A Better Competition

[Tonya Scott 476]

Hello Everyone,

I wanted to share some ideas I have about a better competition system.

My husband & oldest daughter recently attended the National FFA convention in Louisville. This convention has a trade show, a store, and lots of seminars, famous guest speakers, and workshops.

I have also attended a National Science Teachers Convention. (NSTA) in New Orleans no less!
This convention had loads of learning short courses, workshops, seminars etc etc. A huge trade show, local tours to local industry, etc. The NSTA also produces a "convention newspaper" that has all of these schedules so a person can plan and map the coursed they want to attend.

My team brought up the question about going to Atlanta regardless if we qualified or not, just to see the competition. Well, I know the answer my school administrators will probably give us---No, why should you go?

Now, what if we had a convention, trade show put on by all the sponsors (and potential sponsors), store of FIRST products, and lots of workshops put on by the mentors of FIRST teams. Now, if teams wanted to attend the "Championship Competition and Convention" then we would have lots of teams coming, and not only participating as a huge cheering crowd, but also learning new skills in the workshops. And........school administrators would know that the teams would be attending a national convention, just like FFA, DEKA, STEPPUP, and many other groups.

Now here is the really good part, non-competition teams adopt competing teams to help and cheer for!

All teams wanting to attend the convention would have to have a mentor or students willing to give up 2 or 3 hours for a workshop. I know that most of my mentors love to help out with teaching and would love to teach a workshop on gears, programming, fundraising, public relations/media etc etc. The non-qualifying teams would, in turn, become better teams by learning some things that will make them more competitive the next year.

The whole convention idea would also allow more mingling and interaction with other teams. My students tell me they like to meet new people, so this is it!

I also think having the "FIRST Photo Wall" set up inside with a professional photographer taking pics as an option.

I'm sure that this idea could have some better ideas that what I have given, but this is the general idea that I would like to see happening, so that when teams go to their only regional competition, and don't qualify for the Championship, then it isn't just "over". Instead the kids can look forward to going the Championship Competition and Convention and participating in the FIRST program.

Not to mention, more revenue to the city that hosts this. This would bring lots of business to the city.

It's a WIN-WIN situation in my opinion!

Thanks,