[EricH]

1) Get another mentor or two. Talk to sponsors and parents about wanting/needing more mentors.

This takes some load off all the mentors by giving more people to spread it around to. It also increases team knowledge.

2) If you're going to make a move, tell the team now. See above; it's easier to deal with it earlier. It wouldn't hurt to give them a heads-up that your status may be changing, either.

3) 812 is not the only "local" team... Team San Diego should be able to find someone or some way to help. (For those that aren't familiar with Team San Diego, it has the same function as WRRF, SCRRF, IndianaFIRST, and other local robotics groups--help the teams in the area around it.) 1266 is a little closer than 812, for example.

4) What is the level of parental involvement? If you have no parents at all involved in any way, shape, or form (other than transportation), you may need to change that. Well, take out the "may" from that. It doesn't matter if they're simply bringing meals once a week or so, or are helping prototype major parts of the robot. Having those parents around can help make or break the team.

5) What about looking into the Reserves or the National Guard? Those are military, but can be closer to home than, say, the Navy.