Team fee?

[Beamer159]

Hey, I'm from a rookie team and we just finished our competitions this year. We just got by financially this year because of a generous grant from the state. I was wondering if it would be a good or bad idea to include a sort of "team fee" next year in order to improve our financial status. How many teams have a team fee? Is it common or uncommon. I actually have no idea since this was my rookie year.

[A_Reed]

Team 48 has a team fee system, typically around $150. But we also give the students an opportunity to work off the fee by encouraging fund raising, i.e. every x dollars raised in profit = y dollars off of the individual's fee(typically not a 1:1 Ratio). allot of students end up not having to pay a dime because of their efforts in fund raising.

[bigbeezy]

I guess you could say that we have a team fee (kind of). Basicilly we have x dollars that go toward travel (out-of-state competition, champs in ATL) and then added to that $75 as "team fee." So before anyone can earn money toward their trips they first must earn the $75 for the "team fee". Most are able to fund raise the $75 and nearly all of their travel money so few have to pay for anything more than food.

[Viper37]

Originally Posted by A_Reed

Team 48 has a team fee system, typically around $150. But we also give the students an opportunity to work off the fee by encouraging fund raising, i.e. every x dollars raised in profit = y dollars off of the individual's fee(typically not a 1:1 Ratio). allot of students end up not having to pay a dime because of their efforts in fund raising.

Our team does something very similar. It works well and is very fair across the board.

[Tomasz Bania]

Looking at the posts in this thread, I see that we pay quite alot every year.There was no join fee prior to my freshman year (afaik), but the join fee my freshmen and sophomore year was $300, and it was lowered to $200 this year. The join fee includes shirts, sportcoats, and the regionals/nationals, but does not include food or "entertainment" during the regionals/nationals. On the other hand, our team isn't a "fundraising" team, but we have GM and our school district as great sponsors, and have many other sponsors in the works.

[lukevanoort]

I don't believe we've ever had a joining fee (although I personally like the idea), but we have to pay for our hotel rooms, food, etc. We don't have to pay much for travel because we are close enough to all the events we attend to travel in private vehicles (although I did make an attempt to convince the team to go to Waterloo this year... for some reason the 13hr drive didn't appeal to them). Travel costs for VCU are usually around $120 + food; when we went to Palmetto, it was $150ish + food (I may be a bit off on this one, I don't remember very well); and the Championship was around $150 + food back in 2005, but is $200 + food this year (rising cost of hotels, I guess). The team subsidized some of the cost for Palmetto and, IIRC, the Championship this year.

[MasterChief 573]

Because of the funding our team gets from the Chrysler Foundation we don't have a "team fee". However, we have started a travel fee that ends up being $300. $75 dollars for our one out of state regional that we drive to and stay at a hotel for and $225 for the championship which we fly to.

[Libby K]

Originally Posted by Beamer159

Hey, I'm from a rookie team and we just finished our competitions this year. We just got by financially this year because of a generous grant from the state. I was wondering if it would be a good or bad idea to include a sort of "team fee" next year in order to improve our financial status. How many teams have a team fee? Is it common or uncommon. I actually have no idea since this was my rookie year.

1923 does not have a 'team fee' but we do a lot of local fundraising. Anything you can dream up- if it gets you money, it's worth it.

For your second year, there is also the NASA Program Growth grant- information about that usually comes in around the beginning of the school year. That covers your 6,000 for registration.

If you have any questions about fundraising (or really, anything about maintaining a rookie team) feel free to PM me. 1923 has been a sponsorless team (with the exception of the NASA grants) since the beginning. Let me know if there's any way I can help you out.

[DarkFlame145]

Originally Posted by Beamer159

Hey, I'm from a rookie team and we just finished our competitions this year. We just got by financially this year because of a generous grant from the state. I was wondering if it would be a good or bad idea to include a sort of "team fee" next year in order to improve our financial status. How many teams have a team fee? Is it common or uncommon. I actually have no idea since this was my rookie year.

I spent 300 bucks to got to the Finger Lakes Regional this year. Even though we did fund raising and the more you raise the less you pay, I can't stand selling stuff. So i didnt sell anything.

[Luckyfish05]

Team 292 is one of those teams that has a team fee, yet we are still sponsored my Chrysler (most of that money goes to actually building the robot). The team fee goes to like t-shirts, traveling, and staying overnight. Then, it's extra to make the trip down to Atlanta.

We do have ways that the members can work off their fee like a few others have suggested. They can work concessions at school events, or we've sold candy bars at school before, I'm sure I'm forgetting something.

If a member honestly can't afford to go and has worked hard our head mentor has been known to pay their way so they can attend the regional. That way someone who has shown the effort isn't missing out.

[Billfred]

This year, the Capitals collected $100 from each student who traveled. The fee covered functionally all the food for them over the 4.5 days on the road. There was some grumbling about it, but every student who could make the dates and qualified to travel was able to meet the requirement.

[vivek16]

We have a straight up 50 dollar join fee (the school offers scholarships).

We did not have a traveling fee last year because we only had 4 kids and 3 adults go to regionals and were able to cover costs with our sponsorship from Boston Scientific (Thank you!).

This year, we have a regional right on our doorstep (well, maybe the mailbox or the neighbors yard but you know what I mean) so we don't have to deal with hotels and stuff.

I am not sure about next year. I think people will end up having to pay a fee if we go to more than one regional.

-Vivek

[Akash Rastogi]

Joining Fee: None
Regalia: Uniform~$40 (required for travel to regionals and used all 4 years), Hoodies and hats optional
Travel: Trenton-no fee, Other regionals and Atlanta-pay for your tickets and hotel (fundraising is key)

We really don't have all that many other expenses. SIEMENS is a great sponsor as well as The John and Margaret Post Foundation. I would say don't go into team fees other than what each person pays to travel. Go fund raise and look for other sponsors and grants. That shows how much the program is supported and also makes it look more professional.

[ajisjesus]

our school mandated that each person put up atleast one dollar i believe because were a club but other than that our team is "fee free"... well until it comes to trips in which case we pay less than $400 for any trip going anywhere. i think our SVR trip was a total $250 for the week that we spent there. I think it would be best that your team looks heavily into year round fund raising so that you could keep trip and team costs as low as possible. that way you can take as many people as possible on trips and your team will grow much easier... and that is the most important part of a FIRST team.. Longevity... well just short of selling your soul to robotics... jk

[CarterM]

Fondy Fire has a $100 fee. This is simply to cover hotel fees, team shirts, transportation, and several other items. This fee, in some kind of way, also encourages the student to be active in the entire process. And if the student is unable to pay the $100, but would like to join the club, we allow them in free. Send a private message if one has any questions.