Comments | robogoddess: Attention Michigan FIRST Teams ...

robogoddess

Attention Michigan FIRST Teams ...

May 31, 2006 11:29

Listen up! Especially 2muchsugar, ellen469, kingofgrey, spartyfirstgirl, and stupidremarks.

Remember that $2 million Governor Granholm set aside for starting new FIRST teams? It's been removed by both the House and Senate. If we want them to put it back in, we have to act fast!

( Read on! )

first

Comments 13

2muchsugar May 31 2006, 16:17:02 UTC

Whoa. Lol I got called out

All taken care of :)

robogoddess May 31 2006, 16:19:17 UTC

... And I realized I had more MI-FIRST, LJ friends than I thought! =P

Yay!

2muchsugar May 31 2006, 16:45:33 UTC

Lol I would have called my legislator... But that would have required picking up a phone :p

robogoddess May 31 2006, 17:12:04 UTC

miketwalker86 May 31 2006, 16:57:22 UTC

Wow, did they seriously pull that? The Michigan senator was the one that spoke on Einstein Saturday in Atlanta, right? He seemed like a cool guy.

robogoddess May 31 2006, 17:07:44 UTC

Granholm (Jennifer) is definitely a woman. =) She spoke at the Great Lakes Regional. Two articles:

Source: US Fed News Service, Including US State News. Washington, D.C.: Mar 10, 2006.

Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm today said she wants the state of Michigan to expand funding for high school robotics competitions to promote science and technology in the classroom. Granholm's plan is designed to increase the number of schools participating in robotics competitions and, ultimately, to have a robotics team in every Michigan high school. The Governor made her announcement while attending the FIRST Robotics Great Lakes Regional Competition at Eastern Michigan University. "We must engage students in the study of science and technology so they have the tools they need to succeed in school and the 21st century workplace," Granholm said. "Robotics competition combines the excitement of sport with science and technology and is important in helping attract students to pursue these subjects in the classroom." Under the Governor's 2007 budget ( ... )

robogoddess May 31 2006, 17:07:53 UTC

Source: US Fed News Service, Including US State News. Washington, D.C.: Mar 27, 2006 ( ... )

miketwalker86 May 31 2006, 17:12:36 UTC

I'd contact that Heidi Watson person too, tell her about the changes (which she'd probably know already) but it sounds like an article saying "Government strikes down $2 million for education program to put kids on fast-track for college" would draw the attention you desire.... just a thought.

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spartyfirstgirl May 31 2006, 19:20:18 UTC

Yeah, pretty much knew that this wasn't going to happen from the time that she proposed it. Good intentions, or at least good ideas that even she knew wouldn't pass.

Even if we do get the money, as discussed at the state of Michigan forums, it will cause more harm than good. We don't have enough space for that many teams at regionals, and wouldn't have sponsors for that many teams.

Great in concept, lacking in execution...

robogoddess May 31 2006, 19:24:37 UTC

... Not to mention not every high school *wants* a FIRST team. But for those who do, it would be awesome to have money available to start them.

We have three more high schools in the UP that want to start teams, but the UP is pretty poor, so there aren't a whole lot of sponsors. We're (857 and Susan Lawrence) doing the best we can, but it can't happen without financial backing.

spartyfirstgirl May 31 2006, 20:29:47 UTC

Oh trust me, we were turned down by 4 schools when I started 1504

(The comment has been removed)

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