Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

I forsee a staffing challenge for the 2007 Regional season, with a heavy concentration of regionals during weeks 2, 3, and 5. This issue is also an opportunity, because new people will be required to fill these roles and therefore become future experts.

If we (the FIRST community) help FIRST, the Regional Directors and Regional Volunteer Coordinators communicate this issue out to capable people, then the issue will not be so large.

Check out the number of regionals happening each week:

Week 1 (March 1-3): 5
Week 2 (March 8-10): 8 (w/ Brazil included)
Week 3 (March 15-17): 9 (w/ NYC being Fri-Sun)
Week 4 (March 22-24): 5
Week 5 (March 29-31): 10 (w/ Israel being Tue-Thu)

Currently, there are only a handful of people who have experience in these roles:

FTA (FIRST Technical Advisor)
Head Referee
Head Inspector
Scorekeeper
Master of Ceremonies

In order for a Regional to run well, these positions need to be filled by people who can dependably do their job while handling much pressure. They need to have some sort of related experience so that they are not overwhelmed at the event. For instance, a head referee needs to have some sort of FIRST referee experience in order for them to be considered to be a head ref.

This is not trivial. There are other positions that help make an event "inspirational" (experienced announcer, etc.... but an event can live with less experience there).

FIRST is going want people to step up and fill these positions. Those of us who do these roles from year need to look where we can help during weeks 2, 3 and 5, along with our local regionals.

We can use this thread to bring focus to this issue, help communicate these needs out to capable volunteers, and to define these roles (and others) that may be in short supply of volunteers during the upcoming season.


Andy B.

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

HUGE post here gang. For those of us who are in the business of recruiting and staffing volunteers for FRC Regionals I can flat out say that we will not be able to survive these weeks with our existing pool of key volunteers. Step up and meet the challenge. Register in the volunteer system, contact your local committees and RDs. Let them know of your availability and desire.

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

Is it possible to have the 2007 schedule of regionals on here for those of us who want to see where we can help out?

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

And please let us not forget the JFLL, FLL and FVC events who also need volunteers!See thread if you haven't volunteered at a tournament before, the experience is so gratifying and very different from when your team is participating in one... So give it a try this year!

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

It us up on the FIRST website at:
http://www.usfirst.org/frc/public/

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

The 2007 event schedule has been posted here, but not all dates are confirmed yet.

Week 2: Arizona, Bayou, Brazilian, Finger Lakes, Great Lakes, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Wisconsin.

Week 3: Chesapeake, Detroit, Hartford, Kansas City, Midwest, New Your City, Peachtree, Silicon Valley

Week 5: Colorado, Sacramento, Greater Toronto, Israel, Las Vegas, Lone Star, Palmetto, Philadelphia, Long Island, West Michigan.


It appears that VIMS is either down right now, or not yet up for the 2007 season. Is anyone else having this problem?
Edit: I had the wrong link for the VIMS system. The correct link is https://my.usfirst.org/vims/. Like Richard said, the event data is still for 2006.

Wetzel

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

I was able to log into VIMS, but could not update event preferences for 2007. The menu choices are still set up for 2006.

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

I am sure that Richard, Ed Sparks and many others will chime in that inspectors are always welcome at events. The major need is on Thursday and just Friday morning of each event (Saturday from 11 to 1 is also a happy time). If you plan to be at the event with your team and they can let you go for those times, inspections will go so much easier. There are other critical needs for volunteers, but one that is rarely discussed is FIRST ambassadors. These people will guide visitors and potential sponsors/school teachers and administrators around the event. They will explain the competition and the student roles. Often they will introduce mentors and students who will help as well. Ambassadors at the Boilermaker Regional played a major role in introducing FIRST to the mentors and students of Peoria Schools and Caterpilar which resulted in two FRC teams and several FLL teams.

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

Yeah! What Big Al said!

If any experienced inspectors are coming (with or without teams) to St. Louis and may be available to help on Thursday, please let me know. Since we're in Week 1 this may be a good opportunity to get familiar with whatever curve balls FIRST has thrown us this year. Or maybe that won't happen this time? :rolleyes:

Also, I'll post my schedule when I know it. I'm always willing to help with robot inspections at any event I'm attending. I don't know yet which events my team is going to, but since I have family in SC I'm thinking of going to Palmetto, just to observe, and I'd be happy to help with inspection there.

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

I would be ABSOLUTELY THRILLED to be given the opportunity of MC or announcer at any event. It is something I've always wanted to do. What exactly is an FTA?

