[FrankJ]

First you need to decide exactly what your team is. A social club that builds robots on the side? A competitive whose primary goal is to win competitions or outreach awards? An educational tool to teach life skills? Completely student run? Completely mentor or coach run? Student run within parameters set by the powers that be? Most team are a mix and all have their merits. Decide what you team is. Having a business plan or a mission statement is a useful tool, but don't let it box you in.

You also need to decide what motivates your mentors to want to devote time to the team. If a mentor wants to do something with their hands, then you need to provide an outlet for that. The team coach is a mix of carnival barker, cat herder, and director.

While our coach has the final say, our team at the mentor level is mostly by consensus, but a few things are by executive fiat. Having to following school policy is an example of a non-debatable. Establishing a team handbook is also useful. Once a decision is made, make a policy and don't keep revistiting it. When having meetings, have an agenda with time allowed for discussion. At the end of the allotted time stop discussing and make a decision.