Kettering University Rookie Robotics Team

[Allison K]

Aren't politics unavoidable in any situation that involves a group of people?
What are wrong reasons for being in FIRST?

In addition, we plan to work in two very important concepts that we learned from our previous teams. The first is the ability to not have a defined high school, so that any student in the area willing to make the commitment can join our team.

Although we couldn't compete last season for finacial reasons, I started a rookie team that draws students from the entire area..including homeschoolers. We do have a homebase at one of the high schools because 1) they gave us our our room to work in and store out stuff 2) they let us use the auto and wood shop and 3) it's the closet to the college, where myself and other mentors attend. It works out well.

[Alexander McGee]

Originally Posted by Allison K

What are wrong reasons for being in FIRST?

Excellent question.

I don't want anyone joining a team that I am setting up because their parents want them to.

More importantly, I don't want a team that I am setting up to be in it just to win a competition and go home with a medal. I would much rather go home 10th or even 50th and see that my students have learned something, enjoyed the experience, and can re-apply that knowledge and experience into other areas of their lives.

Isn’t that what FIRST is supposed to be about?

I think so.

[Billfred]

He's got a point. In my four years of ROTC, I saw more than my fair share of students who were forced in for one reason or another. I don't think any of them performed remotely close to cadets who were motivated on their own.

[Andy Brockway]

Originally Posted by magnasmific

...... In simplicity, it is a democracy.

We are straying from the politics of team structure, and letting the students structure themselves. We want fewer parents and engineers working on the robot, and more student involvement.

We plan to have a group of Kettering Students mentor the team. No engineers, no politics, no one in it for the wrong reasons. We want our students to enjoy their experience, learn as much as they possibly can, and have fun!

Our team is run this way and I am an engineer. Our team is based on the engineer and parents guiding and mentoring. Maybe your experience with an engineer led team was not the best but do not automatically leave them out. Make sure that all mentors know and follow the vision and goals of the team.

On our team the students make the decisions, my role is to ensure that reliability is one of the outcomes. The students that stay with the team are there because they want to. We tend to get students joining for a variety of reasons. The structure we have in place requires that everyone has tasks so anyone who joins for playtime or their parents want them to eventually drop out.

I think you will find that the students will require structure until they learn enough to run the team and all its phases. A true democracy is great but someone has to make the hard decisions when needed. You may not want politics but you know that people are people and sometimes it takes a higher level to settle differences.

I wish you luck, you are taking on a big task. There are many other threads that talk about college students starting teams that have great advice.

[Will Hanashiro]

i like the ideas behind this team that you are proposing, and it would be wonderful if a team like this could successfully be made. however, flint already has 7 teams within the city... would an 8th team be beneficial to the others? teams within the area are already talking about combining with each other because they are competing with each other to get students. that is one of the reasons why team 70 is struggling, and i fear that adding an 8th team would just cause difficulties to the other 7 teams.

why not try and improve on the teams already in the area? there are a few near-rookie teams that could use the mentoring that you guys are willing to give to this new team you are producing. this is just a suggestion from a 5 year first member from a flint team, and in no way am i trying to put down your idea. if you guys can pull it off, i would be more than willing to help out with this new team.

P.S... i also go to KETTERING, in fact, i live across the hall from you magnasmific...

[Alexander McGee]

Originally Posted by Will Hanashiro

P.S... i also go to KETTERING, in fact, i live across the hall from you magnasmific...

Ok, that's just creepy! I had no idea so many FIRST perople were KU freshmen!

Anywho, we're not really pulling students from Flint. We are primarily going for schools not involved with robotics; (Oakland Christian, Brandon, Marist, ect.). As well as home schooled students.

However, we are also ready to help mentoring other local, struggling Flint teams. We have found many many people who want to help in our little program.

thanks again,

-Alex

[Stephen Kowski]

sponsor.....try to attain many small sponsors rather than one huge one.....if the ever have a problem and a company drops out (which they do from time to time) you only lose 10% of your budget rather than 100%. Just a thought

[JVN]

Allright young ones...
Time for the voice of dissent.
Now remember, I've been there (in a big way).

Repeat after me:

I <state your name> hereby swear that should my GPA, at any given time, for any one semester in the next 4-8 years drop below a 3.30, I will immediately discontinue my involvment in my FIRST team.

I <state your name> understand that there is more to life than FIRST. I swear to join other campus activities, and maybe even find a nice guy/girl who will date me.

I <state your name> promise that my academic career is foremost in my mind, and I shall work my hardest to be successful, such that I can become a REAL engineer, and maybe get somewhere in life.
I understand that I would be a much bigger benefit to FIRST as a successful adult, than as a college kid.
I know that my parents are paying for me to go to school, not help a FIRST team.

I <state your name> hereby promise to not make the same mistakes made by so many others before me.
I will not fall victim to the sweet song of the denim-king.
I will live happily ever after, with liberty and fraternity for all.

Seriously guys. I'm not joking. For every "successful" college FIRST story, I know 10 major bummer stories.
I've seen GREAT people burn up in bad ways.

Some facts:

• You probably think you know what you're getting into. You don't.
• You probably think you know a lot about running a team. You don't.
• You probably expect to be able to balance school and FIRST easily. You won't.
• You probably think you know how to be a good mentor. You don't.
• You probably think that you'll be smart enough to skip FIRST meetings to sudy for the big test. You won't.
• You probably think that even if your GPA drops, it won't matter because employers care more about FIRST. They don't.
• You probably think you "owe" FIRST for all it's done for you. You don't.
• You probably think you know how much Thermo sucks. You don't.

Join Mini-Baja, it's more fun anyways.


Okay...
Consider yourself warned.
It's a small weight off my conscience, the rest is up to you.

JVN


Ohh yeah... don't ever be ashamed to ask for help. We (the entire community) are all here for you.

[Steve Shade]

To add to what John said:

FIRST will be around after you graduate college. If you really want to stay involved, volunteer at at regional event once or twice (at most) if you can fit it into your schedule without killing yourself. This will keep you in FIRST, provide valuable services (ex: scorekeeping, reffing, VIP tours, Team Tech support, inspecting, etc..) to the regionals, yet allow you to have a life.

For those of you that want to do the team thing, be realistic with your time. Become realistic at scheduling. When planning things out, conservative is better than optimistic. Limit yourself to one particular thing for the team. Keep in mind that one specific thing such as, running the team, might be a big too much to handle.

I've been through the job hunt in the last year, a 3.0+ is a requirement, and I was very glad I had one. FIRST helps get you in the door, but a good GPA gets you the job.

Finally, Thermo did not suck. I'm an Electrical Engineer so didn't have to take it. For the EE's out there:

• You probably think you know how much Electromagnetic Theory sucks. You don't.

Steve

[Paul H]

Originally Posted by magnasmific

Anywho, we're not really pulling students from Flint. We are primarily going for schools not involved with robotics; (Oakland Christian, Brandon, Marist, ect.). As well as home schooled students.

Brandon has a team (1010) and Marist is the middle school attached to Notre Dame Prep, where Team 33 hails from.

Unless there is another Marist or Brandon?