Keeping Interest - Beyond the Robot

[Chris Fultz]

Years ago, our focus was entirely the robot. Cyber Blue was very much an engineeering team with an engineering focus. And not to stereotype, but many engineers and soon-to-be engineers do not see the value in may of the other aspects of FIRST, so the "season" becomes January - April. (please note and do not blast me - this does not imply all, simply a common trait.)

Beginning about 5 years ago, we started recruiting students who were interested in the other aspects of a team and worked to develop those capabilities. We called them the POP team, for "Publicity, Outreach and Publicity". This group has worked to get us more involved with community activities, school events and demos. Many from this group become our "judge team" at competitions and help put together the materials we give to judges that come by. This team helped us bring in students who would probably never had joined a FIRST team to help build a robot.

The members of this "sub-team" have now blended into the mix of the team. Everyone participates in our design brainstorming activity as well as our community events.

We met this week to talk about our summer activities to keep the team "in place" for the next 7 months. We are going to teach machine skills, finish a second robot, plan demos at a Childrens Hospital, learn VEX, create a completely new business plan, and lead the IRI with team 45. These activities will involve everyone on the team who is available.

So, to end this - I think the key is to recruit some members (and a mentor if you can) who want to be involved in these types of activities and get them involved. Then, their activities and influence will spread to the rest of the team.