Local government ordinance hampers Beatty finances.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Check out this latest headline
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/l...3ecc33ea8.html

This is terrible! Are there any loopholes in the ordinance? Anything we can do? I'd hate to see such a team end its FRC career like this.

[Steven Donow]

Wow, that's terrible. Sadly it looks like there probably isn't a loophole, other than flat out eliminating the law/ordinance...

[CalTran]

My jaw absolutely dropped. FIRST just wouldn't be the same without the legendary Team Hammond. 4 time World Champions just don't come along all that often.

[ratdude747]

With a team that legendary, I'd tend to think that SOMEBODY would be willing to sponsor them. Hopefully they can find a new sponsor to keep the team going.

[Billfred]

I hope the fine folks on 71 find a way to make it happen. You don't win four world titles and not develop some roots in the community.

That said: Remember kids, if it can happen to Team Hammond, it can happen to you. Always have a continuity plan for situations like this.

[Jay O'Donnell]

This is truly devastating for team 71 and it's students. Let's hope something happens in their favor soon! I hope their amazing legacy contributes to them getting a major sponsor. They are truly one of the greatest teams in FIRST.

[David Kelly]

Another example of overzelous government officials intruding on the people. I hope the kids and team can find funding, if the ordinance cant be overturned.

[Tristan Lall]

Originally Posted by David Kelly

Another example of overzelous government officials intruding on the people. I hope the kids and team can find funding, if the ordinance cant be overturned.

Is it particularly overzealous for a democratic government to respond to a perceived problem by enacting an ordinance? There's a fair debate to be had about the effectiveness of this ban at combatting theft by scavengers (which appears to be the impetus for the law), but as an imposition on "the people" in general, it's trivial at best. While the ban may have a significant negative impact on Beatty Mfg. in particular, it nevertheless strikes me as somewhat manipulative for the company to tie the fortunes of tne town's prized robotics program to this thoroughly mundane political dispute. If they think that advances the objectives of the company (particularly in the short term, if they don't have much cash on hand) then it's their prerogative to do so. I just hope they're prepared to deal with the longer-term social ramifications of their gamesmanship.

[Joe G.]

Although I can't pretend to know all the details in play here, it does seem a little odd that this is is being presented as an "all or nothing" scenario. Surely a company that has such a long history with FRC, and such a close relationship with their team, can find a way to continue to provide some support, even if cuts have to be made. Surely in a turbulent economy, similar challenges have been faced and overcome before.

No matter what happens though, I hope team Hammond finds a way to continue providing the inspiring dominance to FRC as only they can.

[LeelandS]

Forget for a moment the world championships. Forget the amazing robots. Imagine that it boils down to just another FRC team shutting down. That... is unacceptable in any circle.

Bring back in the years and years of legacy, the awards, the robots, the championships. And FRC could be losing one of the greatest teams of all time. A team that, over 15 years, has inspired at least hundreds of students on the team with the message of FIRST, and, with their legacy of domination and outstanding performances, have inspired students, mentors and teams as a whole through out the FIRST world. Not just the City of Hammond. Now just the State of Indiana. Not just the United States of America. Not just North America. 71 has inspired teams worldwide with their standard of excellence. And to lose that. To cut that legacy off. It would be tragedy.

If there is any way the FIRST community can help, I hope it is made known sooner rather than later. I'd put in the effort if it meant one of the most inspiring teams in FIRST could keep on inspiring.

[dodar]

Originally Posted by LeelandS

Forget for a moment the world championships. Forget the amazing robots. Imagine that it boils down to just another FRC team shutting down. That... is unacceptable in any circle.

Bring back in the years and years of legacy, the awards, the robots, the championships. And FRC could be losing one of the greatest teams of all time. A team that, over 15 years, has inspired at least hundreds of students on the team with the message of FIRST, and, with their legacy of domination and outstanding performances, have inspired students, mentors and teams as a whole through out the FIRST world. Not just the City of Hammond. Now just the State of Indiana. Not just the United States of America. Not just North America. 71 has inspired teams worldwide with their standard of excellence. And to lose that. To cut that legacy off. It would be tragedy.

If there is any way the FIRST community can help, I hope it is made known sooner rather than later. I'd put in the effort if it meant one of the most inspiring teams in FIRST could keep on inspiring.

Not making a slight to any other team, but if there ever was a team that FIRST and their leading bodies would ever need to jump in for and try to keep alive, I think most would say 71 has earned that right.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by dodar

Not making a slight to any other team, but if there ever was a team that FIRST and their leading bodies would ever need to jump in for and try to keep alive, I think most would say 71 has earned that right.

FIRST has sat by and watched Hall of Fame teams go dark for on reason or another and done nothing. There will be no bailout coming. Sadly 71 is on their own.

[dodar]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

FIRST has sat by and watched Hall of Fame teams go dark for on reason or another and done nothing. There will be no bailout coming. Sadly 71 is on their own.

What other HoF teams have faced a similiar situation to this and not come out the other side?

[BigJ]

Originally Posted by dodar

What other HoF teams have faced a similiar situation to this and not come out the other side?

Preliminary comparison of HoF vs TBA shows Team 22 (HoF 2001) not having played since 2006. I did not check to see if there were playing lapses in the other teams who did play this year.