**FIRST EMAIL**/Senior Mentor Conference Call Monday, September 20th

[Mike Martus]

Can or will anyone write a short summary of the conversation.... many of us do have full time jobs, family and a life.... no time to sit....

Facts, just the facts with a little flavor thrown in for good measure.

[Gamer930]

I just listened to the first 55 minutes while writing my mass media paper and they talked about (in no particular order):
- Introduction of everyone
- Vex kits won't be used in FTC in couple years (don't invest in bunch of them)
- Presentations to Companies
- Send letters to everyone even if you get a lot of rejected and keep hitting them year after year
- Send thank you to your sponsors (Include t-shirts as gifts)
- Catapults are good way to get cable and news channels to events (can launch eggs, pumpkins, extra fruit cake from Christmas)
- Send "pit passes" to sponsors so they feel special and it will invite them more to actually come and interact with the team when they attend competition
- Do press releases even if they are short
- Have a website and make sure you sponsors are all over it
- Include your website in all publications
- When attending competitions have a parents/interested persons list so you can sent updates Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night

I will listen to the other half (was a 2 hour talk) this afternoon.

Note: I did write this list after listening so I forgot/didn't include much of it. I will when I listen to the second half take notes as listening

[Gamer930]

- President Circle more information coming out soon by e-mail (1-2 weeks). will have a lot of information including how to write a team manual and how to do have a successful season. Will be a directory of links from the FIRST website
- Building a cart is great off season project
- Train on old robot during the off season (Perfect the old robot)
- Maintenance on old robots
- Don't build a robot that does everything
- If school administration is being restrictive go in front of the school board and use the words: NASA, Math, Science, and Technology.
- If problems at high school level try hitting Middle School Teachers (they are more crazy)
- ChiefDelphi mentioned bunch of times

Great conference call overall. I a lot of useful information