Dean's Homework for 2008

[Lil' Lavery]

If I were FIRST I would take a step in a different direction. My homework assignment would to become involved in a different robotics/engineering competition in the off-season. This could be FLL, Jr. FLL, FVC, Botball, NURC, MATE, BEST, Battlebots, DARPA Grand Challenge, Odyssey of the Mind, or literally hundreds of others. Then tell every one of your teammates in that competition about the FIRST Robotics Competition and get them to attend kick-off or a competition.
This serves multiple purposes. It exposes FIRST to an audience that is already interested in such competitions, and a vast array of potential recruits. It builds appreciation in the FIRST members for what truly makes FIRST special, and what sets it apart from the rest. It deepens the experience and abilities the participants in both competitions. It shows that FIRST and these other competitions CAN and DO co-exist, and that you don't always have to chose.
Even if it is just JrFLL, FLL, and FVC, you'd be shocked at how many participants don't realize that they can participate at the High School level.