[Red2486]

I think one of the most important things to emphasis is that robotics is accepting. You don't have to be good at anything: we'll teach you, whether it's a technical or non-technical concept. And not just that there is a role for everyone, which is important, but that you can belong with us. You'll find friends you can be yourself around, which is really what a lot of kids in high school are looking for and these are the kids who really could get a lot out of FIRST. Now, this concept can't really be conveyed unless you get kids in the room of your first meeting.

Don't underestimate the power of word-of-mouth. People's friends will join if they tell them to. Talk at freshmen orientation, put up posters, get on the announcements, and just try to get kids to that first meeting.

The other important part, like said above, is parents. We all know that if your parents are insistent about you doing something, you are eventually going to come around to it. Impressing the parents is as important as inspiring the students. This year we're going to send a letter home in the mail informing the parent about their child's interest in the team, a little bit about FIRST and the team, a what we, as a program, have to offer the student. Then we include some basic contact info and a calendar print out for August and September with all the dates on it.