The Gearheads are going to be having the same problem - once this year's junior class graduates next year, we'll be losing a lot of experience, dedication, and leadership. We had a huge rookie growth and retention number this year, and next year is going to focus on us seniors teaching as much as we can before we graduate. This also happened to us last year - we lost about half of our team to graduation, along with several valuable mentors to their families. A lot of veterans (myself included) had to step up to the plate. The process began at the beginning of the 09 build season, when we realized just how much of our team we were going to lose. Be sure to make your newer members aware of how much stepping up they will have to do once your class is gone.
We start out the recruitment year by sitting at tables during all 4 registration days (one for each graduating class) at both of our contributing high schools. The table generally has a team banner/tablecloth draped over it, a trophy or two, lots of pins sitting on the surface for taking, a retired robot if there's room, a sign-up sheet, and two or three enthusiastic team members sitting behind it. We sit at the tables and call out to the students passing by, and answering questions about the team. We usually get 30 or so names on the sign-up sheets.
With those names, the captains send out an email inviting students AND parents to a presentation at the school, which is run by the student leaders. The presentation is basically a run-down of what FIRST is, the basic structure of our team, the opportunities available on the team, benefits, costs, and a loose schedule for the year with important dates (i.e. "team meetings are on Thursdays," "Kickoff is this weekend," "build season starts and ends on these dates," "competitions are in March"). Students who are still interested enter their contact information into our team roster. After that, they are expected to begin attending team meetings and work sessions (which start with basic safety training, machining, off-season projects, etc). By early November, we have a pretty good idea of who is interested and staying and who has dropped.
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Originally Posted by gorrilla
W are going to make a commercial, what kind of stuff should we put in it?
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Who your team is, what you do, what opportunities are available on the team, why viewers should join, and pictures of all the fun things you do [: