California District Proposal

[Michael Corsetto]

Hello CD Community,

I've prepared a proposal for bringing the District Model to California.

Here is the California Districts Proposal document.

Here is a "Districts 101/Q&A" document

Here are some finance estimates.

Unfortunately, many people on the Golden Coast do not understand districts, or have heard vastly exaggerated information regarding the resources required. These documents aim to educate on what Districts are, and what it could mean for California.

Please let me know what you think, what information needs to be updated, and, if you feel like it, please share these documents with your friends/teams.

Thanks for your time.

-Mike

[Rangel(kf7fdb)]

I would very much like to say thanks to you and everyone else who helped work on these documents. I could definitely see it being a great guide for other regional areas to model future proposals. I'm sure this will be a great guide and resource for California teams as well. Will definitely be studying the documents and data very thoroughly!

[DuPiMan]

Originally Posted by Rangel(kf7fdb)

I would very much like to say thanks to you and everyone else who helped work on these documents.

+1

[Lil' Lavery]

Are PODS really a viable storage and field transportation method in California? I believe there's only one event where MAR PODS have to travel in excess of an hour from their usual storage locations*. Can PODS scale to a much larger geographic area for California without too much additional cost? Delivery rates for PODS are based on mileage. That concern is compounded further by any field specifics/FMS equipment shipped to/from Manchester each year.


*Some event-to-event trips may be longer, depending on schedule

[Michael Corsetto]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

Are PODS really a viable storage and field transportation method in California? I believe there's only one event where MAR PODS have to travel in excess of an hour from their usual storage locations. Can PODS scale to a much larger geographic area for California without too much additional cost? Delivery rates for PODS are based on mileage. That concern is compounded further by any field specifics/FMS equipment shipped to/from Manchester each year.

Sean,

You bring up a very good point.

FIRST California currently moves our field in PODS to offseason events. If I remember correctly, the entire 2015 field was packed into one POD. Unfortunately, I am not privy to what we currently pay for that service. I was going off estimates I could get from other districts.

Very good point. Thanks!

-Mike

[Mark Sheridan]

Great resource. A good read. I will make sure we go over this document when the Orange County teams meets next.

[frcguy]

I echo everyone else's comments about how well written and prepared the documents are. Great job with them! I really hope this is what gets the ball rolling on districts in CA.

[Cory]

My understanding is CA FIRST has a deal negotiated with PODS where they pay a very reasonable flat fee for delivery and pickup of the pod.

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by Cory

My understanding is CA FIRST has a deal negotiated with PODS where they pay a very reasonable flat fee for delivery and pickup of the pod.

This is my understanding as well.

Based on last year's experience, the PODS worked extremely well for both storage of the field(s) as well as transportation of them. I hope FIRST CA can continue our relationship with PODS. They have really made the process of moving the field from event to event a non issue.

[EricH]

If I can point something out here:

The folks who prepared this document are all from NorCal. And, in my experience, FIRST California tends to be more focused on NorCal.

Were any SoCal folks involved? Because, I'm going to say this once, there is significant opposition in high places down here. You're preaching to the choir for a fair number of SoCal teams, but the higher-ups do. not. like. the idea of districts.


Not a criticism, just a question and a statement of fact.

[FarmerJohn]

Originally Posted by EricH

If I can point something out here:

The folks who prepared this document are all from NorCal. And, in my experience, FIRST California tends to be more focused on NorCal.

Were any SoCal folks involved? Because, I'm going to say this once, there is significant opposition in high places down here. You're preaching to the choir for a fair number of SoCal teams, but the higher-ups do. not. like. the idea of districts.


Not a criticism, just a question and a statement of fact.

None of the higher-ups in FIRST CA like districts, which I'm guessing is why California doesn't have them. When I first started learning about this program I was told by some regional directors that districts were a surefire way to ruin everything that we've worked so hard for. Now after spending some time learning about them myself, especially with the help of these documents, I believe the FIRST CA higher-ups have their own agenda they're trying to push that isn't necessarily in the best interest of California teams.

[Michael Corsetto]

Originally Posted by EricH

If I can point something out here:

The folks who prepared this document are all from NorCal. And, in my experience, FIRST California tends to be more focused on NorCal.

Were any SoCal folks involved? Because, I'm going to say this once, there is significant opposition in high places down here. You're preaching to the choir for a fair number of SoCal teams, but the higher-ups do. not. like. the idea of districts.


Not a criticism, just a question and a statement of fact.

Eric,

Thanks for the feedback. I understand there will be people in favor/opposed to the district model.

I hope this proposal will educated people on the district model. I have heard certain Key Volunteers in CA say things like "Districts will cost 3 million dollars the first two years" and California needs "35 Districts". And I have heard a California RD back those numbers up!

The purpose with a plan is to fact check the guesstimates and make an educated proposal for Districts.

If you don't mind, please share this with the SoCal teams you know! Education is a great start.

-Mike

Edit: To answer your question, I've had some help from a few SoCal folks, including the great folks at Code Orange!

[Rafi Ahmed]

Originally Posted by Michael Corsetto

Eric,
I hope this proposal will educated people on the district model. I have heard certain Key Volunteers in CA say things like "Districts will cost 3 million dollars the first two years" and California needs "35 Districts". And I have heard a California RD back those numbers up!

Is there a copy of the $3 million/2 years numbers somewhere? It would be interesting to compare it to your numbers and to what other districts cost.

[Lidor51]

Thanks Mike!
Except the obvious benefit for FIRST California, your work have made great resources for the entire FIRST community.

[Pauline Tasci]

I'm curious why people are under the impression we are not ready for this in the Southern Half of the state? Is it simply the lack of push on this forum exactly? The volunteers?
We have more teams in our half, with that we have potential for more volunteers.
Everyone I seem to talk to at events, from a team standpoint, seems to be in favor of the district model. They just are not vocal on forums.