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Unread 16-12-2010, 01:39
Karibou Karibou is offline
Steel is love. Steel is life.
AKA: Kara Bakowski
FRC #0341 (Miss Daisy)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Rookie Year: 2008
Location: Conshohocken, PA
Posts: 1,851
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Re: Rookie Team Tips!

I don't think that I can add much more to the robot aspect of the competition, so it looks like I'll be touching base on everything else.

Sponsors: Find them, even if you already have some. Money is such a nice thing to have, especially come build season. Even if a business can only donate $50, it adds up. Can drives are also supposedly great fundraisers. Talk to local businesses and see what they can do to help out. Donating products is usually helpful as well. If a pizza store can't help with funding but can provide pizza for the team...that's one less meal to buy.

Competitions: I notice that you're attending a week 3 event (West Michigan). I know that you're a bit far away from Traverse City, Flint, and Waterford (which are locations for week 1 and 2 events), but if possible, gather a few teammates and mentors and go one of those events. Your first event will be a lot less scary, and you'll be better prepared if you see what other teams have brought with them and what other teams are doing. If you don't have a chance to get to an event, look into watching one or two of the webcasts. You won't be able to see the pits or anything like that, but you can still get a general idea of what the competitions are like.

Robot bagging/transportation: Read the rules carefully. Read them twice. Three times. Plan out your un-bag sessions wisely. Know how you're getting the robot to and from the events: will it fit in the back of a minivan? A truck (I don't recommend this - MI weather is rather sketchy, especially on your end of the state)? Will you be renting a U-haul? Know this before the week of the competition. Additionally, DON'T FORGET to pack safety glasses in a very easily accessible location. You won't be able to unload into the pit without them!

Spirit/Image: Everything that the team does at an event reflects upon the team. Make sure that everybody associated with the team knows this. Be courteous and friendly. As Zholl mentioned, be social. Friendships can work wonders, and interacting with geeks that you haven't spent the past 6 weeks almost living with is a really fun experience. Additionally, try to avoid sitting in the stands looking bored (which I see a lot of rookie teams do). Get into the competition. If your team isn't playing, pick a team on the field and cheer for them. Cheer really loudly for your team, at the appropriate times.

Finally: have fun! FIRST is truly what you make it. Welcome to the community, and I look forward to seeing your team at West MI!
__________________
Kara Bakowski
Michigan Technological University///Materials Science and Engineering '15///Go Huskies! #tenacity
kabakowski(at)gmail(dot)com
FRC 341 (2016-present): Mechanical/build mentor
Volunteer (2010-present): MAR Seneca '17, FTC Hat Tricks Qualifier '16, Brunswick Eruption '16, MAR Montgomery '16, MAR Westtown '16 Portcullis Victim, MAR Springside-Chestnut Hill '16, Ramp Riot '15 '16, FiM Escanaba District '14 '15, MidKnight Mayhem '13 '15 '16, FiM Detroit District '13, IRI '10 '12, FiM Waterford District '11 '12, MARC '12, CMP Galileo '11
FRC 1189 (2008-2011): Team Captain, Pit Crew, Website group leader, Team Education group leader, Proud Alum. We've got spirit, yes we do...


WMWBS '10 '11
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