[Stu Bloom]

WOW ... this is a tough one ...

I would have a HUGE problem if "presented with a contract to sign" to continue volunteering my time to my team. I already give up significant vacation time, family time, and time with my friends in order to serve as a mentor for my team ("my" not as in ownership, but as in membership). I also spend a significant amount of my own money each year on various odds and ends, including travel, to help support the team. A contract would be taken as a slap in the face.

Of course I would like to think that I would listen, and comply, if our students approached me with a request to be more involved. We do struggle with that each year, mostly because many of our students have minimal knowledge or experience in many areas ... and FIRST is not supposed to be an educational program, but an inspirational one. Don't get me wrong, I do my best to teach, but I am not a teacher (I don't envy them at all).

The bottom line for me is that I think your teacher(s) should be "running" the team and defining everyone's roles and responsibilities. If the expectations are clearly laid out FOR EVERYONE this issue might go away.