The Great Atlanta Opportunity

[Wayne C.]

or What Are We Doing After the Nationals?-

It seems to me that many teams go into hibernation after the Nationals and aren't heard from until the season begins again next winter. But there is so much to do in the off season and there is so much potential for team growth and revitalization in the insuing months that I thought I'd write a little essay to try to stir the pot.

The Nationals is the only event FIRST offers that brings teams from all over the continent together and lets people with our common interest associate. Just imagine what could be accomplished if all the brain power could work together on some common cause.

So my suggestion is that every participant should look on their trip to the Nationals as a unique learning experience and an opportunity to make FIRST and your own team something more. Maybe it is the chance to have distant teams meet, swap ideas and pursue new joint ventures. Maybe it is just the chance to see how other teams operate and share ideas.

But the thought that comes to mind is POTENTIAL. When teams work together miracles can happen.

Point in case- RINOS. The idea began when two students you know as Replic and Aignam thought it would be great to make a program to enlist and train new teams for the NJ Region. In essence, the group approaches schools, recruits new teams and hooks them up with mentors for their first year. The idea caught on with a friendly group of NJ teams who decided to make it go. By working together, the RINOS program is booming and the NJ region is one of the fastest growing with a 97% retention rate. RINOS is a NJ Regional policy now and the students as well as adults have a role in the local region.

So, not to sound preachy, I encourage everyone to look at the Nationals this week and an opportunity to have some fun, show our best and maybe to consider some ideas on how those teams we ally with from XYZ might interact in a larger sense.

Hey I don't have all the answers but I sure have a lot of questions....


WC