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

This may be slightly off topic, who exactly gets picked for volunteering for the Israel regional? Is it just a select group of people or will they take non-FIRST staff yet?

At the moment, I'm only able to be attending the Manchester, NH regional provided that I leave as soon as the awards are over to hop over to Boston and Fly out.

From March 4th to May 10th I'm going to be in Namibia for school, however I was able to find cheap flights (well a lot cheaper than flying from the US) into Israel from there surrounding those dates. I already hate that I have to miss most of the local regionals so this could be a good option for me.

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

FIRST Technical Advisor. One of the hardest working people at an event when things are going badly.

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

I'll be hanging out & volunteering at as many local events as I can attend, Look forward to seeing all those who are attending the NJ, NYC and SBPLI Regionals.

The Only thing I can't figure out is 53 Teams attending the NYC Regional at Riverbank State Park. I know there were rumors going around that this particular Regional will be moved to the Javitts Center. Anyone with more information about this?

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

To expand on what Al said, the FTA is responsible for the field from when it comes off the truck until it's back on the truck, for overseeing the game part of the "show" and for advising the event staff on all matters technical.

S/He directs the volunteer staff in setting up the field, makes sure the scoring system is working properly (about half the job this past year) and troubleshoots any field and scoring problems throughout the event. The FTA works with the scorers to spot and fix any scoring problems and with the IFI folks to do the same for the field/robot controls. The FTA may help the Head Ref and Robot Inspector ensure a "level playing field" and works closely with the event committee and production company to try to keep on schedule.

JVN described the job to me like this: "when things are going well you just sit back and look good, but when things go wrong you're the one in the hot seat*", to which I'd add "and you're the last one out on Saturday night".

* (actually he said something about a cyanide capsule...)

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

I don't know how it will be this year, but last year at the Israeli regional they were in desperate need for volunteers. It got to the point that each team was asked to provide 2-3 students that were volunteers for the 3 days (field reset, setting up, queuing etc.) and the teams were also the ones that took apart the field after the regional. I am sure any help would be appreciated by the organizers. I would suggest speaking to Alisha Wallenstein who is the regional director (at the moment I don't have her email.) Also, I am sure you can speak to Greg Needel or Jon Mittleman (Jon236) and they will be able to tell you about their experience with coming to the Israeli regional.

David

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

This person is responsible for these things:

1. Field setup & debug
2. Field calibration (vision values, etc.)
3. Insuring that the field runs well during an event
4. Managing or fixing every possible problem that a field would have during an event
5. Leading the disassembly and packing of a field at the end of an event, until the crates are fully packed on the trailer

While doing these tasks, this person leads various people: setup and tear-down crews, scorekeepers, field supervisors, field reset coordinators. Last year, FIRST trained about 8 people to do this job. They are going to need more this year. If anyone is interested in being an FTA, feel free to PM me and I can forward you to the correct person at FIRST.

Andy

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

Correct. The event choice in VIMS will be available soon as the schedule is just now being solidified/made public. However, anyone can access or register for VIMS now to be sure all of your info is there and correct and I encourage all to do so. When the event choices become available you'll only have one thing to do.

As for the FTA discussion, Pete and Andy are two of the best FTA's in all of FIRST, so please take advantage and PM them with questions, etc. Even if you don't have the time or experience necessary now, knowing what an FTA is and what an FTA does could enable you to work towards that as a goal and strengthen FIRST in future years.

(...and I've got dibs on Pete for Week 5 :))

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

Hey Andy: I think we may have stumbled onto an untapped business opportunity: enter the era of the free-agent FTA! Let the bidding begin.:rolleyes:

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

Pete, Andy, and all the other hard-working FTAs already know that finding and fixing problems while a few thousand impatient FIRSTers are doing the Macarena will get you plenty of respect, but it is not the easiest way to get rich as a free-agent.

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

Rich,
We know that Andy has a sweet music side gig (DS&K Band) he can count on, I wonder what Pete might have.

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

I'm assuming you're available for the Fall Classic. Please contact "Mr. Van". The RoboDox are actively recruiting people to help out with Announcing/Color commentary as I have mentioned earlier. Try sending a PM to him or EricRobodox, if you don't get a response in a few days PM me and I have ways.

ChrisH

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

Ya got me! So let me know if you come up with something! (FYI, I can't sing worth a darn)

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

I'd gladly join the emcee/announcer pool -- I've done it a few times in off-season and absolutely love it. I hear I'm not too shabby as well :P

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

I would like to try to volunteer at a regional or two this year.
Have to see how my vacation schedule works out though....

