The Imminent Dissolution of Team 2065
 

As you all have probably figured out now, I’m Sean, captain of Team 2065. Now, for this 2009 season, things have taken a spiral downward. You may not know (unless you’re attending the Bayou Regional), but 2065 did not make the payment deadlines for this season on time. More to the point, we were about $5500 short, after all of our sponsors backed out completely. This is a big problem.

Moreover, our team is all but destroyed. Last year, we lost half of the people who actually did the work for the team, which turned out to be a more crippling blow than we had imagined it would be. The new recruits, I thought, were going to be hopeful. Well, over the series of three orientation meetings, that number dropped from 50 to about 8. So really, only 8 new members joined, and even after that, we lost 2. So quick recap for you: about 8 original team members left, then plus 8, then minus 6. This means we now have 14.

I thought at one time these hopeful members would prove me wrong, as the general mold was that there was a select group that did something, while the rest just kind of milled around and did nothing every meeting. That lasted for about 3 meetings, so a week and a half. Then it began to end up like it was. It was only amplified by the new coach (who replaced our old coach when she left to start a team at Holly Springs High School) actually giving in to that. For example, there was a week in which we were supposed to be preparing presentations and information for our sponsors and possible sponsors, and needing to make repairs to our ’08 robot (after catastrophic damage was done to our internal systems) for the Rockwell Automation Fair. Well, a few of us were, mainly the drive team (Not our field of expertise). It just so happened that after about 10 minutes of working on it that we looked around for our secretary and new programmer. Well, what do you suppose we saw? We found them, along with the rest of the team, watching a movie at the front of the room, with our coach watching as well (she was the only one who could set the projector up). Albeit I didn’t say anything, but I don’t exactly believe that watching a movie after not doing much to begin with is a good thing to do during crunch time. You may disagree with me on that, but to each his own, I suppose. We got the stuff done, though. Barely.

I know there are going to be some people who will suggest that I should start becoming strict, but I’ll tell you this: my title of captain is nothing more than that. A title. I used to be able to enforce these rules and help my coach keep the team together and spirited, but that was when the old coach was still there. I can’t do that anymore without basically being chewed out for it. So I can’t even say anything to them anymore.

Needless to say, our team is all but gone. During our meetings now, it’s mainly the chief engineer and myself, trying to come up with ideas to create things with the parts that we have. Nothing is really left. Most of the senior members that I know of are planning to merge with the new team. That’s fine. But the team won’t qualify as a rookie anymore.
When you have a rather poor school, parents who really don’t give two cents about the school in the first place, and a student body who is obsessed with athletics over education and such, there’s not much you can do. Now, this is my senior year, so after this it’s out of my hair. Maybe after college I’ll mentor a team. That would be good. So I guess I can tell you all, with a sad heart, that Team 2065, unless they receive new life next year, is dead.

Sincerely, the soon-to-be former captain of 2065 (’09 baby!!!),

Sean Maness

Re: The Imminent Dissolution of Team 2065
 

Man, if I had a flag, it would be at half staff right now.

But isn't there some way you could go around and recruit from other schools? Right now the only experienced programmer Norview has is coming over from Granby everyday, so maybe there's a few gems that could help out in your area? And as far as mentoring a team after college, what kind of story is, "yeah I was on a team, but it got disbanded..." for the kids to look up to? If I remember correctly, isn't MOE a collection of schools? Dude, LOOK AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS! I actually joined Norview's FRC team when I was in 8th grade! If you could get a couple of kids under your wing(s) and teach them more than you know, imagine what can happen from there! And for sponsors, Andy Mark, NASA, and BAE systems DON'T CARE about your record, they just want to see as many schools with robotics teams as possible!
DON'T LET THAT TEAM DIE, SEAN!

Re: The Imminent Dissolution of Team 2065
 

Well thats not the FIRST attitude now is it?

(for) Inspiration of science and technology. It sounds so me like you need a serious dose of inspiration for the people who sit there "doing nothing". In my book, they are people who have yet to see what making the robot is like. As the leader, you need to devise a way to include these kids in the robot planning activities. Furthermore, if you are afraid to take charge because of your fear of getting chewed out, what does that say about you? If your tail goes between your legs every time you get barked at, then the people who want to do nothing will know they can take advantage of you, and a leader is not one to be taken advantage of. It is very apparent that you believe in the message that FIRST promotes, so why dont do you go the extra step to promote it?

dont give up!

Re: The Imminent Dissolution of Team 2065
 

I don't understand the value of being a "rookie team", but maybe you should merge with the other team. I know it won't be what you were wanting for your senior year, but it very likely could turn out better than your expecting it to. Good luck.

