Tier 1 teams

[Alaina]

Joseph:
Just because Napa is surrounded by vineyards doesn't mean each citizen owns one...Let me tell you, my family is so far from financially stable it's not even funny. Last year I got a job, and I paid my own way through robotics.
Usually the cost to Atlanta is made in 2 or 3 payments, so that makes it a little bit easier. We don't ask team parents for money, I don't like that idea very much...But extra fundraising (what a concept ) would be good to lower the cost of each individual.


thewizard16:
I never said that a person's financial status should limit their participation in FIRST. I know that if an individual is in need of help there are others willing to help. Most of the time the school helps out. I don't know how but some teams manage to fund raise enough so people don't have to pay much at all...



I fully understand what both of you are saying. I hope I didn't come across as some kind of snob. In all seriousness, I come from a very low-class family. But I work really hard to be able to participate in FIRST. I know that some people work harder than me, and I know that some people don't. I wasn't saying that the people on my team have money to spare. I was more trying to say that it is disappointing to see an entire team pass up a chance for Atlanta because of the price tag when there's even still time to fundraise. Meh.

[bhweezer]

Originally Posted by Alaina

My team always pays their own way. Last year it was around $370. The year before that, when we qualifiied just a few weeks before Houston, it was $600. Everybody was perfectly willing to pay.
Money is not a factor, experiencing a FIRST Championship event is priceless.
I'm really sorry your team doesn't find it necessary to go. That's the only persuading thing I can say...

I feel lucky. The students on our team have never had to pay our own way. We get all of our money through a golf tournament. We go out and get sponsers for the tounament and keep a portion of what we earn (usually $10 for every $100 we earn).

[Bill Gold]

Originally Posted by JosephM

Mabey I'm just baised because you guys are in beautiful Napa, but here in Richmond we have kids who can't even pay $100 for part of the bus trip, let alone $370. Even a certain rich school that has a team near us is having trouble getting people to plop down $50 up front, and last year each kid had to pay their way to Champs.

I don't want to argue, but instead open you eyes a bit, if ya know what I mean....

That post really set me off when I saw it earlier tonight, but I didn’t immediately respond. Even now I don’t really know what to say, but here goes…

Wow. One assumption after on CD another today?

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...threadid=31472

<sarcasm>What is it, "everyone spout out nonsensical, offensive, judgmental statements" day?</sarcasm>

Just because people live in California, or a certain part of California that’s famous doesn’t mean that they’re swimming around in more cash than they know what to do with. Here in California the cost of living is sky high, and jobs are being lost left and right (and replaced with low paying part-time jobs) due to the stagnant economy, the outsourcing of jobs, and reorganization of corporate assets. There is also a high bankruptcy rate in our area. I should know, since my parents and many friends of mine are debtors’ attorneys in the Silicon Valley. There are quite a few teams in California whose students can’t afford to travel with their team to events; it’s not a situation that’s removed from our state. My old team, The Sea Dawgs’, students couldn’t afford to travel to Sacramento (just 2h away from San Jose), and even if I drove the kids and we split 2 hotel rooms. Luckily (depending on how you look at the situation), we didn’t really have this problem since we couldn’t muster the funds to register for a second event in 2003 or 2004. We were a team in San Jose, the heart of the Silicon Valley, and we couldn’t come up with those funds as individuals or as a team, and we sure as heck weren’t the only ones with that problem.

So, I would definitely say it’s because you’re biased that you would tell someone from Napa (which has the same economic troubles as the Silicon Valley) to open their eyes to the economic strife of another area. Yes, parts of Napa are beautiful, just like parts of Virginia are beautiful, but that really doesn’t reflect the economic cross-section of those areas. I was offended by that comment, and I, personally, think you should apologize for it.

-Bill Gold

[StangMan]

Wildstang (0111) will be going to Nationals this season (2005)

[Steve Howland]

Alas, I could not convince 571 to sign up for nationals at this point due to lack of funding and enthusiasm from the team. I am disappointed that we didn't take this opportunity but wish other teams the best of luck should we not show up (there is still the possibility of earning our way there through a regional, but once again funding is a problem).

[techtiger1]

Originally Posted by Alaina

I didn't know FIRST would open Championship registration to Tier 1 teams!
Now I have to scramble to get more monies!!!

Is this a surprise to anyone else or is it just me? =\

Definitely a surprise and yes we gotta come up with some money now as well.

[Stephen Kowski]

Originally Posted by Alaina

Is this a surprise to anyone else or is it just me? =\

Nah they did it last year if my memory serves me....