Well, I’ve been on the robotics team for 2 years, plus a little of the 2001 season… and we’ve had a different coach each year who all think they know exactly what’s going on, even though they have never experienced a FIRST season… I just want to get your input from you teams out there on whether or not you have a travelling team. As it stands now, our coach says that if our entire team can’t go, then no one can go (Financially, that’s infeasible, I believe), we’re just wondering why can’t the 10 people who have put the most time and effort into the robot be allowed to be on the travelling team for nationals? Our team has 24 members. From what I’ve seen from teams in the pits in Florida that there are more team members that show up at regionals than nationals just to be cost effective, Input please.
The Gila Monsters (64) usually had about 40 members, we would send 17+3 drivers to one regional then 17 different people +the same drivers to the other regional, then we would try to send everyone to nationals but usually a few people got left out, obviously the people that didn’t work hard enough.
I think sending part of the team is the way to go. As far as I know, no one sends their whole team everywhere. Some teams only send three students and a teacher.
my team is poor, period… we can get everyone to our one regional, but nats? no way… the people who work go to nationals, and thats the way i’ve seen most people do it… its just crazy to expect to be able to get 24 people to huston, house them, and get them back without the people (or their parents) paying a small fortune…
its too bad, really. some cool people just don’t have the time to build everyday, and they can’t get to nats, but whats fair is fair
I think thats silly to not let anyone go because not everyone can.
The reality is for EVERY team is that not everyone goes everywhere. So, by your coaches logic, you guys would never go anywhere (cause not everyone could go). Thats silly.
Basically what our team does is: Whoever wants to go (assuming they are a real contributor to the team), can go. BUT, our team does not fund all the trips (its not in the budget). Say 15 people want to go to Houston, and the team has $5000 in the bank. Divide the $5000 by the 15 people, each person gets $333 payed for by the team…The rest each person has to find the money themselves - if they can’t, they can’t go.
Money aside, there are lots of other things to prevent someone from going on a trip: Illness, family (goodness knows parents can get in the way…lol), etc…
Summary: Tell your coach that (s)he’s nuts.
We’re managing to get everyone to Phoenix, but if we go to nationals there will only be the people who can pay for themselves unless we suddenly get big money between now and then.
If we couldn’t get the whole team to Phoenix then in worst scenario again, only 10 may be paid to go, or those who could pay.
*Originally posted by Redhead Jokes *
**We’re managing to get everyone to Phoenix, but if we go to nationals there will only be the people who can pay for themselves unless we suddenly get big money between now and then.If we couldn’t get the whole team to Phoenix then in worst scenario again, only 10 may be paid to go, or those who could pay. **
I thought your team had loads of money. Are you saving it for future years?
*Originally posted by sanddrag *
**I thought your team had loads of money. Are you saving it for future years? **
Nope, no loads of money. TRW used to give us $20,000. Bought by Northrop who said everything would stay the same. However Northrop is still tabling the issue of sponsoring us, I heard YMCA isn’t getting the funding they used to get from TRW, and our now Northrop engineers are not happy with Northrop not doing what they’d promised. We’ve been scrambling for money.
a little birdy told me that Team 180 SPAM is bringing 50+ students to both the UCF regional and to the Championship in Houston.
we’re taking the whole team to UCF (it’s right accross the street from us!)
Our team takes EVERYONE to the Midwest Regional, but only 20 members get to go to Nationals. Team members pay $75 for the regional, and $250 for Nationals.
- Katie
*Originally posted by Katie Reynolds *
**Our team takes EVERYONE to the Midwest Regional, but only 20 members get to go to Nationals. Team members pay $75 for the regional, and $250 for Nationals.
- Katie **
Dang that’s cheap. :eek: I think we will be paying for a regional by bus the same you pay for Nats. Big sponsor I assume.
Team Hammond takes everyone to both regionals and nationals, but each team member is required to pay $525. If they can’t pay that and arrangements cannot be made, then they can still be a part of the team, but they cannot travel.
We have a lot of fundraising problems, but between our booster club, spaghetti dinner, Avon Sales, and home interior candles, as well as some money from Pepsi and the mayor of our city, we usually manage to come out alright. Our big problem, however is saving for the future years. We haven’t managed that one yet.
Our team is pretty well off, I figure we won’t be going to nats so we don’t need to worry about the money for that, and aside from that we have had a few sponsors really step up as of late and everyone that wants to go can go to regionals
I’ve just realized the benefits of having a tiny team (last year we had 7, this year I’m guessing it’s approximately 15): everyone can go to both Regionals and Nationals without paying. Wee, I feel better about my tiny team now.
For our regional, the drivers/human players all go, and the other members of the team can come down Saturday just to watch since our regional is only 2.5 hours away.
Nationals, in the past, since it was close to us, we could take all the team members that attended all their shifts and the ones that didn’t, had to pay if they really wanted to attend. However, I’m not sure how it is gonna be picked if we are able to go to Nationals this year.
we’ve always picked about 12 or 13 people who do the most work and the team pays for most thier trip to nationals, so out of pocket cost is usually about $220 for nats, this year might be a little lower with going to houston. its our first time going to another regional that we have to stay over night yet. and were still not sure what were doing with that. for our home regional, the whole team can cme friday and sautrday, but only about 6 of us go on thursday
Everyone,
Isn’t the point of FIRST to get more people inspired and motivated to do more with science and technology? I really don’t see why there should be a limit on how many people can go to a competition or nats, because within the FIRST community you can always get help. Plus you can always get more sponsors! Personally I think everyone should be able to go as long as they have earned the right to travel and represent the team, their school, and FIRST with a positive attitude. But that is just my taking on the matter…
Bill
Everyone of the kids who earn the right to travel gets to travel. The adults can travel as well if they have the time to take off from work. So far the financial part of the whole equation has never been a problem but we also only go to one regional and the nats.
I am amazed when some teams can go to numerous regionals, the nationals and off-season competitions.
Wilson would have a hissy-fit if we kept taking the kids out of class that often and most of the adults don’t have enough vacation time to chaperon (we certainly are not going to let the kids do it alone). I wonder: how do they do it?
Everyone on 88 must raise $650 in order to travel through fundraising. There are mulitiple ways of doing this such as candy bars and small business donations to walk-a-thons. Usually there are around 40+ students that travel with about 5 or more alumni and then 7 coaches with some parents. This travel team goes to each regional Manchester, and Jersey as for Nats this year I’m not sure on the situation yet cuse we are not qualified as of now. However, if we do I’m not sure who is going to be traveling whether it be a the whole team or a skelton crew.
If the school picks up the tab or the team, then only a few of the best should go. But if the kids are paying, all should go (if they pay.) I find it rude and disrespectful if the slacker that plays video games the whole time will have to go if I want to go and I work.
I have never been on a team where everyone was allowed to travel to nationals. Not only were there financial constraints, but only the students who worked hard on the robot and who represented the team well should be allowed to go. It’s true, it is unfair to let the student who didn’t participate constructively to travel. It almost goes to show that they only reason that they are in FIRST is to go to nationals.
I say these to the students who I mentor now; ‘if you want to travel, hire a travel agent and leave this room. If you want to build a robot you can be proud of, stay with us. I’ll respect you all the more if you stick around and try to learn something.’
It is unfortunate when all the students who work hard on the team are unable to go, this is when you should seek more financial help. Travelling is a reward, but it should never be the reason for participating.
ByE
erin