Re: The Imminent Dissolution of Team 2065
 

Thanks you for not naming names or getting specific. Chief Delphi is not a place for team's dirty laundry, and hopefully we can keep it that way.

That being said, never give up! Keep fighting to keep the team together! A few members competing is better than no one at all...

Re: The Imminent Dissolution of Team 2065
 

Thats what had happened with my old team (Team 1919). In 2008 there were no funds to operate two teams from the same building (three schools- one building). It was sad, but it was better then dropping robotics all together.

As for your team members, when ever i see a freshman playing around i tend to find some dirty work for them to do (kinda like punishment) EX: I saw a kid playing with garage band on one of the computers while everyone else was working/programing/wireing and i told him that we needed some of the metal scraps swept up... He never went back on the computer. I like to find quick tasks for people who need constant direction (its less to mess up), IE Wire the battery to the power distribution, then send power to the cRIO.

My best advice: Merge.
It will eliminate your severe money problems. And make build season so much easier.

Re: The Imminent Dissolution of Team 2065
 

yeah, i think merging with another team is you best bet. and even if you dont merge with another team, you could try to pull in students from other nearby schools who are interested in robotics. if you have contact information, ask if old members can come back and mentor you and your team in their free time. i hope everything falls into place for your team this year. hopefully you guys will be able to make it to atlanta at the very least.

Re: The Imminent Dissolution of Team 2065
 

If it is going to be a severe drain on yourself to try and resurrect this team, it may be a better situation for yourself to merge with the other team.

Some teams have it much harder than others in terms of money, support, and motivation. If this other team has at least some measurable bit more motivation than the current team your with, as much as it sucks, joining the other team may be the best thing for you to do.

However, if you see any kind of glimmer of hope in your current team there is no reason to give up on trying to bring it to fruition. Many teams do not have many more than a couple HIGHLY motivated kids to keep the team alive AND GROWING!

Try your best to keep your team alive, but if it falls through its not the end of the world. It seems you have options that do not involve not participating in FIRST which is what really matters. Keeping a kid like yourself who is motivated and actually CARES in FIRST is what the end of goal of your efforts should be.

Re: The Imminent Dissolution of Team 2065
 

I agree with everything everyone has been saying. Don't give up. This is our team's 3rd year; however, only 3 of the girls were on the team last year (our senior class had 13 girls on the team last year). So, the majority of our team is practically new. But that doesn't mean they won't do stuff. You have to find ways to motivate them. For some of our girls, it was lettering and weekly prizes. But, now that build season is happening, mostly everyone gets their hands dirty, so maybe doing those 2 things helped.

About your sponsor problem - there are many companies out there willing to sponsor teams. Its really hard to have your sponsors withdraw; however, there are ways to get new sponsors. Send out letters. Go to different companies with brochures and pictures and video clips. Call people. Or, simply, do fundraisers. Take a few of the kids that aren't "doing anything" and send them to a local grocery store on a saturday and have them bagging grocerys. They may not be helping with the robot; however, they are helping with the team. And if there are fewer kids distracted, most likely the other kids will try to help out (norms). Try some team building exercises. In my experience as a sports team captain when I was in high school, the girls that would wander off and try to do other things were just nervous. It wasn't that they weren't interested, it was they feared underperforming. When they realized that the team was there to help and make everyone better, they stepped up. In fact, some even became our best runners.

In conclusion, don't give up. Your team can do it, and if necessary, merge with another school until both schools have enough people to have their own teams. :) Remember, everyone in the FIRST community is here to support you and the rest of team 2065. Good luck!

Re: The Imminent Dissolution of Team 2065
 

Thank for everything you've said, guys. When I wrote this entry this morning, I was a bit down, and wrote it in haste, so it sounds a bit worse than it is. But nonetheless I've looked at what you all have said and, like all of the truth that hurts, that's what it is. Truth. I'll talk to my coach about a merger and talk with our former coach as well. But....the merger can only happen if the two school districts allow it (or at least, that's what I've been told).

And you're right. I need to take a good long look at what's happened here and look at the true goals of FIRST. I'll find answers there as well, but I would have never thought of it right then and there unless you said something. Thanks. I see now that, in ways I didn't think about before, there is hope. This is why I love FIRST, and why I love CD. You guys have given me a lot of different ideas to try out if the merger doesn't work. And even if it does, they're still worth trying. So I take back my previous statement....(see below).

The team isn't dead yet.

Re: The Imminent Dissolution of Team 2065
 

for more ways to get sponsers, you could ask the parents of the team members to ask the companies they work for. in many cases, these companies have prgrams in which they sponsor such activities for tax purposes. its worth looking into. i hope we will be able to see you guys in atlanta this year. good luck.

