Great club...little support

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

My main suggestion to solving your problem would be just to go directly to its source.

Identify what you feel your team needs to run better in the school. More funding? More space? More ability to fundraise? More publicity to student body?

Think of a couple of people who have a bit impact on this. Use your connections to the student government, to teachers that are department heads, to coaches, whatever. One item at a time, I'm sure you'll thrive.

Good luck
- Genia

[RoboMadi]

Come up with creative ideas. Like using your 2006 aim high robot after school. Shot balls and have people catch them, give them a candy or something like that. It will help you advertise your club.
The best way to do is to keep in touch with your Principal and School Activity Director. I know marketing can be really hard, but you've to "bait the hook well, so fish will bite."
Also its always good to have parents involve in your club, like a parents booster club or something. Administrators listen to parents more than the kids or teachers. These are just couple ideas, I'm pretty sure CD users have more :-P

let me know if you need any more help. You are more than welcome.

[sanddrag]

On the other hand staying on the DL might help you get better quality members. Instead of everyone who just wants to put robotics on their resume or whatnot you'll get the students who will really take interest and become key members on your team.

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

On the other hand staying on the DL might help you get better quality members. Instead of everyone who just wants to put robotics on their resume or whatnot you'll get the students who will really take interest and become key members on your team.

I think this really brings up a good point, and I'd like to address that in terms of your marketing, because it is an advantage.

Market the club to the school admin as truly challenging and rewarding, something that isn't just a club. Invite the people to a meeting, let them participate a bit in brainstorming, or show them how a robot works. Both the administration and other students will see that it is a difficult activity, and you may just be able to reach out to more students, at the same time as maintaining the image of a time-consuming club which may detract from some lazy students joining. It's an issue that comes with prominance, but if you plan now you'll know how to deal with it.

[JaneYoung]

Here's a suggestion for the yearbook -
buy a ad. Make it a robotics team page. We've been doing this for a few years now. We feature the graduating seniors and the FIRST robot, usually sneaking that picture in right before crating (literally) and the tight little yr.book deadline.
Our yearbook page is paid for by a donation so far but should become/be a budget item at some point. See if you can get a few parents to go together for the donation. For us, the monies and pictures have to be in by January no later than ship date *cough*. (At our Back To School Night, we have the yearbook open to the ad with the robot there for show and tell along with brochures and flyers.)

For more exposure within the school, rallying school support, spend some time figuring out how you want to market yourselves and what you want to emphasize - then find ways to promote that as Genia suggests.