FIRST Who's Who for Rookies

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by Mark McLeod

As a side note, I tend to think some kind of event omnibudsman is necessary. ... The trick with a volunteer acting as omnibudsman is that they need to be able to quickly identify the root issue and pass the problem on to specialists, so the omnibudsman quickly becomes available for the next team in line.

I agree with you about the ombudsman.

I played this role informally during the years I was Senior Mentor, at the Chesapeake Regional. Sometimes the event management would ask me to step in, sometimes the LRI, sometimes the venue contacts (USNA) and sometimes even the Judge Advisor.

But most of the questions came through Pit Admin. I would usually be able to answer them really quickly, or could pass them on to right the position/person. I had no official role listed in the regional planning guide but often felt like the expediter/traffic cop/head cheerleader.

Issues/questions ran the gamut. Crying students over an award not received, crying mentors who just couldn't make one more decision, angry mentors who feel like the event/volunteers/venue was not being fair, and a bijillion other examples. Pit admin often turfed the questions because they realized it wasn't theirs to answer. Often we were all getting up to speed together and the "where is" or "what time is" or "how does this work" questions would decrease as the day went on as the event got things nailed down.

There seemed to be less questions by rookies because they didn't know what they didn't know. The most time consuming issues came from the veterans.

Sometime it took a while to actually figure out what the issue was. People under stress may start at a place that isn't actually where the issues are. I remember numerous times taking a mentor back to a quiet area, giving them a cold drink and then trying to sort out the problem. Sometimes all they needed was a quiet space for a few minutes and the problem would seem like less of a problem and would solve itself. Sometimes people under stress just need someone to listen to them.

I know this will vary greatly between events, but the Senior Mentors are often a great resource for this type of role.

[Mark McLeod]

Originally Posted by RoboMom

I agree with you about the ombudsman.

Originally Posted by Mark McLeod

As a side note, I tend to think some kind of event omnibudsman[sic] is necessary. ...

I think I had omnibus on the brain...

[Mark McLeod]

Here are some updates of the detailed charts.
The overview charts are still pretty much the same-same as the detailed ones without the sub-bullets.
They are still changing every time I look at them, but see what I may still be missing. The follow ups to these charts have detailed descriptions of each position and why you'd want to know them.

I was also playing with a one-pager crib sheet of who's important to know at competition. I'd add the personal descriptions you all suggested here as well. I don't want to list everyone here, thereby obscuring the most important people.
Something along the line of the following.

(loves?/hates?/Gah, you can't be serious!/drivel?)

---------

Critical People to Know at your Event

• FIRST Technical Advisor (FTA)-Field/robot issues
• FTA Assistant (FTAA) - same reason
• Lead Robot Inspector-robot doesn’t work and you blame the mechanics/electrical/pneumatic system, inspection, construction rules compliance
• Head Referee-game rules compliance, Match calls (see immediately-not later)
• Control System Advisor-robot doesn’t work and you blame the control system/radio/FMS.
• Pit Administration Supervisor-team support & help, first aid, registration, shipping
• Lead Team Queuer- will hunt down your team if they don’t show up at the field on time
• Spare Parts staff - just because things break.
• Machine Shop staff - just because things break

People you will meet at least once

• Game Announcer-proper pronunciation of team/robot name
• Judge Advisor-Chairman’s presentation scheduling, judging issues

People you might never meet but have reason to know

• Regional Director- she’s (or he’s) the boss
• Event Manager – from where’s my banner? to why are we playing this music?, plus harassment/discrimination/abuse/crime/security threat
• Lead Safety Advisor-report unsafe conditions, smoke, fire, sparks, hazardous spill
• Venue Safety-smoke & fire response, Fire Marshal
• Volunteer Coordinator-team members/parents volunteering to help an event report to this person

Finally, I've attached volunteer descriptions of just the event volunteers teams are likely to meet or need.
These were extracted from the Regional Committee Planning Guide and shortened just a little.

[RoboMom]

For traditional shipping events, I would add "Shipping POC" often SES.

I don't believe most teams ever meet the Judge Advisor. RCA interviews usually scheduled through pit admin.

[Mark McLeod]

I'll add Shipping/Drayage.
Some person fulfilling the role is also at bag & tag Regionals to at least hand out shipping paperwork & bags to the 6 or so teams qualifying for Championships.
One of "my" teams didn't know that this year when they won for Engineering Inspiration at SBPLI. I happen to stop to talk to them outside the arena as we were all packing up and discovered this. Fortunately I knew they should have gotten donated FedEx shipping forms to take their robot to Championships and knew how to track down the forms for them.

I have them listed under Pit Administration, although at crate events they are their own thing.

