Your team's first events

[Chris Fultz]

We have interviews for the new team in May. Students (evven returning ones) have to apply and we have interviews to talk about the season, what they learned and what they hope to learn. Interviews include prospective new members also - they just get easier questions!

Everyone is expected to help with the IRI, and thet gets the new members involved in an exciting event. We also use the IRI to experimane with new drivers and HP's. Our 'just graduated' seniors try to find other roles and let the new team start to gel.

In August and September, we wil invite freshmen to apply and have interviews for them and select some to be a part of the team. We start having meetings a few times a month in September, and hopefully go to a fall tournament.

We also encourage everyone, especially new members, to go to the training / info event that Kokomo does in the fall.

[DCA Fan]

Not only do we do Northrop's open house, we have team meetings at both schools for new members. I really wish we were able to do some sort of robotics pep rally or something. We also do another exhibition at the AIAA Expo.

[phrontist]

Our team, going into it's second year, does not hand-hold. We have no (engineering) mentors, and no formal education in anything we do beyond highshool physics classes (which some of us haven't taken yet.) So the bulk of our knowledge is derived from experimentation and RTFM. We don't really introduce new students to anything, they are expected to ask questions and learn along the way.

I'm glad we don't have engineering mentors, as it would "cramp our style"
After all, professional engineers know The Right Way To Do It (TM) and if we knew that we'd be deprived of the educational experience of screwing up.

We do agressively try to recruit people, but only if they are serious. We don't want a team that has more people cheering then building, because that defeats the purpose of FIRST, IMHO.

[Chris Fultz]

Originally Posted by phrontist

We have no (engineering) mentors, and no formal education in anything
I'm glad we don't have engineering mentors, as it would "cramp our style"

While I applaud the fact that your team can work without mentors, I think you are missing a big part of the FIRST experience. Engineers and other technical mentors bring a wealth of knowledge to a team, and can help you learn far more than you will on your own.

Just take a look at so many other fields - Apprenticeships in so many trades, doctors that must do years of study under another doctor before going on their own, understudys in the arts, and so on. If this method of learning was not effective they wouldn't continue.

You should take a look at the other threads that describe some of the experience and background of FIRST mentors . There is a lot of knowledge to be shared.

I really encourage you to recruit some professionals to your team - you won't regret it.

PS - if someone wants to 'discuss' this issue more, please start another thread or look for one already running. Let's keep the thread on the original topic - "Your Team's First Events". Thanks !!

[Paul H]

We take the whole team (or whoever wants to go) to the Kettering Kickoff which is usually rather early in the year, and the Sweet Repeat which is in October. That way they can see what FIRST competitions are all about. It was kind of nice, we won both last year! <cocky grin> Just kidding, no need to be cocky about anything.

We also hold Monday meetings every week where we do all kinds of things. Before last season, our lead engineer taught a class in C programming, some people built a new cart, and we prototyped our new transmission and chassis design. We also had one meeting where we sorted all the nuts and bolts we had in cups all over. It was boring and tedious, but it kind of helped strengthen the team because we all just sat there and talked.

There's also OCCRA, but last year was our first year and it was mosly the veteran team members that built the robot. Who knows what it'll be like this year.

[Ashley Weed]

Errm, nobody's posted...

Usually team 84 throughout the summer will attend as many community and sponsor events as possible. To get out and show the 'bots, to show appreciation, and to hopefully gain more interest. A post-, pre-, season competition schedule is usually filled with PARC, MD Fair, and Ramp Riot. However, I think a possible trip this year to Summer Frenzy (York) is on the list.

..... Relocation is in store for this year. Due to consolidation of schools in build school (1 of 5ish school districts).... currently scrambling to find a new build site.

[Arefin Bari]

Basically after everyone had a chance to sign up for the team... we set up a meeting where the newbies get to meet the veterans... then since florida has the offseason comp. in oct. (robot rodeo) we take newbies to rodeo and let them have a feeling what FIRST is about... we let them get a hand on where veteran's supervises. also take them into pits show them how all the machine works and basically train them... under some junior/senior veteran's supervision they learn through their first two years and then take control of the team one the team loses it's veterans...