CALLING ALL STUDENTS, MENTORS, TEAMS -- SPREAD THE COOL
 

FIRST will be sending soon a similar note, but I wanted to reach out to all of you directly, hoping you'll send to your teammates/mentors--and other teams--so the word doesn't get lost in the messenger.

Dear Mentors and Students:

Congratulations on building your robots! I know what an accomplishment this is and I applaud your efforts! As you’re sending your robots off into the world, I too am sending my new book THE NEW COOL (a hardcover and eBook) into the world, as it will officially be available for sale wherever books are sold on March 1st! Here's the Amazon link.

In the book, I share an in-depth, inspiring look at the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), particularly through the experience of one remarkable team: the “D'Penguineers” (Team 1717) and their Mentor, Amir Abo-Shaeer. At the back of the book I also include a full page about FIRST, with contact info to get involved. The more people that read THE NEW COOL—the more new minds we can inspire to join FIRST!

Below I have outlined a few ways we can work together to spread the word, and I welcome your thoughts on the book and any questions you may have. I can be contacted at nbascomb@me.com or via message or post in THE NEW COOL Facebook Group.

HOW TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT FIRST & THE NEW COOL:

1) Make the week of March 1st THE NEW COOL WEEK by doing the following:
a. Starting March 1st, change your Facebook Profile to THE NEW COOL book jacket (available to download at my website). And post Amazon link.
b. Send a message to your friends/family through Facebook/Twitter/email about the book
c. Post THE NEW COOL Excerpt and Videos on your team website and social media pages.
2) Share THE NEW COOL press release (available at my website) with local media
3) Join THE NEW COOL Facebook Group.
4) Share news of the book to fellow FTC and FLL teams in your area.
5) When you’ve had chance to read the book, post your review online, tell your local bookstore about it, and encourage others you know to read the book (word-of-mouth is an author’s close friend!)

The more we do in the opening weeks of the book’s publication, the better shot we have of putting the book on the bestseller lists and alerting the world to the power of FIRST!

As you heard at kickoff, Dean Kamen is eager for the world to know about the book and feels it is a great vehicle for others to learn about FIRST. Your efforts in spreading the word would be a tremendous boon, and I’d appreciate anything you can do.

Thank you for your continued support of your team and FIRST, and I look forward to your thoughts about THE NEW COOL!

Sincerely,


Neal Bascomb


All digital assets available at nealbascomb.com/first/media1.html

Re: CALLING ALL STUDENTS, MENTORS, TEAMS -- SPREAD THE COOL
 

Can't wait to read it, plan on getting it for my birthday. (Which happens to be the day after our regional! :p )

Re: CALLING ALL STUDENTS, MENTORS, TEAMS -- SPREAD THE COOL
 

My copy has shipped today. I decided to go with the hardcopy over the kindle version. Now today I am thinking I really wanted to read it today, but waiting until Thursday will just have to be. I'll be reading it between matches on Friday and Saturday if I don't finish it on Thursday.

Re: CALLING ALL STUDENTS, MENTORS, TEAMS -- SPREAD THE COOL
 

I just requested it from the library. It looks like a few other people have already done the same.

Re: CALLING ALL STUDENTS, MENTORS, TEAMS -- SPREAD THE COOL
 

Posted to our Facebook page. I will be ordering my copy soon :)

Re: CALLING ALL STUDENTS, MENTORS, TEAMS -- SPREAD THE COOL
 

That's great. You can suggest the library to order another copy, and for schools who do not have copies available, please suggest they order a copy for their stacks. Hope you enjoy.

Re: CALLING ALL STUDENTS, MENTORS, TEAMS -- SPREAD THE COOL
 

This is fantastic, best way to get the word out since national newspapers are for some reason reluctant to write about feel-good stories.

If anybody can suggest other team facebook pages for me to "Like" and share with, post here or email me direct at nbascomb@me.com

N

Re: CALLING ALL STUDENTS, MENTORS, TEAMS -- SPREAD THE COOL
 

I have twittered/facebooked my heart out about it! The book is fantastic. I was a driver during Galileo's eliminations and remember watching all the teams mentioned perform. I am proud to show this off as a representation of the program we're all so passionate about. Thank you for portraying us so well!

Re: CALLING ALL STUDENTS, MENTORS, TEAMS -- SPREAD THE COOL
 

Sorry we beat you Libby =P

Of course thanks to Neal for including our team, but he already knows that. I sped-read all the 1717 parts last night, it's awesome. Anyone in FIRST will understand and enjoy the story. Anyone not in FIRST will certainly be impressed.

