[JB987]

Originally Posted by Rosiebotboss

Lots of ideas...

1. Get them to an event. We had been lobbying for a while (So hadn't a lot of other teams in MA) to try to get someone to an event to see first hand what FIRST does to assist in educating new engineers and ....you know the rest. It didn't really hit home with them (the Dept of Ed) until a representative of the DOE came to the Boston Regional on Friday. He came was duly impressed. He came back on Saturday with the #2 guy in the DOE. The process started...with excitement. GOOD IDEA THOUGH NOT EASY SINCE THE STATE DEPT. OF ED. IS LOCATED 450 MILES AWAY FROM LAS VEGAS...BUT I WILL BE SURE TO INVITE THEM (AFTER ALL, THE GOVERNOR CAME TO OUR SCHOOL TO RECOGNIZE OUR ACHIEVEMENTS)

2. Start locally. Our first contact to gain support was our local school board. I actually contacted a school board member immediately after we got the team going 7 years ago and have had strong support locally ever since. The first year we were in existence, we presented to a state wide convention of school boards because our local member was the President of the Assn. You never know who knows who or who can help... Start locally. WE HAVE THE EAR OF A BOARD MEMBER BUT SHE IS ONE OF THOSE WHO SEEMS TO BELIEVE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR OUR AND OTHER'S TEAMS BEST COMES FROM SPONSORS IN THE COMMUNITY...

3. Stay in the press. Write up your own articles with photos. Get them in the press, on TV, anywhere. Sell the sizzle. Give he politicians the oppurtunity to get a photo op. Your program is the most successful one in the school district for educating students and exposing them to real life situations. Pols love photos with successful students. (Future voters!) TONS OF GREAT PRESS HERE HAS TRANSLATED INTO NEW SPONSORS (ESPECIALLY FOR OUR TEAM) BUT GOING IS SLOWER FOR NEWER TEAMS

4. Maintain a high level of visibility. Keep after them They'll come around. MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY OF 2 MILLION ACTUALLY KNOW ABOUT FIRST NOW THANKS TO A FAIR AMOUNT OF PRESS...

5. Promote it as a resource for ALL teams, not just you. The more students they see involved in FIRST, the more they will see the value of it. That's why it is imperative to get them (whoever you decide "THEM" is) to a regional. The original guy that came to Boston from the DOE was sent to Atlanta for more fact finding. After networking with a BUNCH of people over the three days he was there, including FIRST heavyweights such as Baker, Kressly, the Kentfields, Ken Stafford and many others in ALL the programs, FLL, FTC, he came back excited! They got to see BIG picture. GREAT IDEA...WE WILL INVITE STATE LEVEL HOT SHOTS TO ATLANTA IN ADDITION TO OUR LVREGIONAL AND BE SURE TO SEND DVD PRODUCTIONS TO THEM, ESPECIALLY IF THEY CAN'T ATTEND!

Does that help?

EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION IS ALWAYS HELPFUL...THANKS DANA.

ANY OTHER IDEAS OUT THERE???