[Chris Fultz]

I have been to 3 regionals this season - 2 competing and 1 to watch - and want to share a bit of advise for 'some' teams. There are many that already have this philosphy and approach so this is not a blanket statement in any way.

On several occasions, I have gone into a pit and started to look over a robot and a tams display information. Sometimes there are no students around at all, sometimes there are. Often, a student would look up at me, smile, then turn away and go back to whatever they were doing. I understand that often there is a critical fix needed or a robot is being readied for the next match, but I don't think that is always the case.

People that come into your pit want to know about your program and your robot. Go out of your way to greet them and ask them if you can tell them about your robot. Be outgoing and positive about what you do. The person in the pit might be a judge, an visitor, someone looking to start or sponsor a team, an interested individual or someone looking for a possible alliance member.

Many teams, 234 included, identify a few students to always be in and around the pits to talk to visitors. The students rotate in and out, so that a few students don't miss all the matches, but we try to always have a student nearby. Many other teams take this same approach.

And so, my advice, is to try and always have at least one student available to talk, and to really be outoing and talk. Don't save the converations just for the judges, share your good news with everyone that comes by!