[gblake]

Originally Posted by anonymous_robot

...

I am at a loose for what to do. No one is acting to fix the disconnect frim FIRST's mission and put the team back on track. Who do I contact? The FIST vista? The head mentor oe the region? I need help.

I love first too much to see my team disconnect form the great program FRC is, yest at the same time it gust to stay. What do I need to do to start the team back in the right direction?

You described a situation that defies being summed up in a sound bite, and you described it from your personal viewpoint. Answers aren't going to be silver bullets. I can't think of any one or two people (with magic wands) that you should call.

Within the FRC team, I suggest asking the team to volunteer to get together after this season to spend some time reviewing the FRC program's purpose, reviewing organizations your team might want to emulate, and setting simple goals for the next year. The goals should *not* over-emphasize the robot.

For this year, I recommend starting an FTC or VRC team(s) (it's late, but not too late). This/these do not have to be affiliated with your current FRC team. Their purpose is to build a foundation of students, adults, and organizational abilities able to make an FRC team successful. Attempting to squeeze dozens of students into a single FRC team might not be appropriate for your location right now. In your location and everywhere else, student STEM Robotics is not owned by any single program, mentor, student group, school, or other entity.

In general, consult with the people who need your help, pick a good path to take, and then deliver on your commitments. Do that well and often, and folks should notice. Once they notice, you become able to influence plans and solutions.

Blake