I'm interested to hear when things are handled differently in different parts of the country/world. At SBPLI the Judge Advisor sets the Chairman's schedule after the initial team leader meeting.
I'll shift the Judge Advisor to a "may meet" kind of person.
P.S. Maybe I'll just add a note, based on Richard's experiences too.

[rsisk]

Originally Posted by RoboMom

I don't believe most teams ever meet the Judge Advisor. RCA interviews usually scheduled through pit admin.

Any judging issues, including working out RCA interview schedule conflicts would be done with the JA. Pit admin merely holds the interview schedules for teams to review.

Might be different at other regionals, but this is how I have seen it work at the Southwest regionals I've been to.

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by rsisk

Any judging issues, including working out RCA interview schedule conflicts would be done with the JA. Pit admin merely holds the interview schedules for teams to review.

Might be different at other regionals, but this is how I have seen it work at the Southwest regionals I've been to.

What conflicts would arise over scheduling the RCA interview where the JA would step in? Richard, can you give an example?

Indeed, the JA is the POC for all judging "issues". But I don't think it is necessarily under Mark's heading of "would meet at least once." But interesting that this may vary at the different Regionals.

[EricH]

For the JA and scheduling, it might be that your interview is during one of your matches. Usually, you'd talk to either the RCA judges or the JA (and/or another team) to reschedule and avoid the conflict.

[Mark McLeod]

For the one pager I was thinking about sample photos along with the descriptions and where they are found (sounds like an Audubon guide).
Just for the uniquely costumed folks.

I found a Head Ref photo that John Boucher posted, and I had a Judge in my collection (photos attached). I have a Regional Director photo but it's specific to SBPLI. The Event Manager is usually over dressed in a sport jacket, but I don't know what the ladies typically wear.
I'm looking through my photos for others, but I don't have them all-at least not officially costumed.
You can also see the questionable quality of some of the ones I've posted, so if you have better...please.

Anyone have the back of an FTA vest with the distinctive lettering? I found plenty of face/front shots, including ChrisH in his tube skirt...
Hey Eric, take a photo of your dad's back for me would you, tube skirt optional :-)

I need

• LRI (cap & vest)
• FTA (back)
• FTAA vest

[rsisk]

Originally Posted by RoboMom

What conflicts would arise over scheduling the RCA interview where the JA would step in? Richard, can you give an example?

Indeed, the JA is the POC for all judging "issues". But I don't think it is necessarily under Mark's heading of "would meet at least once." But interesting that this may vary at the different Regionals.

I just happened to have an RCA judge sitting next to me, so I asked. Most scheduling conflicts are worked out between the RCA judges and the teams. The teams would not interface with the JA unless there was a conflict between the team and the RCA judges that couldn't be worked out.

So, I was not quite right on my earlier statement based on this, but I still say the Pit Admin is merely the holder of the RCA schedule.

[Mark McLeod]

So, think I should add RCA Judges (and Pit Judges too I suppose) to the Critical People list?
Although rookies won't be meeting RCA judges.

Judge Advisor shifted to the Might Meet list.

[rsisk]

Originally Posted by Mark McLeod

So, think I should add RCA Judges (and Pit Judges too I suppose) to the Critical People list?
Although rookies won't be meeting RCA judges.

Judge Advisor shifted to the Might Meet list.

I think....

RCA Judge and Pit Judges to the People You Will Meet at Least Once
Judge Advisor to People You Might Never Meet

...would be correct.

[mesamb1]

I can only speak for the south east regional, but usually for mechanics/electrical/pneumatic system failures you would go to pit admin and they would call over a volunteer that specializes in one of those systems.

I would also down grade the Judges Assistant, but perhaps add the Judges Assistant? For our regional they usually have more info on Judge issues a team might have then anyone else who is not a judge. They also generally know the judges schedules, and which person/judge a team should talk to.

For your volunteer list you might want to add the clothing that distinguishes the different volunteers to your volunteer list. Including things like all volunteers will have a large badge on their neck with their name on it, and Safety Advisers will have a green polo on. The volunteer list also is a bit had to decipher for a rookie. It includes a lot of information on the training and schedules of key volunteers that a rookie does not need(as well as some positions you will never meet). I would recommend giving the list you created out to rookies, and leaving the detailed list out of their information.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by mesamb1

I can only speak for the south east regional, but usually for mechanics/electrical/pneumatic system failures you would go to pit admin and they would call over a volunteer that specializes in one of those systems.

Your LRI would be a better choice as they should know the teams on the floor and which have the resources and man power for each situation.

[Andy Baker]

Originally Posted by Mark McLeod

I need

• LRI (cap & vest)

Here is a pic from me at the Boilermaker Regional this year:



This work by you is a great resource, Mark. Thanks!

Andy Baker