Terrible Volunteer Experience

[Adam Freeman]

I will say that while 99% of the volunteers at Champs were completely respectful, courteous, and cheerful...but, I did find myself sometimes longing for the next time I could play in Michigan again.

There were times where the pokey stick guy was basically a sleep. Which I can understand that it has to be the most boring job ever, but that's not really acceptable. On Thursday balls that flew out of the field we not quickly chased down and returned to the field. Now, most of these things are very very small, but it just showed that many of these volunteers had very little experience with this game. As the weekend moved towards eliminations, things started getting better, so atleast there was continuous improvement.

But, there was one person that really bothered me. I believe it was the Field reset lead on Archimedes. It started during practice on Thursday when he was trying to get a penalty called on us for grappling the bridge. I guess this is fine, but I would prefer my penalties get called by a referee. He also was constantly rushing my drive team to get the robot setup. I know there is a schedule, but this is also a competition. We are trying to do some advanced things in Hybrid modes, and they don't work unless the robot gets setup correctly...which takes a little bit of time. Usually the field hasn't even connected before we are done with setup.

There is no place in FIRST for rude volunteers. Especially being rude to the students. Volunteers might not get paid to be there...but neither do we, actually we have to pay (a lot) to be there.

I would prefer that the volunteers on Einstein understand that all of us down on the floor are interested in seeing the matches too.

Overall my teams interactions with the volunteers were positive, at that's all that matters.

[Siri]

Originally Posted by Adam Freeman

...He also was constantly rushing my drive team to get the robot setup. I know there is a schedule, but this is also a competition. We are trying to do some advanced things in Hybrid modes, and they don't work unless the robot gets setup correctly...which takes a little bit of time. Usually the field hasn't even connected before we are done with setup.

People asleep at pokey sticks or slow on returning balls just isn't ok (and yet I've seen it denied multiple times by others when it's pointed out). The rush off the field though, I think we can really do something about at a higher level. It's happened to us as well, and it seems that it's an honest lack of instruction to the volunteers. I hope next year they come out with a rule like "teams must be off the field by the time the first alliance is done being introduced", and will pursue this idea.

Instructions like this can't fix all the bad volunteer experiences, but in some situations I think they can help. As far as safety glasses, I like the two-minute loaner idea. How do the sign-outs work now?

[JohnSchneider]

Originally Posted by Siri

As far as safety glasses, I like the two-minute loaner idea. How do the sign-outs work now?

At regionals you sign your team number and name and get a temporary pair.

I was told at champs no one can sign them out at all.

[Andy A.]

I've run into more then one volunteer working the pit entrances who was just plain rude and nasty. I concluded that it's not a matter of the individual, it's the position. I can imagine that sitting in the same place for hours on end having to deal with the same 'problem' again and again would wear thin. It will get the best of anyone, given enough time. The bummer is that a lot of visitors, parents, friends etc. get a full dose of cranky FIRST volunteer right away.

I had a chance to talk to Bill about this at CT. It seemed like it wasn't the first time the issue had been brought up. My suggestion was that volunteers be rotated through the position so that none were required to hand out glasses for more then a couple hours. He mentioned that had been looked into in the past and would be again.

[Seth Mallory]

Years ago they gave safety glasses to anyone. Many teams did not bring any with them. On Saturday they would run out of them and send people around the pits to look for them. It was common to find the entire team in loaners and find 10 more pairs in their pit. The event would finsh with 2 or more empty totes. That is why they want the teams to supply their own. That said not allowing an adult to sign for a pair seems a little to strick.

[pathew100]

My wife was a safety glass distribution engineer last year in St Louis. She did not have a very positive experience. Sounds like the same problems persisted this year. I think it's mostly miscommunication between teams and FIRST.

FIRST doesn't have enough safety glasses at the Championship to be able to loan them to teams. (Last year on Wed or Thurs they overnighted more safety glasses to St Louis for the weekend)

The volunteers at Championship are instructed to only give glasses to visitors. As pointed out already, teams are instructed to bring enough for themselves and they will not be loaned glasses. Maybe this needs to be a separate e-mail blast before Championship to get the point across.

Also, if you do have a problem with a volunteer, you can go to pit admin who can get a hold of the volunteer coordinator responsible.

[JohnSchneider]

Originally Posted by pathew100

My wife was a safety glass distribution engineer last year in St Louis. She did not have a very positive experience. Sounds like the same problems persisted this year. I think it's mostly miscommunication between teams and FIRST.

FIRST doesn't have enough safety glasses at the Championship to be able to loan them to teams. (Last year on Wed or Thurs they overnighted more safety glasses to St Louis for the weekend)

The volunteers at Championship are instructed to only give glasses to visitors. As pointed out already, teams are instructed to bring enough for themselves and they will not be loaned glasses. Maybe this needs to be a separate e-mail blast before Championship to get the point across.

Also, if you do have a problem with a volunteer, you can go to pit admin who can get a hold of the volunteer coordinator responsible.

Well the kids are in charge of packing - the thought of kids forgetting a pair is not crazy. What I was suggesting is that adults could sign out a pair...just in case. To provide no alternative if a team forgets theirs is kinda unforgiving of FIRST.

The real issue was the way it was handled - with hostility and in an un-graciously professional way.

[pathew100]

Originally Posted by animenerdjohn

To provide no alternative if a team forgets theirs is kinda unforgiving of FIRST.

