Advice for starting a new team

[Bharat Nain]

Originally Posted by Xufer

Well for the 2006 season the sponsor from my old team decided to fund a new team, I will be volunteering on this team we are going to have an organizational meeting next Tuesday and i am wondering what advice you all have for organization of rookie teams. What do you see as the main priorities for a new team? (assuming fund raising is not an issue) Any and all advice is appreciated.

Thanks

1) Get a bunch of kids on the team and when you do, keep them interested
2) Get engineering support.
3) Introduce all people the the concepts of FIRST and the different aspects of the competition
4) Direct their attention to some work. Different kids will find their place on the team this way. Some will like web design, others will like to design the robot.
5) Take care of non engineering stuff. I'd suggest joining NEMO(Non-Engineering Mentors Organization). PM Jenny Beatty for more information.

And words of advice.. if you cannot get a whole lot of engineering support, keep your robot plain and simple for the first year. MAKE SURE the students on the team enjoy the year because that is what really counts.

-Bharat (After watching/mentoring so many pre-rookie and rookie teams)