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Originally Posted by atomikitten
Wow! BOEs seem to do more damage than aid. Well, it's a hard job. A funny tidbit you might get from our BOE:
Mentor: I'm filing the paperwork so that I can authorize this robotics competition as a field trip...
BOE: Yes, this FIRST Robotics program?... That's fine, I just need verification that this is a legitimate organization... Do you have the number of whoever runs FIRST that I can call?
Mentor: Well, the people in charge are Dean Kamen, Woodie Flowers, and Dave Lavery. Dean invented the Segway, and last I heard, he's trying to make a solar-powered water purifier for some people in the African desert. I hear he's busy. Woodie is head of engineering at MIT. He tends to be hard to reach because engineering tends to be very big at MIT. Right now, Lavery might be out with his other car--which is on Mars. You could try to get them, but I don't think they'd answer.
We don't get help from the BOE, but we have a school booster club of parents and community that are very good to us.
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This is the wrong thread for this but I need to answer.
Actually, FIRST has an administrative and support staff and a new president, Paul Gurdonis. The toll-free number is 800-871-8326. If the subject comes up again, please have your BOE or administrator call and ask the question. It will help spread the word.
The BOE is not the enemy. The goal of all the teams working within a school system environment should be to get the BOE on their side. Help them understand what this means for the students. It's hard work on all sides, but changing the culture is hard work. You all know this is important, and you need to work on letting them know. Invite them to your school. Ask to do a presentation at one of their meetings. Talk about the team mates who have gotten FIRST scholarships. Recognize your mentors. Better yet, INVITE THEM TO THE CHESAPEAKE! Let me know if there is anyone like the head of the school board, who should be on our VIP list. It's all part of the "community" part of FIRST. I know how hard this is, but it is all part of what FIRST is. Let me know if I can help.
ps. I know a team in Maryland that was recognized two years in a row by the school board. Little ceremony with others being recognized. Michael Phelps was there, not because he was an amazing swimmer but because he started a tutoring program. No they didn't give the team any money. No they did come in and "help." But the head of the school board wrote a pretty nice testimonial about the team which ended up in a Chairman's Award submission.