Volunteer staffing for the 2007 FIRST Regional season

[Andy Baker]

I forsee a staffing challenge for the 2007 Regional season, with a heavy concentration of regionals during weeks 2, 3, and 5. This issue is also an opportunity, because new people will be required to fill these roles and therefore become future experts.

If we (the FIRST community) help FIRST, the Regional Directors and Regional Volunteer Coordinators communicate this issue out to capable people, then the issue will not be so large.

Check out the number of regionals happening each week:

Week 1 (March 1-3): 5
Week 2 (March 8-10): 8 (w/ Brazil included)
Week 3 (March 15-17): 9 (w/ NYC being Fri-Sun)
Week 4 (March 22-24): 5
Week 5 (March 29-31): 10 (w/ Israel being Tue-Thu)

Currently, there are only a handful of people who have experience in these roles:

FTA (FIRST Technical Advisor)
Head Referee
Head Inspector
Scorekeeper
Master of Ceremonies

In order for a Regional to run well, these positions need to be filled by people who can dependably do their job while handling much pressure. They need to have some sort of related experience so that they are not overwhelmed at the event. For instance, a head referee needs to have some sort of FIRST referee experience in order for them to be considered to be a head ref.

This is not trivial. There are other positions that help make an event "inspirational" (experienced announcer, etc.... but an event can live with less experience there).

FIRST is going want people to step up and fill these positions. Those of us who do these roles from year need to look where we can help during weeks 2, 3 and 5, along with our local regionals.

We can use this thread to bring focus to this issue, help communicate these needs out to capable volunteers, and to define these roles (and others) that may be in short supply of volunteers during the upcoming season.


Andy B.

[Rich Kressly]

HUGE post here gang. For those of us who are in the business of recruiting and staffing volunteers for FRC Regionals I can flat out say that we will not be able to survive these weeks with our existing pool of key volunteers. Step up and meet the challenge. Register in the volunteer system, contact your local committees and RDs. Let them know of your availability and desire.

[DCA Fan]

Is it possible to have the 2007 schedule of regionals on here for those of us who want to see where we can help out?

[KathieK]

And please let us not forget the JFLL, FLL and FVC events who also need volunteers!See thread if you haven't volunteered at a tournament before, the experience is so gratifying and very different from when your team is participating in one... So give it a try this year!

[Jeff Pahl]

Originally Posted by DCA Fan

Is it possible to have the 2007 schedule of regionals on here for those of us who want to see where we can help out?

It us up on the FIRST website at:
http://www.usfirst.org/frc/public/

[Wetzel]

Originally Posted by DCA Fan

Is it possible to have the 2007 schedule of regionals on here for those of us who want to see where we can help out?

The 2007 event schedule has been posted here, but not all dates are confirmed yet.

Week 2: Arizona, Bayou, Brazilian, Finger Lakes, Great Lakes, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Wisconsin.

Week 3: Chesapeake, Detroit, Hartford, Kansas City, Midwest, New Your City, Peachtree, Silicon Valley

Week 5: Colorado, Sacramento, Greater Toronto, Israel, Las Vegas, Lone Star, Palmetto, Philadelphia, Long Island, West Michigan.


It appears that VIMS is either down right now, or not yet up for the 2007 season. Is anyone else having this problem?
Edit: I had the wrong link for the VIMS system. The correct link is https://my.usfirst.org/vims/. Like Richard said, the event data is still for 2006.

Wetzel

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by Wetzel

It appears that VIMS is either down right now, or not yet up for the 2007 season. Is anyone else having this problem?
Wetzel

I was able to log into VIMS, but could not update event preferences for 2007. The menu choices are still set up for 2006.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

I am sure that Richard, Ed Sparks and many others will chime in that inspectors are always welcome at events. The major need is on Thursday and just Friday morning of each event (Saturday from 11 to 1 is also a happy time). If you plan to be at the event with your team and they can let you go for those times, inspections will go so much easier. There are other critical needs for volunteers, but one that is rarely discussed is FIRST ambassadors. These people will guide visitors and potential sponsors/school teachers and administrators around the event. They will explain the competition and the student roles. Often they will introduce mentors and students who will help as well. Ambassadors at the Boilermaker Regional played a major role in introducing FIRST to the mentors and students of Peoria Schools and Caterpilar which resulted in two FRC teams and several FLL teams.

