Mentoring Opportunities in Minneapolis

[reversed_rocker]

Hey everyone, I've recently become a FIRST alumni and am going to the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities this year. I was hoping that someone out there in cyberspace knew of a team in the Minneapolis area that I could join as a college mentor.

My main problem right now is lack of a car, so teams that i could get to by public transit or walking would be best.

[Aren_Hill]

Hunt down Renee Becker, she was on UPS (1675) and started a FIRST alumni group up there that works with local teams.

Littleswimmer14 is her username, she has contact info on her profile.

[Bryan Herbst]

Originally Posted by Aren_Hill

Hunt down Renee Becker, she was on UPS (1675) and started a FIRST alumni group up there that works with local teams.

Littleswimmer14 is her username, she has contact info on her profile.

I was about to mention that!

The first meeting was on Wednesday (September 8th), and future meetings will be every other Monday (Sept 20th, Oct 11, 25, Nov 8, 22, and Dec 6th) from 6-7:30 in Walter Library room 110.

Either contact Renee directly using her profile or email GO FIRST's email address (uofmfso@gmail.com).

The group is around to help support local teams and local events, so there are plenty of mentoring opportunities.

[Danny Blau]

Yeah GO FIRST is the best, there really working on doing some BIG things in the Twin Cities area, and Renee is the one at the front of the pack, she can hook you up with what ever you need.

hope to see you there

Danny

[Renee Becker-Blau]

Hi guys,

I found him yesterday, thanks though!

Also if any Minneapolis/St. Paul teams see this and need help PM me so I can send mentors to your team.

(Bryan, nice signature, you forgot to mention you won Deans List last year in the questions you filled out )

My team is in St. Louis Park, but we already have one mentor, and for the size of the team, one is enough.

So, I guess I had no need to post


Thaine

[Bryan Herbst]

Originally Posted by ThaineP

My team is in St. Louis Park, but we already have one mentor, and for the size of the team, one is enough.

So, I guess I had no need to post


Thaine

I beg to differ! Mentors can also help your team recruit members. Plus, you never know how many new students will be interested in joining your team. If you get a dozen new students, you will definitely want more mentorship!

Having many mentors with a variety of backgrounds alleviates pressure from your current one mentor, and can provide your team with a different perspective. I also can't see one mentor teaching programming, electronics, and mechanical engineering at the same time. Must be one busy mentor!

[Chris is me]

As the only college mentor on my team: Yes, you need more than one mentor.

We have eight people, you sure we need more mentors?

If so, we'll most likely be getting mentors from a nearby community center that might be allowing us to use their rooms.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by ThaineP

We have eight people, you sure we need more mentors?

If you only have one, yes you need another one or two at least. If nothing else, get a Non-Engineering Mentor (NEM) to help with paperwork and logistics (or, if you already have one of those, get an engineer so you have good technical advice).

As for why, the answer is that one mentor is likely to get burned out faster if they don't have help. Then you don't have a mentor...

On 330, I believe that there are somewhere around 10 mentors available at any given time. Not all of them will actually be building the robot, and maybe not all of them are in the shop. Some might be doing college homework, some might be relaxing at home, some will be in the shop. Takes a lot of the stress off; the mentors now are pretty much the same group as was there during my time on the team, with one or two new mentors and one or two that have decided not to do robotics any more. (I last competed in 2007.)

Huh. I guess I'll talk to my supervisor.
Anyway, St. Louis Park is a bit of a drive, but I guess another mentor would be nice. Our current mentor, Rolf, is great, he can build anything and wire anything, but we need someone good with computers.

How long have you (the person who created this post) worked with teams from FIRST, and what are your specializations?

Thanks.


Thaine