Quote:
Originally Posted by jvriezen
Here's something worth trying when you introduce someone to FRC. Instead of starting with explaining the current year game mechanics, explain the key differentiator which you noted above-- the GP and Coopertition. So instead of "This is a great program, our team built a robot to stack totes", say "This is a great program. Teams built their bots in six weeks and right now in the pits there are veteran teams loaning parts, tools and work for other teams to repair and improve their bots, so that all the bots are as good as they can be. That's like a football team loaning a lineman to the opponents!"
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I am so glad that you brought this up; Because that is something that we do.
Here's the thing. When I walk up to someone who doesn't know FIRST or Robotics or don't really care that I am talking with them; they already immediately assume that we (he/she and I) do something different - that's pretty much a given. In their minds, most of the time is "Oh, Science, oh Engineering, oh Robots. I can't do that."
First thing I let them know is none of the mentors or students knew anything about FIRST or Robotics when they first started. Heck, some of the students haven't touched a handtool before.
The first thing I want to show them is - we are doing the same thing - not different - find common ground. That gets them on "our" side, then I show them that there's something that we all want and those "GP" things are what we are doing - shared vision.
So, if I am struggling to get off the ground to find common ground - their first impression that we do something different is going to stick...
I think Squillo mentioned that sponsors donate and support out of local pride - I definitely have no doubt about that many other teams (and not just in Hawaii) have a local town that are similarly proud for their one team or one school. By and large, that isn't the type of merchants and sponsors we have locally and unfortunately. I am almost always stuck with cold calls - and if I'm lucky, I'll get invited to actually do a short presentation about what we are and why they should support us. I can't get one by "easily" (I am sure it's not easy to come by and you do have to work at it) with a shaka, a smile, and "Hey Bruddah". I am happy that other teams have tight knit communities that they can "easily" find that common ground. It's not as easy finding those type of common ground here - it's there and they are terrifically supportive - unfortunately, it takes more and when we are reaching out - it often comes down to being able to show them something physical that means something to them.