Thread: Team 3000!
View Single Post
  #27   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 24-11-2008, 23:30
Andrew Schreiber Andrew Schreiber is offline
Joining the 900 Meme Team
FRC #0079
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Rookie Year: 2000
Location: Misplaced Michigander
Posts: 4,078
Andrew Schreiber has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schreiber has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schreiber has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schreiber has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schreiber has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schreiber has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schreiber has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schreiber has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schreiber has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schreiber has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schreiber has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Team 3000!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Speedfiend View Post
Exactly. Approximately 50% of all teams die off.
I agree with your main point but I do have to point out that this just isn't true. FIRST skipped a lot of numbers in between the Juggernauts (Team 1) and Team 3000. In addition I am sure there are teams that merged with other teams. I wouldn't say that 50% of FRC teams die off, I might put the number as high as 1/3.

That being said the support structure does not exist for these teams. I know that many of the teams in my area, while financially we can scrape by, we simply do not have the mentor force needed to inspire students. I recall Tom Bottiglieri asking me what I did on the team once, I could only respond by telling him what I DONT do. We have a grand total of 2 engineers, the rest of us are college students. Yeah, we are dedicated, but I feel we are letting our students down. FIRST was supposed to be about the engineers becoming role models for students. I mean, we are supposed to be able to sell a jersey with Karthik on the back (his last name wouldnt FIT!) just the same way we can sell a Yzerman jersey here in Hockeytown. 70 years from now we should hear stories about how Andy Baker could point to a gear box and tell you where it would fail. I feel our team is failing in that, we dont have those role models. Yea our two engineers are amazing (John, Dung, you guys are awesome!) But FIRST needs to stop making it so easy to START new teams and focus on retention.

So here is my challenge to the FIRST community, STOP starting new teams. If you are stable and have the mentors you need think of ways to help out teams that are struggling. I can't promise you that it will win you a Chairman's award, but I can tell you that by helping one team survive instead of starting another to replace them you are changing the world.
__________________




.
Reply With Quote