egad, having a bit of trouble getting the club started up...

[JoeXIII'007]

Got a problem, and I don't know if or how other teams handle it, but here's whats up.

Willow Run Middle School has had a FLL team for the past 5 years, going on six. The team has not been able to register yet due to the following reason: the previous adviser had to quit due to advancing her education in teaching, and whatnot.

So I sent out a letter to all the middle school teachers asking for volunteers to run the team about a week and a half ago. No response. I come to find out that the administration of the district has not posted positions for extra-cirricular activities yet, and probably will not until the 18th of September: 3 days after kick-off for the FLL, and 11 days before the registration and payment deadline.

I have been thinking about getting a parent involved, though I don't know how they would handle it or even have the time. Has any team had other sources for advisers and whatnot? I could use some ideas because I would hate to see this team disappear especially on my senior year... :(

Any other suggestions on how to pull it off are more than welcome and are appreciated, thank you.

-Joe

PS: Just to let you know, I will be asking teachers next week in person to see who is interested, and I have a rather interested eighth grader who's going to search around as well. (crosses fingers)

There was a similar situation like this back in my eighth grade year where I had to find the next mentor. Luckily, I found one, and there was an opening for it... lord knows how its going to turn out this time...

[Dan Petrovic]

Last year, a member from 166 who graduated in 2004 ran the FLL teams in our loacal middle school.

Maybe you could ask an involved graduated team member to do it?

[JaneYoung]

Joe:
What I'm looking at is the restrictions set in place for signing up on the school side of it and the need for a team mentor to continue the team with tight deadlines that conflict. (if I get any of this wrong, please correct)

You are looking for a teacher in the middle school or a parent. What I'm wondering is, could you approach a parent and ask for help getting the team through the process/deadline conflict when you are then hopefully able to obtain the additional help of a teacher? Maybe you could contact one of the Scout leaders of some of the Scouts in the school and explain your situation.

Good luck with all of this Joe -
Jane

[Rich Wong]

Got a problem, and I don't know if or how other teams handle it, but here's whats up.

....
I have been thinking about getting a parent involved, though I don't know how they would handle it or even have the time. Has any team had other sources for advisers and whatnot? I could use some ideas because I would hate to see this team disappear especially on my senior year... :(

Any other suggestions on how to pull it off are more than welcome and are appreciated, thank you.

-Joe

...
Hi Joe,
I appreciate your efforts in helping this FLL Team. Thank you!

From what I know a 17 year old can be a mentor for the FLL kids.
It is a good idea to ask a parent or any adult to help with FLL registration.
It is important to register and get the challenge kits as early as possible. Even now NYC teams are already finished constructing the NANO Quest challenge sets and getting ready for this Friday's world wide challenge announcement. Most will be attending FLL Kickoffs around the NYC to get as many teams off and running as possible.

Your options are to register and paid with personal funds (from parents and/or students) and later have the school (hopefully) reimburse the registration fee. Since your team are a veteran team, the cost will be low because they'll only need the challenge set (unless they want the new NXT set). They can compete with the previous year's RCX sets with no problem.

Several of the FLL teams in NYC are mentored by High School FRC students and we encourage this. Some of the NYC FRC teams do fund FLL teams they mentor.

In NYC the school system is also slow at submission of funds for activates like FLL. Because of this problem Manchester has allowed NYC to reserve FLL spots which allows NYC to extend the registration by about 2 weeks.

I hope this helps.
Best Wishes.

BTW- this year's FLL challenge is one of the most interest topics every conceived. The challenge set looks real cool! :]

[David Carter]

how do you post a new thread?

[JoeXIII'007]

Hi Joe,
I appreciate your efforts in helping this FLL Team. Thank you!

From what I know a 17 year old can be a mentor for the FLL kids.
It is a good idea to ask a parent or any adult to help with FLL registration.
It is important to register and get the challenge kits as early as possible. Even now NYC teams are already finished constructing the NANO Quest challenge sets and getting ready for this Friday's world wide challenge announcement. Most will be attending FLL Kickoffs around the NYC to get as many teams off and running as possible.

Your options are to register and paid with personal funds (from parents and/or students) and later have the school (hopefully) reimburse the registration fee. Since your team are a veteran team, the cost will be low because they'll only need the challenge set (unless they want the new NXT set). They can compete with the previous year's RCX sets with no problem.

Several of the FLL teams in NYC are mentored by High School FRC students and we encourage this. Some of the NYC FRC teams do fund FLL teams they mentor.

In NYC the school system is also slow at submission of funds for activates like FLL. Because of this problem Manchester has allowed NYC to reserve FLL spots which allows NYC to extend the registration by about 2 weeks.

I hope this helps.
Best Wishes.

BTW- this year's FLL challenge is one of the most interesting topics ever conceived. The challenge set looks real cool! :]

big thanks. I think I am going to be able to get everything paid for by the local GM plant here. I have talked with someone, so that shouldn't be much of an issue. Parents will be called and whatnot so i can get some assistance, plus I got some fellow NHS members that will be helping out too. So I think this can be pulled off now.

Thank you to everyone

[Kims Robot]

Looks like the issue is solved :) But I just wanted to add my two cents. Our team is helping coordinate & fund 13 FLL teams from around Rochester this year, and I think only 3 of them actually have teachers involved. The rest are all run by parents or other interested parties.

Realistically, you just need an adult contact for the FLL registration, and it doesnt mean that that person has to remain the main mentor, so you can start with a parent as the contact, then switch to the teacher or have them as co-leaders if it works out.

Best of luck :)

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Joe,
The quickest way to a get a teacher on board is to get the school admin to assist you. You should be talking to the principal about your problem. I am sure he/she would want to see the program continue if it has been going for 5 years already.