Our team is on our last breath. Our club needs to come-up with almost all of the registration fee in the next two weeks.
I would like to know if it is remotley possible, or should we wait untill next year.
(And if you want to make a donation, just PM or e-mail me: Neo3DGfx(a)gmail.com)
Can it be done? Of course.
Will you have to work your collective posteriors off in the process? Most likely.
Just try any trick in the book–car washes, raking leaves for neighbors, selling candy (if your school allows), and anything else you can find in the forums here. Or ask businesses for small amounts of money. It might mean your team t-shirts will have sponsors in three-point print, but you’ll be set.
Basically, FIRST is kinda like how Wyclef Jean described the Carnival:
You are not the only one in Henrico my friend. We are running low ourselves, I don’t think we can help any sorry. I’d call Patty Cook about it, she might have an ace up her sleeve.
well of course everyone wants to particapate as much as they can, but our team has seemed to have chosen to take it slow, and try to get a team together before we enter again. so we will not participate this year, but make a grand entry next year. 
even if you dont make it, theres still plenty of things you need to do in order to ‘get ready’. recruiting more members, (which we probably need,) getting more money (which we need), teaching basics to rookies, (we need to do), getting it through their little heads that rotary saws and hydraulic pincers are not allowed in FIRST, and many many other things.
Do this. Take a team photo in a nice location with any robots if you have any. Photoshop it to have text at the bottom that says “We proudly support XXXX Robotics Team” Get them printed then make/buy some sort of nice frame or something to put it in. Next, make a binder containing approximately 6 pages with pictures and information on FIRST and your team. Make one “plaque” and one binder for each team member to solicit. Go around to local businesses (seriously, just walk in asnd ask for the manager/owner, it works) and show them your binder and tell them that for a small donation of $100 they can have this really nice plaque to hang on their wall that shows their customers how suportive they are of the community. You may even let them keep the binder for a couple days to look at it, and then you can go back and pick it up, hopefully along with a check. Additionally, tell them you will recognize them as an “official sponsor” and put their name on your team shirt and robot and website. See, then you will have # of team members x $100 worth of money.
You should practice your speaking skills and what you will say.
Keep in mind that if they say no, tell them any donation they can make would still be greatly appreciated (but don’t say this until they turn down the $100 deal).
Here is our binder that we used (sorry its tripod) http://cmr696.tripod.com/ and here is our plaque http://team696.org/plaque.jpg to give you some ideas.
In each of the past two years, I believe we have made $3000 - $4000 dollars by doing this.
We had the same problem in 2002 and 2003. Like Billfred said, it is possible to get the money (notice he, nor I are saying anything about it being easy).
My suggestions:
Go to every business, company, etc you can get to and see if you can get a donation. I’m pretty sure it’s tax deductable so it’s good for them too, plus you cant forget to mention all the advertising they would get at competition with their logo and name on your bot.
Try to set up a tag day at some local stores, they bring in some decent money.
See if there are any grants you can get your hands on
I hope you guys can get in. In all honesty though, an inactive year can actually help. It gives you time off to learn how to do things better and experiment a lot with robot building. Plus you get a whole year of free time to get the money for the following season.
If any teams out their do go inactive this year, and would like some suggestions on how to keep busy, email me at [email protected]. My team was inactive for 2 years and we did a bunch of stuff to keep ourselves busy and building. I would be happy to share with any inactive team (or any team for that matter).
Good Luck!
I want reiterate what Joseph said. Contact Pattie Cook ASAP(your Regional Director). You can reach her at RobotsfirstATaol.com. I will inform her to look out for your team. Keep working on your own fundraising and don’t give up.
Don’t forget the small donors…$100 here and $300 there add up really quick. Dinners at a restaurant where your team gets a cut of the $$…go to any and every business. You’d be surprised who will give money. Also if you can organize a parent meeting quick and get them to go to their companies and just get you in the door to talk with the people that can cut a check. Good Luck and if it makes you feel any better MANY teams are feeling the squeeze this year.
You are not alone. So far we have asked the school for the $5,000 entry fee back in may. That was before we found out the entree fee this year rose to $6,000. At the moment we now have $5,200 and scrambling to top off the rest of that amount before Dec. 3. I’ll be going door to door businesses this week most likely. Having an inactive year is not an option. The problem with this time period to get this much money is that you can only do so many normal fundraisers (car wash, candy, etc), and really cant do any big company sponsorship because they won’t be able to get back in that amount of time. Same with grants, hardly any that you’ll have the money in by December 3. I am determined and confident that my school will have a team this year. This is where we just have to rely on the small businesses in the communities around us to help us through.
Good Luck!
Wow, you are in a really tough situation.
I have some suggestions, expressed in this post.
I hope you are successful in your fundraising efforts.
– Jaine
Well, for all it’s worth, there’s always the FIRST team assistance grants, if you’re willing to skip the Championship. It might help you get over the top, although the deadline is tomorrow.
Good luck!
We are going to be raffling off a Roomba (robotic vacuum cleaner). It cost $199.99 to purchase it, and we are selling the raffle tickets for $3.00 each or 2 for $5.00.
We are hoping to make some decent money on this.
We are finding that a lot of people are willing to purchase the tickets as it is for a good cause, it goes hand in hand with robotics, and as a bonus if they win they will never have to vacuum again!
If you can come up with a parent to purchase the vacuum for you (you can pay them back, or they can take a tax deduction for donating it) and can do a raffle I would recommend trying it. Any little bit of money you can get will help, and if you don’t raise enough to compete this year you will have a start for next year.
Good luck to your team!
