QotW 08-31-03: Making the cut.

[Aignam]

Starting this year, Team 25 has put in place a set of membership requirements. Any student can join us if he/she completes the following requirements:
1. Permission to participate - Each member must sign and have signed a permission to participate form that allows the member to participate in team activities.
2. Shop Safety Course - All members who will be working with the robot in any way must successfully complete a safety course provided by the team.
3. Fund Raising Requirement - Each member must individually fund raise $xxx towards their personal travel expenses prior to January 1st and the start of the building season
4. Academic Requirement - Each member must maintain academic eligibility as per NBTHS school rules
5. Code of Conduct- Each member must review and sign off on the “Code of Conduct” in order to participate with the team.
6. Community Service- All members are required to perform 10 hours of community service. All projects must be preapproved by the team CS coordinator who will maintain a log of all activities.

Team 25 often starts out the year with over 50 students eager to participate. During build season, however, because of the immense work and dedication required, this number often drops to about 20, give or take a few. This is the first year with the new membership requirements, so things might be a bit different. The requirements, particularly the community service, help to make sure that we have dedicated, hard-working memebrs that have FIRST's goal in mind.

I personally think any student should be allowed to participate, as long as he/she is helpful and active. FIRST, to me, is about inspiration, not elitism.