Team Governance

[TimCraig]

Originally Posted by KathieK

Are you saying that because you are a "mentor" you are not part of the team? That you are not responsible for the students you are supposedly mentoring? I am assuming that you are an engineering "mentor" and do not feel that you should be involved in team issues other than those that involved the robot.

Kathie, since Not2B was replying to a message in which I voiced the same theme, I'll chime back in.

My wife and are the primary engineering mentors on our teem. My wife also has been handling most of the club management details. I've made it clear to the team that my interest lies in designing and building the robots. If I stay involved, I plan on not working the pit next year. It's just too much stress and hassle. My wife and I aren't parents and don't enjoy playing disciplinarians. During the build we're pretty much stuck with that role. Also, during the build, the team is more than a full time job for us. Choosing our role within the team doesn't mean we think we're not part of the team. Nor do we think others who are involved with the team are not mentors. However, on our team few parents have gotten involved at all.

And we do NOT want to be responsible for the kids on the team. It's bad enough in the setting at school and at the competition event but in the less structured setting after hours at the competition, we see it as a no win situation, a source of probable aggravation, and an additional liability exposure. Frankly, we feel chaperoning the team is something better and more appropriately handled by the parents.