starting a team powerpoint

[T967]

Trying to make a power point on starting a team, If anyone would like to have a small part in this write like a 8 sentence paragraph or what ever and I will try and put it in the presentation. I want many points of views so your help will be appritiated. As for a topic.... PICK ONE! what ever your expirianced in write about it and send it to me via PM.

Thanks!

[patrickrd]

Some suggestion for the presentation:

Do not put paragraphs on slides! You will loose attention immediately. The best powerpoint presentations are filled with multimedia (such as short video clips of people sharing personal experiences), pictures, quotes, and bulleted lists of simple-to-read points. Oh yeah, no sound effects, those are really annoying!

A general rule that I was taught in a class:
- No more than 8 lines of text per slide
- No text running from one line to the next
- Text should be large (18-24 pt)
- Keep complete sentences and paragraphs to a minimum
- Bulleted lists are good

The above rules would be an example of a great way to layout a slide!

Now, an actual suggestion about starting a team:

In my experience, the best way (I'm one for one with this method) to start a team is to setup as many meetings as possible. If at a college, meet with professors to get their advice, meet with your dean to ask about funding, meet with admissions, meet with department heads, meet with alumni. These people will give you contacts of people who might be willing to act as an advisor or funding source. Meet with those people. I am estimating that I had met with about 10 different people (about 20 meetings total since I met with some multiple times) before receiving funding for the team our first year. On the high school end, do the same. Meet with teachers, department heads, principles, and so on. I think usually the high school will be very receptive to having a team started (especially if the funding is coming from outside), and usually there are teachers who would love to work on a project like FIRST.

I think the same would apply if you are looking for coorporate sponsors. Send a packet of information (or bring it with you if you can have a meeting (with anyone!)), including:
- Short cover letter explaining what you intend to do, and listing the contents of the packet.
- CD-ROM or VHS with movies about FIRST
- Proposal for how your team will work. Be detailed! This should look professional, and should be convincing that they are investing in an organization that will really make a difference in students' lives!
- Proposed budget, including how much money is needed. Include both the minimum amount you need to have a team, and how much you ideally would like. In my experience, if you just ask for the ideal amount (eg $30000 instead of a minumum $8000 or so), they will loose faith that you will ever get that much and not promise anything.

Good luck!
- Patrick

[T967]

Thanks will do the "not putting paragraphs" thing into use!

[Erin Rapacki]

last year i made a powerpoint presentation coreographed to the EPCOT fireworks music... it came out pretty well (needs to be polished a bit tho)

it's 10 min long with 150 slides, mostely of crazy ppl at nats

-the first sequence is a summary
-second is sleepy music so it's about build and some stats
-the next sequence is a march so it flips thru pics every 2 secs
-the wow so happy and joyful buildup music when somebody wins something big
-'party-time' music/theme
yea, i had fun making it, it gets ppl pumped for FIRST

(but as i said before, it's not completely finished... i need to redo it so it's more generic to all of FIRST and not a specific team)

[Elgin Clock]

Originally posted by Erin Rapacki
last year i made a powerpoint presentation coreographed to the EPCOT fireworks music... it came out pretty well (needs to be polished a bit tho)

it's 10 min long with 150 slides, mostely of crazy ppl at nats

-the first sequence is a summary
-second is sleepy music so it's about build and some stats
-the next sequence is a march so it flips thru pics every 2 secs
-the wow so happy and joyful buildup music when somebody wins something big
-'party-time' music/theme
yea, i had fun making it, it gets ppl pumped for FIRST

(but as i said before, it's not completely finished... i need to redo it so it's more generic to all of FIRST and not a specific team)

Is there any way you can upload this presentation anywhere?? I want to see if I am one of the crazy people you speak of!!

[Erin Rapacki]

when i complete it i can upload it... the way it is now is I have to manually click a few of the slides to keep in time with the music; i haven't set up the show yet to do it on it's own

i have made a video tape of it, maybe i could make a dvd or movie out of it too... it all depends on how much time i have (which is never much)

[IMDWalrus]

My suggestion would be to go to Team 108's webpage and download some match videos. If you could edit them and make them a little bit more interesting (we don't need 30 seconds of no robots moving...), it'd be a good idea to do so. If not, there are plenty of entertaining matches to choose from.

[T967]

If anyone out there has any robot developing Ideas I could use them. You know stuff on programming, building, team work, field building, etc. It would be great for the power point. Just give your opinion on the how to do that stuff in the best way.

THANKS!

[dez250]

also with Power Point or any Slide show NEVER use any type of bad background or any funky action from slide to slide (ex. blinds)... Also practice it before hand and also make sure its readable from 50 feet away of a 20/20 reader, that is necessary that everyone can read it and its not to fast...
~Mike