Are 8 play regional reasonable?

[Ginger Power]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

I know the volunteer coordinator personally and the job of manning all of the required volunteer positions is nearly impossible.

Can confirm that managing volunteers is incredibly difficult. In my short experience managing around 30 Bison Robotics Volunteers, I can say it's one if the most challenging things I've done. I work very closely with the Volunteer Coordinator for Minnesota and I am blown away by how smoothly the events run, given the challenges that are overcome. Nothing but positive things to say about the leadership in Minnesota.

I'm not so sure that the "rural teams" in Minnesota don't have volunteers to contribute. Being that I'm from one of those rural teams, and I work with many more of them within our local hub, I know they have volunteers to contribute. They just have no incentive to do so right now. Now obviously there are smaller teams out there, and teams that would be incapable of providing volunteers, but there are many more teams out there with enough people to provide many volunteers. I would argue the latter outnumber the former.

I fully agree that MN FIRST is doing their best, and the leadership is doing their best. I'm very appreciative of their efforts. I just wish I could do more to help.

[Bryan Herbst]

Originally Posted by Ginger Power

I'm not so sure that the "rural teams" in Minnesota don't have volunteers to contribute. Being that I'm from one of those rural teams, and I work with many more of them within our local hub, I know they have volunteers to contribute. They just have no incentive to do so right now. Now obviously there are smaller teams out there, and teams that would be incapable of providing volunteers, but there are many more teams out there with enough people to provide many volunteers. I would argue the latter outnumber the former.

When I think "rural" I don't think "Becker." You guys are certainly more rural than New Brighton, but still what I would consider suburban (subrurban-lite?). I don't mean to devalue you or Becker- you guys do some awesome stuff! I just have a slightly different definition that I think will clear up the point on rural teams.

When I talk about rural teams who don't have the resources to provide volunteers, I'm talking about schools like Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig which had an enrollment of 197 in 2014 compared to Becker's ~800. Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig is is in Bena, MN, which has a population of 118 compared to Becker's 4,645.

They actually did have an FRC team from 2010 through 2013. They were one of my favorite teams back when I was an inspector because I could tell how much work they put into getting a viable robot put together and down to the Twin Cities.

[Ginger Power]

Originally Posted by Tanis

When I think "rural" I don't think "Becker." You guys are certainly more rural than New Brighton, but still what I would consider suburban (subrurban-lite?). I don't mean to devalue you or Becker- you guys do some awesome stuff! I just have a slightly different definition that I think will clear up the point on rural teams.

When I talk about rural teams who don't have the resources to provide volunteers, I'm talking about schools like Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig which had an enrollment of 197 in 2014 compared to Becker's ~800. Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig is is in Bena, MN, which has a population of 118 compared to Becker's 4,645.

They actually did have an FRC team from 2010 through 2013. They were one of my favorite teams back when I was an inspector because I could tell how much work they put into getting a viable robot put together and down to the Twin Cities.

In terms of population you have a great point. I don't see your post as devaluing Becker at all! It's kind of cool that we're not looked at as a bunch of people from the sticks

I'm of the mindset that any non-twin cities/Duluth team is rural. Your definition fits the situation far better. I agree that there are rural teams that fit your definition that can't contribute volunteers. DROBA Warriors from Deer River (3036) is an example. They have a graduating class of ~30 people. As I mentioned in my post above, I don't think the number of small teams outweighs the volunteer power of the larger teams in MN. In other words, I think the larger teams can make up the volunteer deficit that the smaller teams will leave.

I'm not sure that my statement is true regionally, especially in northern Minnesota. It'd be very interesting to see some data about the size of teams in Minnesota on a map. It'd provide some nice, positive reinforcement for the "build it and they will come" statement that myself and others have put out there. It might be that there is literally nobody to come, even if the desire is there.

[Zebra_Fact_Man]

I'm sorry; I cannot comprehend the concept of "can't contribute volunteers".
Do you have students on your team? Yes. Good; this means you also have at least 1 parent per student. Even if you have 5 students, that's 5 parents! Look; volunteers!!! Like it or not, when the student signs up for robotics, the parent does too.

I've been on a small team (< 15) for many years and currently mentor a big team (> 45) and I have NEVER had a problem finding volunteers from my team. There are just no excuses. I get it; people work. But not everyone works. (Note: hs students can be volunteers too)

[Jaci]

Originally Posted by Zebra_Fact_Man

Like it or not, when the student signs up for robotics, the parent does too.

No.

Parents are there to support their child, but don't sign up for the role of what is essentially unpaid work. Students go to FRC to do what THEY want to do, under the guidance of their mentors (the ones who actually sign up for this), their parents shouldn't be roped into doing volunteer work. While some parents are more than happy to volunteer, for others this concept is just simply too far out of reach

[Linkathon1986]

Originally Posted by Zebra_Fact_Man

I'm sorry; I cannot comprehend the concept of "can't contribute volunteers".
Do you have students on your team? Yes. Good; this means you also have at least 1 parent per student. Even if you have 5 students, that's 5 parents! Look; volunteers!!! Like it or not, when the student signs up for robotics, the parent does too.

I'm sorry. I really am. I had no intentions on entering this, but this has been bothering me for a while. I love FIRST. I made a large mistake joining in my sophomore year, and my parents agree. They are extremely proud of me, its easy to tell. But just because they are my parents and proud doesn't mean that they help. Now don't get me wrong. They really want to. They have made our build team dinner once and gone to the Northern Lights regional to cheer us on, but that's only for only about an hour. They simply don't have time. Mom works and is pregnant with twins, expecting at any time, and Dad is stay-at-home. Soon he has to watch three little kids running around as mom goes to work. I understand that this is not the case for everyone, but in today's age, it is a very real thing to be busy with everyday life.

I'm sorry if I come off as rude. I mean this in a polite way, but I am garbage at conveying my words to not sound irritated or offensive. I merely mean that not everyone will have time to volunteer for a FIRST event .