Re: CALLING ALL STUDENTS, MENTORS, TEAMS -- SPREAD THE COOL
 

I changed my FB profil pic and posted everything to FB and my team's website. Oh, and I just ordered a copy of the book. I can't wait to read it! :D

Re: CALLING ALL STUDENTS, MENTORS, TEAMS -- SPREAD THE COOL
 

I am already on page 150, and i love it!

i'm even impressed and i'm in FIRST

Re: CALLING ALL STUDENTS, MENTORS, TEAMS -- SPREAD THE COOL
 

Alex, this is fantastic. Thanks. If you would, please send around this Chief Delphi post to your teammates--and to any friends on others teams. This way we get everybody working together.

Hope you love the book! N

Re: CALLING ALL STUDENTS, MENTORS, TEAMS -- SPREAD THE COOL
 

yeah, definitely. I'll invite some people to the FB group to help get people interested.

thanks! :D

Re: CALLING ALL STUDENTS, MENTORS, TEAMS -- SPREAD THE COOL
 

I was thrilled to see a student walk into my class this morning carrying a copy of the book. I didn't even realize it was out yet. I guess if my students are reading it I'll have to get a copy.

Re: CALLING ALL STUDENTS, MENTORS, TEAMS -- SPREAD THE COOL
 

You missed one opportunity - I bought two copies to circulate through my company's management, I see it as a great tool for getting my company more engaged in FIRST! I highly recommend this approach for all mentors and teachers. Great book, Neal - it magically appeared on my Kindle yesterday - gotta love pre-ordering!

Re: CALLING ALL STUDENTS, MENTORS, TEAMS -- SPREAD THE COOL
 

It's an honor to have been a part of the book; however, the thing I realized most while I was reading it (started at 2 am last night and finished it in a sitting) was how much I miss FIRST. Honestly, nothing has quite compared to the experience yet (enjoy it while you can!), and I really hope that I'll be able to mentor or get involved otherwise in a few years! Also, in case anyone was wondering, the events in the book were unbelievably realistic. I couldn't help but burst out in laughter when seeing utterly inane quotes from some of my teammates ;).
@Neal: The book turned out so well. I hadn't read any of your other works, and was surprised at how accurately and enjoyably the story was told. As I said, I read it in one sitting!

Order the book! It's a really fun read, and the there are so many things about build and competition that remind you how awesome the FIRST community really is.

Re: CALLING ALL STUDENTS, MENTORS, TEAMS -- SPREAD THE COOL
 

Thanks for the idea, Dan. Yes, by all means, please use the book to pass to colleagues, management at your company.

Another idea suggested to me yesterday was to have teams give copies as gifts to physics/math teachers at their local schools to promote the start of FIRST teams.

Keep'em coming and please spread this Delphi thread to other mentors/students/teams.

Neal

Re: CALLING ALL STUDENTS, MENTORS, TEAMS -- SPREAD THE COOL
 

I just finished reading up to ship. This book puts into words how FIRST is and could make anyone who hasn't experienced it appreciate what its all about.

Re: CALLING ALL STUDENTS, MENTORS, TEAMS -- SPREAD THE COOL
 

I got a copy at St. Louis Saturday, and even got it signed (you may remember me, from Team 3507). Thanks again for that!

It was an amazing read, I read it as soon as I could (finished it by Sunday night - it got a bit dark on the bus ride home and I didn't want to disturb the rest of the team), and the only other team member who's had a chance to read any of it was really enthused too! It's incredibly realistic, and reminds me yet again just how awesome FIRST is, and how much farther our team has to go to join the elite.

Apart from just the amazing story in general and Mr. Shaeer's incredible goals, it's even a better read for anyone related to FIRST. It's unbelievable seeing everything exactly the way it is, and you can learn a lot about how the process can, should, and will work from the book.

I think I'm going to donate that signed copy (We had already ordered another, but I wanted a signed one) to the team, and have everyone who will read it, read it. I'd almost consider making it required reading for newbies, show them what they're getting into, what it will require of them and what it's all for.

Thank you, Neal, for all the hard effort you put into writing that book!

P.S. I saw the D'Penguineers at St. Louis (we were actually in the same division), and if I'd known the book was about you guys I probably would have come to talk to you guys - and see if I could meet Amir. He sounds like an incredibly talented mentor and teacher!

Re: CALLING ALL STUDENTS, MENTORS, TEAMS -- SPREAD THE COOL
 

Great book, I both laughed and cried, more laughing of course. I let out a little yell in the airplane on the way back from Orlando and the VEX worlds when I read our team number. I forgot where I was, oops. I could sooo relate to Amir's story, so many parallels to my own. While I was in Goleta over the weekend I tried to talk everyone into a trip to Freebirds'. A no go.

Looking forward to the sequel. Now do I pass it off to a team member or should I read it again?