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

I am sure that Richard, Ed Sparks and many others will chime in that inspectors are always welcome at events. The major need is on Thursday and just Friday morning of each event (Saturday from 11 to 1 is also a happy time). If you plan to be at the event with your team and they can let you go for those times, inspections will go so much easier. There are other critical needs for volunteers, but one that is rarely discussed is FIRST ambassadors. These people will guide visitors and potential sponsors/school teachers and administrators around the event. They will explain the competition and the student roles. Often they will introduce mentors and students who will help as well. Ambassadors at the Boilermaker Regional played a major role in introducing FIRST to the mentors and students of Peoria Schools and Caterpilar which resulted in two FRC teams and several FLL teams.

Yeah! What Big Al said!

If any experienced inspectors are coming (with or without teams) to St. Louis and may be available to help on Thursday, please let me know. Since we're in Week 1 this may be a good opportunity to get familiar with whatever curve balls FIRST has thrown us this year. Or maybe that won't happen this time?

Also, I'll post my schedule when I know it. I'm always willing to help with robot inspections at any event I'm attending. I don't know yet which events my team is going to, but since I have family in SC I'm thinking of going to Palmetto, just to observe, and I'd be happy to help with inspection there.

[sanddrag]

I would be ABSOLUTELY THRILLED to be given the opportunity of MC or announcer at any event. It is something I've always wanted to do. What exactly is an FTA?

[Melissa Nute]

This may be slightly off topic, who exactly gets picked for volunteering for the Israel regional? Is it just a select group of people or will they take non-FIRST staff yet?

At the moment, I'm only able to be attending the Manchester, NH regional provided that I leave as soon as the awards are over to hop over to Boston and Fly out.

From March 4th to May 10th I'm going to be in Namibia for school, however I was able to find cheap flights (well a lot cheaper than flying from the US) into Israel from there surrounding those dates. I already hate that I have to miss most of the local regionals so this could be a good option for me.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

What exactly is an FTA?

FIRST Technical Advisor. One of the hardest working people at an event when things are going badly.

[mtaman02]

I'll be hanging out & volunteering at as many local events as I can attend, Look forward to seeing all those who are attending the NJ, NYC and SBPLI Regionals.

The Only thing I can't figure out is 53 Teams attending the NYC Regional at Riverbank State Park. I know there were rumors going around that this particular Regional will be moved to the Javitts Center. Anyone with more information about this?

[petek]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

What exactly is an FTA?

To expand on what Al said, the FTA is responsible for the field from when it comes off the truck until it's back on the truck, for overseeing the game part of the "show" and for advising the event staff on all matters technical.

S/He directs the volunteer staff in setting up the field, makes sure the scoring system is working properly (about half the job this past year) and troubleshoots any field and scoring problems throughout the event. The FTA works with the scorers to spot and fix any scoring problems and with the IFI folks to do the same for the field/robot controls. The FTA may help the Head Ref and Robot Inspector ensure a "level playing field" and works closely with the event committee and production company to try to keep on schedule.

JVN described the job to me like this: "when things are going well you just sit back and look good, but when things go wrong you're the one in the hot seat*", to which I'd add "and you're the last one out on Saturday night".

* (actually he said something about a cyanide capsule...)

[David55]

Originally Posted by Meli W.

This may be slightly off topic, who exactly gets picked for volunteering for the Israel regional? Is it just a select group of people or will they take non-FIRST staff yet?

At the moment, I'm only able to be attending the Manchester, NH regional provided that I leave as soon as the awards are over to hop over to Boston and Fly out.

From March 4th to May 10th I'm going to be in Namibia for school, however I was able to find cheap flights (well a lot cheaper than flying from the US) into Israel from there surrounding those dates. I already hate that I have to miss most of the local regionals so this could be a good option for me.

I don't know how it will be this year, but last year at the Israeli regional they were in desperate need for volunteers. It got to the point that each team was asked to provide 2-3 students that were volunteers for the 3 days (field reset, setting up, queuing etc.) and the teams were also the ones that took apart the field after the regional. I am sure any help would be appreciated by the organizers. I would suggest speaking to Alisha Wallenstein who is the regional director (at the moment I don't have her email.) Also, I am sure you can speak to Greg Needel or Jon Mittleman (Jon236) and they will be able to tell you about their experience with coming to the Israeli regional.

David