The real issue was the way it was handled - with hostility and in an un-graciously professional way.

The safety glass job at Championship is very stressful. The volunteer who was involved in this incident had probably been yelled at by students/mentors all weekend as my wife had last year.

But I agree completely. It was not handled in the appropriate way. And you're right, FIRST needs to be a little lenient here.

All of this would get better if there were more safety glasses available. And if people actually brought them back when they were done borrowing them (this is the hard part...)

[JohnSchneider]

Originally Posted by pathew100

The safety glass job at Championship is very stressful. The volunteer who was involved in this incident had probably been yelled at by students/mentors all weekend as my wife had last year.

But I agree completely. It was not handled in the appropriate way. And you're right, FIRST needs to be a little lenient here.

All of this would get better if there were more safety glasses available. And if people actually brought them back when they were done borrowing them (this is the hard part...)

I would agree with you, if the first incident had not happened on Thursday morning.

[Siri]

This is crazy, but could teams leave their glasses at the entrance? Say on Wednesday each team (optionally) gives 2+ labeled glasses to the safety glasses people, and only those glasses can be given to the team. Making some simply cubbyholes/shelves (stable, light, modular, etc) to store each divisions glasses would be a good student project. I know it creates more for work volunteers, and even for teams, but maybe it's time to give more teams more resources as well as more responsibility.

Just a random, difficult to execute thought.

[BigJ]

Originally Posted by Siri

This is crazy, but could teams leave their glasses at the entrance? Say on Wednesday each team (optionally) gives 2+ labeled glasses to the safety glasses people, and only those glasses can be given to the team. Making some simply cubbyholes/shelves (stable, light, modular, etc) to store each divisions glasses would be a good student project. I know it creates more for work volunteers, and even for teams, but maybe it's time to give more teams more resources as well as more responsibility.

Just a random, difficult to execute thought.

I think that having 400 + FTC/FLL cubbyholes might be a bit much, but a tweak to that idea might not be: Teams can donate 2 or 3 pairs of (NEW/CLEAN) glasses to the pot. Teams that are checked off on the donation list can borrow glasses for the event in case of emergencies!

[Siri]

Originally Posted by BigJ

I think that having 400 + FTC/FLL cubbyholes might be a bit much, but a tweak to that idea might not be: Teams can donate 2 or 3 pairs of (NEW/CLEAN) glasses to the pot. Teams that are checked off on the donation list can borrow glasses for the event in case of emergencies!

I was worried about getting them back at the end, but this is actually kind of nice. Donate, don't lend. I'd do it.


4 sets of 10x10 cubbyholes didn't seem so bad if they were integrated into the design of the entrance, but I sort of missed that whole FTC/FLL thing. I take it they have the same problem?

[akoscielski3]

My Mother, who is not apart of the team except for being a parent coming to a FIRST Event was told by some (i'm Guessing its the same person) she was not aloud to use a pair of safety glasses. My mother was wearing our team jersey so she looked like a mentor. She finally got one from our pit after waiting for someone from our team to pass by, and then asked to grab her a pair. The worst part was is because she has to wear glasses, the pair we got her weren't the one's that went over the glasses, so she could barely put them on and it wasn't safe at all. When I heard that i was so frustrated, I can't believe a FIRST Volunteer would be like that to guests. They have no idea who you are, or what you do on your team.

[dna1990]

As a new volunteer, I echo much of what has been said. It is often the position and lack of rotations or shifts, that begin to wear on some folks. No doubt the OP encountered someone already at the end of their patience level or started off with little tact to begin with - but I can see how it would deplete in a hurry.

But it makes me wonder how much glasses are ever used at school or your shop. When I visit the field sites at my work, hat & glasses are just second nature. It really is rare that someone 'forgets'. So in some ways I do like that FIRST says no-borrow for teams and that the 'idea' that mentors should know better (not the rude phrase but the concept). So never been to a robot class or work session - is it true that maybe only the folks over running some machine wear glasses, and nobody else does. Esp those around the edges. Should they be?

If you spent the last 6 weeks or 4 months doing bot work, having glasses around your neck or in your pocket would/should be second nature.

Now believe me, I am one for common sense safety - and in many cases think glasses are not really needed. But it is well known at every FRC/FTC event, that glasses are the battle cry all day long from green shirts and entrance volunteers. So those arriving at the event, best prepare for that.

And deadlines or rules in the real world are often met with much more harsh penalties. Ask an IRS or OSHA or EPA agent. Doesn't argue the merit of the rule or the enforcer...it just is what it is. Bring glasses with you on the bus/plane/car - and carry the 24 hours a day on your person.


But yes, teams wanna help themselves - setup a separate box/booth somewhere for spares. FIRST doesn't have enough to share their vistor glasses, and your box would be reserved just for teams.

[BrendanB]

The biggest problem is that safety glasses are most commonly kept in teams pits so when members of the team who have been in the stands for most of the day decide to go down to the pits the issue arises that the teams safety glasses are in the pits. For those who keep a pair with them all weekend they can be commonly be lost when one leaves the pits to visit the stands or get something to eat.

I'd recommend teams keep a few pairs in the pit with a majority of your supply in the stands for members when they go to the pit. It makes no sense to pack your safety glasses and leave them in the pit for the weekend. Another recommendation is for students to purchase their own pair (which most do) because they are more likely to have them at competition.