Team # 64, the Gila Monsters, would like to thank everyone who registers for the Arizona Regional. If you have any questions, concerns, or problems we can help you with, please feel free to contact us.
See you in March!
Ken, why did you guys choose Las Vegas as your first choice, over Arizona?
Cyberblue won’t be going to Phoenix this year but we will miss it. We want to expose or team to other areas of the country and after two great years at Phoenix we are going to FL. For any teams that are looking for a great regional to go to this is it. After 7 years in FIRST this is my second favorite regional, first being the ones at the Kennedy Space Center that are no more. Great people, great teams, great venue, great city, great weather, what more could you want. 
P.S. 980 we will just have to battle you at the IRI now if not in Atlanta.
Joe,
From the past two years we know that the Arizona Regional usually does not fill up during the first round. Each year we like to go to a rookie regional. Las Vegas is a regional we can drive to (not many of those out here). We felt the Las Vegas regional would fill up fast and doubted there would be space for non NASA teams in round two. We have a close/mentoring relationship with two of the Las Vegas teams. Every team member parent knows the words to “Viva Las Vegas.” I love a good buffet. Las Vegas just seemed like a good fit.
Ken
Likewise for 696. After two fantastic years at the most fabulous regional of all (well, I don’t base that on anything but it is definitely fabulous anyhow), the Circuit Breakers will not be attending the 2005 Phoenix regional.
At least y’all have a better chance of winning with us not there.
We’ll miss it, but supposedly LA will be better than ever and you can find us there as always. Won’t be at any other regionals, but if we win LA, we’ll go to the Championship. So, who would like to join our winning alliance? (If there are aliances). 
If Vegas had been on a different weekend than So Cal we’d have been there in a hot minute.
But thrilled to be going to Phoenix again. See ya!
Super Excited to goto Arizona again, last year was so fun (696 HOW CAN U NOT BE GOING!?!?) It was definitly a sick regional, and i hope to see everyone there. Im looking at you #80 
Yeah, I know. What a bummer. Anyway, the best of luck to you at that event. Also, did you guys ever get any video up online of our alliance’s matches?
I think there somewhere, ill look into it. I know we have them on a dvd, but im not sure if there online. Sorry. I know it was beutiful though
Team 96!
Glad to see you signed up for the Arizona Regional. Everyone here is working to make this year better than last year.
I do have a few two word thoughts for you:
Sun block, short sleeves, sun glasses, iced tea, Krispy Kreme, and most of all BIG smile!
If there is anything the Gila Monsters can do to help or if you have any questions, please contact me.
Ken
Whats the best way to raise enough money to get 15-20 people to AZ from michigan?? I want to get 830 there, but we dont have That Much money. I really want to get out there, ghila monsters were my amongfavorite teams last year! Hope to see you guys there
The bad news: I figure it will take between $8,000 and $10,000.
The good news: I am sure you will find a way.
Fund raising ideas:
A silent auction: You get items donated to the club and then hold a silent auction. We have a spaghetti dinner with our auction and usually raise between $2,000 and $3,000 dollars.
Do a business card quilt. Ask for a $5.00 donation and a business card from as many people (don’t forget doctors, lawyers, plumbers, and real estate agents) as you can think of. Attach the business cards to a piece of material and display it in your pits.
Have a walk-a-thon. Get sponsors to pay $1.00 for every mile your club members walk (a max of 5 miles makes it easier to sell)
Some fast food and pizza places will let you sell coupons for them. You keep the proceeds, the buyer gets their money back when they use the coupon, the company gets more customers.
Have a rent a kid cleanup. Find an eyesore in your neighborhood and see if the Chamber of Commerce or Lions Club will pay your club to clean it up.
Talk to your local national motel chain such as Holiday Inn Express or Days Inn. See if they can get you a nice discount on rooms in Phoenix.
Ken
Im kind of confused as too why so few people have thus far signed up for the AZ regional, any ideas/reasons?
This year, for the first time, team 555 is going to Arizona! We’re also doing the usual, NY. I’m sure this one will be great.
I lived in Phoenix for about 8 years once, so it’l be like going back home.
Dested,
The first year for the regional we paniced when only a few teams signed up for Arizona in the first round. The second round wasn’t much better for us that first year. The third round saw the Arizona regional fill up quickly. Our second year was about the same.
After talking with many people, I have drawn the following conclusions. Teams sign up for regionals that are close and less expensive (travel costs) in the first two rounds. Many teams who do not think they will make Nationals, select Arizona as their big trip (who can blame them, great weather, great teams, great regional.) Teams need to know if they can raise the money to travel to Arizona before they sign up, this takes time. This year the Las Vegas Regional drew some teams that would have signed up early for the Arizona regional. With more teams in FIRST this year, teams are watching which regionals are filling up fastest and signing up for those events first (we did that with our first choice, Las Vegas.)
I have no doubt that the Arizona Regional will be nearly full if not totally full after everything is said and done. Even if no other teams sign up, the teams that have will make Arizona a great regional again this year.
Ken
Now, I remember!
I had the opportunity to visit friends and family prior to Christmas in Columbus, Ohio.
Now, I remember, why I moved to Arizona. Sixteen inches of snow, no electricity, -5 degree wind chill factors.
Think warm thoughts. It is only 13 weeks until the Arizona Regional. Short sleeve shirts, sun tans, iced tea, and a great competition.
Please let us know if you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to make your trip easier (forget about asking for money).
Ken Loyd
I hope the AZ Regional stays small. We’re the smallest in the country! Woo! I liked the smallness of 36 teams last year compared to the 300 teams of nationals (that doesn’t mean I don’t want to go to Atlanta again!). With 31 teams signed up so far, (if the elimination setup is the same) all but 7 teams don’t get to compete for the championship until the last few hours of the competition.
At the team forum over the summer they said that AZ has the capacity to become a super regional someday. It is weird though that the 5th largest city in the nation only has 3 teams in it. Is FIRST really a suburb trend?
Most of our teams in AZ are in the burbs and even most of Team 991’s members live in Mesa, Scottsdale, and even Chandler (Brophy is a Catholic School).