Shutting down for the summer...

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by lsmith243

I mean that we can't meet as a team...

Why can you not meet as a team over the summer?? This seems like a dominant school system who is very overprotective and unfair to your needs as a FIRST team who needs to fundraise year round and work like a team at all times, not just when it is conveinent to your school.

Sounds like you have bigger underlying issues with your school/ school administration/ school system/ or BOE.

Originally Posted by lsmith243

...or at our team's base.

As for that reason, wow.. and this is an issue why?? I betcha at least 75% or more FIRST teams can not get access to their "home base" during the summer yet still are able to meet during the summer.

Why is this an issue?

There has to be more to this story.

[lsmith243]

I'm not exactly sure what that entails, but it's just what I was told. We're having a team meeting this week to discuss everything, so hopefully I'll get an answer then.

And I'm sure we'll all be able to meet over the summer, just not discuss team business. Which is sad, because I think pretty much all we want to do is work on our team ethic (and fundraising would help- but our school won't allow us to). It's a really complicated issue, and I don't understand/ know the whole story.. All I know is what I posted. But thank you for your input! You raised some good points.

[E. Wood]

Originally Posted by lsmith243

I'm not exactly sure what that entails, but it's just what I was told. We're having a team meeting this week to discuss everything, so hopefully I'll get an answer then.

And I'm sure we'll all be able to meet over the summer, just not discuss team business. Which is sad, because I think pretty much all we want to do is work on our team ethic (and fundraising would help- but our school won't allow us to). It's a really complicated issue, and I don't understand/ know the whole story.. All I know is what I posted. But thank you for your input! You raised some good points.

I am sure you could do some of this stuff (like fundraisers and robotics work) without the school knowing. Just don't do it as a First team. Do it as a group of people interested in robotics. Maybe you could get your team members to have accounts on Chief Delphi and do some work using the private messaging system. Thats what my team does.

[IMDWalrus]

Lack of school involvement doesn't mean that you can't be active in FIRST.

When 818 went to IRI last year, the school district wasn't involved at all. Two parents were in charge of the trip, and we did all of the fundraising on our own.

As long as you can get ahold of the robot, you might be able to swing something like that.

[Mr_I]

Good day to you all!

I've tried not to reply to a lot of the comments made, as it seems to only people more riled up. However, since this has now gotten (inter)national attention, by way of this forum, I feel obliged to respond.

I am the moderator of Team 811, a computer teacher at our school, and it was my call to close us down for the summer. Despite my efforts trying to get my reasons across to the team, some have felt especially hurt by the decision. FIRST and foremost, my reasoning is one of team invigoration. For the past two summers, we've tried to remain open 12 months a year. During each of the past two summers, we started off with grandiose plans (who was going to design a killer transmission, who would explore arm design, etc.). And for each of the past two summers, things kind of just petered out (who got too busy with a job, who had family vacations to worry about, who got injured and couldn’t make the journey, etc.) And unfortunately, at the end of each summer our team members showed signs of burn-out.

We just finished up an extremely lackluster year. The team started the fall uninspired, we had to beg students to assist for our FIRST Lego League tournament, our robot design was barely finished before ship date, it almost seemed an effort to get participation in regionals / Atlanta, and our robot has been sitting on the loading dock at school for nearly three weeks since its return.

I polled literally dozens of people (students, adults, parents, school administration, teachers, members of staff, sports team leaders, leads of other teams, even the athletic director!) over the past few months. Together, we came up with the idea of taking the summer off. The team needs a mental health break, needs to recharge its collective batteries. Taking the summer off will allow this to happen.

The decision was not unanimous by any stretch, but it most certainly was not “unilateral,” as has been stated. Unfortunately, some who feel otherwise have been offended by the decision. (Personally, this is evidence of the need to take time off.)

People will grumble, some may hate me for this, but ultimately, everyone will get over this. AND, come August / September, the team will come back recharged and refreshed.

Thanks for listening.

[KathieK]

hmm.. sounds to me like you're not shutting down, you're taking a much-needed VACATION. As with every activity, some people need time off to re-group and others thrive on the constant interaction and deadlines. If some of the team members feel as though they will be going through FIRST-withdrawal, have them use the time to think of ways to improve the team dynamics, or team organization, research some fun teambuilding exercises to use when you get back together in August, write a team handbook draft, etc. while they are "on vacation".

[activemx]

Its ok to take time off. FIRST is not running away, vacation is a good thing. Too much FIRST is not always a good thing. Take some time off, do something different. Get into a relationship enjoy life. There is more to life then FIRST IMHO.

[fancy013]

Me!?! I'm having a summer camp with some little kids. I'll meet more people and make new friends!?! I'm not sure about that but, all I know is I'm meeting new people. Can't wait till the next year and the new season (FIRST =P). I hope it's going to be better then this year! hehe,

[Starke]

i agree that a break is a good idea. it is good to just sit down and relax once in a while. there is no problem with that. FIRST is definatly not going anywhere. I know that 340 generally takes a break in the summer with some events that are planned.

[tiffany34990]

well s.p.a.m. sorta shuts down...

we don't do generally meetings b/c we don't have a place to meet since the school shuts down for a few weeks. we just have our summer camps going on and perhaps we'll be attending the off season. the website team well the webmaster keeps everything updated and continues to work on it.

[lsmith243]

I'd like to make an update to my original thread post. I did not mean "shutting down for the summer" to come off as some of the people on these forums have taken it. I meant pretty much exactly what KathieK said- 811 is merely taking a MUCH needed vacation from all the stress. As Mr. I so aptly put, we are having some stress issues, and a break is just what we need. Some members just believe that we should keep pushing through; although if we keep going while we're all stressed, there's the very real possibility that there might not BE a team to come back to in the fall. So I apologize to Mr. I and anyone who took me the wrong way, I just wanted to clear things up..

[arbershametaj]

we shut down all the time in the summer

its not that big of a deal just take the time and enjoy it because the moment u go back FIRST starts and new challenges need 2 be tackled