HELP! Rookie team up the creek w/o a paddle

[Lt. Smidgie]

As far as team organization and leadership goes, I think setting up a system of officers to oversee different aspects of the team would be helpful.

Almost everything on our team is done by the students. What we've done is set up a system of "co-executives/leaders" for different things. So there are two presidents, two treasurers/finance officers, two communications and transportation officers, two P.R. officers and two "Build Masters." This way the work for each of the officers is cut in half, and this way if one off the officers isn't at a meeting, their counterpart will most likely be there to do whatever they need to do. Another thing we do is have people join one of those groups, that way officers can have someone in their group do something like write a thank you letter to a company, write a rough draft press-release, check prices on tools, etc.

We didn't start this system until our second year (this is our third year). But so far it's been working. Instead of having our teacher, or our other two mentors be in charge of making sure that everything gets done, the officers make sure they get done and are who members go to with questions, suggestions, etc.

I think that if you just find a system of team leadership that suites your needs and situation well, you'll be fine. I just suggest that you try to make sure that your officers are not all seniors. This way there is always someone who can take over once your seniors leave.