allow me to introduce you to MASSCAT inc. We are the Massachusetts affiliate of Hightechkids, hopefully we will be the shot in the arm that the Massachusetts FLL need to get back on track. Our website www.masscatkids.org is still under construction, but should be completely functional by April 30th 2004. Meanwhile please visit www.hightechkids.org. if any is interested in participating in the new growth contact me at bmurch@masscatkids.org.

[_GP_]

Originally Posted by patrickrd

I was looking at the list of teams in Massachusetts this year, and noticed that the number is much smaller than it used to be! There used to be close to 40 teams, now the number is down to 28.

Further, although I was never on this team, the team in my hometown of Charlton (#105 the Cowbots!) no longer exists

I am just wondering if anyone can explain this negative trend, or comment on why their team may not be signed up anymore.

- Patrick

well there are a few reasons... the state itself its constantly having budget problems.... in our town our school has had to get a budget overide for the past 3 years... so we get absolutely no school funding

and when it come to funding there are alot of tech companies in mass, but they are very focused in certain areas... western mass doesnt have nearly as much as the east does. I also found some companies unwilling to support a program that is not centered in a community that its facilities are in... and when you live in a small town with no major companies... thats a real hard thing to overcome

beyond that i cant say... but there is hope.... our team was one of 4 rookies can think of in the state and with the economy on the up hopefully we can get more going

[Adam Y.]

well there are a few reasons... the state itself its constantly having budget problems.... in our town our school has had to get a budget overide for the past 3 years... so we get absolutely no school funding

Can't be as bad as New Yorks budget problem. The state has not be able to agree on a budget for as long as some people on this forum has been alive.

[Joshua May]

Originally Posted by Adam Y.

Can't be as bad as New Yorks budget problem. The state has not be able to agree on a budget for as long as some people on this forum has been alive.

I'd have to say California's must be worse. We don't even have textbooks that are all that new (yet we somehow can get a huge Press Box on the list of things to do). We don't get any school funding either.

[Adam Y.]

I'd have to say California's must be worse. We don't even have textbooks that are all that new (yet we somehow can get a huge Press Box on the list of things to do). We don't get any school funding either.

Well actually our school does sponser our team though the state does not really help us.

[BillyGoats]

Team 61 has been around for 10 years. Even tho this might be our last... Its been a great 4yrs for me and i know a great 10 years for the team. Hopefully they come back for a 11th!

[Pat Roche]

Originally Posted by Michael R. Lee

Which is why we want to start MassFIRST to correct this problem of lack of funding amongst many others.

I had mentioned something similar to my team at one point for the entire New England region because I know that many teams in the NE region have financial trouble, mine included. The reason I believe the decline is occuring is because business is going else where....ok yea we have Boston and a few other larger economic areas but once your out in the country (at least the area I live) theres only small companies. I can speak for my team in saying that if BAE hadnt given us the grant this year we would not have competed.

-Pat