Are We Ready

[Mr. Mike]

Now that the special has played what are we going to do to strike while the iron is hot?

Please post any ideas that might help other teams.

[Walter Deitzler]

SELL FIRST LIGHTBULBS!

[DSM33]

i think what teams need to do is spread their message any way possible. whether it be talking to local news channels for interviews, wearing FIRST shirts around, tweeting about team events, or recruiting kids to join the team. Anything that can be done to promote FIRST needs to be. Like Mr. Mike said, the iron is hot. don't waste this opportunity that we've been given

[JaneYoung]

I would rather see teams work on the sustainability side of things, finding creative ways to encourage sponsors to join the FIRST community, help school districts embrace the race towards excelling in STEM initiatives, and getting universities and community colleges on board with sponsorship, scholarships, team support/build space and promotion.

Each of us has to have our house in order to better strengthen this program and build it on a firm and fortified foundation.

No, I don't think we are ready but we can work to be.

Jane

[Joe G.]

I think that the special will have a larger impact on the size of pre-existing teams, than the growth of new teams. Its much easier for someone who saw something about robotics on TV to join an existing program than to take the initiative to start one themselves.

Teams should prepare for a larger-than-average influx of members, and use it to strengthen themselves. Build your community outreach. Fundraise more. Ask new members about connections they may have to potential sponsors. Do more to support local teams.

Build a more sustainable program, build your presence in your community, and then start to spread the magic.

[PayneTrain]

Find sponsors that can help get the message out. Local Pizza joint? Ask for free pizza on Fridays and some advertising space in the restaurant for events in exchange for publicity from the team. Go out to your county or state fair and demonstrate. Have a local D-League hockey, basketball, baseball, or arena football team? Ask for a few nights to run the robots on the court/field and some money in exchange for their logo on the bot.

BAE, DuPont, BAH, NASA? Sure, they'll help you with your KOP and your entry fees, but it's your job to go out into your community and find people who can give you the greatest in-kind donation of all: 15 minutes to show people what you do and how they can do it.

[davidthefat]

[Karibou]

I think that, now that the word is out that FIRST is cool and science is rock and roll, the next step is making participation sound feasible. Robots may look cool, but I'm sure that a lot of people were staring at their TVs tonight thinking "Those are cool, but I could NEVER be smart enough to participate in this." More information getting put out on how to start or join a team, more people testifying that you don't have to be a mathematics prodigy to be on a FIRST team of any level.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

I would rather see teams work on the sustainability side of things, finding creative ways to encourage sponsors to join the FIRST community, help school districts embrace the race towards excelling in STEM initiatives, and getting universities and community colleges on board with sponsorship, scholarships, team support/build space and promotion.

Each of us has to have our house in order to better strengthen this program and build it on a firm and fortified foundation.

No, I don't think we are ready but we can work to be.

Jane

Jane, I think this is the most I've agreed with you on something... EVER.

Take a look at what the highest numbered team is (38??) and how many teams we have (17??). It isn't accurate but you can pretty easily see that we've lost a lot of teams. A lot of teams only last one year. (Check out some of Mark McLeod's posts for more on this, they are really cool) And many rookie teams build a barely functioning kitbot and get discouraged. We are going to see an influx of students and teams and mentors. None of whom are prepared for what lies ahead. If you want to capitalize on this you need to be ready. There are some great documents by some great people around these forums. Find them, use them, expand them.

We also need to change how we do things around here. We can no longer just say "hey, look at this sheet metal 6wd I made". We have to explain why 6wd is beneficial, why we are using sheet metal instead of welded tube or fiberglass or plywood. Not because we need to know but because we need to show, by example, why things are done certain ways.

Now, excuse me, I have to get up in 4.5 hours. I'll hunt down examples of some of the stuff I mean tomorrow (internet willing).

[rsisk]

I wish we had a copy of this special to show everywhere I go.

I loved it.

I would use it to show people unfamiliar with FIRST, just how freakin... cool... FIRST is.


Then once I have them hooked, get em on a team, or mentoring, or volunteering... and change their lives forever.


Just like someone did for me 4 years ago.

[purpleandplasma]

Originally Posted by rsisk

I wish we had a copy of this special to show everywhere I go.

I loved it.

I would use it to show people unfamiliar with FIRST, just how freakin... cool... FIRST is.


Then once I have them hooked, get em on a team, or mentoring, or volunteering... and change their lives forever.


Just like someone did for me 4 years ago.

oh we have it on youtube gota love the programmers.... we're team 2403 plasma red mountain robotics, you can get to our account through our website of facebook page,

www.rmhsrobotics.com
frc team 2403 - team plasma

[purpleandplasma]

i would highly suggest that teams get out there and fundraise! you need sustainability, and you will be getting the word out there. Share some first statistics, our team calls it, FIRST Works. It tells companies that first is keeping kids in school, and helping make them better people. Also, talk up other teams in your community, and mention schools that dont have teams. who knows, someone you talk to might have a kid that was looking for just this kind of oportunity, and your team will be the reason for helping them get started. then help them fundraise, and teach them how to use tools, and what is need. be their mentors, and even "mentor the mentors". you will be impressed, doing good, and we will get drastic more teams (not to mention the benifit of the financial gain from fundraising)