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

It looks like GLR falls on my spring break.
I would like to volunteer to do something there.
How long before the event is too late to get choice of jobs? (Do you even get a choice?)

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

You get to check the boxes of all the things you'd like to do, then they call or e-mail and tell you what you will be doing.

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

Pete,
The band is always looking for roadies but...you know the music biz, "The check's in the mail".

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

I can also help with emceeing a regional or two here on the East Coast but can also be available to travel.

2006 Monty Madness, 2005 PARC, and the 2005 Duel on the Delaware are just some of the competitons that I have emcee for.

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

As Kressly said, the VIMS is not set up yet to sign up for certain positions, but you can enter your information so the volunteer coordinators will know you are interested. You can then go in and add to the info when the VIMS is up and running for 2007.

If you don't have the contact info for the volunteer coordinator assigned to the Regional you are interested in (often these links will be available through the websites for the individual regionals) , you can send an email to the Regional Director or to the Senior Mentor if there is one in your area.

(NOTE: Chesapeake Regional website is being redone so no link)

You can locate your RD here:
http://www.usfirst.org/about/regional_contacts.htm
You can find the list of Senior Mentors here:
http://www.usfirst.org/about/news/em...sr_mentors.htm

Everyone has an email address at FIRST that has the first initial of first name along with last name and @usfirst.org.
If you are interested in the Chesapeake, for example, contact me at jbeatty@usfirst.org

Along with volunteers in lead positions, we need to have a lead volunteer IN TRAINING for all these positions.

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

I hope to be able to go help at the Bayou Regional depending on what my schedule turns out to be. I have been to/worked at/helped run many competitions in the last 7 years. I may or maynot also be able to get some grunts to come with me from lafayette to N.O. too.

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

The VIMS system is not set up to accept volunteers for the FVC events (nor the FLL ones if I remember correctly). Yet both programs are very much in need of assistance from FIRSTers! Our events are starting now and will run through the spring. Please check the program events pages (http://www.firstlegoleague.org/calendar.aspx?pid=16630 for FLL and www.usfirst.org/vex/events for FVC) to see the list of events near you and the event contact person.

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

Jenny makes a really GREAT point. Instead of JUST looking for experienced people in these fields, lets start training new ones! I'd be more than happy to volunteer at ANY regionals I can, it just depends on my work schedule. Of course, now that I'm working for NJ/NYC FIRST, maybe I can squeeze a few more regionals in there ~__^

I always LOVE volunteering, it's almost as fun as competing, and DEFINITELY more fun than JUST spectating!

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

Does anyone know when VIMS is going to be updated for the new events? I'm anxiously awaiting the update to put in my 2007 preferences.

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

I'd also like to know as i am waiting for it to be updated so i can volunteer at an event!

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

Patience, grasshoppers. Soon :)

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

Look for VIMs to be fully functional in early December. Until then, just get basic information in the system as a registered volunteer. You can try to find out who the volunteer coordinators are by posting in the regional threads on CD, or go to regional websites, and give them a heads up you're interested in volunteering for certain positions. But otherwise, we'll just have to wait... again..

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

For everyone that has been patiently (or not so patiently) waiting, VIMS is now live with 2007 events.

Go make some Volunteer Coordinators happy. :D

Wetzel

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

Yes! Go sign up!

Please realize that although events/roles are open for volunteers, the backend of VIMS is still being worked on and should be up soon. So, you can see the events, but the events can't see you yet.

So if your VC doesn't contact you right away, you know why. :)

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

I guess I found a bug: if I select one type of event (say, the Planning Committee drop-down), then try and jump to another (events), it won't let me as I haven't selected an event.

Any other ones jump out?

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

I don't recall having to select a specific area of expertise last year. Personally, I don't like being forced to select something, since I tend to have a little knowledge about a number of different areas, but nothing I'd call myself an expert at.

indieFan

Re: Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season
 

They've added some junk to the contact information page. But when I tried to save it, it indicated that prefix (e.g. "Mr.") was a required field, even when filled.

Also, when selecting "Update" for one of the contacts on the references page, it doesn't do anything. That could be because it's only intended to updated the "inactive" checkbox, but that would make it a particularly worthless update button.

The experience edit box cuts off what you write. If that's to reduce the amount that they need to read, then why not indicate that fact somewhere—it looks like bad coding otherwise. And there's no way to confirm the additional information edit box without selecting continue for the entire page.