[rees2001]

I understand your purpose of this thread Ken. I too just wanted to help people think about what FIRST means before we try to fix it.

Now, my thought continued…

I will start with an example of the positive growth of FIRST. Sparx. 1126, Webster, NY. Sponsored by Xerox. Mentored by X-Cats 191, also sponsored by Xerox. Here is an example of how an experienced team can help develop a new team. They have structure, they have experience, they have the meaning of FIRST. They didn’t just jump out & start a new team. They GREW a new team. I have a feeling Sparx could be fully self-suficient next year, but they don’t need to be.

How many people involved with FIRST can remember their rookie year? Not their first year on the team, but their team’s first year? How could that year have been made better? I know our rookie year couldn’t have been more fun but, (no offense Chris this was mostly my responsibility) we could have used a bit more guidance & a better idea of what we were getting ourselves into. We were founded by a former FIRSTer turned engineer. Not a group of mentors or another team.

Once our team has secured it’s future I would love to help start another team, but I can’t do it alone. I would need the help and support of my entire team or the entire Rochester community. We all need to work together to help create new teams.