[MissInformation]

Personal contact. Have someone from the team (team captain, head teacher, engineer, mentor) contact students one on one, and say something like, "Hey, we missed you at the last meeting." or "I just wanted to let you know what a great job you are doing, and I'll see you at the next meeting." E-mail would work (as long as it isn't a group e-mail), but a telephone call or talking with them in person is probably more effective.

Students will drop off of the team, and often, it's for very valid reasons, such as slipping grades, other activities they are interested in, etc. but there are probably some students who leave because they get lost in the shuffle, they are on the shy side and slip away unnoticed because they feel like they don't fit in. These students will especially benefit from personal contact.

If you're dealing with students who are just being lazy or who don't realize the importance of a deadline, keeping track of hours and having a requirement of hours put in to determine who goes on trips is a great way to go. It may be too late to start hours now, but consider if for next year. And speaking of deadlines, actually setting deadlines each week and giving rewards if the deadlines are met can motivate. Such as, "If you get your detailed designs done by Friday, we'll have free pizza on Saturday."

I think you are experiencing FIRST first year blues, and next year should be easier, especially when your team has the bonding experience of an actual competition. Good-luck!

Heidi