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Re: Advice for a team that has lost its school
We faced a similar situation last season. At the end of the school year, 2011, our only teacher's program was terminated. Fortunately he was able to stay on as a teacher but we lost our classroom and our build room. We moved everything into storage. We started to seek out our own 501c3, and created our own non-profit with the state. Before beginning the process for the 501c3 we partnered up with our local community foundation. They receive our donations and grants and either purchase or reimburse us. We are still connected to the school so our students still receive excused abscenses. But we do not work at the school. We were able to find some local retail space in a mall that we are leasing at very good discount. We love this because it allows us to be able to actively promote FIRST in the general public as well as provide more opportunities to host events and workshops for the region.
My suggestion would be to at least have a teacher sponsor for the program to maintain that connection, but look for external space for meetings, build, workshops, training, etc.
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Jimmy - Lead Mentor, Pit Boss, Miami Valley FRC Regional Planning Committee
Lakota Robotics - FRC Team 1038
2013 - Crossroads Team Spirit,Quarter-Finalists - Queen City WFFA - Paul George,Quarter-Finalists - Ohio FRC State Championship Champions
2012 - Queen City Volunteer of the Year,Team Spirit,Finalists - Smoky Mountains Engineering Inspiration,Quarterfinalists
2011 - Pittsburgh Semifinalists - Buckeye Engineering Excellence Award,Coopertition Award,SemiFinalists
2010 - Pittsburgh Judge’s Award,Quarterfinalists - Buckeye Industrial Design Award,Finalists - IRI Mentor Round Champions
2009 - Buckeye GM Industrial Design,Champions
2008 - Midwest Engineering Inspiration,Quarterfinalist - IRI Semifinalist
2007 - Pittsburgh Motorola Quality,Finalist - Buckeye Rockwell Automation Innovative Controls,Finalist - Championship Newton Quarterfinalist
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