Re: The Imminent Dissolution of Team 2065
 

I would heavily agree with what most people have said here. FIRST is about inspiration, and when you lose that, you end up losing a team. That being said, there's only so much any one person can do to inspire a team to greatness. If you really think your team is unsustainable, then finding another team to merge with would be a great solution. The individuals on your team who are passionate about the program would get to continue, while the other team would gain some great, motivated individuals.

For other teams/captains/mentors or whoever that are afraid this might happen with their team in the near future, a few suggestions:

1. recruit young. Let the entire school know you're recruiting, but focus your efforts on sophomores and freshmen. If you can recruit 2 freshmen and show them how much fun the team can be, they'll bring 5 friends with them the next year. And another 5 friends the next. By focusing recruitment efforts on the underclassmen, you'll end up getting the upper classmen for free.
2. Have a plan for every meeting. Know what needs to be accomplished, and communicate that to the team members - set reasonable goals that will fill up the entire time. By having enough work for everyone to do, it'll help make sure you don't have some kids sitting off to the side not knowing what to do.
3. Make it fun. The atmosphere in your workspace is just as important as everything else. The students should be excited, they should be able to see progress being made and feel the anticipation for the completed robot. They should want to come back every night to work because they want to, not because something has to get finished. All to often, i hear someone say "oh look, it's almost time to go home" and someone else reply "seriously? we just got here!".
4. Finally, inspiration comes from everyone on the team. In the end, if someone doesn't want to be there, no amount of persuasion is going to inspire them. The real inspiration comes from inside. There aren't magic words that can be said to create inspiration. Only a feeling that comes from deep within that makes you tingle with excitement and anticipation.


We all certainly hope for the best with your team, and that you can get through the current difficulties, and emerge as a bigger, more cohesive team.

Re: The Imminent Dissolution of Team 2065
 

Excuse me if I sound harsh, but this is simply what I believe.

I'll Quote Dave Lavery, "Learn to Swim".

It does not matter what happens, what resources you have or how desperate the situation looks; you find a way to make it happen.

In terms of funding, you'll have to find a way to get the money.

In terms of people, you'll have to find a way to motivate them. And actually, 14 members is a lot, even if most don't do much. I've only competed in a season or two with more than 14 student members.

Re: The Imminent Dissolution of Team 2065
 

I am a former member of what I still consider my team, and last year we competed with ~8 members. It can be done, and money isn't a problem with all the companies out there that want to employ people like us later.

Re: The Imminent Dissolution of Team 2065
 

There are a few things I think you can take away from this. Sometimes, no matter what you do to try to hold things together and keep them under control, they still fall apart. This is just something that happens, a fact of life that we have to cope with. As hard as it is, we have to accept this, and move on to other battles. You remained reasonable and calm through your description of the situation. No whining, pointing fingers, or yelling about what happened. This shows something about you as a person. It sounds like you have great potential yourself, and I don't think you or the few students/engineers who are left with your team really want things to end this way. It may be the end (at least temporarily) of one team number, but it doesn't mean it has to be the end of the FIRST experience for you guys. Merge with the other team. It will build character, and you won't have to end things on a sour note. :)

Re: The Imminent Dissolution of Team 2065
 

As is echoed by most everyone here, don't give up!!!!

Let me give you some hope. Last year, team 2523 had maybe 5 total students during our build season for the robot, out of those, perhaps 3 were able to input serious amounts of work into the robot. We had one programmer who input the basic code, and one teacher who could weld.

It took us working over 6 hours a day on the robot, every day (much more on weekends) and lots of stress, but if you hike up your pants and give it your all and never ever take "no" for an answer you can get it done. You'll be surprised what force of will can do.

Re: The Imminent Dissolution of Team 2065
 

Just a reminder of what makes us who we are. True greatness is revealed when we face adversity and challenges, the easy stuff is effortless. Look to yourself for inspiration and those around you will step up.

A merge might work, or possibly sponsorship by the other team and a sharing of facilities. This game is easy to get into, a simple robot that can herd, move autonomously, and dump 7 balls can compete. $ is tough for everyone, again, look to the other team for help.

In the end, look within youself to make sure you are doing what you feel is right and stick to the principles of FIRST.:)

Re: The Imminent Dissolution of Team 2065
 

A big part of the success of any team is organization. The more organized a team in areas such as structure, defined roles, goals (short term and long term), budget, expectations - the stronger the chance of the team adjusting to changes such as the ones that your team is dealing with, and surviving. In the FIRST website, there are resources available for teams to look at in these areas.

The 2009 season sounds like it has been a difficult one for your team regarding all of the changes that it is facing. Hard work and dedicated effort can help the team begin again.

If you have any specific questions or concerns, please feel free to pm me.

Don't give up.
Jane